Travel and Encounter.

The fortress city of Musalyum would take just over a week for Kalum to reach, requiring him to trek through the territory of multiple sects and factions. With some luck, he could avoid encountering too many people on this journey. It was a sad fact in life that greed overcame many in a position of power. The people surrounding Musalyum often collect tolls from people who pass through, this served both to fuel their greed and as a way to cull the truly poor from accessing such an important place.

Musalyum was the closest city to the Kingdom of Yux, a neutral kingdom yet safety and security was paramount for every country. Musalyum was turned into a fortress city for this reason, to protect and monitor. The smaller sects of both the Kingdom of Yux and Kalums own country, The Second Hujiki Empire, both relied on this city for trade.

"I am certain I can find what I'm looking for here." Kalum spoke mentally, as he continued barrelling down his planned route at lightning quick speed.

He had already been traveling for three days, with little over a week left. It was a great shame that no Demon Beasts within his ability to confront had shown themselves as he wanted to continue using the Beast Hunting System.

Kalum had given both the System he gained on his sixteenth birthday, the Cultivation System Maker as well as the Beast Hunting System a large amount of thought during these boring travels. Although the journey had been lacking in human contact that was unfortunately one of the downsides of being a wandering cultivator.

In the end, Kalum had decided that it was vital to test out the System's abilities on others. He had once dreamed as a younger child in both worlds of taking on disciples to teach, perhaps this would be a way to make him a worthy teacher? It was also unknown if a system could be created purely to harm the intended target of what the consequences may be of attempting it.

He was rudely pulled out of his musings by an incoming aura, most likely multiple cultivators, heading directly towards him.

"Likely a nearby sect patrol of a hunting group have spotted me." Kalum grimaced.

Nervous energy followed all over his mind even as he brought his momentum to a complete stop and waited for them to reach him. He let none of his thoughts show on his face as he just hoped that it would be a reasonable bunch this time. It was at times like this that Kalum missed GPS and the internet the most. With no way of telling where the hell he actually was currently he could only guess what sect or faction they belonged to.

The aura's were not trying to hide in any capacity, in fact it was likely that they even used a technique that made themselves even more obvious. Three people came into view with orange robes, a vast contract in colour to the frozen grass underfoot.

Looking over their forms revealed their identity to him rather easily. An inner disciple of a nearby sect accompanied by two outer disciples accompanying him. The senior brother of the group taking charge of their group and showing a mildly defensive attitude to his two junior sisters.

"Greetings friends, how may I help you on this fine day?" Kalum asked, hoping to control the momentum of the talks.

The senior brother of the group gave him a searching look before slightly relaxing.

"I am Zenjo, an inner disciple of the Orange Flower Sect. Me and my junior sisters were in the area when we saw an intruder on our sect's land."

Kalum smiled at the answer, happy that it was one of the more reasonable sects and he would most likely only lose some low tier spirit stones rather than fight for his life.

"I am just a wandering cultivator traveling beyond your lands, I mean no hostile intrusion." Said Kalum

One of the junior sisters looked at him with a scathing look.

"In quite the rush aren't you to not go via one of the main passages?" She asked.

Kalum snorted, the passages would take months for him to traverse, even merchants didn't take them as it was an unacceptable waste of time. Although safe and tax free, they were purposefully made unreliable to pass through.

"I am in a bit of a hurry, I intend to do business and therefore had to be quick about it." Kalum responded.

The senior brother of the group shushed the junior sister with a silent reprimand. Before turning his crimson eyes to Kalum once more.

"So are you heading to the City of Mo? Or perhaps you instead wish to go to the great fortress city of Musalyum?" Zenjo asked him.

Both of the junior sisters noticeably shuddered at the mention of the fortress city, such a place would not be accessible for people of low status.

"Indeed I have business in Musalyum, I will pay the standard toll and then depart." Kalum stated plainly.

All three of them straightened their backs slightly and looked at Kalum with more respect, he had at least some money or connections if he was able to head to Musalyum and also freely offer to pay tolls. They were just small timers even within their sect and only Zenjo had ever even seen the fortress city.

"In a hurry indeed!" Laughed Zenjo.

He took out a piece of parchment, likely enchanted in some way.

"Well then, can I take your name and fifty low grade spirit stones? You will get one months travel unmolested in our outer borders with this payment." Zenjo told Kalum.

This was a common and sneaky tactic that all the sects participated in, charging a high price and giving a long time period. Considering people would never make good use of this time, it was always a profitable venture. Anyone who was powerful enough to abuse this system was powerful enough to not have to worry about it anyway.

"My name is Kalum Vondoth, Wandering Cultivator." He replied, passing along the low-grade spirit stones.

Zenjo looked at him searchingly again and then just laughed slightly. Turning around he addressed his junior sisters.

"He is allowed to be here now per sect rules, let's go back to our training." He said.

They instantly disappeared after this, likely some stealth technique of the senior brother. Even their auras were completely hidden.

Kalum resumed his journey. He knew that he was closer than expected which was a relief. Being in the Orange Flower sect's territory meant he had to pass through two more sect's territories. The Black Igloo and the Dragon Spirit Sect, both sects are likely to cause Kalum some trouble if they found him. The two sects had more disciples that would try to extort him.

"Well it can't be helped, a stealthy approach it is." Kalum sighed.

He stuck to the shadows whenever possible and mentally prepared himself to expend most of his Qi after he got out of the Orange Flower Sect's territory.

"Onwards and upwards." He smiled