---Delta---

The wave of cultivators Master Mountain had prophesied finally came. Over the past weeks, Delta had become a hotchpotch of people. Apart from the natives, travelers from foreign worlds, demons, and cultivators were now mingling in the streets. At least in some places.

Not in this place. This place was a restaurant, built in the style of the Voracious Cloud Continent, these had been popping up everywhere ever since they arrived in greater numbers. Delta, with its many empty real estate and plot of destroyed ruins, offered a lot of space for business-minded travelers.

With these places popping up, some regions of Delta had become a mix of Urth’s modern architecture and that of the Voracious Cloud Continent, which was much more decorative. He didn’t know whether he liked this change, as he entered the establishment.

“Have you heard about Riverside City?” he heard someone whisper to a friend at a table.

He knew what happened there. Riverside City was one of the towns that fell victim to the sudden change on the continent. It was a big city, filled with civilians, but not many cultivators. When the gates to the Pathworks opened, it was wiped out within a single night. It was one of the many tragic sacrifices he heard about, after his release from captivity.

“Did you get the message from the External Hall Elder?” another whispered to his martial brother.

Yu also had a hunch about what that was about. It was time the changes reached this place. A few months ago, all great sects of the XiGuang Province sent out their people and disciples to explore Urth and look for the reason for Qi depletion through the connection to this world.

This objective has now changed. With the continent striking a deal with the System God, the problem of depletion no longer existed. As a direct consequence, the objective for those already in Urth changed. Without a problem, things reverted to status Quo and Urth was treated like any other new expansion to the Voracious Cloud Continent.

Instead of searching for clues for survival, they now searched for business opportunities, resources, land to conquer, and people to recruit. Everyone was looking to gain something from Terra Nova, the new land. However…

“I heard there was an abandoned city in the southeast toward the coast of the continent. It’s called Wei-City, or something. We want to check it out, do you want to come along?” a young man in expensive robes asked his friend.

“When you talk like that it becomes clear you haven’t been here for long. Yeah, that place exists, but if you miss it and go too far to the east, you are toast. And the city itself is filled with monsters and bandits. It’s not worth it,” his friend told him, taking a sip of liquor.

“Toast? I get the monster, but what is east of Wei-City?” the young man asked curiously.

“A forest. A terrifying one. Groups that announced that they would explore it never returned. I heard their soul lamps were snuffed out just days after entering it,” the other explained, shaking his head.

“I see, then how about going north? I heard past the mountain range-“The man in expensive robes stopped talking when his friend lifted his hand.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

“My friend, tell me. Who told you all that? Who is trying to get rid of you?” he asked gravely, after interrupting him.

Master Mountain nodded; someone was really after the young man’s life. Everyone who spent a while in Delta knew about the north and what was happening at the northern wall of Delta. The north was filled with monsters spreading a terrifying disease even cultivators had a hard time resisting.

Yes, they came to seek riches in this world, but Urth proved step by step that its dangers easily compared to or overshadowed those they were used to in XiGuang Province. Even someone in the Spirit Severing stage, above the Nascent Soul, could not guarantee their own safety in this world.

The immortal originally came here to meet back up with Seth and Talk with Minas Mar. He was still conflicted about the current situation overall, but the change also allowed him to connect his Sect and Minas Mar.

It would have been a lie to say that it was simply a favor to help a friend. Yu knew full well about the power of Minas Mar and he came to know Seth as someone trustworthy. While others were still too narrowminded to realize, he would secure one of the greatest opportunities of Urth. A powerful and trustworthy ally for his people.

Yet, he didn’t immediately head to Minas Mar’s embassy, or Minas Mar itself. He came to Delta because a friend contacted him and asked for help. After showing his token at the counter, a waiter led him to a private room on the upper floors.

“Yu, you came.” Someone greeted him. A man looking almost older than Master Mountain was sitting alone at the table in the center. Judging by the empty bottles of booze in the room, the man had been sitting there for a while, drinking away solitude and depression.

He had known the man for centuries. One could call him a rival, but he was also his oldest friend. They had both been the number one disciples of the Sect masters of their respective sects, unlike Yu, his friend had already succeeded his master and became the Leader of the Snow Falcon Sect, while Yu was still an elder at the Luminous Mountain Sect.

“You said it was urgent, of course, I came. Also, I was in the vicinity when your message got to me,” he said as he sat down, opposite his friend.

“Always one to joke. I’m glad you are here, I really need your help.,” he said and poured him some liquor.

“Stop holding back and tell me why you called me,” Yu urged, seeing his friend in such a condition.

“My granddaughter vanished, Yu. I know she is still alive, but the light of her soul lamp is flickering. You have been roaming this world for a while, so I hoped you could help look for her.”

The other old man, looks at him with sorrowful eyes, desperately clinging to his last hope, the help of an old friend. Yu nodded, taking a sip of the alcohol.

“Did you already start investigating? What did she do on Urth?” Master Mountain asked focused. He did not hesitate for a moment, to offer his help to him.

“She was with a group of inner disciples from our sect. You know why we originally sent them here, afterward they started exploring. Looking for treasures, nothing different from what we used to do but-“

“Urth is dangerous, a little more dangerous than the backyard we used to explore,” Yu ended his sentence solemnly. The other nodded.

“Apparently, they went to the east, intending to explore the mountain range north of the planes.”

“At least they were not stupid, the east and northeast as the safest options to explore. If her soul lamp is still lit, chances are they met some powerful enemy or creature in the wild. We would need to search her…” Yu reasoned.

“I know- Most of my disciples are already out there, but the area is just too great. They have not been able to find anything for days. I thought maybe you knew where to search…”

“Sorry, I’m not that well-versed in these lands, but I may have another idea. I might be able to organize some help to look for them, but they won’t do it for free. It will cost you something.”

“Are you really asking me to put a price on the life of my granddaughter?” the sect master asked sarcastically.

“Good, then you can come along with me. I will introduce you to my friends.”

His friend had experienced firsthand, what dangers lurked in the wilderness. Even the seemingly harmless places could cost one their loved ones. Now he would show him what opportunities lay with the people of this land. This was a favor to a friend. Two friends, to be precise.