Maiden Of The Splitting Moon

"What do you mean?" Ming Yue asked. 

Senior Qiu looked at her before glancing away. 

"Do you know why I took you back to our quarters? It is because there are others watching us."

She then took out a small booklet and handed it to Ming Yue for her to read. 

Opening it, Ming Yue read it contents before realizing what it was. 

"This... is a list."

"To be precise, it is a list of all of the different kingdoms and sects that joined the army. This includes their numbers and their names."

"How do you have this?"

"Hah, every side has a list like this. It is normal here. Though tell me, what name there catches your eye?"

Ming Yue looked down and continued to read through until she realized it. 

"There is a group of Tao Feng as part of the army!"

Senior Qiu nodded. 

"Indeed, and this group is like all of the other ones, they are all elites. Elders and strong elites of the Tao Feng Sect."

Ming Yue then thought back to the battle at the Merciless Storm Peak. Was there anyone there other than Dai Mian and his Immortal Army?

"No, there were no elders or even disciples. But most of them must have become part of the Immortal Army" ,she thought. 

But if that was the case, what made this group so special?

Senior Qiu seemed to understand was Ming Yue was thinking and began to explain the identities of those within the Tao Feng. 

"All of them are the personal disciples of the Tao Feng's Sect Leader. Fourteen cultivators with varying skils had been sent here under the guise of experiential training. However, they are really searching for treasures and forgotten skills."

"Do you remember the one named Zuo Er? He was a personal disciple and gained the name of "Junior Sect Leader" but in truth, he was the weakest of all fifteen disciples. He was chosen as successor to the Tao Feng due to his potential being the highest. But then, he was crippled and subsequently vanished from sight."

"He is dead now", Ming Yue blurted out, surprising Senior Qiu, who then went deep into thought. 

"Interesting... Nevertheless, you must be curious as to where they are headed."

"The Hundun Clan, right?" said Ming Yue. 

"Unfortunately not, all of them had mobilized several days ago, splitting into five groups of three. Each one has their own destination but that information is difficult to get. The only one we know of the one closest to us, the Yao Clan's territory. Over there, the Yao and Mu are in a bitter struggle as they have always been."

"Their movement... it matches when the Sect Leader vanished with Hua Xiong."

"In terms of, their goal... the Yao and Mu are currently vying over a secret realm, built by their ancestors as an act of friendship. It is said to contain energy that is extremely beneficial for beasts and cultivators alike, especially those from the Yao and Mu. Not to mention, it contains numerous herbs and treasures within. Rather than a secret realm, it might as well be an inheritance."

Ming Yue listened carefully, committing this information to heart. 

"But if it was created as an act of friendship, why would the two clans fight each other?"

This little detail was strange to her. 

"The Yao Clan originate from the Yao Beast and the Mu originate from Er-Lang Shen, a famed killer of beasts. Do you think they would continue to be friendly with one another? However, they had always been on bad terms. According to what the Yao Clan says, this secret realm was created by force."

"By force?"

"Indeed. It is said that a third party was there and had actually brought the two clans to their knees. A single man was what they said."

Ming Yue felt a bit of shock after hearing that.

"A single man did this?" 

"Yes, apparently he forced them into a truce that lasted generations. Though now, it has been too long and that truce has crumbled to dust, and now the realm the two clans shared is now the center of their struggle."

It was somewhat unbelievable to hear of a figure capable of bending two demon clans to their will. Such a thing was near impossible even if it was two ordinary clans because of the number of people within them. Furthermore, clans had their own resources with an amount proportionate to their size. For Ming Yue, taking down a clan in a small city would be difficult and the chance of success was only a third.

But this person did it with two of the strongest demon clans in what she could only guess was a direct confrontation. That sort of thing required an unimaginable amount of power. Perhaps, someone like the Grand Elder could achieve such a feat but it was more likely that this figure was much stronger. 

"In any case, if you want to know more of their plans. You may have to find them or hunt them down, starting with the group there. There is no time to waste, that group should arrive there in two weeks. Perhaps, you could catch up to them."

"I understand. Thank you for this information."

Ming Yue cupped her fists and bowed. 

"Bah, you should thank the current Sect Leader of Clear Spring Mountain as well as the King of the Clear Sky Kingdom. They place a lot of value on you as do I. Here, a copy of the list, you should know the basic internal affairs of the Six Armies if you are going to be in this continent."

The trio then went on their way after being handed a copy of the booklet.

They walked through the North Fort, looking at it one more time before leaving. By now, it was the night, numerous torches and other sources of light brightened the interior as soldiers changed shifts. 

She walked past the night patrols before stopping at the gates. 

The gate guards stopped her only to open them as she showed her badge. 

Stepping though, the gates closed behind her with a low thud as she gazed at her surroundings. 

"Let's go then, shall we?" 

Looking down at Hei Yue and Xiao Yin, the trio headed towards the west where the Mu and Yao Clans were. 

Ahead of them, walking down a rough path were three figures. Two men and a woman dressed in the Tao Feng's uniform, colored in a deep violet. Their sleeves had pure white stripes and they were pieces of armor over their uniform. 

"How long until we get there, Junior Sister Feng?" 

One of them, a man around the age of thirty spoke up. Among the three, he was the most intimidating having heavy gauntlets for weapons as well as armor that covered the rest of his arms and up to his shoulders. His hair was tied back into a small ponytail which would have blocked a cross-shaped scar on his forehead. 

"At most two weeks, Fourth Senior Brother", she replied.

Junior Sister Feng was by no means ugly nor was she extremely beautiful. She was pretty, having a pair of enchanting gold eyes and gentle pink lips. However, what was most eyecatching were her sleeves which covered her hands and were long enough to reach her ankles. Apart from the white stripes, the sleeves revealed a colorful visage like a dancer's uniform. 

"Mm, I see. Junior Brother Shou, are you clear as to what the plan is?"

Junior Brother Shou walked behind those two and was followed by a pair of wolves. His stature was smaller than his seniors but his pets were by no means weak. Rank 3, Black Fang Wolves, swift beasts with jaws strong enough to crush metal and bone. Furthermore, these were adults, well-nurtured and cared for. It was without a doubt that these two could take on a Rank 4 beast by themselves. 

"Yes, Fourth Senior Brother, we are to head for the Realm of the Red Eyed Moon and take one of the treasures there for the Sect Leader."

"Good, although the plan has been slightly rushed, the first part has been completed. As his disciples, we must help carry out the second part of it."

The Fourth Senior Brother, turned back as he looked at his juniors. 

"Creating a stronger body for him."