Consuming Earths, Devouring Skies

Yan Zaizen was surprised. The old man in front of him was the door guard from earlier, the one who, despite his profound cultivation base, was acting as a servant to the emporium. He looked completely different from their earlier encounter. He had a more refined dressing, a pair of vibrant eyes, while also possessing the aura and prestige of a high-ranking member of the cultivation society.

"Congratulations on your breakthrough." His tone, unlike before, held an amiable hint like a senior expert praising a junior. It made one feel like they should respect him, trust him, and allow him in. He continued, introducing himself, "My name’s Wu Yuanxu, if you like, you can call me Elder Brother Yuan." His smile was filled with benevolence, but Yan Zaizen couldn’t help but feel this old man was a little bit shameless. He was likely hundreds of years in age, but he wanted to be called Elder Brother? Elder Senior more like it.

Recognizing Yan Zaizen’s thoughts, Wu Yuanxu cleared his throat.

"Anyhow, you came to sell?" He asked.

Yan Zaizen came to his senses. Regardless of this old man’s hobbies, at least he seemed to have good intentions, so any business transaction should go smoothly. Grabbing a spatial bag, he passed it to Wu Yuanxu. After receiving the bag, Wu Yuanxu simply sent his Qi into it to examine its contents. After some deliberation, "twelve drops of mid-grade liquid essence for all."

"What?!" Yan Zaizen couldn’t help but blurt out. Twelve drops of mid-grade liquid essence were equivalent to 1,200 drops of low-grade liquid essence. The Katori beast core was worth just one drop of mid-grade liquid essence and its body another, but he didn’t have the body and only the core. Even if you took the bodies and cores of the beasts he collected during his weeks of travel to the Xuanwu city, he didn’t believe he made more than five drops of mid-grade liquid essence. Yet, this old man stated over twice that amount to sell.

"Haha, at the third floor, you receive near market price on your sold items." Wu Yuanxu heartily laughed at Yan Zaizen’s response. This answered Yan Zaizen question in regards to price. Typically, if sold, the price of the things would be over double its sell rate, sometimes even triple. So upon hearing this, he calmed down and nodded in acceptance.

Wu Yuanxu nodded, retrieved twelve tiny bottles from his spatial ring. Each bottle contained a drop of mid-grade liquid essence and glimmered with a silvery glow. He passed it over and smiled. Yan Zaizen wasn’t courteous, immediately depositing the bottles into his spatial bag. His expression was quite content. This amount of wealth should allow him to smoothly enter the peak-Qi Revolving Realm in a short period of time. He could even stabilize his shaky Qi Foundation. His intention after leaving this place was to go back to the Basilisk Forest after a round of cultivation and acquire more wealth if it was this profitable.

"What’s your name." Wu Yuanxu asked suddenly.

"What?"

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"Your name. What is it?"

"...Han Zaiji." He answered after some deliberation. It was odd that he wanted to know his name. However, after some deliberation, he decided to use this pseudonym of his.

"I mean, your real name."

"!!" Yan Zaizen eyes penciled. There should be no one who knew his name was fake, or even who he was except Lin Feilin. If they learned he was from the Yan Clan, while in enemy territory, it’s likely he’ll be captured and swiftly dealt with. He got up, readying himself for action. Hopefully, this old man underestimates him, and he could use that opportunity to escape. However, what the old man said next shocked him to his core.

"I know you’re of the Yan Clan, allied to the Soaring Cloud Sect and who Han Genji is to you." His words were stated as if all were revealed. Yan Zaizen felt naked, all of his secrets exposed, and it was beyond uncomfortable.

"Haha, no need to get too tense. I have no ill-intentions." Wu Yuanxu obviously tried to comfort Yan Zaizen, but it didn’t work. If anything, Yan Zaizen was now ready more than ever to take his departure at the first opportunity. However, he added, "The soul jade you possess is something I personally gave to Han Genji."

"What?!" Disbelief was all Yan Zaizen felt at this moment. The soul jade of his was in his spatial bag, and one usually can’t see the contents of a spatial bag. "Wait, how did you know I’m from the Yan Clan?" A question popped up into his mind.

