Over ti, many bizarre and unexplainable phenona erged within this perpetual haze, and these strange occurrences had beco intertwined with the lore and allure of the city, especially around the Antique Street, which was now fad as a haven for peculiar treasures and forgotten relics.
Max wandered deeper into Antique Street, where the fog seed almost to cling to the old wooden beams of the stalls, coiling through cracks in the weathered planks. He paused at a humble stall where an old man with a drooping white beard displayed a branch that perpetually exhaled gentle wisps of mist.
It had a faint shimr, almost like silver dust lay scattered along its bark. Max, driven partly by curiosity and partly by the impulse that rare things might one day prove invaluable, handed over a solid 5,000 PQ without a second thought, even though he had no idea what use the misty branch would serve.
For him, things were valuable simply because they were rare—and sotis the strangest items beca priceless keys in monts of crisis.
He didn’t stop there. Max road the crooked lanes and hidden corners of Antique Street for hours, scanning every stall and rchant with the discerning perception of his Three Dinsional Body.
He purchased bombs crafted with mysterious formations, arrows infused with special elental energies, delicate glass spheres filled with swirling poison smoke, and countless other odds and ends. Each item might only buy him a sliver of ti or a narrow escape, but in a place like the rumored tomb of Lord Ko, even a heartbeat could an the difference between life and death.
After spending a small fortune gathering protective items and peculiar trinkets, Max spent the remainder of the day touring Misty City alongside Gayle and Rose. They wandered through the stone-paved streets, where lanterns flickered like fireflies in the fog, casting shifting shadows across carved wooden shopfronts and elegant pagodas.
Together, they sampled street foods sizzling over open braziers, browsed vendors selling spirit herbs and talismans, and traded insights about cultivation and the countless regions of the Middle Domain.
Despite the looming dangers and the uncertainty of what lay ahead, the atmosphere between them was light, even companionable, as they explored hidden courtyards, mysterious alleys, and ancient pavilions where the fog swirled like drifting silk.
They knew that in four days, everything would change when they finally t with the representatives of the other powerful forces for their expedition to the tomb of Lord Ko.
But for now, Max let himself enjoy these monts of relative peace, all the while keeping his senses sharp and his mind firmly fixed on the storm that was inevitably gathering on the horizon.
He rarely had ti for himself and so little things like these always brought him joy.
***
Four days later, as the pale morning mist curled through the streets of Misty City like restless spirits, the fad Hourglass Restaurant bustled with an undercurrent of tension and anticipation.
The entire building had been booked for the gathering, and every lights burned brightly despite the perpetual dimness outside, casting a warm golden glow over polished wooden floors and intricately carved railings.
On the third floor, where the private rooms overlooked a drifting sea of fog outside, Max, Gayle, and Rose sat quietly around a corner table. Steam curled gently from the teacups in their hands, the fragrant scent of brewed leaves mingling faintly with the ever-present cool dampness of Misty City.
Though their gazes appeared calm, a subtle sharpness glinted in their eyes, for they were waiting for those who might soon beco both allies and rivals—the geniuses from the other three overlord forces.
Suddenly, steady footsteps echoed up the stairs, sharp and deliberate. The rhythmic sound broke the quiet as three young n erged onto the floor. They were clad in matching dark red robes, embroidered with swirling earth and fire patterns that seed to shimr slightly under the lantern light, marking them unmistakably as mbers of the Eternal Sun Guild.
The one who walked at the forefront carried himself with calm authority, his black hair tied back, eyes dark and cool as he swept the room with a asured glance. His aura radiated strength, every step a subtle ripple of power that betrayed his cultivation—the unmistakable presence of a 1st level Legend Rank expert.
Trailing a step behind him were two others, both appearing in their early thirties but weathered enough to look closer to forty. Their expressions were guarded and reserved, and though they were at the peak of Champion Rank, it was obvious from the deference in their stance that the man leading them was the true core of their group.
As they approached the table, the leading young man paused and focused his eyes on Gayle, the faintest forced smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Gayle."
"Derek," Gayle responded evenly, his voice calm but his posture subtly stiff, eyes narrowed with wary familiarity as he acknowledged the man’s na.
While the polite exchange hung between them, Rose leaned a little closer to Max, concealing her lips with her teacup as she whispered via vital essence, her voice resonating like a soft breeze inside Max’s mind. "Max, this Derek is a 3-star genius of the Eternal Sun Guild. He’s extrely powerful—even stronger than my brother."
Max rely inclined his head in a small nod, his face remaining relaxed as he lifted his cup, concealing the glint of thoughtful caution in his eyes.
He knew well enough that none of the 3-star geniuses from the seven overlord forces were people to underestimate. Each carried not only the weight of their own talent and power but also the authority and resources of the mighty factions behind them. It was these very figures who could beco decisive obstacles—or dangerous partners—on the road ahead.
The tension in the air thickened as Derek, the 3-star genius from the Eternal Sun Guild, cast a sharp, probing glance toward Max.
The faint curl of disdain lifted the corners of his lips as he jabbed his finger in Max’s direction, his voice as cold as the fog seeping into the room. "Is this person also a mber of your Absolute Sword Palace?" he demanded, a subtle sneer threading through his words, as though the idea of an outsider joining their dangerous venture was an insult to his pride.
Gayle smiled and said. "He is Max from the Great Ruler Empire."
At that, Derek’s brows shot up, and a flash of scorn glittered in his dark eyes. He let out a cold snort, his arms folding across his chest, the movent sending a ripple through the fla-patterned embroidery of his crimson robe.
"This seems a bit against the rules!" he barked, voice growing louder as he leaned forward. "Originally, there were only supposed to be four groups from four forces. Now you bring in soone from another force? Are we turning this expedition into a circus?"
Gayle shrugged and said. "You and I only agreed that no one could bring in Legend Rank experts. When did we ever say we couldn’t invite a Master Rank warrior? What’s wrong, Derek? Is the mighty Eternal Sun Guild afraid of a single Master Rank junior?" A smirk flickered over his lips as he threw the challenge back across the table, his tone tinged with quiet provocation.
"Afraid?" Derek scoffed, laughter bursting out of him like sparks from flint striking stone. His eyes roved over Max with utter contempt, as though he were examining a fly buzzing around his wine cup. "What a joke! A re warrior at the 6th level of Master Rank? He’ll probably die as soon as he steps into the cetery. And then he’ll just be another corpse for the tomb-guarding beasts to chew on."
Max remained perfectly still, his expression calm, though a faint glimr of cold amusent flickered in his gaze. He had no intention of dignifying Derek’s insult with a reaction; after all, he’d seen too many of these arrogant "geniuses" crumble the mont true danger pressed upon them.
anwhile, Derek and his two companions finally found themselves a table and sat down, the air around them humming with tension. The Eternal Sun Guild warriors stayed silent, though their eyes occasionally darted toward Max, curiosity and lingering suspicion mingling in their gazes.
For a long mont, the floor of the restaurant settled back into a wary quiet, punctuated only by the clinking of porcelain cups and the faint rustle of robes.
And then, just as the mood seed poised to slip back into calm, the rhythmic sound of footsteps echoed once more up the wooden staircase, heralding the arrival of yet more powerful figures—and signaling that the true gathering of forces was only just beginning.
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