Chapter 344 Discussion and Departure

"A wandering practitioner?" Shaoke asked in a doubtful tone. "Are you thinking about starting a family? If we establish a family, we would become part of it too. Would you still resist them as you do now?" Shaoke paused briefly before continuing, "You've still got the military's backing; you can't really call yourself a wandering practitioner now. I don't understand, has the Empire always been cracking down on uncontrolled eighth-order practitioners? If they're suppressing you, is this passive resistance your only move?" As he spoke, Shaoke recalled events from his past and waved his staff around a bit frantically, while the roar of the giant beast in his meditation space suddenly echoed.

"I already left the Bloody Legion, so I've lost all support from the military now," the blue-robed mage said, her face went pale as she spoke, clearly remembering something bad. "What's the point of resisting? Don't forget, some families have had legendary professionals before. Who knows how long those legendary beings have been around? If we go after a family and their legendary being shows up, wouldn't we all just end up dead?" With that, the blue-robed mage fell silent.

"If they attack you, go destroy their territories. I don't think their merchant caravans or territories have eighth-order practitioners stationed there," Shaoke casually threw out an idea. "If you have to, team up and wreck a few small cities. Tell them if they attack you again, you'll just keep doing it."

"Destroy a few cities?" The blue-robed mage gave Shaoke a weird look. "If you do that, I think you'll never set foot in the Blue Feather Empire again—if you're even still alive." She added, "Because plenty of people have tried that before, and not one of them returned to this Empire. They've vanished from other empires too; I think they're completely gone from this world."

The blue-robed mage's words put Shaoke a bit at ease. He hadn't expected anyone else to have done this before, and apparently quite a few. That made him feel better that she wouldn't think he was too evil.

"They can't just completely vanish from this world," Shaoke said, turning to the grapevine and picking a bunch of grapes to hand to her. "There are always exceptions in the world. If over a hundred eighth-order practitioners destroyed hundreds of cities, I don't think they'd still dare to mess with you." He added, as if to drive the point home, "Even if they send ninth-rank or higher practitioners after you, by then you'd have already pulled it off and gotten out of the Blue Feather Empire."

"You don't get how powerful a tenth-tier professional is," the blue-robed mage said, touching her crown before adding, "With these ancient magical items, I might be able to take down an ordinary nine-rank professional, but against a tenth-tier being, I wouldn't stand a chance." She stressed, "Ten eighth-order practitioners like me couldn't even scratch a tenth-tier being."

"And they've got eleventh-order beings," the blue-robed mage said, her blue eyes looking lost. "Those terrifying beings are way beyond anything we can handle."

"Since they've got tenth-tier and above beings, wouldn't joining that fight be suicide? I don't want to die, not one bit," Shaoke said, slowly peeling a purple grape and tossing it into his mouth. "You should leave too. This fight, the way you described it, is way too dangerous." He tossed the rest of the grapes aside and stood up straight, looking at her.

"They won't send practitioners above tenth-tier into this fight," the blue-robed mage let out a sigh of relief. She then went into detail about fights between practitioners above eighth-order. "For nearly a thousand years, no tenth-tier beings have shown up in the Blue Feather Empire. Only during the destruction of the Esuoer Empire did practitioners above tenth-tier get involved."

"So, you're saying that even if those families have tenth-tier or above practitioners, they won't join the battle for the Fallen Imperial Capital?" Shaoke asked skeptically, looking at her. He'd just advanced to eighth-order practitioner and hadn't paid attention to this stuff. "Can you tell me why? I figure you'd know."

Shaoke's question just made the blue-robed mage shake her head bitterly. Finally, she said quietly, "I'm not qualified to know about those higher ranks." She then took a few steps closer to Shaoke.

"Every additional eighth-order practitioner increases our chances of victory," the blue-robed mage pleaded with Shaoke. "More importantly, I want to use your Death Gaze against those nine-rank professionals. Only your Death Gaze can lead ordinary eighth-order practitioners to hunt higher ranks." The blue-robed mage made no concealment, laying out her thoughts in detail.

