After receiving the system mission, Kael, Brown, Woo-Jin, and Flow continued investigating the region surrounding Backwater Town.
Backwater Town was located within the territory of the Azure Cloud Province, a land controlled by numerous cultivation forces. Powerful organizations such as the Heavenly Lotus Sect, Black Moon Sect, Crimson Spear Pavilion, Nine River Alliance, and Jade Phoenix Sect frequently competed for resources and influence.
Beyond the sects existed ancient cultivation families. The Jin Family specialized in formations and spiritual commerce. The Zhang Family controlled lightning cultivation techniques. The Okafor Family, originally from the southern regions, possessed powerful body-refinement arts. The Nakamura Family excelled in sword intent, while the Kim Family was famous for illusion techniques.
Cultivators across Inter-Galaxy followed a structured path:
Body Tempering → Qi Gathering → Foundation Establishment → Spirit Core → Earth Soul → Heaven Soul → Saint Realm → Divine Realm → Celestial Realm
Each realm was divided into Early, Middle, Late, and Peak stages.
Although Kael possessed overwhelming abilities from other worlds, he had never truly fought experienced cultivators before.
As they approached the hidden bandit encampment, Kael remained cautious.
Instead of rushing forward, he activated the System Analysis.
Thousands of combat simulations appeared before his eyes.
Victory Probability: 99.4%
Victory Probability: 99.1%
Victory Probability: 99.7%
Despite the favorable outcomes, Kael continued studying the battlefield.
Most experts died from arrogance rather than weakness.
Flow, now appearing in her elegant half-human form with silver-black hair and glowing insect-patterned markings, suggested another solution.
"Master, your transformation abilities can deceive them. Why not infiltrate the camp instead?"
Kael considered the idea.
Before he could answer—
A terrifying groan suddenly echoed from beside him.
Brown doubled over.
Veins of unstable spiritual energy spread across his skin.
The noise became so loud that even Kael's sound-canceling barrier struggled to suppress it.
Kael's expression changed instantly.
Without hesitation, he summoned Brown into the Tamer Park Space.
Unfortunately...
It was already too late.
Several bandit scouts had discovered their hiding place.
"Enemies!"
"Surround them!"
"Capture them alive!"
Dozens of cultivator bandits rushed forward.
The Bandit Valley Gang was far stronger than ordinary criminals.
Every member was a cultivator.
Bandit Leader: Kang Min-Ho
Realm: Peak Spirit Core
Abilities:
• Blood Saber Art
• Crimson Qi Burst
• Killing Intent Domain
Vice Leader: Zhang Wei
Realm: Late Spirit Core
Abilities:
• Thunder Step
• Lightning Palm
• Storm Chains
Vice Leader: Musa Okoro
Realm: Late Spirit Core
Abilities:
• Iron Body Technique
• Earth Shattering Punch
• Stone Skin Defense
Elite Members:
Kenji Sato, Liu Feng, Choi Hyun-Soo, David Carter, Kofi Mensah, and Akira Takeda.
Each possessed Foundation Establishment or Spirit Core cultivation and specialized combat techniques.
Recognizing the danger, Kael immediately summoned another contracted servant.
The Flame Demon.
A massive infernal being erupted from a flaming portal.
The battlefield exploded into chaos.
For the first time, Kael fought numerous cultivators simultaneously.
The battle was far more difficult than expected.
Cultivators possessed spiritual techniques, movement arts, domains, and weapon intent unlike the monsters he had previously encountered.
However, every battle increased Kael's experience.
The system continuously rewarded him.
New Combat Understanding Acquired.
Skill Enhancement Successful.
Combat Adaptation Increased.
Qi Resistance Increased.
Sword Mastery Improved.
By the end of the battle, the Bandit Valley Gang was completely destroyed.
Mission Objective:
Secure Backwater Town from Bandit Attack.
Status: Complete.
Meanwhile, Woo-Jin and Flow assisted Kael in locating several evil spirits hidden throughout the surrounding region.
After a series of difficult confrontations, Kael successfully subdued all required spirits.
The System immediately revealed the official Spirit Ranking System.
Spirit Ranks:
Rank 1 — Wandering Spirit
Rank 2 — Restless Ghost
Rank 3 — Malicious Apparition
Rank 4 — Vengeful Spirit
Rank 5 — Superior Spirit
Rank 6 — Elite Spirit
Rank 7 — Nightmare Spirit
Rank 8 — Catastrophe Spirit
Rank 9 — Calamity Spirit
Rank 10 — Evil Spirit
Rank 11 — Demon Spirit
Rank 12 — Ancient Spirit
Rank 13 — Sovereign Spirit
Rank 14 — Divine Spirit
The twelve spirits Kael tamed were:
1. Whispering Widow
2. Hollow Child
3. Black Lantern Ghost
4. Screaming Bride
5. Bone Collector
6. Mist Walker
7. Blood-Eyed Crow Spirit
8. Forgotten Soldier
9. Gravekeeper Naru
10. Silent Executioner
11. Frost Wraith
12. Moonshade Specter (Superior Spirit)
The system began preparing mission rewards.
However, Kael ignored them.
A new notification appeared.
Warning.
Contracted Entity: Brown
Status: Critical
Qi Compatibility Failure Detected.
Immediate Stabilization Required.
Kael's heart sank.
Without wasting a second, he teleported back to his estate.
There, Queen Seraphel rested peacefully within the spiritual gardens, continuously absorbing the world's abundant qi.
Kael quickly explained Brown's condition.
Across from the estate stood a famous cultivation merchant known as the Jin Spiritual Exchange Hall.
The business belonged to the powerful Jin Family.
Ordinarily, only nobles, sect members, and cultivators were permitted to trade there.
Commoners were rejected immediately.
Although Kael was a noble in his former world, nobody here knew that.
Even so, he decided to try.
To his surprise, everything proceeded smoothly.
When Kael presented an S-Rank sword previously awarded by the system, the woman behind the counter nearly lost her composure.
Her name was Jin Mei-Ling.
The moment she inspected the weapon, her eyes widened.
"This is no ordinary treasure."
"This is a Divine Treasure."
Within moments, she exchanged the weapon for two thousand spirit stones.
The entire exchange hall erupted into whispers.
Many people secretly memorized Kael's appearance.
Kael immediately understood.
The Jin Family had noticed him.
Still, none of that mattered.
Brown's life came first.
After returning home, Kael asked the system for guidance.
The system provided instructions for a Spirit Absorption Formation.
Using spirit stones, formation flags, and spiritual veins beneath the estate, Kael constructed the formation in the back garden.
For seven full days, Brown remained within the formation.
Massive amounts of spiritual qi flowed into his body.
Slowly, his unstable condition began stabilizing.
During that week, the Jin Family secretly dispatched several spies to investigate Kael.
Unknown to them, Queen Seraphel had already awakened.
Using her immense spiritual power, she deployed a powerful concealment barrier around the estate.
Every spy sent by the Jin Family either became lost, confused, or failed to discover anything meaningful.
Within the shadows of Inter-Galaxy, powerful families had begun noticing Kael's existence.
And far away, hidden forces even greater than the Jin Family had already started watching.