355 Fragile Vessel

I woke up to the sound of jostling and raised voices. The hum of the flying ship’s engines was steady beneath me, like a soft growl in the belly of the beast. When I opened my eyes, the world was a blur of movement with travelers pressing toward the deck, clouds drifting lazily beyond the open hatches, and sunlight spilling through the metallic veins of the hull.

I yawned, stood, and stretched until my spine popped. My hand went to my waist. The black iron sword was still sheathed there, plain but serviceable. My iron storage ring glinted dully as I brushed it with Divine Sense. Inside were the bare essentials: rations, some spirit stones, and a modest pile of mortal coin.

I sighed. “So this is what ‘living humbly’ feels like,” I muttered.

It wasn’t all bad. After all, I wasn’t truly alone… I could still sense my other bodies, each moving through the world with their own purpose. But this body, my Human Soul clone, was fragile and unrefined. Martial Tempering Realm. The lowest of the low. I could die from tripping off a cliff if I wasn’t careful. Worse yet, I felt weak, hungry, and mortal in all the wrong ways.

Still, that was the point of this training. It was to understand the foundation I was yet to fully comprehend. I couldn’t rely on flashy skills or quintessence here. For now, I would limit myself to Divine Sense and the TriDivine skill.

A booming voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

“Alright, listen up, you sorry bunch!” barked the captain from the upper deck. He was a thick-armed man with a short beard and a voice like a thunderclap. “Form a line and don’t push! Anyone making trouble will be handed straight to the border guards… and believe me, they love teaching manners to unruly travelers!”

Grumbles followed, but everyone obeyed. No one wanted to test his threat. I shuffled into line with the rest. The ramp creaked as it unfolded from the ship, descending toward the floating port below.

“Move it, move it!” the captain called again, waving a clipboard. “I’ve got a shipment to deliver to Grayveil before dusk! If you folks don’t hurry, you’ll be sleeping here… and I don’t serve breakfast!”

That got people moving. Travelers hurried down the ramp in clumps, muttering thanks or curses as they went.

I followed suit, stepping off the floating ship and feeling the solid ground beneath my boots again. The border city was bustling. Floating lanterns bobbed along the street, and the air smelled of steamed buns and alchemical oil.

I wandered through the crowd for a while, scanning street signs. Eventually, I stopped a man hauling crates. “Excuse me,” I asked, keeping my tone polite. “Could you tell me where the Adventurer’s Guild is?”

He blinked at my green hair but pointed down the street. “Two turns east, then follow the road until you see the tavern with the sword-and-wings sign. Can’t miss it.”

“Thanks,” I said, bowing slightly before heading off.

The directions were spot-on. After a few turns, the familiar sight of an Adventurer’s Guild came into view, though “familiar” was more emotional than literal. The structure was two stories tall, half tavern, half administration hall. A wide terrace with tables and benches sprawled in front, filled with laughing adventurers eating breakfast or polishing their gear.

Through the double doors, I could see the main counter dead center, a board of job postings to the right, and stairs leading to upper rooms. It wasn’t so different from the guilds in LLO. The nostalgia hit me like a warm breeze.

Dave’s memories stirred faintly in my mind from the thrill of taking quests and the camaraderie of strangers turned allies. I smiled and joined the line of new registrants, ignoring the stares.

Right. My hair. Bright green probably wasn’t doing me any favors. Dark or brown hair dominated this part of the world. I’d picked green because it was my favorite color, and nothing more. Though according to local superstition, unusual hair color meant a special bloodline or a unique essence. Nonsense. I was just an outlier… or, in their eyes, a weirdo.

Still, it made people stare.

The line inched forward. I could hear bits of conversation of someone bragging about slaying a forest boar, and another complaining about mission pay. It was strangely grounding, listening to them.

That was when it happened.

A large man in battered bronze armor shoved past me, reeking of sweat and alcohol. He had the kind of swagger that came from never being told “no” in his life.

“Outta the way, kid,” he growled, moving right in front of me in line. His shoulder brushed mine hard enough to sting.

