CG C122: Imposter Syndrome

The boat glided silently through the air as Kai gripped the railing, his eyes scanning the landscape below. They were a few hundred kilometres away from the border separating the Boundless Earth Sect and the Crimson Phoenix Sect territories.

“You know, this reminds me of my last run-in with those Crimson Phoenix scum," Yin Mengshuang murmured.

Qi Liaxuan sighed, clearly having heard this story before. "Do you really need to tell that tale again, Junior Sister?"

"Oh, come on! It's a good story," Yin Mengshuang protested. She turned to Kai and Shen Yu. "It was about a year ago, I was on a solo scouting mission near the Howling Cliffs. You know the place?"

Kai shook his head, but Shen Yu nodded slightly.

"Well, it's this nasty bit of terrain - all jagged rocks and hidden crevices. Perfect for an ambush, which is exactly what those Crimson Phoenix rats had in mind."

She paused for dramatic effect. "I sensed something was off, but before I could react, they sprang their trap. Three of them - two Core Formation and one late Foundation Establishment. They thought they had me cornered."

"And how did you escape?" Kai asked.

Yin Mengshuang grinned, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Escape? Oh no, little junior brother. I didn't escape. I made them regret ever laying eyes on me." She leaned in, "You see, they didn't know about my special technique - the Mirage of a Thousand Dreams. As soon as they attacked, I unleashed it."

"The Mirage of a Thousand Dreams?"

"It's a high-level illusion technique," Qi Liaxuan explained as he let out a sigh. "Yin Mengshuang is quite adept at it."

"Adept?" Yin Mengshuang scoffed. "I'm a master! Anyway, the technique traps the victim in a series of overlapping illusions. Each time they think they've broken free, they find themselves in another layer of the dream."

She chuckled, the sound both amused and slightly menacing. "Those Crimson Phoenix fools didn't stand a chance. The two Core Formation cultivators spent the next hour fighting shadows while I picked them apart. And the Foundation Establishment one? He was convinced he'd turned into a spirit beast. Last I saw, he was trying to fly off a cliff, flapping his arms like wings."

She's like Kurenai. A master of illusions. I just hope we don't run into anyone like Itachi out there, Kai thought wryly, remembering how easily the Uchiha prodigy had turned Kurenai's illusions against her.

"What's got you looking so serious, Junior Brother?" Yin Mengshuang's voice broke through Kai's thoughts. "Don't tell me my story scared you?"

Kai shook his head, forcing a smile. "Not at all, Senior Sister. I was just... impressed by your skill with illusions. It must have taken a lot of practice to master such techniques."

"Oh, you have no idea!” Yin Mengshuang beamed at him. “But it's worth every moment when you see the look on your enemy's face as they realize they've been trapped in your web."

As Yin Mengshuang launched into her reasons why illusion techniques were the best field to specialise in, Kai found his mind wandering. He looked at the cultivators around him, each ready to risk their lives for the Azure Sky Sect.

Do they really believe in what they're fighting for? Or are they just being used by the higher-ups, like pawns in a game? It's not so different from the wars back on Earth.

The thought left a bitter taste in his mouth. He'd seen firsthand how governments and corporations manipulated people into fighting their battles. Now, in this new world of cultivation and magical sects, it seemed some things never changed.

"This is as far as we can go on boat,” Wang Lin's voice cut through Kai's thoughts. “Prepare to disembark."

The boat slowed to a stop, hovering just above the treeline of a dense forest. One by one, they jumped off the deck. As soon as the last person's feet touched the ground, the boat shrank rapidly, shrinking until it was no bigger than a toy. Wang Lin plucked it out of the air and slipped it into his storage ring.

A loud squawk pierced the air. Kai looked up to see a large raven descending from the sky. It circled once before landing on Wang Lin's outstretched arm. The bird's beady eyes darted between the cultivators before focusing on Wang Lin.

Thanks to his Spirit Beast Communication skill, Kai could understand the raven's message. "Master Wang, the plan was successful. The Boundless Earth Sect members have been delayed as requested."

Wang Lin nodded, gently stroking the raven's feathers. "Well done. Return to your post and keep watch. Alert us if anything changes."

As the raven took flight, Wang Lin turned to the group. "Good news. The Boundless Earth Sect members have been delayed. This gives us an opportunity to deal with the Crimson Phoenix Sect members without interference."

"Perfect," Yin Mengshuang grinned. "I've been itching for some action."

"Remember," Qi Liaxuan cautioned, "we're here to complete a mission, not satisfy your bloodlust, Junior Sister."

Wang Lin nodded in agreement. "Liaxuan is right. We stick to the plan. We can expect to be up against a team of four or five. We don’t have time to play with our food."

He turned to Kai and Shen Yu, "You two, try to keep up. This is your chance to observe and learn."

With that, Wang Lin rose into the air, his body skimming low to the ground as he began to fly. Yin Mengshuang and Qi Liaxuan drew their swords, using them as flying mounts. Kai knew that only Nascent Soul cultivators and above could fly without aid from treasures.

Kai and Shen Yu exchanged a glance, before drawing their own swords and following the others.

As they flew, Kai's eyes darted between his companions. He could see them clearly with his own eyes, but when he closed them for a moment, relying only on his qi sense, he realized something unsettling. Without his map function or visual confirmation, he wouldn't have been able to detect their presence at all.

This is... unnerving, Kai thought, a chill running down his spine. If I couldn't see them or use my map, I'd have no idea the Core Formation cultivators were even here, let alone Wang Lin at Nascent Soul level.

