Where do Goblins Come From

(You are a one in million talent and our sect specializes nurturing cultivators like you with a rare Yin physique. However you must sever your relationship with that boy if you want to reach the apex of cultivation.)

(I made an oath to follow my Dao Companion even if it means I will lose a once in a lifetime opportunity.)

(Why can’t you see how childish your…)

Clay turned around and walked away from the nauseating scene from recruitment center.

Five days ago when he came to North Ursa City, he asked around for any news regarding sect recruitment and it just so happens that a major event was scheduled to be celebrated. He stayed in the city waiting for this day but when he was queuing for the selection, every now and then, some guy with a unique physique or outstanding level of Spiritual Qi Affinity would stand among the crowd and show off attracting the eyes of every sect in attendance.

It was within his expectations but observing the people who had been accepted, he began to wonder what kind of sect will he be attending. The first time the crowd went on uproar was some guy who could barely emit Sword Dao and every one treated him as a dragon amongst men.

It was fine at first and even he was impressed but then another guy showed up with his peerless Alchemy Skills. One after another, Clay noticed a pattern. The sects are only accepting the best among the best. His biggest clue is the wealthy guy who went before that girl with Yin physique. The guy is of the same age as him if not younger and had reached Early Foundation Establishment but because he did not have sufficient Spiritual Qi Affinity, he was denied acceptance.

He was thinking of maybe revealing a tiny bit of his Fire Dao but what really threw him off is the immaturity of everyone accepted and the attitude of the sect elder conducting the admission. He had a feeling that he will be joining a sect where everyone has the need to boast and seek attention.

It is not a bad thing per se and people do have a need to be appreciated sometimes but he just can’t feel the air of humility. At one point he was forced to show off his skills but only because he was out of options and after that, he disappeared in the background. Comparing it with the Elves, they maybe prideful but they do not have this inclination to swagger and bombast in public.

“Is it me or am just too introverted?” He thought to himself as he walked towards a building far from the recruitment venue. He is thinking twice if it would just be better to travel south and join Crescent Moon Sect again. At least he would have a beautiful senior sister and an energetic little fourth brother.

He continued to walk until he reached the gates of grand building.

“Welcome to Ursa Guild Alliance. How can we be of assistance?”

As soon as he entered the gates of a large building, an usherette came to greet him. Clay was not wearing anything lavish but he was still treated nicely. Guilds are basically the gathering of people who failed to enter a sect.

“Actually I have come here to register as a mercenary.” Clay respectfully responded and allowed his aura to leak.

“You must be new but seeing how far you have achieved, I will personally accompany you to our deacon. Please follow me, young master.” The usherette slightly bowed and started walking.

As they entered the building and climbed upstairs, Clay remembered his life at Gar Wahger when he first met Urda, the muscular and kind old man who help him during his adventure.

Now that he thinks about it, what is happening now is almost similar to what happened back then. He thought, “Is this what they call parallel lives?”

Clay was absorbed with his thoughts and did not realize they have already arrived inside an office.

“This young master here is interested in becoming a mercenary. I hope Deacon Loo is not in the middle of something.” The usherette made a quick introduction before existing towards the door.

Clay was expecting an old muscular man as well but to his disappointment, the Deacon is a middle-aged man around 30 years old and like him, a Peak Foundation Establishment expert.

“Ok, not parallel lives.” Clay thought to himself upon seeing the deacon.

“I’d like to ask why you don’t want to join a sect but seeing you are here during your recruitment, I’d say you have something you want from us?” The deacon put a warm greeting on his face as he prepares tea.

“Since you asked, then I may as well say it. I need at least two or three stalks of Purple Nuktera Orchid.”

The deacon did not immediately respond and pour tea and placed it on a plate before serving it to Clay.

“Tier III herbs is only accessible from the main office. If it is within my hands, then I wouldn’t mind doing a fair trade. Usually, one need to work their way up for five years to become a Ranker Mercenary and have access to Tier III herbs but if you are only after that orchid, then I know a client who is willing to give out such rewards. Consider this your lucky day.”

Clay took as sip and followed up. “I will not be polite and ask this friend a favor.”

“I will give you a provisionary membership for now and I don’t need to emphasize how dangerous the mission will be but if you don’t want to wait that long, then it is up to you whether you want to make it big now or stay and rot with us within the guild for a long time.”

“As long as it is not too bothersome, then I have no reason to decline.”

Loo tossed a pendant towards Clay. “The truth is, the client will be arriving any minute soon. Why don’t we continue this tea in the other room?”

Clay stored the pendant and seeing Deacon Loo walked out, he stood up and silently followed. Now that his first option of joining a human sect placed a bad taste in his mouth, he decided to join a mercenary. From his perspective, there is not much of a difference between the two. The only difference is that he does not have a nice spot or residence to cultivate in. He wanted to cultivate in peace but as someone with zero Spiritual Elemental Affinity, he would need external resources like pills which the Guild should be able to provide as compensation. He just needs to ensure his mission is accomplished as described.

After a few minutes, they entered a separate room within the reception hall dedicated to VIP’s where six other cultivators are patiently waiting. Three of which are body cultivators, a bald monk and two have swords on their back. Aside from the monk who is a Peak Foundation Establishment, the rest are Mid Foundation. The room is like a spacious conference room with a big and long table at the center.

