An hour had passed since Gon had left. He exited the forest and could see a stone road up ahead and the town it led to behind it.

  The path towards Heping Town wasn’t great. It was a dirt path that had been carved out within the forest floor from the foot traffic that passed through daily. Using his memories, Gon travelled at a rapid pace. His body had long since surpassed the level of mortals and navigating through the forest would be no problem.

  This was the power of the Blue Colr Physique!

  “The town is about two hours away by foot. I should be able to get there in less than half that.” Gon maintained his speed and controlled his breaths. The physical strength of a true miner was no joke.

  For his trip to the town, Gon had prepared a lot. In his sleep, he went back to testing out the Gem Furnace, and managed to refine three more pieces of Uncut Spiritual Jade. Though, he had failed seven times as well.

  “A 30% success rate. I’ll need to practice more.”

  Spiritual Jade wasn’t the only thing he had refined. Using the remains of the jade, and the method provided by the System, he had refined a small batch of Spirit Coins. Gon had fastened a leather pouch to his belt within which shone coins of bronze, silver and gold.

  Spirit Coins were the currency of mortals in this world. They were heavily reguted and monitored by the immortal sects and merchant guilds of this world. Only they had the method to refine Spiritual Jade into Spirit Coins. And with that, they kept a tight influence on the mortal world.

  Spirit Coins could be divided into three categories; bronze, silver and gold. Ten bronze coins equaled one silver and ten silver coins were equivalent to one gold. Gon had been able to refine 200 bronze coins, 50 silver and 1 gold. A single gold coin could feed a family of four for one whole month.

  This was the ordained power of the currency controlled by the Ethereal Life Sect. In this world, sects also doubled as banks, or were in control of them.

  Back on Earth, banks were the most powerful and influential organisations that ever existed. Especially those banks that managed to have control throughout the world, having the power of the economy in their hands.

  Yet in this world, those incredibly powerful organisations that couldn’t be touched by any mere mortal, were simply existences that served sects.

  Bloody Tim you legend, you saved my bum with this refinement ability. I only had about 50 silver saved up from working at the mines for so long. Now, I don’t need to worry about not being able to afford anything. Heh, I better make sure I don’t cause inftion from buying up everything.

  If it ever got out that Gon could refine coins, he would be hunted down until not even his corpse remained. The very act was a defiance against the ws of this world!

  “Looks like I’m finally here.”

  This sensation in my heart… It’s foreign… This is because me and Kuang Gong’s soul melded in such a way. I’ll have to visit his family.Ever since he arrived in this world and fused with Kuang Gong, Gon had an itch that wouldn’t go away; meeting his ‘family’.

  He hadn’t met them once and was slightly worried if the news of his death had reached them. Gon also wanted to know how they had been fairing.

  Since Kuang Gong had been sending whatever money he was making back to his family, along with letters.

  Letters that told of them his stories of being a ‘sect disciple’, even if he was but an exiled miner bouring for the sect.

  Kuang Gong didn’t have the heart to tell them the truth.

  “So this is it.” Gon marvelled in the scenery, leaving the topic of his family aside for ter.

  Not only because of seeing Heping Town, a pce unlike any he had seen back on Earth, but also seeing the edges of Himaldrar City in the distance.

  And that didn’t account for being able to make out the Ethereal Life Sect’s buildings that existed on one of the mountains alongside the range. With the absolutely towering sword that was embedded in the mountain, wrapped in chains.

  It gave an awe-inspiring presence, almost a sign of the Ethereal Life Sect’s power itself.

  “So this is the Continent of Shangora.” Gon recalled one of the vital memories he had in the past.

  “If there’s a book store in this town, I’ll need to check it out to get more information. Knowledge is power, even here.”

  The town entrance had a rge wooden sign that contained its name. Underneath, dozens of people crossed the gates nonstop. While it was called a town, it wasn’t a quaint small town that bordered on the outskirts of the Himaldrar City. Plenty of carriages were coming from and through Heping Town to deliver goods to other towns around the City, or to the various mines, farms and outpost vilges in the region.

  Located at the southern end of the Shangora Continent, Heping Town was the town closest to the mines Gon worked at. The Ethereal Life Sect was the ruler and lord of the region and was located on the outskirts of the Bcksteel Mountains, where the Verdanthia Forest cut across. The same forest where Gon entered to explore and gain his sources of protein from.

  The Ethereal Life Sect was considered a Rank 4 cultivation sect. Its strongest expert was known to be a Nascent Soul cultivator. It was the strongest sect in the region and was able to lord over this territory unimpeded.

  But though it was a Rank 4 Sect, only the Sect Leader himself was a Nascent Soul cultivator.

  Houses of brick and wood littered the area and the streets contained a multitude of stalls. The hustle and bustle of people was apparent as sellers shouted at the top of their lungs to push their goods, while passersbies rushed past in a hurry.

  “Let’s get some food first.”

  According to his memories, there was an inn Kuang Gong used to frequent. Gon made his way down the busy street and soon came face to face with the restaurant.

  “The Ironfire Tavern.” Gon’s stomach released a low rumble as he made his way in. As Gon entered the pce, the smell of smoky, charred meat assaulted his nostrils. Saliva drooled from his mouth as he hurriedly took a seat near the back, and ordered all the meat dishes they had to offer.

  The Ironfire Tavern was famous for its barbecued meat. Even though Gon had been eating meat daily, professional meals created from the hands of a master chef were different.