He opened his eyes, watching Wang Lin's back as they flew. If someone like that decided to hunt me, I wouldn't even know they were there until it was too late. No wonder cultivators are so paranoid about hidden masters and secret techniques.

Suddenly, a rustling sound caught Kai's attention. From the bushes below, a small creature emerged. It looked like a cross between a rabbit and a squirrel, with soft brown fur and large, intelligent eyes. But despite its cute appearance, Kai could sense an aura of power that dwarfs his own emanating from it.

Core Formation, Kai realized with a start. That little thing is as powerful as Yin Mengshuang and Qi Liaxuan!

The creature's nose twitched, and its eyes locked onto their group. Even though the cultivators were suppressing their qi, the beast must have used one of its other senses to detect their presence.

With surprising speed, the creature leaped towards them, its cute facade dropping to reveal sharp claws and teeth.

Yin Mengshuang scoffed. "How cute. It thinks it can take us on."

Before anyone else could react, Wang Lin lazily waved his sleeve. A burst of invisible force slammed into the creature. In an instant, the Core Formation beast simply... ceased to exist. There wasn't even a corpse left behind.

Wang Lin didn't even look back as he spoke. "We don't have time to play. Keep moving."

Kai's eyes lingered on the spot where the beast had been. What a waste of resources. A Core Formation beast corpse like that could have been useful. His gaze then shifted to Wang Lin's back. The casual display of power sent another chill through Kai. The difference between us is too great. There's no trick I could pull, no strategy I could use, that would let me win against someone like him.

***

Huang Tao shifted nervously from foot to foot, his eyes darting between the other cultivators gathered in the clearing. At seventeen years old, he was the youngest member of this important mission, a fact that filled him with both pride and anxiety.

I shouldn't be here, he thought, not for the first time. I'm not ready for this.

Despite reaching Foundation Establishment at such a young age, a feat that had earned him the title of "genius" within the Crimson Phoenix Sect, Huang Tao couldn't shake the feeling that he was an imposter. That any moment, someone would realize he didn't belong.

His gaze drifted to the Nascent Soul elder, Master Bu, who sat cross-legged in the air, eyes closed in meditation. The elder's mere presence was enough to make Huang Tao feel small, insignificant. With Master Bu here, we're safe. Nothing can touch a Nascent Soul cultivator.

"Hey, kid," a gruff voice pulled Huang Tao from his thoughts. It was Li Yuan, one of the Core Formation cultivators. "Stop fidgeting. You'll attract spirit beasts with all that nervous energy."

Huang Tao straightened, trying to still his restless movements. "Sorry, Senior Brother Li. I'm just... anxious about the meeting."

Li Yuan's expression softened slightly. "Relax. This isn't your first mission, is it?"

"N-no," Huang Tao admitted. "But it's the first one this important. If we can convince the Boundless Earth Sect to join us against the Azure Sky Sect..."

"It would change everything," Li Yuan nodded. "But that's not your concern. Your job is to watch and learn. Let us handle the negotiations."

From across the clearing, the other Core Formation cultivator, Zhao Xiuying, called out. "They're late. Do you think something happened?"

"Who knows with those Boundless Earth types,” Li Yuan shrugged. “Probably got distracted by a particularly interesting rock formation."

Zhao Xiuying snorted. "You shouldn't underestimate them. I've heard their Earth Manipulation techniques are formidable."

"Formidable or not," Li Yuan retorted, "they're still keeping us waiting. It's disrespectful."

As the two Core Formation cultivators bickered, Huang Tao's attention was drawn to the other Foundation Establishment cultivator, a girl named Jin Ling. Unlike Huang Tao, she seemed completely at ease, lounging against a tree with a bored expression.

"Aren't you worried?" Huang Tao asked her in a low voice.

Jin Ling raised an eyebrow. "About what? The Boundless Earth Sect? Please. They're probably just trying to make us sweat a little before they show up."

"But what if it's a trap?" Huang Tao persisted. "What if they're planning to ambush us?"

Jin Ling laughed. "With Master Bu here? They'd have to be suicidal. Besides, they need this alliance as much as we do. The Azure Sky Sect has been encroaching on their territory for years."

Huang Tao nodded, trying to take comfort in her words. Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

As the sun climbed higher in the sky, the mood in the clearing grew tenser. Li Yuan paced back and forth, muttering under his breath about the rudeness of Earth cultivators. Zhao Xiuying had given up on conversation and was sharpening her sword with quick, angry strokes.

Even Jin Ling's cool facade had begun to crack. "Okay," she admitted, "this is getting ridiculous. They're nearly an hour late."

Master Bu's eyes snapped open, startling everyone. "Patience," he commanded. "The Boundless Earth Sect moves at its own pace. We will wait."

No one dared argue with the Nascent Soul elder, but Huang Tao could see the frustration on his companions' faces.

When more than an hour had passed, Huang Tao's nerves were frayed to the breaking point. Every rustle in the undergrowth made him jump, convinced that something was wrong.

"This is pointless," Li Yuan finally exploded. "They're not coming!"

Just when it seemed like he might actually storm off, Zhao Xiuying spoke up. "Hey, does anyone else feel that?"

Huang Tao frowned, concentrating. Now that Zhao Xiuying mentioned it, there was something... off about the air. A faint pressure, barely noticeable but growing stronger by the second.

Suddenly, the Elder Bu’s eyes snapped open. In a flash, he was on his feet, a green barrier appearing around the group.

And not a moment too soon. A massive bolt of lightning crashed against the barrier, the sound of the impact like a thunderclap right next to Huang Tao's ears.

"Ambush!" the elder roared. "Prepare for battle!"