Chapter 22: The Beast Tide
The Mistveil Swamp was a mire of twisted roots and glowing fog, its qi thick with primal energy. Li Wei, Lin Xue, and ten inner disciples—led by Yang Kai—arrived at dawn, their mission to protect the pavilion's Azure Lotus fields from a beast tide. The tide, driven by a mysterious surge in the swamp's qi, included Fog Serpents, Ironclaw Wolves, and rumors of a Foundation Establishment beast: a Mist Drake. Li Wei's Spirit Sense scanned the swamp, detecting chaotic qi currents. The Nine Worlds Ascension Art scroll vibrated, urging vigilance.
Yang Kai assigned roles: Li Wei and Lin Xue would reinforce the defensive formations, while others scouted or fought. Lin Xue's Cloud Veil Formation cloaked the lotus fields, hiding them from beasts. Li Wei used Spirit Blade Formation, weaving invisible blades around the perimeter. The inner disciples, wary of the "peasant prodigy," kept their distance, but Yang Kai's nod showed respect.
The tide struck at noon. Fog Serpents slithered from the mist, their venomous qi corroding the formations. Li Wei's Celestial Harmony Strike blasted them back, its resonant qi syncing with the swamp's energy. Lin Xue adjusted her formation, trapping serpents in qi vines. But the ground shook—a Mist Drake, its scales shimmering like jade, emerged. Its Foundation Establishment aura dwarfed the serpents, its roar scattering disciples.
Yang Kai engaged, his sword flashing with Starlit Blade. The drake's tail whipped, sending him crashing. Li Wei leaped in, using Celestial Tide Flow. His movements flowed like a river, dodging the drake's claws. He unleashed Starfall Strike, the auroral meteor cratering the ground near the beast. The drake roared, its qi breath freezing the air. Lin Xue's Mist Bind Array slowed it, giving Li Wei an opening.
Drawing on the swamp's qi, Li Wei combined Heaven's Echo with Celestial Harmony Strike. The resonant blow struck the drake's core, shattering it. The beast collapsed, its qi dispersing. The tide retreated, and the lotus fields were saved. Yang Kai, recovering, clapped Li Wei's shoulder. "You're no ordinary disciple."
But Li Wei's Spirit Sense caught a flicker—Xu Rong's qi, watching from a distance. She hadn't joined the mission, yet her presence suggested sabotage. Lin Xue confirmed it, finding a tampered formation rune with Xu's signature. "She's with the Crimson Fang faction," Lin Xue said. "They're targeting you."
Back at the pavilion, Elder Mei praised the team but warned of escalating beast tides. "The swamp's qi is unstable," she said. "Prepare for a core disciple mission to its source." Li Wei's scroll pulsed, hinting at ancient ruins tied to the Nine Worlds. The inner court was proving as perilous as the swamp.