Chapter 258 - Xiu Zien

Slowly descending to the ground to make sure that I would not make much noise when hitting the floor, I began to look around at the crowd that had begun to gather due to the argument between the three girls.

I made sure to quickly put my mask on before landing, just in case one of the girls would see me and yell out my name, therefore blowing my cover.

"Will your two stop bickering like children!" Rose shouted

"She started it" June Pointed at Yuri, making a vein bulge on Yuri's forehead.

"I can confirm the fact that she indeed did start it" Olivia nodded, causing Yuri's mouth to twitch.

"You know what..." Yuri slowly lifted her fist up and pointed it at Olivia, but before anyone other than Rose could react, a sudden bolt of golden lightning shot through the air and struck at the hand of Yuri.

*BOOM*

Yuri gripped into her hand that had been struck before looking in the direction of the bolt.

When looking in that direction, she could see that the countless people in the crowd had split up, giving way to see who had thrown the lightning arch at her.

"Lilith?" Yuri widened her eyes in confusion

"To think you would hit your own guild members, what would people think if this got out?" A distorted voice came out from behind my mask, yet the killing intent was imminent in the area.

"What are you-"

"Let's go" I waved at the rest of them who reluctantly followed me, allowing us to disappear into a random alleyway.

'What was the reason for me not being able to evolve again?' I asked inwardly

[Well, there isn't enough heavenly energy in the continent for you to do that since all of it has been directed towards moving to the elven continent. I am not sure why that is happening, but I think someone is either evolving or ascending to the astral plane. Either way, the situation does not look too good for the humans.]

'Hmm... So this wasn't your doing?' I asked with narrowed eyes

[Uhm... Well...]

'So yes?'

[Half yes. Even though the thing about the elven continent seemed convenient, I was not going to let you evolve until you finally do your first two missions which I see as much more important than the ones you had just done. On the same point though, I did not expect you to be able to finish your third mission as fast as you did, and instead of that you would spend just long enough for you to finish the first two missions]

'Hmm? Oh well,' I shrugged, seemingly uncaring about the situation I had seemed to have landed myself into.

"You've become stronger" Olivia's voice entered my ears, forcing me to look back and look straight into her eyes with a smile she could not see

"Don't worry, in the next few months, I should be able to get you up to speed, alright?" I looked back at her with a warm smile she could not see

[And in that time you will also be cultivating your soul energy, right?]

'Of course. I'll spend a third of my time gaining soul energy, the other third cultivating and refining it, then the rest of my time helping out Olivia and making sure she can get stronger in the minimal amount of time we have left as mercenaries.' I shrugged

[I see... Well, make sure to get through the next few months without dying hahaha]

***

6 months later 

"This isn't working" A pale-skinned man roared at the top of his voice while throwing a red energy ball towards the horizon of the ocean, causing an enormous amount of water to be kicked up after the explosion as well as a shockwave causing all the boats to rick violently.

"Patience is of the greatest essence" A man with grey hair closed his eyes while stroking his beard. This was the 5th remaining member of the Zogarian defense unit, his name being Xiu Zien, one of the most powerful beings on the continent if not the world and powerful enough to even stand above the paladin in power, and almost everyone on the continent when it came to experience.

"Shut it, grandpa, I am trying my best here!" Kosmos snorted in return

"Do not try harder, but try better. If you do not have any technique, what do you think will happen? Do you think brute strength will get you everywhere in life?" The old man's expression did not change, but his tone changed to a mocking one.

"THEN SHOW ME HOW IT IS DONE!" Kosmos shouted back while holding a crimson red orb in the middle of his hand. It was glowing with not only red light, but the light itself for some reason felt extremely dangerous as if it would destroy everything that came close to it.

Kosmos flicked his wrist and pointed it at one of the last three remaining chains and shot it at a full strength, causing his arm to fling back due to the recoil yet not a shred of pain could be seen on his pale yet handsome face.

*BOOM*

"See? No technique means no break! You have to get the technique first, then you get the more efficiency and then more power behind your every shot. You are older than me but you act so stupid. Did all your brainpower go to your looks and penis?" The old man spoke to Kosmos as if he was speaking to a child.

"You know what old man. Show me how it is done and then I'll think about listening to you" Kosmos looked at the old man with a smug grin on his face before crossing his arms and leaning back onto one of the walls of the ship.

"I am trying to teach you here. You do not respect the elderly and I will not respect you!" The old man snorted

"I cannot respect you unless you do something that is worth my respect! Now show me whatcha got old man" Kosmos's smile widened.

The man seemed to have started thinking for a bit before finally coming to a decision.

"Okay" Xiu Zien nodded while stroking his long beard before pointing one of his hands towards the crimson chains, his thumb pointing inwards.

"Watch and learn" The old man thrust his palm a single inch, but that was all it took for what was about to happen next to occur....