The Arrival of "Him"
The routine of daily practice for seven hours in the morning followed by lunch and again five hours of practice until dinner continued for the next four days.
As there were now only 3 days remaining before the Disciple Selection. Cao Lao decided to begin the journey towards Giant's Fall. The hired guards including Mu Feng and Ling Xuan also all stopped their business and began the last leg of the journey.
This time Ling Xuan instead of sitting in the caravan like last time, now was walking along the caravan with the other guards at the adept realm and above whereas those who were in the apprentice realm sat in the caravan.
Ling Xuan diligently walked beside the caravan and kept his surveillance high. The journey to Giant's Fall through the WarHammer Crater was an arduous one as not only was the terrain rocky but there were also Wild Beasts that ran amok here along with bandits. Yet the guards for 3 hours didn't encounter anything. In fact it was so boring that most of the time all the guards would talk with each other to pass time.
"Master, can you tell me why there are so few GrandMasters in the Empire?" Ling Xuan asked Mu Feng.
Mu Feng was for a moment taken aback by Ling Xuan's question but he answered nonetheless.
"Grand Master signifies the perfection of the mortal, they are beings who in the Old Times of Myths were considered to be Demi-Gods with only the Mythical Beasts being above. Now achieving perfection of mortality is already one of the hardest things to do as the path to reaching said perfection differs from every single life here. Now you will ask why then do Sects have generational Grand Masters? The answer to that is a mystery for most and they will assume just the techniques being that good but for those who have worked for them they know a bit of the truth." Mu Feng stopped for a moment to glance at his surroundings then continued.
"You see these sects have something that allows them to transfer the cultivation of an individual to another one who practises the same cultivation technique. This makes it so that no disciple has to actively search for perfection and instead just have to be a powerful enough Master rank individual." Revealed Mu Feng completely, stunning Ling Xuan.
As Ling Xuan was about to ask another question Cao Lao called out to him.
"Ling'er, how is your cultivation progressing?" Asked the old merchant.
"I have broken through to the Adept Realm and am currently in the intermediate phase." Ling Xuan truthfully answered.
"I see, ah I still remember when Hao'er reached the apprentice realm and went to the Nine Swan Bridge to confess his love to his beloved." Cao Lao started mumbling.
The confused Ling Xuan was about to ask who they were before Cao Lao switched the topic.
"So are you confident that you will be able to join a sect?" Cao Lao turned serious and asked Ling Xuan in a stern tone.
"Yes Uncle Cao, I am confident that I will enter a sect", answered Ling Xuan with determination in his eyes.
After staying with Cao Lao for more than two weeks Ling Xuan started calling him uncle rather than addressing him as a great elder.
"It is very good to have confidence at this time of one's life." Cao Lao nodded approvingly.
The confused Ling Xuan then moved away from Cao Lao and went back to guarding the caravan alongside Mu Feng.
"Old Cao once had a family you know about 30 years ago during Xia Meng's rule." Mu Feng spoke as he looked at the caravan.
"He had a family?" questioned the still confused Ling Xuan.
"Indeed among them Cao Hao was quite a well known mercenary of Purple Soul City with the rank of an expert, but then it all came downhill when some of Cao Lao's old enemies conspired together and killed Cao Hao through an assassin of Silver Silence." Mu Feng stopped for a moment before continuing.
"Now that the Cao family had lost their most powerful, all enemies that still held enmity towards the family attacked together and nearly wiped it out. Only Cao Lao and his granddaughter survived this mass exodus." Mu Feng sighed.
"I see it's truly a tragedy." Ling Xuan sighed as well.
For the rest of the journey nothing major happened and the Caravan reached Giant's Fall by noon.
.........…
Giant's Fall is regarded as the Sect Capital of the Kingdom due to this being the city held under authority by the 2 Great Sects which are The Divine Sun Sect and The Emerald Throne. The city is also quite famous for both the Gulfio Remains and the titular valley of the city.
The Caravan entered the city through the West Gate and were currently in a tavern drinking to their heart's content, yet 3 people were missing here.
Meanwhile somewhere else a gate to the outside of the city could be seen.
Two hooded figures could be seen leading a much smaller figure to a caravan.
