Cultivating Disciples to Breakthrough

Returning back to the Blue Sea Empire, Xuan Hao made sure that everything was in order before officially crossing the border and making his way inside the Blue Sea Empire. Not wanting to end up getting stopped by a border guard again. Especially so after learning about the current relationship between the Blue Sea Empire and the Explorer Union. Once again, making him regret identifying as someone from Explorer Union back then…

Squeak~!

After crossing the border between the Blue Sea Empire and the Sky Empire, the rabbit demon beast that had remained in a state akin to hibernation inside his robe, emerged and made its way on top of his shoulder as it took in the view while lazily chomping down on a few spirit stones.

From what it had informed him about through their connection, it had grown bored of just staying inside his robe and had decided to come out to see what was happening. Although nothing much happened, it was at least a nice change of pace for Xuan Hao to have a travel companion.

Even if he did in a sense also have this travel companion for the past two months, it was different having the rabbit demon beast on top of his shoulder curiously looking around while enjoying a few spirit stone compared to it just silently staying inside his robe without showing any sign of existing.

"Hm? This is…"

However, just as he was lost in his own thoughts, a familiar yet powerful aura rushed over in his direction.

Whoosh~

Not a second later, an all too familiar female cultivator with a large heavy sword on her back appeared in front of him with a mild surprise present in her eyes.

"Fellow cultivator Bright Sword, I never expected to run into you again so fast… More importantly than that, is the demon beast on your shoulder your contracted demon beast?"

"Ah? Ah! Yes, it is my contracted demon beast." Taking a few seconds to respond as he remembered that the name he had used when registering with the border guard was Bright Sword, Xuan Hao awkwardly nodded his head. Already guessing that the reason why she had appeared must have been because she had picked up on the rabbit demon beast sitting on his shoulder.

Although… Last time I visited the Blue Sea Empire, she didn't notice the presence of the rabbit demon beast. 

Thinking this to himself, Xuan Hao realized that the robe from the elder of the Mirage Sect should be far more powerful than he had first thought. Even having the ability to hide the rabbit demon beast from whatever detection method that the Blue Sea Empire was using to ensure no powerful expert snuck inside their territory without their knowledge.

Maybe I could also make use of the robe to hide myself from the detection method of the Blue Sea Empire…

"Haaa… And I take it that you aren't familiar with the Blue Sea Empire's laws regarding bringing demon beasts into the empire?" Not giving Xuan Hao any time to continue his train of thought regarding his growing curiosity towards the true abilities of the robe that the elder from the Mirage Sect had handed over to him before passing away, the border guard let out an audible sigh as she said this.

"Eh… Sorry…" Not knowing what else to say as a somewhat awkward smile made its way to his lips after seeing the annoyed expression on the border guard's face, Xuan Hao felt that he should really spend some time learning about the laws of the Blue Sea Empire.

Even if it ended up taking away some time from his cultivation, it would at least prevent him from getting stopped at the border for a third time in the future. At least he hoped that it would prevent something like that happening again when making his way back to the star Shattering Set in the future.

"No worries, you just have to make your demon beast do the same thing as you did last time when I registered you. After that, I will ensure that the demon beast is listed as your demon beast. Although… I have to warn you that if your demon beast does something troublesome inside the Blue Sea Empire, you will be held responsible for it."

Whoosh~

Wasting no time after finishing her short explanation, she took out the artifact that she had used to record his aura a few months earlier and signaled for him to get the rabbit demon beast to touch it so its aura could be recorded.

Squeak? 

Not knowing what was happening as it felt both Xuan Hao and the border guard staring at it, the rabbit demon beast lifted its head up with a spirit stone still half inside its small mouth.

""…""

In the end, Xuan Hao decided to just lift the rabbit off his shoulder and place its paw on top of the artifact as its aura was recorded before placing it back down on his shoulder. 

During which the rabbit demon beast just stared at him strangely with the spirt stone slowly disappearing inside its mouth during the process. Not understanding why Xuan Hao had suddenly lifted it up and placed its paw on the strange artifact.

Even if it wanted to question him after being placed back on the shoulder again, it was stopped when Xuan Hao handed over a small interspatial ring filled with spirit stones to it…

"Quite an interesting demon beast you have… I will have to get back to my duties, so I won't be staying any longer." Feeling a bit surprised by the odd behavior of the rabbit demon beast as she said this, the border guard didn't bother staying any longer now that she had finished recording the aura of the unfamiliar demon beast she had sensed-

Whoosh-!

Disappearing before Xuan Hao had a chance to respond to what she said.

Even if she would normally have to punish or fine Xuan Hao for bringing in a demon beast without first registering it, she didn't have any plans of starting a conflict with someone she perceived to have possibly reached the Peak of the Soul Ascension Realm.

In her eyes, it was far better to not cause trouble and instead have a friendly relationship with someone like that. After all, even if she was someone from the blue Sea Empire, she also understood that it was best not to make any unnecessary enemies.

Not to mention, Xuan Hao hadn't really done anything hostile against the Blue Sea Empire and was just unfamiliar with the laws of the Blue Sea Empire…

Squeak~!

Breaking the silence that had emerged following the border guard abruptly leaving, the rabbit demon beast began to happily devour the spirit stones inside the interspatial ring. Not showing the slightest bit of care towards what was happening around it.

In the eyes of the rabbit demon beast, the most important thing at this moment was to test out the new spirt stones that Xuan Hao had given it.

"…"

Seeing this, Xuan Hao could not help shaking his head as he decided to continue deeper inside the Blue Sea Empire. Heading directly towards the massive city located not too far away from the border that he had visited in the past.

Even if a part of him was not too keen on visiting a place with someone in the Earth Immortal Realm present, he also understood that his best chance at getting information on possible locations that could help him comprehend his sixth Dao would be there.

Hopefully, the places he would have to go wasn't somewhere even deeper inside the Blue Sea Empire. In the best-case scenario, it would be one of the other empires bordering the Blue Sea Empire.

After all, even though the Blue Sea Empire held far better opportunities for him to improve his strength, he also understood that the danger would be far higher… And that was not even mentioning that he might end up unlucky and get caught in the middle of a battle between two Earth Immortal Realm Experts…

Given his past experience with the snake demon beast and the Earth Immortal Realm Expert from the Blue Sea Empire during his first unintentional visit to the Blue Sea Empire, he didn't feel like the chances of something like this happening was low.

On the other hand, considering that he now knew that the large river flowing out into the ocean from the inland sea at the core of the Blue Sea Empire contained ancient demon beast that had been hibernating for who knew how long, he had a feeling that the chance of encountering another Earth Immortal Realm level battle wasn't low!

As he thought about all of this along with how to deal with such a situation if it ended up happening, Xuan Hao managed to reach the massive city by the time the sun went down and the moon began ascending from the east.