Chapter 3: Wanted (Part 1)

Luo Zhan said, “Your master has returned… uh, it’s Master Kumu from the Chenxiao Sect, not the old man… Huo Bao and the other three have gone back; they returned to their homes in Haicheng.”
Guo Shier relaxed and said, “You scared me. Did Master Kumu say anything?”
Luo Zhan replied, “No. He just told you to go to Haicheng as soon as possible. It seems he has something to discuss with you. I heard Senior Yan Long is there too; they’re all waiting for you to return.”
Xuan Ai said, “Shier, go ahead and take care of your tasks. I’ll come pick you up at the market once I’ve arranged everything.”
Guo Shier thanked her and said, “I’ll stay in Haicheng for about a month or two. If nothing goes wrong, I’ll take a break for a while.”
Xuan Ai understood his thoughts and couldn’t help but sigh. “Shier, you keep traveling… It’s better to rest in a safe place for a while. Long-term travel is very exhausting.”
Guo Shier smiled. “I guess I’m meant to work hard. I’ll travel more while I’m young. When I can’t travel anymore, I’ll find a place to rest. By then, I might join a sect.”
Xuan Ai nodded. She stopped trying to persuade him, knowing Guo Shier wouldn’t change his mind. “Okay, I’ll come find you in a few days.” She turned and went inside. Guo Shier took Luo Zhan and Ying Mo out of the courtyard and soon arrived at the square, where they boarded a flying vehicle to return to Haicheng.
As soon as he entered his courtyard, Guo Shier saw Kumu and Yan Long.
“Master, uncle, I’m back.”
Guo Shier sat down in front of them with a smile and asked, “Master, when did you return?”
Kumu glanced at Guo Shier from head to toe and said, “Shier, I’ve been back for a while, waiting for you.” He could hardly recognize Guo Shier—the tall and burly young man before him was still his quirky and clever disciple? The change was too great.
Guo Shier was wearing a light green silk robe, with a silver belt given to him by Monier. The collar was made of pure white silver fox fur. His long black hair hung down to his shoulders. His once youthful and gentle face now had sharp features, as if carved by a knife. There was a faint layer of hair on his lips, and the corners of his mouth were slightly raised, giving him a half-smiling look that made him very approachable and likable at first sight.
Yan Long said, “Your disciple is truly remarkable, Shier. How was your trip this time?”
Guo Shier smiled and said, “Uncle, it was fine. I have enough points to exchange for an inheritance, but I don’t plan to take that opportunity.”
Yan Long was surprised. “Why?”

Kumu said, “Don’t you like it? Well, I guess you don’t either…”
Guo Shier smiled and said, “It’s still the master who understands me, hehe.”
Yan Long couldn’t help but smile bitterly and said, “At least one can get some inheritance. If I don’t join a sect, I won’t even have a chance to inherit anything. There’s no need for such fuss.”
Guo Shier said, “It’s actually very simple for an elder master to join a sect. No sect would refuse the entry of a Great Sage Master.”
Yan Long said, “Without a identity proof from Haicheng, without this identity token, it’s really hard for us to join a sect. Even if we try, it might endanger the Chenxiao Sect… To join a sect, one needs an identity proof, and this kind of identity… is extremely difficult to obtain for professionals from the Intermediate Spell Continent.”
Only then did Guo Shier realize how much help Xuan Ai had given him. Thanks to Xuan Ai, he could continuously obtain identity proofs to survive on the Advanced Continent. Although it was just a proof for a wandering professional, it could eliminate many risks. Just like the smugglers in his previous life, having an identity allowed them to reside and work legally.
This was an invisible barrier for professionals from the Intermediate Continent to enter the Advanced Continent—a problem every professional entering the Advanced Continent had to solve. Therefore, professionals from the Intermediate Continent had to reach the level of Great Sage Master, so that even in case of emergencies, they could escape in time and save their lives.
On the Advanced Continent, experts at the Great Sage Master level were after all advanced professionals with certain self-protection abilities.
Guo Shier said, “With Haicheng as our base, we can let the experts from the Chenxiao Sect come and go at will. Hehe, it’s like we have our own exclusive passage.”
Yan Long nodded. After a while, he looked at Kumu and sighed, “You two, master and disciple, are really similar—neither of you wants to join a sect. But… I can’t. I really don’t have the energy to run around. Shier, I plan to join a sect.”
Guo Shier thought for a moment before blurting out, “Do you want to join Haimen?”
Yan Long nodded silently. Kumu said, “With Senior Brother Yan joining Haimen, your position will finally be secure. Shier, do you understand what we mean?”
If Guo Shier didn’t understand, it would be as if he had lived in vain in his previous two lives. He said, “I get it. It’s like a nail.”
Yan Long was stunned for a moment before laughing and saying, “A nail? That’s a good way to put it. Indeed, I am that nail! As long as I’m in Haimen, it will remain here. As long as we’re careful from now on, there won’t be any danger.”

