After a while, silence fell over the battlefield. The air, once thick with the scent of blood and death, now carried only an eerie stillness. One of the cloaked figures surveyed the destruction before speaking coldly.
"Alright, let's erase everything. We don't want those snakes tracking us down after all the effort we put into escaping."
The other figure nodded without hesitation. Without another word, the two moved methodically, ensuring that every trace of the massacre was wiped away—at least to the naked eye. Once their work was done, they disappeared into the darkness, leaving behind nothing but an empty, lifeless ruin.
Back at the Stone Path Hall Institute, Lin Shu had fully mastered Thunderbolt Arc. He stood alone in one of the private training rooms, his preferred place to refine his skills away from prying eyes. The room's walls remained untouched, but the boulders meant for practice were in ruins—most shattered beyond recognition.
Panting lightly, Lin Shu steadied his breath and muttered, "Alright, one last time."
Lightning crackled around his outstretched hand, rapidly condensing into the shape of an arrow. In an instant, with a deafening crack, the Thunderbolt Arc shot forward at an astonishing speed. The arrow struck its target—a sturdy boulder—with a force that sent thin fractures webbing across its surface. At the point of impact, a deep hole was gouged into the stone, leaving the entire boulder on the verge of collapse.
Lin Shu studied the result with cold satisfaction before nodding. "This will do." A faint, fleeting smile touched his lips before he turned and left the room, his mind already set on the next step.
Lin Shu made his way to Xu Jin's store in the market district, seeking information. Xu Jin was well-connected within the institute, known for his good reputation and wide-reaching knowledge. Given Lin Shu's solitary nature and lack of connections with other informants, Xu Jin was his best choice for gathering intelligence.
Upon reaching the stall, Xu Jin spotted him and greeted him with a wide smile. "Brother Lin! Long time no see. How have you been?"
Lin Shu returned a slight smile. "I've been fine. How about you, Brother Xu?"
"The same as always," Xu Jin replied with a casual shrug. "So, what brings you here today? I assure you, I have plenty of good things in stock."
Lin Shu glanced around before lowering his voice. "I've been training in seclusion for two weeks, so I'd like to know about any important events that happened during that time." As he spoke, he discreetly pushed a small leather pouch filled with gold into Xu Jin's hand.
Xu Jin's smile widened as he felt the weight of the pouch. He gestured for Lin Shu to follow him into the store. "Well, quite a few things have happened, actually. The most important is the upcoming tournament in one month, which just so happens to align perfectly with the recruitment for the Azure Crystals Mine."
Lin Shu raised an eyebrow. "The Azure Crystals Mine?"
Xu Jin gave him a look of disbelief. "Wait, you don't know about the mine? Do you just stay locked in your house all day or something?"
Lin Shu said nothing.
Xu Jin blinked at him for a moment before shaking his head with a chuckle. "You really are bizarre, but I've seen stranger individuals." His expression then turned serious as he began his explanation.
"The Azure Crystals Mine is exactly what it sounds like—a mine full of azure crystals. It's one of the most valuable resources owned by our institute, if not the most important. These crystals are highly sought after because they are a key ingredient in the Azure Flames Pill, which accelerates a cultivator's Qi refinement and circulation speed, making it incredibly valuable.
"The institute has several ways of generating wealth. One is training students for the Stormbreak Sect. Another is this mine. And the third is the missions we undertake—like the one we completed a few weeks ago."
Xu Jin paused for a moment, checking if Lin Shu had any questions. Seeing none, he continued.
"The recruitment for the mine happens every four months. Students can apply to replace the previous group assigned to it, but only fifty students are selected each time. The pay is good, but the dangers are high. We're responsible for defending the mine from rogue cultivators, demonic cultivators, and even ambitious clans trying their luck against us.
"Most importantly, we have to deal with Sawtooth Worms. These are giant worms, about the size of a wolf, that burrow through the mine, trying to devour the azure crystals. They're extremely sensitive to vibrations and sound, which makes them a nightmare to deal with. There's also the risk of bloodbeasts attacking in waves—packs of them rushing toward the mine, usually led by a peak-stage Rank 1 beast. The mine is guarded by a peak-stage Rank 1 cultivator, so it's manageable, but the worms remain the biggest threat since they strike from below and at unpredictable locations. Killing one is highly rewarding, but also incredibly difficult."
