Chapter 492 - 354: The Amazing Indians (Part 2)

Ian sat down in the guest’s seat. Gaga perched on his shoulder, its small eyes scanning the room.

"This is Aditya, a descendant of the Celestial God and one of the Indian Guardians."

Bascara introduced, gesturing toward the bald, muscular man. Aditya lifted his eyelids and glanced at Ian.

His gaze was level, but a hint of disdain was hidden in the depths of his eyes.

"And this is Shomia, Daughter of the Moon God, and also a Guardian." The withered old woman nodded slightly, white powder flaking from her face.

Ian’s expression was wooden. He gave a slight nod, a minimal acknowledgment.

With the introductions over, the banquet officially began.

Maids brought out various dishes: meat charred black, curry that was a mushy mess, and a soup that gave off a strange odor.

Ian didn’t touch his chopsticks. Gaga was even more direct, burying its small head in its wings in a clear gesture of refusal.

"Mr. Yin, is the food not to your taste?" King Samit asked, his face wreathed in a smile.

"Let’s not waste everyone’s time," Ian replied coolly. "Get straight to the point."

King Samit’s expression stiffened, but he quickly recovered. "Of course. Mr. Yin is truly a man of action."

He clapped his hands, and the maids cleared away the food, replacing it with drinks.

"The locations of the seven Rifts have been marked. Which one does Mr. Yin plan to start with?"

"Whichever is closest." Ian took the proffered map, glanced at it casually, and set it down.

Bascara said, "I wonder how many men Mr. Yin will require for assistance?"

"None." Ian looked at Bascara. "I will go in alone. You just need to stand guard outside."

"But..." Bascara hesitated. "Mr. Yin, the situation inside a Rift is complex and dangerous. What if..."

"There is no ’what if,’" Ian interrupted him. "I’ll say it again: no one is to follow me inside."

His voice was calm, leaving no room for negotiation.

The banquet hall fell silent for a moment. Aditya snorted coldly, raised his cup, and drained it in one gulp.

Shomia’s narrow eyes narrowed further, but she said nothing.

King Samit gave a dry laugh. "Since Mr. Yin is so confident, we shall do as you say."

"Come, drink up, drink up!"

The banquet continued, but the atmosphere never returned to what it was before.

Ian didn’t touch his chopsticks or drink for the entire duration, simply sitting silently like a statue.

Gaga went a step further, closing its eyes and pretending to sleep.

「An hour later.」

The awkward banquet concluded, and Ian was led to a "luxurious" palace to rest.

It was called a palace, but in reality, it was just a larger room with gold foil on the walls, gemstones embedded in the windows, and a carpet so thick your ankles sank into it.

But upon closer inspection, one could see cobwebs in the corners, and the faint smell of body odor still lingered in the air.

"Gaa, this place..." Gaga flew down from Ian’s shoulder and landed on a table.

It tapped its small claws on the tabletop. "It’s dirtier than the stinking marshes of the Shadow World."

"It’s just for one night. We won’t be coming back after this."

Ian took out a few pieces of Blood Essence for Gaga to eat, then sat down cross-legged and began to rest through Meditation.

Meditation was impossible in the Profound Yellow World due to its lack of Magic Power, but it could still restore one’s Spiritual Power.

At that moment, his Spiritual Power silently spread out, enveloping this floor of the palace. Finding nothing unusual, it continued to expand outward.

It passed through walls, through corridors, through courtyards, and finally stopped outside the King’s bedchambers.

"Bascara, what do you think of that Mr. Yin’s... strength?"

King Samit’s voice was slurred with drink.

"Unfathomable," Bascara answered, his tone grave. "I can’t see through him at all."

"Hmph. Just putting on an act," Aditya snorted.

"I think he’s only acting so arrogant because he’s relying on some kind of Secret Technique."

"A Secret Technique?" Shomia spoke, her voice hoarse.

"What kind of Secret Technique could allow someone to complete the Purification of over a hundred Rifts in three months?"

"Well..." Aditya was at a loss for words.

"Whatever Secret Technique it is, now that he’s in our Indian territory, he has to play by our rules."

King Samit said, "We’ve already paid half the reward. As for the other half... we’ll see after he finishes the Purifications."

For some reason, Bascara’s heart suddenly tightened. "Your Majesty means..."

"Once he’s finished with the Purifications, we’ll just say the treasury is empty and we can’t produce that many Source Crystals at the moment."

A cold smirk appeared on King Samit’s face. "Stall for a year or so. Is he really going to stay in our Indian kingdom forever?"

"Treating a Legend like this could lead to huge trouble..." Bascara tried to say more.

"Relax, there won’t be any trouble," Samit interrupted him. "Just do as I say."

The bedchambers fell silent.

Ian waited a moment longer. When no one else spoke, he withdrew his Spiritual Power.

Deep within his pupils, a five-colored Star Orbit slowly rotated.

"As expected... this is just how the minds of these Indian people work," he muttered to himself. "Greedy and foolish."

Gaga lifted its head, its small eyes flashing with anger. "Ian, are they trying to stiff us?"

"Yes."

"Then let’s just go back! We won’t help them with their Rift Purifications!" the little creature fumed.

"Don’t be hasty." The corner of Ian’s mouth curved into a slight arc.

"Why shouldn’t we help? It’s even better if they refuse to pay after the Purifications are done."

His voice was light, but a frigid glint flashed in his eyes. Gaga shuddered and fell silent.

「The next morning.」

Bascara personally led the way to a location thirty kilometers outside Delria City.

There was a Level Four Rift here, surrounded by stationed troops. The soldiers’ faces were pale, their eyes filled with fear.

They only calmed down slightly upon seeing Bascara.

"Mr. Yin, this is the place," Bascara said, pointing at the Rift.

"Do you need me to send men..."

"No need." Ian cut him off and strode toward the Rift.

Gaga perched on his shoulder, its small eyes scanning the surroundings. "Ian, we’re being watched."

"I know. Let them."

Without breaking his stride, Ian walked directly into the Rift, and the mist swallowed his figure.