“In Julchen City, there’s a shop called Pill Emporium. To the right of the shop is an alleyway. You’ll walk down that alley to a grate. Four paces past that grate, on the side of Pill Emporium. You’ll find a stone slightly discolored from the others. Knock that stone four times and say: 'Pill Emporium bless my health.' " The man began making his way to the door.

“It would be in your best interest to get away from that man. The world he deals in isn’t something you want to fall into.” The man left the room leaving Raja Kint alone.

Hmph, what in this world can’t I stick my nose in? Raja Kint narrowed his eyes. He walked out of the shop and returned to the Kint House. As he was walking to his room he ran into the Martial Teacher.

“You didn’t leave with the others? Well, seems you were lucky,” said the Martial Teacher with a smile.

“Lucky? What do you mean?” Raja Kint knitted his brows in confusion.

The Martial Teacher chuckled, “It’s normal for students to encounter some resource-hungry wolves. Of course you won’t die.” The Martial Teacher didn’t stay as he walked off.

Raja Kint went to his room. He opened his window, the crisp breeze caressing his face. She should be fine. She’s at the eighth stage and they should all be together. How could they be beaten by some random wolves?

Raja Kint felt something buzzing in his chest. His face fell as he pulled out the talisman. The only people who could contact him through this talisman were Master A and Kyoot Kint.

An angry voice sounded out, “Raja I need your help. Some bastards just jacked all of us for our resources.”

Raja Kint replied, “Come to the Kint House so we can come up with a plan.”

The talisman was quiet for a moment when Kyoot Kint exasperatedly replied. “Yeah, my head is too frantic right now. We have to make a plan quick. We’ll be leaving by tomorrow.”

Raja Kint replied, “Hurry.” He put the talisman away and sighed to himself. “If the seniors from all the sects don’t respond to this matter. Then they tacitly allow such a thing to happen.” He silently sat for a few moments. Thoughts swirling in his head. “This should also mean we can overcome this.”

Time passed and soon a knock sounded at Raja Kint’s door. He opened the door to see Kyoot Kint.

“Come outside Raja. We’re talking with the others who were also ambushed by this lot.”

Raja Kint nodded his head and followed Kyoot Kint. Soon, Raja Kint found a big circle of students from multiple different places. He even noticed the Lerup Sect. In the middle of everyone. There were three students taking charge. Controlling the discussions to an amiable level.

Raja Kint whispered to Kyoot Kint, “I’m only going to help you. Once that’s done I’m leaving.”

Kyoot Kint whispered back, “You’ll just make enemies of everyone here. The least you can do is act, right?”

“I’m not a charity,” Stated Raja Kint in a whisper.

The talks continued for a bit before a plan finally arose. Raja Kint found it interesting that those from previous trips had to deal with the same group. And supposedly, there was never an instance where everything stolen was recovered. When this was said, Raja Kint knew he needed to find Kyoot’s target and solely focus on her.

He also learned that the woman who took Kyoot Kint’s belongings was in the ninth stage. Another difference is that she’s a martial artist while Kyoot Kint is walking the path of array. So when they were ambushed she had no time to create an array and was defeated.

With the discussions over, the group immediately set out. Raja Kint quickly found that the Kint Sect’s group didn’t have much say so in this setting. As such he wouldn’t have too many eyes on him.

The group traveled across Alexander City to the outskirts. On the way, there were many residents within the city following. Raja Kint smirked. Seems everyone enjoys the show. He also spotted the man who helped him earlier. The two made eye contact. The man’s eyes smiled while Raja Kint held a casual gaze.

The group found a large building set up. It was in a forest making visibility difficult. Plus, the sun was going down painting the sky orange. One of the leading boys. Wearing blue and white clothes shouted.

“We’ve come to seize back our items. You have one minute to return what you took. Those of you who do so will not be attacked.” The boy’s eyes were sharp once he finished.

Raja Kint became annoyed. He knew first-hand how cutthroat the cultivation world is. They should’ve just charged in and slaughtered them all. Leaving not a soul to tell a tale.

A mocking voice rang out, “Haha. You kiddos are too soft as usual. Hahaheheha!”

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

Despite the mocking laughter ringing out everyone silently waited the minute.

The boy spoke again, “A minute has passed, surround the house and check for arrays. Go by the plan!”

Raja Kint followed the Kint Sect to a side of the house. Quickly, he and Kyoot Kint began looking for any array. And, if there is an array present. Break it.

Raja Kint figured out the easiest way to check. Was simply to use his earth law. He extended his palm into the dirt and conjured up a sliver of earth law. He then sent the law through the earth checking for any arrays. Once the sweep finished he whispered to Kyoot Kint.

