Water Lily Pavilion

SMASH- SMASH- SMASH-

Three meteor-like hits came crashing down onto Khoru's back within the next 15 minutes. By now, his entire torso had been shattered and his bones were everywhere, the only thing keeping him alive was the power of the technique itself, which healed him repeatedly.

He was on the precipice of losing consciousness and falling asleep due to the immense pain he felt over his entire body. He was still chained up in the same position as before, too.

'I have to push through!' Khoru's entire face was bloody, and he looked up only to see the hammer flying downwards again. The devil had a cruel smile on its face as if it enjoyed torturing Khoru.

SMASH-

With that, Khoru began hearing ringing sounds in his ears and he finally lost consciousness...

"My body is aching so badly..." Khoru groaned and grimaced in pain the moment he woke up. Since he couldn't circulate his Spirit Qi while he was sleeping, the domain, as well as the devil, had disappeared.

Khoru's body, on the other hand, had been refined to perfection and it brimmed with primal power. His muscles were more defined than what should even be allowed for a kid at such an age. He could feel that his skin, meat, bones, and even veins had been tempered.

Not only that, but he sensed a mysterious aura surrounding his body. It boosted his strength and he could suppress it at will.

"Lower-demon aura? I actually retrieved it after practicing the technique only once?" Khoru was dumbfounded at his luck and celebrated. He could feel his body brimming with power and felt the need to test his new strength.

He approached a giant stone on the ground and punched it with all his might. The second his fist came in contact with the rock, it shattered into a dozen pieces and all that was left on Khoru's hand was a large bruise.

This was mainly because he was still a mortal and hadn't broken through the first cultivation realm yet.

Speaking of cultivation realms...

"I still need to reach the first stage of the Foundation Building realm. I doubt those other kids have slacked off, they're probably cultivating right now..." Khoru muttered to himself before going back home.

- - 2 Hours Later - -

Khoru walked down the streets of Yellow Apple Town while holding a pouch of gold coins. This was all the money he saved up since he was informed of the Commercial Alliance.

Well really, a certain place that was apart of the Commercial Alliance.

The Water Lily Pavilion.

It was a place, a bustling market actually. There were multiple floors and one could find anything from cultivation enhancing pills to weapon artifacts!

Khoru was going there today in search of cultivation pills to give him a bit of a boost since he started later than others.

Many people recognized him as he walked down the street, despite him not being in the public eye that much. The reason for this was because he awakened dual Martial Spirits.

Something rather uncommon.

After a while, Khoru finally made it to the Commercial Alliance's Water Lily Pavilion. It was a giant dark azure blue pavilion that stood around 5 stories high and radiated a mysterious aura.

Khoru hurriedly rushed into the pavilion.

When he entered it, he was met with the scene of multiple cultivators wearing robes or holding swords converse with the pavilion's workers and inspect certain items.

Khoru was still taken aback by this scene despite being in this world for a little over 12 years.

He calmed himself down and slowly wandered around, observing all of the items for sale.

His gaze finally stopped on a few pills placed neatly on display.

'Spirit Nourishing Pills...' Khoru looked at them for a moment and then at their price.

'99 Silver coins per pill?!' Khoru's expression suddenly changed and he stared at the price in disbelief. He didn't think such a low-grade pill, according to his standards, would be sold at such a high price.

How were normal people from ordinary backgrounds supposed to purchase cultivation materials if they're prices were so sky high?!

This is ridiculous!

Khoru's expression attracted the gazes of a woman wearing a black grandeur robe. She held a dark purple fan with white engravings on it.

Her eyes narrowed and she quickly approached Khoru.

"The bastard child of the Ghostly Blade Family has visited our pavilion?" Her gaze betrayed her inquisitive and surprised tone.

Khoru's body twitched when he heard that and he looked at the woman.

"I've but one question." He said.

"And what is that?" She replied.

"Can I buy 100 of these pills?" He asked.

"Do you have the money?" She asked.

"Yes." Khoru held up the pouch of gold coins, which were over a 100, and shook it lightly. The sound of so many coins jingling at once attracted the gazes of many people and they looked with envy at Khoru.

It was only until a few minutes later that someone finally recalled who he was.

"That's one of the young masters of the Ghostly Blade Family, Khoru!" They said. It was a guy that pointed at Khoru with wide eyes.

Since Khoru hadn't been in the public eye for a long time, most people were surprised to see how much his appearance had changed since the last time they saw him.

Such a reaction made Khoru slightly weary of the woman that approached him now. He thought it'd atleast take a while for someone to piece together his identity, yet that woman recognized him immediately.

"Alright, I'll count the coins in your bag quickly." The woman said as she expended her Spirit Qi to cover the pouch and inspect it. After inspecting it, she took the bag and left Khoru 11 gold coins, which was what he had left after spending 100 on pills.

"A few members from the Water Lily Pavilion are going on a magical beast expedition later, I suggest joining the party. After all, you do need to get stronger to keep your head above the water in the upcoming tournament."