Chapter 285: The Departure

Suddenly, Qin Xiao let out a surprised whistle as he began to look at Jian Chen with a strange look. Walking around him, Qin Xiao inspected Jian Chen for a moment before saying, “Brother Jian Chen, you left the compound for only a dozen days or so, so why is it I feel that you are completely different than before?”

At this, Ming Dong nodded his head in agreement, “And here I thought I was the only one, so even brother Qin Xiao could feel that Jian Chen is quite different.”

Hearing the two men talk, Jian Chen’s heart skipped a beat. If it were just Qin Xiao who said this. then Jian Chen could had played it off as some sort of joke, but even Ming Dong unexpectedly detected a change, the situation was now a bit more serious.

“Could it be that after making a breakthrough to becoming an Earth Saint Master, even these two are able to sense it?” Jian Chen thought to himself.

Just then, Qin Xiao gave a knowing smile as if he realized something. “Brother Jian Chen.” He whispered. “In this short amount of time, could you have gone off somewhere to spend the time with some young girl? I’ve heard that a few men have undergone a great noticeable change after experiencing this.” Qin Xiao laughed as he smiled coyly.

With a dumbfounded look, Jian Chen glared at Qin Xiao with a dirty look, “Qin Xiao, don’t say such nonsense.”

Continuing to laugh, Qin Xiao had a crooked smile on his face, “Brother Jian Chen, you seem quite uncomfortable, could I have struck the truth head on?”

Jian Chen was left speechless. While Qin Xiao was quite honest and tall, Jian Chen didn’t think that he would be such a master with women?

Ming Dong looked at Jian Chen with a serious look, “Jian Chen, I really do sense that something is quite different with you.”

Laughing, Jian Chen said, “Then say it, just where am I different?”

Looking closely at Jian Chen, Ming Dong began to circle around him like Qin Xiao had done before at last shaking his head, “I don’t know.”

With a smile, Jian Chen said, “That’s settled then. On an unrelated note, brother Qin Xiao, has the date for when we set off for Mercenary City been decided?”

With this change in topic, Qin Xiao straightened himself up, “The date has been decided. After three days, our Tianqin clan and several other strong sects within the Zhuya Kingdom will travel to the other kingdom Zhuya Kingdom is allied with to use their Space Gate.

“Oh? The amount of people participating in the Gathering of the Mercenaries is quite a lot.” Jian Chen muttered.

“Although there is going to be a hundred people at the least going, only a few dozen of them are actually going to be participating. The rest of them are just bodyguards just in case something goes wrong during the Gathering of the Mercenaries.” Qin Xiao said.

After the date had been discussed, Jian Chen and Qin Xiao separated from each other. Leading Ming Dong back, Jian Chen returned to his own room.

Closing the door, Ming Dong grabbed a chair to sit in before looking at Jian Chen with concern. “Jian Chen, it won’t be long until the Gathering of the Mercenaries starts. It will be extremely dangerous there and even Earth Saint Masters don’t have a good chance to survive there, do you realize this?”

With a faint smile, Jian Chen replied, “Ming Dong, don’t worry. If I plan on going, then I naturally understand the risks. Even if I don’t make it within the top ranks, protecting my own life won’t be much of a problem.” Jian Chen was filled with confidence in himself. In the past his strength as a Great Saint Master was enough to be a threat against Earth Saint Masters. Now that he had passed the bottleneck combined with the assistance of the azure and violet Sword Spirits that could destroy Saint Weapons, Earth Saint Masters were no longer a concern for him.

“Very well then, I wish you all the best. The Gathering of the Mercenaries isn’t a place I should participate in. Although my strength has reached the Great Saint Master realm, it is will be along time until I am able to qualify for such an event. At the very least, I’ll accompany you to Mercenary City.” Ming Dong knew that as a Great Saint Master, he was not strong enough to participate. If he did, then he would only be sending himself to his death.

After that, Ming Dong left Jian Chen’s room, leaving him all alone to sit on his bed and focus on strengthening himself once more.

