Huo Yuhao carried his small bundle and left Holy Water Village amidst the morning dew. The road to Thunder City wasn't particularly rugged, but for a child just over ten years old, the journey still felt long and lonely. He gripped his luggage straps tightly, looking back from time to time at the direction of the village that had long since disappeared from sight, his heart heavy with worry for his mother's illness.
After walking for about half a day, the sun grew increasingly harsh. Huo Yuhao wiped away his sweat and was about to rest in the shade of a tree by the roadside to have a drink of water when he suddenly heard a commotion behind him. He looked back warily and saw a group of about twenty or thirty people walking along the dirt road, young and old alike, looking like a Family migrating.
At the front of the group was a tall, sturdy middle-aged man wearing worn leather armor with a long saber hanging at his waist, looking as if he possessed quite an Aura. He noticed Huo Yuhao alone by the roadside and slowed his pace.
"Kid, traveling alone?" the man asked in a booming voice, sizing him up. "Where are you headed?"
Huo Yuhao stood up somewhat nervously and answered softly, "To Thunder City."
"Heh, what a coincidence!" The man grinned. "We're going to Thunder City too. Are you visiting relatives?"
Huo Yuhao hesitated for a moment and shook his head. "I'm going to the Axis Cult... I want to find some work."
As soon as he said this, the eyes of several people in the group lit up. A woman holding a child immediately chimed in, "The Axis Cult? We're heading there too! I heard they provide food and even distribute those sacred objects that can cure illnesses!"
Another old man nodded in agreement. "Yes, yes, my grandson is already six years old, and we're counting on the lords of the Axis Cult to help him perform a Martial Soul Awakening!"
The leading man laughed and patted Huo Yuhao's thin shoulder. "Kid, you've got good eyes! I'm Shi Meng, a Level 22 attack system Spirit Grandmaster. I used to make a living in a small escort agency, but I heard the Axis Cult is recruiting and the benefits are good. The Pope is also kind-hearted, so I brought these folks along to try our luck." He pointed to the crowd behind him. "It's not safe for you alone, come with us!"
Huo Yuhao didn't expect to meet fellow travelers so easily, and they were even going to the same place. He quickly nodded gratefully, "Thank you, Uncle Shi!"
With the group, the journey became much easier. Shi Meng was a straightforward person and told Huo Yuhao many rumors about the Axis Cult as they walked—delicious cakes, miraculous Medicinal Pills, a fair white-haired Envoy, and that Pope who was said to be as beautiful as a Heavenly Immortal and kind-hearted.
"I heard that a few days ago, people from the City Lord's Mansion went to cause trouble, but that Envoy rebuffed them with just a few words, and they left dejectedly!" Shi Meng said excitedly. "If you ask me, this Axis Cult definitely has something going for it. To be able to gain a firm foothold in Thunder City so quickly is no simple feat!"
Huo Yuhao listened silently, his expectations for the Axis Cult growing. If it was truly as Shi Meng said, perhaps he really could find a job there, or even... buy medicine that could cure his mother's illness.
During a break on the way, Huo Yuhao took out the mixed-grain pancakes he had brought. After a moment's hesitation, he broke off a large half and handed it to Shi Meng. "Uncle Shi, would you like some?"
Shi Meng was stunned for a moment. Looking at the dry pancake in the child's hand, he laughed heartily and pulled out several pieces of dried meat from his own bag, stuffing them into Huo Yuhao's hands. "Eat mine! You kid, you don't even have much food yourself and you're sharing it with others? You've got a good heart!"
In this manner, the group traveled and rested, finally seeing the silhouette of Thunder City on the evening of the second day.
Meanwhile, inside the Thunder City Lord's Mansion, the atmosphere was far from the relaxed and pleasant one on the road.
"Useless! A bunch of useless trash!" City Lord Thunder Leopard smashed another teacup, this time a set of precious blue and white porcelain. "You can't even handle a cult that's just putting on a show! What use do I have for you?!"
The subordinates kneeling below were as quiet as cicadas in winter. The Advisor braced himself and explained, "City Lord, please calm your anger... That Axis Cult is indeed strange. We sent people to cause trouble, but those paupers actually took the initiative to protect them! When the Tax Office people went to audit the books, that white-haired Envoy brought out the ledgers and calculated everything clearly, even more professionally than our tax people! The thugs sent at night couldn't even reach the door before being discovered..."
