Novel Full Chapter 173: A Guide Team
Chapter 173: Chapter 173: A Guide Team
Chapter 173: A Guide Team
The registrar stared at Rhain for several long seconds.
Finally, he let out a slow breath and pulled out a fresh slip from his drawer.
His brush moved swiftly across the surface, inscribing Rhain’s name, his Gold Badge identification number, and the details of the selected mission.
"It is done," the registrar said, pressing his essence into the slip to finalize the binding. He slid it across the counter. "You have thirty days to complete the mission and deliver ten intact corpses of late-stage Spirit Manifestation Violet Thunder Panthers to the Division’s collection hall."
Rhain accepted the slip and tucked it into his spatial ring.
The registrar hesitated for a moment, then leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice.
"If you truly intend to hunt Violet Thunder Panthers, your best option is Thunder Beast Ridge. It is a mountain range located approximately two hundred miles northeast of Stormveil City. The ridge is home to the densest concentration of lightning-attribute spirit beasts in the entire region, and Violet Thunder Panthers are known to nest in the upper valleys."
Rhain committed the name to memory. ’Thunder Beast Ridge.’
"Thank you," Rhain replied with a polite nod.
He turned away from the counter, his mind already formulating a plan.
He had no map of the Inner Province’s surrounding wilderness, nor did he know the specific layout of this ridge.
He had just come to Stormveil City, and he has no idea about the surrounding regions, navigating an unfamiliar wilderness without a guide would waste a lot of time.
’I should probably find someone to ask for this Thunder Beast Ridge.’
Just as Rhain was pondering who to ask for directions—
"If Senior doesn’t mind, we are also heading to Thunder Beast Ridge today! Senior is welcome to travel with us!"
A clear voice rang out from his left.
Rhain turned his head.
Standing a few paces away were three young men.
They were among the Silver Badge disciples who had been waiting in line earlier.
Rhain’s dark grey eyes swept over them, quickly assessing their cultivation.
The one who had spoken stood at the front of the trio.
He was the oldest of the three, perhaps twenty two or twenty-three years of age, with a friendly face and a cultivation base at the fifth level of the Spirit Manifestation Realm.
Beside him stood a slightly stockier young man at fourth level of Spirit Manifestation Realm.
But it was the third member of the group who actually piqued Rhain’s intrest.
The boy standing slightly apart from the other two looked incredibly young — no more than sixteen at most.
Yet, the aura rolling off his small frame was already at the second level of Spirit Manifestation Realm.
’A sixteen-year-old at the second level of Spirit Manifestation?’
Rhain found it genuinely surprising. Even in the genius-filled Inner Province, reaching that realm at such a young age should not be normal.
While the two older disciples looked at Rhain with deeply respectful gazes — clearly mindful of his Gold Badge status — the young boy’s eyes held no such deference.
His eyes held an unyielding, almost aggressive defiance, staring at Rhain with the blatant challenge of a young tiger measuring up a rival.
’What’s with the hostile glaring?’ Rhain thought, completely unbothered. ’I don’t even know this kid.’
Rhain shifted his dark grey eyes back to the fifth-level youth who had spoken.
"You guys are heading to the Thunder Beast Ridge?" Rhain asked.
"Yes, Senior," the fifth-level youth replied with a polite bow. "Our group has a mission to collect a batch of Lightning Spirit Herbs that grow exclusively at the Ridge. If we travel together, we can watch each other’s backs along the way."
Rhain considered the offer briefly.
He had been wondering how to efficiently locate Thunder Beast Ridge, and these three had just volunteered themselves as guides.
It saved him the trouble of asking around or studying unfamiliar maps.
"Fine," Rhain gave a slight nod. "I will go with you."
The fifth-level disciple’s face lit up with visible relief and excitement.
"Excellent! Senior is too kind!" He quickly stepped forward, cupping his fists in a formal greeting. "My name is Beric. This is my junior, Quinlan."
The fourth-level disciple beside him also bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Senior. I am Quinlan."
Beric then turned, gesturing toward the youngest member of their group.
