Walking in the dense forest Ethan remembered his master's last word of advice
''You are going to Tiger City and visit the Black Raven ruins you don't have to worry too much and just go there'' he flicked his finger and Ethan was sent flying outside the valley, before he knew it he was already at this dense forest holding a silver ring that his master gave to him.
''He sent me flying out of the valley I couldn't even protest sigh..'' Ethan moves slower to the forest since his power is sealed he won't be able to protect himself once he encounters a powerful enemy, he ventures into the forest with the help of the map inside his silver storage ring he then heard noises of people camping beside a large lake.
The camp has at least sixty people some of them wearing brown armor looking brave and powerful there are also men wearing high-quality robes and having a noble demeanor, moving his eyes he sees a blue flag symbolizing a gold coin with a lion head in it.
''Merchant Union'' he silently mumbled
10 years ago many rich merchants and businessmen were robbed and killed on their way to the auction house or to their stores many goods were stolen, and after those incidents, the merchants started to gather to protect themselves from those thieves and bandits bringing peace to their business. Five years after that they officially became a group the Merchant Union.
''kid who are you?'' A deep voice sounded behind him, surprised he looked behind and saw a brawny man wearing golden armor with the emblem of the Merchant Union.
''I asked you who and why are you here?''
He repeated his question but this time he released his formidable aura.
''Nirvana! He's at Nirvana level though I can't shout I was sure he's at Nirvana'' Ethan screamed inside his mind
He stabilizes himself from the suffocating aura brought by this brawny man and calmly answers him.
''Sir my name is Yue, I accidentally found your camp while traveling to Tiger City'' Ethan showed his sincere response to his question.
''Boy, you traveling alone to Tiger City you don't even have cultivation strength'' One of the soldiers accompanied by the golden armored man said.
''I'm Gilbert captain of the thirteen squads of Merchant Union were here to escort the caravan to Tiger City do you want to come with us? It's too dangerous to travel alone'' the man wearing golden armor said.
Surprised by his offer Ethan was dazed for a bit before nodding.
Then he followed Gilbert to the camp, taking a closer look he realized two-thirds of this group were soldiers from the thirteen squads and the remaining were merchants, the strongest was at Nirvana and the weakest were at earth level.
Ethan kept walking ahead while the warriors behind him started to talk to each other.
''Captain why let him join us?''
''Indeed were not sure if he's a spy from bandits''
''Captain...''
The soldiers keep whispering to Gilbert's ear protesting for letting Ethan in.
''I don't think his a spy and also he's telling the truth'' Gilbert slowly raised his hand to show a small stone glowing with blue light.
''Lie detector stone'' the soldiers couldn't help but be surprised this stone is expensive and rare, one stone cost millions of vital coins.
''This stone could tell when someone lies, it turns blue when someone says the truth and green when lies'' one of the soldiers added.
''I'll ask more questions to make sure that he doesn't have ill intention'' Gilbert move closer to Ethan and ask a couple of questions to him.
Ethan answers his questions such as saying that the reason for his journey was that he needed to run an errand for his master who was an alchemist.
''Captain how was it?''
''He didn't lie though he didn't tell the entire truth it's okay I know now that he doesn't have any other motives''
While talking amongst themselves the ground began to shake, and suddenly a huge golden worm appeared it started to attack the soldier that was near it fortunately that soldier was able to guard himself and injure the worm's eye instead.
''Golden sand worm!!'' seeing the creature rampaging in the camp Ethan couldn't help but blurt its name.
..
Far from the battle on the camp the misty valley he came from already turned into debris as his master was pinned on the ground his enemies now had the upper hand.
''It only injured him what's up with his body'' Haze gives Kaleb another shock without him knowing. Kaleb used every bit of his strength to kill Haze with one shot but to his surprise it only injured him.
''One more time'' he moved again and continuously attacked him.
''Ugh!'' blood drips from his mouth as he bears the attack he received from Kaleb.
Because of Kaleb's speed, he couldn't get the array formation ready and his flames are being cancelled by the lightning ropes.
''Strong indeed my old friend'' he thought then triggered his spiritual sea to use his spiritual consciousness.
A heavy and uncomfortable pressure attacks everyone their spiritual sea begins to tremble bringing pain to them.
''Your spiritual sea hasn't dried you've been using it to form array sphere formation!'' Kaleb said holding his head his spiritual sea kept on trembling and his spiritual consciousness wasn't strong enough to fight back.
