Chapter 9 Expectation

Golden-red fog was gradually emanating from Elan's body, endlessly dissipating into the surroundings, and continuously emerging from the white-haired child.

Its color was red, the dangerous hue of blood, yet within this blood-red emerged strands of golden light, the two colors intertwined, immediately producing a dazzling flow of radiance.

As time passed, within the Foresight View, the entire cabin seemed to be filled with this golden-red light.

"Gulp."

In the silence, Ian couldn't help swallowing his saliva. Even with his mental fortitude, he found the sight somewhat unbelievable, "Gold, gold color?"

He saw the blood-red fog but didn't consider it unusual, after all, with his current age and strength, where wasn't dangerous?

The absence of blood-red would be the real oddity, you just had to gauge its intensity.

"Let me take a closer look." Ian took a step forward, seriously observing the fog that was surging from his younger brother's body.

The scent of blood was slightly less than by the Xihuan River, but still heavier than on the official road, meaning that burying a corpse in the forest by the lake would definitely be dangerous.

"Could it be encountering coyotes? Or perhaps running into wild boars and black bears?"

In Ian's memory, the outskirts of the Bison Mountain Range near Harrison Port didn't harbor particularly dangerous beasts. If they had, the Pioneers and immigrants of the past wouldn't have chosen that place to build a city and port.

If one were to talk about lethality, various poisonous insects and miasma were more deadly than these wild beasts, as it's well known that mosquitoes are the most lethal non-human creatures.

Although the Elders in the tribe spoke of many magical beasts and alien forms on the Terra Continent possessing Spirit Energy or undergoing abnormal mutations, with various supernatural powers,

the hunting territories of these powerful creatures were vast, only deep within the forests did an ecosystem exist that met their living requirements, so they rarely ventured out to haunt human settlements.

In the forest by the lake, it was impossible to encounter such monsters; if one did, the blood-red hue emanating from Elan would have to gather into a river, form a tsunami, and Harrison Port would need to prepare for dozens if not hundreds of casualties.

Ian estimated the richness of the blood-red hue, feeling that he might just run into a wild boar or a wolf... Although it was somewhat dangerous, if he were to throw down his uncle's corpse as bait, he wouldn't necessarily die.

What's more, he still had plenty of Sleep Powder left... When the time came, a packet of Sleep Powder thrown in the face, and it wasn't certain who would be hunting whom!

Most important, was that hint of gold.

"What does the golden fog represent?"

Ian didn't know, but his instincts told him it was a 'good omen'.

Moreover, it was an extremely positive, one might even say a stroke of immense fortune!

Although he had not seen every color, Ian had his own standards for the rarity of objects from having played many games before.

Blue signified 'rare', above it was 'extraordinary', and above that was 'legacy'.

And even 'legacy' might not be gold... Gold, could very likely signify 'legend'!

"What on earth is going to happen, that there would be such great fortune there? Can I rely on my Spiritual Power?"

Ian couldn't help but lift his head to look in the direction of the forest by the lake, and murmured, "A treasure or opportunity so precious, it could be called legendary? Fortune intertwined with disaster, of course I understand..."

But quickly, he shook his head, making up his mind, "Enough, to not go there when such an occasion arises would truly be against all reason."

Since no matter what choice he made it was dangerous, and he had to leave the house anyway, why not choose the option with a chance of good fortune?

Not to mention that so far, his Spiritual Power seemed very reliable... Even if it wasn't, he would still have to go!

"With the cards I've been dealt, I've no right to dwell on what I might gain or lose."

Having steeled his resolve, Ian closed his eyes, shutting off the Spirit Energy of Foresight View.

When he opened his eyes again, his crystal green pupils had dimmed.

This was another characteristic of Spirit Energy that Ian had discovered.

When he, or any Spirit Energy User on the Terra Continent, utilized their Spirit Energy, there would be a slight glow in their eyes.

The eyes are the windows to the soul, and Spirit Energy is the flame of the spirit; transmitting the light through the window seemed reasonable... However, this meant that hiding the fact he possessed Spirit Energy would be difficult, and using it in secrecy to peer into others' intentions would also be challenging.

"It's not necessarily a bad thing. If another Spirit Energy User tries to spy on me, I'll be able to detect them."

Ian was always very optimistic about such matters.

His Uncle Ossenna's body was wrapped up tight in canvas. Because the wound was deep and small, there wasn't much blood loss.

With Ian's original strength, dragging an adult proved rather difficult, even for an average adjuster from the Terra Continent.

But with newly Awakened Spiritual Power and a full stomach, he felt invigorated, with clear hearing and sharp sight.

Even the injury on his head, inflicted by his uncle, was nearly healed, as he felt tingles of itchiness and soreness -- sure signs that the wound was rapidly closing up and new flesh was forming.

For a moment, Ian felt a surprising surge of strength.

Now, Ian could carry and drag his uncle's body with ease, displaying a strength that was unexpected in a boy of his age.

Night had fallen deep.

When Ian left that house filled with the smell of rotting wood, it felt as if he had stepped into another world.

He looked back through the chorus of insects at the unremarkable, decayed old house, then turned to view the dimly lit street illuminated by the ever-burning lamp and the churning azure sea in the distance, beneath the moonlight at the port's far end.

A new world lay before him, and the reborn boy couldn't help but smile.

"Right, whether through transmigration or reincarnation, I have already left my homeland."

Ian looked up at the stars of Terra, the quiet black firmament adorned with few clouds and even fewer stars, with only the crescent moon mid-sky casting a gossamer veil over everything.

The tide churned, insects sang, and fragments of light swirled between sea and sky, like a dream painted on a canvas of darkness.

"Too few stars, what a pity. Is this a unique astronomical phenomenon of this world? I remember there being more stars when I was younger."

Gazing at the sea and sky, the boy mused to himself, "It's not so bad though... I've lost the starry sky of Earth, but in return, I've gained the firmament of Terra and a whole new world."

"Just wait, my homeland. Since I've managed to come here, I can naturally find my way back."

"But before that... let me witness the multitude here, so I can lay eyes upon sights never seen before, beyond anything Earth has ever had."

—In the silent town deep in the night, a young boy, full of anticipation, dragged a body towards the woods by the lake, his steps somewhat laborious.

And a trail of golden fog followed closely behind the boy.

Carried by a touch of curiosity.

And the same sense of expectancy.