Looking out the window of the train Ethan emerged himself with the possible recipes he might use for the competition.
''Right might as well train my flame control''
Ethan made a small black flame controlling its size and temperature.
Hours passed and Ethan kept practicing until someone knocked on the door Ethan stood up and opened the door to see who it was.
''Miss Rachel what brings you here''
Ethan was surprised looking at the large plate that she was holding.
''Dear sir this is the best meal we could offer please help yourself''
Ethan only nods his head looking at the large feast in front of him.
''Here take this before you go''
Ethan throws a small bag of coins as a tip for her.
''Thank you sir but before I go, the city Lord wants to give you this storage ring as a gift''
Rachel gently gives the ring to Ethan before excusing herself to go.
''That's one bountiful meal'' Pyr came out of nowhere feasting himself on the meal.
''Are you mad because you couldn't beat some asses back there''
Ethan said who also sat down and slowly ate his meal.
''Hmph I didn't know that you would use me as a tracker to track down that Demigod''
''Alright I'm sorry next time I'll leave it to you to deal with them okay''
Ethan sipped another wine he suddenly remembered what happened in the forest.
---------------------------------------
''Pyr have you located their whereabouts''
Pyr jumps at his shoulder before reporting,
''I have traced their whereabouts now shall we go there''
Pyr excitedly said while looking towards the direction of the enemy's headquarters.
''No, I want you to go towards the eastern cliff find Killian there and bring him towards the bloody gate's guild hall''
Hearing it Pyr looked disappointed but he still went towards the eastern cliff he's excitement seemed to have drained away.
Abigail looked at him asking ''Are you sure that father went there''
''Of course, thinking about the three most dangerous parts of this forest one of them is the Heart Falls, the second is the northern swamp which is the place our enemy hid and lastly, the eastern cliff I'm sure another dark guild should be hiding there, your father must have led there by one of our enemies''
Ethan looked at the black muddy swamp and he instantly felt the large concentration of beasts lurking around it.
''Dangerous'' he muttered but he still wanted to go inside and meet some strong individual who could greatly enhance his experience.
''Abigail you may stay here and wait for your father's army'' but it seems like Abigail is quite stubborn and still follows him around.
Roar!
From the swamp, a huge turtle appears having a mud-like shell and rock-hard body.
''This is not good we shouldn't made any ruckus that might get their attention'' Ethan thought while looking at the humongous beast.
But then something unexpected happened the beast that had noticed their presence began marching towards them at great speed then it happen the turtle suddenly tripped itself on a tiny rock and ended up rolling on the huge boulder near Abigail and Ethan's position.
''What an idiot'' he couldn't help but think then more unpleasant things happened the boulder that the turtle smashed in had another huge boulder above it being moved it suddenly fell towards the beast and so the turtle got pinned by a boulder much bigger and to itself.
Ethan didn't know what to say he was about to move ahead when he saw that the beast began to move.
Feeling that it might run berserk he began to take Abigail's hand to run but another thing happened.
The beast seems to be on the verge of laying its eggs it seems like it was hurrying because of it.
Ethan sighed and ended up moving closer to the beast feeling the presence of Ethan the beast growled at him.
''Easy I'm not here to hurt you'' he said gently while slowly moving closer to it. Every movement of Ethan was being watched by the turtle enough to make Ethan's body stiffen.
Then when he had a station himself in a good position he took out the orb garden and commanded it to take the humongous beast inside it.
Hum!
The orb responded to Ethan's command and with a flash the turtle disappeared.
''What just happened?'' Abigail can't help but ask.
''Oh I just use a storage orb to store the turtle away'' he casually answers thankfully Abigail believes him.
After that, the two of them continue to venture into the dark swamp.
--------------------------------------
While still remembering his adventure with Abigail Ethan heard someone knocking on his door again but instead of opening it he only looked at Pyr asking him who was outside.
''Better not open it master three sky level cultivators with malicious intent are trying to barge in our door''
Ethan looks outside before ordering Pyr to scare those lunatics away.
