Secrets of the Universe

Looking at the outer sect's map on one of the pages of the thin book, Jake tried to find something that would lead him to his destination...….whatever his destination was?

'Hmmmmmm….that should be the place. The bounty hall' smiled Jake.

Its location was closer to the inner sect, where all the sect members lived.

Leading Kaleyx, Jake followed the route while enjoying the beautiful scenery.

He kept noticing the increasing amount of individuals who wore robes with an owl insignia on them.

'Those are the sect members,' he thought.

Only they could confidently wear the outfit and trot around the streets like they were kings and queens.

Evidently, as he got closer to the inner sect, the duo saw more people like them.

It seemed that they were graded as the robes they wore varied from things like designs to more obvious things like color.

The color scheme seemed to follow the rainbow color spectrum, starting from red and ending at violet.

Ultimately, this meant that those with violet robes were the top-tier members of the inner sect.

Also, going by how most of them looked young and carried a lower cultivation base, Jake could guess that they were the students of the academy situated in the inner sect.

As he kept assessing the sect, Jake found himself at the entrance of the bounty hall.

It was a huge building, boasting two floors. The architects of the building probably outdid themselves as they tried to make it one of the best in the outer sect.

Getting inside, the duo saw many counters with their respective receptionists taking care of it.

Normally, with the share number of people in the building, it would have been a messy sight, but due to the counters, it was rather too organized.

Looking to his right, Jake spotted a huge board. On the board were multiple slips containing information on bounties. 

They ranged from what Jake could call a simple bounty to bounties with a danger level just beneath the last bounty he took.

Jake and Kaleyx joined the queue and waited for their turn.

Most of the people surrounding him were the students. They were always the ones wanting to improve themselves by completing bounties.

But they were not as effective as the Weeping Island's bounty hunters.

If they were, why would people from all parts of the continent come to Weeping Island just to drop a bounty?

The queue moved slowly. Even after a few minutes, it was not yet the duo's turn.

"Are you sure the bounty is from here?" quietly asked Kaleyx.

"Yes, it was unofficial on Weeping Island, but not here. Look at that," Jake pointed at the large bounty board.

The biggest bounty slip there contained the [Queensprite heart] bounty. The exact item that the duo possessed.

"Hmmmm…...will there be any funny business involved?" Kaleyx questioned.

Jake knew she probably knew the answer, but was just hoping to pass the time.

Nevertheless, he still entertained her, "No. Their rules give people like us protection, and they wouldn't want to break into a public place. So, as long as we are in the light, nothing will happen. Also, after we give them the bounty and collect our reward, our hands will be washed."

After a while of conversing, it was finally their turn.

Their receptionist was a beautiful young lady, possibly in her mid-twenties. If Jake was to guess, she was a student, who worked here.

Flashing their identity cards, Jake began, "We are here to submit a bounty."

"I understand. May I know what is the serial number of the bounty?" asked the receptionist.

"I don't know," Jake cooly said.

He could check the serial number on the bounty board, but it would waste time.

In a respectful manner, the receptionist smiled at him, "Okay. What is the bounty?"

Jake said just two words, "The Grand Bounty."

It was the unofficial title given to the bounty by the public.

A look of disbelief appeared on the receptionist's face as she threw back those two words, "ehhhh! the grand bounty?"

"Yes," confirmed Jake.

His neutral attitude brought back the receptionist.

She asked instantly, "Can I see it?"

"Right here?"

"Yes, right here."

Jake brought out a cube of ice from his [Spatial Ring]. 

In the heart was a grey heart that gave no heartbeat. The moment it was revealed to the world, it released a frosty aura that chilled everyone in the building.

Some mortal in the building fainted as they could not endure the nefarious aura, while some were profusely sweating as they tried to resist it. 

Even the warriors were not spared from this phenomenon.

The receptionist, who was at [Realm-2 Stage-5], froze the instant she set her eyes on the icebox.

Grey energy extended to her body as it tried to drain her lifeforce.

Immediately, Kaleyx interrupted.

She channeled her negative energy into the icebox and prevented the nether energy from the heart from spreading further.

Using her left hand, she nudged the receptionist and broke her out of her frozen state.

Her quick action managed to save everyone from falling into the abyss.

However, now, all eyes were on them.

Taking charge, she ignored the curious eyes and asked the receptionist, "Do you have something to contain it? With the way you are, you won't be able to contain it, much less hold it."

Her words stung faster than an actual scorpion, but the receptionist took no offense....or did she?

Well, the receptionist excused herself and took the stairs to the upper floor.

It took long, but when she came back, she brought a thick black box with her and flashed a smile at Kaleyx.

"I will keep it here," she said specifically to Kaleyx.

"Hmmm… it's alright. It's way better than holding it with your hands after all," Kaleyx smiled back.

It was a scary sight.

Jake always told Kaleyx not to smile as her smiles were always…..wrong.

Kaleyx took the icebox from Jake.

Holding it in her hands, she dropped it in the black box, without breaking a sweat.

Perhaps, actions speak faster than voice......

The receptionist twitched when she understood the hidden meaning of Kaleyx's words, but she didn't react.

She went on with her duties, "Can you fill this paper?"

And like that the duo spent quite a while in the bounty hall.

After they filled in all the details on the paper, the receptionist smiled, "Ok, can I see your identity cards, please?"

The duo gave their cards to the receptionist and this time, she made sure to thoroughly examine them….just in case.

"Alright. As part of the rules, when your receive your reward, your identity cards will be upgraded," informed the receptionist.

"...and when is that exactly?" eyed Kaleyx.

They had originally thought that they would get their rewards immediately after they submit the bounty, but it seemed to not be the case.

However, they didn't make any fuzz.

A bounty like that is bound to be too technical. 

If there wasn't a lengthy procedure involved, it would be strange.

"I don't know. But it shouldn't be more than a week," replied the receptionist.

"That's a problem. Our expiry date is in three days," trailed Kaleyx.

While they talked, the receptionist placed the two identity cards on a device on her desk.

It looked like the same exact one the gatekeeper used.

This device scanned the two cards and the characters on the cards started to change.

Smiling, the receptionist gave the cards back to their owner, "Take. The new expiry date is one month. Now, you wouldn't have any problem."

"How are you gonna reach us when the rewards are ready?" asked Kaleyx.

"Oh, don't worry about that. We will fond you," replied the receptionist.

Hearing her misleading words, Kaleyx's aura leaked from her body as she eyed the receptionist, "Are you planning on spying on us?"

Immediately, the receptionist bowed in apology and corrected herself, "My apologies, I didn't mean it that way. Actually, everything in the sect is connected to one another. The network is huge. As the bounty goes beyond the norms. We, the bounty hall, will probably be given permission to access this network."

"Hmmmm….is that so?" eyed Kaleyx.

She still found it uncomfortable that she could be easily tracked.

"Please, rest assured. It is not what you think it is," reassured the receptionist.

However, every word that came out of her mouth seemed to complicate things further.

She experienced enough to slip her way out of her predicament.

Luckily, the duo thought nothing of this network that hung over their heads.

They just have to be on their best behavior and nothing would happen to them.

After a few more teasings, Kaleyx dropped the issue and the duo bided their farewells to the pitiful receptionist.

They left the building and took a short tour around, while Jake planned their next steps.

Amidst his planning, he realized something!

His change of expression didn't go unnoticed by Kaleyx, "What is it?"

"Nothing."

He sighed, thinking of something, 'I forgot to absorb the [Source Essence] of Kieran before he died.'