"The Death Mage Corps won't allow such a thing," Shaoke said after thinking for a moment. "Those people were driven away before. Even if they return, the Death Mage Corps won't allow them to stay here." He pulled his cloak tighter and looked at her.

"I've already decided to leave here. I won't delay any longer," Shaoke said, finally declining the blue-robed mage's invitation. He gave her another bow and left the estate alone. He didn't try to persuade her further, knowing she wouldn't leave.

Shaoke's departure left the blue-robed mage feeling uneasy, but she didn't show it. Instead, she furrowed her brow under the grapevine, contemplating the coming battle. They couldn't afford to fail, or everything would return to how it was before. Rubbing her head, she returned to her room for meditation.

Leaving the estate, Shaoke wandered aimlessly through the streets. Unconsciously, he arrived at the estate he had purchased when he first came to the Fallen Imperial Capital. The original estate was gone, replaced by a massive stone tower hundreds of meters high. Practitioners and ordinary mercenaries passed in and out, while merchants gathered outside. After standing there for a while, Shaoke turned and left.

He sensed a mage in the tower probing him, and that probe, upon detecting he was a wandering eighth-order practitioner, showed clear hostility. This was the territory of the Death Mage Corps, and Shaoke had no power to vent any dissatisfaction here.

After wandering through the Fallen Imperial Capital for a day, Shaoke quickly flew back to the small hillock. There, he gathered some belongings, sat in meditation in his space, and the next morning, after breakfast, flew toward the Imperial Capital.

As he left, the blue-robed female mage didn't appear in the hillock, but he left her a letter telling her he was leaving. Then, with a heavy heart, Shaoke began his new journey, worried about the blue-robed mage's safety in the coming battle, but unwilling to stay and face it with her, as he felt he had more important things to do.

After flying slowly for two days, as night fell, Shaoke landed in a small town. Wrapping himself in an ordinary cloak, he went to the only inn in town for some food and water, resting there.

The inn wasn't too shabby, with many patrons—mostly tired locals drinking to relax. A few adventurers used their skills to hunt low-level magical beasts for extra money.

A young waiter had just brought Shaoke a small bucket of water when the worn wooden door opened again. A mercenary-like group entered: about five or six people, led by a young male mage, followed by a slender figure in a black cloak, and three low-level warrior-type practitioners.

The group caused some stir among the patrons; in this remote town, adventurers were rare, and today several had come, including a young mage. The locals were curious and awed—mages were mysterious beings to be feared, though that was partly due to their inexperience.

Under Shaoke's gaze, the young mage quickly ordered food and drink for his companions. The three warrior mercenaries enjoyed the cheap ale, while the mage and the cloaked figure, after seeing the ale, changed their minds and ordered water like Shaoke.

Shaoke cut a slice of poor-quality bread with a steel knife and washed it down with water. He had lost interest in the new group; he planned to rest here for the night, then leave quickly for the Imperial Capital, which was about seven or eight days' flight away, since he had been flying slowly.

"Perhaps we should return to the Imperial Capital. I think we won't gain anything here," one warrior mercenary said, gulping down meat. "We can't get good missions here. If this continues, we won't have enough gold to keep going." He looked at the young mage. "And we can't recruit new members."

His suggestion was supported by the other two warriors, but the young male mage just frowned, silently drinking water, as if he hadn't heard.

"Return to the Imperial Capital?" the cloaked figure asked doubtfully, in a clear female voice. "Then we might as well go to a big city—the chance of getting missions there is higher than in the Imperial Capital." She sighed and drank her water, also feeling frustrated.

"Head to the Fallen Imperial Capital," the young mage said after a long pause. "I've heard a large mercenary guild was established there. Merchants passing through the capital will recruit mercenaries there. Our chances are better than anywhere else." He glanced at Shaoke, who seemed the only other mysterious figure here.

