"Stay safe," Venice said with her adorable smile as Kevin disembarked from the bus outside the city walls.
"I will, especially if it means feeling your soft skin again," Kevin playfully replied, causing her to blush.
"Be cautious and come back," Sia added in a slightly colder tone.
Kevin nodded in acknowledgment and made his way towards the group of people standing a short distance away. Each of them carried a big bag on their back, and some were equipped with various weapons like swords, bows, spears, and even futuristic-looking guns. It was evident that all of them were cultivators, as not many people could use such crude weapons to hunt monsters that were as powerful as well-armored soldiers. Kevin wished he could have one of those sci-fi guns, but they were too costly for him to afford.
As he observed the crowd, Kevin was surprised to see so many cultivators gathered in Lucima City. He had thought there were only a few, but now it seemed like there were hundreds of them here. "I didn't expect so many cultivators in this city," he mused in his mind, sensing the presence of qi in their bodies.
Curious, Kevin used his bracelet to check some statistics and discovered that there were around 8 billion cultivators in the Kysore Kingdom alone. That was more than half the population of Earth, and it was just a portion of the 31 billion people in the kingdom.
Intrigued by this newfound information, Kevin decided to explore more common knowledge, which his processors had initially considered unnecessary. He learned about the neighboring kingdoms surrounding Kysore Kingdom. To the west was Toubarg Kingdom, to the south were two kingdoms named Bolrias and Asthya, and to the east were Nirouya and Kinamen Kingdoms. Kysore Kingdom stood in the middle of these five neighboring realms.
The Asthya kingdom stood as the most powerful among them all, boasting almost half of its population as cultivators. Toubarg came second, and Kysore followed in third position, with Bolrias ranked fourth, and Nirouya and Kinamen placed fifth and sixth in terms of military strength. However, Kevin couldn't help but feel there was much more to this ranking. It seemed to be solely based on the military might of the kingdoms, without considering the potential of normal and independent cultivators.
Yet, Kevin knew it wasn't his place to get entangled in these complex matters. He was merely a beginner cultivator who hadn't even opened all of his meridians yet. His focus needed to be on honing his skills, surviving the dangers of the Misty Mountains and the cheating system.
Kevin continued to gather more information while waiting for his ride to the Misty Mountains. Soon, the armored car arrived, impressing him with its size and weaponry. The massive vehicle had guns mounted on its sides and front, along with smaller ones at the back. Kevin had paid a hefty 3000 units for the ride, knowing that it was a necessary expense to safely travel to the dangerous Misty Mountains.
"here for misty mountains." As the car stopped in front of the crowd, a burly man emerged and called out for those heading to the mountains. Kevin, along with two other men, stepped forward. He was slightly disappointed that there weren't any women in the group, but he shrugged it off, already planning to enjoy his time there.
Handing over a metal coin that acted as his ticket, the burly man scanned it with his bracelet, similar to Kevin's but with some differences. Once cleared, Kevin and the other two men entered the armored car. It had enough seats for about 14 people, and with half of them already occupied, there were only four seats left.
Despite being in close quarters, no one bothered to greet each other or engage in small talk.
As the armored car began its journey towards the Misty Mountains, the atmosphere inside remained tense and quiet. Each passenger seemed lost in their own thoughts, contemplating what lay ahead in the treacherous and mysterious mountain range.
Kevin couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and anxiety. This was his first time venturing out on such a perilous journey, and he knew the Misty Mountains held unknown dangers. However, the prospect of gaining power and uncovering the secrets of cultivation kept him determined.
As the car rolled on, the landscape outside changed from the bustling city to the outskirts and eventually to the untamed wilderness. The greenery gave way to dense forests, and the road became rougher, indicating their approach to the mountainous region.
Kevin gazed out the window, trying to catch glimpses of any mysterious creatures or landmarks. The others, too, occasionally stole glances at the unfamiliar surroundings, but the silence remained unbroken.
After a few hours of travel, the armored car finally reached a small settlement situated near the edge of the Misty Mountains. As the car came to a stop, Kevin and six other passengers disembarked. The burly man once again called out the next destination, "Here for Aormoda Valley."
As some new passengers eagerly boarded the car, Kevin looked around and headed towards his planned destination, the Vyashtha Inn. He had chosen to stay here for at least five days and choose this in to rest and recuperate during his expedition to the Misty Mountains.
The Vyashtha Inn held a unique reputation, not just as an inn but also for its involvement in certain activities related to Kevin's previous life's occupation – prostitution. Kevin had learned that the inn offered more than just a place to stay; it also catered to a clientele with specific interests, including some cultivators who worked as prostitutes. The presence of cultivator prostitutes intrigued Kevin, and that was another reason he had chosen this somewhat expensive inn.
While money didn't hold much value to him since it couldn't be exchanged within the system, he still found it useful for purchasing goods that he could later sell in the stores and complete quests given by the system but it woudln't be cost effective so he decide to use it for other means. Like his stay at the Vyashtha Inn and engaging with some beautiful cultivators.
As Kevin approached the inn, he couldn't help but feel a mix of curiosity and excitement. The Misty Mountains adventure was just beginning, and the inn's unique offerings added an unexpected twist to his journey. While he knew he had to be cautious and focused on his cultivation, he couldn't deny that the prospect of meeting cultivator prostitutes piqued his interest. 'And the yin qi they got must be quite high grade,' Kevin thought to himself as he entered the inn.