Lin Shu absorbed the information before nodding. "I assume the tournament is related to the recruitment, then?"
Xu Jin nodded. "That's the most likely reason. But it's strange, because the institute only holds three tournaments a year—one for entrance, one in the mid-year that includes all students, and one for those seeking a spot in a sect. From what I've heard, even if we win the recruitment tournament, the Stormbreak Sect will have its own test for us before accepting anyone."
He paused before adding, "Normally, the institute selects students for the mine based on their mission performance and the house they occupy within the institute—since the stronger students naturally take the better houses. This is the first time they're holding a tournament for it, which means something must have changed."
Xu Jin shrugged. "But it doesn't concern us, so none of us really care."
Lin Shu, however, was already deep in thought. "I probably won't be able to steal anything, but the pay is good. Even though it's restrictive since I won't be able to travel freely, it's still an enticing opportunity. The tournament is also bound to have valuable rewards."
As he weighed his options, he considered two paths—either he could take a spot in the mine, ensuring a steady income but limiting his movements, or he could continue with missions, working toward obtaining a house with better Qi concentration.
His thoughts were interrupted by Xu Jin. "Oh, right. I heard from someone that Han Yi has been looking for lightning technique users."
Lin Shu frowned. "Why is she doing that?"
"I don't know. Maybe she has a grudge against one or something. Honestly, I have no idea how that guy even found out, considering Han Yi is even more unsociable than Xie Lang." Xu Jin then smirked slightly. "Don't tell him I said that. But I guess the person who told me about it is a bit of a stalker, so it's easier for him to know with his... experience. I don't like dealing with him, though. He's a little crazy and way too strange, but he does get a lot of good information for a fair price."
Lin Shu paid no mind to the latter part of Xu Jin's rambling. Han Yi's search for lightning technique users caught his attention because he himself was one. "Why would she be looking for someone like that?" he muttered to himself.
Then, a thought struck him. "Hey, Xu Jin, do you remember the first-place rewards from the entrance tournament?"
Xu Jin paused his rambling and nodded. "Yeah, why?"
"I want to know if the rewards for this tournament are the same. If they are, I might consider joining."
Xu Jin scratched his head, thinking. "As far as I remember, there was a Rank 1 low-tier Crimson Flow Pill..."
Lin Shu barely heard the rest. His mind froze on those words. "Wait... could it be?" He suddenly recalled the trade he had made—the Lightning Steps battle skill in exchange for a Crimson Flow Pill. "No, that's too random... but it wouldn't hurt to make sure."
Despite trying to dismiss the thought, his instincts screamed at him. He had long trained himself to think in worst-case scenarios, and this was no different. Preparation meant survival.
Interrupting Xu Jin, he asked, "Who's that informant of yours? I want information on someone else. If he can get details on Han Yi, he should be able to gather intel on others as well."
Xu Jin raised an eyebrow but didn't object. "Sure. Who are you looking into?"
"Someone I want to challenge for their house. Their Qi concentration is better than mine."
Xu Jin smirked. "Got it. The payment you gave is more than enough. I'll ask him later."
Lin Shu nodded. "One more thing—I plan on heading somewhere near the Lightning Peak Ranges. Do you know any good markets around that area?"
Xu Jin's expression turned apologetic. "Can't help you there. My business and travels are mostly in the east, not the north. Besides, the Lightning Peak Ranges aren't too far from the first border of the Far Lands. I make it a point to stay away from those places. The empire has full control over them, and that alone is enough of a reason to avoid them."
Lin Shu narrowed his eyes slightly. "The Far Lands? What exactly are they?"
Xu Jin sighed. "I really don't know. Some say it's full of enemies. Others say it's just a land overrun by beasts. But from what I do know, both the empire and the sects want it badly. There are even rumors that important information about it is heavily guarded. But honestly, I bet those bastards are just keeping valuable things hidden from us so they can hoard it all for themselves. Greedy bastards..."
His usual money-loving nature was showing again. Lin Shu took this as his cue to leave, offering a brief farewell before walking away, already formulating his next move. He had much to consider.