"Does anyone here know about the Fallen Imperial Capital? We'll pay a silver coin for enough information," one mercenary said, standing up and tossing a Blue Feather Empire silver coin in his hand. Many patrons' eyes fixed on the shiny coin; it would sound nice when it hit the table.

Soon, some adventurers and locals offered what they knew, each receiving a silver coin for unique information. The innkeeper just smiled, knowing more but not interfering, to avoid cutting off the locals' income.

"Friend, do you have any news about the Fallen Imperial Capital?" the young mage asked, standing up and coming to Shaoke's table.

"What do you want to know?" Shaoke glanced at the young mage, thinking how young he was to be a wandering mage. He spoke calmly, gesturing for the mage to sit; he disliked standing conversations.

"Can you tell me about the security situation there?" the young mage asked, making a slight bow with an ancient spellcaster's gesture that Shaoke often used. "Are there really as many merchants as they say? Can a group like ours get missions there?"

As the mage spoke, the cloaked figure and the other three, with Shaoke's permission, joined the table and stared at him, hoping for different information than they'd already heard.

"The security there is good," Shaoke sipped his water. "Don't start fights in the city; even if you're in the right, patrols will kill you quickly." He recalled his time controlling the city, now feeling it was ridiculous.

He added, "It's where the most Blue Feather Empire merchants gather, with merchants from dozens of empires doing business. You can get missions, but I doubt you'll get high-reward ones." He shook his cup. "Fifth tier and below practitioners are too common there. But with effort, you might find decent work."

"I believe we can get good missions through our reputation and strength," the young mage said, gripping his staff, his face showing determination. He believed he could build this mercenary group up.

The group thanked Shaoke, who then shared more details about the Fallen Imperial Capital. Finally, he added, "If you really want to go, be careful. It might become dangerous soon."

The group looked surprised, and Shaoke sighed, feeling akin to the young mage, so he wanted to help. "If danger arises, go to the giant mage tower in the capital. You'll be safe there—no one can take your life within it." He ate the last bit of meat, threw a common gold coin to the innkeeper, and left into the night.

Shaoke's departure calmed the inn momentarily, then stirred it again. Patrons asked the innkeeper about him, but no one knew, leading to speculation.

"He might be a mage," the cloaked woman said, observing his leftovers. "Only mages could maintain such disciplined habits." She didn't add that Shaoke seemed indifferent to the young male mage.

After leaving, Shaoke walked a bit, then activated Flight, heading toward a nearby forest to camp.

He had just set up his tent when a cavalry unit arrived, drawn by the fire.

"Who are you? Why are you camping here? Do you have identification?" The unit split; some continued into town, while others surrounded Shaoke's tent, weapons drawn.

Shaoke ignored them. He could tell from their insignia that most were a noble family's cavalry, with a few military members. He had no interest in engaging.

"Adventurer, show your identification, or I can't confirm your identity," a young noble cavalryman said, riding closer, sword pointed at Shaoke.

"I think you should reconsider your rudeness once you know who I am," Shaoke said, adjusting his cloak. "No one dares to treat a mage so discourteously." He pointed to an open space. "Stand there."

When Shaoke declared himself a mage, the cavalrymen grew flustered, dismounted, and bowed. Shaoke produced a staff that ignited a Fire Snake, which traced a Six-pointed Star Magic Array in the air to prove his identity.

"Honorable mage, please forgive our rudeness," the sword-wielding cavalryman said nervously, fearing punishment.

Accepting his apology, Shaoke waved them away. They quickly led their horses toward the town.

Just as they left, Shaoke felt a powerful magical probe scan the area, locking onto him.

He abandoned his gear, activated Flight, and took to the air, ready for battle. The probe carried strong hostility, and its owner was clearly an eighth-tier mage.