Team Up

After Merlin joined them, the man ordered a round of Qi Beer for the four of them as they got to know each other better.

"Feel free to express your mind, my friend! As for our names, that's not important, let's just chat as fellow cultivators of this land!"

"So thanks for the beer! But this old man would like to know what you three friends would like to discuss?" Merlin inquired, taking a slip of the Qi Beer. It truly met up to its names, as Merlin noticed the rich dissolved Qi as he drank.

Noticing Merlin did not want to strike around the bush, the leader of the three men gazed at his companions. Receiving their approving nod, he turned again to Merlin.

"Well, as fellow cultivators, I and my brothers were just talking about interesting news we heard these days! And I'm pretty sure a cultivator like yourself would be interested." The man said, referring to the aura Merlin gave of as he arrived there.

"Well, here I am! So what would be this good news? I swear it will stay between us!"

"Hehehe! Don't worry about secrecy my friend, probably everyone in this city already knows about it!"

"And it's about a recently discovered ruin about five days from here on foot! From what we heard, it used to be the stronghold of the ancient Ascending Pill Society!" The man said the ancient force's name with great reverence.

"Humm... Looks interesting for me! And I guess you guys are building up an expedition team, right?"

"Exactly!!"

Understanding the man's intention, Merlin put on a serious expression, thinking on the matter. Probably the place was some ancient holy land for alchemists, and his master himself practiced such a profession! So obtaining something related to so would be good, since his young master could guide him if he managed to get anything interesting!

However, he had a sharp feeling in his heart that those people in front of him were not that simple. They were the only ones that did not mind his show of power early, indicating they had some ability themselves. But since he did not know things around here, he made his mind up in following them for now!

"Alright, I'm up in joining you guys! But how will the treasures found be divided?" Merlin inquired with a sharp gaze.

"*laugh* Certainly it will depend on each one's capabilities! What does old friend think?"

"Hehehe... Good for me!"

Them, the four of them began discussing the minor details. And as they chatted, Merlin noticed that really everyone on that floor was chatting about the same thing. It seemed the ancient site would open in some days.

The conversation went on until late at night. Finally, after arranging all the details, the four men agreed on meeting at the south gate the next morning.

Calmly, Merlin got out of the tavern, heading back to the inn right across the street. However, as he exited the door, he suddenly felt that someone was gazing at him from the dark as if they were waiting. Unexpectedly, Merlin did not head to the inn but instead walked down the street.

He went on until he arrived at an empty ally. As soon as he found himself alone, four figures jumped out of the shadows. They were all middle-aged men. However, there was something familiar about their faces.

In a second, Merlin's memory snaped as he remembered those men. They were among the crowd earlier, following a young master, just like him.

One of the figures stepped ahead of the group.

"Old man, earlier this day, I think I saw you at the central square. More precisely, following a young man, that by his means gave you a small sack... am I right?"

"Hehehe! Yes, yes! That was indeed this old man!"

"So you already understand everything! Just pass the sack over, and we'll beat you up just a little bit!"

However, instead of receiving what he demanded, the old man in front of him just began laughing.

"What's so funny, old man!? Do you think I'm making up a joke?" The man said as he and his companions became enraged about Merlin's action. Did that old possibly think he could escape their attack? One had to know that they could be considered Cultivators! They just were not that accomplished because they began cultivating at an old age!

"The funny thing is that this old man was just thinking of a way to test out my current power... and then the good Heavens send you guys for me! Hehehehe"

Truly enraged by Merlin, the man shouted.

"You think too much of yourself, old man! Let's see if you continue laughing after his master beats you up."

Saying that the middle-aged man immediately dashed to Merlin on his full speed, launching a fierce punch.

However, to his surprise, Merlin just stood there, waiting for his attack.

"Ignorant!!"

But as his fist way heading to Merlin's face, a loud sound resonated, as his fist was intercepted by the old man's palm.

Surprised, the man did not wait to launch a whole sequence of attacks. But for his and his companion's surprise, all his attacks were calmly intercepted by the steady old man.

"Hehehe! You're pretty strong yourself!"

As such, the two of them had already exchanged dozens of blows. But against the man's expectations, the old man did not seem even a bit tired. Anxiety filled his heart as he understood that the old man was not a simple figure.

Also, noticing the man's tension, Merlin smiled as he turned from the defensive to the offensive in the battle. Without another option, the man could only shout in despair.

"What are you idiots doing standing there!? Come help me!"

Awoken from their astonished state by their's companion's shout, the three other men also dashing into the battle. Seeing such a scene, Merlin could only chuckle. "Yeah, seems like I have to go all out"

Instantly, the red Qi inside his body began to circulate at a crazy pace as his attacks became more brutal.

Launching the first man flying with a kick on his chest, Merlin turned just in time to defend against two of the new attackers. But the third one still managed to hit him hard in the chest.

