Chapter Four: Forming a Team

Yao Xueqing was three years older than Li Sibai. As the daughter of a renowned martial family, she could be considered a true lady of distinction. Her solid foundation, laid from childhood, allowed her to enter the Xuantian Sword Sect at the age of ten. That very year, she passed the selection trials to become an inner disciple, and was fortunate enough to become a pupil of Elder Yunli, famed for his profound teachings.

When Yao Xueqing had just joined the sect, she received much care from Li Sibai, who treated her like an elder sister would a younger brother. Li Sibai himself was fond of his senior apprentice, who was slightly older than him.

However, after Yao Xueqing swiftly advanced to become an inner disciple, their opportunities to speak dwindled. Li Sibai felt shy about approaching her, for she had transformed from his junior apprentice into his senior, and their relationship inevitably grew distant.

Among the inner and outer disciples, seniority was determined by the order of apprenticeship, not by actual age. All inner disciples outranked those of the outer gate; no matter how long one had lingered among the outer disciples, one would have to address even the newest inner disciple as “senior,” for everything was based on ability.

On this day, Yao Xueqing wore an ivory-colored gown adorned with scattered floral embroidery, the crossed collar and flowing sleeves lending her an air of refinement. Beneath, she wore a deep indigo brocade skirt, patterned with entwined golden branches, trailing gracefully to the ground. Draped across her shoulders was a white silk shawl, imprinted with a hundred butterflies flitting among flowers, its delicate fragrance lingering in the air. Her thick, jet-black hair was styled into a double-ringed chignon, adorned with a ruby hairpin shaped like the rising sun, and her hands, fair as sculpted jade, bore a bracelet of emerald beads joined by golden links. At her waist, a crescent-shaped belt held a fragrant sachet, completing her look with both elegance and poise.

At that moment, Yao Xueqing gazed at Li Sibai, her expression shy, tinged with a trace of awkwardness that made Li Sibai both amused and curious.

He Tianshu glanced from Li Sibai to Yao Xueqing and said, “Well then, let’s set out. The sooner we complete our task, the better. Xueqing, be sure to look after Xiaobai.”

Yao Xueqing nodded and quietly followed behind Li Sibai as their group of five departed the sect.

They moved swiftly, exchanging few words. Along the way, Yao Xueqing introduced the two companions traveling with them.

The young man was Gong Degang, about eighteen or nineteen, a disciple of Elder Yun’an, who was renowned for his strict discipline. Gong Degang had thick brows and large eyes, his burly figure carrying a heavy blacksteel sword across his back.

The young woman was Ye Chunjiao, around the same age as Li Sibai, a disciple of Elder Yunfei, famed for his martial prowess. She was still a little girl, preserving the innocence of her years, her large, expressive eyes seeming almost to speak. Her immortal sword was nowhere to be seen. Li Sibai had met Ye Chunjiao before, though they were not well acquainted.

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The four of them were among the most talented young disciples under the four great elders of Xuantian Sword Sect. Entrusted with an important task, they were to hone themselves through this mission: hunting demon beasts in the Dark Forest.

Their assignment was to slay four earth-ranked demon beasts, unrestricted by species, but each member had to kill at least one.

Li Sibai had originally accepted a mission to collect medicinal herbs. With He Tianshu’s company, he could venture deeper into the Dark Forest and thus took on additional tasks to gather rare herbs.

Completion of the task would bring excellent rewards, though failure would have little consequence.

Li Sibai, lacking sufficient rank, struggled to keep pace with the others. They deliberately slowed their progress to accommodate him. After nearly half an hour, they finally reached the edge of the Dark Forest.

The five paused briefly to rest. He Tianshu, as team leader, began assigning tasks.

“Degang, you’ll lead the way. Chunjiao, follow him and scout for demon beasts. Xueqing and Xiaobai, stay in the middle. I’ll bring up the rear. Maintain this formation and move at a steady pace. When we encounter earth-ranked beasts, we’ll hunt them together. We’ll focus on low- and mid-level earth-ranked beasts, allocating them according to their type. If we run into high-level earth beasts, we’ll avoid them. Inside the forest, keep this formation and remain vigilant. Let’s get moving.”

Li Sibai nodded inwardly at the arrangement. It was worthy of the strongest disciple here. With Gong Degang, wielding his blacksteel sword, at the front, the group was well protected. Ye Chunjiao, petite and swift, compensated for Degang’s lack of agility. How she would scout for demon beasts remained a mystery to Li Sibai. He, as the weakest, was placed in the center for protection, with the formidable Yao Xueqing beside him. The strongest, He Tianshu, guarded the rear—a vital role, for the rearguard must watch in all directions, unlike the vanguard, who could rely on support from behind.

After their brief rest, everyone drew their weapons, preparing to enter the forest.

He Tianshu wielded a black sword named “Freedom.” Gong Degang unsheathed his blacksteel greatsword, named “Eight Tigers.” Yao Xueqing held a green immortal sword, its blade clear as autumn water, called “Tianyao.” The youngest, Ye Chunjiao, did not carry a sword, but instead brandished a white whip about three meters in length, gleaming all over. Most peculiar was the whip’s tip, which bore a gourd-shaped ornament, shimmering with a blue light.

Li Sibai himself had not yet acquired a magical weapon. He carried only a short sword for protection, practicing the sect’s most basic Xuantian Sword Technique—the first thirty moves.

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This Xuantian Sword Technique was both fundamental and renowned, consisting of thirty-six moves in total. Outer disciples trained in the first thirty for self-defense.

The swordplay blended strength and gentleness, speed and precision, comprising the most essential forms—summarized by the ancestors as the most practical techniques. The most coveted were the final six moves, taught only to inner disciples. These six moves offered endless variations; mastered to perfection, they allowed one to counter any attack with no fixed form, always seizing the initiative.

Maintaining their formation, the group moved swiftly toward the depths of the Dark Forest.

Upon entering the forest, Li Sibai immediately sensed the air grow more humid, the rich fragrance of plants invigorating his body. If not for the ever-present demon beasts, this place could have been a paradise.

“Xiaobai, stick close to me so I can protect you,” Yao Xueqing said, turning to Li Sibai with concern in her eyes.

“Yes, senior sister, I’ll stay right behind you,” Li Sibai replied, feeling a bit nervous. Though he had been to the Dark Forest before, it was mostly at the outer edges, gathering herbs where only yellow-ranked beasts roamed, most of them docile. Now, as they ventured deeper, he felt the mounting pressure.

“Don’t worry, Xiaobai—we have magical weapons!” He Tianshu winked at Li Sibai and glanced at Ye Chunjiao.

Li Sibai was puzzled, while the others all laughed.