Night of the Broken Gliph

The students lined up to enter the field under Woo Nim’s instruction. “This trip to the Forbidden Forest is an excursion. We aren’t able to predict the potential dangers, and we won’t be watching you guys all the time because as I mentioned, it’s an excursion. So don’t think this trip is safe just because Mr Cheuk and I are present. We will only step in during dangerous and unexpected situations that require our intervention. However, that will also mean you will be eliminated from the Cloud Palace outer sect, even if it was due to a life-threatening situation.”  8964 copyright protection81ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHQhuriFub 維尼

The gliph in the middle of the field lit up brightly. Energliph surrounded Mr Cheuk and his dirty robe, making him look like a saint. 8964 copyright protection81ＰＥＮＡＮＡhglZkw0Ljj 維尼

Woo Nim watched the scene with no expression like she was used to it. “Lastly, good luck. May all of you return safe and alive.” 8964 copyright protection81ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEGdHijcmA 維尼

As soon as she finished, Mr Cheuk clenched his fist and raised it above his head. It activated the gliph, which lit up like the sun! 8964 copyright protection81ＰＥＮＡＮＡscNS43qVZn 維尼

Buzz! Light enveloped the entire class right before everything disappeared together. 8964 copyright protection81ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTIN1NrZCv 維尼

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Chui Yim felt unwell. He knew that this was due to the teleportation gliph formation but the feeling of being spun around more than ten times within a few seconds was too nauseous for anyone to stay well. 8964 copyright protection81ＰＥＮＡＮＡTy5EIVLeVH 維尼

He stood up, head still spinning when he heard a loud, sudden, growl. Chui Yim looked up to realise that it was a wolf-type gliphic beast giving him warnings. 8964 copyright protection81ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbzfRzLpeJ 維尼

How did I get here? But before Chui Yim figured out the situation, an energliph wave lit up. A confusing yet beautiful gliph that took the form of a vivid fire phoenix soared towards the gliphic beast. 8964 copyright protection81ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIUwXIDPqu 維尼

Pff! 8964 copyright protection81ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBIWjI8pkO 維尼

The fire phoenix turned the gliphic beast into ash before it could even whimper. There was a girl on the tree staring at Chui Yim with a complicated yet cold expression. 8964 copyright protection81ＰＥＮＡＮＡncl4nSMOel 維尼

Chui Yim squinted his eyes and realised it was Mung Si who glanced at Chui Yim and left as if nothing happened. 8964 copyright protection81ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2306jNJgA 維尼

“Hmph!” Chui Yim huffed and watched Mung Si leave. He might dislike the girl, but he couldn’t deny that she had helped him. 8964 copyright protection81ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0cZIGm8Vv 維尼

“Hmph!” Chui Yim huffed as he watched Mung Si leave. He dislike her, but he could not deny that she just rendered him a helping hand. 8964 copyright protection81ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0U3QVe6sF 維尼

I’ll find a chance to thank her. Chui Yim took off the white uniform of Cloud Palace's outer sect and revealed his simple yet comfortable red vest. “Let’s go,” After a few stretches, he nodded in satisfaction. 8964 copyright protection81ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AwuYWwVNQ 維尼

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The Forbidden Forest was a huge sea of trees. It was a magnificent view if one were to watch the leaves dance along with the wind like surging waves from a bird’s eye view. Kam Chin Kee strolled through the forest of slender, weird-looking trees. It was currently noon time when the sun shone brightest but instead of the comfortable warmth that sunlight brought about, the rays that passed through the odd-looking trees emitted a creepy vibe instead. 8964 copyright protection81ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkgyVU0T01 維尼

Even so, didn’t even fear the slightest and looked around like a curious cat. 8964 copyright protection81ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJDHlEBGH2 維尼

In the Classic of Mountains and Seas, it was recorded that this forest wasn’t always a forbidden area. It only turned into one after the two greatest cultivators of an era fought from the Eastern Sea to this forest. Their ultimate blow left permanent damage to the forest and its geology. It was mentioned in the book that the cultivator’s energliph seeped deep into the soil which created a weird magnetic effect that made humans lose their sense of direction and time. As a result, commoners were easily trapped in the forest till their last breath. 8964 copyright protection81ＰＥＮＡＮＡ131ZItc3Jf 維尼

