Sixteen years later, in a secluded mountain forest near Black Valley, the Incense Accumulation Sect's disciples gathered in a clearing for their training mission.
Amid the thunder of galloping beasts, some disciples led their spirit companions over, and the creatures lay down nearby to wait.
"Listen up, everyone. Snow-reflecting orchid seeds favor fertile ground and will survive if planted beside a blood river. Just make sure to space them apart and plant them within your assigned areas. Travel together in your assigned teams. Do not disregard discipline or provoke trouble in pursuit of credit...
"If you encounter disciples sent by the Netherworld Sect, protecting yourselves and your fellow disciples comes first."
The Steward Elder leading them explained the precautions, then had servants unload a large chest from a pack beast's back. Once it was opened, they took out wooden boxes of snow-reflecting orchid seeds, one after another.
These were a new variety of spirit plant that the sect had developed in recent years, possessing the wondrous power to purify netherworld soil and reverse decay.
In just a few short years, increasing numbers of Netherworld Wells had sprung up around Black Valley, bringing endless bloody water from the Nether River and turning the land into netherworld soil.
The Incense Accumulation Sect had held back all this time, secretly researching countermeasures. Even after obtaining this new variety, the snow-reflecting orchid, they had not rashly announced it. Instead, they quietly cultivated seeds in preparation for large-scale planting.
As it happened, the sect had focused its traveling disciples' training on Gathering Grotto Continent in recent years, and many Inner Sect Disciples had come out to undertake duties.
It could be said that the Incense Accumulation Sect had sufficient funds, expertise, manpower, and resources for this undertaking. The time was ripe to launch its countermeasure.