The heavy clink of the gold coin against the wooden counter silenced the shop. The old shopkeeper stared at the gleaming metal, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed hard. He coughed violently, a desperate attempt to regain his composure.
His eyes, sharp from years of appraising treasures, quickly scanned Ling Xiao's face. The boy's skin was soft and delicate—not the weathered hide of a warrior or a hunter who lived by the blade. In the vast Central Continent, extreme wealth usually belonged to three types of people: those who stood at the apex of political power, powerful cultivators who plundered resources, or the heir's of ancient families.
Ling Xiao fit none of the descriptions of a warrior, so the shopkeeper's mind raced to the only remaining conclusion: This boy is a young master from a hidden, colossal background.
The shopkeeper leaned in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Young Master, may I be so bold as to ask... to which noble clan do you belong? Please, do not misunderstand my intrusion. If you are from an esteemed lineage, our Hall can offer you... exclusive benefits."
Ling Xiao froze internally. He realized he had made a rookie mistake. He had grown up watching his father, the Emperor, use gold coins as if they were common currency. He had no concept of the exchange rate in the mortal world. To him, it was just a coin; to them, it was a fortune.
"I am not from any clan," Ling Xiao replied, keeping his face impassive.
It was the truth, but to the shopkeeper, it sounded like a deflection. How could a boy with no background casually toss out a gold coin? In the shopkeeper's mind, Ling Xiao was undoubtedly a runaway young master, bored with his silk sheets and seeking adventure.
"The life of a young master," the shopkeeper thought with a mix of envy and greed. "Born with a golden spoon in his mouth, unaware of the struggles of commoners, while we fight over a hundred silver coins."
Behind them, the two men who had mocked Ling Xiao gasped, staring at the gold coin as if it were a holy relic.
"Very well, Young Master," the shopkeeper said, his attitude shifting from arrogance to fawning servitude. "This counter is for common goods. For a customer of your stature, we must go to the Main Hall."
He guided Ling Xiao out of the shop and into a narrow, shadowed alleyway to the right. The shopkeeper glanced left and right, ensuring no prying eyes were watching. Satisfied, he retrieved a specialized token and pressed it into a groove in the brick wall. The stone shimmered, and a concealed door ground open with a heavy rumble.
Ling Xiao followed the old man inside.
The atmosphere shifted instantly. The smell of dust was replaced by the scent of aged wood and metallic polish. This was not a shop; it was a treasury. The shelves were lined with weapons that hummed with spiritual energy, rare antiques, and artifacts that radiated power. Fine swords hung on the walls, their blades gleaming with cold light.
"Old Fai, you've brought me a new customer?" A voice, sweet and seductive like honey mixed with poison, floated through the air. Footsteps clicked rhythmically against the floor.
A woman stepped into the light. She was stunning. Her long, ink-black hair was tied up in an intricate style, exposing the elegant curve of her neck. Her dress was daring, hugging her figure tightly, accentuating her ample chest and the curve of her hips.
Ling Xiao, still a young man in the throes of adolescence, felt his gaze involuntarily glued to her. He stared at her curves, his face heating up. It took him several seconds to force his eyes up and regain his composure.
"Greetings," Ling Xiao said, forcing his voice to remain steady. "I am... Ying Xiao. I am here to find a detailed map of the Jungle."
The woman smiled, her eyes curving into crescents. She made a subtle hand gesture, dismissing the old shopkeeper, Old Fai, who bowed and retreated silently.
"Welcome, Little Brother Ying. I am Wang Meilin, the manager of this establishment," she said, her voice smooth. "A map of the Jungle? That is a dangerous place for one so young."
She walked to a cabinet and retrieved a scroll made of beast skin. She spread it out on the table. It was a masterpiece of cartography, far superior to the one in the outer shop. The outer, middle, and core regions were clearly marked. Beast nests were marked in red, dangerous terrain in yellow, and areas of absolute death were marked with black.
"This marks the territories of the Spirit Beasts and the environmental hazards," Wang Meilin explained, her finger tracing a path on the leather.
Ling Xiao placed the gold coin on the table. "Can you provide the change? I need five hundred copper coins, and the rest in silver."
Wang Meilin raised an eyebrow but didn't question him. "Of course, Brother Xiao." She retrieved a heavy pouch from her storage ring and handed it to him.
As Ling Xiao turned to leave, her voice stopped him.
"Although it is not my place to ask," Wang Meilin said, leaning against the counter "I would suggest you reconsider. Even powerful cultivators in the Earth Realm think twice before entering the depths of that jungle."
Ling Xiao paused. "Thank you for your concern, Lady Wang. But I have made up my mind. Only danger can foster true progress." His eyes burned with determination.
Wang Meilin studied him for a moment. "Ambition is good. But survival is better." She flicked her wrist, and a small wooden token flew toward him. He caught it. It was carved with a distinct leaf symbol.
"If you survive and return, bring this token. We may have more business to discuss. You seem like someone who will need a backer eventually... dead customers, after all, do not return," she added with a seductive, yet chilling smile.
