Chapter 38: Red-Mountain City! (1)

Ace nearly jumps from the sitting position in delight. He didn't dare to believe what he just heard and ask system in excitement, "System are you telling me that I can earn EXP by killing these beasts?"

"[Yes! If host kills any living being with QI or Soul QI, the host can earn EXP and Soul Points.]" System answered his question without asking for TP for the first time in a while.

He nearly cries from the happiness he thought that system has finally changed its 'wicked' ways for the better and asked again, "Did this mean I can ask any question and you won't ask for TP anymore?"

"[NO! Since host finds this method on his own, system answer this question for free.]" She crushed his happiness in instant.

Ace thought weirdly, 'Why didn't I feel shocked by this anymore.'

Overall he was thrilled after making this discovery about EXP and SP. He looked at the dense forest and his eyes twinkle, 'You all are now my EXP! Hehe'

------

Ace and Eva travels in the forest for 10 days.

The reason for the delay in their journey was Ace's obsession with demonic beasts. Every time he sees or even felt the presence of a demonic beast if it was at Qi Foundation Building realm he would escape with Eva. But if that beast was only at the realm of Qi Gates realm he would always hunt it down. He has even killed a peak-level Qi Gate beast with Eva's help.

Because of these continuous battles, his improvement in his technique and skills were massive. He finally understands the meaning of being a weapon cultivator.

'The more I fight the more I can understand the weapon technique and improved my skills quickly.' He thought gleefully.

Eva's skills also improved with her lineage inheritance memories and a little bit of Ace helps. She always saw him fight using his Dual Shadow Swords technique and learn a lot about how to use qi with swords just by watching him, she admires him even more after seeing him in action.

Today they finally come out of the vast forest extension and saw a high red mountain peak in distance.

That peak was the Red Mountain Peak and the 1-Star Red mountain city was situated on that mountain peak.

Ace couldn't help but grin after seeing the Red mountain in distance. But he was even more pleased about something else and that was his EXP!

[EXP: 2010/5000]

Since he has killed many higher-level demonic beasts he has earned quite a lot of EXP.

Ace also finds out that if he killed a demonic beast a small realm above him he could get more EXP. When he killed that peak-level demonic beast he earned 100 EXP in one fell swoop. Furthermore, every time he gains EXP, his Heavenly Qi becomes denser.

But he still felt it was a shame that he didn't get any SP in his whole journey. He has already reached the peak of Yellow Wind Core and he already has sufficient SP to break through to the next level. But the problem was he has to gain insight on it first before he can break through to the next Soul Cultivation Realm.

"Ace look there's a carriage!" Ace was still deep in thought when he heard Eva's sweet and exciting voice. He also saw a carriage in the distance which was slowly moving forward on an avenue. 'This must be an avenue that led to Red-Mountain City since these types of roads were only built near a big City.'

Ace become excited after seeing this carriage on the avenue because he knew they weren't too far away from the city.

"It seems like we already enter the territory of the Red-Mountain City. You should get ready." He said to Eva in a knowing tone.

Eva smiled sweetly after hearing his meaningful words and a blue mist form around her goddess-like face. After a moment her beautiful face completely changed into another simple face. She looks completely different from before.

This was Ace's plan to make her changed appearance before entering the city. After all the experience in his home city, he was afraid that with looks like Eva she would definitely attract the attention of others and not in a good way either. She still looks beautiful but not as much as before.

Ace beamed seeing her changed appearance and said, "We don't have any identity crystal that's why we have to sneak inside. I'm confident that I can sneak inside without any problem but I'm worried about you."

"Humph! Don't worry my Shadow Devil Clan's technique isn't inferior to yours." She retorted with a puff, but inside she was quite happy after seeing him worried about her.

Ace didn't say anything just laughed. After traveling with her for ten days he knew better than anyone that if someone underestimates her just because she's was a seventeen years old girl then they have a lot of pain coming in their way.

After 30 minutes of walking Ace stared at that avenue in the distance, he was vaguely able to see large walls at the peak of the mountain and the Red Mountain City Huge Gate which was not too far away from him.

-------

The red mountain was just like its name suggests it was completely red in color. There was a legend about its red color, people of the city tell the stories about the evil cultivator who used to live in this mountain and he kills thousands of people here for his cultivation technique.

Blood flows in this mountain like a river and it turned crimson because of the curse of the innocent.

But many people didn't believe in this tale because if this mountain was cursed then why the hell this city is a 1-Start City?

Many people believe that this mountain has some kind of mysterious natural treasure that's why it turns into red color.

Many people including the cultivators wanted to solve this mystery but they can't because if they wanted to search for the treasure they have to go inside the City Lord Mansion territory.

The City Lord Family has occupied half of the entire mountain peak and no one was allowed to trespass into their territory if they value their life that is. Because to this day whoever even step inside the territory of the City Lord Mansion unnoticed that person will never come back. It was like they would all vanished in thin air.

After those 'curious and greedy' people who wanted to search for treasures saw all those people vanished they completely gave up on their curiosity or greed.

Some stubborn and angry people who think that the City Lord was hiding a great treasure 'alone' wanted to report this to their overseer Kingdom or some stronger 1-Star city but no matter how much they report or try other methods the Kingdom will never act and it seems that it was even proacting the entire city from others city as well.

After that, everyone gave up completely, and the Red Mountain's treasure became an unsolved, untouchable mystery.

____________________

Ace and Eva stopped at the edge of the avenue which was situated near the forest. After resting for a little bit, they put on black robes with hoods that Eva has prepared before their departure, after all, they were going to invade a 1-start city.

Although the night was dark, a gentle silver-white moonlight shone upon the land. This gentle pale aura allowed people not to be engulfed in utter darkness.

In the pale moonlight, two silhouettes were silently moving towards the tall and prosperous city.

Red-Mountain City was vast and surrounded by thick walls.

Ace looked at the endless wall and the moat outside of the City. Many people were going in and out of the enormous city gate, and many soldiers stood on the city wall.

Next to the gate were many guards, they were clearly cultivators who were checking the others people's identity.

Ace scan those guards with true & false eyes and saw they were a total of ten guards, three of them were at peaks of the Qi Gates realm, and others were only at the fourth or third gate respectively.

"Wait for the chance and follow me closely don't fall behind or we have to go into the forest again." Ace chortled as he whispered to Eva in a joking way to reduce the pressure on them a bit.

Eva didn't say anything she also knew that she at the peak of the Qi Gates was still inferior to Ace who was only at the 3rd Gate.

Ace's eyes were fixed on the people who were going inside the gate and those coming out of it.

Ace also noticed with his soul sense that those guards were relaxed and didn't do their job that seriously. They only check their identity crystal with the big stone, collect the entry fee, and didn't pay much attention to them afterward.

Suddenly, he spotted one big luxurious carriage followed by two small carriages moving towards the gate.

Ace saw those guards have abandoned their posts and start to head towards that luxurious carriage in a hurry.

"Now!" Ace single Eva with his hand and used stealth and silent steps, and like a loose arrow drift towards the unguarded city gates.