As time passed, the Forbidden Forest turned into a desert forbidden area and home to gliphic beasts. After a thousand years, it became the largest gliphic beast habitat in the South. This was another scary aspect of the forest. It was out of bounds to all unless they applied to enter. Only those with special backgrounds or at least of the three-chambered rank would be granted permission. 8964 copyright protection81ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcY4ImWxX7 維尼

Kam Chin Kee nodded silently as he matched his surroundings with the pictures and descriptions he learned from the book. Woo Nim’s description of their excursion was deadly, yet they were only at the outer edge of the forest. Legends said that deep in the forest lived a terrifying being that cultivators of five-chambered or equivalent states had to take seriously. If weaklings like them were to be transported to that being, they would be dead within a blink of an eye. 8964 copyright protection81ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfC6G7FSOg 維尼

Rustle…8964 copyright protection81ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRaqRXAQYY 維尼

Kam Chin Kee heard some noises, he turned around to see some others. He looked around for Chui Yim but the other party was nowhere to be found. Instead, a few figures appeared on the road next to him. The teens wore dark red robes and were buffer than Kam Chin Kee. They were obviously of at least a one-chambered state. Kam Chin Kee waved to them and got ready to leave after failing to spot Chui Yim. However, things didn’t go his way. 8964 copyright protection81ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GKfa19JE1 維尼

“Hold on, brother.” 8964 copyright protection81ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrpE87VMgB 維尼

Somebody called Kam Chin Kee and when he turned back, he was blocked by a few figures. The teenager at the back spoke calmly while standing in his way. 8964 copyright protection81ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3H0bb12ql 維尼

“May I know what’s wrong?” Kam Chin Kee turned to the three teenage boys calmly. The teen in the middle was well built, about fifteen years old, and a hundred and sixty centimetres tall. He was significantly taller than Kam Chin-Kee and was staring at him excitedly. Well, to be exact, he was staring at Kam Chin Kee’s robe. “Are you perhaps from the Cloud Palace outer sect?” 8964 copyright protection81ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4Ak627Az1 維尼

Kam Chin Kee glanced at their dark red robes and the small embroidered bright red tower on their left chest. He immediately knew what was going on. That was the Metallic Blood War Gate crest. 8964 copyright protection81ＰＥＮＡＮＡpP1YAf2Rag 維尼

Kam Chin Kee suddenly understood why Woo Nim said that it might be a dangerous trip despite them being only at the outer range of the forest. There weren’t too many horrifying beasts, but this was also a popular training ground for other institutions. The environment and beasts might not be the scariest things around, humans were. 8964 copyright protection81ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4mwdh9lFq 維尼

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Ching Lang Pak felt that he struck the jackpot. 8964 copyright protection81ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7F8BF56O9 維尼

Even though his teacher hinted that they might come across students from other institutions, they thought he meant the Stars Unite Educational Centre or Great Book Academy, not the Cloud Palace outer sect. 8964 copyright protection81ＰＥＮＡＮＡLu3VxbTm0x 維尼

Bumping into opponents meant nothing to him, but the Cloud Palace was different. 8964 copyright protection81ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyUOxCmpVr 維尼

If he beat Kam Chin-Kee, he would forever be able to boast that he beat a Cloud Palace outer sect student of his generation, and it would even help pave his way into becoming a soldier or joining a clan! It was the perfect testimony for him. The thought of this excited Ching Lang Pak. “I am Ching Lang Pak, and I’d like to learn from the Cloud Palace.” 8964 copyright protection81ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjMWSRBbcT 維尼

It didn’t take Kam Chin Kee long to know what the teenager in front of him was up to. He plastered a smile on his face and shook his head. “I’m not good at fighting; moreover, I’m sure you can tell that I have yet to break through, and I doubt I’m suitable to practice with you.” 8964 copyright protection81ＰＥＮＡＮＡnld3oCQx8I 維尼

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