Suddenly, a knock on the door could be heard as a white robed middle aged man slowly walked into Jian Chen’s room–it was the patriarch of the Tianqin clan.

The moment Jian Chen saw the patriarch, he immediately stood up from his bed and cupped his hands in salute, “I greet the patriarch!”

The patriarch had a small smile on his face as he walked in before his eyes look at Jian Chen for a moment with a sudden stiffness. His eyes held a hint of shock as he couldn’t help but speak out with a startled voice, “It is no wonder Xiao Er admires you so much; not only is brother Jian Chen quite strong, but a genius at cultivation as well! Brother Jian Chen can’t be any older than twenty five, yet you’ve already made the breakthrough in such a short amount of time to become an Earth Saint Master, how terrifying!”

Jian Chen’s face didn’t have any shock on it, this discovery of the patriarch was to be expected. After making the breakthrough, his entire body had underwent a transformation that allowed Ming Dong and Qin Xiao who were both familiar with him to be able to detect a change. The extremely experienced patriarch would be able to spot it right away.

“Patriarch Qin is too kind, this one came across some luck, and thus was able to succeed.” Jian Chen bowed.

“Brother Jian Chen, since you’ve only just made the breakthrough, there is a unique presence surrounding your body after the transformation. As long as one is quite sharp sighted, they will be able to see it. This is not a good benefit for you during the Gathering of the Mercenaries.” Producing a small book in one of his hands, the patriarch said, “This is a method of hiding your presence. After you learn this method, then you will be able to hide your presence so that you will not seem like an Earth Saint Master. In fact, it will hide your entire strength. This will undoubtedly be a great help to you in Mercenary City, after all, every portion of strength hidden is another hidden trump card to be held.”

Upon seeing this book of a method on how to hide one’s presence, Jian Chen’s eyes gained a joyful light to them. With a word of thanks, he immediately took the book from the patriarch’s hands.

“Brother Jian Chen, we will be leaving in three days, so I’ll allow you to borrow it for three days. After that, please return it to me.” The patriarch smiled kindly without the arrogance of an honored elder.

Jian Chen nodded, “In three days, I will definitely return the book.”

The patriarch walked to a nearby chair to sit in with a look of hesitation. Then, he looked at Jian Chen, “Jian Chen. I originally came here with a request, might you listen to it?”

Hearing the hesitation in the patriarch’s voice, Jian Chen looked at him, “What matter might the patriarch have for me? As long as I have the ability to do it, then I will do my best to not shirk my duties.”

The patriarch became extremely serious as his eyebrows knit together in concern, “This task shouldn’t be of any difficulty to you, but if by chance Xiao Er comes across some trouble in the competition, I implore brother Jian Chen to do his best to rescue my son if need be.”

Hearing that, Jian Chen laughed, “Patriarch Qin doesn’t have to worry. Qin Xiao and I are like old friends. Even if the patriarch did not request this of me, I would still do it.”

“Is that right? Then I am relieved. Brother Jian Chen, please try to comprehend the hidden presence method quickly then. I will not disturb you any longer.” With a sigh of relief, the patriarch quickly departed from his room.

Three days quickly went by as Jian Chen was quickly woken up by Qin Xiao early in the morning. Then with Ming Dong, the three walked to the main courtyard.

By the time Jian Chen and the other two arrived, there was already plenty of people congregated together. Around half of the group were seventy year old elders that Jian Chen had never seen before. Right in front of them were four large flying type magical beasts perched nearby, from the look of things, these magical beasts were at the Class 3 Magical Beast level.

Flying type magical beasts were extremely rare treasures within the Tian Yuan Continent. Not only were flying magical beasts hard to capture, but not many people would dare try to tame them. Once the rider was in the air, their lives would be entrusted to the flying magical beast. If they were to go crazy thousands of kilometers in the air, then even an Earth Saint Master might not be able to survive.

“Could it be we are to sit on top of a flying magical beast? I’ve never rode on one before.” Upon seeing the four magical beasts, Ming Dong cried out with some excitement.