News of the battle between Rock Sword Saint Hederson and the young Saint Realm expert spread through Red Flame City's upper circles like wildfire. An unknown young Saint Realm expert had actually held his own against the long-renowned Lord Hederson. That was more than enough to draw the attention of every faction.
Lin Qin had anticipated this, but he didn't care. He continued to keep a low profile, spending most of his time cultivating in seclusion in his inn room and digesting what he had gained from his fight with Hederson. The battle had deepened his understanding of the Earth Element profundity. In particular, he had benefited greatly from the way Hederson condensed his power to the utmost, holding it in reserve and using its momentum to overwhelm his opponent. Lin Qin's Thick Earth Seal was steadily improving, growing more powerful than before.
A few days later, he ended his brief retreat and prepared to visit the Mercenary Guild to see if there were any new missions suited to someone of Saint Realm level. He had barely left the inn when an officer in the standard armor of the imperial family, his aura steady, stepped in front of him.
"Lord Lin Qin." The officer bowed respectfully and handed him a gold-embossed invitation. "In three days, the imperial family will host a banquet at Red Flame Hall. You are cordially invited to attend."
Lin Qin took the invitation and glanced over it. It was signed by the imperial family of the O'Brien Empire, and the wording was quite courteous. He knew this was an acknowledgment of his strength, as well as a test and an attempt to win him over. After a moment's thought, he nodded. "I'll be there on time."
"We look forward to your attendance, sir." The officer bowed again, then turned and left.
After seeing the officer off, Lin Qin continued to the Mercenary Guild. He understood that the banquet probably wouldn't be just about food and drink. Undercurrents had been swirling through Red Flame City lately, and the imperial family might be hoping to unite its forces and gauge where everyone stood.
At the Mercenary Guild, he browsed the mission listings. There weren't many missions for Saint Realm experts. Most involved hunting specific Saint Realm magical beasts, exploring extremely dangerous forbidden lands, or handling problems that even the Empire found troublesome. The rewards were also exceptionally generous, often amounting to hundreds of thousands of gold coins or rare materials and magical equipment of equivalent value.
He accepted an investigation mission: determine the cause of the abnormal Black Storms that had recently been appearing frequently along the edge of the Empire's western Death Desert. The mission description mentioned that unknown creatures were suspected to be active within the Black Storms, which had already caused several merchant caravans and expedition teams to go missing. The mission was rated A+.
The mission piqued Lin Qin's interest. The Death Desert was one of the Yulan Continent's renowned danger zones. Its conditions were harsh, and ancient ruins and powerful magical beasts were said to lie hidden in its depths. The abnormal Black Storms and unknown creatures could mean that something new had emerged there—or that an opportunity awaited.
After accepting the mission, Lin Qin left the Mercenary Guild. He didn't return to the inn right away, instead wandering through Red Flame City's commercial district. He bought books and maps about the Death Desert's geography, climate, and legends, then stocked up on advanced antidotes and drinking water.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
On the night of the banquet, Red Flame Hall blazed with light and was under tight security. Everyone invited was a person of influence in the Empire: prominent nobles, powerful warriors, or renowned mages. Among them were several whose auras marked them as Saint Realm experts.
Lin Qin arrived on time, dressed in simple black clothes suited for combat. His appearance immediately drew plenty of attention. Many had already heard of the newly emerged young Saint Realm expert who had traded blows with the Rock Sword Saint. Curiosity, scrutiny, wariness, and a desire to make his acquaintance—all kinds of looks converged on him.
Lin Qin remained calm, paying no attention to the gazes around him. At the usher's direction, he took a seat in a relatively quiet spot. He spotted a few familiar faces. Rock Sword Saint Hederson was there too, talking with several old men whose auras seemed unfathomable. Feeling Lin Qin's gaze, Hederson gave him a slight nod.
