Chapter 30
Toll The laughter boomed, and soon the entire inn erupted in chuckles
“Who fell for Robin’s trick this time? Can’t blame them. Robin’s illusions are on another level, an real they foot everyone. Even we didn’t spot anything off
“Yeah, exactly
“Look at their robes, kinda unfamiliar. Haven’t seen that style before.
“Must be from some obscure sect.”
Just check their apprentice tokens.”
But apprentice tokens weren’t something you could just demand to see, especially since Craig and the others hadn’t even displayed theirs.
Right away, someone started eyeing them up and down, their gaze dripping with mockery and disdain. clearly looking down their noses.
Especially when they noticed one of them was only at Mana–Stoking Phase, they scoffed even harder.
“Sure, this trial’s open to anyone below Condensation of the Primal Core, but a Mana–Stoking Phase showing up to die? Talk about overconfident.”
Linda’s lips curved slightly. She thought, “Talking about me, huh?”
And the guy everyone was praising, Robin Pace, shot them a provocative look, as if asking, “How’d that feel?”
Rafael bristled, ready to step forward. “These punks, what’s a Condensation of the Primal Core guy got to be so cocky about?”
He thought, ‘We have four people.‘
Craig wasn’t thrilled either, but he held him back. “We don’t know the full story. Better not stir up trouble.”
Rafael grumbled but backed down.
Craig scanned the room and spotted an empty table in the corner of the lobby. He led Rafael, Linda, and the others over.
Once seated, Craig exchanged a glance with Laura and Linda. “That wasn’t an illusion.”
Linda lowered her eyes with a soft laugh. “Impressive, Craig.”
He’d figured it out.
Craig explained, “I’ve never seen that Robin’s illusions before, but with his cultivation? No way he could pull off a city–wide one.”
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Chapter 30
A Condensation of the Primal Core cultivator controlling an entire city? Impossible.
“Something’s weird about this place.” Craig pondered but couldn’t pinpoint what.
Laura wasn’t the brainstorming type, and Rafael was all impulse. So even though it was the four of them “discussing,” Craig turned to Linda.
Before they left, Mack had advised: If you’re stumped, ask Linda. Craig hadn’t understood why at the time.
But looking at Laura’s innocent eyes and Rafael muttering about picking a fight with Robin, he got it: Mack
was spot on.
Linda asked, “Who’s the contact from Abyssal Coven?”
“Haven’t seen them,” Craig said, glancing around. “This Veil trial was invited by Abyssal Coven three months ago. The invite said it’s for Condensation of the Primal Core and below students to gain experience. Mack figured we hadn’t been out in ages, so he sent us to broaden our horizons. But I’ve looked, no sign of anyone from Abyssal Coven.”
The host should be mingling and keeping things in order, but right now, it was chaos, everyone scattered. Clearly, the organizer hadn’t shown.
Instead, that monkey Robin was acting like king of the hill.
“But Linda, even if Abyssal Coven folks do show, the highest would be Astral Sovereign Form. For a small trial like this, one elder escort is plenty.”
Otherwise, Mack wouldn’t have let the four of them head out so casually. He’d assumed it was no big deal.
But now, it seemed like things weren’t as simple as Craig had imagined. At least the situation after they entered the city felt off no matter how you looked at it.
Linda thought for a moment, then asked, “How much do you know about this Veil?”
Craig replied honestly. “It’s called the Dream–Weaver Fens. No one knows exactly how long it’s been around. Rumors say it existed even before Mist–Haven Borough. Some think it’s a spiritual domain left behind by a Zenith Magnitude Phase powerhouse who botched their ascension. After the failure, the space started shrinking and eventually clung to Somnambulist Highlands to stay intact. It could be thousands of years old, just hidden until recently.
“Five hundred years ago, a Mana Transcendence cultivator stumbled into it by chance and found immortal herbs, rare treasures, and even Celestial Relics. That was when word got out. But after centuries of plundering, the place has been picked clean.
“Only some common Mystic Silver–Leaves and ores remain, nothing worthwhile for Astral Sovereign Form cultivators or higher. That said, the ancient restrictions and Liturgy insights inside still make it useful for us Condensation of the Primal Core members who haven’t broken through to Astral Sovereign Form yet.”
He paused, then continued, “The Abyssal Coven seized control of Mist–Haven Borough three hundred years ago and took over this Dream–Weaver Fens. Their sect was pretty weak back then, so to avoid others stealing it, they offered to open the Veil every fifty years and invite students from other sects to train there. It’s been opened five times under their watch so far. This year will be the sixth.”
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Chapter 30
Craig added, “And nothing’s ever gone wrong before.”
Linda nodded.
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At this point, Rafael had pieced together what they were talking about. “Linda, you suspect something’s up with the Abyssal Coven?”
“Not sure yet. Let’s keep an eye on things.”
Rafael grew more cautious. “I’ll do some digging.”
Craig rolled his eyes. “And where exactly are you planning to dig?”
Rafael didn’t respond.
Linda knew he had his methods, though. She didn’t pry, just waited quietly for any updates. Craig leaned in and whispered, “By this time, someone from the Abyssal Coven should be here.”
Linda murmured, “It’d be good if they show up. What worries me is if they can’t.”
Craig was about to ask what she meant when a knock came at the inn’s door, not the usual polite tap, but fast and frantic. Like a pounding storm, without pause. Desperate.
The group glanced over.
In the main hall, the two or three dozen cultivators all froze at the sound.
Instinctively, eyes turned to Robin. “Robin, what kind of illusion did you whip up this time?”
Robin’s face flickered through emotions. He managed a forced laugh under the stares, but his heart raced. He… hadn’t done anything.
He thought, ‘Is it a leftover from the earlier illusion?‘
As the knocking intensified, someone called out, “Robin, cut the joke. Dispel it. This doesn’t feel right.”
Others murmured in agreement.
That level of urgency? No one knocked like that unless it was a matter of life and death.
But in the next moment, the door slammed open with a crash, wind and rain howling inside, tossing everyone’s hair wildly. Some staggered back a dozen steps, unable to hold their ground.
“What intense Wind Mana!” Linda quietly activated a Vellum Sigil.
A protective Enchantment shimmered around them, keeping their group of four safe, unharmed.
Framed in the inn’s battered doorway, through the storm, stood two young cultivators, pale, injured, and frantic. The moment they burst in, they shouted, “Help us!”
“They’re from the Abyssal Coven!” Someone spotted their sect robes.
12:46 Mon, Jan 19
Chapter 30
The crowd jumped to their feet, staring outside, where their pursuer advanced step by step.
A figure shrouded from head to toe in a black robe, a corpse.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