Was… was this guy serious?

Of course, I was pissed. The big guy just cut in line! I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to stay calm. I took a deep breath. Out of habit, I sent a wisp of Divine Sense toward him.

His dantian flickered in my perception with fourteen small, spinning stars. Second Realm, Mind Enlightenment. Within the Four Great Attributes, the stars reflected one’s level of mastery over the body, mind, will, and spirit. This guy wasn’t weak. For a Martial Tempering runt like me, he could easily be a ‘small hill’ I have a hard time climbing.

I looked behind me. The others in line were mostly first and second realm, too, with no one above the Third. I sighed. Picking a fight here would be idiotic. I should just let it go. “Be tolerant, Da Wei. Be civil. You’re supposed to be learning restraint.”

That’s what I told myself.

But then the brute snorted. “What? You got a problem, kid?”

That did it.

“No shit, I’m not,” I muttered under my breath, and before I could stop myself, I kicked the back of his knee using Divine Might. “Someone has to teach you a lesson, you line-cutter!”

A satisfying crack followed as the man dropped to one knee with a grunt. The onlookers froze. I didn’t give him a chance to recover. Even in this fragile body, I still had technique and advantage in sheer power.

He started to turn, bellowing, “You fucking dare—” while swinging his iron mace backward. His movement was clumsy and unbalanced from my earlier strike.

“You should’ve fallen in line,” I said calmly.

He’d already drawn his weapon first, which meant, by Guild law, he was “marked.” I could act freely now.

I inhaled sharply and invoked a hybrid skill:

Divine Sense + Divine Speed.

The world slowed to syrup. My body blurred. My heel struck his wrist. It was a clean, sharp jab that made his mace arm tremble violently. Before he could scream, my hand chopped into the side of his neck, and my knee came crashing up into his jaw.

A dull thud echoed. The big man’s eyes rolled white as he slumped backward, collapsing like a sack of potatoes. He’d be out cold for at least five minutes.

Gasps and murmurs spread around us.

As expected, the air grew heavy.

“Stop right there!”

A squad of Guild Guards stormed in from both sides of the hall, their boots thundering against the wooden floor. Each one carried a halberd gleaming with faint runic inscriptions. The nearest guard pointed the tip of his weapon at me, his voice sharp.

“You! Martial Tempering cultivator with green hair, stand down!”

Another barked, “Weapons on the floor! Hands where we can see them!”

The crowd shuffled back, making a wide circle around us. I could feel their judgmental stares. ‘Great. I’d just caused a public scene on my first day.’ Still, I didn’t panic. I wasn’t so reckless as to pick a fight without a safety net.

Slowly, I raised my hand to reach into my storage ring. With a flicker of Divine Sense, I retrieved a small, golden plaque engraved with the mark of a dragon entwined with a sword.

Holding it up, I spoke loudly and clearly, letting my voice carry across the hall.

“Stand down! I am a friend of the Adventurer’s Guild, bearing the rank of Special Inspector!”

The guards hesitated, exchanging uncertain glances.

“I’ve come here to register as an adventurer,” I continued, lowering my tone slightly but keeping the edge in my words. “And to officially begin my duties.”

All around me, adventurers whispered among themselves.

The captain of the guard finally stepped forward, his expression stiff as he examined the plaque. His eyes widened slightly when he recognized the symbol stamped on its back. It was the personal seal of Tao Long, one of the Seven Warlords and acting Guild Master.

He exhaled slowly, shoulders relaxing. “Understood, Special Inspector,” he said at last, bowing his head slightly. “Our apologies for the misunderstanding.”

The “Special Inspector” rank was something Dave had created back when he was the master of the Adventurer’s Guild. It was a rank reserved only for his most trusted allies, including powerful adventurers and important staff members. To know the system still existed after he left brought me no small comfort. When I’d asked Tao Long for the plaque, he didn’t even hesitate to send it my way.

That plaque was my lifeline now. Still, I knew it was suspicious, so I had to be careful. A man who looked like a fresh adventurer, carrying the authority of a guild inspector? It wasn’t something people saw every day.

