Chapter 41: Ryan’s Hidden Network

"Master, it’s ready." Mira clapped her small hands excitedly, a joyful smile spreading across her face.

"It’s called the Gray Light Shield. It’s a minor divine ability that can block both vision and Mental Awareness from penetrating the shield and investigating what’s inside."

"As long as you don’t engage in combat, those below the upper three realms, including those at the Origin Ascendant Realm, won’t be able to easily see through your cultivation or appearance. The effect can generally last for half a day."

Ryan nodded thoughtfully.

Mira’s expression became slightly more serious.

"Of course, it’s fine to circulate Origin Energy around your body for basic defense. However, if you circulate your Origin Energy too forcefully and allow it to extend beyond the gray halo, your concealment will become less effective."

"Especially when you attack someone. If your Origin Energy extends beyond the range of the Gray Light Shield, others will be able to estimate your general cultivation based on the power you release."

She paused before adding, "So, if you want to remain concealed, Master, you should avoid fighting whenever possible."

Mira was secretly delighted.

The more Ryan used the Boundless Creation Furnace, the more frequently it could activate its Boundless Energy.

That would accelerate the repair of the damaged Furnace and gradually restore some of the powerful abilities it once possessed.

As for Mental Awareness leaving the body, that was an ability exclusive to those who had reached the Origin Spirit Realm.

Upon reaching the Origin Spirit Realm, a cultivator’s Mental Awareness would undergo a qualitative transformation, allowing it to break free from the confines of the body.

It could then be used for remote perception, long-distance exploration, remote control of Exotic Beasts, and various other remarkable applications.

The higher one’s cultivation realm, the greater the distance their Mental Awareness could travel and the stronger its investigative capabilities would become.

At even higher realms, Mental Awareness could even be materialized and used directly in combat.

"Okay."

Feeling the faint, mysterious gray radiance surrounding his body, Ryan smiled and nodded.

Then, without another word, he suddenly leaped toward the window.

WHOOSH!

His figure shot through the third-floor window.

Ryan was as light as a swallow. Just before reaching the ground, he lightly tapped the tips of his toes against the wall, instantly redirecting his momentum before landing steadily on the ground.

It was still early morning, and his family should be asleep.

There was no need to take the stairs and risk disturbing them.

Besides, he had purchased a large amount of food and other survival supplies the previous day. Even if he were away from home for a while, his family wouldn’t have to worry about running out of necessities anytime soon.

More importantly, after fusing with the C-Grade Top-Tier Overlord Body Bloodline Essence and advancing to the Origin Sea Convergence Realm, Stage Five, every aspect of his physical abilities had undergone a tremendous transformation.

Jumping ten or twenty meters was now effortless for him.

Soon, Ryan passed through the Maze Battle Array protecting Cole Manor and stepped onto the teleportation array.

WHOOSH!

Brilliant light flashed.

In the next instant, his figure appeared in the central courtyard of Winters Manor.

Ryan immediately lowered his presence and carefully avoided the attention of the manor’s staff as he made his way toward the exit.

Anyone capable of owning a residence in Winters Manor possessed considerable wealth and status.

The entire place could be described as a gathering of hidden dragons and crouching tigers.

Although the Gray Light Shield concealed his aura and appearance, given the current circumstances, keeping a low profile was still the safest choice.

Once he left Winters Manor, Ryan found himself beneath the gentle morning sunlight.

The air in Ashfall City was fresh and cool, and the early morning atmosphere put him at ease.

The streets were already becoming lively, with merchant carriages and various vehicles flowing continuously along the roads.

Ryan quickly hailed a Wind Wolf Express.

After paying one Low-Grade Origin Stone, he climbed into the carriage and instructed the coachman to hurry.

Only after awakening his Bloodline had Ryan truly realized just how valuable his time was.

Spending a single Low-Grade Origin Stone could save him a considerable amount of travel time.

In terms of efficiency, it was well worth the cost.

And so, Ryan settled comfortably inside the Wind Wolf Express.

During the journey, he occasionally closed his eyes and meditated, familiarizing himself with the newly acquired Overlord Body Bloodline.

At other times, he took out the various data scrolls and Record Stones he had purchased, continuously imprinting the vast amount of knowledge about the Crimson Expanse into his mind.

He gradually organized the information and deepened his understanding of Bloodline Fighters.

Whenever he grew tired of studying, he would pull aside the carriage curtain and casually observe the scenery and bustling life outside.

Looking at the people moving along the streets, Ryan couldn’t help but feel a little emotional.

He had never imagined that he would one day become a Bloodline Fighter.

For most of his life, he had thought he would remain a scavenger, spending his days sorting through garbage at the waste disposal site.

Yet now, he was sitting inside a luxurious and expensive Wind Wolf Express, traveling through the bustling streets of Ashfall City.

The change in his life had happened so suddenly that even Ryan sometimes found it difficult to believe.

Lost in thought, Ryan barely noticed how quickly the time passed.

Another hour or two slipped by.

As the Wind Wolf Express sped along the road, it unexpectedly passed near the slum district.

Ryan glanced through the carriage window.

The moment he saw the familiar surroundings, a strange feeling welled up in his heart.

This was the place where he had lived for twenty years.

