Heavenly Dao Child

"Preta Lok sc.u.m", those words filled with disgust and distaste seemed to be mirrored by everyone even if they did not say it as vocally as Ryuu.

Frost Flames meanwhile frowned upon seeing them as she spoke, "They are going to steal our spoil."

True-Spear grinned at that as he spoke, "Not if we have anything to say about it, so shall we do the old way brother Ryuu."

Seeing the grin on True-Spear's face he could not help but let out a grin of his as he spoke with a nod, "Yes, let us try the old means."

With that said the group quickly but quietly made their way towards the group of Preta Lok cultivators, Su-Min's idea of wearing all white made wonders as they were easily able to move without being spotted by the other group, because of the vast and unending snowy landscapes.

As they neared Ryuu could not help but wanted to bang his head because of the mistake, although he could not blame himself entirely as the idiot Elmer had decided to command every one of them to go to battle and with him being the one nearest to him ended up in a verbal duel, and as such he had forgotten to ask what they were facing.

As such Ryuu coughed as he drew others' attention towards him as he spoke with clear embarrassment in his voice, "Excuse well how should I say this.", as he stopped trying to gather his thoughts everyone gained a worried look on their faces as Ryuu continued, "What kind of creature are we going face again?"

A look of disbelief passed through everyone's face as Frost Flames could not help but ask out loud, "You do not know."

An even more embarrassed Ryuu shook his head as he spoke, "No I was busy shouting against that idiot Elmer so I missed most of our discussion."

Frozen Ocean simply shook her head as she spoke, "We are about to face some wraiths."

Su-Min frowned as she spoke, "Not mere wraiths but Gold Bonded Wraiths."

Ryuu narrowed his eyes as he spoke, "Are you sure they are Gold Bonded Wraiths?"

As Su-Min nodded at that as she spoke, "I am, I have seen one before and they are nasty, but this place has over a dozen of them."

Frozen Ocean snorted at that as she spoke, "I doubt a mere flower would have such monsters guarding it, you have mistaken it for some mere wraiths."

Su-Min in anger as True-Spear intervened as he spoke, "Ladies please there is no need to argue and draw the attention of our esteemed neighbours, we will see when we reach there."

Su-Min huffed at that while Ryuu gained a curious look on his face, as he stared forward towards the direction of their destination.

"So how do we tackle this situation?"

Ryuu looked towards Frost Flames as he replied to her, "We let the Preta Lok have a go at it, I am sure whether it be a simple wraith or a Gold Bonded Wraith, and I believe they should be able to deal with them but not without being tired and suffering casualties, we can then swoop in for the kill."

The others nodded at that as they continued their journey while Ryuu was frowning at the thought of meeting a Gold Bound Wraith, he had learned about them in the library, created by sacrificing toddlers in a rather cruel and horrifying manner and then tying their soul in a certain place, subjected them inhumane torture and slowly and surely fusing them to create Gold Bonded Wraith.

The wraith's main job was simple protected something mostly treasures from intruders, though they might seem to be extremely effective they require a tremendous amount of resources and time to raise a proper one not to mention the process is considered demonic as such only Demonic cultivators would follow it.

The wraiths are bound in a such a way that they cannot leave and go much further from the treasure, not to mention they are born carrying grudge and resentment as such as long as their creator is strong enough to make them obey, they would grudgingly obey him but if they end up becoming even a bit more powerful than their creator they would turn on them without a heartbeat.

Ryuu's mind was racing at light speed, 'Why would someone place a dozen of Gold Bound Wraiths here for some measly Icy Ghost Flower?', his eyes momentarily glanced towards his companions as he sighed at that, 'Maybe not measly for someone whose names is not Zywia and Ryuu, but still dozens of them is it not excess.'

A frown formed on his face at that, 'Maybe Su-Min is wrong but to form so many it would not only take huge resources and time but the person must be extremely powerful but most importantly how did that person manage to do so, those creatures do not permit another to get anywhere near the treasure they are protecting and by another, it also includes its fellow wraiths so how did their creator manage to create so many and make them cooperate.'

With bated breath, the group slowly moved up the mountain, as they neared they could hear the sound of humans speaking, but the voices were too low for them to discern its contents.

As they took a peek down what seemed to be a valley, they saw a group of fifty Preta Lok cultivators looking down and discussing amongst themselves.

Further down into the valley lay what could be said as a garden fit for paradise, filled with bushes with aqua blue rose-like flowers blooming on them, with the white snowy background it was a breathtaking scene.

"So beautiful.", Frozen Ocean could not help but wonder out aloud, a sentiment that others shared as well before their eyes feel on something.

