Ambush

Ye Xian left the Ye estate and made his way to the bustling market. The streets were lively with merchants calling out their wares, the scent of fresh produce and roasted meats mingling in the air.

Moving through the crowd, he carefully selected supplies—dried rations, medicinal herbs, and other necessities for long-term use. He inspected each item meticulously, ensuring they were of the highest quality.

Once he had gathered everything he needed, he returned to the estate just before noon. With nothing urgent to do, he decided to rest.

As he lay down, exhaustion crept over him, and before he knew it, he had drifted into a deep slumber.

The next morning, Ye Xian's eyes snapped open.

The time had come. Today marked the beginning of his escort mission.

The escort mission Ye Xian had accepted from the academy couldn't be canceled without a valid reason.

Though the number of ki stones he would receive as a reward was negligible—barely a drop in the vast river of cultivation resources—he still considered it a valuable experience.

Determined to complete the mission, he had already prepared .

After freshening up and getting dressed, he left his room. As he was about to exit the Ye Estate, he unexpectedly ran into Ye Qianying.

The two exchanged greetings, and she curiously asked where he was headed. Ye Xian casually mentioned the escort mission he had taken from the academy. Before leaving, he couldn't resist teasing her.

Ye Qianying, clearly flustered, muttered under her breath, "Pervert."

Ye Xian chuckled but didn't respond. With a relaxed gait, he made his way through the bustling market district. Stalls lined both sides of the streets, merchants calling out to potential customers, while pedestrians haggled over prices.

The aroma of roasted meat and freshly baked pastries filled the air, mingling with the distinct scent of herbal medicines sold by traveling apothecaries.

After passing through the market, he finally arrived at the massive gates of Azure Sky City.

The city gate was an imposing structure, standing at least twenty meters high and fortified with thick stone walls over a meter in width.

Guards clad in blue armor stood watch, inspecting travelers and merchants entering or leaving the city. Caravans, traders, and adventurers formed long queues, waiting for their turn to pass through.

Scanning the area, Ye Xian soon spotted a small group of people—about ten or more—gathered near two carts, each being pulled by a pair of sturdy horses.

Among them, several individuals wore academy uniforms, while at the center of the group stood a portly man dressed in fine red robes. His long mustache curled slightly at the ends, giving him a shrewd yet dignified appearance.

He seemed to be in the middle of a conversation with the academy disciples.

"That must be the team," Ye Xian murmured to himself.

Without delay, he pulled out his academy-issued mission identification and approached the group. Upon reaching them, he confidently announced.

"I'm here for the escort mission."

The fat merchant turned his gaze toward Ye Xian, assessing him with keen eyes. The others in the group also sized him up, their expressions ranging from indifference to mild curiosity.

"Looks like all ten participants have finally arrived," the merchant said in a deep, authoritative voice.

"One at the Element Disciple Realm, three at the Ki Warrior Realm, and six at the Ki Refining Realm."

As he spoke, he collected the academy identification pages from the gathered students, verifying their participation in the mission. Ye Xian handed his over as well.

The merchant gave a satisfied nod before gesturing toward the carts.

"These are the goods you'll be escorting to the nearby city, Grass Merry. The journey should take around a day, provided there are no interruptions along the way. Once we arrive, you'll be given accommodations at my establishment. Meals will be on me, and if the goods reach their destination in pristine condition, I'll also provide additional ki stones as a reward."

The moment he finished speaking, one of the participants—a thin young man with squinting eyes—raised his hand.

"Can I receive the additional ki stones before the mission starts?" he asked.

The merchant, whose name was Kun Lu, let out a hearty chuckle and stroked his mustache.

"No, young man. As stated before, and as clearly mentioned in the mission details you all received, the additional reward is given only upon successful completion of the task."

His expression turned slightly amused.

"Now, if that's all, we should get moving. Before that, allow me to introduce your team leader, who will guide you to Grass Merry."

As Kun Lu stepped aside, a middle-aged man with sharp, hawk-like eyes and a commanding presence stepped forward.

