Chapter 3: Towards Polaris Mountain
"This..." Lin Tu wanted to speak, but no other words could leave his mouth. He knows that Lin Xiang was completely right.
The only other friend they have was merely a 4th layer Profound Realm cultivator like them. The advantages she could bring truly were small.
Requesting other help also would be a tremendous task. Who would want to waste their precious time with practically two nobodies in their huge family?
More anxiety gripped Lin Tu's mind. He hurriedly asked, "Ok...if not them, can't we, like, request help from the Lotus Tavern? If we spend money, I'm sure we can make more than enough back."
Lin Xiang quirked his brows. The Lotus Tavern belongs to a certain type of organization that's helpful to all cultivators. From information gathering or missions for cultivators to gain resources, these types of organizations have them.
The Lotus Tavern has a special existence among orthodox and righteous organizations. They neither lean into demonic practices nor righteous practices. As long as one has enough beads, the Lotus Tavern would sure to help.
They would be quite helpful to seemingly ordinary cultivators like Ling Xiang and Lin Tu.
But Lin Xiang continued towards the city gate with the same calm stride. "With our low money, the help we can receive might as well just be us throwing our Profound beads down the river. Just relax and follow my lead."
Nothing could sway Lin Xiang's steps at this point. All Lin Tu could do was sigh and follow behind.
Using the same route as everyone else, the duo soon ended up outside the city gates. They were treated to an endless grassy plain. Everything seemed to expand on for hundreds, no, thousands of miles.
In the far distance, one can spot big mountain hills or mysterious jungles. The air quality in these grassy plains took a noticeable dip. It was far more unfiltered and chaotic, leading to the world's energy becoming that much problematic to comprehend and absorb.
The cultivators close to Sacred Emperor City tend to stay on pre-made dirt paths. Some traveled by foot, others by luxurious carriages, while the higher experts took the skies.
Lin Xiang turned his sights off every beaten path. To his left, he could spot a towering mountain merely a few miles away.
This mountain had a unique appearance. No grass or dirt covered the enormous mountain. Instead, mountain peaks were either covered by endless, frosty snow or scorching hot lava!
The combination of Fire and Ice created a weirdly enticing scenery. Two opposing forces coming together was a work of art.
Lin Xiang felt slightly enthralled. 'The Polaris Mountain. Apparently the handiwork of the world and some great ancient expert. And, my first steps in this new life.'
His lips curled into a faint smile. He told Lin Tu, "Well? Let's not waste daylight."
In the lead, Lin Xiang sprinted off toward Polaris Mountain. His and Lin Tu's speed was terrifyingly quick when compared to average mortals. They were crossing over 300 meters of distance within mere seconds.
Minutes later and they were already nearing Polaris Mountain.
The duo also became far more secluded the farther they travel. There were no other cultivators in their immediate vicinity.
Lin Xiang initially thought this would be an easy-going mission. However, his Soul Sense suddenly pricked his mind. He detected several Profound realm cultivators with malicious intent running straight at them.
With his powerful soul, only Lin Xiang was able to detect this group of cultivators' surface-level feelings. He promptly stopped, his expression still calm.
Lin Tu also stopped, confused by Lin Xiang's actions. Before he could speak, a chilling cold touched his body. His eyes widened as he finally saw streaks of light coming closer to than.
"Shit! Azure Moon School! It has to be Yan Wu coming for us..."
The moment he finished speaking, a loud voice with an overbearing tone boomed through the area.
"Hey, hey! If it isn't Xiang and Tu! So nice for us to meet like this."
As the voice stopped, five young men appeared only 20 meters away from Lin Xiang and Lin Tu.
Lin Xiang made his analysis in an instant. These young men all wore dark blue robes that had gorgeous moon symbols designed all across.
Four of the young men rippled out merely 4th layer Profound Aura. While the young man leading exuded the highest presence of them all. He was the 6th layer of the Profound realm, the peak of the Middle Layer!
His Laws produced a natural, overbearing sensation towards anyone weaker than him. He grasped a higher understanding of power from both the World's energies and his Source Law.
This young man was who Lin Tu wearily referred to as Yan Wu. An average disciple from the Azure Moon School.
