The Invincible Young Master

The city was an unexpected oasis amidst the vast expanse of sand. Tall, sandstone buildings with intricately carved facades rose from the ground, their windows draped with colorful fabrics that fluttered in the warm breeze.

Leon landed just outside the city gates and made his way inside, blending seamlessly with the crowd. His eyes scanned the surroundings, taking in the lively market stalls and the cheerful chatter of the townsfolk. The streets were filled with people, vendors calling out their wares, and the rich aroma of spices wafting through the air.

He found a small tavern nestled between two larger buildings and pushed open the door, the cool interior a welcome relief from the desert sun.

Inside, the tavern was dimly lit, with wooden tables scattered about and a bar at the far end. The smell of roasted meat and fresh bread filled the air, and Leon's stomach growled in response. He approached the bar and took a seat, the bartender giving him a nod of acknowledgment.

"What'll it be?" the bartender asked, wiping down the counter.

"A drink and some food," Leon replied, glancing around the room. "Whatever you have that's good."

The bartender nodded and disappeared into the back, returning a few moments later with a mug of ale and a plate of steaming food. Leon took a long drink, savoring the cool liquid, then dug into the food with enthusiasm.

Finishing his meal, Leon paid the bartender and stood up, stretching his limbs. He felt refreshed and ready to continue. As he stepped outside, the sun was already beginning to set, casting long shadows across the city.

"Time to move on," he muttered to himself, taking to the sky once more.

Just as he was about to leave the desert city, a commotion ahead caught his attention, piquing his curiosity. A crowd had gathered in front of a large building marked by a prominent sign that read [Guild Hall].

Leon was taken aback to find a guild hall in this otherwise deserted city. Typically, guild halls are where mercenaries undertake tasks and earn their keep. Leon himself had accumulated a significant amount of gold by completing various menial tasks at guild halls in his hometown. While such establishments are common in most cities, encountering one in this arid region was somewhat unexpected.

He saw the crowd was focused on a tall notice board in front of the guild hall, where numerous tasks were displayed However, only one task seemed to have captured everyone's attention. The reason was clear—a massive reward of ten thousand gold coins per person.

The requirement for participants was strict: they either needed to be experienced mercenaries with more than ten years of experience or have reached the Soul Tempering stage.

"Tsk, what's with the requirement?" one of the mercenaries grumbled, staring at the noticeboard.

"How could a pie fall from the sky?" mocked his friend beside him.

"This is normal, considering the reward placed," added another.

On the notice board, all the other tasks offered rewards ranging between fifty to a hundred gold coins. The reward of ten thousand gold seemed almost unreal if not for the stamp from the city lord himself.

"It has been a week since the notice was placed. I wonder if anyone joined?" muttered one onlooker.

"There might not even be one Soul Tempering stage expert in the city, so it's unlikely," replied another.

"Well, maybe a few of those old bones joined with their decades of experience."

Leon watched from the side, staring at the notice board with a gleam in his eyes. He couldn't help but mutter, "Ten thousand gold…"

"You brat!" scowled his master, Merlin, from the depth. "How could my disciple be this greedy?"

"But master, ten thousand is ten thousand." Leon couldn't take his eyes off the noticeboard. "And we need funds too; after all, I gave away most of my savings."

"Hah! Do whatever you want."

"But what is this task about?" Leon had not read the notice, only seen the reward. Shifting his gaze to the notice, he saw the bold letters:
Your source is m-vl|em|p,yr

[This will be a joint task. Those who meet the requirements may visit the guild hall within the given period. The details of the task will be explained there.]

"Oh, today is the last date," Leon noticed. "I guess I'll join."

He entered the large guildhall behind the notice board, and as soon as he did, he was greeted by a wave of hot air and a palpable heaviness.

Countless gazes fixed on him, predatory and assessing. He looked around to see people of various shapes and sizes carrying weapons, while he appeared tiny and weak without a weapon on him.

Unbothered by their stares, Leon headed toward the reception desk. A lady on the other side greeted him with a professional smile.

"How can I help you?" she asked.

"I want to participate in a joint task," Leon stated.

"There are no low-ranked joint tasks available," the receptionist replied.

"I saw a notice with a ten thousand gold reward on the board," Leon clarified.

"Oh, that task is reserved for those who meet the requirements only," the lady explained.

"I should meet one of the requirements. I am a Soul Tempering stage expert," Leon revealed, carefully hiding his true strength of Astral Bloom stage as his master had cautioned him to keep his true strength hidden at all times.

Seeing Leon's youthful appearance, the lady seemed skeptical. "Can you show us your ID or any sort of proof?"

It was common for ascendants to register themselves in guild halls, providing their name and stage. In many cases, such an ID would grant them privileges unavailable to most people.

"I don't have an ID, but I can show you proof," said Leon, raising his index finger. Suddenly, the air around the building became hotter, and a small ball of flame revolved around Leon's finger. "This should be enough proof."

"Yes, yes," the receptionist replied hurriedly, sorting out a paper for him. It was common knowledge that once an ascendant reached the Soul Tempering stage, they could manipulate the energy around them at will and manifest a natural element as Leon did.

The receptionist asked only for his name and a few minor details. It didn't take long for him to register for the task.

"Sir Leon," the receptionist called her tone now respectful. "I've registered your name for the task."

"Please take this," she handed him a small token—a task badge. "You can return here tonight for the meeting."

"Meeting?" Leon asked.

"Yes," she nodded.

"I guess I can wait till the night," Leon said, looking around for an empty seat. He found one and sat down.

Those who had been observing Leon had seen everything with their own eyes. Seeing that he was an ascendant of the Soul Tempering stage, their thoughts changed, and no one bothered to disturb him.