Daoist Chu pressed his palm onto a hovering information node and pulled up detailed knowledge of the world. He read silently for a while, then summarized. "This world is under dual authority. One side is the Eastern Immortal Court, which operates this outpost. The other side is the Martial Fist King Sect, one of the oldest martial sects in the eastern quadrant. They have existed since before the Immortal Courts were even founded."
ng Bai's eyes widened. "An ancient sect, then."
"Very ancient," Daoist Chu confird. "They are allies of the Eastern Immortal Court. They allow the Court to build an outpost here. This outpost is small compared to so others, only about a hundred kiloters in width. But the world itself is very large."
"I've heard quite a bit about the Martial Fist King Sect. Apparently they have the sa level of standing as the other major powers like the Silent Lotus Temple and the Xian Sword Sect." Elyon added with intrigue.
Lin Mu nodded. "Is it peaceful?"
Daoist Chu shook his head. "Peaceful in matters of politics. Not peaceful in matters of martial arts. Sparring is common. Fighting is normal. This world considers martial might to be the core of life. Competitions, challenges, tests and duels are all everyday events."
Cattaleya smiled. "Sounds fun."
ng Bai swallowed. "Sounds dangerous."
"Sounds like my first ti in the Eastern Immortal Court." Elyon muttered.
Lin Mu took a breath and observed the sky above the city. There were dozens of streaks of light moving through the air as cultivators flew at high speeds. There were several large arenas visible even from their location, towering like stone coliseums.
This place was very much dedicated to battle.
Daoist Chu folded the information node and looked to Lin Mu. "What now?
Should we find lodging first? Or look into the next transport?"
Lin Mu looked at the bustling outpost and spoke calmly.
"We will settle first. Then we begin searching for the Dwarves."
The next chapter of their journey had begun.
And the Martial Fist King World awaited them.
Lin Mu and the others left the bustling teleportation hall behind and walked deeper into the outpost. Everything was new, vivid, and faintly humming with martial spirit. Even casual travelers radiated a type of pressure here, the pressure of people who had lived their entire lives steeped in battle.
But for now, Lin Mu's focus was on ng Bai.
The young man had been trying his best to look normal, but his face was still pale and his gait slightly off balance. A full year of teleportation left him dizzy in a way that pills could easily fix, but ng Bai insisted on doing it the hard way. "I should build resistance," ng Bai said while clutching his stomach. "I cannot keep depending on pills for every discomfort."
Lin Mu gave him a small approving nod. "Good. You will need that stubbornness in the Eastern Immortal Court."
ng Bai straightened, but his knees wobbled almost imdiately. Cattaleya caught him by the back of his collar and dragged him upright.
"Bravo," she said drily. "Such courage from a young cultivator. You look like you are about to vomit out your soul."
Daoist Chu coughed lightly to hide a laugh.
Eventually they found a suitable inn. The building was sturdy, decorated with wooden panels painted in bright azure and gold. The sll of good food wafted from the kitchen, and a gentle flow of immortal Qi was circulating through the walls.
The signboard hanging above the entrance read: Coiling Horn Inn
Underneath the sign, carved into the archway, was a huge spiraling horn nearly three ters long, each ridge etched with detailed patterns of storms and stampedes. It glistened faintly with protective Qi. The horn itself seed to hum with a feeling of restrained savagery.
ng Bai stared up at it. "That looks like it ca from a dangerous beast." Daoist Chu nodded. "Mountain Trampling Rams. They say a Transcendent variant appeared once and caused the death of tens of thousands. That horn probably ca from one of its descendants."
Lin Mu looked closer, his eyes narrowing as he sensed the faint lingering aura within the horn. "Impressive. Soone went through a lot of effort to preserve
it."
Inside, the inn was bright and warm.
The welco desk had a few attendants who froze montarily upon seeing Lin Mu's group. Cattaleya in particular attracted stares, mostly from awe and partly from fear. Little Shrubby in his cat form made a few attendants coo with affection until he gave them a sharp glance and they imdiately backed away.
A few cultivators whispered.
"They must be outsiders. "Strong ones too.""Look at that horn above the desk. Even a disciple from the Martial Fist King Sect would show respect."
Lin Mu used Elder Dong Bo's token casually when asking for the best rooms.
The mont the attendants saw the crest of the Immortal Court engraved on it, their attitudes shifted. Their backs straightened, their shoulders stiffened, and their expressions beca filled with reverence.
Within monts, Lin Mu and his group were guided to the top floor. Their suite was spacious, with four bedrooms, a living area, and a balcony overlooking the martial arenas scattered across the outpost.
ng Bai collapsed onto a couch, holding his head. "It feels like the world is still
moving!"
Cattaleya pushed him down further and placed a cold towel on his forehead. "Do not move. If you puke, do not spray it on the carpet."
ng Bai let out a weak groan. "Yes... senior..."
Lin Mu placed a calming formation in the room to stabilize the lingering teleportation vertigo, but he let ng Bai suffer through it as requested. Only enough to keep it from becoming dangerous.
Once ng Bai was settled, Lin Mu prepared to leave.
"Let us go gather the information we need," Lin Mu said to Daoist Chu.
Elyon perked up as well. "I will head to the rcenary union. A place where gossip turns into profit is always the best place to gather rumors and news."
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