Hou Shing is truly flabbergasted by what he saw. To think there is a cultivator as passionate as this brings tears to his eyes. His age doesn't matter. He is a liberator through and through.
Many people of the Biron Kingdom developed this prejudice against cultivators. No one knew when it began but those from righteous sects who is the recipient of the malicious intentions cannot see it more clearly than the forming crystals of Clearwater Lake.
The unnecessary prejudice, exaggerated fear, and unintended isolation has been griping the many orthodox sects of the Biron Kingdom.
All of this was the result of the Templar's brainwashing of the people. The people that live in remote villages are especially prone to this increasingly growing stereotypical idea that cultivators meant trouble… that to the mortal world, they are unwelcome.
This is why the cultivators and mortals are growing further apart despite sharing one origin— the human earthly origin. As an inner disciple of the Flowing Blade Sect, Hou Shing has been educated on the ways of a righteous cultivator— to represent the virtues, goodness, and fairness as of those who adhere to the alignment of the orthodox sects.
They aren't just martial artists who are capable of harm... they are cultivators who not only cultivate strength... they are not just immortals who greed over eternal life... They are just people who have been enlightened... They aren't exactly as highhanded as those from the upper class of society... They are just aloof and sensitive people who have a unique perspective on things.
To Hou Shing, this is how he sees cultivators.
"You poison our minds! You want us to become cultivators!? Foolishness! Stop speaking, you demonic cultivator!"
A beggar from out of nowhere starts screaming at the top of his lungs… No one knew how he reached the podium, but he is quick on his steps… Despite being an ordinary man, and lack of qi in his steps, he has speed that an ordinary person cannot catch up from.
"He… he is a hunter from a small village west of here!"
"What is he doing? Doesn't he fear the cultivator?"
"Such audacity, save that stupid hunter!"
Hou Shing overheard the exclamation of the people around him… He looked at the suicidal hunter rushing to the podium with no one stopping him. He didn't pay any mind to the 'idiot' who got too bloated by what the Templars are feeding him.
There is no way the young man capable of flight wouldn't be able to defend himself. Surely, the hunter would die because of his foolishness.
But Hou Shing got it all wrong. Lu Gao no longer has qi… as he spent it all already from his theatrics. So just like that, unexpected to all, the hunter arrived by the cultivator's side and stabbed the young man's heart… The crowd gasped at the unbelievable sight.
Lu Gao dryly smiled at this. He wanted to swear, retaliate, and be done with it, but he has a role to play. Suppressing the pain he is feeling through the system's hidden functions, Lu Gao portrays this noble smile. "I see this knife has a Templar insignia… I respect your choices…"
"Please come to the Desolate Mountain, I will see you again…" Lu Gao mysteriously said.
To the perception of the hiding expert cultivators, the young man was dying. The clear indication of this is the leaking life essence they are seeing through their Spiritual Sense.
Lu Gao is dying, and even a few mortals, realize this. No one will be able to survive a stab in the heart. No one! Well, unless you are a Perfect Immortal.
As Lu Gao lose his life, something mysterious happened… The young man didn't become a cold corpse… But instead became ashes…
Hou Shing felt a chill in his heart as he recalled an old adage passed among cultivators… To the ash we return, to the world we are reborn, and by the heavens we are immortals…
A different uproar since Lu Gao's appearance enveloped the surroundings. The people are in chaos… Some of them wanted to rush to the podium to murder the hunter… Some of them wanted to start a riot… Some of them started questioning the nobility, royalty, and officials.
Lurker smiled at what he is seeing as he used his Fade Art to assimilate himself with the crowd. Lurker doesn't even need to think twice to burst his Dantian… he can just be resurrected anyway… With the same method as elder Fu did, Lurker boosted his cultivation base to like what it was before… the Soul Recognition realm also the 5th stage…
Of course, it is just a fake 5th stage. It was only his qi that is on the 5th stage. He cannot really jump three levels from 2nd stage just by bursting his Dantian. At best he has the strength of a 3rd stage… That aside, Lurker still managed to reach the results he wanted.
Relying on his mastery over Sound Transmission, Lurker spreads his qi to the whole of Sword Metropolitan. Since he was a beast, the Sound Transmission though basic is not something he slacked off practicing.
This art that can only be learned at the 4th stage after all is the only thing he has going so that he can converse with humans.
"People of Sword Metropolitan! The master of life and death has come to you offering you aid… You only need to take a step forward and decide! I, the Jaded Jaws, the Rogue of the Creek have seen the miracles he is capable of… Join the pilgrimage, endure the journey, and see for yourself if what the young general said is a lie!"
The common people clamored at the powerful and grand voice echoing in their ears… meanwhile, the other cultivators have this freezing fear… The Rogue of the Creek is a name given to the demonic crocodilian beast who was ambushing people in Clearwater Lake. It was confirmed that the beast possess incredible strength at the pinnacle of 4th stage.
Now, they estimate that the beast must be on the 5th stage!
Lurker doesn't really like the Rogue of the Creek moniker, but he has to use everything he has so that he can gather the fame points he desperately needs.
Bleeding from all of his orifices, Lurker slowly felt his body disintegrating to ash. No one saw what really happened to him as in the very end, he has the Fade Art activated.
The confusion halted its transformation into mania and hysteria. The people started gathering, making their own way to the Desolate Mountain.
The pilgrimage started.