A Man Like None Other (Jared Chance) novel Chapter 6451

"Speak."

"""Since the Hall Master wanted those two dead, why not act in Pole Star Hall? At the time, the Hall Master had been badly injured. If we had forced them to stay, taking back the Soul-Vault Pearl would not have been difficult.

""Why let them leave first, then send people to Wayfarers' Haven to hunt them down?"""

Venerable Starwick glanced at him and did not answer right away.

"He slowly stood from the black throne.

Step by step, he descended and came to stand before the four elders."

"Do you know who Aurelius and Cassian are?"

Elder Rowe paused. "They are newly ascended Golden Immortals of the celestials, here to report before the hall."

"Correct. They came to report."

"Venerable Starwick's voice was light, but every word landed with weight. ""You should all understand the celestials' rules in the Golden Immortal sphere. Every newly ascended Golden Immortal must report and register before the hall designated by the high sanctuary.

""If they died during their reporting period, died inside Pole Star Hall, how would I answer when the high sanctuary investigated? Would the Lord's seat beneath me still remain steady?"""

The four elders said nothing.

"But once they leave Pole Star Hall and go to Wayfarers' Haven, if they die there, it has nothing to do with Pole Star Hall."

"The corner of Venerable Starwick's mouth curved into a cold, dark smile.

""A place like Wayfarers' Haven lives on murder and robbery. A few Golden Immortals die there, and who bothers to investigate? Even if the high sanctuary does look into it, the trail will never lead back to Pole Star Hall."""

Understanding settled over Elder Rowe at once. He bowed low and said, "Hall Master, your judgment is brilliant."

Venerable Starwick gave a dismissive wave. "Enough talk. Go quickly and return quickly. The Soul-Vault Pearl must be brought back. That relic is something I will have."

"Yes!"

The four elders accepted the order in one voice, then turned and left the great hall.

*****

Venerable Emberlain and Venerable Frostgrave spent two days recovering in Wayfarers' Haven.

On the first day, neither of them stepped outside. They remained inside the inn, circulating their energy and tending to their injuries.

"Venerable Emberlain's old wounds had not fully healed.

Venerable Frostgrave also needed time to stabilize the spirit."

Each of them entered seclusion in his own way, and neither disturbed the other.

By the evening of the second day, Venerable Frostgrave proposed going out to gather information.

"Venerable Emberlain had meant to refuse.

After a moment, though, staying here meant nothing but waiting in place. Going out for a look would not hurt."

The two changed into ordinary gray robes, drew in their auras, and slipped into the crowds of Wayfarers' Haven.

At night, Wayfarers' Haven grew even livelier than it was during the day.

"Shops along both sides of the street lit their spirit lamps.

Colors of every shade crossed and mingled, pouring light over the entire street until it shone bright as day."

There were even more roadside vendors now, and the things they sold came in every strange variety.

"Some sold broken arcane implements dug out of the ruins.

Some sold healing elixirs of unknown origin.

Others sold spirit beast cores that were said to raise one's cultivation."

"Real and fake were hard to tell apart. Good and bad sat side by side.

Whether a buyer walked away with treasure or trash depended entirely on his own eye."

Venerable Emberlain and Venerable Frostgrave moved through the crowd, their gazes passing over every stall while their ears caught every scrap of information.

"They listened.

They listened to people talk about the situation in the Seventeenth Firmament, and they listened for names of powerful adepts and forces from every corner."

"Did you hear? The Wellspring Order in the northern region has been recruiting lately," one wandering cultivator murmured to his companion.

"The Wellspring Order? The order made up of human wandering cultivators?" another wandering cultivator asked.

"That's the one. I heard their Sect Master, Master Wellspring, has been searching for heavenly materials and earthly treasures that can repair damage to the spirit. The price is high, but so are the requirements."

"Repair the spirit?" the first wandering cultivator let out a short laugh. "Whose spirit got damaged?"

"Who knows? Anyway, the Wellspring Order isn't short on money. If we can find something like that, we'll strike it rich."

"The words ""repair the spirit"" caught in Venerable Emberlain's ears, and something in him gave the faintest stir.

A breath later, he forced it back down."

"The Wellspring Order was a human race force.

It had nothing to do with him."

The two continued forward.

Just then, Venerable Frostgrave's steps suddenly stopped for half a beat.

"What is it?" Venerable Emberlain asked under his breath.

"A cold glint crossed Venerable Frostgrave's silver eyes.

""Someone is following us. Not ordinary wandering cultivators. Golden Immortals."""

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