The three of them were eager to get in but it seemed that there was no way to open the gates now. "Aigrette Palace! What a
wonderful place," murmured Austin to himself.
When Austin and his two young friends stood marveling at the grandiose building, a large number of warriors had gathered on the
vast expanse of the Sand Island. As far as the eye could see, there was hustling and bustling of the crowd, which grew denser and
clamorous.
Austin roughly estimated that the number of men on the Sandy Island were at least sixty to seventy thousand, if not a hundred
thousand.
He reached that estimate because on the island which was nearly as big as about fifty thousand square meters, there were men
everywhere, even at the most out-of-the-way corner.
It amazed Austin that so many people would call the way to this unknown remote island. That made him realize that nobody
could resist the temptation of a treasure hunt in the residence of an ancient master.
Almost all the influential groups in the South Continent of PrMartial World, even the less stronger ones, had sent their people
to hunt for treasures. It showed how all of them wanted to take their chances and acquire whatever treasures they could.
Austin reckoned that the island, which was like a haven of peace, would soon beca bloody battlefield.
"Jimmy! Look! Our family is over there! Let's go to them! | thought | would never see my family again! Oh, Austin, thank you for
your help." Kimberley was overjoyed at the sight of her family.
"Yes Austin! Thank you for your help. We wouldn't have made it if it was not for you! Do you want to join us? Of course, you can
join us! The elders will be grateful if they cto know that you saved us!" Jimmy was also over the moon as he invited Austin to
meet the members of his family.
Austin didn't like it when someone called him by his real nbecause he had a lot of enemies. But Jimmy and Kimberley were
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtinnocent and always forgot about it. Though Austin had dropped a ton of hints to make them understand and avoid using his real
name, but most of the time, it was of no use.
Afraid that their innocence would land him in trouble, he was compelled to refuse their offer. "No, thank you! | prefer to stay alone.
Thank you for your invitation though.
Just go! Go and find your family. Be safe." Austin patted Jimmy on his back.
Jimmy looked into Austin's eyes. They seemed to be pleading. But Austin shook his head firmly and said, "Go!"
Jimmy and Kimberley knew that they couldn't persuade Austin to join them. He readily escorted them all the way to the mountain
for a reluctant farewell. Austin nodded his goodbye and Jimmy and Kimberley finally left. They had gone to join the Jin Family.
Once they had left his side, Austin circled the island and touched down at the edge of the island, near the sea.
At the edge of the island, there were sbeaches and coconut groves. The sea water rose high. The waves hit the shore from
tto tand faded away leaving behind many seashells. The salty smell of the sea breeze blew all around. The beach was full
charming and alluring.
A lot of cultivators, about three or five in each group, were scattered around. They spoke loudly with each other. Everyone was
chatting with great enthusiasm.
Fortunately, they were all strangers to Austin. He could not identify any one of them. And everybody seemed to be on friendly
terms.
The men, who saw Austin land down, looked at him and looked away, uninterested. They did not pay him any special attention.
Before he had landed, Austin had already released his spiritual sense. Secretly, he was surveying the entire Sand Island. Now he
knew the place very well.
The center of the island was occupied by a few powerful forces, like the Jin Family and other prestigious groups.
At the stime, a little further away from the center of the island, which was a relatively remote area, was occupied by weaker
groups. They were scattered around. Sof them were small in size while shad men of ordinary talent. Such groups were
numerous.
At the edge of the island, where the beach stretched and coconut groves grew luxuriantly, independent cultivators and the least
competent groups were resting and recuperating.
Obviously, the entire Sand Island had been divided into separate domains by rival families and sects. Clear demarcations were set
as boundaries and limits of various forces or cultivators. The separation reflected the hierarchy of the martial art world. And it also
heralded the upcoming fight which would reflect the law of the jungle.
Austin's reason of choosing the remote and sparsely populated place was his prudence. Though he was fierce, powerful, and one in
a thousand, he didn't plan to attract attention or cause chaos around him. He would rather find out more about this island than
fight for a better seat like an adolescent boy. This place was good enough with painting like scenery, less people, and no threat.
‘That's it. | don't want to expose myself and cause unnecessary trouble, ' Austin thought to himself as he sat down.
He picked a nice place with shelter. There were leaves of coconut tree hiding him from the sunlight. It was really a shthat the
coconuts were still small and green. Austin raised his head, took a deep breath, and closed his eyes.
Under him, there was the white, soft sand. Above his head were the wide leaves of the coconut tree that swung with the gentle and
salty breeze. The azure sky and blue sea were at a little distance. It was a serene and soothing place to stay.
Occasionally a flock of unknown seabirds would skim over the water. It was a sight peaceful enough to gladden the heart.
Austin fell into a reverie. He just let the moments pass. Hardly a few moments had passed when something cto his mind.
He thought about that thing which was in his Space Ring.
While he was at the ruins of the ancient battlefield undersea, Austin had found a heavy purple bow lying in the deposited silt. At
the start, he didn't pay much attention to it. But later, something about that purple bow haunted him. So he had dug it up and kept
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmit carefully. A lot of things happened after that. Austin was forced to lay the mysterious weapon aside. Now, he finally had tto
probe into it.
Austin raised his head again. It was the giant palace he was looking at. He was nearly hundreds and thousands miles away from it.
It was not only at the center of the big island but also high up in the clouds. The building still looked immense and gigantic. He kept
wondering what he would see if he really set foot in the palace.
The palace was hidden by one auspicious cloud, and stood out against a background of magnificent beams of radiating sunshine.
The cloud seemed to be rich in spiritual energy, and was staying close as though monitoring or guarding it.
"I'm afraid the residence of the ancient master won't open any tsoon," murmured Austin. "Well, | guess | have plenty of tto
do something else."
He could do what was on his mind from a long time. Austin reached inside his Space Ring and took out the heavy purple bow.
Austin assumed that the weapon was an extraordinary magical treasure, since it was from the remains of an ancient battlefield. It
was a wonder that the bow was still in good condition and ready for use.
'If I can refine it, | will have a new trump card." Austin was pretty confident about it.
Austin had made up his mind about the bow, so he released his spiritual sense and it swept the area.
‘Great! Nobody is paying any attention to me!" Austin grinned.
Suddenly, he initiated his miniature City model and sent himself into it.
When Austin was nowhere to be found, the City shrank to the size of a grain of sand and fell onto the beach. It blended completely
into the white fine sand of the beach. It becas peaceful as it was before.
On the other hand, Austin was standing in the middle of an empty street of the City. He released the heavy purple bow. The bow
suspended itself mid-air and awaited for its new master to take control.