After disconnecting the crystal ball, Adrian sat silently for what felt like hours.
This conversation confirmed that he was all alone in this world now.
The realization hit him so fiercely that his mind was blank. The Blakes were his last hope, and now that they were refusing to help him, he didn't have a clue what to do next.
As he sat there in a daze, a small hand tugged on his robe, pulling him out of his thoughts. He looked down to find the barely awake Olivia rubbing her eyes with one hand while holding onto his robes with the other.
Seeing the cute little girl brought a smile to his face.
He realized that he wasn't actually alone. He still had his two siblings with him. This realization relieved him of his worries.
"Big brother, what's the matter?" She asked while yawning.
"Everything is fine Liv. Are you hungry?"
"Yes, let's go eat big brother."
Liv, who became wide awake at the mention of food said sweetly.
Adrian ordered some food from the restaurant below and had it delivered to their rooms.
Since Liv had started cultivating, her appetite had increased and she had to have meals regularly in order to keep up with her metabolism.
While the kids were eating, Adrian was still thinking. He had to carefully plan out their next course of action.
Adrian had to grow stronger. He couldn't do so by staying in this small town. Even though he had various cultivation techniques and skills at his disposal, he needed treasures to enhance his growth speed.
Thinking of this, he decided to return to the misty mountain. Now that he had a plan, he heaved a sigh of relief.
He informed the kids that they would be leaving tomorrow. Now he had to make some preparations.
They couldn't use the same tactics that they used before because of the increase in security.
Adrian went out to buy a wagon and a few horses. He also went around to purchase a lot of different items like fruits and wine. His idea was to pose as a wandering merchant.
There were many of such in the region and people wouldn't question it too much.
With this out of the way, he also went to hire a few mercenaries. He hired a few who were at the late stage of the qi condensation realm.
This would make his disguise even more believable.
When the day broke, Adrian and the kids prepared themselves. The kids would hide at the back of the wagon while Adrian would sit at the back with the goods. One of the mercenaries would drive while the other two would stand guard.
After setting out, they were able to leave the city quite easily because Adrian bribed the guards with a few qi stones.
Qi stones were the currency used among cultivators. They contained qi which aided in cultivation.
Since they were heading back to Stonehold city, it would take them about two weeks since they were going to be stopping in some cities along the way.
As the sun was setting on day 3, the crew decided to set up camp in the woods. As they made a fire, Adrian sensed something amiss. Since his level was much higher than the others, his sensitivity was also top-notch.
He could sense about ten individuals a few hundred meters away from where they were, hiding in the forest. From their auras, they were between the mid and late stage of the qi condensation realm.
Their leader was at the peak of the qi condensation realm.
Even though they were outnumbered, Adrian was not worried at all.
He was after all at the fifth level of the foundation establishment realm.
They posed no threat to him at all.
While Adrian and his crew were eating. They were suddenly surrounded by the bandits.
"Haha, what do we have here boys?"
The leader said in a mocking tone. He was completely confident in their victory. After all, they not only outnumbered them, but their levels were also higher.
The mercenaries that Adrian hired were already on their feet with their weapons drawn. Their faces were filled with apprehension as they were surveying their chances of victory.
Adrian just sat there and continued his meal silently.
His indifference annoyed the bandits.
"Damn it. Before we just came here for the money, but it seems like this idiot has a death wish."
With that, they attacked abruptly.