The villagers just clean up the messed when Cole come back with Fernan in tow.

The villagers just stood in front of Cole waiting for his speech. Even the village's woman, elderly, and kids who were hiding before was now out, Margaret and Ricky included.

When the bandits came, both Margaret and Ricky also hide along with the other. They even started to cry inside their hiding place for both Cole and Richard as well as the others.

However, not even that long had passed yet Richard came to fetch them and was told what transpired.

Everyone felt happy and proud, specially Ricky. It was his brother afterall. And for Ricky who idolizes Cole so much, he was the happier of all.

And seeing his strong brother again, Ricky can't help but run to Cole and hug him, hard.

Cole just smiled at Ricky. God knows how much Ricky like to hug, specially to him. He just ruffled the boy's head.

"As you can see, I'm with the bandit leader." Cole started. The villagers just look to him and Fernan. "He will be the guardian of the Forest Edge Village starting from now on. He will protect the village with his life and will even teach those who are interested in cultivation." Cole explained to the whole village.

The whole villagers has their mouth agape. They know how powerful the bandit leader are yet he will be the village guardian? That is absurd!

He can do whatever he want in this part of place because he was so powerful and yet, he will be the village guardian? This is unbelievable!

They can even learn cultivation from him! Although the adult doesn't really care about cultivation as they were already old and pass the best age for cultivation, but their kids wasn't!

This is their Forest Edge Village turning point!

"Is... Is th-this t-true?" The village chief asked stuttering. His breath was even labored.

"That is true." It was Fernan who answered the village chief question.

There were no reaction but seconds later, the whole village cheered.

Cole let them for a minute before he said, "Okay, let's rest now. Some of us will travel the road tommorrow."

All the villagers nod and started to walk towards their house with big smile on their faces.

Tommorrow morning.

Cole, Richard and the village chief was now ready to set-off.

Before, when the village sell their harvest, it was only composed with two wagons. Yet now, the wagon they will bring to the city was numbered five. They have a bountiful harvest this year.

Ofcourse, Ricky will come along with them and as a loving big brother, Cole say yes.

Fernan started his duty. He was left out in the village and guard the villagers.

Half a day of travel later, they were now in front of Towering Tree City. They were outside the city's towering wall and waited their turn. In their front was a gate and every civilians and caravans alike has to wait their turn to be inspected.

Half an hour later, it was finally their turn. They enter the gate arch and was stopped by one of the guards. Cole know this as he watched those before them.

"Identification Token." The guard spoke with lazy tone. That guard was doing this thing for years now that he was at the point that he was sick of his work. However, sick or not, this was his stable job. Proudly, he can even say that he can identify almost all that passed here most of the time.

The village chief seems like know this process as he was already searching his clothes before the guard to say his piece. After scrambling for a moment, he finally found it and give it to the guard.

The guard inspect the token and come to conclusion, "Forest Edge Village?" The guard said puzzledly as he looked at the wagons at their back.

"Great harvest?" The guard spoke with fake enthusiasm.

The village chief puffed his chest with pride slightly and answered, "We've got lucky this year."

"That's great!" The guard exclaimed fakely and look at the boy and a kid with them. "Who are they? This is the first I see them."

Cole take a deep sigh in his heart. My intuition tell me where this thing is going too.

"They were both my son. The younger is Ricky while the older is Cole." Richard answered the question.

"I see..." The guard trailed. "The younger had a resemblance with you but the older hasn't which means he's outsider." He said his inspection.

The guard smile evilly for a second then vanish but Cole saw it clearly as he was probably more powerful than the guard.

I knew it. This guard is trying to extort us.

"He have to pay the entrance fee or you will be accuse of illegal entry."

The village chief and Richard's face both pale. Either of the two was not good for them. However, paying the entrance fee was the best they can choose.

Their heart ached. They thought they can make some living today but it's look like luck wasn't with them today. Aching or not, they have to pay or the whole Towering Tree City will hunt and kill them.

After giving the guard a 5 silver coins, they finally entered the city.

"I have things to do. So we will just meet at the exit at sunset. Is that ok?"

Both Richard and the village chief nod their heads in agreement.

"Here." Cole put something to Richard's hand and close the fist intentionally. "Use this anyway you want."

Richard just nod without giving the gesture much of a thought. But when he open his fist and saw what the thing was, he immediately closed it again.

"Cole, this..." Richard can't even said a complete sentence. He was truly speechless!

What was in his hands?

It was a gold coin, a piece of one gold coin! They have to work for 10 years or more before they can earn this worth of money. Yet, Cole was giving them one! This was really shocking to Richard as he don't even hold a full gold coin in his entire life until now.

"Sure." Richard didn't even try to be polite as he only nod in agreement. They were living together for almost a year that they weren't new to each other. Besides, why would he deny that since their whole village needed this.

"Brother, I'll come with you." Ricky spoke.

