Rebirth Immortal-Chapter 27: Into the Northern Wastelands

The journey to the Northern Wastelands was harsh. Cold winds howled through the rocky valleys, and the sky remained covered in thick gray clouds. The ground beneath their horses turned from soft soil to cracked, barren earth. There was no sign of life--only endless emptiness and the occasional ruins of old sects that had long been abandoned.

Ye Chen, Su Lan, Zhao Ming, and Lin Xia moved carefully. This was not a place for the weak. Rogue cultivators, assassins, and beasts roamed freely, preying on the careless.

Lin Xia shivered slightly as she pulled her cloak tighter. "I've heard stories about this place. Cultivators who come here either disappear or return with madness in their eyes."

Zhao Ming nodded. "The hidden sects in these lands have no rules. They kill, rob, and experiment on humans like they are nothing."

Su Lan, who was leading the way, suddenly stopped. She raised a hand, signaling everyone to halt.

"Someone's watching us," she said.

Ye Chen's eyes sharpened. His divine sense spread out, scanning the area. A moment later, he felt it-several figures hiding in the shadows of the nearby rocks.

"A group of six," Ye Chen said. "They've been following us for the last ten minutes."

Zhao Ming's expression darkened.

"Bandits?"

"No," Su Lan whispered. "They're killers."

Without another word, she vanished. A second later, a sharp cry echoed from the shadows.

Ye Chen smirked. "She moves fast."

Lin Xia pulled out her sword. "Should we help?"

"There's no need." Ye Chen shook his head.

Moments later, Su Lan reappeared. Her dagger was stained with blood.

"They were assassins," she said calmly.

"Someone already knows we're here."

Zhao Ming frowned. "That means we're expected."

Ye Chen nodded. "Good. Let them come."

As they continued deeper into the wastelands, the ground became uneven, with jagged cliffs rising on both sides. It was the perfect place for an ambush.

Ye Chen knew this, but he didn't slow down. He wanted the enemy to strike first.

They didn't have to wait long.

A sudden explosion erupted ahead, sending dirt and dust flying into the air. At the same time, figures leaped from the cliffs, their blades gleaming.

"Kill them!" a voice roared.

A dozen assassins rushed forward. They were all cultivators, their movements swift and deadly.

Zhao Ming reacted first, drawing his sword and blocking an incoming strike. Lin Xia raised her hands, summoning a wall of ice to block the attackers on the left.

Ye Chen remained calm as an assassin lunged at him. With a flick of his wrist, his sword cut through the attacker's throat.

Blood sprayed across the ground as the assassin collapsed.

Another came from behind. Ye Chen spun, dodging the strike, and slammed his palm into the man's chest. The force shattered the assassin's ribs, sending him flying.

Su Lan moved like a shadow, her dagger slicing through the air. Each time she moved, another assassin fell.

Within minutes, the battlefield was silent.

The assassins lay dead, their bodies scattered across the ground.

Lin Xia wiped sweat from her forehead.

"That was fast.!"

Zhao Ming kicked one of the corpses.

"Who sent them?"

Su Lan knelt beside one of the bodies and pulled out a small token. It was marked with a strange symbol--a blood-red moon.

She frowned. "Blood Moon Pavilion."

Ye Chen narrowed his eyes. "A hidden

sect?"

"Yes," Su Lan said. "They control most of the assassins in the Northern Wastelands.

If they're after you, things just got more complicated."

Zhao Ming sighed. "Wonderful. So now we have assassins on our backs."

Ye Chen smirked. "Let them come. I'll kill every last one of them."

Su Lan looked at him for a moment before nodding. "We need to keep moving. The deeper we go, the more dangerous it will get."

By nightfall, they arrived at a small town on the edge of the wastelands. The buildings were old and worn, with broken windows and faded signs.

People in ragged robes moved quietly, avoiding eye contact. The air smelled of alcohol, sweat, and blood.

"This place stinks," Lin Xia muttered.

Zhao Ming chuckled. "Welcome to the wastelands."

Ye Chen led the way to an inn. The owner, an old man with a scarred face, glanced at them but said nothing as they entered.

"We'll take two rooms," Su Lan said, tossing a few silver coins onto the counter.

The old man nodded and handed them the keys. "Be careful," he whispered.

"Strangers don't last long here."

Ye Chen smiled. "Thanks for the warning ."

After settling in, they gathered in one of the rooms to discuss their next move.

"We need to find the Blood Moon Pavilion's base, Su Lan said. "Someone there knows who ordered your death.

Zhao Ming nodded. " can ask around. This town is full of informants."

Lin Xia frowned. "That's risky. If word gets out that we're looking for them, they might strike first."

Ye Chen leaned back. "Let them. I want them to come to us."

Su Lan raised an eyebrow. "You want to set a trap?"

Ye Chen smirked. "Exactly."

The next morning, Zhao Ming spread rumors in the town that a powerful cultivator was looking to challenge the Blood Moon Pavilion. It didn't take long for the message to reach the right ears.

By nightfall, the assassins arrived.

Ye Chen and the others waited in the abandoned warehouse they had chosen for the fight. The doors creaked open, and a group of men in dark robes stepped inside.

Their leader, a tall man with a scarred face, sneered. "You must be the fool who wants to challenge us."

Ye Chen stood up, smiling. "That's right."

The leader's eyes flickered with anger.

"You don't know who you're dealing with."

Ye Chen's smile widened. "No. But I know how this ends.!

Before the assassins could react, Su Lan struck first. Her dagger flashed, and one of the men fell with a gurgle.

Lin Xia raised her hands, sending sharp icicles flying through the air. Three assassins screamed as the ice pierced their bodies.

Zhao Ming moved fast, cutting down another before he could counterattack.

The leader roared in fury, drawing his sword and charging at Ye Chen. "Die!"

Ye Chen didn't move. He waited until the last moment, then sidestepped and drove his fist into the man's gut. The leader coughed blood, his eyes wide in shock.

"You..." he gasped.

Ye Chen leaned in. "Who ordered my death?"

The leader spat blood and laughed. "You think I'll tell you?"

Ye Chen's eyes turned cold. He raised his palm, and a powerful wave of energy slammed into the leader's chest, shattering his ribs.

The man screamed in agony. "W-Wait! I'll talk!"

Ye Chen stopped. "Speak."

The leader coughed, his face pale. "The order... it came from the Eastern Lands... from someone... high up..

Ye Chen's eyes narrowed. The Eastern Lands? That was where the true power of the cultivation world resided.

Before Ye Chen could ask more, the leader convulsed and foam appeared at his lips.

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His body twitched, then went still.

Su Lan cursed. "Poison. He was silenced."

Zhao Ming shook his head. "Whoever is behind this... they don't want us to know the truth."

Ye Chen clenched his fists. The enemy was bigger than he thought.