Ling Xiao cupped his hands in respect and exited the hall.
Few minutes later, the air in the treasury rippled. A man dressed in black robes, his face obscured by a mask, stepped out from the shadows. He knelt before Wang Meilin.
"So?" Wang Meilin asked, her seductive demeanor replaced by cold authority. "What did you find?"
The masked man shook his head helplessly. "I am certain this kid is not from the Capital City. Our intelligence network has no record of him. He has never been seen at the social gatherings or the academies. It is possible he came from a distant city."
They were clueless. They did not know that Ling Xiao had never left the Imperial Clan, nor had he ever shown his face to the public. The Emperor's order had been absolute: Protect the Prince's identity. The punishment for disobedience was death, and everyone knew the Emperor's motto: "Everything has a pardon, except disloyalty.".
"Did you check the other two Great Clans?" Wang Meilin asked, a frown marring her forehead. "Is he illegitimate? It is impossible for a 'nobody' to carry such wealth and temperament."
"Yes, Boss. I checked. Their young masters are accounted for in different locations. None match his description. However..." The spy hesitated.
Wang Meilin's eyes sharpened. "Speak."
"I attempted to follow him after he left the alley," the spy admitted, his voice trembling slightly. "But almost immediately, I was intercepted. Another person was secretly following him. This person... saw me. They launched an attack from the shadows. The pressure was immense. I did not dare to follow further."
"Did you see who attacked you?" Wang Meilin asked.
"No. I saw nothing. But based on the density of the Qi in the attack, the person is at least one major stage higher than me."
Wang Meilin tapped her fingers on the counter, deep in thought. A wealthy boy with no record, carrying immense wealth but not knowing the value, and followed by a high-level mysterious person.
"Let it go," she finally commanded. "We cannot risk catching the attention of a mysterious faction for the sake of curiosity."
An hour later, Ling Xiao stood before a chaotic, noisy building: The Beast Hunter Mercenary Hall.
The air inside smelled of sweat, dried blood, and cheap ale. Rugged men with scars and massive weapons shouted over one another. Ling Xiao walked up to the reception desk.
"What do you want, kid?" A fat man behind the counter looked down at him, letting out a wild, mocking laugh. "Are you lost?"
Ling Xiao looked him in the eye. "I want to join a guide team to hunt beasts."
The fat receptionist stared at him in pin-drop silence for a few seconds. Then, the entire hall erupted into raucous laughter.
"Is this kid mad?" one person shouted.
"It's beasts out there, boy! Not the dolls you play with in your nursery!" another joined.
"Get lost, kid. Don't make fun of us," the fat man sneered. But seeing that Ling Xiao's expression didn't change—that he didn't flinch or cry—the fat man stopped laughing. His eyes narrowed. "Do you even know that to join a guild, you need to be a cultivator?"
"Why don't you check for yourself?" Ling Xiao replied calmly.
The hall went quiet.
"You have guts," the fat man grunted. "Think twice. If you aren't a cultivator, I will break your legs for wasting my time."
He reached under the desk and slammed a crystal orb onto the wood. "Come forward, kid. Place your hands on it."
Ling Xiao stared at the smooth, cold surface of the orb. The sight of it triggered a memory he had tried to bury. It reminded him of that day.
Flashback
It was his tenth birthday. The Grand Hall of the Palace was decorated in gold and crimson. Everyone was cheering—the elders, his father the Emperor, his brother, and even Qing Yue and others.
Emperor Ling Sha waved his hand, and the massive hall fell silent.
"Today," the Emperor's voice boomed, "my son finally reaches the moment where a man steps onto the stairs of the cultivation world. The day he awakens his power!"
Thunderous applause echoed.
The scene shifted to the testing platform. In the center lay a shiny, crystalline orb on a stone pedestal. The ten-year-old Ling Xiao stepped forward, his heart pounding.
"Relax your body and mind," the presiding elder instructed gently. "Let the energy flow to sense your grade."
Ling Xiao placed his small hand on the cold glass. He waited.
And waited.
Seconds felt like hours. The crowd held its breath. Finally, a faint, weak golden light flickered deep within the crystal. It did not blaze like a sun; it glowed like a dying candle.
"Is... is something wrong?" the elder muttered, confused.
"Repeat the steps," Emperor Ling Sha commanded, a deep frown carving lines into his forehead.
They repeated it. The result was the same. Weak. Dim.
"It is... mortal grade?" The whispers started from the sidelines, spreading like wildfire. "'Mortal' grade?"
The disappointment in the air was suffocating. Ling Xiao's heart felt heavy, sinking into his stomach. He felt like a failure.
Suddenly, he sensed a warm hand on his shoulder. He turned to see a young girl with bright, innocent eyes. It was Qing Yue.
"Hey, Brother Xiao," she whispered, flashing him a cute, beaming smile that ignored the tension in the room. "Don't get disheartened. I am getting bored standing here. Let's go play together!"