Quest Maker of Soul Land

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"Even if you want to be the scout, Ah Yin can actually cover that position better than any of us due to her tracking abilities. For the moment, Xie Xan will defend our backs, you and I will take the lead with Ah Yin controlling the flow and keeping immediate opponents as low as possible. Liu Erlong will take out any and every beasttaken Hu Lana can manage to charm... but don't go overboard or it may have the opposite effect."

Bibi Dong and Ja Sun were the strongest force and even if Ah Yin was surely comparable to the duo, her greatest position wasn't in close combat abilities but the use of Vine-like Blue Silver Goddess.

Hu Lana's charm is a powerful control ability but given the nature of Beasttakens; Notoriously known to capture any and every female regardless of age, color, and size, the sight of four women itself will push any beasttaken over the edge. But this information could also be used to set traps.

The group didn't linger long and left Caihong and Olivia to their own devices before leaving. Next, Bibi Dong stored the four spirit masters into her essence tool and the group, under Ja Sun's direction, reached the destroyed settlement he described of and even before they got closer to it, everyone except for Ja Sun had their brows knitted in disgust.

The scent of rot was overbearing and much different than the Ghost Canyon's situation. As they stepped onto the crimson portion of the land with log cabins, huts, and thatches destroyed and looted, many flies and other scavenging insects already filling the area, others couldn't help but take out a handkerchief from their storage tools and remove the mask to cover their noses. At this moment, wearing masks only made them uncomfortable.

Gazing at the scene of carnage, Bibi Dong discovered the exact situation as Ja Sun spoke of. Damp ground with dark mud and sliced-off structures.

None within the group were actually experienced detectives. This was true even for Ja Sun. He simply had a little experience in bloodshed so he didn't feel uncomfortable and that's it. Whatever he concluded back then was based on a rational thought process. The two tribes could be working together or there are earthen mutations within Wolftakens. Both the situations are equally bad but considering how the events of the continent seem so dubious, Ja Sun was willing to believe that the two tribes were working together somehow.

And this speculation allowed Ja Sun's mind to wander as to what skills could actually control the tribes and if all of this happened to be true then what kind of individual or faction could possess such a great ability.

He didn't continue to ponder anymore as the group moved once again. There was nothing else to find and the trail Ja Sun picked aside from the obvious splashes of blood for a few meters leading towards the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest was the lingering presence of Blood Caterpillars. The terrain of the forest close to this settlement promoted the growth of insect-type spirit beasts and even though the trail of blood caterpillars was already sparse, all they needed was for Ah Yin to inspect using her domain.

Although the general ability of her domain was already known to the group, the true specifics weren't known by anybody. However, since Ah Yin already claimed to be able to find out the next trail, the group this time followed her direction with Xie Xan at the back keeping an alert eye and Bibi Dong and Ja Sun taking the lead.

"How come nobody dealt with the beast nest from the Dragon Rising City?" Hu Lana couldn't help but complain.

Unlike Gengxin City known for its passion for craftsmanship, Dragon Rising City is a true front of the Empire with peak strength within. Not as mighty as the Star Luo City itself but Dragon Rising City should have at the very least one Rank 80 and above Spirit Douluo.

"Either the officials from Heaven Dou Empire are restraining stronger spirit masters of the city or the force within the beast nest is threatening enough to the strongest power of the Dragon Rising City. Anyway, our objective is not to gain merit. Just like we discussed, after a week, we will move on from Star Luo Empire as planned and train in another location."

It was just as Bibi Dong said. The situation regarding the beast tide was sudden but she didn't want to spend their time too much on this event. Star Luo Empire wouldn't crumble so easily and even if it did, it wouldn't be their problem. In the group, aside from Bibi Dong, nobody actually came from an orthodox faction so their interests didn't lie with the southern empire but themselves.

This week of combat is only supposed to sharpen their fortitude against bloodshed, and one of the worst possible sights that Beasttakens are known to leave.

As for the possibility of Spirit Bones? Everyone deeply understood that it was a passing thought. If Spirit Bones were this common, everybody would have one.

"Ugh," Ah Yin suddenly grunted and stopped. Her expression twisted and her eyes revealing disgust.

Everyone came to a stop and Bibi Dong glanced in her direction, "What did you see?"

"Nothing pleasant," Ah Yin hesitated. She didn't even dare continue using the domain to view the site far away and chose her words carefully.

"There are... strange beasts, humanoid. I didn't get a good look at them but there were two distinctions of body structure. One abnormally large and other quite compact but still relatively burly... but..."

She exhaled before shaking her head softly.

"The entire place is defenseless and aside from a few structures made from twigs and leaves, there is one large wooden prison where... well, there are women with bloodied bodies. I managed to make out a few corpses before I stopped looking entirely. The corpses are the least pleasant sight, that I'm sure of," Ah Yin revealed a bitter expression and her words making Hu Lana's and Xie Xan's expression change slightly.