When the smaller figure neared one of the caravans they stopped and looked at the other two.
"I'll now go Seniors, thank you for helping me in my journey so far." The smaller person bowed towards the direction of the other two in gratitude.
"It is no bother to us, we elders have already reached our peak and only hope to nurture prodigies that will become mightier than themselves." One of them laughed heartily, a croak in their voice could be heard.
"Remember Xuan Er that you should never get arrogant or else the other prodigies will soon overtake you regardless of your heaven defying talent, do you understand." The other hooded figure spoke, this was none other than Mu Feng and the one accompanying him was Cao Lao.
"I understand this junior will remember to always be humble." Ling Xuan bowed once again.
"Now, now I have to say something as well Xuan Er and although I am no cultivator will you still heed this old man's advice?" Cao Lao asked.
"Of course Uncle Cao, why will I dare ignore the words of a merchant who wishes the best for me?" Answered Ling Xuan.
"Haha you sure know how to use double meanings you cheeky boy." Cao Lao laughed again amused.
"Now we don't have much time so I'll say this quickly, do not trust any member of the Xia family if you happen to meet them in the Selection. Do you understand Ling Xuan." Cao Lao's face was stern and Ling Xuan felt that he was standing before a soldier who had fought wars with horrors unimaginable to the feeble heart.
"This junior understands!" Ling Xuan bowed once then hopped on the caravan which began moving.
"Old Cao, why did you warn Xuan Er of the Xia Clan after all they don't even know him?" Mu Feng asked, perplexed by the change in Cao Lao's demeanour.
"Although the Clan does not know of him, it does not mean that 'He' will just ignore a talented individual as well." Cao Lao spoke with venom.
"By "He" you don't mean." Mu Feng's eyes widened in realisation.
"Yes, we are talking about the same person." Cao Lao spoke with the same tone.
"B..but wasn't he in exile?" Mu Feng felt dread as he understood the implications of Cao Lao's warning.
"My sources in Dragon's Tail have said that there have been movements in the Far North and sightings of a large group of black clothed figures are also reported there, do you realise what that means." As Cao Lao spoke his voice started sounding hoarse.
"The imminent return of Yìmó Jī." Mu Feng only spoke a whisper.
Cao Lao nodded "He will without doubt be at the Disciple Selection and will also meet Xuan Er."
Mu Feng wanted to just run and stop the caravan Ling Xuan was on and prevent him going to the Disciple Selection.
"Even if you stop him it will do more harm than good, it is better for Xuan Er to only be slightly cautious against him. If he is overly cautious then it will draw 'His' attention." Cao Lao convinced Mu Feng.
"Ha...You are right yet how come the 2 Great Forces don't know of his coming." Mu Feng sighed dejectedly then asked.
"Oh they know he is coming, why wouldn't they know? After all, if I can figure out his imminent arrival, so can they. It is just that they have been ordered to not act." Cao Lao shrugged.
"Who can order them?" Mu Feng knew the answer yet he wanted to confirm.
"Who else can order around dozens of Grand Masters but His Imperial ThroneHolder, Xia Fugui." Revealed Cao Lao.
"We can only hope that Ling Xuan does not arouse suspicion from him." Mu Feng sighed.
"Truly your right, we can only hope." Cao Lao responded.
.........….
Meanwhile, in Purple Soul City a group could be seen walking to hitch a caravan. The one who was in the front of the group stopped suddenly, arousing confusion from the rest of the group.
"Sire, why have you stopped?" An old man asked from the group.
The person turned around his jet black hair and smooth skin dazzling in the sun.
"Oh it's nothing major I just smelled home." The youth laughed it off yet this laugh seemed to terrify the others.
"Come on now men, our journey has almost reached its end and when it reaches the end you all shall be granted power and wealth!" The youth shouted.
"Yes Sire!"
The group ecstatically shouted.
"Then onwards to new horizons men!" The youth as if a knight proclaimed.
"Yes Sire!"
With another shout the group moved forward once again yet what the average citizen saw as madness, the spies hidden saw as a threat.
The spies quickly informed their affiliate groups that The Yìmó Jī had crossed Purple Soul City and in 2 days would reach the capital.