"Enough!" Thunder Leopard roared, his face so dark it looked like it could drip water. He paced back and forth in the hall like a trapped beast.
The Axis Cult's reputation was growing higher and higher, almost overshadowing him, the legitimate City Lord. Whenever those commoners mentioned the Axis Cult now, they were full of gratitude, but when they mentioned the City Lord's Mansion, their faces were full of disdain! How could he tolerate this?
What was even more infuriating was that the Axis Cult's miraculous Medicinal Pills and food should have been his cash cow! Now, they were enriching that woman who came out of nowhere and her cult!
"Go!" He suddenly stopped, a ruthless light flashing in his eyes. "Invite Boss Li, Master Zhao, and the others! Tell them I, Thunder Leopard, have important matters to discuss!"
In less than half an hour, the meeting room of the City Lord's Mansion was filled with people. They were all minor nobles and wealthy merchants with some standing in Thunder City, looking at each other in confusion, wondering why the City Lord had suddenly summoned them.
Thunder Leopard scanned the room and got straight to the point. "Everyone, I'm sure you've all heard about that Axis Cult in the city lately?"
The people present nodded one after another, their expressions varied. Some were indifferent, some looked worried, and some had a glint in their eyes—clearly all eyeing the "business opportunities" of the Axis Cult.
Boss Li, the city's largest medicinal herb merchant, spoke first. "City Lord, the Axis Cult's Medicinal Pills are indeed a threat. The sales of Golden Sore Ointment in my shop have dropped by thirty percent this month!"
Master Zhao also chimed in, "Indeed, they're even doing things like free Awakenings and free medical treatments! How are those of us who run businesses supposed to survive?"
But there were also different voices. A relatively young merchant said cautiously, "But... the Axis Cult has indeed helped many poor people... and their Medicinal Pills are truly effective..."
Thunder Leopard gave him a cold glare, and the man immediately shut up.
"Effective? What use is being effective!" Thunder Leopard slammed the table. "Are the rules of Thunder City still to be followed? Is tax revenue still wanted? Is order still desired? To let an outside cult walk all over us?"
He looked around at everyone, his voice low but filled with threat. "Think about it, everyone. Today they can steal Boss Li's medicinal herb business, and tomorrow they can steal Master Zhao's grain trade! What about Acquired? Or the day after that? Once all those paupers are won over by them, who will really be in charge of Thunder City?"
These words struck a chord with many. The nobles and wealthy merchants feared nothing more than the destabilization of order and the damaging of their interests.
The Advisor added fuel to the fire at the right time. "Furthermore, according to our investigation, the source of the Axis Cult's Medicinal Pills is very suspicious; it's likely not from a legitimate source. If those so-called 'sacred objects' make someone sick, who will be held responsible?"
A group of people began to whisper among themselves, clearly swayed.
Seeing this, Thunder Leopard knew the timing was right and finally revealed his plan: "Therefore, we must join forces! Since we can't do it openly, we'll do it covertly!"
A cunning light flashed in his eyes. "First, cut off their supply chain! Boss Li, you have a wide network; find out for me where they get their medicinal herbs! Master Zhao, you're in charge of contacting the grain merchants. Anyone who dares to sell grain to the Axis Cult is making an enemy of us all!"
"Second, create some 'accidents'." Thunder Leopard sneered. "Don't they know how to treat illnesses? Then let them treat a few 'incurable' patients! Advisor, you handle this. Find a few people with terminal illnesses, or simply... you understand, do it cleanly."
"Finally," he looked at the representatives of the Spirit Master Family present. "Clan Chief Wang, please send a few experts to 'test' the depth of the Axis Cult. I heard they've recruited a few low-level Spirit Masters? Let's see how much ability they have!"
A conspiracy against the Axis Cult was quietly brewing in this secret meeting. Meanwhile, Huo Yuhao was following Shi Meng's group, stepping into the West Gate of Thunder City with hope, heading toward the Axis Cult.
The young boy had no idea that he was about to step into not just a place of work and hope, but a vortex that was about to become the center of a storm.
Even if that storm wasn't actually all that large...