Free Web NovelLi Yu was making his way through this new realm and he blended in with it. He was standing at roughly 1.8 meters tall while possessing a balanced and toned physique that spoke of his strong body. His frame appeared relatively lean at a passing glance while the thick muscle of his arms hinted at the grueling strength training he regularly endured.
His short black hair framed a rather average face by the standards of the cultivation world. He did not possess the striking or ethereal beauty, he looked like someone you’d see in any random town. His brown eyes held a calm depth and a gentle light.
Despite his unremarkable physical features, a strange and innate charm naturally surrounded him. His carefree attitude bled into his relaxed posture and easy smile, making anyone who crossed his path feel an unexpected sense of ease when speaking with him.
Perhaps the most terrifying aspect of the young cultivator was what others could not feel at all. His aura was restrained so tightly that he projected almost no spiritual presence. To the casual observer or even seasoned veterans scanning a crowd, his foundation felt like empty air. He walked through the realm resembling a mere mortal without any cultivation while hiding an ocean of latent power just beneath his skin.
Li Yu continued to walk away from the howling winds of the Shattered Peaks and ventured into the vibrant valleys of the Mosaic Realm. He wanted to blend into the background and observe the natural flow of this new world, see its residents and enjoy the realm for what it was. Li Yu couldn’t deny what his clan wanted to do, they were going to carve out a piece of this realm for themselves.
They wouldn’t slaughter everywhere they went but they wouldn’t allow resistance either. The Zhan Clan was going to create a base, set up trade, some taxation or offerings required from the groups of this realm and a few other things. However, both clans had set aside three full months for the juniors to get real world experience and explore for their own opportunities beforehand.
The initial scouting reports provided by the Zhan Clan proved to be highly accurate as he journeyed further into the populated territories. The realm presented a staggering tapestry of existence where different races lived and worked together in crowded settlements.
He walked down wide dirt roads and encountered sprawling merchant caravans where ordinary humans traveled alongside towering demons possessing curled horns and dark scaled skin. He observed beings formed of crackling fire or flowing water trading rare goods with beast kin who still retained their thick fur and animalistic eyes. He even spotted a few dragons walking through the bustling markets in their more humanoid forms while radiating an ancient and heavy presence.
The diversity of the population fascinated Li Yu as he spent his first few days wandering between the sprawling outposts. He learned a great deal about the local power dynamics by sitting in noisy taverns or open door food stalls and listening to the endless stream of gossip shared over cups of fermented wine.
He discovered that the towns and cities were rarely segregated by race or species. Instead, the various settlements fell under the control of powerful groups, wealthy syndicates or martial sects. The demographics within those controlled zones were a wild mix of everyone trying to survive and prosper.
The cultivation levels of the inhabitants varied just as wildly as their physical appearances. He saw mere mortals running food stalls and weaving simple fabrics while Foundation Establishment guards patrolled the wooden gates. There did not seem to be a dominant cultivation level dictating the standard of living for the commoners since people of all strengths mingled in the crowded streets.
The fundamental laws of the cultivation universe remained unchanged despite the chaotic mixing of races. The strong ruled over the weak without question. The most powerful cultivator in any given area typically served as the ruler of that town or city. If the appointed leader was not the strongest fighter present, then they were backed by a formidable organization that deterred any potential challengers from making a move.
Despite the constant underlying threat of violence, the realm did not feel like a land consumed by endless war. Li Yu heard rumors of ambitious kingdoms and aggressive tribes trying to push their borders outward but the overall atmosphere felt relatively peaceful.
It was as much peace as one could expect in a universe governed by martial strength. People were able to live their lives, raise their families and run their businesses without constant fear of dying. If someone else took over, they would rarely if ever kill off everyone inside. For the most part, if a person avoided offending the ruling factions and stayed out of major conflicts, they were left alone to do whatever they wanted.