"There’s an array here. It’s the defensive array Wind Tunnel. Seems they just want to hold out until we have to leave.”

Kyoot Kint looked at Raja Kint. Raja Kint urged her and she shouted, “It’s the defensive array Wind Tunnel.”

A shocked voice rang out from the building. “How the hell did you find out so fast? You haven’t even been checking for ten seconds!”

Those in the Kint Sect noticed the interaction between Raja Kint and Kyoot Kint. Yet, kept their mouths shut.

One of the kids shouted, “All who use arrays on me.”

Raja Kint walked over and the group began discussing ways to break the array. Kyoot Kint was able to provide valuable insight into the discussion. Showcasing her knowledge in arrays. Raja Kint could see how the gazes toward her shifted to a more respectful than disdainful gaze. Whenever he was asked questions he would give a solid reply or act as if it was a truly difficult question.

He knew that he could definitely break through such an array. The issue lay in whether he would be able to bring anyone with him. After more talking the group came to a standstill. They didn’t know what exactly to do.

The boy who called the group together turned toward everyone else. “We need someone to test how strong this Wind Tunnel is. Otherwise, there could be grave mistakes.”

Hearing this everyone looked around at each other. A boy put on armor covering his torso and limbs. He then turned toward the house and began walking toward it. At 30 feet away everyone heard wind moving and could see the boy hesitate as if he met resistance before continuing.

Raja Kint narrowed his eyes to see the boy was at the eighth stage. He calmly watched the boy walking forward. The boy soon walked 10 feet. Yet, the wind was ferociously whipping at him. Looking to push him back.

Everyone watched as once he hit the halfway mark of fifteen feet he momentarily stopped. Everyone was watching with rapt attention. It was clear that the winds were far louder and more ferocious inside the array than what they noticed from outside.

A voice rang out from the building, “For him to go this far is not bad. Sadly, he won’t be getting his things back. Hehe”

It seemed the boy didn’t even hear the voice as he continued standing for a bit longer before pressing forward again. Once he reached 12 feet away he coughed up a mouthful of blood and was sent flying out. Slamming into a nearby tree. Multiple kids quickly ran over to check his injuries. They still needed him to talk about what he experienced.

After a pill, color returned to the boy’s face. With a solemn expression he spoke, “It’s truly difficult to go through it. This armor is enough to take a punch from anyone below limbo realm. Even still, it was basically ineffective. The wind looked to simply keep me away,” he took a breath, “I think once we hit 10 feet the array will become much more fierce.”

One of the array kids spoke out, “We know all this. Do you think anyone present could move through the array.”

“No. It’s far too fierce.”

Everyone felt their hearts drop.

“This helps us narrow down the options.”

“Yeah, to the option of destroying the array? Heh, they’ve clearly made plenty of preparations.”

People fell silent as despair began to set in. These resources were meant for the competition. But, now they may not have anything to rely on for the competition.

One of the leading boys wearing yellow shouted, “If we make it through the array can we get our stuff back?”

“If you can get through the array then you have to fight one of us. Afterward, you can leave.”

“What if I want more than one person’s things?”

“You’ll be forced out after a fight no matter what. Then you can fight your way through this array again and fight again if you wish. Of course, it may not be a one-on-one any longer.” Even though there was no laughter everyone could hear the smile behind the words.

They also weren’t too angry. After all, if things are done this way. Then these bandits could acquire resources while not occurring the wrath of revenge. If the sects even allowed such a thing then this meant they weren’t going too far. Plus, the sects wanted their top talents to experience the outside world more.

Raja Kint asked, “What if I want to fight for someone else’s belongings the first time I make it through.”

“Eh, you have a lover kid? Hehe, you’ll still get your one-on-one.”

Many kids looked at Raja Kint in contempt. He hadn’t done much besides giving a few common pieces of advice that everyone already knew. Plus, they could tell he was only at the seventh stage. Raja Kint walked toward Kyoot Kint.

“What did the woman who took your stuff look like?”

Kyoot Kint’s voice carried worry, “Don’t do something ridiculous like walking through that.”

“So you don’t want your stuff back?”

Kyoot Kint lightly bit her lip in worry, “It was a female with red hair and freckles. She had brown eyes. Quite pretty actually but she’s also strong. Ninth stage strong.”

One of the boys laughed, “Little man, just give up trying to impress her.” He pointed toward the boy beneath the tree. “You’ll end up worse than him.”

Raja Kint didn’t bother with the boy’s ramblings. When his eyes scanned everyone else. Including the Kint Sect kids. They looked at him as if he was a fool. The Kint Sect knew of his exploits in the town. But any of them could have taken down such a weak town as well.