Rendall City, Crimson Sun Empire.
"Young Master, we're here." The coachman told the young man inside the coach.
The youth, about the age of seventeen, lifted his eyes and nodded. His dark eyes and long black hair were common among the people, but his porcelain-like skin and handsome features could be considered rare. These couldn't be hidden by the basic and cheap clothes he was wearing.
There was nothing with him except a small bag and a ring—a spatial ring at that—where all of his belongings were. From a distance, he looks just like a commoner traveling to the busy city. But if one closely observes him, just the ring indicates that he came from a decent background, even possibly reputable.
He nodded at the coachman and looked out. Seeing the high walls of Rendall City, he was finally relieved. A long journey of two months pushed not just his body but also his mind to the limit. The dreaded roads, the constant fear of demon beast attacks, bandits along the way, the sleepless nights and days so hot he passed out a few times. These events were first to him, who never left the courtyard of his family.
Finally, those situations have now come to pass. Although he could experience some of them in the future, the youth was not thinking about it. What's important is now.
Two months and finally, a city that he could live in. Peacefully and prolonged, if he could wish for it to be.
"Young Master, I will arrange our entry to the city." The young coachman, probably in his late twenties, spoke. He wore light leather armor, and a sword was hanging on his waist. His well-built figure had some scars here and there, medals of victory if one could describe them. But to him these scars, especially the one across his left eye, were all evidence of weakness, something that was unacceptable to a guard like him.
"Mm," the youth nodded. "Not 'Young Master' but Jupiter. Jupiter Altar."
"But-."
"Asten, no buts. We've already talked about it many times before." Jupiter cut in before he could continue.
A young master and his guard. A status that is worlds apart in the eyes of most but to Jupiter, it was a friendship formed from childhood and unwavering loyalty and trust forged throughout time and challenges.
"Alright, Jupiter." Asten accepted it with reluctance. He was not used to it, despite being with Jupiter for a long time. After all, he was his Young Master by duty, and Jupiter's safety was his priority even before himself.
Asten rode the coach towards the gate to arrange for their entry to the city. Long line of people was waiting for their chance to enter the city. He arrived at the guard and talked to him for a few moments before placing a small bag on the table, which the guard took quickly and hid behind his sleeve. Asten gestured at where Jupiter was, and the guard nodded.
'Money. It really is powerful.' He thought.
They easily entered the city and traveled for a few more minutes before arriving at an inn. It was smaller than the others, but it was one of those simple yet attracting places that grabbed Jupiter's attention. The hall was busy with people dining and drinking, and at the very end of it was the reception desk. As they walked, the smell of beer and meat permeated their noses, making their stomachs cry of hunger.
Their silhouettes attracted the attention of a handful of the people, but they quickly returned to what they were doing after seeing that the two seemed rather ordinary.
"A room for two, please." Jupiter requested the female behind the desk.
"A silver per night. Meals are separate pay," she said with a smile. "How long are you staying?"
"Just five nights," he said, placing five silver coins on the desk.
"Alright. I'll take you to your room." She said,
"Maybe later. We want to have a meal first."
She nodded and called for a youth that led the two to an empty table on the corner he just cleaned. The hall was full, and the two were fortunate that they immediately had a seat. They ordered most of the items on the menu, and when the meals arrived, they devoured them like it was the first time they had eaten that type of food.
A proper meal. That was something Jupiter and Asten didn't have for a long time. There was only as short a distance the roasted meat could go. Both of them couldn't cook. A mistake that almost caused them to go mad in the past two months.
"That was good. Thank you," Jupiter complimented the lady behind the desk. A genuine comment that came from his heart. He knew it was not something that happened because they were hungry. Looking around the busy and lively place, he was not surprised that the inn was full. It was also very cheap, costing only five silvers for all their meals.
"Good to know you liked it." She said, "Come, I'll take you to your room now."
She led them to the second floor and opened the door of the room at the end.
"Here's your key. Don't lose it," she reminded them.
"I understand." Jupiter took the keys from her. "Thank you..."
"Jenna," she introduced.
"Jupiter. And this is Asten."
"Just tell me if you need something. I'm just at the desk."
After Jenna left, Asten locked the door while Jupiter immediately threw his body to the bed, quickly falling asleep just a few moments later.
Meanwhile, Asten walked around the room, checking if there's something suspicious around. When he was satisfied, he took a chair and sat near the door. He hugged his sword and spread his Qi Sense around the room before he closed his eyes.
It was already the next day when the two of them woke up.
"Should we take a look around the city..um..Jupiter?" Asten asked after they had their breakfast.
"We should." Jupiter replied.
After arriving in the city, he had no plans at all. The goal in his mind was first to arrive at Rendall, what comes next from that was something he never thought of.
