The Dawn of the New World

"Did you identify the poison yet?"

*Beep*

"Negative. I have nothing similar in my records."

"Great," Hao Xuan spat out a mouthful of black blood that was automatically being cleaned out from his body.

He looked towards the direction the teenager with the face tattoos had escaped to. He was the one that had poisoned Hao Xuan with nothing but a single look.

His powers were so mysterious that even after battling with him for half an hour straight Hao Xuan had no idea how he was doing it.

And the worst part was that all of them escaped, even Branh who was knocked out cold. Over 30 cultivators were fighting against them but they didn't manage to keep them here.

"Those guys were no joke. I can see why the source of this power is in such a high demand," Hao Xuan mumbled while massaging his sore arms.

Just blocking the attacks of the girl with the bone spears shook Hao Xuan's entire skeleton. If it was just physical force then Hao Xuan could easily handle it as long as it wasn't in the profound realm but each of their attacks had unique attributes.

Seeing as the battle was finished and there was nothing else to do, Hao Xuan closed his eyes and sensed for Fortis who was supposed to be guarding Salome. He wasn't too far off from his current location.

'I'll find him a place to stay here and then get back to the walking city. I have to get that book translated quickly, I feel like it will help me get past this wall that's been blocking all my progress,' he thought inwardly.

It had been months since had broken through to the 4th Stage of the Spirit Realm but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't create another Mind Palace. he could feel its presence, but something was missing, something important.

Hao Xuan made his way through the wreckage left behind from the battle, leaving the participants behind to handle everything.

Ceni who had not joined the fight stood atop the highest pillar of the ruined castle, her gaze fixated on Hao Xuan's back.

Standing behind her, her two friends exchanged glances with one another, glances full of concern.

"It's like she's become a completely different person. Why is she so obsessed with that guy? He's not even that good looking," Iris spoke to Klem through Spirit sense while twirling a lock of her black hair in between her fingers.

Klem's expression turned a little cold as she lightly smacked the back of Iris's head, "That man saved our lives. Be a little grateful...but you're right. I think we might have to inform her Majesty if she continues acting this way," she said referring to Ceni's mother.

Iris almost jumped out of her shoes just from hearing about her, "I-I don't want to. You call her," she took a step back.

"Tsk, coward," Klem gave her a dirty look and looked away, but her feelings were much the same.

Even though both of them were now actual friends with Ceni, but that had only come to be because of Ceni's mother the First Mistress, who had basically forced them to be with her 24/7 as her informants.

Iris and Klem were both princesses themselves, coming from Kingdoms that SHOULD have been at the same level as the Dai Clan, yet they were reduced to nothing but glorified bodyguards for her daughter.

They were both extremely fearful and respectful of the woman that stood behind the so-called Vampire King and helped him rule with an iron fist from the shadows.

**

It had only been a few hours since the sun had risen so it was quite early in the day.

Hao Xuan passed through one section of the city to the other while keeping as low of a profile as he possibly could with his stature.

Even though a portion of the city was destroyed, the other parts seemed completely undisturbed as people continued to go about their daily schedules without batting an eye.

Occasionally Hao Xuan would overhear someone talking about the loud sounds from the earlier fight and complaining about one thing or another, but most just wanted to get their intended destinations.

Hao Xuan was a little taken aback at first before he realized why this was so. This planet was in a too early stage of development so no one was really free. They had to work all day just to put some food on their tables so there was no time to be worried about things that didn't affect them directly and immediately.

Walking for a few minutes Hao Xuan reached a populated market where most of the stalls were selling rocks and different types of ores. It was jam-packed with all sorts of people even though most of them were rough-looking men.

Suddenly, a weak sound came from behind Hao Xuan, "Umph, oww."

He turned around to see a dirty little face starting up at him with crocodile tears in its eyes, "Mister, you stepped on me!" the girl shouted before she started wailing as loud as she possibly could.