  After a short period of time had passed, a young waitress brought Gon his dishes. There was an assortment of grilled beef, mb and chicken. Large iron skewers carried long strips of minced beef. A few ptes contained grilled chicken with some bread and sauce on the side. Lastly, a whole mb leg had been roasted to perfection and was pced in the middle.

  “Wow, now this is what you call a feast!”

  Gon dug in. He began with the beef. The outside was charred beautifully while the inside was soft and tender. A myriad of fvours assaulted Gon’s sense of taste and smell. He devoured the beef quickly and moved onto the remaining dishes. Within a matter of minutes, Gon had cleared the table of food and only empty ptes remained.

  He ignored the gazes of other people in the tavern watching this muscur tanned man demolish this feast with ease.

  “Can’t beat a professional.”

  Satisfied, Gon licked his lips, cleared the bill. He ignored the stunned gaze of the waiter as he threw some coins in, and even left a tip.

  Before exiting, he made sure to book a room for the night, deciding to sleep here once it got dark.

  Though Gon could’ve just gone to his actual house with his family, he wanted to leave it for the next day.

  I’ll visit them once I finish off the matters I have first.

  “Now that my stomach is full, let’s take a look around the shops.”

  Gon wandered around the streets, looking through the different shop windows. From weapons to clothing to food to random items, there was a shop for it all. Gon looked down at his clothes and noticed their condition.

  “People won’t believe me if I cim to come from the mines to fulfill orders for the sect. Let’s get some clothes first.”

  He entered the first store he saw and was immediately confronted with a wide array of clothes. From leather to silk, shirts to pants, this shop had it all. He made his way to the side and looked at the clothing suitable for workers. Since most residents of the Heping Town worked a manual bour job, shops had adjusted to meet demand.

  “Wow, this is good stuff.” Gon held a blue overall in his hand, the material was soft yet tough.

  “Guess I’ll get some clothes for the gang. As their boss, I should reward them for the hard work they’ve done.”

  Gon purchased a bunch of overalls that were suitable for miners, for him, money was not an issue. Satisfied, he left the shop and made his way to a supply store.

  “Let’s see, this store should have the pencils and paper I need.”

  After the morning of shopping, Gon was pleased with what he had acquired. Clothes, supplies and food items, all accounted for.

  Next, was to handle the materials needed to create a forge at the mines.

  For this, Gon would need to show off his status as a representative of the Ethereal Life Sect.

  Having bought a refined robe with the colours of autumn with green embroidery of leaves, Gon made his way to the smithies and warehouses at the heart of Heping Town. Carriages would constantly travel by them, collecting materials and forged weapons and armour for the city and sect.

  And he reached the sector which had the trade warehouses. Construction materials, general hardware, ore merchants, and local craftsmens sold all sorts of goods.

  This time, Gon put on the haughty and serious face of a businessman.

  “I can’t let them treat me like a bumpkin. Let’s get this over and done with.”

  “Incident? Speak.” Bai You said with utter arrogance, but this time he slightly tilted his gss lower to see the face of this junior disciple Chen.

  The chatter around the table had quietened.

  This was because most of them were aware of the incident.

  Except Bai You.

  “Senior Brother Bai You, since you joined the sect a year ago, you haven’t heard of it. But two years ago, the Supreme Sect Leader’s granddaughter was publically humiliated. By a no-name Outer Disciple at that, weaker than her.” The junior, Chen, recounted the tale, or at least a simple version of it.

  This time, Bai You had pced the wine gss on the table. “Hmm, no wonder I haven’t heard of it. She must’ve made sure rumours didn’t spread around. Interesting. Keep talking.” Seeing this supposed weakness of the woman he was after, Bai You raised his eyebrows with intrigue.

  Chen bowed his head for the gratitude of being allowed to speak. “That disciple’s name was Kuang Gong. He had entered the sect recently, and he had little talent or potential. I heard he was a nobody that bribed his way to enter the sect, even though he barely could even enter the first stage of Qi Condensation. And on that day…” Chen slowed down for dramatic effect, as if he were a person at the scene itself recounting this story.

  He exaggerated his expression, making full use of his body gestures as if he were a theater performer. In fact, Chen most likely had a hidden talent in such a thing.

  Bai You nodded to affirm Chen to continue.

  “On that fateful day, the honourable granddaughter of the Sect Leader was returning from a mission with her team. And though she was tired and exhausted from her duties, she was willing to hear out the words of this Kuang Gong. And yet…” Chen raised a trembling clenched fist, and there were almost tears forming at the sides of his eyes.

  Everyone at the table was enamoured by this retelling of the story.

  “That dishonourable coward spped her out of nowhere, to the point of her face tearing skin and drawing blood! That disgusting frog dared to touch the feathers of a holy swan, in front of everyone!” As if Chen was spped himself, he expressed his emotions of the very incident.

  Bai You leaned in closer, with a finger on his chin.

  That woman definitely forced the rumours and stories to be hidden, otherwise I should’ve found out about this long ago. So that means she has a grudge to this Kuang Gong. If so… I can make use of this. But it all hinges on one thing. If this Kuang Gong is still alive. An offence like that should’ve had him killed, and yet this rat speaks of him as if he still lives.

  With a commanding voice, Bai You stood up with his hands behind his back. He asked a simple question. “Is Kuang Gong alive?”

  Chen nodded in return. “Yes.”

  A smirk formed on Bai You’s face.