The attendant bowed her head. "I'm sorry, honored seniors. Once a mission is claimed, it cannot be disclosed unless it is failed or reassigned."
The bald one eyes narrowed as he leaned forward. "You sure you want to test us?"
The silver-haired disciple whispered something into her ear.
Her face paled slightly. She looked around. Then reluctantly pulled up the internal mission log and whispered back.
"Weeping Hollow, huh?" the bald one chuckled. "Heh. That place might just eat him alive."
"Not unless we get there first," the silver-haired disciple muttered with a smile.
They turned and walked away with their laughter echoing behind them.
Victor, moved swiftly through the quiet paths that led out of the Violet Spring Sect with his blade secured by his side.
The journey to the Murktree Forest had begun the moment he accepted the sect mission from the hall, and though he sensed the growing intensity of the world outside the sect, he remained unaware of the quiet footsteps trailing behind him at a distance.
His Void Emperor Bloodline kept his senses slightly sharper than most, but even then, whoever was following him was skilled enough to stay out of range.
It took him nearly thirty minutes to reach the borders of the Murktree Forest. The forest was dense and veiled in shadows even though the sun was still high in the sky.
Long, twisting branches hung low like arms trying to pull intruders inward, and the wind carried an unnatural chill. Birds did not chirp here. No beast calls. No sound of life.
It was way different from the bloodshade hunting grounds.
Fang Chen stepped cautiously between the moss-coated roots, scanning for landmarks.
If this is Murktree, then the Weeping Hollow shouldn't be too far ahead...
As he descended deeper into the forest, the air began to grow heavier. It wasn't long before he came upon a strange clearing where the trees thinned out, and the grass below was blackened and twisted.
At the center stood a corrupted tree—
It's roots curled outward like dead serpents and dark veins of spiritual rot spread across its bark.
A sharp nauseating feeling hit Victor's throat.
He had found the Weeping Hollow.
He stepped closer with his eyes narrowed.
The rogue spirit leeches are under those roots.
As if in response to his thought, a cluster of vines jerked to life. They moved like tendrils, slithering across the soil toward his legs. One of them launched suddenly, aiming for his foot.
Victor leapt backward and drew his sword in one smooth motion. A clean arc sliced through the vine, severing it instantly.
An intense high pitch scream followed—
As the vine fell twitching to the ground, a wave of dark qi spread outward from the tree roots. Fog surged from beneath, flooding the hollow in seconds.
The world turned black.
<[ Status Effect: Fog of Corruption – Vision -75% ]>
<[ Warning: Rogue Spirit Leech Swarm Detected ]>
Fang Chen blinked. He could barely see a meter in front of him now.
He moved slowly with an expression of caution while turning from side to side with his sword outstretched.
A slimy grip suddenly wrapped around both his ankles. He slashed downward instinctively but it didn't help.
He was yanked violently into the air by whatever had gripped him and now he was upside down.
[Alert: You are being restrained by Corrupted Vines]
A massive mouth formed entirely of spirit leeches, spiraling in grotesque formation like a throbbing whirlpool of flesh and teeth.
He was hurled down toward it.
"Nuh uh not today..."
<[ Void Emperor Bloodline Activated ]>
Arrow-like runes blazed beneath his skin as spatial qi twisted the air around him.
Victor made quick hands with his two of his fingers intertwined and pointed at a direction.
<[ Bloodline Technique Activated: Shadow Blink – Void Emperor Exclusive ]>
In the next instant, Victor vanished mid-fall and reappeared behind the monster with his feet sliding across the ground.
The corrupted grove trembled as spatial pressure blanketed the hollow.
Without delay, Victor unsheathed his sword again.
<[ Technique Activated: Phantom Moon Slash – 45% Mastery ]>
This move was especially devastating against dark spirits.
His blade glowed with white light, leaving ghostly afterimages with each swing as he darted from side to side, confusing the spirit leeches.
His real attack was cloaked in layered qi, redirected to strike from unexpected angles.
Gashes opened along the side of the rogue leech mass. Corrupted blood spewed from its wounds.
The vines in the surroundings retaliated.
Dozens of them struck toward Victor from all directions.
But he didn't falter. His sword spun like a cyclone as each moved guided the blade like flowing water, severing one vine after another.
His footwork danced around roots and stones.
One vine emerged from his blind spot, seeking his throat.
It was like time had slowed at this moment as Victor lifted his hand and activated a skill only accessible through his Void Emperor Bloodline.
<[ Bloodline Technique Activated: Spatial Lock – Void Emperor Exclusive ]>
The vine froze mid-lunge, trapped by an invisible force.
The same invisible force wrapped itself around the vine and Victor pulled his left hand forward, causing the entire vine to rip from its root.
"You want to play? Fine!"
He swung the detached vine like a whip with his qi, slapping the rogue leeches repeatedly.
Wet slaps echoed across the battlefield and with every hit, blood flooded the surroundings.
Victor pounced forward for the final strike.
But just as he raised his blade—
Two blinding flashes struck from above. A swirling spear of wind came from the left while a wave of blazing flame flame that engulfed the leech core, came from the right.
The rogue spirit leeches screeched in agony.
Victor shielded his face from the impact as he slid backwards.
The corrupted core began to crack and then shattered entirely. Ash and cursed remnants faded into the air.
Victor stood in stunned silence as notifications appeared in front of him.
<[ Mission Failed: Purge The Weeping Hollow ]>
[ Weeping Hollow Purged By Third Party ]