His gaze swept over the group with an air of quiet authority, pausing momentarily on Ye Xian before continuing his assessment of the others.

"You can call me Joseph," he introduced himself in a calm yet firm tone. "This mission may seem simple, but that doesn't mean we can afford to be careless."

His voice carried the weight of experience, and the group instinctively straightened under his scrutiny.

"I may not be from the academy, but I expect all of you to follow my instructions. If we encounter trouble, stay together and act as a unit. I am at the Element Master Realm, so unless you believe yourselves stronger, do as I say. Understood?"

The group nodded in unison, their expressions turning serious. Escort missions like this often included a representative from the merchant side to ensure the safety of the goods.

But to have a cultivator at the Element Master Realm accompanying them was unusual. It raised a silent question—just how valuable were the goods they were transporting?

With everything settled, the mission officially began.

As they left Azure Sky City, Ye Xian glanced back. The towering walls that once seemed so imposing were gradually shrinking into the distance.

In total, the escort team consisted of eleven members:

Joseph, the Element Master Realm cultivator. A student at Element Disciple Realm, three Ki Warrior Realm cultivators, six Ki Refining Realm cultivators.

After traveling for about two hours, they passed through a valley and entered a dense forest.

The towering trees were lush and vibrant, their emerald leaves rustling gently in the wind. Sunlight streamed through the canopy, casting dappled patterns on the forest floor.

Occasionally, the distant calls of birds and beasts echoed through the foliage, a reminder that the wilderness was alive with unseen dangers.

As they walked, Ye Xian attempted to make conversation with the others. Some recognized him from the recent commotion he had caused at the academy.

While others remained indifferent, either uninterested or simply unwilling to engage.

However, two of them—a pair of twin brothers named Tim and Tom—seemed eager to talk.

"So, Brother Ye Xian, is this your first time traveling outside the city?"

Tim, the younger of the twins, asked with a curious grin.

Ye Xian shook his head.

"No. I've gone out a few times before, usually for academy missions."

"Ah, so you have some experience." Tom, the older twin, nodded in approval.

"Did you encounter any beasts during your previous missions?"

"A few," Ye Xian replied. "Nothing too dangerous, though."

The brothers exchanged glances, intrigued.

"You know, we actually respect you quite a bit," Tim said, his voice lowering slightly. "The way you handled Lu Wen back at the academy… that was satisfying to watch."

Tom nodded in agreement.

"Yeah. That guy had it coming. He always bullied weaker students, acting like he was untouchable. Seeing him get what he deserved was a breath of fresh air."

Ye Xian chuckled.

"He brought it upon himself."

The conversation lightened the mood slightly, though everyone remained vigilant.

The deeper they ventured into the forest, the more the air seemed to thicken with a quiet tension, as if something unseen lurked just beyond their sight.

Unbeknownst to them, A ground of shadowed figures were already watching from the depths of the forest.

As the group continued along the forest path, Tom introduced Ye Xian to some of the other escort team members.

"See that guy over there?"

Tom gestured toward a young man walking near the front.

"His name is Philip. He's at the Element Disciple Realm and a first-year student in the Sky Class."

Ye Xian took a glance at Philip. His posture and the way he carried himself radiated arrogance.

"He's the type who thinks he's above everyone else," Tom muttered with a hint of irritation.

"Then there's Wu Zen," Tim added.

"He's also at the Ki Warrior Realm, same as us. He's in the Sky Class too, though we don't talk much."

He is thin man who was asking the advance ki stones.

"As for the others, we don't know much about them. They told us they're from the Yellow and Earth Class," Tom shrugged.

Ye Xian nodded, taking in the information. While he had little interest in forming friendships.

It was always useful to know the strengths and weaknesses of those around him.

The trio walked behind the second cart, maintaining a casual but alert stance.

The forest around them was thick, the towering trees casting long shadows. Suddenly, an unusual noise came from behind.

A rustling sound.

Ye Xian and the twins immediately turned around. Emerging from behind the trees were five men, their expressions cold and calculating.

At the same time, ten more men stepped onto the road ahead, blocking their path.