Wu Yuanxu old face only revealed a soft smile and said, "I’m old."

It made some sense. If Wu Yuanxu was familiar with the Yan Clan’s physical features, then it’s entirely possible he recognized him based on his physical appearance, after all, he was someone from the Yan. However, he had a sneaky suspicion that what he said wasn’t the truth. It’s not like he could force him to tell the truth, so he just stayed silent.

"I noticed a few of the beasts you killed were without a single wound, in perfect condition. You were even capable of seeing through my cultivation. Using an arcane art, I sensed the soul jade in your bag and knew who you were from there." He explained patiently. He didn’t seem to be in a rush, as if he didn’t notice Yan Zaizen’s primed preparations. "So, you must be the disciple Han Genji mentioned, the one who possessed an Advanced Nascent Soul but without a method."

Many things connected for him. Han Genji obtained the soul jade from the Xuanwu City - from Wu Yuanxu. Perhaps for him, it would take years to get here from the Eight Calamity Mountain, but to someone at the Origin Core Realm, it would probably take less than a week.

"What do you want?" Yan Zaizen felt like all this had a purpose. Perhaps this old man wanted the soul jade back or something else from Yan Zaizen.

"Simple," Wu Yuanxu pulled out a medallion from his spatial ring and held it in his palms. The medallion was made of fine silver, it had the mark of a cyan cross, very similar to a Templar cross, but the ends were rounded and the center had a golden glimmering dot. He tossed the medallion to Yan Zaizen, "To join the Anima Syndicate."

Catching the medallion in his hands, Yan Zaizen couldn’t help but be inwardly shocked. The medallion felt like it had no weight to him, but he could tell by how it was thrown it was incredibly heavy. He looked towards the smiling Wu Yuanxu, "Anima Syndicate?"

"Yes. An organization of like-minded cultivators in pursuit of the peak height of soul cultivation. It spans beyond the four countries and into the entire realm." His words held a profound sense of pride and obsession. "To enter, you must be inducted by a member and possess at least the cultivation of the Advanced Nascent Soul. If you didn’t have at least that," he paused, his eyes looking at the medallion in Yan Zaizen’s hands, "You wouldn’t have been able to lift the Anima Medallion."

This was too sudden. He didn’t know what to say, especially when he heard its an organization that exceeds the four countries which comprise the continent and spans the entire realm. What did that mean? It means it’s an organization that was far larger than any top rated sect in Presba or any of the other countries on the continent.

"And I can just join like that?" He asked cautiously. Wu Yuanxu chuckled and nodded. However, Yan Zaizen wouldn’t make any reckless decision. He may not have the smartest mind, but he also understood the concept of understanding every decision you make. "What benefits do I get?" Of course, he had his priorities.

Benefits Vs Risk!

"Being considered a member of Anima will allow you to enter any of our bases in the entire realm. Regardless if it’s to escape from enemies, to rest, or to cultivate safely. However, you won’t be able to rely on the organization to deal with your enemies. That would be for you, but if the others decide to aid you, then that’s okay." He paused for in contemplation, "You’ll be able to purchase unique resources that can help you propel your soul cultivation, of course, that’ll be if you can afford it. You’ll receive a soul cultivation method. You already have our arts, so that can be considered a taste."

Hearing all these good things that would be presented for free essentially, he was skeptical. "And the detriments?" He couldn’t help but ask.

"None. Well, besides not being able to use the Syndicate’s resources as you please, and we won’t avenge your death if you do die. So saying you’re apart of the Syndicate won’t save you. The trade-off is that you can join whatever power you wish, and swear whatever allegiances you want. We do not delve into political situations. As for assignments given to the Syndicate, you’ll be able to accept if you wish and decline if you wish. However, rather than talk about declining, you’ll probably have a difficult time to accept due to the rewards drawing all members." He laughed at his words. Assuredly, the syndicate wouldn’t force you to do missions, but the mission rewards were so great that there would be many others willing to take the opportunity if you do not.

"So, what do you say?"

"...YES!!!"