The Journey Begins

The mountain breeze blew away the smoke from the burning incense. The scent of the incense hinted at the mourning atmosphere of the moment. Fresh fruits and roasted chicken were served around the grave. Above it, a wooden board engraved with "Shen Tian" stood tall.

"Thank you for your guidance all these years!"

Bowing several times in front of the grave, Yu Ze paid his last respects to his late master.

"Rest in peace, Master. I will definitely avenge you."

During his late master's lifetime, there were three names that often escaped his lips. Names that were always mentioned when the old man told Yu Ze his sad stories. The names of the people who had betrayed him.

Tian Shu the Shadow Dragon.

Yu Heng the Wind Walker.

Kai Yang the Iron Fist.

In the glory days of the Black Dragon Sect, these three were an incredible threat besides Shen Tian. Each of them had at least once destroyed a famous clan or sect on their own. Even the Iron Fist, Kai Yang, once fought and killed a thousand cultivators in a day.

Suffice it to say, their strength could not be underestimated.

It was possible that Yu Ze was still below them in experience and cultivation, especially after decades had passed. They might have grown much stronger. However, Yu Ze remained optimistic that he could defeat them. These three betrayer disciples had never learned the Black Dragon Sect's secret techniques.

"Farewell, Master."

Keeping the last will of his late master, Yu Ze started his journey to hunt down the three betrayer disciples. He also carried the worn-out weapons left behind by Shen Tian, even though Yu Ze didn't need them.

This vast continent had no name but it had thousands of cities and hundreds of provinces. The cave where Yu Ze lived was located in the remote mountains of the southeastern region, the territory of the unorthodox faction. He planned to go to a small town in the eastern region, Dongyue, about 460 miles from his current location.

With such a long distance, an ordinary man might take 16 days on horseback. But for a cultivator, it would only take 10 to 12 hours with body-lightening techniques. It might be possible to arrive earlier if the cultivation level was higher.

The terrain Yu Ze had to travel through to reach Dongyue Town was not easy. He had to climb steep mountains, cross rivers, and even jump over deep chasms. Not to mention he got lost several times because he didn't pay attention to the directions. Fortunately, there were no encounters with bandits or other cultivators.

The sun had already set when Yu Ze arrived at Dongyue Town. He had used the body-lightening technique relentlessly, yet there was not a single drop of sweat on his face. Instead, he frowned.

"What the hell is this town?"

Dongyue Town was different from what he had imagined. His late master had once told him that Dongyue Town was a beautiful place to live. Lantern lights adorned every building. People of all ages filled the streets, and the music from fancy restaurants made the atmosphere lively.

But what was in front of Yu Ze was the opposite. The streets were empty and dark. There were only a few people with frightened faces walking through the main street. Let alone beautiful red lanterns, even basic lighting such as torches were absent. Luckily, it was a clear night, and the moon and stars shone brightly, chasing away some of the darkness in the town.

"Am I in the wrong place?" muttered Yu Ze.

He was sure he had followed the directions and asked the locals. There was no mistaking that this was Dongyue Town.

"Well, I guess Master got it wrong. Let's take a look inside," Yu Ze sighed.

Yu Ze took a deep breath before stepping into the town. It was his first time in his 17 years of life, after all. All this time, he had only spent time in caves or wandering in the forest.

"Master always said, the tavern is the perfect place to look for information. I hope he's not wrong this time."

As Yu Ze walked down the street, there were many fierce-faced men looking at him. Of course, Yu Ze noticed but ignored them. His late master's advice rang in his head.

"A tiger need not heed the sheep."

Finally, Yu Ze visited a small tavern at the end of the crossroads. As he entered, all eyes were on him. Everyone carried weapons sheathed around their waists. Some even seemed to be holding the hilts of their weapons.

"What Master said is right. The unorthodox faction is filled with greedy and bloodthirsty cultivators. They will do anything to achieve their goals, even killing."

Yu Ze took a nearby empty table. Not long after, a waitress came and handed him the menu. Fear was written all over her face.

"What would you like to order, sir?" the waitress asked, shaking.

Yu Ze pursed his lips. He wasn't familiar with alcohol, but his late master once told him that taverns usually served food like dumplings. Yu Ze didn't know what dumplings were, but he ordered them anyway.

"Dumplings," Yu Ze said after a long silence.

"Yes, sir."

The atmosphere in the restaurant grew tense. The pressure was intense from all angles, and even waitresses started to hide in the kitchen. Among the dozens of men, a big guy got up from his seat and approached Yu Ze's table.

As the big guy stood before him, Yu Ze felt like he heard the sound of drums.

"Why did you come to this town?" the big guy asked, his tone deep.

"That's none of your business," Yu Ze answered simply.

Of course, Yu Ze was no fool. There was no way he would let him know his purpose.

In the cultivation world, information spread faster than the plague. It only took one day for information to spread across the continent. There were countless informants and spies. They hid in the shadows and blended into society. One of the famous ones was the Beggars Union.

If Yu Ze spoke carelessly, the people he was supposed to hunt down might kill him first.

"Hmm, I see," said the big guy.

The way he spoke was intimidating, as if he wanted to pick a fight with Yu Ze.

However, Yu Ze was not provoked and kept his composure. Patience was the key to victory. Making a decision too early would only bring disaster.

"What is that?" The big guy laid his eyes on the worn-out weapons strapped to Yu Ze's back.

"Ah, this?" Yu Ze then placed the weapons on the table. When he untied them, they all scattered. Some of the weapons even fell to the floor. "These are all my late master's belongings. He asked me to keep them. Since I'm traveling, I have to take them with me."

BUMP! BUMP! BUMP!

The sound of the drums grew louder, even though it sounded a little faint, and the pressure in the restaurant was getting more intense. Yu Ze realized the situation could escalate at any time. So, he gave the big guy a warning look.

"So, these weapons are just inheritances?" asked the big guy, his voice deepening.

"Yeah, you could say that."

BUMP! BUMP! BUMP!

The sound of the drums now became clear.

"You didn't snatch them from other cultivators?"

Now, Yu Ze understood the situation. Apparently, his master's thropies were eye-catching. Although obsolete, they still had unique patterns and designs. Most cultivators made their weapons as their identity. The more unique, the more recognizable they were. It was no wonder that the tavern guests seemed provoked.

"Like I said before, these are the weapons left behind by my master," Yu Ze answered coldly.

The atmosphere became quiet but remained tense.

"You're not lying?"

"No, I am not."

The big guy squinted his eyes. "Are you serious?"

"Yeah, I am dead serious."

This time, Yu Ze unleashed a bit of qi in his body, showing that he was ready for the worst.

BUMP! BUMP! BUMP!

The sound of drums echoed throughout the tavern.

Yu Ze clenched his fists. If they chose bloodshed, he had no choice but to kill everyone in the tavern.

Just as he was ready to fight, the big guy suddenly kowtowed. "Please forgive my rudeness, Senior! I didn't mean to cause trouble with you. Please don't kill me."

"Uh, what?"

Naturally, Yu Ze was dumbfounded. Not long after, the other guests also pressed their foreheads to the floor.

"Please don't kill us either, Senior!" they said simultaneously.

Just a moment ago, they were bloodthirsty and ready to fight at any moment. Now they were all begging for mercy.

"What the hell is going on?" muttered Yu Ze.