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Chapter 6: Rumors of the Tournament
Flux stirred from his cultivation as the first light of dawn slipped through the paper windows of his room, painting soft golden lines across the floor. He blinked, stretched slowly, and released a quiet yawn.
“…I’ll walk around the town today,” he murmured, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
He stood, smoothed out his dark robe, and carefully adjusted the cloth hiding his tail. With a breath, he deepened his voice slightly—a subtle shift to avoid drawing unnecessary attention. He still looked like a child, but with his robes and calm demeanor, he passed for a quiet young cultivator.
Downstairs, the warm aroma of breakfast greeted him—steamed buns, stir-fried greens, crisped spirit beast meat, and spiced tea. He ordered a full meal and ate slowly, watching the gentle bustle of early risers coming and going.
A few passing cultivators gave him curious looks, clearly sensing his Foundation Establishment aura beneath his youthful appearance. But no one approached. He preferred it that way.
After paying with a few spirit stones, Flux stepped out into the morning sun. The streets of Oaktown were already lively—vendors shouting, spirit beasts pulling carts, and the mingling scents of roasted meat and fragrant herbs filling the air.
He wandered through the marketpce with his hands behind his back, taking in the colorful stalls and noisy bartering.
That was when he overheard a nearby conversation.
“Hey, did you hear? There’s going to be a tournament in Mologan City—nine months from now!”
“Yeah! It’s the big one—hosted by the five ruling sects of the Blue River Prefecture.”
“They’re accepting only Foundation Establishment cultivators, right? Even unaffiliated ones?”
“Right. It’s rare for something like this to be open to everyone. I heard some genius reached Foundation Establishment at twenty! That’s crazy!”
“By twenty? That’s basically unheard of! Most people are still struggling with Qi Refinement at that age.”
“Yeah, no way someone like us could compete. Still… the rewards are supposed to be incredible.”
Flux paused mid-step.
(A tournament in Mologan City… Foundation Establishment only?)
He kept walking, though slower now, his thoughts shifting.
(Open to loose cultivators… that means I could enter, too.)
He looked up toward the clear sky, watching a spirit hawk soar on the breeze.
(A genius at twenty… that’s impressive.)
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
(Well, my progress wasn’t exactly slow… but I’ve still got a long way to go.And the privilege of being created by an immortal really help me.)
He didn’t feel arrogant—just aware of his potential. But even talent needed sharpening. He knew that better than anyone.
“The tournament might be a good chance,” he murmured. “To see what kind of people are out there… and maybe earn a few rewards while I’m at it.”
He adjusted the strap of his pouch. “But first, I need to know where Mologan City is.”
He turned toward a familiar building—the grand red-and-gold structure of the Yellow Leaf Pavilion.
The shop’s polished floors glowed with morning light. Spirit nterns bobbed above, casting soft radiance. As he entered, the same staff member from before greeted him with a polite smile.
“Welcome back, little sir. How may I assist you today?”
“I’m looking for a map of the Blue River Prefecture,” he said, his tone calm and slightly deeper than natural.
“Of course. Please wait a moment.”
She returned with a rolled parchment and unfurled it over a nearby table. The map glimmered faintly with reinforcing runes—detailed, and clearly high-quality. It marked cities, roads, sect territories, and even known spirit beast regions.
“Please take a look and see if it meets your needs.”
Flux leaned over the table, scanning the map carefully.
“There… Mologan City,” he said softly. “It’s farther than I thought.”
He nodded once. “This will do. I’ll take it.”
“That will be 100 low spirit stones, sir.”
Flux blinked, a faint twitch in his brow. (So much? Just for a map?)
Still, he reached into his pouch and handed over the payment. “Alright.”
“Thank you for your continued patronage,” she said brightly. “We look forward to serving you again.”
Back at the Spirit Willow Inn, Flux returned to his room and spread the map across the bed. Afternoon light spilled through the windows, illuminating the parchment.
“Mologan City is nearly a thousand li away,” he muttered. “Even with my sword, it’ll take close to a month.”
He sat at the edge of the bed, tapping his fingers thoughtfully.
“If I want to enter that tournament… I’ll need to prepare. A better weapon, more spirit stones, and maybe a few talismans for emergencies.”
His eyes drifted to the window, where sunlight snted across the floor.
“I’ll head back to the forest tomorrow. Hunt demon beasts, gather materials, save up what I can.”
He let out a soft breath, then sat cross-legged again, sinking into quiet meditation.
The hum of spiritual energy flowed through him—gentle and steady, like the undercurrent of a deep river.
He wasn’t aiming for fame or glory.
He just wanted to grow stronger.
To walk the path ahead, one step at a time.
And if that path happened to lead through Mologan City… then so be it.