All this time, the thought of his family back to their home never left his mind. His father's words that he spoke before sending him away were deeply engraved in his soul.
'Survive and never let our bloodline cease to exist.'
Words that he would truly remember even in his death.
Saying that he does not miss them would be a great sin. He really does, and if he could, he would just return to the family right away. But he knew that with his current self, even returning to his family would not make any difference. What would happen would still happen.
"Oh, are you going out?" Jenna asked as she passed by them.
"Yes, is there any place that you can recommend we can go to?" Jupiter asked.
"Hmm..So you're not here for the White Wind Sword Sect recruitment?" she asked with a surprised look.
"White Wind Sword Sect?" Jupiter asked with interest.
"Yes. Their branch here in Rendall City is having their recruitment ceremony today. That's why Rendall's especially crowded these days. I thought the two of you were going there. You guys look like cultivators to me, especially this guy." She explained and pointed at Asten.
"We didn't know about it." Jupiter said. "But thank you for the information. I think we'll go there to watch their recruitment ceremony." He then placed a gold coin on the table before standing up.
Jenna saw it. "Be careful at flaunting your wealth around because that might attract the attention of some bad people."
"Well, with Asten right here, we'll be fine." Jupiter assured.
"Still, be careful. I'm telling you this because I already saw many people walking a few steps outside that door, their money and life taken from them." She said as she stared at the door of the inn, her voice with a hint of sadness and longing. She then continued, "But I won't refuse your generosity." before pocketing the gold coin.
The two left the inn and headed straight to the White Wind Sword Sect.
Bustling crowd was everywhere and even the two didn't ask for directions, they knew they could easily find the sect just by following the flow of the crowd.
At the end of their way stood a wide platform with a few white-robed men standing on it. Below them was a sea of people that filled the streets of Rendall City. Looking around, Asten found many cultivators of the Qi Refining Stage, probably taking the examination or like them, just watching the spectacle.
"You really don't want to enter a sect?" Asten asked Jupiter.
Jupiter pondered after hearing his words. "A sect, huh."
'Of course, I want to if I can.' He then quickly threw away the idea the next second.
'But surely I won't pass that examination with my innate talent.'
Jupiter shook his head. "No."
Asten stared at him, having an idea what was on Jupiter's mind.
More people gathered and at the scheduled time, the recruitment began. There were three parts of the examination.
First, the examinees' innate talent for cultivation were tested via a special type of orb. Innate talent can be identified from 1 to 9, with 9 being the highest. Those who had 1 innate talent, which were over half the participants, were sent away. They already failed to enter the sect.
Second, the bone age was checked. Those who were already at the age of thirty, didn't make it.
Lastly, the remaining examinees' cultivation level were evaluated. Only those who were at the second level of Qi Refining Stage and above were selected. Out of ten thousand participants, only five hundred passed. Those who succeeded celebrated in tears and joy. Their status, now elevated from commoner to Sect Disciple, a status most people aspired to have.
The recruitment examination lasted for three days, and Jupiter and Asten watched it from start to finish. For the last day, some White Wind Sword Sect disciples performed sword dances and techniques that displayed the beauty and strength of their skills.
For Jupiter and Asten, it was something they rarely see, and the event was surely entertaining.
Now that the event was completed, Jupiter was trying to consider what to do next.
He stared at his ring and gazed inside it. A space about a cubic meter in volume, filled with low-grade spirit stones and items, his inheritance imparted to him by his father. The spirit stones could be used to increase cultivation level, but Jupiter never intended to use it, thinking it was just waste to someone with innate talent like him. And Asten would always refuse to accept the spirit stones even if he tried to give it to him.
'Should I just do business? In this city? But where should I start?'
The amount of money he has could buy anything in the city, but Jupiter knew that he should spend it very wisely or else, he would lose all of it, the last thing he wanted to happen.
He laid on the bed and gazed at the ceiling for some time.
'Let's buy our own house first.'
The next day, the two left the inn and went straight to the north of Rendall City. With the help of Jenna, they learned about the few courtyards that were up for sale.
Jupiter chose a medium sized one, about half hectare in area. The main residence stood in the middle, a small hall was behind it, two smaller residences on the west and east side, all of which was surrounded by a three-meter wall.
But the thing that he liked about it was the wide training area near the entrance of the facility, that could be used by Asten to hone his skills.
He bought it for a hundred low-grade spirit stones or about ten thousand gold coins and spent another thousand spirit stones to have arrays and formation set up around the house, something that was necessary to ensure their safety.
Safe and sound. Words that were very pleasing to the ears and considered a blessing if you're attached to your life.
And Jupiter attained it, even for the meantime.