''Heh as you command master''
Hum
Pyr released his aura making the three sky cultivators fly
'I wonder why they trying to come here''
Ethan asked as he looked at the storage ring that was given to him.
''I think it's because we have this luxurious room that was getting some unwanted attention''
''You think so Pyr''
''Well I did hear them saying that future alchemists like them deserve the room we have and that they came here to know what kind of person gains the favour of the city Lord''
Ethan sighed hearing this after all he chose to go to Bright City because of the armored train that would take him faster to his destination but unexpectedly met someone on the way.
A few moments passed and many more people came but Ethan only ignored them some who were so annoying were sent flying by Pyr.
''Hmmnn what's this?'' Ethan took out something from the storage ring that the city gave him.
A small iron pot with ancient text is shown at his table.
''Master that an elixir cauldron shouldn't you be aware of the use of it''
Ethan was quite a bit confused since he had never used this thing before even when he was young he had never use it before.
''Wait I think I've seen this thing before at my teacher's place...now I understand why he looked so surprised when I didn't use this thing to make a pill''
''Well master how about practising your flames now''
''Right might as well try using this thing''
Ethan emerged himself in making pills that he hadn't noticed that night already passed.
''Let's take a shower then''
Since his room is big it has its bathroom and kitchen with lots of food in it.
Ethan just come out of the bathroom when someone knocked on his door again.
''Pyr the door''
''Master I don't think the one behind the door meant any harm maybe you should check it out''
''Help! Please open the door please!''
''What now'' Ethan scratched the back of his head while walking towards the door thinking of another problem and stepping on his door again.
''Ow!''
Right when he opens the door two kids bump on his naked chest making him take a step back.
''Huhuhu... please mister save us''
Tears fell from the little girl's eyes as look at Ethan suddenly loud footsteps echoed towards them.
''Sis....''
The little boy trembles hearing the footsteps that walking towards them.
''Get inside now'' Ethan said while gently patting their backs.
Ethan shut the door seconds later someone knocked on his door he opened it again and saw three Nirvana-level cultivators.
''Sir may I ask if you have seen two children walking towards here''
''Kids? Are you talking about them?''
Ethan pointed to the two kids hiding on his sofa the three Nirvana-level cultivator wanted to barge in but was stopped by Ethan.
''Hey, I think you better stay where you are after all you don't want things to become messy don't you?''
The three Nirvana cultivators stop and look at the room number their barging in.
''This room is...''
Realizing the catastrophe that fell on those people who dared to go to this room the three cultivators walk away but their eyes are still glued on those kids.
''Mister thank you!''
The little girl went to hug Ethan but suddenly the towel on Ethan's waist fell showing his manly secret.
Bang!
Pyr's tail went towards Ethan's head sending him flying back to the bathroom.
''Now kids forget about what you saw okay''
''Wow, you can talk'' the little boy holds Pyr looking extremely curious.
''Throwing me like that is no good Pyr''
Ethan came out of the bathroom with a new set of clothes he looked at the children in his room and asked them to sit down.
''Now kids what happened? why on earth those guys are chasing you?''
The little girl looks at him before answering in a small voice.
''I'm Lucia we were a slave that was bought by a man he said he was an alchemist....and he...he used us as human test subjects for the pill he was researching for''
Drops of tears fell on the little girl's eyes as she held on her little brother.
''How did you manage to escape''
''Well there was this guy who fought with them he let us escape''
Ethan went towards the kitchen and started to prepare a meal for them.
''I'm sure you guys are hungry let me make something for the two of you''
Meanwhile, at one of the private rooms in the train a man leisurely drinks while his hand linger on the girl beside him.
''Forget about them their just a bunch of slaves but I want you to keep an eye on the guy using that room''
''Yes, master!''
The three Nirvana cultivators left to do what they task to while the man put down his drink taking his gaze to the kid in front of him.
''I'm excited about the competition I'm sure you'll be the one to win''
The boy simply smiled and said
''No need to worry uncle I'll win and bring honour to our family''
They both laugh and toast together while Ethan back to his room and watches the two kids sleep he gazes at Pyr commanding,
''Locate those punks for me and please find the guy who helps the kids escape''