"And this is—"
Before Beric could say something, the young boy stepped forward on his own.
He extended his hand directly toward Rhain, a proud, self-assured smile stretching across his youthful face.
"I am Jace," the boy introduced himself, his chin tilted upward. He puffed out his chest, completely expecting a reaction. "I’m sure you have already heard my name, Senior.
Rhain looked at the extended hand.
He casually reached out and shook it.
"No," Rhain deadpanned with a flat voice. "Never heard of you."
The proud smile on Jace’s face froze instantly.
His sharp eyes blinked once, then twice, as if his brain had momentarily short-circuited.
’Haa... not this again.’
Beric knew exactly how the young boy usually acted.
Jace was a genius among geniuses, pampered and praised by everyone in the Academy since he was a child.
He genuinely believed his name was known by every single person in Stormveil City.
Beric quickly stepped forward, placing a calming hand on Jace’s shoulder while offering Rhain an apologetic smile to smooth over the awkward atmosphere.
"Ahem! Please forgive him, Senior!" Beric hurriedly explained with an apologetic smile, and then looked at Jace. "Senior has entered the Academy just recently. That is exactly why he hasn’t heard of your name yet!"
Rhain let go of the boy’s hand and gave a noncommittal shrug.
Jace gritted his teeth, snatching his hand back, and glared at Rhain.
"Whatever," Jace muttered under his breath, turning away.
"If the introductions are finished," Rhain said, entirely ignoring the boy’s wounded ego. "Let’s leave. I don’t want to waste daylight."
"Right away, Senior!" Beric agreed hastily.
The four of them turned and walked out of the registration area, making their way toward the Academy gates to depart for the Thunder Beast Ridge.
Behind them, the remaining disciples in the registration area watched their group leave through the doors, and whispered among themselves.
"That kid Jace is as arrogant as ever! He doesn’t even care about Gold Badge disciples."
"Ha! What do you expect?" another disciple scoffed quietly, shaking his head, "He is the son of High Preceptor Octavius. With a Domain Master for a father, and knowing that no one can touch him, of course he would be cocky."
"Not to mention his talent," another disciple agreed, "He is barely sixteen years old, and he is already at the second level of the Spirit Manifestation Realm. At this rate, he will definitely become a Gold Badge disciple in the future. And with his background and that kind of monstrous progression, he has a very strong chance to even become the Core Palace disciple within a few years. Anyone with his talent and background should be arrogant."
A cynical snort drifted from the back of the crowd.
"But still... if the rumors are true, and this new Gold Badge disciple really is just at the Essence Condensation Realm... then going on a mission with that Jace brat might not end well for him."
The others exchanged knowing glances.
Jace’s arrogance was not just for show.
Despite being only sixteen, his battle strength was widely feared among the Silver Badge tier.
If the Gold Badge senior truly lacked real power, and Jace decided to test him on the road...
_________________
Four of them walked out through the towering gates of the Stormveil Academy, and stepped into the bustling streets of Stormveil City.
Although Rhain had seen the city from the deck of the Crimson Bird Skiff, looking at it from high above the clouds was an entirely different experience than walking its streets.
Up close, the majesty of Stormveil City was even more staggering, and awe inspiring.
Towering pavilions and colossal buildings lined the avenues. With his subtle use of Eyes of Truth, he could see profound runes etched upon them.
Above them, the shadows of the massive floating islands drifted imposingly.
But what truly highlighted the massive disparity between the Outer Frontier and the Inner Province were the people.
Every now and then, a luxurious, gilded carriage would rumble past them, pulled by Spirit Manifestation Realm, or Core Formation Realm beasts.
Back in Greymist Town, an Essence Condensation Realm cultivator was a respected figure, someone who could easily walk with their head held high.
But here?
Essence Condensation cultivators were practically at the very bottom of ranking.
They scurried along the edges of the streets, functioning as mere attendants, shop boys, or even common laborers.
The streets were swarming with Spirit Manifestation Realm experts.
"No wonder the geniuses of the Outer Frontier are treated like trash here. The baseline of this city is simply too high." Rhain muttered as he looked around this magnificent sight.