Chapter 30: Qin

[Nam. These families are very interesting. Percy said we'd be worthless if I weren't an Axonn.] Atlas reclined, communicating with Nam.

{Although I'm not a Warrior, age has given me enough information to teach you some things. The boy named Percy learnt his knowledge well. There are eight Class 1 families: Qin, Lin, Draco, Huang, King, Song, Neo and Tang. Other than the 8 families, there are numerous sects in China. They are reclusive and are hidden in remote places, unknown to society. Since Class 1 families exist, it would be natural to have Class 2 and 3 families too, such as Chen, Lao or Summer.}

[I see...] Atlas nodded, taking a glance at the photo on the wall, the gorgeous couple smiling blissfully.

{Don't bear high hopes and attempt to go to the capital now. I've passed by the capital for business when I was younger and made a friend in a Class 3 family. Since I'm a spirit in your pendant now, I can somehow evaluate Aura Users' specific rank of cultivation. When I was invited to visit, their entrance guards were either Tier 8 Elites or Tier 9 Tyros. If Aura masters are merely watchdogs, an Axonn may be worth roping in and treated slightly better, but not respected. Imagine the same scenario in a Class 2 or 1 family. The kid was bold, but right to say that a Tier 1 Axonn would be worthless.}

Atlas exhaled a tremendous amount of air. "Who are my parents? Is the Qin family my home? If so, will I be accepted?" Atlas shut his eyes, his mind fuzzy.

Kristine sat on the stairs, hands over her face on her lap, away from Atlas's sight. Her phone lay by the side, the screen displaying a bright, eerie light. All she wanted was to impress Atlas with her best costume, yet disaster decided to strike at the worst time possible. Her gorgeous pink dress was drenched. Tears slid down her cheek, into the corner of her mouth. They were exceptionally warm and bitter.

There is a saying: Tears of joy are sweet. Tears of sorrow are bitter. Today it proved true to Kristine.

How could she forget. This was only a temporary job. It is not permanent. His duty is to protect her, and when danger is over, he'll leave for another job. He'll leave forever, and she'll return to her casual life. That was the positive thought. The message she received destroyed her optimistic dreams. It was a report from her cousin who lived in the capital.

Silent weeping couldn't escape his Third Eye. It magnified. A heavy sensation hit Atlas in the heart as Kristine walked up the stairs with light footsteps from the harsh reality she can't handle.

The door upstairs closed gently.

The message lingered before Atlas's eyes.

[I've got very bad news Kris. My mother and I cannot help you anymore. Grandfather has revealed his decision. He has instructed me to pick you up in three days. You have been appointed to marry a royalty from the Qin family. For the sake of the Summer family's survival, the elders and royalties made no objections. I'm really sorry. Take some time to digest this and bid farewells to your friends.]

Watching Vanellope is such a depressing state, his heart felt empty and painful.

"Nam. I need to be stronger to gain stance in this world. No matter what it takes, I will exalt." Atlas threw a punch in the air, bellowing in resolution. The gust sent everything out of position. One thing didn't budge— the picture on the wall. "The strong takes control over everything! To attend a marriage against her will? Hell no! Once I reach a higher rank of cultivation, I will challenge them by thrashing this injustice decision! Is there any way for me to improve in a short period of time?"

{Other than engaging in constant combat, I don't recall any more methods...}

"The Coiling Dragon Arena. The whole street can hear you Atlas." Said a voice.

"Good evening Nova." Atlas was in awe to see Nova approaching with messy, clumped up hair, sleep marks written on his right cheek. "You don't look the type of person who'd sleep ugly like me."

"Ignore that. If you want to exalt, you can go to the Coiling Dragon Arena on the journey between Daxrim City and the Capital. I'll tag along too. I want to become an Axonn."

"About that. I've got Aura stones if you require some assistance. I'll get them for you." Atlas pointed towards the garage.

Nova wides his eyes and palmed his forehead. "Oh my god. All this time, I just needed few of em."

Atlas raised up the trunk of his Ferrari. A blast of cool wind burst out the trunk, refreshening the dry, suffocating air in the garage. In the trunk, was stacked with low-grade Aura stones, its permeating mist dazzled like jewels under rays of light.

"Did you rob a bank full of Aura stones?" Nova frowned doubtfully as he gripped onto the closest one, Aura flowing visibly through his veins. "Atlas! I do not regret not shooting you for a single Aura stone!"

"My bounty is only an Aura stone?! Dude! The disrespect! If someone were to kill me, increase it to at least 50 Aura stones! Right Nova?" Atlas sniffed the mist violently like he was attempting to practice doing cocaine.

The Aura stone in Nova's grip lost its faint milky hue, turning to a normal piece of stone as it crumbled into pieces. "It's not the hirers or my assassination system's fault. I was desperate and desired every bit of training material I can get my hands on. 1 Aura stone is like a whole months salary to me."

"A whole month? How did you reach Tier 9 at the same age as I?"

"I practiced extra hard, meditating during any time I can spare. Being an assassin isn't gonna bring good fortune despite the challenges I face everyday. But the Warrior world revolves around "the survival of the fittest", it sometimes makes me consider that living as a commoner won't be bad after all." Nova sighed, nonetheless, continuing to absorb the Aura within the stones with both hands.

"Nova." Atlas observed something strange. "When you absorb Aura stones, is there any excess Aura that you just can't seem to drain and wanders away from you?"

"No. Never happened. What does that mean?"

"Holy moly! Another teenager with Titanium talent!" Atlas hung his arm over Nova. "Genius bros!"

"Get off me pervert." Nova pushed Atlas away, smiling as he embraced a huge pile of Aura stones. "These will be more than enough. Thanks so much man."

Atlas held up his finger to motion him to wait. Opening the door of the backseat, Atlas plucked out a leaf from the Giftir Amaryllis. "Trust me. Since you're like me, you'll get stuck at a Tier called Zenith too. Listen to the expert. You'll need this."

"Thanks again Atlas. I'll be at table tomorrow morning as an Axonn. Coiling Dragon Arena. I can't stop thinking about it."

"Yeah. Capital city here I come!" Atlas nodded with a solemn grin. [Don't worry Vanellope. I can succeed for sure.]