Grandmaster Xia bowed?

Ancient Rain City.

Somewhere near in the central region, two figures that had just recently met walked together as they chatted.

"Ah! Despite our short meeting, I haven't introduced myself. My name is Evered. What is yours?" The red-haired girl who White recently met turns and asks.

"You can call me White." White casually responds, giving her his name.

"White?! Hmm, wired but simple," Evered contemplated strangely with her hand on her chin, looking toward him and saying, "We have reached the central region and almost anything you are looking to buy or sell could be done here. Since I have something to do we shall part here."

"Ok, thank you for everything, if we ever meet again I'll repay you for taking up your time." White bows slightly before giving his thanks. If someone knew his nature they would realize that this was not his usual behavior but for some reason, he was acting humbly to the red-haired girl; Evered.

"Bye," Waving her slender and soft hand she mixed into the crowds; leaving White alone glazing at her disappearing back.

Only when she was far away, did her amiable expression disappear turning one into that of indifference; as if all the smiles she had shown at the stranger she had just met were all fake.

She looks at the vast sky sighing, "Not him. The leader is cruel, just where am I supposed to find someone who I don't know what they look like nor know their name?"

Hearing no one responding to her, she looks down in disappointment at a stone marked with a strange dark ink in her hand, and murmurs: "It vibrated a little right, or was I imagining things? They said the Soul Sensing Stone would vibrate when I am close to the person we are searching for…"

Sighing even harder indifferently, he continued her search and disappeared.

On the other hand, White's figure didn't move for some time; staying in his original position, looking at the path the friendly stranger disappeared.

'Who is she?' This was the only thought in his mind.

Before when they had met and talked to her, he had thought that she was just a random stranger but seeing her face and the way she kept herself, he knew she was not. This confirmation only increased when she approached him voluntarily, along with an unknown force trying to touch his soul, making his sharp spirit sense tingle in dread.

But unexpectedly, at that time the ordinary ring on his finger put on by the lady in the night-like gown started rippling slightly, sending waves of seemingly its power to protect his soul against the unknown force.

That matter surprised him greatly, but he didn't question the intention of the ordinary ring at that time and continued to act normal; observing the beautiful stranger for any abnormality in her expression, which she didn't show.

"Do I owe it to this ring that nothing bad happened?" White lifted his hand to look at the ring he had almost forgotten before this incident.

He had thought that this ring only served the purpose of teleporting him to that scary place again, but it seemed his guess was wrong and many of its mysteries were still hidden deeply underneath.

'Why do I have the feeling that my fate is linked to these mysterious undercurrents, I had no knowledge of…' White thought and contemplated, but he felt blinded due to his lack of knowledge and experiences in this world.

Shooking his head, he decided to walk away and stay as far away from that stranger for now, hoping they never have to meet again.

Just as he walked away, he passed by a group of people who looked exhausted and wore similar robes and emitted a strong aura passed by him, toward the northern part of the city.

"A group of masters from the Master Battleground," White looked at the black robes they were wearing that were similar to the 10 people who gave them tokens yesterday. It was also the reason they stood out from the crowd.

Also, seeing the exhaustion on their face along with bruises and remnants of injuries that were healed using magical potions, information he recently found out from Golden came into his mind.

Masters were rarely seen in the city or the Master Battleground. People such as White and the rest, who only came to the city yesterday might suspect that it was because of the rarity of masters, but it was wrong.

A master has far longer lifespans than a normal human and can live much longer than them, according to this logic, throughout the years the number of masters should have only grown, but, they haven't, or at least couldn't be seen at this time and there was a reason to it.

The reason was, that masters were always tackling dangers with their lives on the line for power and benefits that they rarely had the time or will to live a peaceful life.

The ignorants might think that becoming one was an easy task; not in terms of the process but in terms of the responsibilities they gain after, but it wasn't as easy. In this world where the law of the jungle prevails and the stronger fist rules over the weak, they did whatever they needed, to gain power, riches, eternal life, or other various ambitions they held deep in their hearts, with either evil intentions or with righteous hearts to fight for the chance to step onto the next stage of power. 

It was only then, that they had control over their lives in this cruel world and lived as they pleased. 

This was the life of masters; the life of people with deep ambitions in an unfair world and unfair responsibilities.

White showed a rare sign of excitement in his expression, looking at their disappearing backs.

At this time, he thought back to Golden's secret word yesterday night, murmuring to himself:

"Did they just come back from an abyss?" 

…

In front of a large entrance to an enormous black palace, where an overbearing plaque hung atop with the word Master Battleground written.

Near the entrance stood two unfamiliar men wearing Master Battleground's master robes, glazing at the stunning and beautiful golden-haired girl who was a pseudo-master standing near the entrance demanding to meet the vulnerable Grandmaster Xia for a long time.

"How much time is Grandmaster Xia going to take? I have been waiting for a long time." With a cold tone, Golden narrowed her eyes looking at the two men.

Hearing the cold and arrogant tone of the girl, the two middle-aged men look at each other in helplessness.

An hour ago, the girl requested to meet the vulnerable Grandmaster Xia with a token of a mere pseudo-master. Normally, if it was any pseudo-master they would have chased them away, but yesterday by chance, they happened to catch a glimpse of Grandmaster Xia treating this person with care, and remembering it they didn't dare to do anything rude to her.

They had already sent someone to inform the grandmaster, but they weren't back till now, and according to the rule of the Master Battleground, she wasn't permitted to enter the palace yet. So, they could only let her wait outside although it had already been a long time.

"We—" Just when one of them was about to say something, the voice of someone interrupted them.

"Wow! I received news that there was a lot of beauty in the new recruit but to think they were this beautiful?!"

Behind them, some people could be seen reaching the top of the steps and pausing, their eyes not leaving the stunning Golden's figure.

'Ho*y sh*t! Is that the figure and face of the goddess herself, I have never seen someone so beautiful! My body felt extremely rejuvenated!" another one exclaimed.

If one looks carefully, they were a group of masters wearing the same robes as the two middle-aged guards, except theirs were torn and battered, and their expression exhausted.

If White was here, he would recognize these people as the ones who just past him.

Hearing their rude remark, Golden didn't do anything or even turn at them, she just stood; ignoring them and waiting for the person she wanted to request something from.

Seeing them being ignored, they didn't seem to be happy and approached her.

"You all! Don't you dare be rude she is–" The two guards want to say something but are again interrupted.

"Hoo, you dare ignore us; the true master?!" a man with an arrogant face sad, seeming to hear the guards. Smirking slightly he said, "Do you know that such offence is punishable?"

Another one also approached and surrounded her with evil looks, saying: "Well, we can forgive you know? You just have to spend some time with us four later hehe~!"

Saying, he extended his hands wanting to caress her beautiful golden hair that was worthy of a goddess.

"Hmph," Golden pupils shrink slowly, an extremely terrifying killing intent about to appear that she hadn't shown before; not even at the trial.

But at that moment, a huge and terrifying aura descended on the arrogant group, forcing them to the ground, creaking sound could be heard inside their body and blood flowed down from their mouth, their eyes displayed extreme horror but they weren't able to say anything or utter a sound. 

Grandmaster Xia appeared, her face unfamiliar and cold to the extreme. Although she had a childish face, her expression now was enough to scare even the demons.

But she didn't look at the near-death people for too long and bowed lowly to the waist in front of Golden, respectfully saying, "Lady Golden, I am sorry for being so late and causing you such trouble, these trashes, I'll personally punish them."

At that time, time seemed to stop for her, the two guards, the four with pools of blood around them, and also the two females far away who came together with them.

All were shocked, Grandmaster Xia bowed her head?!