The captain of the guard cleared his throat and turned to the gathered crowd. “Everything’s fine,” he announced, raising a gloved hand. “There’s no problem here. This man is cleared by the Guild authority. Everyone, return to your business.”

A wave of murmurs followed, but people quickly scattered, losing interest once no fight was in the air. The downed brute, who’d started this whole mess, groaned awake only to find himself being dragged away by two guards. His angry curses faded as they threw him out through the main door.

I exhaled quietly, relief flooding my chest. “Crisis averted. Good. Maybe this body won’t get beaten to death on the first day.”

The line resumed moving. Eventually, I reached the front counter, a broad oak desk polished to a shine. Behind it sat a woman with auburn hair tied in a neat bun, wearing a dark blue vest with the Guild insignia stitched over her heart. She smiled with professional courtesy as she slid a parchment toward me.

“Please fill this out,” she said, her voice light but practiced. “Name, age, place of birth, branch guild, and cultivation realm. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.”

“I got it handled,” I replied, grabbing a brush. “Thanks.”

The parchment had neat boxes for each entry. I filled them out quickly:

Name: Wei Da

Age: 25 years old

Place of Birth: Riverfall, Yellow Dragon

Branch Guild: Holy Ascension Empire, Southern Borders

Cultivation Realm: Martial Tempering, Fifth Star

Of course, it was all a lie, except the Branch Guild.

The woman nodded once, checking each line carefully before stamping it with a sigil that shimmered faintly with spirit ink.

“Perfect,” she said with a small smile. “Now, before we proceed, let me explain the Guild’s structure. There are four standard ranks from Copper, Iron, Silver, and Gold. Each corresponds to the value of its metal, a symbolic reminder that our Guild was built in service to common folk, protect them from monsters, fulfill dangerous commissions, and explore the unknown.”

She paused briefly to ensure I was following along. I nodded, so she continued.

“Promotion is based on your growth, service record, and contribution to society. While cultivation level matters, it’s not the only factor. Every branch leader has their own standards for advancement. If you ever fail a promotion test, it doesn’t necessarily mean you lack skill. Instead, it might simply mean more time and contribution are required. Maintain a clean record, stay on good terms with local authorities, and avoid criminal actions. The Guild does not tolerate those who bring harm to civilians.”

Her tone carried a note of rehearsed warmth. It was polite but firm, like someone who’d given this same speech hundreds of times.

“Do you have any questions, Mr. Wei?” she asked.

“I’m fine,” I replied with a faint smile. “I understand perfectly.”

“Very well,” she said, stamping one more seal on my paper and sliding it back to me. “Congratulations, you’re officially a Copper-Rank Adventurer under the Holy Ascension Empire’s southern jurisdiction.”

I took the parchment and tucked it into my storage ring. Then I leaned slightly on the counter and asked, “One more thing. What kind of quests would you recommend for someone at my level, particularly one looking to travel beyond the Empire’s borders?”

Her eyes brightened. She reached under the counter, retrieving a smaller parchment booklet filled with listings. “If you wish to venture outside, I’d recommend starting with escort missions. They span longer durations, sometimes several months, and take you through multiple provinces, if not, continents! Not only are they safer for new adventurers, but you’ll also gain connections and experience along the way.”

She began flipping through the booklet, pointing out several options with her pen.

“There’s a merchant caravan heading to the Ironleaf Frontier in two weeks,” she said thoughtfully. “Another bound for the Salt Plains of Xu. Or, if you’re confident in your survival skills, a smaller expedition seeking protection through the Fangwood Route. All of them are listed as low to moderate danger for someone of your realm.”

I listened carefully, memorizing the routes and dates. It seemed like a good way to move quietly while still learning the flow of the outside world.

“Escort missions, huh…” I murmured, glancing at the parchment. “That sounds just about right.”

The woman smiled politely. “Then I suggest you rest well and register for one soon. Travel between borders can be unpredictable these days.”

I thanked her, stepping aside as the next adventurer took my place.