He reached the city wall and was hovering in front of the city gate, he pulled out the silver mask which was among the items in the chest. Wearing the mask, he fled straight to the central square. His cloths were worn and tattered, central square was the busiest market place in entire Jade City, he wanted a change of clothes and landed himself in front of textile shop for nobles.

**

When the guards stationed at city gate saw an unknown figure passing, they panicked. They didn’t dare stop him, reason being, they knew that cultivators of sky profound realm or higher were only capable of flight, offending such an individual will only end up on their certain death. All they could take notice was his silver mask. They sent a fast horse to the city council reporting the event.

---

The central square was the busiest market in Jade City, all trade involved with the city went through the markets of central square.

He entered the shop, the attendant at first gave him a disappointed look. But when he felt his presence, the attendant started to shiver.

-----

Even though he was an average cultivator, he knew, someone who could casually emit such pressure would be of high status and didn’t dare utter a word that could cost him his life. He gathered enough courage and spoke.

“ What would you like, sir “ his face pale and struggling for air.

The man turned around, when he heard his voice, he saw his silver mask and had the urge to run for his life. The man’s cold eyes watched him for a moment, suddenly the pressure which pinned him disappeared.

“ I would like to get an entire outfit in black” his voice was cold, they didn’t gave any trace of emotion in it.

He didn’t waste time, he got the finest garment in black, he could find in his shop, money didn’t matter as long as his life remained.

He presented what he got, and was at his wits end, afraid, scared, the man before him would dislike it.

The man looked at the clothes presented before him and gave nod.

“How much “ he spoke in the same cold voice as before, there was no trace of interest or dislike in his words.

“ I am content with whatever you give, sir” The garment costed him hundreds of gold, as it was the finest piece available in his store. But he didn’t care about money as long as the man left him alone. He was wise, as merchant lived for years, he knew whom to swindle and people those who he should show favour and avoid provocations.

But to his surprise, the man tossed him a beast core out of thin air, and changed himself and left without a word. He stared at the core in his hands. It belonged to a beast of king profound realm and had flame attribute as the core was glowing in pale orange colour. He stood their shocked, he knew it would cost thousands of gold, if sold. He also so, how the man produced the core out of thin air. Even though he was a merchant he was knowledgeable.

He had only heard and read in books, cultivators capable of such magic. His teeth stuttered and stared at the entrance of his store. He was glad his life was spared, he was glad he didn’t provoke him at his first sight, if he did, everything would have ended for him then and there.

( Why is someone like him in Jade City. What attracted such an individual to this remote city located at outskirt of the empire. I should certainly leave the city with my family, whatever the reason he might be here for. I don’t want to take my chance and end up dead ) he made his decision to leave the city as he could predict an approaching storm from his long experience as merchant, he knew from the aura of the man, that he was here for no good, and his reasons didn’t really matter as long as him and his family was safe.

---------

He was walking around the shopping street watching the busy crowd passing back and forth.

( I would have killed that merchant by mistake, man I really did forget to suppress my aura. But he is surprisingly good to stand that pressure. Maybe his skill as merchant to deal this kind of situation was top notch. Hmmm…. I wonder about others though )

He could sense there was few individuals following him, but didn’t care, as they didn’t cause any trouble.

He was strolling through the stalls and watching the busy market illuminated by the evening sun. It has been years since, he had such a serene walk. Others looked at him with sense of fear, due to his strange mask and his attire, that made him look like a top class noble. Naturally a path would open as he walked through the crowd, the people didn’t want to bother him which leads them to trouble.

( The mask is really effective, where did the old geezer get this priceless tresure, not that he could use it on his dragon face ) he surprisingly found how useful the silver mask was. It could adjust one’s cultivation, also block his heavy spiritual presence from the sight of spiritual cultivators. He had already suppressed his aura, but even after all his efforts to look normal, his appearance gave out a majestic presence of absolute power.

He casually strolled and reached the bank of the river, which was running south of Jade City. He held his hand behind his back and closed his eyes, enjoying the cold breeze. His long hair fluttered in the wind, his masculine and sturdy straight back gave him the look of a lone warrior. His silhouette bathed in yellow-red setting sun looked very nostalgic and was a sight to behold.

“ Haven’t had enough stalking me “ he spoke in a calm and plane voice.

The individuals who followed him were startled. They came out from where they were hiding.

“ Sir, the council of elders had summoned you “ spoke a young man, he had respect in his words.

“……”

“ Would you please follow us “

“……”

“ Sorry, tell them to come visit me, if they have business with me “ he replied in a cold voice.

“ You, are you disrespecting the council “ another young man spoke with an arrogant tone.

“Do I know them “ he replied as if not understanding the situation.

His answer stunned them, he was standing there, his eyes closed as if it was some others buisness.

Cao Yang POV

It was afternoon when the council ordered for the summon of mysterious silver masked cultivator. From enquiry about silver mask, the guards told them, he entered the city by sky, it meant that he was cultivator of sky realm or higher. There was less than ten individuals, who were in sky realm in Jade City, so the council needed answers from the guest who had entered the city, they wished to meet him, because only small number of people achieved this, in the entire continent.

Gathering five peak earth profound realm experts, we went to search the silver mask. If a fight were to break out, it was impossible to fight someone a realm apart, so he gathered some peak experts of earth profound realm.

When we found him, he was strolling through the markets in the central square. He had a strange aura which gave out an unapproachable feeling. There was a sense of danger I felt lurking around our backs.

After a while, he was standing at the bank of river as if enjoying the breeze. His figure enveloped in light of evening sun gave the feeling of a lone warrior standing in the battle field. The picture gave a feel of sadness as well as danger, it was then he called us out. We were startled, as we were sure we concealed our presence.

Now we had been found out, we presented the matter, but he simply dismissed us. I had to handle the matter carefully, because my heart screamed provoking him would not leave us with good taste. Above all, he was dressed in expensive attire and his aura gave out someone with authority, which made me think, he was a member of royal family.

But it was then, Song Xing, son of Song Clan Patriarch stepped forward. He was renowned for his strength and was ranked third in Jade City among his generation. He was famous for his arrogance and had the backing of Song Clan. He spoke to man in front of us with a rebuking tone.

“ Do you think, you are someone important, you shit get up and leave with us or leave your head here “

“……”

“ Didn’t you hear me you son of a…………..” his voice muffled.

Before even I could stop him talking anymore, the very one who stood beside me provoking was torn to a thousand pieces. His minced body fell to the ground, blast with a bluish flame, burned leaving nothing behind. It was as Song Xing never existed there.

The scene was terrifying, there was no sound, movement or change in air, it was as if he was erased from his existence. The man didn’t even move, he still stood there enjoying the breeze as if not interested in his surroundings.

But before anyone noticed, we were on our knees, it was impossible to bear the pressure emitted by the man, it was as if a heavy mountain was pressed to our shoulders. There was no path to escape, because we saw death himself standing before us, we were not even retaliating in front of his heavy presence, our body froze due to fear.

I prepared myself for death, but the man spoke” Leave, I may not be generous enough next time “. His voice shattered our spirit and crushed our soul. It was too detached that it felt it was not from a human, but death himself whispering to me.

The next moment the pressure bounding us dispersed, we fled from there with all our might, my body trembled and gasped for air, all my thought was that to, not to do anything with that man, never ever again, because what I saw was death and knew that it may not be so lenient with him next time.

I didn't really got time to edit , so i will do it on a later date. Sorry for the late updates, I am having my exams.

Thanks for your support and feedback :}