"Conceal every one of us and bring us there," Bibi Dong stated calmly.

Ah Yin frowned, a little unwilling. Her horizons were truly broadened regarding the cruelty of the world this time and she realized that Bibi Dong wanted others to go through the same experience.

However, Ah Yin still spread her domain once again. This time, she didn't hold back. The domain that was once formless and colorless spread out in a bright blue light with constant streams of energy flowing into her and stabilizing the expenditure of the domain itself. From the outside world, the blue domain with streaks of silver seemed to blend in. The group within the domain weren't invisible but even if they stood in the middle of an empty ground, they wouldn't attract attention.

"Instead of going there, I have a better way," Ja Sun spoke up and the area between his brows flashed, revealing his skull bone as the domain was filled with strange purple mist.

"Don't restrain it," Ja Sun looked at Ah Yin, "And when all of you feel a mental probe, accept it. Then, Ah Yin, inspect the location of the beasttaken tribe once again."

The Telepathy of his Spirit Bone was displayed once again as Ja Sun could explain the effects of his spirit bone: At least, the abilities he wanted to, without words. A far efficient means of communication but it also consumed a great amount of spirit energy which Ah Yin recovered within her domain.

If it wasn't for keeping her domain an absolute trump card while facing opponents, the group even wanted Ah Yin to become their supporter and just find another attack-type spirit master or a defense-type spirit master.

Through a mutual connection with one another, though feeling weird by the sensation of it, they could easily feel and view what Ah Yin began to transmit through Ja Sun's assistance.

All of their expressions changed instantly.

As Ah Yin had stated, it was barely a defended spit on a slightly raised slope close to the outskirts of the Forest and it wasn't particularly hidden. Unlike the verdant scape and layered with numerous insects, small and large, a particular area was matted with dark mud like a gruel that seemed to slowly spread outwards and corrode the nearby grass and insects, too. The area was the size of two villages easily and it was because of such a large area that the group found themselves inspecting many torturous events at the same time.

The open area was covered by two types of beings that had distinct sizes but even amongst the two categories, there were plenty of differences available. Others could only focus on the bloodshed, Ja Sun tried to look past it and tried to find anything of benefit.

Wolftakens, the beings with slightly slimmer bodies and leathery faces with broad, flattened noses and protruding lips. The color of their face itself ranged from dark grey to tanned yellow with light blue fur covering their bodies and the top of their heads. They wore clothes. Tattered and bloodied. Most of them were not even complete with sleeves or the lower region of the stomach missing but underneath the clothes were fur itself. Their claws glimmering in cold light over human hands.

Beartakens, on the other hand, fits the same description. Still, their bodies were explosively larger from their stomach and lower body while the top portion of their bodies was comparatively slimmer, giving their physique a gourd-like shape. Their bodies themselves were covered in dark crimson or more generally dark-brown fur.

But aside from the mere description of their body structure and barely adequate constructions, Ja Sun came to know that these individuals were not as creative in craftsmanship as they were in eating people alive or, well, mating. No, they weren't even that creative in the latter.

Corpses were baked, boiled, skinned, and a few women screaming and eaten alive limb-by-limb with a few caged women already revealing slightly protruding bellies but given the dangerous flow of blood from between their thighs, it was no longer a secret why despite their reproductive drive, not many Beasttakens are born easily.

Despite observing all this, Ja Sun might be in the mood for humor due to his past experience but that didn't mean that others were the same. Even Bibi Dong, who had displayed an impressive crystalization of killing intent had her body shuddering but this was the beauty of Telepathy. Ja Sun controlled the information passing onto others and he could also feel the uncontrollable emotions that leaked out from those around him. If this wasn't the case, Ja Sun wouldn't have used this ability knowing that Ah Yin was aware of his real identity.

Still, strangely, from Bibi Dong, Ja Sun felt something cold. Dangerous and cruel, far more than killing intent. The true killing intent is the epitome of calmness because death is still and not violent. It is everything that is calm while life is the real source of chaos. And Ja Sun felt it. His body shuddered not because of the result of Ah Yin's inspection, but because of him bearing the entire brunt of this cruel sensation that didn't wish to simply destroy, but also devour.

*Puuh*

His vision swam and Ja Sun realized instantly coughed out a mouthful of blood. Bibi Dong's body shuddered simultaneously and her pink pupils instantly regained clarity before she hurriedly looked towards Ja Sun like everyone else.

*Aaauugghhh*

Connection now broken, Hu Lana hurriedly moved aside and hurled while Xie Xan and Liu Erlong felt sick in the stomach, too.

"What happened?" Ah Yin placed her palm on Ja Sun's shoulder and sent in vitality only to discover what Ja Sun truly lacked wasn't spirit energy or vitality but mental energy itself which was strange since Ah Yin already felt it to be Ja Sun's forte.

"I was kicked in the nuts, just mentally, that's what," Ja Sun grunted while sniffing a little. The pain barely affected him while the mouthful of blood he let out was a backlash due to the strange force that suddenly erupted from Bibi Dong.