A black shroud seemed to be lazily floating around the garden their movements were rather erratic in a manner that to Ryuu it seemed as if they were glitching.

'No way, but that means those flowers might not be the real deal but something else, that they are trying to protect but what and where.'

Su-Min had a smug smile on her face as she spoke, "Now do you believe me?"

Frozen Ocean simply rolled her eyes as she whispered in a serious tone, "Focus Su-Min and keep in mind that they can hear us as well."

Su-Min showed her maturity by sticking out her tongue towards Frozen Ocean, as Ryuu paid undivided attention towards the group in front of him.

The Preta Lok cultivators spread around in a circle, then the raised their right hand, each holding a talisman which they then pointed towards the group of wraiths and activated them.

The wraiths cried out which sounded eerily similar to the cry of a baby, as they all went up in flames when all of a sudden the dashed towards the cultivators and descended upon them like an avalanche.

The cultivators did not give up as they meet them head-on, as they fought under the watchful eyes of Ryuu and his group, the screaming of the wraith was getting on his nerves as it seemed that whatever the Preta Realm cultivator had used was causing them immense trouble.

The best-case scenario for them would be if both the groups killed each other but alas such was not possible without any help as such Ryuu looked at his group as he spoke, "We will sneak attack and lower the numbers of the Preta realm cultivators."

The group nodded as Zywia, Su-Min, Frost Flames and Ryuu decided to help the group by using long-range attacks.

Their plan was simple with Zywia sending the first salvo with the help of her Zither, there was no physical attack of any type but it had an edge in the form of illusionary attacks, there no complex illusion just slight confusion of senses of the combatants which led to the immediate defeat of theirs as they would miss but wraiths would not.

And hidden under the cover of her illusion arrows and flying swords were doing the rest as they killed off any Preta realm cultivators, it was much easier since the group of Preta Lok had distinct disadvantage namely a miasma that was being released by the burning wraiths and thus blocking their view from the invisible foe.

Ryuu did not wish to take any chances as such he had used two types, one was normal, but the other was a bit tricky as when it would near its victim it would detonate silently releasing the colourless and odourless poison which made his victims slower and sluggish before finally stopping their heart and melting their nervous system.

Soon there were only three tired and injured Preta realm cultivators and a single wraith was left, it was then the group sprung into action as the rained hell on the already tired and injured group.

Ryuu quickly placed a couple of talismans on the ground as the part above the garden simmered for a moment before a semi-transparent barrier formed hiding them.

"The barrier will prevent anyone from finding us, more importantly before the skirmish began I used another to disrupt, although temporary, anything that might signal others about their life signs."

As everyone paid attention towards him, Ryuu continued to speak, "Now the main question is why there were so many wraiths, a meagre Icy Ghost Flower is not something that should have so many Gold Bound Wraiths guarding it."

Zywia nodded in acknowledgement as True-Spear gawked at him as he spoke, "Meager, you call this flower meagre."

Ryuu realizing his mistake hastily corrected himself as he spoke, "Yes I know what you mean but I stand firm by my words, it is true that the flower is precious but don't you agree the security was overboard, I hope you understand that if the Preta Lok did not take the initiative we would have the toughest fight in our life by now."

True-Spear scratched his chin as he spoke, "Well I would not say the toughest but yes I get what you say, compared to the security the treasure was paltry."

Ryuu nodded with a smile as he spoke, "Exactly as such there must be something else hidden here as well we have to simply search for it."

The group nodded as Su-Min spoke with a smirk, "But first I believe we need to pick all these flowers."

Ryuu sighed at that as he ran his fingers through his hair, as he spoke, "Well then pair up.

The Icy Ghost Flower may look like a rose at first glance, an aqua blue rose, but its comparison with the flower ended them and there, in reality, it was slightly different.

The most important part was the nectar pearl that is stored inside it and to reach it, you will have to peel off the petals together four at a time.

As such, they formed a group of two, with Zywia and True-Spear in one, Ryuu and Frost Flames in another and the third being Frozen Ocean and Su-Min.

Ryuu and Frost stood across each other with one of the flowers in the middle, a flower that was as big as Ryuu's head.

They caught each other's hands to synchronize their KI, no sooner did Ryuu placed his hand on Frost Flames's he felt jolt travel down his spine as his cheeks coloured.

'Damn it why am I acting like a hormonal teenager, no, not even teenagers acted as such when they held hands nowadays.'

"Le-let us hurry up and we have wo-work to do.", Ryuu managed to stammer out as Frost Flames simply nodded.

"Zywia we would like it preferably before our time in Eden comes to an end."

Su-Min's teasing voice brought an embarrassed Zywia and True-Spear out of their daydream as they began to work on their share fast