Chapter 431 (1/2)
”So we are here, in the lands of the unknown...”
A man with an extensively long beard floated around while holding a staff made from wood. At the tip, there was a large round blue orb that this staff wrapped around. The old man looked out into the distance, his eyes shining brightly with a blue hue as he examined the situation.
”Grand Wizard, we have managed to transport the magical gates, we can proceed.”
”Ah, Sir Basil. Make sure that the regiment of Paladins is ready, we have some visitors, I don't know if they are hostile, I will greet them first while you make the gate ready, we might need some reinforcements.”
”As you command, lord Argus!”
A man dressed in shiny white armor made a salute to the floating man. While it didn't look that the knight could fly on his own, he was mounted on a horse with wings. Both of them radiated a strange energy that was similar to Qi yet different.
The man referred to as Argus floated forward. With his magical capabilities, he noticed a group of twenty people flying this way. They didn't seem to be simple humans as most of them were flying on swords with one, in particular, standing out.
'This place is very peculiar… The mana here is very thick, casting spells should be quite easy. This might really be the promised land of magics that the legends have foretold!'
Argus smiled to himself but his expression quickly turned sour. While his men were down on the ground and preparing the grand magic for protection, potential enemies were approaching.
”Identify yourself, from which sect do you hail from?”
The old man flew forward to intercept the approaching natives. He was sure to quickly put some distance between himself and the place where they had come from. They had traveled through a wide tunnel of energies that was quite wide.
At the part that they came out, the land looked somewhat devastated. All to the sides were massive elemental storms that even this grand wizard had no hopes of subduing. But, when all of them looked ahead they spotted lands with lush forests and ample water.
”I welcome thee, my friends, I mean you no harm.”
Argos smiled at the group of people but he never let go of his grand staff. The people that flew over stopped before him but were clearly on guard. He did not know them or how they would react to his magic but if it was possible he would rather not get into conflict with them.
”Friends? Who are you? This is the territory of the great Crimson Blood Spider Sect! You don't look like a member of the other sects… are you a rogue cultivator?”
The men that he was talking to had a certain air around them. Their robes were pitch black and on the back, they had a red insignia that looked like a venomous spider. Argos could sense the killing intent that these people were radiating, it was clear that they weren't the gentle type.
”A cultivator? Like in a garden? No, my name is Argos, I come from a faraway land and I would wish to…”
”Silence! Do you think we are fools! Did you think we wouldn't sense those people? You dare!”
Before he could even start, the diplomatic approach had fallen through. He didn't know how but through means unknown to him one of the people there could sense the paladins working in the distance.
Normally as a grand wizard, he would know if something like that happened as there would be mana used. These people on the other hand felt somewhat different, they weren't using mana the same as he was. It was clear that they possessed powers alien to him, but this didn't mean that he was frightened.
”My friend, just calm down I'm sure we can…”
”Silence, you will come with us or face our poison.”
A shroud of green miasma started surrounding all of these people while Argos remained calm. He could not go with them, it was clear that if he surrendered then he would either die or be imprisoned by these natives.
”I'm afraid I'll have to refuse your offer…”
He replied but as soon as he did, the natives that were flying on the swords bolted towards his position. There was something strange with the rings that they were using. Argus felt something akin to spatial magic as they swished their hands to produce weapons.
Regretfully for the attacking cultivators, there weren't dealing with the average magus. The moment they tried getting close they found themselves being repelled by an invisible barrier. Even though they tried, any attacks performed against this mana-barrier were useless; they even received a rebounding effect that caused damage to them instead.
”I guess it can't be helped, go to sleep.”
The floating wizard pointed out with his staff and performed a very quick chant. The moment he was finished a strange violet haze appeared around the core formation cultivators that were trying to attack him. It covered their faces and in a matter of moments, they were in a deep slumber.
”What is this technique? Watch out brothers, this old man isn't that simple!”
Argus swung his staff around and quickly disabled every one of the sword-flying cultivators. But then when he attempted to do the same to what looked to be the leader his spell was repealed.
Soon a battle ensued between the two old men, one slinging strange poisonous arts that when touching any of the flora quickly died. The cultivator from the Crimson Blood Spider sect was astonished. Tried he did but he was unable to pierce through that mana barrier that was produced.