"I'm sorry," Bibi Dong sighed and apologized, "I'm still trying to digest and control my gains from when I returned from my personal cultivation trip."

*Aaaughhhhh*

The continuous sound of Hu Lana emptying her stomach finally induced Liu Erlong and Xie Xan to join her and the remaining trio also felt the urge, too.

"It's alright," Ja Sun shrugged and placed his arm around Ah Yin's shoulder. His action froze Ah Yin and Bibi Dong in their place as his palm brushed past something pleasing and cushy.

"What are you doing?" Ah Yin scowled.

"Woman, show some compassion. I'm hurt!" Ja Sun coughed, spitting out the remaining portion of blood mixed with his saliva as Ah Yin glared at Ja Sun. His intentions were all too clear. Bibi Dong looked at the duo for a moment and stated, "Then take Xie Xan's support. This is inappropriate."

"He's going to smell like vomit and teacher, it's your fault in the first place. Instead of Ah Yin, I should take your support," Ja Sun pouted and two voices chimed simultaneously.

""No way!/ It's fine...""

Their voices mixed together and their lips moving simultaneously but the speakers fell stunned. Bibi Dong and Ah Yin gazed at each other for a moment while Ja Sun glanced at the duo. It was truly hard to differentiate the voices because of their low tone but given their nature, Ja Sun smoothly categorized the words of acceptance to Ah Yin and leaned against her body.

"You're heavy," Ah Yin finally coughed out and Bibi Dong looked sideways.

"Hey, it's not like you're made of feathers and cotton," Ja Sun scoffed.

"W-what! You wretched pervert! Take off your hands off of pure Yin!" Hu Lana merely glanced back before shouting while spitting out the rest of the contents with a grimace as Ja Sun glanced at her with a sneer.

"What's with that arrogant look? Huh?" She narrowed her eyes while Ja Sun smiled.

"You got a little vomit on your shoes," He stated and Hu Lana's expression changed.

"Ah Yin, help Ka-ul to a tree. You three, set a small tent and change your clothes and gargle your mouths. Any intense odor can attract beasttakens so be quick about it."

Bibi Dong sighed deeply while Ah Yin silently moved.

"Hey," Ah Yin spoke up and Ja Sun perked up, "Yes?"

"Your hand is growing a little bold?"

"It's just because of movement," Ja Sun smiled.

"Do you know where my knees can reach because of movement?" Ah Yin questioned and Ja Sun's hand rested close to Ah Yin's arm now.

"No need to be so mean," he sighed as he sat down. His head was still aching due to the sudden flare of mental energy from Bibi Dong's side and if it wasn't for his entirety of mental energy condensed into Astral Combatant, his situation would have been even severe but this still allowed Ja Sun to realize a depth about Bibi Dong more than she allowed others to realize. And the feeling of being stared back by Abyss was strangely exciting. New, even.

Soon, everyone changed and finally began to discuss plans on how to deal with such a situation. Since everyone had uncovered the true horrors of a beasttaken tribe, now, none remained as casual and confident they were prior to this, even Liu Erlong who was more than eager to slaughter before but now, even her heart was filled with a disturbing sense of hesitation. Since their task was to deal with the beasttakens together, and already accepting that even she may have to take part in the competition, Bibi Dong planned the next stage of battle together with others once everyone disclosed most of their known abilities in a little more detail.

It was now or never. If they still held back on important details that weren't truly worth hiding as an important secret then once these hidden abilities are known, he or she may truly never be part of the team. Knowing this, and understanding that nobody actually had a reason to feel distrusting to the other, Bibi Dong finally created a rather substantial plan that finally gave Ja Sun a direction to set his new mission, and knowing the dangers of the beasttakens, he could make an informed decision based on restrictions he needed to place on himself to achieve greatest rewards.

[Objective: Assist Bibi Dong, Hu Lana, Xie Xan, Liu Erlong, and Ah Yin in wiping out the beasttaken tribe and find an enclosed space privately to pump your fists.

Optional Objectives:

1) Accomplish objective with the said members being unscathed.

2) Accomplish objective without utilizing Astral Combatant.

3) Accomplish objective without using the first three spirit skills.

4) Accomplish objective without using Nightmare's Fantasy skull bone.

Mission Rank: A-S-S-S-S

Mission Rewards: 6000-year-old Mad Wolf Left Arm Spirit Bone—A shard of Life Gold Crystal—Extreme Phantom Shadow Technique—2nd Grade Mystical Light Wisdom Orchid—Mask of Mischievous Deity.

Time Limit: 12 Hours.]

Ja Sun did add a time constraint but all of them were removed suggesting that anything below 12 hours was impossible and thus, a certain demise. But needless to say, gazing at the such a thick 'assss', Ja Sun's breathing turned rough momentarily. Now he wanted to take time and find all the beasttaken tribes.