The Cultists

"Sect Master Won Feng, would you be able to tell us about the Cultists?"

Julong smiled as innocently at the old man as he asked such a question, only causing Won Feng to give him a half-worried look. The trio who were now sitting in front of the Sect Master had gotten back only an hour or two ago and were already willing to go back out for the next commission, something which served to worry the elderly man.

Well... actually taking a look at the youngsters, only two of them were willing. Xiao Dai looked like she wanted nothing less than to leave their presence. Understandably she didn't want to join the two psychopaths from the Cangxuan Sect in their venture to Cult grounds.

The commission was 3 Stars for crying out loud!

"Well, the Cultists, as I'm sure you've guessed are radical followers of a religion based on the Mythical Serpent that died here. They believe that the Serpent will one day rise again and take control of Tianyuan World." Won Feng explained, with obvious ridicule for the idea in his tone and body language. "Any normal person would be able to wipe such an insane idea from their mind easily, however, these people I wouldn't say are normal in any regard to the word. They conduct barbaric rituals and quite simply have abandoned their humanity - merely only living in a human's skin."

Qingchan seemed intrigued by what Wong Feng had said, "By abandoning their humanity, do you mean their rituals are so disturbing?"

Won Feng nodded. If not for their interesting way of life - they were definitely known as savages due to their rituals.

"It has been recorded on multiple occasions that they will sacrifice and eat each other. How often it occurs I am not sure, though I do know that when it does happen, it leaves quite a horrid mess. We have found quite a few ritual sites and they are far from comfortable to be around. That is not all either, they have other rituals which are just as disturbing, which I do not wish to continue explaining."

"Of course, Elder."

Through the explanation, Julong noticed a lack of presence from Xiao Dai. She looked horrified, but Julong couldn't quite pinpoint why. She would have known all of that before Won Feng explained it - it was supposedly common knowledge in the domain.

There was something a little bit suspicious about it all, but he brushed it off as Xiao Dai being worried about going on the commission with them both.

"Would you be able to tell us where they like to stay around? I read the commission information and it said they moved around a lot, and that finding them would be down to chance."

Won Feng nodded his head with closed eyes, seemingly in thought.

"That is mostly true, as to how down to chance it truly is I cannot say since they do seem to move to spots they have already been before, these spots being different parts of the skeleton of the Serpent. Naturally, they assume that living within the withered bones of the beast will increase the rate at which the Serpent will return. It is their assumption that the reason the Genesis Qi's around here clash so violently is that the Serpent is attempting to take control of the Genesis Qi and revive itself - this also coincides with their reasoning for the Fortressing Events. They think that the walls are so the Serpent can shield itself so it can properly reform, but because the walls crumble due to the Genesis Qi in the ground, it prevents the Serpent from creating a proper cover for itself."

Julong listened intently, it certainly was far-fetched, but they did live in a very mythical world and just about anything was possible.

"As such, the point of their rituals is to drain people of their Genesis Qi and provide it to the Serpent without interference from the Genesis Qi in the ground. Such rituals have been occurring for thousands of years, and no progress has been made, so you'd think such a radical idea would have finally usurped their minds - though it seems as though their faith only grows stronger."

Won Feng explained with a grimace. He truly couldn't understand their stupidity. For people to be so brainwashed, there definitely had to be something else going on.

"So that's the point of the commission, I'm assuming? Figuring out why there are still so many Cult members since there is no reason for them to still be taking part in the cult." Qingchan asked as Julong nodded in affirmation of the idea.

"That is correct. I'm not sure what it is that drives them, but it can't be good." Won Feng sighed. "It's likely not even in relation to the resurrection of the serpent anymore, which is why no one has dared to go on the commission. I would have gone myself, however, since the Sacred Palace started applying more pressure to our domain, I have not had the liberty to do so. So, I am very thankful that you are both willing to take on this commission in steed of myself, that is of course why I also have to have Xiao Dai accompany you though, so it doesn't seem like I sent you both out in disregard to the populace of the town."

Julong gave a rather hearty chuckle. "That is quite alright Elder Won Feng, Xiao Dai is a pleasure to be around, I'm sure you're very glad to have her as your disciple."

"I am beyond proud of her. She has achieved so much in the short time I have had her as a disciple, and I'm sure she will achieve much more."

Xiao Dai sat there, now looking down at her knees unsure what to think. There was only one thing running through her mind, one set of words. It wasn't a thankful gesture, nor one she was going to say out loud. In fact, if any of them could see her face they would probably have an idea of what the words were - the nervousness and sadness that laced her features were enough to identify them.

If only they knew.