Even after an entire month, there was no news of Damien's whereabouts. It was as if he vanished along with the storm that he wrought.
But even without him, people were forced to continue moving. Since Damien already provided the list of all traitors on the Cloud Plane, the purge began only a week after his disappearance, starting from the Southern Continent.
And at the forefront of that purge were three women whose level didn't match their true strength at all. Naturally, they were Rose, Ruyue, and Elena.
Currently, the trio was in the Sacred Mountain Province of the Southern Continent. As its grand name suggested, it was the central province of the continent, and the home of the ruling Ye Clan.
But that clan was no more. For their sin of colluding with the Nox, they and many other big and small clans all along the continent had been exterminated. The Ye Clan was the final target on the Southern Continent.
But surprisingly, no news of the Southern Continent's events spread to the other four continents. The purge took place in secrecy, just as planned.
All spies and informants were killed, in fact, anyone who tried to leave the Southern Continent was killed without mercy. Even when sect after sect was extinguished, there wasn't even a hint of communication with the outside.
It was, of course, the work of Shangguan Yu. It wasn't by coincidence that he was known as a Formation Emperor. As long as he was present, he could turn any area into an inescapable death trap.
With his formations and Tian Yang's seemingly omnipresent eyes, it was impossible for anyone to escape their wrath.
The number of deaths piled up until close to two million traitors were put to death. And at the same time, thousands of cultivators who fought against them died as well.
Rose, Ruyue, and Elena stood at the forefront of the forces fighting against the traitors. Of those millions who were executed, at least ten thousand met their deaths to this trio alone. Their fighting power was astonishing, especially when they worked together. There were even some pseudo-4th class experts similar to the 11th Elder of the Xue Clan who fell by their hands.
Now that the small war was over, the three were taking the time to relax in a house that was designated just for them.
"Phew…" Rose wiped the sweat off her brow with a towel and sat down on the sofa behind her. "The Southern Continent sucks when you compare it to the Central Continent. The weather here is way too hot."
Ruyue walked out of the nearby bathroom with a towel covering her body. Perhaps the only curious things about her current appearance were the ice crystals floating around her at all times.
"You're at least lucky to practice more neutral elements. I'm completely yin-natured, and my body mirrors that. I feel like I'm going to die every second of every day."
Elena shook her head from the side. "I don't get it. It's not even that hot here. Back in my home city, it would get this hot every single day."
Ruyue shot Elena a glare. "This heat is being stimulated and exponentially increased by the ambient mana of the continent. It's impossible for your home city to reach the same temperatures."
Rose nodded in agreement. "The heat is really sweltering. If a normal person from earth was dropped here, they'd most likely melt on the spot. Even the common people of the Southern Continent are born with monstrous levels of heat resistance to cope. Little Elena, are you sure it's not just you that's abnormal?"
Elena turned her head away with a blush. Well, considering how she had affinities for Light and Life, Elena's natural body functions far exceeded that of any other person at her level. Regulating her body temperature to something comfortable could almost be done passively.
If Elena said this out loud, there was no doubt that Ruyue and Rose would call her a monster. Fortunately or unfortunately, she couldn't be bothered to do so.
"The Ye Clan was really something, wasn't it?" Rose suddenly mentioned.
Elena nodded heavily. "Their geniuses were surprisingly good. It's a shame they didn't come to the Empyrean Dragon Realm."
Ruyue scoffed in response. "What would it change if they went? It's not like you would've seen them considering how…busy…you were."
Elena blushed fiercely at Ruyue's jab and replied quietly. "S-still, I could've met them afterwards…"
Rose and Ruyue burst into giggles at Elena's poor attempt to make excuses. The atmosphere between the three became extremely harmonious as they spent time fighting side by side.
But just as the three of them relaxed after such a long conquest, Ruyue suddenly asked the one question that could immediately dampen their mood.
"Do you think he's safe?" She muttered under her breath.
Until this moment, talking about it was something none of them wanted to do, lest their concentration be disrupted because of their worry.
But now that they had a few weeks to rest before moving to the next continent, Ruyue could no longer hold back the question.
Rose sighed. "Of course, he's okay. Aren't you the one who knows best? What is your soul connection telling you?"
Ruyue looked down at the floor. The answer was the same as every other time she had been asked the question. His vitals were stable, as if he was peacefully sleeping.
But it was that stability that worried Ruyue. If he was doing anything, his vitals would at least show some fluctuation. For him to have such a steady pulse after so long…she was afraid for the worst.
But even though the three of them knew there was a problem, there was nothing they could do to help. Even Tian Yang, as powerful as he is, couldn't divine Damien's location.
So the only thing they could do was wait. Wait and use the blood of traitors to assuage their negative emotions.
And pray for his safety.
Elena sighed to herself. The current situation was the one she hated the most. Just like it was back then, when Damien was pushed into the dungeon, she was powerless to help him in any way.
They were forced to separate just as their relationship was being repaired, and Elena blamed herself for not being strong enough.
Resolve grew in her eyes. She didn't want to be weak anymore. Even though she was arguably at the peak of the younger generation in the Cloud Plane, that wasn't enough.
Because Damien already surpassed that peak. He was already stepping into the ranks of experts. If she wanted to stand by his side, she needed to throw away her current perception of the word "genius."
She needed to start seeing those heavenly geniuses as average stepping stones in her path. She needed to set her goal as the peak genius in her heart, the one who would always surpass those around him.
And she needed the strength to do so with dignity.
She could no longer stay hesitant about leaving. Due to this situation, her decision was made.
'After this purge is finished, I will leave. I will leave and then come back stronger than ever before. At that time, I will stand by your side with confidence. Just…I hope I can see you at least once before I go.'
Her thoughts were only known to her, but her sentiments seemed to catch the sympathy of the surrounding mana.
Her strong emotions…perhaps they would truly be able to reach the one they were intended for.
