Legacy of Hatred

Chapter 354: Frozen Peak

A sudden separation didn’t feel anywhere close to right.

What the team had achieved was nothing short of legendary. Merely seizing the Archbishop’s inheritance could turn Liam and the others into renowned experts, but they had also added killing Dominic to their feats.

That fame went far beyond what rooting experts could earn. Branching experts would also pay attention to the team now, and chances were that would involve stronger cultivators, too.

The new generation of heroes had not only been born. It had also established itself, attracting every eye in the cultivation world.

Therefore, long, loud celebrations and even longer breaks should have been more than earned, but Liam and the others were in no position to remain still.

Despite the new unbreakable bonds and life-changing adventure, Liam parted ways with Isabel, Robert, and Lancelot that very afternoon, heading North while they resumed moving West.

Now, Liam had his Master’s map, and his sense of direction was excellent. His superhuman senses basically made him a walking perception technique, and his body had even learned to be stealthy on its own.

Unless something truly catastrophic and unlucky were to happen, Liam could reach the northern region swiftly and without encountering any problems. However, he didn’t dare to underestimate that artificial border.

Grace had already warned that politics became complicated there, so Liam didn’t know what to expect.

Also, crossing Green Haven had been uneventful, but that wouldn’t apply to every border. The Outer Circles were somewhat concentric, meaning the innermost ones would grow smaller and easier to patrol.

Avoiding the Enforcement Guild had been easy, but that would change as Liam got closer to the Inner Circles. There would also be more cultivators, meaning more variables, including whatever the border between regions featured.

Considering those problems, Liam’s decision to move to a different region could sound hasty and foolish. Yet, there were huge benefits to be found, too. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

The first and main reason behind that decision was secrecy. Liam’s new enemy was simply everywhere in the Kingdom, and it even had the Dragon King’s support, or at least willful ignorance.

Changing region might not save Liam from the Church, but his odds were bound to improve, which was better than nothing against such a widespread enemy.

The second reason was purely logistical. Due to the Kingdom’s concentric nature, getting to a more innermost Outer Circle had brought the border with the northern region closer, making it a feasible destination.

There was also Grace to consider among that mess, and Liam couldn’t help but experience some fear as he summoned the half-jade, continuing running while addressing the many faint tremors that item had filled his mind with during that week.

’Where are you? Did you leave the inheritance? Didn’t I tell you to contact me immediately? Are you injured? Are the rumors true? Why didn’t you warn me first? Where are you? Did you forget what I said would happen if you lost your communicator?’

The cacophony of questions carrying Grace’s voice flooded Liam’s mind, becoming angrier and more unhinged with each following one, only for the last to be the complete opposite.

’Did you leave me?’ The last communication said, Grace’s tone timid, scared, almost heartbroken.

Liam felt something gripping his own heart at that tone. He hadn’t wanted to keep Grace waiting or for her to worry, but his state had been far from ideal.

Moreover, Liam had yet to decide on a destination, which was why he had delayed updating Grace. However, all those reasonable justifications paled before the guilt he felt now.

’I was injured, and it took some time sorting everything out,’ Liam hastily communicated, telling the truth, but still feeling as if he was lying. ’I’m past Green Haven and heading for the northern border. Can you get to me, or should I come to you?’

Theoretically, the two had already implicitly agreed that Grace would adjust to Liam’s needs. She could make money anywhere, but not without Liam, meaning she would be the one following him.

Liam had also left Grace in Kilrest, which was next to the other Outer Circle. She couldn’t have gone far while waiting for Liam, so she would have it easy reaching him.

Yet, Liam had felt too apologetic not to mention his willingness to go to Grace. The situation was also dangerous. While not directly related to the inheritance, everyone knew about her connection with Liam, so he wanted to reunite with her as soon as possible to ensure her safety.

Honestly, Liam was even half a mind to stop running to wait for Grace’s reply. Nothing said she would answer immediately, but that was exactly what happened.

’Southern base of the Frozen Peak,’ Grace responded through the half-jade.

Liam stored the item and summoned his map. He believed he had read that name, and a glance at the drawing of the Kingdom confirmed his suspicion. The Frozen Peak was a mountain near the northern border, one big enough to be marked.

That was everything Liam needed. He stored the map and proceeded ahead. His destination was up north in a straight line, and he planned to get there without as much as a single break.

In the past, despite the improvements the breakthrough had brought, Liam had remained wary, always looking out for any inhabited area or strange presences.

That wariness remained, but pristine confidence joined it. Liam had been new to his abilities back then, but no more, aided by whatever had changed in his mindset.

Nothing escaped Liam’s senses. He felt everything, and his body reacted accordingly, dodging any trace of human presence before it could even become remotely close.

Liam’s brain memorized entire environments despite only spending minutes in them. He crossed forest, plains, and hills without making as much as a ripple in the world, feeling which places to avoid at an instinctive level.

The temperature dropped as Liam moved further North. The world seemed to have forgotten that summer was around the corner. Even after it arrived, the air remained chilly, but Liam could hardly care about that when his destination was within reach.

It had taken Liam two weeks, but he had finally reached a huge mountain with a base spanning for entire kilometers. It was too tall for Liam to see its peak, the latter standing beyond the layers of white clouds.

Krosstoen’s mountain paled in comparison. Even the Three Peaks did. That was the biggest mountain Liam had ever seen in his entire life, its size and peculiar location near the northern border earning it a mention on his map. freewēbnoveℓ.com

Nevertheless, even something so big couldn’t claim Liam’s attention for long anymore. The sight was incredible, but he was beyond such things. His ancestor’s fangs would probably put that mountain to shame.

Instead, there was something else Liam was dying to do, something he addressed as soon as his stone tablet carved a secluded, rectangular room right into the tundra.

Liam barely found the time to light his pipe before unloading the contents of his white space-ring. The room was eight square meters, but its floor disappeared, replaced by a bed of containers and tomes.

Liam could finally inspect his share of rewards, a process the Archbishop had facilitated by adding a green jade that listed them. He naturally went for what interested him the most first, ending up sitting among five tomes, each belonging to a rank 3 martial art.