Some memories emerged in Lin Xiang's mind. The Azure Moon School is at a higher level of power than his Lin Family. It wasn't to a point where there was an utter disparity. But, many times would the higher-ups turn a blind eye to scuffles like this.
Lin Xiang glanced at Yan Wu with complete indifference.
Yan Wu only took one glance at Lin Xiang, before focusing on Lin Tu. His palm lay open and a seemingly bright smile curled his lips. He said, "You should know that the deadline has already been breached, right Lin Tu? I've been expecting my payment for far too long. You're not trying to take advantage of my kindness, right?"
The boys beside Yan Wu's side smiled with malicious intent as they also spoke up.
"Indeed! It's already enough that Senior Brother Yan had bothered to take the time to help you. He should be demanding more, honestly."
"Right, right? You should no consideration for our generosity."
"It's almost shameless that you are so lax on your payment."
Lin Tu's face darkens beyond belief. The taste down his throat felt as if he had just swallowed a load of filthy grime. His teeth clenched as he said, "I-I...don't have the beads as of now. But if you let us just complete this mission, we can pay you back."
"Oh? Delaying once again." Yan Wu's smile only widens further. "Then it seems like you can only do us another favor. After all, we wouldn't want this going to our Elders, right?"
The boys beside Yan Wu began to erupt with piercing laughter. It pounded into Lin Tu's ears like a beating drum.
Those boys and Yan Wu appeared as if they controlled the entire situation. They didn't put Lin Xiang or Lin Tu in their eyes at all.
All of this didn't even make Lin Xiang flinch. His Spiritual Sea recalled a certain memory. One that is Lin Tu explaining that Yan Wu had one time saved his life while in the Polaris Mountain.
Yan Wu, who came from the Azure Heaven School and with a higher cultivation base, seemingly took in graciousness to save Lin Tu.
By all rights, no matter their attitudes, it would be only right that Lin Tu paid a debt to Yan Wu.
Lin Xiang wasn't there, so of course, he didn't know the full story. But in the end, it was obvious to him that Yan Wu only acted out of selfish intentions. He practically wanted Lin Tu as his servant.
Lin Xiang casually glanced at Lin Tu, noting how hard his jaw was clenched. 'The plight of the weak. They can only be taken advantage of. Oh well. This body does have some karma with this little fellow. Plus, I am curious to see my soul and bloodline in action.'
Lin Xiang calmly matched his gaze with Yan Wu. He simply said, "Lin Tu will pay the original amount without any favors."
The laughter suddenly stopped. The atmosphere froze. Tension began to promptly rise. Yan Wu and his friends finally settled their gazes on Lin Xiang.
Lin Tu's eyes widened. He sent out a hurried sound transmission. 'Brother Xiang! We can't possibly fight Yan Wu! Much less him, even his friends are very troublesome!'
All of his words fell onto death ear for Lin Xiang.
At the same time, Yan Wu's friends' laughter became even more outrageous.
"Would you look at this little weirdo? He's always acting with this fake air of confidence! Does he even know what's he saying?"
"This strange fellow is always reading about fire and ice, acting as if it's really profound. Do we really need to waste time with this guy?"
Yan Wu's lips curled into a sneer. He barely regarded Lin Xiang as he said, "If you have nothing relevant to say, then shut the hell up or scram. Our business isn't yours."
"Is that so?"
Lin Xiang's tone was frighteningly calm. His mind stirred his soul. Soul essence rushed out and stimulated his bloodline.
Power, unfathomable power frantically rose through Lin Xiang's body!
A frosty mist rippled from Lin Xiang. A wave of power washed away the atmosphere and overturn the air!
Yan Wu and his friends promptly shut up. A terrifying cold suddenly shrouded their bodies! Particles of Ice essence penetrated right through their Protective Profound energy!
'What?!'
The mere aura Lin Xiang exuded was only equal to the 4th layer Profound realm. Yet Yan Wu and his friends felt incredibly suffocated!
Lin Xiang didn't bother wasting any more words. With his Heavenly Origin soul, he could just barely stimulate the power of his Absolute Yin-Yang bloodline.
But just this was more than enough to increase Lin Xiang's profound energy to tremendous levels, enough to skip over minor boundaries!
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone