"We are getting nearer to an area called the Draynora Mountain Range. This mountain range is home to many powerful beasts, and to this day, it hasn't yet been fully explored."
Vasari listened closely to what the flowery voice slightly behind him had to say. He first wanted to explore most of the planet before infiltrating the Church of Prasufis. It didn't hurt to have a small adventure and experience new things he could also use this time to search for the tomb.
"Let's go there."
"Are you sure? It said that beta-stage beasts reside inside that mountain range." Hiromi nervousness was evident in her voice. Beta-stage beasts could be split up into 3 ranks. Early rank, Late rank and Peak rank. With Peak rank Beta stage beasts being the equivalent of 3 peak Nebula Realm cultivators that Planet Voxotis currently had none to speak of.
Vasari knew this mountain range was one of the danger zones pointed out by Elder Equus, but this was an opportunity to test the limits of his improved body.
Before, he could fight toe to toe with a talented peak adult-stage beast without using his bloodline. He believed that fighting against an early rank Beta-stage beast wasn't out of the question. At the very least, he was confident of escaping unharmed.
"Don't worry. No matter what happens, I'll make sure you don't die. I hired you therefore I'm responsible for you."
Hiromi felt a little better hearing what he said. She had only recently met Vasari, but she felt he was a trustworthy person so she was willing to take the gamble.
"So, how long do you think it will take to explore this mountain range?"
"Although nobody has fully explored the Draynora mountain range, there have been plenty who have crossed it. Most said it takes roughly a month to cross by foot."
"Oh, it's that big, huh?"
"It's not that big, but the path is dangerous and you have to take many divergent routes to avoid the beasts."
"Hmm okay. Let's go."
Vasari took out his spirit-grade sword from his spatial ring given to him by Elder Equus and held it tightly in his right hand. Hiromi pulled out a large Yumi bow from a storage bag hung around her neck. It painted a funny picture of a small lady no more than 160cm tall holding a large bow over 200cm in length.
Storage bags were completely different to spatial rings or spatial bags. Storage bags had formations inside, increasing the storage space inside a bag, while spatial rings had their own separate space inside the ring. Hiromi had no clue what a spatial ring was and thought Vasari had a storage bag similar to hers.
Vasari nodded his head in satisfaction after feeling her determination and bravery.
'She has a much better mindset and attitude than Akira. Her cultivation is also not bad for her age and the environment around her. I think her talent isn't any worse than Timo or Ashers.'
The duo walked for another 45 minutes before Vasari felt the air around him change and the temperature dropped slightly.
"We should be entering the mountain range soon." Hiromi updated Vasari who nodded in acknowledgement.
Slowly they started walking up a gradual incline and Hiromi could see 16 tall and intimidating jagged mountains blanketed by dark grey clouds that seemed to slice off the mountain peaks. It was not her first time seeing these mountains but it still unnerved her slightly. She looked at the youth walking fearlessly in front of front her. She didn't know if he was confident or just ignorant about the dangers of the mountain range but his fearless attitude and that confident smile which never seemed to leave his face filled her with a sense of belief.
"Stay close to me from now on, I don't want you getting stolen from me. You have to be my eyes from here on out, got it?" Vasari turned around to face the girl he met only a few hours ago. Just like how she decided to trust him, he decided to trust her.
Hiromi quickly skipped to his side with her huge bow still grasped in her hands.
"I'll be the best pair of eyes you'll ever have."
Vasari laughed wholeheartedly at her cute response. He doubted she could top his Heavenly Eyes but he liked her enthusiasm.
–––––
Cloud Haven Sect, Outer Haven entrance gates.
Being a guard in charge of overseeing the entrance not only to the Outer Haven but the entire Cloud Haven Sect was a prideful and high-paying job. You were the first line of defence if the sect ever gets attacked but in recent times that seemed like an impossibility.
The main duty of the guards nowadays besides patrolling the sect perimeter, is inspecting those who come to visit the sect either on trading business or visiting friends and family.
"5 more days until I can finally go back home. I can't even remember when last I felt the passionate touch of a woman."
"Lucky! I still have 3 months left before my shift is complete."
"Hehe trust me, those last few months always take the longest."
"Man, I hope not. I already miss my girlfriend. It's been so long since I've seen her."
"You have a girlfriend? Why on Noblia would you take this job if you have a girlfriend? Don't you know what they say?"
"What are you talking about?"
"There's a rule among the guards that you should never take this job if you have a girl waiting at home. Apparently, over 70% go home to their girls only to find them sleeping with other men."
"Dude my girl isn't like that. She and I are true lovers and loyal to each other."
"If you say so."
2 guards, one middle-aged with a nasty scar wrapped around his neck and a younger man with dark green hair, conversed while patrolling the sect wall. The sect wall looked pretty ordinary being only 10 metres high and thick enough for 3 people to comfortably walk alongside each other, but it was filled with countless defensive formations as well as offensive formations that would make even the strongest think thrice before attacking.
Screee!
The 2 guards jumped when they heard the shrill shriek of an eagle. They scanned the horizons for the incoming beast, there was no anxiousness in their postures or gazes. The likely hood that they were under attack was basically non-existent.
"Hey, I think I can see it."
"Yeah, me too. Is that an Alpha-Stage Frozen Eagle? Holy shit isn't that the mount of the number 1 Fairy Hannah Coldwater!?"
The green-haired youth was practically drooling with excitement. He was going to meet the number 1 fairy in person.
'Calm down and be cool. I gotta show her how awesome I am.'
"So much for being loyal huh?" The middle-aged man snickered but his partner was too much in his own world to hear him.
The frozen eagle quickly approached the sect wall before stopping 100m away. Now that the eagle was much closer, the guards got a good look at the ginormous bird that emitted an icy aura that made them subconsciously shiver and take a step back.
They noticed a tiny figure garbed in a black cloak completely hiding their identity, standing atop the Frozen Eagles head.
"I would like to enter the Cloud Haven Sect. Please allow me entry." A voice that Vasari would immediately recognise called out to the guards standing on the sect wall. They well standing with dumbfounded looks on their faces as if bewitched by her cold yet melodious voice.
"Excuse me?"
The cloaked figure called out again snapping awake the two guards from their daze. The middle-aged man was the first to speak.
"You may enter but under the sect visitor conditions you have to stow your mount in the Cloud Stables and sign a contract of non-violence."
The man took out an ordinary-looking scroll from his spatial ring and using his mana, guided it towards the figure standing on the eagle's head.
The person reached out their hand and caught the scroll before reading it. Satisfied with the terms the figure bit their thumb open, allowing their blood to stain the paper.
The scroll magically absorbed the figure's blood and glowed blue before returning to normal. The figure sent the scroll back to the middle-aged guard who stored it in his spatial ring once again.
"Thank you for your cooperation. Enjoy your stay at our Cloud Haven Sect."
The cloaked figure nodded and motioned for the Frozen Eagle to continue forward in the direction of the Cloud Stables.
"Oh my lord, it was actually the number 1 fairy! Look at my arm, I have goosebumps!"
"Shut up, will you! You stood there frozen like a statue. I'm surprised you even managed to land yourself a girlfriend. So pathetic."
–––––
"Miss Coldwater, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
Elder Equus looked at the breathtaking beauty standing next to her mount with curiosity. Not too long ago the 10 core disciples of the Glacier Bay Sect and the elder looking after them left the sect, so to say he was surprised to see her was not exaggerated.
"I'm here to see someone…maybe you could help me?"
"Little lass, I'm an old man with a busy schedule…"
"I'll give you 20ml of Frozen Eagle blood essence."
Hannah interrupted the Elder but he didn't take offence when he heard what she was offering. Frozen Eagle blood essence was extremely sought after and expensive since Frozen Eagles has the potential to become Ancient Ranked beasts meaning their bloodline was really powerful and what cultivator wouldn't want a powerful bloodline to improve their strength?
20ml of blood essence was enough to give 2 cultivators the Frozen Eagle bloodline.
"Fine. What is the name of this person you are searching for?"
"His name is Vasari."
*Cough* *Cough*
'Fuck…why him'
Elder Equus didn't know whether to laugh or cry at this situation he never saw coming.
'Of course, that brat has captured the heart of the number 1 fairy. How typical.'
Elder Equus was an experienced old man and from his lifetime of accumulated knowledge, he found that the best way to deal with women like Hannah was to just be straightforward and honest.
"Vasari is not in the sect at the moment. He is currently on a mission."
Hannah's perfectly trimmed eyebrows furrowed and her dark blue eyes looked deep in thought. "How long will he be away for?" She asked the Elder who ever since she mentioned Vasari's name seemed to be acting slightly differently.
"I'm honestly not sure but if you want I can always let you know via ManaPhone."
"No need. I will wait here for him. Please tell me where he lives."
Elder Equus could feel a huge headache coming along. If those horny young men find out that the number 1 fairy is in the sect, he didn't know what level of chaos would ensue. Luckily the guards are not allowed to spread information about guests of the Sect unless an elder permits it.
"He lives in student residence 69 but if you want to wait for him then I suggest going to student residence 85. That's where his girlfriend is staying."
"Huh? Girlfriend?"
Elder Equus watched how Hannah's ocean blue eyes turned darker and darker, her nose scrunched up cutely and eyebrows furrowed even deeper.
Without saying anything she left the Cloud Stables and headed straight to residence 85.
Elder Equus chuckled and turned to face the Frozen Eagle staring straight at him. "It seems Vasari is more daring than I thought. To capture the heart of the Ice Queens' one and only daughter…how brave."
The Frozen Eagle scoffed in contempt and ignore the babbling elder.
–––––
"3 to the north and 1 east! They are the last ones!"
"Got it!"
Vasari dashed north where three 2m tall monkeys with metal fists and feet stood waiting for him. Hiromi wasn't idle either as she pulled out 6 arrows from her storage bag, notched the arrows and fired them at the monkey to the east. The arrows contained fire essence on the arrowhead and when fired, the arrowhead engulfs in flames making it easier to pierce skin and muscles.
The monkey dodged 4 of the arrows but 2 managed to pierce his left thigh and right shoulder respectively.
These monkeys were only adult-stage beasts so Hiromi, who was at the same cultivation stage as Vasari, was able to handle her own weight and help him out.
*boom!*
A mini explosion sounded to her left causing Hiromi to turn her head in its direction. What she saw was Vasari throwing an ordinary-looking punch that effortlessly pierced the stomach of one of the monkeys before it exploded into a bloody mess.
"What a monster…"