Chapter 1154: Heading South, Again...

Once Davis spoke, he waited for some time, not really expecting for an answer to hear, but still hoping so since he needed to do some tasks using Drake's help.

"Ahahahaha! You're finally here, Davis! Perfect timing!" Drake's excited voice echoed out of the messaging talisman.

Davis's eyes lit up, "Bruh... Where are you? This place is sick!"

"Hahaha! Did a few onee-sans catch you and take you to their pleasure den?" 

"No, they didn't bother me since I'm wearing a rather scary mask. So where are you?"

"North-West Dual Lotus Abode! Come, I'll host you!"

Davis swiftly recalled seeing a place like that on the map.

"Dual Lotus Abode...? Is it like some branch of the Dual Lotus Manor...?"

"Of course! The mid-sized Territories are so big and contain all sorts of people. The branches exist to single out talented cultivators before sending them the Dual Louts Manor." Drake proudly spoke, obviously bragging that he was among the talented cultivators.

"Alright, I'll be there in a while... Make sure to warn the gatekeepers, or else, don't blame me if I make a mess and ruin your name!" Davis chuckled.

"Ahahaha! Alright, alright! Leave it to me! I'll inform those outer disciples in charge."

"I'll see you there..."

Davis ended the chat and kept the messaging talisman in his spatial ring before he began to approach the exit. Flying was prohibited within the cities, and there was a damn formation that could detect an anomaly if he flew above, so he hovered as he flew right above the ground for a while before he exited the city.

Davis headed south again. One of the branches of the Dual Lotus Manor, the North-West Dual Lotus Abode, was just south, straight south. After all, the Territory Gate leading to the Falling Snow Sect was the most prominent north-western landmark.

Davis flew over a forest region, encountering various kinds of magical beasts and humans who hunted them or vice versa below him. He didn't stop for anything and headed straight to the North-West Dual Lotus Abode by following the map. 

With his speed averaging five-hundred kilometers per second, he traversed many sceneries before he arrived at the destination in one and a half minutes, crossing over 45,000 kilometers.

A grand structure that spanned millions of square kilometers, approximately 25,000,000 square kilometers, came into his view when he sent his soul sense around the perimeter. It was not a whole grand structure but certainly resembled one even though it looked as it was a city pictured with mountains and rivers.

Davis stopped using his Dark Concealing Shroud Art under a huge tree's shade and walked out, appearing in front of their fifty-meter tall gate, placed in the middle of similar-sized red and blue colored walls. It appeared fascinating with a crystal sheen on the surface, making it extremely grand.

"Halt!" A man with a spear grasped in his hand bellowed at Davis.

He wore yellow-colored robes and stood before the gate, looking at Davis as if he was looking at a magical beast.

"Drake..." Davis simply spoke out as if he was saying a password.

"Drake, who?"

Davis frowned in annoyance but still said, "Drake Blackburn..."

"Drake Blackburn..." The yellow-robed man frowned before he looked towards the side, seemingly asking the fellow guard who also wore yellow-colored robes.

The other guard shook his head, and the man who spoke had his expression fell. He turned to look at Davis with caution.

"There's no one here with that name. If you are not here to create trouble, you must leave."

Davis frowned even more. Was Drake playing a prank on him?

He felt that it could very well be likely considering Drake's character, but he also knew that he wouldn't be this playful. He narrowed his eyes and spoke.

"Check the registry or something... there should be a disciple named Drake Blackburn."

"Fool!" The other yellow-robed man bellowed, "If we say that there isn't anyone, then there isn't! Now leave, or must you force us to throw you out!?"

Davis heavily frowned. He lifted his hand, wanting to teach these two a lesson, but the gate behind them suddenly creaked open.

"Looks like a weakling wants to lick the strong's asshole that the weakling even goes as far as to stop heeding a polite request from a devoted inner disciple..."

The yellow-robed man's expression fell as he heard the voice and looked behind.

A sight of a dashing-face appeared before the man's figure came into view. He wore a blazing red robe and possessed long raven-black hair and topaz eyes that made him appear mesmerizing.

"Drake..." The yellow-robed man spat out through his teeth as he took a step back, but when he noticed the color of the clothes he wore, his expression changed.

"You- You! Did you pass the core disciple examination!?"

"Oh..." Drake appeared taken aback, "Did I neglect to say 'a polite request from a devoted core disciple'?"