“I apologize for having everyone wait. There was a bit of a delay with our client’s travel but be assured I just received a report they have already entered the vicinity.” Everyone was silent and only glanced at Loo which prompted Loo to summon a teapot and started serving everyone.

Since no one dared to talk, Clay minded his tea.

“Might as well get used to it.” Clay mumbled to himself. The sects he had been with, every mission is posted on wall and anyone can just pick but now his missions will be client specific accompanied by awkward silence while waiting.

Another ten minutes has passed and he was about to take the last sip from his cup when his senses suddenly picked a faint trace of a cold and monstrous aura. Instinctively, his aura at Peak Foundation was released but before he could imbue it with his Dao power, he noticed that every put up their guards and became wary of him.

Clay retracted his strength and said, “My apologies. I thought I sensed a previous enemy.”

Clay was relieved everyone let their guards down and continued with their silence. In the mean time, he refrained from extending his divine sense and activated his Godly Sight and looked towards the direction where he felt the aura from. He thought it would go away but it looks like they are getting closer towards them.

Ever since that encounter with a goblin ten years ago, buried within his desires is to exact vengeance on that monster. He had been wishing they could meet again so he could break that damnable creature’s skull. Although the aura his senses picked was not strong as that monster, it still has a resemblance.

Seeing that the three owners of the aura are getting closer to their location, he tried to observe everyone around. It bothers him that only he is on guard.

A few more minutes have passed and the client finally arrived.

“I was beginning to think you changed your mind.” Loo stood up and saluted with his fists.

“I did not want to attract the attention of the sect during their recruitment event prompting us to travel on foot and I thank everyone for their patience.” Everyone turned towards the entrance. Their client as finally arrived.

“Everyone, this is Mage Ver Sosa, a 6TH Circle Mage and a Guardian of Numora Empire.” Loo warmly introduced client.

In the meantime, Clay restrained himself and observed the guests. Their client is a Lesser Elven and looks like he is in his fifties and is wearing clothes worthy of a wealthy noble. While it is interesting to look into the energy flow of a 6TH Circle Mage, he was more attracted on the three men accompanying Ver Sosa. Their faces did not show any expressions and they are all wearing scarves.

On the surface, they look harmless but it is worth noting that within their bodies, Spiritual Qi and Mana are flowing both at the same time.

When he was at the warzone five years ago, the spatial rings he looted from both Mages and Cultivators had books in them and a few contained information regarding Mana and Spiritual Qi.

Since time immemorial, simultaneously cultivating two of these energies had become a taboo to everyone. It is true that it brings forth unimaginable strength but the aftereffect is an unimaginable devastation as well. That being will turn into a short-lived mindless and insatiable beast that it would eat anything and mostly cannibalize.

As he read those books, he got reminded of Death Qi back in his previous life. There are many similarities but what is unique is its effect on magical beasts.

Corrupted magical beasts on the other hand can live longer and when it is given a chance to mature, it will seek to reproduce. After three generations, along the succession is a type of mutation leading to the birth of intelligent beings. If the parents has higher Spiritual Qi imbalance, the offspring will be called Gabalins. Grublins is what it’s called if their parents have higher Mana pool compared to Qi accumulated in their bodies.

If their existence remains undisturbed within a century, their population will continue to explode and along their evolutionary tree, sometime within that century, a special offspring will be birthed.

As beasts, their strength is defined by their ability to control the two energies within their bodies and while many struggles to balance the two energies within their bodies, this special offspring is gifted with an ability to maintain a perfect balance of Qi and Mana giving it a superior advantage.

Similar to any beasts that lives in groups, this special being is destined to become a supreme ruler. Everyone calls it Goblin.

Goblins path of ascension is by far the strongest that it could even contend to an Elder Kulfagar Demon. The only problem is that, Goblins has a lifespan of less than fifty years. And on top of that, the very reason they needed to be eliminated is because they see other species as means to improve their genetics.

The war with Kulfagar demons had been running for more than 40 thousand years and Mages did not sit idle. The unrelenting efforts to resist the invading army had forced some Mages to cast away morals and touched the realm of human experiments. Humans, although they have single dantian or center of power, they have the fastest reproduction making them perfect as guinea pigs and after thousand years of research, Mages have managed to produce Yin-Yang Soldiers. Inspired by Goblin’s Mana and Qi circulation, Yin-Yang Soldiers are capable of perfect balanced circulation. Yin-Yang Soldiers are far from perfect and experiments continue until today.

Clay looked at the three Yin-Yang Soldiers near the door. This is his first time seeing one. Their Spiritual Qi is that of a Late Qi Condensation and combined with Mana, their strength is similar to a Boosted Power on the 2ND Level. If they have more Nodes to combine the two energies, then they should have a Boosted Power on the 3RD Level similar to that of the Goblin. Unfortunately, their strength can only remain as such otherwise they become corrupted if they try to breakthrough to Foundation.

“Just how unlucky one must be to have been born and to serve as an experiment.” Clay thought to himself. He had always thought he had the lowest of luck but seeing the Yin-Yang Soldiers, his outlook in life had become more mature. The thought of being experimented on just a few days after becoming a fetus is disturbing his inner peace.

*Sigh

Clay sighed softly as he cleared his mind. His focus now is to breakthrough. Maybe when he is strong enough, he will exit this planet and look for a more advance civilization he can either study more of primordial energies, or enjoy the rest of his life with.