On the surface, the banquet was all harmony, with clinking glasses and cheerful laughter. But Lin Qin could sense the tests and undercurrents hidden beneath the peaceful veneer. Many nobles and faction representatives tried to approach him and probe his background and intentions, but he brushed them off with polite, noncommittal replies.
During the banquet, one of the Empire's princes gave a speech on behalf of the imperial family. It was the usual platitudes: thanking the assembled experts for their support and calling on everyone to preserve the Empire's stability and prosperity. But Lin Qin noticed that the prince repeatedly alluded to "external pressures" and "internal unity," seemingly confirming what Hederson had said earlier about a "storm on the horizon."
Halfway through the banquet, a dignified middle-aged man in fine clothes approached Lin Qin with a glass of wine. Lin Qin recognized him as Prince Kasa, a younger brother of the current Emperor who oversaw part of the military. He was also a ninth-rank warrior at the peak of his level.
"Lord Lin Qin, I've heard so much about you," Prince Kasa said with a genial smile. "It's astonishing that someone so young has already entered the Saint Realm. What do you think of my O'Brien Empire?"
"A land that reveres martial prowess, where the strong are respected," Lin Qin replied concisely.
A glint flashed in Prince Kasa's eyes. "Well said. The Empire prizes strength and treats the strong well. With your abilities, if you were willing to serve the Empire, you'd receive resources and support beyond your wildest imagination." He had come right out with his offer.
"I'm used to going my own way, and I have no such intention at present," Lin Qin replied, rejecting him outright. He disliked being tied down. The imperial family's waters ran too deep, and he didn't want to get caught up in them lightly.
Prince Kasa's smile didn't change. He didn't seem surprised. "Everyone has their own ambitions. I understand. Still, the situation on the continent is delicate these days, and keeping out of things may not be easy. If you change your mind, the imperial family's doors will always be open to you." He had met with a polite rebuff, but didn't press the matter. After exchanging a few more pleasantries, he left.
Lin Qin watched Prince Kasa's retreating figure, lost in thought. The imperial family's attempt to win him over had been expected, but the prince seemed to have implied something with his remark about the continent's delicate situation. Was he referring to the conflict between the Radiant Church and the Dark Church, or something else?
After the banquet ended, Lin Qin didn't linger and went straight back to the inn. Aside from confirming that he had drawn everyone's attention, he hadn't gained much concrete information from the event. But the oppressive feeling of a storm about to break had grown much clearer.
He didn't waste any more time. Early the next morning, he left Red Flame City and set out for the Death Desert in the western part of the Empire.
The Death Desert lay between the O'Brien Empire and the Yulan Empire, a vast, unbroken expanse of yellow. By day, the heat was unbearable; by night, the cold was bitter. Water was scarce, and deadly sandstorms and quicksand often swept through the region.
Lin Qin flew over the desert, surveying the endless dunes below. According to the mission details, the abnormal Black Storms had appeared along the desert's northern edge, near a strange stretch of stone forest known as Devil Rock.
He descended and carefully scanned the desert below with his spiritual power. Before long, he noticed several irregularities. Behind some dunes lay scattered wreckage from shattered vehicles and human skeletons, dried out by the wind—clearly the remains of an unfortunate caravan. Judging by the traces, an ordinary sandstorm hadn't caused this. It looked more like some tremendous force had torn everything apart.
He continued flying north. The blowing sand grew heavier, and the sky darkened. On the distant horizon appeared a vast mass of dark-red rocks, like a labyrinth. That was Devil Rock.
Just then, Lin Qin sensed a strange energy fluctuation coming from Devil Rock. It carried a chaotic, violent aura utterly at odds with the surrounding environment. At the same time, he noticed ominous black clouds beginning to gather in the distance. Dark-red lightning flickered faintly among them—the "Black Storm" described in the mission!
Lin Qin's gaze sharpened. He sped up and raced toward Devil Rock and the Black Storm. He had a feeling this mission wouldn't be as simple as hunting the Golden-Eyed Thunder Eagle. The edge of the Death Desert seemed to conceal secrets of its own.
Before you continue