The voice that arrested their motion was soft, melodic, yet it carried an undercurrent of absolute authority that caused the very molecules of air in the hallway to vibrate with tension. Mulo froze instantaneously, recognizing the timbre immediately; he joined his hands together and executed a profound bow, his posture radiating immense respect interwoven with a palpable thread of nervousness. "Quasi-Saint Lord Marta," Mulo stammered, his eyes fixed on the floorboards. "Why does your esteemed presence grace this location?" Xan observed the woman advancing toward them. She appeared deceptively young, perhaps twenty-five winters, possessing an elegance that seemed effortless and innate. Her silky obsidian hair was pinned up with a simple hairpin of yellow gold, from which it cascaded down her back like a dark, lustrous waterfall. She was clad in a cultivator's robe of white and green silk—chromatic symbols of life and purity—and while her demeanor appeared gentle, her eyes held the tempered steel of an individual who had dedicated existence to the mastery of her craft. To the students of the Lindao Royal Academy, she was the revered Academy Goddess; to the broader cultivation world, she was a Quasi-Saint Lord—a powerhouse residing at the absolute Peak of the First Step.
"Mr. Wang," Mulo whispered hurriedly, anxiety lacing his tone, "please be introduced to one of my oldest… acquaintances; this is Lord Marta." "Cease the formalities, Mulo," Marta instructed softly, halting a few feet away as a faint, nostalgic smile graced her lips. "I received intelligence regarding your return and came to offer assistance out of respect for our shared history." "You two are acquainted?" Xan Li Fang inquired, elevating a skeptical eyebrow, for it was an anomaly for such a potent figure—a leader of the Academy—to personally greet a simple village elder from the desolate north. Marta did not answer Xan immediately; instead, she turned her keen gaze upon him, her eyes narrowing slightly as she scanned his somatic form from crown to sole. "Mulo, identify this fellow cultivator," she demanded, her voice sharpening like a honed blade. "Why is the aura emanating from him so… unique? It feels ancient." Mulo stepped between them, smiling anxiously. "Ah, this is my friend who pledged to assist our village, Master Wang; he is rather powerful, and though his background remains largely unknown to me, I vouch for his integrity."
Xan decided to test the diplomatic waters and looked Marta directly in the eye. "Greetings; I am Wang Mao," he stated with calculated calm. "I hail from the Supreme Continent." The hallway plunged into absolute silence. Marta's eyes, initially gentle, dilated with sudden, profound shock, and her spiritual pressure flared uncontrollably for a fraction of a second, causing the floorboard beneath her foot to fracture with a sharp crack. "Ha… an amusing jest," she whispered, though her complexion had paled significantly. "What did you articulate? From whence do you originate…?" "The Supreme Continent," Xan repeated, feigning innocence. "Why? Is that origin anomalous?" Marta glanced furtively left and right, checking for eavesdroppers, before seizing Mulo's arm. "We are entering the room immediately; I shall explain inside." They entered Room 324, a functional suite that was not overly expansive but well-appointed with a kitchenette, two bedrooms, and a soundproofed chamber designed specifically for cultivation practice. The furnishings were standard mahogany, practical rather than luxurious, and Xan glanced around unimpressed, for in his previous existence, he had inhabited both squalid hovels and opulent penthouses.
They gathered around the small kitchen table, where the atmosphere shifted completely; the gentle reunion had concluded, and an interrogation had commenced. "Now," Marta stated, her soft voice replaced by a sharp, severe tone that commanded obedience. "Introduce yourself to me from the genesis, young man, and refrain from falsehood." "Marta, what is transpiring?" Mulo protested, slamming his hand upon the table. "What relevance does his origin hold? The imperative fact is that he is here to assist me and my people in reclaiming our territory!" "You fail to comprehend, Mulo! You have been rotting in the northern wastes for too long!" Marta snapped, her eyes blazing with intensity. "For the past two months, high-level cultivators from the Upper Worlds have been infiltrating our plane; merely three weeks ago, two Second Step Cultivators engaged in combat right here in the Lindao region, leveling an entire mountain range!" She turned back to Xan, her gaze piercing. "Mr. Wang, Mulo informs me you are a Second Step Cultivator, yet when he discovered you, you were gravely injured, exsanguinating from every pore. Can you elucidate the cause? Are you an espionage agent? A fugitive?"
