The world was a smear of green and gray, a blurred tapestry of forests and mountains rushing by at an incredible speed. Kui, a man who had grown accustomed to the travel of transport ships, now found himself in an entirely different league of transit. He was standing on the impossibly small surface of Jian Xuan's flying sword, a brilliant streak of white light that was a singular, defiant line drawn across the sky of the Boreal Empire.
They were encased in a thin, shimmering barrier of Jian Xuan's spiritual energy, a silent bubble that completely negated the hurricane-force winds of their passage. Kui, with his own not-insignificant cultivation, could have withstood the wind on his own, but the shield was a thoughtful, effortless gesture from his powerful companion.
Inside the silent bubble, Kui, ever the manager, could not help but think of the risks. They were a two-man spearhead, charging deep into enemy territory, leaving their main transport and their leader far behind. He leaned forward.
"Jian Xuan, are you sure about this? Leaving the Wise Host and Cyra behind on the ship… what if those reinforcements catch up to them before we're done? The ship is slow!"
Jian Xuan did not turn. For a long moment, the only sound was the faint hum of the energy barrier. Then, a low, rumbling laugh echoed in the small space.
"You are worried about that little monster?" Jian Xuan's voice was laced with a dry, almost fond amusement. "Kui, if that boy truly unleashed his power… even I, as I am now, would most likely be met with a wall. Do not mistake his quiet nature for weakness. He is the most dangerous one among us."
The statement was one that immediately quelled Kui's tactical concerns. Kui had trust in Li Yu, Jian Xuan's words merely reaffirmed what he already knew in his heart. The Wise Host would not have sent them ahead if he did not have a plan or confidence. There was no reason to fear, believe in the wise host!
As the world blurred past, Jian Xuan's own mind was a sea of contemplation. He could feel the new, profound depths of his own power, the clarity of his 4th level Soul Formation realm. It was a height he had just touched and hadn't had time to fully explore, a power that should have made him one of the true apex predators of the continent. And yet… he was pondering if he could truly beat Li Yu.
He almost laughed internally again at the absurdity of it. Here he was, a 4th level Soul Formation expert, a being who could annihilate entire sects with a wave of his hand, seriously contemplating his chances in a fight against a disciple who was, by all accounts, still in the Core Formation realm.
This world was truly strange. A quiet, genuine smile touched his lips. He looked forward, his gaze fixed on the northern horizon, his heart filled with a pure, simple anticipation for their next spar.
Kui, meanwhile, was focused on the task at hand. "The first city is just beyond that mountain range!" he said, pointing. "It's called Frost-hold. A major trading hub for northern ores and furs."
As they crested the final peak, the city came into view. It was a grim, heavily fortified place, its walls manned by thousands of disciples bearing the snarling dragon of the Soaring Dragon Sect. The atmosphere was oppressive, the streets unnaturally quiet.
High above the city, completely invisible to the patrols below, Jian Xuan brought them to a halt. He closed his eyes.
A single, silent, invisible pulse of spiritual pressure emanated from his body. It was not a violent, crushing wave, but a delicate, impossibly precise ripple of soul force and cultivation. It wasn't a technique, he didn't need techniques to deal with the weak forces that were left behind the place. It washed over the entire city below.
Every single Soaring Dragon Sect disciple on guard duty—those on the walls, those patrolling the streets, those guarding key intersections—simply… went to sleep. They did not cry out, did not fall. They just slumped where they stood, their minds plunged into a deep, dreamless slumber from which they would not awaken for hours. The entire city's occupying force was neutralized before the two of them even entered.
"It is clear," he said, opening his eyes.
They descended into a secluded alleyway just outside the Golden Shell Guild's local headquarters. They walked out of the alley and into the main street. It was an eerie scene. The patrolling disciples were frozen in place, leaning against walls or slumped over railings, their banners fluttering in the cold wind. Kui and Jian Xuan walked directly to the front door of the Guild's headquarters and pushed it open.
The inside was a tense, silent fortress. The staff, a mix of merchants and a few White Paw mercenaries, were armed and waiting, their faces pale but resolute. At the head of them was a tall, broad-shouldered man with a thick, graying beard and tired, but determined, eyes. This was the branch manager, Borin.
He did not recognize Jian Xuan, but the moment his eyes fell on Kui, a wave of profound, bone-deep relief washed over his face.
"Guild Leader Kui!" he exclaimed, his voice a choked, grateful whisper. "By the spirits, you came!"
"Of course we came," Kui said, his voice a warm, reassuring rumble as he clapped the big man on the shoulder. "Is everyone alright?"
"We are," Borin confirmed, his voice filled with a mixture of anger and confusion. "We don't know what's been going on. One day, the princes' forces marched in and took over. The next, we were under lockdown. Ordered not to leave the city, not even this building. We've been trapped here, completely cut off."
"That is over now," Kui declared, his voice ringing with an authority that instantly calmed the frayed nerves of everyone in the room. He turned to the assembled staff. "Listen, everyone! The situation in the north is unstable. The Guild is pulling all of you out. Gather your most important documents, pack everything you can into your storage rings. We are evacuating, and we are leaving now."
There was no panic, no chaos. Only a surge of disciplined, hopeful energy. These were Guild members. They rushed to their duties, a whirlwind of organized activity as they began the process of a swift and total evacuation. The Golden Shell Guild had arrived to reclaim its own.