Body Cultivation Hurts - Chapter 32

What Path was best for the Tower’s first and foremost News organization? The argument continued between Jared and his peers, but he thought for sure his invisibility path was among the best if not outright the superior to all the rest. It was true that teleporters and flyers had an advantage at running away, but he didn’t need to run.

The most incredible thing about tower journalism was that no camera or equipment was needed. You just had to be in the vicinity to witness the event and the tower would record it for you from an infinite angles. That was why Jared and his creator buddies knew they had a chance to capitalize on the need this early after people were sucked into the tower.

At first, they’d considered just keeping it between the three of them, but there were four gates. If they wanted to even try to stay up on politics, they needed someone in the staging facility. Most people were just calling it the city. So far, they had seven reporters on top of Jared and his two friends that would become their major hosts. In the future, he likely wouldn’t be out in the field like this, but it was necessary.

He patted the .50 AE Desert Eagle on his hip. If he got in a pinch, it had worked on everything up until now. He also had a 12-gauge shotty loaded with slugs strapped across his back in case there was a bear or something.

For armor, he used Kevlar. Metal plating interfered with the light-warping aura his ability gave him. Any clothing made it less than perfect, but generally it didn’t get him found out. His guns also interfered, but they were small enough that they just looked like blurred twigs even from up close.

Jared had gotten the best scoops from hanging out at the northern gate. Parties almost always discussed what they were up to before they left, so he’d just hang out there while invisible. That was exactly what he was doing now.

When a group of thirty Asian men and women showed up wearing martial arts gis of varying colors most of which had swords on their belts, his curiosity was peaked. They stopped just outside the gate in an open area where one of the seniors of the group had met with a man in a sleeveless Kungfu uniform. They weren’t alone. Several groups of what looked like MMA fighters were following the group. Not all of them were Asian. Another Kendo clan soon joined them.

Strange. It wasn’t uncommon for large groups of cultivators to gather so that they could travel together in safety, but this was excessive.

One of the keys to remaining unseen was to limit movement. Even with his ability, Jared used the other groups’ movement as they left and returned to get closer. As he did, the leaders of the large gathering were greeting what looked like noncultivations. There were several healers.

Putting his hand in his pocket, he grabbed his transmission jade. It was the most advanced one on the market. He didn’t have to remove it to start constructing a text message and sending it to headquarters.

It read, “Somethings going on at the Northern Gate. Large gathering.”

Then he heard the leader of the men in kendo garb address a strong jawed American. “The Mountain King is our primary target, but he insisted that some of the named elites hold treasures almost equally important. But splitting our forces?”

They’re going for the northern boss? It was a massive bear that was said to be invincible at humanity’s current level. A creature so formidable that it didn’t even flinch when shot with high-powered rifle rounds.

Jared added that to his text before sending it. He immediately received a response. Removing the transmission jade, he slowly lifted it to his temple so that he could see the text through his mind’s eye.

“Same at the eastern gate. A large gathering of over four hundred people. Former MMA World Champ, boxings Welterweight Champion of the World, pro athletes. Talk of fighting the eastern gate boss.”

He prepared to respond when another text came in from a different reporter.

“Nearly five hundred people gathering at the western gate. Olympian Eugene Carr, popstar Nessa, and several other celebs are grouped with athletes and military types. What they’re saying doesn’t make sense, though. They’re looking for monster spawns?”

Another text followed immediately after it. “A group of World’s Strongest Men and strength athletes are gathering at the southern gate. The last two Mr. Olympias just showed up as well as a few retired bodybuilders. I thought the strongest man competitors and the bodybuilders were going to fight, but they just embraced each other. They’re after the southern boss for sure.”

It was impossible. Sure, there had been a few parties that tried to fight each boss, but no one had even gotten close. And here there were large war parties going after the remaining northern, eastern, and southern bosses? The timing was just too good to be anything but coordinated.

Letting out a slow breath, Jared slipped out of invisibility and revealed himself. As soon as he did, the senior group spotted him and turned to face him. Many of them had hands on their katanas.

He’d spent some time overseas, so he bowed 90 degrees in apology. “Gentlemen, please forgive the intrusion.” Straightening, he said, “I am a reporter for Citadel News. Is your party related to the parties gathering at the other gates?”

“Yuma,” one of the senior members of the lead kendo clan called.

Immediately, a pretty young Asian woman scurried over and bowed respectfully. “I am Yuma of the Takao Clan. I will answer your questions.”

Not only was the woman forthcoming, but she invited him to travel with them to document the occasion. When she said they were part of a conglomerate of parties from many nations that had joined forces to clear the first floor, he balked at the idea before quickly apologizing for his reaction.

The young women smiled sweetly in response, but he sensed it. She was being polite, as expected. What he didn’t expect was the utter confidence in the way she held herself. There was no doubting or taking offense. Maybe she hadn’t gotten to hunt monsters much which made her naïve. Cultivators were not currently considered strong compared to many of the other paths.

“Please,” she said, motioning for him to join their party. “If you remain with the healers, you should remain safe and be able to focus on your reporting.”

And so he joined them, sending a message to headquarters to encourage the others to do the same. It seemed they’d soon find out.