Guo Shier felt a sense of emotion within himself. Having a sect behind him, even if it was just an ordinary sect on an intermediate continent, meant he had some support. As the senior elder of Chenxiao Sect, Yan Long would likely not even be able to obtain an elder position if he entered Xinxiji Continent and joined Haimen. In Haimen, at least one who was an intermediate Grand Sage could earn the title of elder.

However, a Grand Sage was after all a high-level professional. Even if they weren’t necessarily given important roles upon entering Haimen, they would still hold a certain status within the sect—unlike lower-level disciples who could be easily commanded. They would enjoy some freedom and respect.

Kumu said, “We plan to buy another estate outside Haicheng. Once Senior Brother Yan arrives, we’ll construct a teleportation array that first connects to a secret realm for transit, and then to the sect. This way, we can avoid the risk of being discovered directly.”

Yan Long nodded. “I’ve already submitted my application. Haimen will notify me soon. I’m joining Haimen as a wandering professional, so starting tomorrow, I’ll have to stay at an inn.”

Kumu nodded silently. Guo Shier understood that Yan Long wanted to distance himself from him temporarily, at least on the surface, to conceal his intention of joining Haimen.

Guo Shier asked, “Master, do you plan to cultivate on your own? No longer consider joining a sect?”

A stiff smile appeared on Kumu’s face as he said, “I don’t want to be constrained anymore. There are countless secret realms in this world, as well as countless fallen super experts. I already know how soul altars came about. So… as long as I find a suitable soul altar and obtain its inheritance… whether I join a sect or not is completely unimportant to me.”

Yan Long couldn’t help but say, “You know very well how difficult it is to find a soul altar that can pass on an inheritance.”

Kumu shook his head. “That’s because you haven’t traveled far enough. If you travel enough… you’ll surely find one suitable. Look at Shier—he encountered two soul altars. Although the first one only had a shell with little substance, he found the second one, a true ancient soul altar. The gains from that are beyond your imagination.”

Yan Long was also aware of Guo Shier’s experiences in the Bloody Secret Realm. He said with a wry smile, “I know. But how many people can have such opportunities and luck? Anyway, I no longer have such thoughts. Shier, do you have any other matters? Or any other ideas?”

Guo Shier said, “I’d like to ask Uncle for a favor.”

Yan Long nodded. “What is it?”

Guo Shier said, “Please take Huo Bao and the other three into Haimen.”
Yan Long replied, “There’s no problem with that. Well, maybe after entering a grand sect on the Advanced Continent, they can advance quickly. In about ten years, once they reach the rank of Mad Master, they’ll be able to follow you.”
At Beifu Gate, it was extremely difficult to even reach the rank of Master, let alone Mad Master. But in Haimen, it was different. In such a grand sect, as long as one didn’t have extremely poor potential, it was easy to reach the rank of Master. However, reaching Mad Master required better potential.
Huo Bao and the others didn’t lack potential; what they lacked was time. As long as they received proper guidance and trained diligently, they should be able to reach the rank of Mad Master soon.
The next day, Guo Shier and Ku Mu escorted Yan Long to the entrance of the courtyard, with Huo Bao and the others following behind.
Hong Shi said, “Shier, we’ll come to find you once we’ve advanced.”
Guo Shier nodded and said, “Shi Tou, Bao Zi, Chen Bing, Xiao Hong, stay in Haimen safely. Make friends, get familiar with everything here, and gather as much information as possible about other Advanced Continents. Once you reach the rank of Mad Master, we can go out and explore together.”
Huo Bao had grown into a tall young man, just one step away from becoming a Great Talisman Martial Artist. He said, “Shier, don’t worry. We will definitely keep up with you!”
Chen Hong had also grown into a graceful young woman. Her face turned slightly red as she said softly, “Shier, be careful yourself.”
Guo Shier replied, “Don’t worry. I’ll come back for you.” He took out several talisman bags and said, “These are materials from level-seven mutated talisman beasts, along with some talismans I’ve crafted. Keep them safe.”
Chen Hong took the talisman bags and said, “Thank you, Shier.”
Guo Shier then said to Yan Long, “Thank you, Uncle Master.” Since Huo Bao and the others were his followers, Yan Long was helping him take care of them, so it was only natural to express gratitude.
Yan Long replied, “Don’t mention it. Use message talismans if you need anything.” With that, he led the four of them out of the courtyard and vanished.
After watching them leave, Ku Mu said, “Shier, I have some news for you. Well, let’s go inside and talk.”
Guo Shier was surprised and said, “Okay, Master. Let’s go inside.”
The two went inside and sat down. Ku Mu sighed and said, “Shier, your former master… his name was Luo Jie, right?”
Guo Shier’s heart tightened as he nodded, “Yes.”

Withered Wood said, “I have some news about him. It’s not very clear; it’s just a rumor. Do you want to know?” He stared intently at Guo Shier, his expression still stiff.
Guo Shier replied without hesitation, “Yes!”
Withered Wood nodded and said, “This is a warrant symbol. Take a look. Well, it’s a warrant from a sect on the Advanced Continent. This is the first time I’ve seen something like this.”