Li Yu took full advantage of this stable environment to indulge his personal interests. He prioritized stocking his spatial ring with exotic ingredients and interesting local beverages rather than hunting down rare ores or fighting beasts for their cores. He would let his cousins and clan mates do those things.
He instead spent his afternoons trying skewers of spiced lizard meat, sipping sweet nectars brewed by floral elementals and learning new cooking principles from the diverse vendors scattered across the region. Li Yu kept an eye on things that he thought Lian might particularly enjoy, still working out that romantic day with her in his mind. He treated the expedition as a culinary tour while expanding his understanding of the different cultures thriving under the local rulers.
After several days of leisurely travel, he arrived at a bustling settlement named Redcliff. The town sat nestled against a towering wall of red sandstone that provided a natural defense against the harsh winds sweeping through the valley.
Redcliff was currently ruled by a notorious syndicate known as the Crimson Hawks. The local citizens openly referred to the members of this group as bandits who had gathered together under the banner of a singular leader they called the Bandit King.
To Li Yu’s surprise, the fearsome Bandit King was actually a female warrior belonging to the Ignari race. The Ignari possessed standard human features along with striking red wings sprouting from their shoulder blades. The tavern whispers revealed her name was Amunet and she governed the sandstone town with a firm but measured hand. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
Redcliff presented a fascinating contradiction as Li Yu walked through the busy central avenues. The town thrived on illicit activities yet the streets felt orderly and safe. The Crimson Hawks enforced a strict internal peace to ensure their lucrative businesses continued without disruption. The largest and most profitable district focused heavily on the slave trade where captured criminals and prisoners from rival territories were bought and sold on raised platforms.
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Another prominent section of the town housed vibrant and luxurious brothels catering to both men and women with a wide array of exotic companions. However, the most crowded and energetic area of Redcliff was dedicated entirely to various forms of gambling, with stone gambling being the most popular.
Li Yu wandered through the gambling district and watched groups of eager cultivators gathered around rough boulders dug from deep subterranean mines. The patrons placed heavy bets and purchased the raw stones hoping to find rare spirit crystals, ancient martial relics or trapped elemental cores hidden inside the ordinary looking rock.
Specialized cutters used blades infused with sharp Qi to carefully shave away the outer layers while the crowds cheered or groaned depending on the final reveal. The air smelled of dust and burning incense as fortunes were made and lost in the blink of an eye. Li Yu had tried his hand at such a thing before and had done pretty well.
He made a note to return here when he had a bit more time and try his luck. Ever since seeing Bai Yun walk his life as if he was being guided by invisible strings of fate, Li Yu was wanting to test his luck out more and more. He was trying to see if there was a feeling he would or something else that helped to drive his decisions, so far he noticed none.
Having seen enough of the local entertainment, Li Yu found a busy food stall located near the edge of the gambling plaza to listen for further information. He ordered a large plate of roasted river eel glazed in a sweet dark sauce along with a jug of warm ale. He took a seat on a wooden stool and enjoyed the rich flavors while letting his divine sense drift over the surrounding tables to catch the latest news.
It quickly became apparent that the entire town was buzzing with nervous energy regarding a single impending event.
"I heard the duel is set for noon in three days," a gruff merchant whispered to his companion while tearing off a piece of bread. "The Bandit King is going to fight Voss in single combat. The stakes are terrifying this time. The winner takes control of the loser's town and inherits all their properties and trade routes. It is a true winner takes all situation."
"I pray to the heavens that Amunet wins," a nearby weapons smith replied with a heavy sigh. "The Crimson Hawks might be bandits by name but they keep the taxes reasonable and they do not let thugs terrorize the market. We can actually make a living here. Voss is a monster who bleeds his citizens dry. I have heard stories about his enforcers dragging families out into the streets just because they could not pay his extortion fees. If he takes over Redcliff, we will all be ruined."
"But the difference in their cultivation is just too vast," a third patron added while shaking his head in dismay. "Amunet is a fierce warrior but she is only in the Law Seed realm. Voss broke through to the Law Integration realm over a decade ago. It takes a true miracle to cross a major boundary like that during a death match."