Although he might never return here again, seeing it once more still stirred countless emotions within him.

Perhaps life was like a tapestry woven from countless journeys, each one leading to another.

When a person’s strength was weak, they could only drift with the current, allowing fate to determine where they would end up.

But when they became strong enough, perhaps they could finally seize control of their own destiny.

Ryan was still immersed in his thoughts when his enhanced senses suddenly detected something unusual.

His gaze swept across the surroundings. His expression subtly changed.

At the entrance to the slum district, several black-clad warriors were moving back and forth.

The aura they gave off was unmistakable. They were all Origin Sea Convergence Realm cultivators.

Ryan didn’t need to guess who they belonged to.

"Looks like the Sterling Family has already started investigating."

His heart tightened. He immediately turned his head away and pulled down the carriage curtain, doing his best to conceal both his gaze and aura.

At the same time, he urged the coachman to increase his speed.

The Wind Wolf Express quickly left the area behind.

After traveling for a while longer, Ryan finally arrived near his destination, the waste disposal site.

He jumped out of the carriage. The Wind Wolf Express immediately sped away, leaving a trail of dust behind.

Ryan turned toward the waste disposal site and was just about to walk over when his instincts made him stop.

He carefully scanned his surroundings once more. His expression immediately became serious.

There were several black-clad warriors near the entrance of the waste disposal site as well.

They were scattered around the area, some crouching nearby and others pretending to be ordinary passersby.

But their movements were far too deliberate. They were clearly monitoring the area.

"So they’ve already figured everything out." Ryan’s expression darkened. "The Sterling Family knows my usual movements almost as well as I do."

He immediately abandoned the thought of entering the waste disposal site.

"From now on, I absolutely can’t come here casually."

After a moment of thought, Ryan’s figure flashed. He quietly moved behind a large locust tree and waited.

The Gray Light Shield completely concealed his presence.

The nearby Sterling Family members remained completely oblivious to his arrival.

After waiting for some time, Ryan finally noticed a familiar figure approaching from the distance.

A dark-skinned young man hurried toward the area. Ryan’s gaze sharpened. He didn’t move immediately.

Instead, he waited patiently until the young man was only a few steps away from the locust tree.

Then...

WHOOSH!

Ryan suddenly reached out and grabbed his shoulder, pulling him behind the tree.

The young man was caught completely off guard.

"Who is it?! What are you..."

Before he could finish, Ryan quickly covered his mouth with one hand.

"Jake. Don’t shout. It’s me."

Hearing the familiar voice, the young man’s eyes widened.

Once Ryan was certain he had calmed down, he slowly removed his hand.

"Ryan?"

Jake stared at him in surprise. "What are you doing here? Are you okay?"

He lowered his voice as much as possible. "I went drinking with some friends last night and didn’t get home until very late. I had no idea what had happened until my mother told me."

A trace of worry appeared on his face. "So many things happened afterward. I was really worried about you."

He paused before suddenly remembering something. "Oh, right. Did you awaken your Bloodline?"

Jake also lived in the slum district, but he had happened to be out drinking the previous night.

By the time he returned home, Ryan and his family had already become involved in the conflict with the Sterling Family.

After learning what had happened from his mother, Jake immediately realized how serious the situation was.

He had even secretly gone to check on Ryan afterward.

But by then, the Cole family’s residence was already empty.

There were still numerous black-clad warriors patrolling the surrounding area, so Jake hadn’t dared to stay for long.

He could only sneak back home.

"I’m fine. Don’t worry."

Ryan felt a warm sensation in his heart when he heard the genuine concern in his friend’s voice.

However, given the circumstances, he didn’t dare reveal too much.

"Yes, I awakened my Bloodline by sheer luck. It’s a long story, so I’ll tell you everything when we have more time."

He paused and glanced toward the entrance of the waste disposal site.

"I’m looking for you because I need your help with something."

Jake immediately became serious. "What do you need?"

"From now on, I want you to help me collect waste pills and other discarded treasures from the waste disposal site."

Ryan lowered his voice. "If you can, find other people willing to help with the collection as well. You don’t need to mention my name. Just tell them you’re buying the discarded items yourself."

"I’ll purchase everything from you for two gold coins per piece." Ryan looked directly at Jake. "There will be no limit on the quantity. Bring me as many as you can find, and I’ll buy them all."

This was the solution Ryan had come up with after careful consideration.

With the Sterling Family watching the waste disposal site so closely, he could no longer enter the area himself to search for discarded items.

The safest option was to have Jake do it on his behalf.

As for the price, two gold coins per item was practically nothing compared with the value those waste pills could potentially provide him through the Boundless Creation Furnace.

To Ryan, it was an insignificant expense.

But to ordinary people living in the slums, two gold coins for a single discarded pill was an astonishingly generous price.

Give people an attractive enough reward, and they would naturally be willing to work for it.

Everyone earned money, while Ryan obtained the discarded materials he needed.

It was a simple arrangement. Ryan understood this principle very well.

Besides, if he continued appearing around the waste disposal site himself, he would eventually attract the attention of the Sterling Family’s scouts.

Even with the Gray Light Shield concealing his aura and appearance, repeatedly exposing himself was simply too risky.

For now, having Jake act as the middleman was the safest choice.