''Ahhhh!'' With no choice he used brute force to stop the pain. He let his lightning enter his spiritual sea so that it could form layers of barrier to protect from Haze's spiritual consciousness.
''Kaleb the spiritual sea of an array sphere formation master has a long stamina it won't be exhausted easily'' he said then he shifted his gaze to the soldiers struggling to fight his spiritual consciousness.
''And the spiritual consciousness of an alchemist and blacksmith has the power five times than a regular cultivator'' he then took out a pill to replenish his strength.
Seeing that Kaleb already recovered his strength Haze only smiled.
''Let's finish this my old friend'' A green flame came to his hand shaping itself into a sword.
Kaleb shook his head as he said
''Haze I was never your friend''
''Even Yan'' Haze said again while his flames became even more solid like a real weapon. Kaleb looked at him but he didn't answer instead lightning continuously hit him.
Like a battery, Kaleb keeps recharging and increasing his strength using the lightning that hits him.
The soldiers who were all in pain a moment ago now have to deal with the impact brought by the clashing of energy of Kaleb and Haze.
The lightning that hit Kaleb stop and the sword in Haze's hand became a solid flame weapon bearing the heat that melts the ground their standing.
Silence filled the air not one of them dare to make a sound as the tension rose.
Whoosh
Kaleb dashed first his speed was far greater than before he swung his spear which generated huge thunderbolts.
Thunderbolt meets an array sphere formation that blocked its path then Haze forms a hand seal creating a rune character at Kaleb's body paralyzing it.
''First using array sphere formation in midair now rune formation appearing in my body.... Haze just what kind of monster you have become'' Kaleb thought while using force to break the rune in his body.
The ground melted as Haze drove his sword to Kaleb, lightning appeared from the sky and blocked him but his blade breached it and whacked at his enemy's body.
Slash!
Blood springs from Kaleb his body won't move even with how hard he tries he looks at his enemy thinking how he used to look at him as an ally. Haze moved his sword again piercing Kaleb's chest the sword began to burn his blood and melt his body making him scream in agony.
''Protect the commander!'' the soldiers who can barely move all focus their attack on Haze making him retreat for several hundred meters.
''To think they can still move!'' Haze said as he tried to make another formation but to his surprise, the soldiers joined together to bind him up.
''Assholes'' green flames ascend from his feet burning the bind that immobilizes him.
The soldiers all look pale they couldn't fully control their power because of the pain coming from their spiritual sea.
Then the moment he freed himself a shadow appeared right behind him stabbing him. That brief moment Haze didn't expect Kaleb to move behind him thinking that he had paralyzed his enemy.
Their blood covers the ground both of them have holes in their chest which blood keeps oozing from.
''Hand it over please I'm begging you'' Kaleb said in a low voice while driving his spear deeper at Haze's body.
Haze only laughed making him choke at his blood he looked at the sky seemingly waiting for something.
''You will die if you stay here'' he replied to Kaleb which made his enemy question him.
The sky turned crimson without Kaleb realizing and from it, a man rushed forward sending him flying back to his soldier's Haze and then slowly falling to that man's arm.
''They did a number on you'' said the man.
''Shut up old fart I'm fine'' he replies while forcing a smile.
Kaleb look scared looking at the man who kicked him.
''It's been a long time lad I didn't think I'd see you here''
''I didn't also think I'll see you here head of the Chen family Chen Xiang''
''He's not the only one here Kal'' another voice sounded from the sky Kaleb looked up and saw a man wearing golden armor.
''Kai of Maple leaf dojo'' one of the soldiers mumbled.
More powerful men suddenly gathered making them shiver in fear.
The temperature dropped suddenly while the wind blew heavily. Asher of the wind empire also came tagging along his generals and the powerhouses of the north came bearing their freezing powers.
''If it isn't a dog of fake gods lad do you wish a war broke again between the two realms'' Kun elder of the Seven Petal Valley said.
''You have two options one surrender and the second die here'' Kai calmly declares.
''Sorry, but I'll go to the third one'' Kaleb then broke a token, and with a flash, a bright light came and disappeared with them.
''That bastard!'' Kai shouted in anger he and Kaleb once clashed and lost the battle.
''Calm down Kai hurry to help me'' Chen said while lifting Haze's weak body.
''Old man Chen if you allow it Haze may stay at my valley he can recover faster there'' Kun suggested.
''Very well you have my gratitude for this incident'' he answered.
Kun nodded his head and took Haze with him leaving the rest to investigate.