The two elders pressed him, attempting to pry open his secrets, but Xan sat calmly, his mismatched eyes unreadable. He knew that Marta was merely at the Peak Stage of the First Step; to the rest of this world, she was a deity, but to him, she was an insect he could crush with a solitary thought. "My identity," Xan stated coldly, "is not your concern." Marta rose, spiritual energy gathering ominously in her palm. "If you refuse to disclose your intentions, I will regrettably have to report this anomaly to Master Jin Sumo immediately." Mulo's face drained of all color, looking as if he had witnessed a phantom. "Master who ?!" Mulo gasped, terrified. "Marta, have you lost your sanity? If you summon him, our demise is guaranteed!" Xan observed their reactions and filed the name 'Jin Sumo' away; whoever this man was, he terrified Mulo. Xan realized he required a cover story—something plausible that explained his power and injuries without revealing his true potential. "Very well," Xan conceded, raising his hands in mock surrender. "I shall disclose my identity."
He leaned forward, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "I am indeed from the Supreme Continent, but I am no infiltrator; I was ambushed in a sneak attack by my enemies who stripped me of my artifacts and wealth." Xan allowed a look of bitterness to cross his features. "To survive, I was forced to utilize a forbidden Inter-World Teleportation Spell; it preserved my life, but the backlash nearly obliterated my body and sealed my meridians, depositing me here by accident. Is that explanation sufficient?" It was a masterful fabrication that explained his high cultivation, his ignorance of local geography, his injuries, and his lack of funds. Marta studied his face for a long time, searching for fissures in the narrative, until finally she exhaled, the tension draining from her shoulders. "Very well; for Mulo's sake, I will accept your account," she said, her voice softening. "And Mulo... I assumed you summoned me to heal your champion, but seeing that he is a Second Step expert, I suppose my assistance is superfluous."
Xan thought quickly; if he desired access to the Academy's resources without arousing suspicion, he needed a pretext. "On the contrary, I require your aid," Xan interjected. "My meridians remain damaged from the teleportation; can you assist me in reopening them? I require access to the Academy's archives to locate a healing methodology." Marta raised an eyebrow, surprised by the direct request from such a powerful figure. "Hmm. Certainly, that poses no issue; there are approximately ten days until the competition, and it is commendable that you are prioritizing your recovery." "Then what is the procedure?" Xan asked, playing the role of the ignorant student to perfection. "Present yourself at the Academy's Library Registration Office this evening at sunset; mention my name to the clerks, and they will direct you to my private study. Do not be tardy, young man." Xan nodded, feigning visible relief. "I shall be there."
"Incidentally," Marta added, pausing at the threshold, her eyes serious once more. "My counsel is that you maintain strict secrecy regarding your origin; otherwise, every faction—including the Empire—will desire the Inter-World Teleportation Spell you utilized, for wars have been waged for far less." "Don't worry," Xan replied dryly. "That spell was a singular, life-saving method discovered in an ancient ruin; I possess no knowledge of how to replicate it." "Good. Then I must depart; my workload is accumulating." Marta opened the door, glancing back at him one final time. "Intriguing, young man. I will be awaiting you." She swept out of the room, her green robes fluttering behind her like a banner. Mulo stared at the closed door, shaking his head with a wry smirk. "Ah, that woman... she remains unchanged; sharp as a blade." Xan stood up, stretching his limbs; the interrogation had concluded, but a physiological imperative had arisen. "Mulo, I am famished," Xan stated, rubbing his empty abdomen, for the caloric consumption of his new body was immense. "Perhaps you could guide me to a dining establishment? There remain approximately three hours until sunset." Mulo brightened instantly. "Affirmative! Then I shall escort you to consume the most renowned Kakamuro cuisine in Lindao; it is a delicacy you will never forget!" "Lead the way." With that, they departed the Academy dormitory and headed toward the chaos and chromatic vibrancy of the Central Market district.