"I guess the realization hasn't just sunk in yet..." He smirked before his expression became a few notches colder.

He took a step forwards and grabbed the collars of that yellow-robed man, "Punk who has eyes but couldn't see Mt.Tai... Want me to make your life a living hell?"

The yellow-robed man froze, not knowing what to do. The other party was a core disciple, and this sudden twist made his mind go blank!

"Or should I do what other core disciples do..." Drake's expression became devilish, "Take your cultivation partner away from you?"

The yellow-robed man's expression became aghast before he lowered his head and dropped his spear. His body trembled as his lips quivered, "Forgive me, I'll kowtow!!!"

*Paahh!~*

A slap sent the yellow-robed man flying away as blood sprayed from his mouth.

Drake shrugged with a harrumph and turned to look at Davis, "I apologize for the trouble. These outer disciples are rather getting out of hand as I had to offend a few inner disciples here in the past..."

Davis chuckled, "You've had it hard..."

"You bet!" Drake rolled his eyes before he turned to look at the other outer disciple who halted Davis first.

That outer disciple dropped his spear as it made noise on the floor as he kowtowed.

"Forgive me! Oh, great one! Forgive me, oh gracious one!"

Both Davis and Drake's eyes twitched at his swift decision even though he seemed to not in the know at first. Drake no longer bothered and invited Davis inside the North-West Dual Lotus Abode.

They entered an open area that was like a courtyard, walking towards another sixty-meters tall gate.

"You are aware that there's no Mt.Tai here, right?" Davis suddenly spoke.

"Who cares?" Drake laughed, "There's a similar saying here with Mt.Taira, so it's all the same..."

"In any case, that outer disciple wouldn't dare refute me, so I am lazy to bother about these small things..."

They entered the next gate as the outer disciples opened it for Drake, even before he arrived in front of them.

Drake flexed his red-colored robes to Davis as they entered through the gate. 

There was the roof around sixty meters in height from the surface, and the pathway was classical, as well as adorned with dual-colored lotuses by the sides of the pathway, making the entrance seem fragrant and lovely.

Once Davis stepped in, he felt like he had entered a new world as his mind became bright.

"This is... a type of soul-cleansing fragrance?"

"Correct!" Drake appeared to be taken aback before he asked, "How did you know?"

"I'm an Alchemist, of course..."

"Truly!?" Drake blinked before he narrowed his eyes, "Take your mask off. I can't see your expressions. How will I know if you're kidding or not!?"

Davis blinked. The mask was like second-nature to him, so he didn't feel off. He removed his mask, making it disappear into his spatial ring as he touched it.

Drake's eyes widened before he whistled.

"Are you interested in joining this Dual Lotus Abode? I'm sure you would get plenty of women with that face!"

"Thanks, but I'll refrain!" Davis smilingly shook his head.

A few black-robed women who passed by had their eyes attracted to him before they formed a group, whispering something about him and Drake in low voices, their eyes becoming dreamy while looking at them.

Drake's expression became solemn as he stared at Davis, "Let's escape!"

He flashed away, and Davis didn't know what was going on, but he followed him as he sped up as well. 

He caught up and couldn't help but pose his doubt, "What's wrong?"

"These black-robed women maybe be beautiful, but they are workers, lesser in status than outer disciples. I am not looking down on them, nor am I derogatory towards them, but it is unknown how many men they have slept with as they live their lives in this Dual Lotus Abode as workers!"

"You better avoid them if you are still a virgin who wants to give his first time to his loved one." Drake patted his shoulder before he let out a sigh as he sent a soul transmission in anger, "I still regret mine being taken away by my body's previous host, that rapist asshole!" 

Davis wryly chuckled as he recalled. 

That's right. Drake Blackburn had died on Earth, on a strange island in the Dragon's Triangle before possessing this body when it was 16 years old, although why it could've happened still remained a mystery.

They fell silent before continuing to talk about the scenery and its uniqueness.

As they traveled many kilometers along a straight pathway, they came by the twentieth crossroads and turned left before heading to a mountain that appeared to be located in the distance. After arriving at the foot of the mountain, an arch-like structure greeted them along with a flight of stairs that reached the top of the mountain.

Drake raised his hand and proudly gestured, "Welcome to my newly obtained core disciple's abode, my friend."