The Other Side of A Cultivation Story

Shu Liang together with Jing and Xiao Ning were inside the Darkwood Forest honing their skills.

The Bandit extermination would be the first real exposure for both Jing and Xiao Ning so Shu Wei instructed his daughter to bring the two to the forest and hunt some demonic beasts.

In a month's time, the two were supposed to learn all the group and individual tactics they should know and the ways of survival.

The bandit extermination would definitely be different from hunting demonic beasts since the latter basically rely on instincts but bandits were different—as cultivators like them, those bandits could also employ traps, formations and other tactics only an individual with wits and smarts could do.

And so, it was only fitting that all of members of the team that the Shu family would send be equipped with necessary adroitness to make it during the entire bandit extermination event.

"Xiao Ning..," Shu Liang called, "..you have to master the timing of your 'Burgeon' skill."

Xiao Ning nodded shyly.

"That skill would be the key in our group attack," Shu Liang added.

Indeed, the 'Burgeon' skill had a tremendous controlling ability due to use of nature—it had a great area of effect that it could trap two or three targets.

For several days, Xiao Ning had been trying to master the effective use of her rare skill but so far she could only catch two targets at most—what Shu Liang had in mind was to make use of the skill to its full potential.

Jing on the other hand was already well adept with his prized 'Poison Haze' skill. Qai had priorly informed him about how to efficiently use the skill.

In Shu Wei's mind, he specifically chose Jing and Xiao Ning because of their rare skills—he knew that the team would be dealing dangerous enemies. The bandits would definitely not hold back when they engaged themselves into fights. Thus, it appeared to be logical that both the 'Burgeon' and 'Poison Haze' would come very handy.

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Qai and Shu Wu finally reached the Moon Village.

They were heartly welcomed by the village chief and Elder Lu who obviously wanted to learn any news from his nephew.

Shu Wu was proud to inform Elder Lu that Su Yu had already broken through to sage realm to the delight of the elder.

"I knew I didn't make a mistake in letting my nephew join you," Elder Lu said happily.

He and the chief particularly looked at Qai and Shandian and noticed immediately that both were in the sage realm as well.

"It looks like 'The Hunters' Plateau' is no longer a pushover..," the chief remarked.

In just a matter of few years, the Shu family had gone through a massive evolution in terms of strength and cultivation—and the two villages were no stranger to that fact.

"How I wish I could do the same for this village..," the chief added as he sighed.

The Shu Wu simply smiled at the chief while Qai rubbed his nose with a slight grin.

In truth, the Moon and Gale Villages also made improvements although not as significant as the progress that the Shu family had. In fact, in just a matter of year after the Wasteland event, both villages had cultivators broke through to initial Earth stage of sage realms.

For that reason, both chiefs were inclined to send a combined six-man team composed of sages and half-step sages in the Bandit extermination.

"By the way..," Shu Wu interruptedly said, "..this is what had happened in the meeting of elders.."

Shu Wu started to recall all the details that transpired during the deliberation few days back particularly how Qai intervened for the low leveled cultivators.

The village chief was delighted that their intention to participate would not be in vain as there would be an assured reward for all the participants.

"If that is truly the case..," Elder Lu exclaimed, "..then there is nothing to be hesitant about joining the event.."

Shu Wu nodded in approval to the elders remarks.

"However..," the Moon Village chief said, "..we will have to burden the Shu family to take care of our team.."

"Please, if you can..," he pleaded, "..protect them."

The chief sighed as he pleaded his request.

"You should understand that we only have few strong cultivators..," he explained, "..and the last thing we wanted to happen is to get them annihilated in the process.."

"This is also the reason why we teamed up with Gale Village..," Elder Lu added. "We cannot send all of the more superior cultivators.. lest we up sacrificing the entire backbone of our beloved village.."

Both villages were, at first, determined to send three cultivators to participate with at least a sage to lead the group—but to raise the probability of survival, the two chiefs of both villages agreed that they better arrange a single team. Thus, the combined team was formed with at least two Sage realm cultivators and four half-step sages.