The King Of Warriors novel (Jared Chance) novel Chapter 5634

An hour of steady trekking brought them to a secluded valley where the wind fell quiet and raw cliffs muffled distant chatter.

Here, cultivators were scarce—only a few solitary figures sifted through rubble, their movements slow, methodical, tired.

Sylvia glanced around, then spoke softly. "Mr. Chance, let's rest here and listen for rumors while we can."

Jared had already reached the same conclusion. He still needed a lead on the whereabouts of the elusive Celestial King.

They found a narrow cave half-hidden behind thorny brush. Sylvia raised a simple sound-dampening array; the air inside settled into hushed stillness.

"Wait for me here," Jared said, keeping his voice gentle. "I won't be long."

Concern flickered across Sylvia's eyes. "Where exactly are you going?"

"Just scouting for information," he replied with an easy smile. "I'll be back before the incense burns down."

With that small promise, Jared slipped out of the cave and into the paling daylight, footsteps light against moss and stone.

He did not venture far. A middle-aged rogue cultivator rested on a slab of granite nearby, shoulders slumped, breath uneven with fatigue.

Dust streaked the man's rough travel cloak; his eyes were half-closed, as though every muscle ached from days of fruitless searching.

Jared approached and offered a courteous nod. "Fellow cultivator, a moment of your time, please."

The man straightened, wariness flashing. "What do you want?"

"I'm Jared Chance—new to this territory. I'm hoping you can help me with a question or two."

As he spoke, Jared produced a high-grade celestial gem, its pale light catching the rogue's hungry gaze.

Greed flickered and quickly hid behind false dignity. "Ask," the man said, forcing composure. "If I know the answer, it's yours."

"Many thanks," Jared replied, offering a respectful dip of his head.

"Have you heard whether a Celestial King from the Celestial Palace—one who stands at the level eight—has arrived in these ruins recently?"

The rogue cultivator blinked, puzzled, then shook his head. "Can't say I have. But plenty of major figures are crawling around here. The great sects of the level eight have each sent their own."

It was the black-robed cultivator he had met at the mountain's base earlier that day, the one whose stare had crawled across his skin.

The man noticed Jared as well. Malice flashed like a knife behind his eyes, but he pivoted and melted into the passing crowd.

Jared's lips curved in a chill, knowing smile. So, someone has decided I'm worth following.

He brushed off the notion. Unless the spy was a Heavenly Immortal Realm expert—and few were—he could handle whatever came.

He slipped back into the narrow limestone cave. Sylvia sat cross-legged in the glow of a spirit lamp, aura steady as falling snow.

The moment his foot scuffed the stone, her eyes opened—clear, alert.

"Mr. Chance, have you uncovered anything?" Sylvia asked, her voice soft yet edged with expectation.

"A few threads, nothing concrete yet. I still need to verify them."

"Ms. Vale, when do we seek the entrance to those ruins?" he asked.