Cole just nodded his head and hold Ricky's hand and answered, "Sure."

Cole nod his head to Ricky and the village chief and started to walk away.

Both Ricky and Cole were like walking aimlessly.

Half an hour later, they appear on the front of the building with a name "Information Pavillion."

This should have what I need.

Cole and Ricky, who was eating a sweetened apple, entered the building and appear on the lady on the counter.

"How may I help you, sir?" The lady in the counter inquired.

"I need information."

"Sure. This way please."

Cole followed the lady and appear in front of the room.

"You can come in, sir. You can ask any question and our people will answer with the best of our ability." The lady spoke in Cole and he just nodded. The last smiled, "For a price, of course." She added.

Cole just nodded his head again as he was kind of expecting this. This just further confirm his theory.

Cole entered the room. The room only had a table and chairs. It's looks like a meeting room.

Both Cole and Ricky sat down to two of the chairs and waited for a moment. Seconds later, an old man appear in the room.

The old man also sit down and looked at Cole and nod, "Every question has a price and it differs from what information you need."

"I have four gold coins." Cole said plainly.

The old man just nod and smile. He gets what the kid means. As long as it was in the scope of four gold coins he'll just have to give answers. This was this old man favorite customers and business.

Seeing the old man's gesture, Cole asked right away.

"Give me the introduction of this place."

"We are in the Forest Continent." The old man start. "And the place where we are is the very edge of it. This continent was under the rule of Azure Forest Dynasty and under them were twenty five kingdoms. We are under the jurisdiction of Red Tree Kingdom and had a fifty cities under them, including this Towering Tree City. Under those cities where countless towns and villages." The old man paused. "Sadly, this Towering Tree City was at the bottom rank of cities under Red Tree Kingdom."

Cole nodded his head as a response.

"This Towering Tree City was named after the tall tree that that was here before it was cutted down and built a city here. This city was built becuase it was near the Dark Forest. The Dark Forest was wide but only infested by Tier 1 as common and Tier 2 Wild Beast as rare beast, and a Tier 3 Wild Beast as the forest lord. Because of this, the Dark Forest was the best practice place for both Body Tempering and Mana Gathering Stage cultivator."

Cole was silent for a moment digesting the information he received.

"Do you have an information on how to breakthrough to Core Formation Stage?" Cole finally ask his purpose in coming here.

The old man look at Cole shocked written on his face.

Why is he asking this? Don't tell me this kid was in the peak of Mana Gathering Stage and wants to breakthrough to Core Formation Stage? What is this kids age? He look so young!

The old man was debating in his head. He want to ask the kid but still don't do it.

It looks like this kid don't have a master and doesn't have someone to guide him.

"I'm afraid that I can't answer that question as I also don't have that knowledge." The old man said with dejected voice. "I'm at Seventh Level of Body Tempering Stage and I only know how to breakthrough to Mana Gathering Stage."

Cole sighed. He still need to go to other place to find answers. Until then, his cultivation will still be stucked at peak of Mana Gathering Stage.

"However, I might have some information that will be useful to you." The old man spoke suddenly and Cole's curiosity kick in.

"What information?" He asked.

The old man smile at him at said, "There are many City in the Red Tree Kingdom that have a answer to your question." He trailed. "However, two years from now the Five Element Sect will start to recruit disciple again. Five Element Sect was located to Light Mountain Forest near the Stone Forest City. The Five Element Sect Leader was rumored that he had broke through to the stage beyond Nascent Soul Stage and have the same standing with the Red Tree Kingdom Royal Family."

Cole nodded to what the old man said. He can visit any city and ask the information and go to Five Element Sect for information for the next stage after the Core Formation Stage.

"I recommend you to head to Stone Forest City and ask what you need there and wait for the disciple recruitment of Five Elements Sect." The old man suggested.

Cole nod his head and said, "I'll follow that."

"Good! I can recommend you to the caravan that will travel to Stone Forest City as their final destination." The old man said happily then ask his most wanted question to the boy, "What is your cultivation stage right now?"

"Why do you need to know my cultivation stage?" Cole asked.

"If you need protection, you'll have to pay, ofcourse, while if your cultivation stage is high I'll reccomend you as their escort. With that, you don't have to pay while you can also earn money." The old man explain.

Cole erase his suspicion and nod in agreement. With this, he'll have company and will also earn some pay. Cole can't help bit appreciate the old man in his heart and also feel guilty when he suspected the old man for nothing.

"Peak of Mana Gathering Stage." Cole answered truthfully.

"Peak of Mana Gathering Stage?!" The old man exclaimed. Although he has suspicion that the kid was in peak of Mana Gathering Stage, still, hearing the confirmation was still shocking.

"Come tommorow at lunch here and I'll introduce you to the head of caravan." The old man said enthusiastically.

"Sure." Cole said in agreement.