Li Yu chewed a tender piece of roasted eel and listened closely as the patrons debated the grim odds of the upcoming battle. The intense anxiety gripping the townsfolk stemmed directly from that significant gap in power.
Needing to cross a major realm boundary to secure a victory was an incredibly perilous endeavor even for a seasoned genius. It relied on one having a solid foundation and hoping your opponent has a weak one.
The townsfolk seemed to love their Bandit King and deeply respected her courage but many feared her ambition had finally pushed her into an unwinnable situation. However, they spoke of her previous victories with pride, noting how she had built Redcliff from a dusty outpost into a thriving hub of commerce but the shadow of Voss loomed heavy over their hopes.
Li Yu absorbed the details of the local political struggle and finished the last drops of his ale. The drama between the two rulers sounded like a tragedy waiting to unfold but he had no intention of getting involved in a territorial dispute. He was just a passing traveler seeking new experiences and tasty things to bring back to his family to enjoy.
He placed a few low grade spirit stones on the wooden counter to pay for his meal and prepared to continue his journey through the town. Just as he stood up from his stool, a shadow fell over his table and blocked the ambient light of the plaza.
A woman stood directly before him radiating a quiet but intense aura. She possessed sharp elegant features and a pair of vibrant red wings folded neatly behind her back. She wore fitted leather armor reinforced with dark metal plates that highlighted her athletic build without restricting her movements. Her presence commanded immediate attention from the surrounding patrons, causing a sudden hush to fall over the immediate area.
"Do you have a moment to speak with me, traveler?" The winged woman asked with a polite but firm tone.
He had kept his aura perfectly suppressed and his black robes offered no hints regarding his background or true strength. He looked like an ordinary wandering cultivator, yet this prominent figure had sought him out specifically.
Before he could answer, he overheard the frantic whispers erupting from the nearby tables. The wide eyed merchants and the nervous smiths quickly identified the woman standing before him. She was Amunet, the Bandit King of Redcliff.
Li Yu felt his curiosity spike as he looked into her amber eyes. While she matched the description, he wouldn’t think he would run into the bandit king so quickly. He wondered why a local ruler facing an impending death match would take the time to personally approach a stranger eating river eel at a street stall. It made very little sense for someone in her precarious position to wander the markets looking for conversation.
"I have some time to spare," Li Yu agreed with a slow nod while keeping his posture relaxed.
Amunet offered a slight smile and gestured for him to follow her. As she turned her head, Li Yu noticed a very strange detail. Her amber eyes flicked upward for a fraction of a second and stared at the empty space hovering directly over his head. She blinked quickly and refocused her gaze on his face as if trying to hide the brief distraction. Li Yu found the subtle action highly unusual since he possessed no floating artifacts or glowing halos above him.
She led him away from the busy plaza and walked toward another food stall located near a quieter side street. The new location offered a wide selection of grilled meats but the tables were already cleared of all other patrons. A dozen guards wearing the crimson colors of her syndicate stood in a wide circle around the perimeter, their hands resting cautiously near their weapons.
They secured the area without making the setting feel too oppressive or claustrophobic. Amunet chose to sit out in the open air where anyone could see them rather than dragging him into a hidden basement or a secret bunker to conduct her business.
Li Yu appreciated the transparent approach. Her decision to conduct their meeting in a public space showed a high level of consideration for his comfort and safety. It prevented any immediate suspicion of a trap and gave him a very good first impression of the Ignari ruler. He took a seat on the wooden bench across from her and waited patiently to see what she wanted.
Amunet signaled the stall owner to begin cooking and requested a large platter of their best roasted meats along with a fresh jug of premium wine. She rested her hands on the table and looked at Li Yu with a calculating gaze as the aromatic smoke began to drift through the crisp evening air. The bustling noises of Redcliff faded into the background as the Bandit King prepared to state the true reason for her unexpected invitation.
