Lin Mu stepped in and imdiately felt it—the subtle resonance within his body. His Omnicore Ascendancy Technique stirred as both the Earth and Fire cores within him thrumd in excitent.
The energy in the room was not violent or chaotic like so fire-based environnts he’d encountered in the past. Rather, it was deep, heavy, and patient, much like the Earth itself—but with a fiery heart.
"A treasure trove," Lin Mu murmured.
He sat cross-legged on the stone floor, positioning himself near the glowing elental pit. Channeling his breathing and focusing his cultivation, he allowed the Earth Fla to begin flowing into him. Like dual rivers converging, the fire fed his Fire Core while the density of the surrounding rock nourished his Earth Core.
Every second spent inside felt like several outside. Not only was he absorbing elental energy, but the refined quality of the Earth Fla made it easier to condense, refine, and integrate into his cores. He knew right away: this was an incredible opportunity for cultivation.
While he imrsed himself in the elental stream, Daoist Chu and ng Bai prepared to head out.
"Don’t worry about us," Daoist Chu said as he tied his outer robe and checked a small jade token that showed a map. "We’ll look around the city and ask about any sightings of the missing elders or other unusual movents."
ng Bai flexed his arms and grinned. "I’ll sniff out the shady places. If sothing fishy’s going on, I’ll find it!"
Lin Mu nodded, half-focused. "Take Ashy, Xiao Yin, and Xiao Yang with you. They’ll keep you out of trouble."
"Alright! It’ll be easier with them!" ng Bai said excitedly, as the twin serpents slithered up his arms, hiding in his sleeves and shoulders while Ashy chirped and sat on his shoulder with a bored yawn.
Clearly, she was still a bit groggy from the big al she had before.
Little Shrubby, however, had made his choice already.
He had laid himself down next to the Earth Fla pit, purring lowly, his fur absorbing the ambient energy. A soft glow ran through his stripes as he exhaled a plu of warm mist. Clearly, the Earth Fla suited him perfectly too.
With his companions setting out and the room gently humming with elental resonance, Lin Mu let his mind still and focused entirely on cultivation. Here in Ash Crown City, on the edge of the Verdant Ash Basin, the next step of his journey was just beginning.
While Lin Mu ditated in the Earth Fla Room, imrsed in the rich elental energy that surged from deep within the Verdant Ash Basin, Daoist Chu and ng Bai set out into the ashen streets of Ash Crown City.
Though cloaked in shades of grey and black, the city was far from lifeless. Cultivators of all stripes passed by—rogue warriors in worn leathers, hooded alchemists with glimring pouches at their belts, grim-faced bounty hunters and cheerful herb traders haggling in ash-covered stalls. The glow of Earth Flas lit every corner, and the ever-present warmth made the air thick, like a breath held too long.
As they walked, ng Bai glanced around curiously, still getting used to the feel of cities like this. "So, Senior Chu," he asked, hands behind his head, "how do we go about finding traces of the elders? Ask people on the street? Visit the city’s administrative office or a sect liaison office, if one even exists here?"
Daoist Chu shook his head lightly. "This isn’t the kind of city where that would work. In a place crawling with rcenaries, black market dealers, rogue cultivators, and sect outcasts, there’s only one thing that moves faster than rumors—information brokers. There’s always soone who sells answers for a price."
ng Bai’s eyes lit up with understanding. "So, we look for an intel house?"
"Exactly," Daoist Chu said with a slight smile.
They didn’t have to search long. Asking a few casual questions and greasing a palm or two led them to a nondescript building tucked between a smithy and a tea house in the central trade ring. The sign above its entrance read: Ashen mory Pavilion.
Despite its plain grey stone exterior and modest signboard, the interior was a stark contrast—elegantly arranged bamboo scrolls lined the walls, and softly glowing arrays floated in the air like ghostly script. The reception desk was carved from blackened jade, and behind it sat a calm, sharp-eyed man in a simple but clean grey robe.
He looked up as they approached. "Welco to the Ashen mory Pavilion. We sell information on everything from herb growth patterns and active bounty targets to safe mining zones and... things that go bump in the night."
Daoist Chu smiled and nodded politely. "We’re looking for two people," he said, producing a jade token and tapping it gently. It glowed as two images projected from it—detailed likenesses of the two missing elders from the Xian Sword Sect.
The clerk’s eyes narrowed slightly. He reached below the desk and tapped a panel, activating a shimring information array. Dozens of lines of faint blue text began shifting and sorting in the air before him. A few monts passed as the system cross-referenced facial recognition with recorded entries.
"Hm," the clerk murmured. "Yes... these two were seen in Ash Crown City, though the records are thin. They entered through the northern gate approximately a year ago."
ng Bai leaned forward. "And after that?"
"Their trail goes cold," the man said, shaking his head slightly. "They entered without fanfare and were likely in disguise, though even a strong disguise can’t hide deanor. That’s why they showed up on our scans—our array flags any cultivators with higher spiritual presence and cultivation base."
Daoist Chu frowned. "What about departure? Did they ever leave?"
"There’s no recorded exit under those appearances, or any suspicious matches that suggest a disguise either. Which ans one of three things," the man said, raising a finger with each point. "One: they changed their appearances too well and slipped past even our arrays. Two: they never left the city. Or three... they left through unofficial ans."
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