However, he didn't stop. This was not his goal. He gritted his teeth as he continued the painful process of cultivation.
His body was already drenched in sweat as his breathing had become strained. Yet he persisted. The bronze halo that had originally begun to dim began to increase its radiance once again.
It was a good thing that he was attempting this breakthrough in the blood star or else, the amount of light he was emitting would be enough to make him a beacon in the fog of the Misty mountains.
Creaking sounds could be heard from his body he was undergoing a complete overhaul internally. Energy was constantly flowing to his muscles and bones, strengthening them repeatedly.
Even his internal organs were no spared as they too underwent a wave of transformation.
This process continued for about an hour until his body finally reached a breaking point.
Adrian felt a barrier that seemed to be in the way of his body's enhancement. He knew that this was the barrier he would have to overcome.
Whether or not he would break through all depended on this moment.
******
Meanwhile, back at Stonehold City, silent undercurrents had begun rippling through the city.
Due to the beast tide, there had been a rapid influx of people into the city. This situation made it easy for the city to be infiltrated by the members of the demonic faction.
Multiple 'shady individuals' were able to bypass the security checks at the city gate and successfully enter the city.
In a tavern located on the outskirts of the city, the seats were packed as the patrons were enjoying their beers. Loud and boisterous laughter could be heard as the drinks flowed.
It was the typical atmosphere present in a tavern. Multiple conversations were taking place, making a rather unruly atmosphere.
In a dimly lit corner, four figures sat around a battered table. The hooded cloaks they wore were unremarkable enough to blend in, but there was something about them that set them apart from the rest of the tavern's patrons. A quiet tension.
"Esteemed guests, would you like a drink?" a soft voice broke through the quiet.
The waitress, a young woman with auburn hair tied back neatly, approached their table. She balanced a tray of tankards with ease, her plain brown dress and stained apron making her seem every bit the unremarkable tavern worker.
She smiled politely, her tone cheery. "Long road ahead, I'm guessing?"
One of the hooded figures looked up, his face impassive. "Something like that."
As she set the tankards down, her movements were smooth, practiced. But the man who spoke noticed the way her hand lingered for just a fraction of a second longer than necessary as she slid the last mug in front of him.
Beneath it, tucked against the warped wood of the table, was a small slip of parchment.
"Let me know if you need anything else," she said, her voice carrying the same polite cheer as before. She gave a small curtsy and walked off to tend to another table, leaving the man to subtly retrieve the note.
He unfolded the slip beneath the table, keeping his movements hidden. His sharp eyes scanned the short message written in tight, hurried script:
Target: Adrian Thorne
Possible location: Stonehold city
Status: Preferably alive
A quick glance was all it took for him to capture all the information written on the parchment.
With a subtle motion, he passed the parchment towards his silent compatriots. They all took a quick glance at it before the last member waved his hand, turning it into dust.
They all sat in silence for a few moments before one of the other members broke the silence.
"Well, now we know why the elders said this mission was very important. Who would have thought we would have the chance to hunt down the 'young master' of one of the twelve great families?
This is going to be a splendid addition to our resumes, isn't it?"
A raspy voice came from the individual sitting to the leader's right as he made a couple of snide remarks.
"Indeed, this was... unexpected."
A calm and serene voice responded from the member sitting directly opposite the earlier man.
The smaller frame and beautiful voice made the gender of the individual quite obvious.
"Hmph, here I thought we were called here for some big mission. It turns out we're just hunting a little brat."
A slightly annoyed voice came from the last member of the group, who was sitting directly opposite the leader.
"Alright now, there must be a reason that the elders decided to send us on the mission. He was, after all, the young master of a powerful family. Who knows how many life-saving contraptions he has?
The leader said in a nonchalant attempt to pacify his teammate. The other two nodded in agreement, leaving the remaining member to sulk by himself.
When a few individuals finished their drinks and left, Kael motioned to his companions. "We're done here." They rose as one, leaving a few qi stones on the table to keep up appearances.
The waitress stood by the bar, wiping down a mug. Her expression was neutral, but her eyes flicked toward the leader as they passed. He gave her a slight nod, an acknowledgment of her role in this operation.
Outside, the air was cold and damp, the moon hidden behind a shroud of clouds. The group moved away from the tavern, the quiet night broken only by the soft crunch of their boots on the dirt road.
Adrian didn't know this yet, but he had just become the target of one of the most powerful assassin groups below the Nascent soul realm stage.
*****
The sound of hooves echoed along the uneven road, muffled by the dense morning mist that curled through the forest.
A convoy of carriages rolled steadily forward, all of them being pulled by a pair of sleek, muscular horses whose dark coats shimmered faintly with each movement.
In the center of the convoy was a particularly luxurious carriage, far grander than the rest. A family crest could be seen hanging proudly on the sides of the carriage as it moved at a leisurely pace towards a particular direction.