A bit enraged but the incident, Merlin's fighting style became more and more brutal by the second, just as back when he fought the two guards of Great Red Hill City.

As the battle went on in the empty ally, Merlin's condition was a bit wasted, but he was still standing firm there. But for the other four men, they were all beaten up on the ground, barely breathing.

Slowly getting closer to one of the men on the ground, Merlin gave a smile as his murderous intent flash out.

"You know guys... I have a big expedition beginning tomorrow, so I have to be at my peak, ain't I'm right?"

Said such, the men could see the murderous gaze of the old man upon them.

"*cough* Old man... have... mercy! Our... masters we... certainly... compensate you!" The hurt men shouted together.

"Hehehehe... I getting my compensation now." Merlin said in a low tone as he launched a powerful fist at the man's chest, instantaneously killing him.

As so, the other men looked at him in horror as Merlin did three hand seals, sucking the corpse dried from its blood energy.

"YOU...DEVIL!!! THE... HEAVENS... WON'T FORGIVE... YOU!!!"

The remaining screamed in despair, looking at Merlin as if he was a devil.

"No... they won't! Hehehe" Merlin voiced, walking to the next man.

As so, three more terrified screams sounded in the darkness.

Some hours later, Merlin was calmly seated above his bed back at the inn. With his eyes closed, he was silently circulating his Qi through his meridians, stabilizing even further his seventh stage Body Refinement cultivation.

However, this time, after collecting his dead opponent's blood energy, he noticed that there was much more than the two guards from before. In his guess, the three men were probably cultivator themselves, by of a lower stage them him! Probably stage three or four.

Anyways, they were a good aid in helping him refine a bit more his fighting style. Also, now his cultivation was rock solid in the seventh stage, meaning that the next breakthrough should not be too far.

Thinking about the incoming expedition to the ancient ruins, Merlin thought it would be a good opportunity to level up his strength. Although victorious in today's battle, he knew there was still a long road to go.

Such this, Merlin went on the whole night in cultivation. Also, inside his meridians, he was slowly building up a reserve of refined blood energy. Some days ago, he began studying the [Sword Cultivation] part of the [Asura Sword Art]. But to begin using it, he first had to refine a sword with refined blood energy.

As so, until he found a good sword type treasure, Merlin was slowly building up the refined blood energy necessary for the process.

Finishing his cultivation section by the morning, Merlin rush through the streets of Dawn Star City searching for a good sword. His old one was destroyed in his fight with the wolf monstrous beast.

Roaming around the city for a while, he finally managed to find a good steel sword at one of the city's blacksmiths. Although it was a bit expensive, Merlin did not even blink since the money was not his anyway. By now, he was truly grateful for those idiot men.

After getting provisions and everything necessary for the trip, Merlin parted to the south gate. As he arrived there, the three men from the tavern were already waiting for him.

"Hehehe... I'm very sorry for being late! You know, age make's us a bit too sleepy!"

"No problem at all, old friend!" The man said.

As so, the group of four hit the road, heading south. But they were not alone. Together with their groups, lots of other small groups of cultivators were heading the same way.

On the way, Merlin became pretty concerned about the two other men in their group. During the whole conversation back at the tavern, as so as today, the two of them did not sound a word.

Such a thing was quite strange to him since up until now, Merlin observed that all cultivators seemed to like to chat and brag about themselves.

But for those two, they just went along, as if they did not have and concern themselves, following blindly the talkative third man.

Such thing raised great suspicion in Merlin's heart, as he kept his guard hard against the trio. He kept remembering of master Luke's lectures about the cruelness of the cultivation world. A wrong action and you would be dead!

But the five-day went on quite peacefully for the first four days. Along the way, the talkative man spoke a lot, even annoying Merlin a bit.

However, on the fifth day, they finally arrived at a dense forest. It was so creepy that the Sun's light seemed incapable of getting in, making it inside eternally night.

"Good friend, are you sure this is the correct path?" Merlin asked as they entered the dark forest.

"Yes! This forest is like a dense ring around the ruins, like a natural defense for the ancient sect!" The man responded cheerfully.

As so, their group, together with the other one, began going deeper inside the dense vegetation. However, the deeper they went, the more separated each group became from each other. It was like the trees built up a type of maze.

Even as such, Merlin's group continued to march ahead. That was until Merlin noticed that after making a tree half an hour ago, they once more ran into that tree.

"Hey, something it's right! We already passed through this path! I think we're walking in circles!"

Hearing Merlin's world, the man put on a thoughtful expression.

"Yeah! That's right! Just what's going on?"

However, as they were trying to decide their next steps to get out of the vicious circle, the whole group became paralyzed.

From a bush ahead of them, a murderous aura was coming in their way fast, locking them on the spot!