The next day, Mira, Nova, Eden, Seraphina, Everly, and Rayna arrived at a branch of the Battle Maiden Sect located just outside the Ancient Beast Mountain Range to the south. This branch was of great importance to the main Sect as it was the primary hub where many disciples transferred from and where a significant number of resources were gathered.
They controlled many Spirit Stone Mines, ranging from Low-Stage mines all the way to a small Late-Stage mine. However, that was just the tip of the iceberg.
Although the Sect wasn't located directly inside the mountains, it was in a spot that was ideal for growing and nurturing all kinds of plants and herbs.
Upon arrival, they were greeted by the Branch Sect Master, Leona, and several Elders.
Leona was a striking woman in her early forties, with long, black hair that flowed down her back like a shimmering waterfall. Her deep blue eyes were filled with wisdom and determination, revealing years of experience and countless battles fought.
She stared at Nova and the others but lingered on Mira as the feeling she got from her could only be described with a single word:
Dangerous.
'Despite being in the Mortal Shedding Realm, even I feel apprehensive about attacking her.' Leona thought. While she knew she wouldn't lose if the two fought, she felt it wouldn't be as simple as flicking her finger.
"So, you're the disciples that Leader Aelina sent in case of an attack, right?" Leona asked, though she already knew the answer.
"That's right," Nova stepped up and nodded, "Sect Master Aelina sent us here as she speculated that this would be the first place the Crimson Slayer Sect attacked."
"I see. So, we really are at war..." Leona nodded, her eyes narrowing before she shook her head and gestured for them to follow her, "You'll have to fill me in on the details. Leader Aelina didn't provide much information other than there might be an attack and that she's sending you all to help."
Nova nodded, and they followed Leona into a large building, where they all sat down to have a meeting.
Inside the spacious conference room, Mira, Nova, Eden, Seraphina, Everly, and Rayna sat down with Leona and the Elders of the branch Sect. The atmosphere was tense as the implications of the Crimson Slayer Sect's potential attack weighed heavily on their minds.
Nova began explaining the recent events that led to the war and how Cyrus came directly to the Sect with an army, attacking and killing their own.
"There is also a high possibility that someone is orchestrating these events from behind the scenes, and they dispatched Cyrus to launch an attack as a means of testing the waters," Nova relayed what Aelina had told them yesterday.
Mira knew that while what Nova said was partially true, as there was definitely someone behind the scenes, they didn't care about the Battle Maiden Sect.
However, Leona and the others didn't know that, so they took her words as truth.
"So, you're saying that somebody high up in the Unorthodox Faction wants to see the downfall of the Sect?" Leona asked with narrowed eyes.
Nova shrugged her shoulders, "It's just speculation, but that's the most logical guess. Why else do you think we're here?"
Leona understood the underlying meaning of what Nova said.
'If someone truly wants to take us down, it would be foolish to storm the gates of the main Sect. Cyrus must've been sent there to get a feel for the Sect's overall strength. If I were them, I would retreat, regroup, and attack the Sect's weak pointsâ€"in other words, us branch Sects, and slowly whittle us down until we have nothing else and there's nowhere to go. Given that my branch Sect nurtures and produces the highest quality products and disciples among all the other branches, it's highly likely they'll attack me first.'
Once she finished soaking in all this information, Leona took a deep breath and looked around the room, her eyes full of determination. "It seems we are indeed at war," she said, her voice strong and unwavering. "We must prepare ourselves and defend our Sect with everything we have. The resources we gather and the disciples we raise here are crucial to the Battle Maiden Sect, and we cannot afford to lose them."
"Elders! Gather all the disciples and tell them to prepare for war! The enemy could be at our front door any moment, now-"
"Wait a moment, Elder Leona!" Eden interrupted her passionate speech.
"..."
The whole place turned quiet as they all looked at the elven woman curiously.
"The Sect Master gave us strict instructions to deal with this situation ourselves. You and the other Elders can handle anyone in the Mortal Shedding Realm, but we must deal with anyone below that."
Leona and the others were taken aback by that and couldn't help but look at the group of six young women as if they had each grown second heads.
"What do you mean?!" Leona was the first to snap out of her reverie, "How can you fight against an army of people by yourselves?!"
"That's right! Isn't Leader Aelina too cruel to do this to you young women??"
"I know you all are strong, but this is too much! What is Leader Aelina thinking?!"
"I understand not wanting our involvement, but at least let the other disciples help you!"
The other Elders agreed with Leona and voiced their concerns, causing the tension in the room to rise.
However, Eden, Nova, and the others looked unfazed as they waited for everyone to calm down. It took a few moments, but everyone eventually settled down as they understood that Aelina wouldn't do something like this for no reason.
In a calm voice, Eden responded, "We are at war, Elders, and war cannot be won by 1, 2, 3... or even six people. All of us must participate, and everyone has a role they must play. It just so happens that as the elites of the Sect, this is our role. I understand that you all are concerned, but rest assured, we are not weak, and we certainly won't lose to those lowlives who treat human lives as nothing more than livestock."
"If you have any complaints, please take them up with Sect Master Aelina. I'm sure she will be most unhappy to listen to you."
Leona and the Elders all flinched and felt a shiver run down their spines, listening to the calmness in Eden's voice. Not just that, but the thought of running to Aelina and complaining...
They didn't even want to think of doing something like that. Not at a time like this, anyway.
"You just need to defend the Sect, the resources, and the disciples. We'll take care of the rest," Nova said.
Under Nova's insistence, Leona had no choice but to agree with her. However, just because she's leaving the potential army to them doesn't mean that she and the Elders were useless.
They immediately started discussing various defensive strategies and methods to counter the enemy's attack while also considering the possibility of unexpected reinforcements from the Shadow Necromancer Sect, Toxic Blade Sect, or any other Unorthodox Faction Sect.
In the midst of the discussion on the topic of the Toxic Blade Sect, Mira took the opportunity to ask about the Forbidden Forest. "Leona, I've heard that the Forbidden Forest is located to the east of here. Is that true?"
Leona frowned at Mira when she referred to her so casually, but the hint of malice that escaped Mira's eyes when she said "Forbidden Forest" made her swallow her discontent.
Leona raised her eyebrows in surprise, not expecting such a question at this moment.
However, she answered Mira's query, "Yes, it's true. The Forbidden Forest is located several thousand kilometers to the east. It's a treacherous place where supposedly, even experts in the Divine Sea Realm have perished within its depths. It's also said that the Toxic Blade Sect's headquarters is there, but that hasn't been confirmed."
"...If I may ask, what business do you have there, Miss?"
'Miss?' The Elders, Nova, and the others all raised an eyebrow at Leona's way of referring to Mira but said nothing, as they were also intimidated by Mira's presence and aura.
"It's personal."
That's all Mira said before she crossed her arms and closed her eyes, leaving the rest of the discussion to the others.
Everyone's lips twitched at her disinterested and indifferent attitude but decided not to dwell on it.
The meeting continued, with the group finalizing their defensive strategies and assigning roles to each member. As they prepared for the upcoming battle, the tension in the air grew thicker, with the sense of impending danger looming over them.
Hours later, as they neared the end of their discussion, they felt the ground beneath them shake, and the atmosphere seemed to grow heavy with malicious intent. The first signs of the Crimson Slayer Sect's arrival could be felt in the air as if a storm was brewing on the horizon.
"They're here." Mira opened her eyes and said. Her crimson eyes glowed as she stared into the distance.
