Victor considered trying to send a message back, but FrostWarden's name was greyed out on the friends list.
"Offline or busy…" he muttered.
Now that he had finally emerged from what would be a four days seclusion, it was time to focus.
The City Lord's daughter's birthday celebration was only six days away. That left him with very little time to hunt down and capture a mythical Shadow-Eyed Moon Serpent.
He recalled the pamphlet from the royal servant—just bringing such a beast alive to the party would grant a reward more valuable than most cultivators would earn in a decade. Whatever the prize was, he was certain it wasn't something as simple as Taels.
Victor made his way across the winding city roads, stopping only when he found a proper street vendor selling scrolls, books, maps, and tools.
"I need a complete map of the Bloodshade Hunting Grounds," Victor stated and then placed a taels on the counter.
The old vendor nodded slowly and rolled out a long parchment scroll across the display before pointing. "Take note, young man. There are five sectors. If you value your life, pay attention."
Victor leaned closer as the vendor began to explain.
"The outermost edge is the Outskirts. Mostly low-level beasts. Feral, but manageable. You'll find Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment and early Core Formation Realm cultivators there."
"Next is the Yellow Zone. Here, the spirit beasts are smarter. Coordinated attacks. They roam in packs. They're also harder to kill. You'll start seeing mid Core Formation cultivators and higher here."
Victor's eyes narrowed. He had just stepped into Core Formation Realm himself. That would be challenging.
The vendor tapped further into the map. "Now, this… is where most fools die. The Red Zone. If you're not prepared to face death, don't go sniffing around there because only cultivators at the Nascent Soul Realm and above can survive in that sector."
Victor could already guess what came next.
"Beyond that… the Black Zone. Even Void Tribulation cultivators get humbled there. And further still, where no sane man should step… the No Man Zone."
Victor blinked. "You mean… even Heavenly Saint Realm cultivators avoid that place?"
The old vendor nodded gravely. "It is a graveyard of the arrogant."
Victor already knew of the Cultivation Ranks since it was one of the first things he saw from the first time he logged into Ascendant Realms.
1. Qi Gathering Realm
3. Foundation Establishment Realm (Early, Mid, Late, Peak)
4. Core Formation Realm (Early, Mid, Late, Peak)
A golden core is formed in the dantian, refining and condensing qi to an even higher purity.
5. Nascent Soul Realm (Early, Mid, Late, Peak)
The Nascent Soul is born within the golden core, acting as an independent consciousness.
Spiritual awareness expands—can sense qi over vast distances.
Allows limited soul projection outside the body.
6. Soul Transformation Realm (Early, Mid, Late, Peak)
Allows partial possession of artifacts with the cultivator's soul.
Can release domain-type abilities that alter the battlefield.
7. Void Tribulation Realm (Early, Mid, Late, Peak)
The cultivator prepares for ascension by refining their soul and qi.
Heavenly Tribulations (lightning, fire, or celestial energy) occur to test the cultivator.
Qi solidifies into immortal essence, but they are still bound to the Mortal Plane.
8. Immortal Ascension Realm (Early, Mid, Late, Peak)
A cultivator at this level begins to shed mortality, acquiring a semi-immortal physique.
Capable of surviving in higher planes, though not yet fully ascended.
Can attempt Partial Ascension, where part of their soul visits the Heavenly Realms.
9. Heavenly Saint Realm (Early, Mid, Late, Peak)
A near-immortal existence within the Mortal Plane.
Capable of controlling elemental laws to an advanced degree.
Vastly increased lifespan, nearing tens of thousands of years.
Gains the ability to create spiritual artifacts infused with divine essence.
10. Divine Monarch Realm (Early, Mid, Late, Peak)
The final stage before truly transcending the Mortal Plane.
Can wield laws of nature, bending space and time within limited areas.
Capable of creating their own minor realms or pocket dimensions.
Their mere presence affects reality, and mortals perceive them as gods.
At Peak Stage, they face their final tribulation—if they succeed, they ascend to the Celestial Realms, leaving the Mortal Plane behind forever.
Victor's gaze scanned over the regions. "Do you know where the Shadow-Eyed Moon Serpent might be?"
The vendor's eyes narrowed. "Aye. You're not the first to ask. Rumor has it one was sighted last month… just along the edge of the Red Zone. Close to a ridge called 'Serpent's Hollow'. It only shows itself during nights with a waxing moon."
Victor frowned. "That's tonight."
The vendor handed over the map. "Then you'd best not waste time."
Victor left the stall and began reviewing the map as he walked. The Bloodshade Hunting Grounds were at least five hours away on foot, but he could cut that time in half if he used Wind techniques and his movement arts strategically.
He moved quickly through the city, bypassing sect recruiters and curious shopkeepers. Some stalls even had beast cages outside with spirit beasts on display—caged lightning wolves, frost talons, and flame serpents.
He made mental notes of the prices. If he could bag the right prey, he could earn a lot more than just whatever reward the birthday celebration offered.
But that serpent was his priority now.
He crossed paths with two rogue cultivators arguing over a posted mission about gathering spiritual herbs near the Red Zone's edge.
Another fight broke out over a stolen beast core, and a patrol of enforcers from the Azure Ember Sect had to intervene. Blueflame City might've been beautiful, but it was anything but tame.
Finally, as dusk began to creep in and the lanterns lit the streets with a gentle glow, Victor stood before the path leading to the wilderness beyond the city—his first true solo hunt in these lands.
He looked back once, almost hoping FrostWarden had replied by now to the message he left.
But there was nothing.
"…Guess it's just me."
Victor stepped into the darkness beyond with his map in hand and a look of determination.
A few system notifications appeared in his vision:
[New Quest: "Hunt the Shadow-Eyed Moon Serpent"]
[Objective: Track and subdue a live specimen]
[Quest Difficulty: B-Rank]