The Dawn of the New World Chapter 1540

A heavy pressure descended upon the entire lower district as Rufgar unleashed the full weight of his cultivation- the 9th Stage of the Profound Realm!

All at once, every individual be it a guard or a slave was pulled down to their knees in a strange display of equality. The walls creaked and the air hummed- singing of the minotaur's indisputable authority.

Rufgar's towering form walked out from behind the many walls to glare the cowering crowd into submission. But his pupils shrunk to the size of pinholes when his gaze fell upon the source of the commotion.

Among countless rows of kneeling slaves and guards alike, he alone stood tall.

Hao Xuan's straightened back cut deep into Rufgar's mind- an image he would not soon forget. The full pressure of his cultivation meant nothing to Hao Xuan as he met Rufgar's gaze with his head held high thanks to the Lycan bloodline.

He acknowledged the mighty minotaur with a respectful nod before voluntarily getting down on one knee with grace.

"My lord," Hao Xuan spoke loudly and clearly so everyone could hear him, "The child is sick. He was attacked by the desert spirits and his mind remains clouded by their trickery and magics. There is NO worm!"

Rufgar snapped his fingers and the pressure disappeared in an instant, allowing the slaves to breathe again.

"There will be NO MORE shouting- from ANYONE! If you do not have business here then disperse at once!" he ordered before speaking to the returning party, "You will wait here while I go over your report."

The oxen tribe members followed him to the back while the slaves sat down in a corner. Che Yun came up to Hao Xuan and got down on his hands and knees.

"It was my mistake, mast- Sir- Mr. Jin. I thought I saw the worm, I thought everyone was-"

He was on the verge of tears but tried his best to keep it together in front of the other slaves.

Hao Xuan flicked his forehead, "Don't do that."

"Ow!"

"The floor is full of filth. And it wasn't your fault, the Djinn tricked you. It could have happened to anyone."

Che Yun got up but his expression was not much better. He could barely even raise his head out of shame, "But...I didn't even do anything. You did all the work while I-"

"Shhh, what's done is done. There is no use thinking about what you could have done. If you have that much energy then-"

"Slave Jin!" one of the oxen tribe members called for Hao Xuan, "You will go first."

As Hao Xuan walked over he came across Ketillaug who gave him a friendly nod and whispered, "I will look after the youngling."

"Thank you," Hao Xuan responded in kind before venturing past the maze of walls and barricades where Rufgar's table was.

He spoke up before Hao Xuan could say anything.

"Your progress has been....exemplary. This was not your first time in a mine," he stated matter of factly, without even bothering to lift his head from the stack of papers on his desk.

Hao Xuan smirked inwardly before replying, "I spent a lifetime or two down there, yes."

"Hmm, I can see that. Even with double shifts it will take several days for the others to catch up to you."

"Does that mean I have earned enough repute to ask for a thing or two?"

Rufgar finally looked up, "Indeed. What do you desire?"

"Many things, but none that you can provide. Give the boy the medicine he needs and we will call it even."

"Done. What else?"

Hao Xuan was surprised by how easily he agreed to it.

"Really?"

"What reason would I have to lie? He gets a commission from your work, so as long as you have earned it, it can be given out."

"Then...can you help me meet with the blacksmith? I want to learn from him or at the very least, be able to use some of his work space."

Rufgar's right brow rose higher, "The blacksmith? He works for the city but we cannot order him to do anything he does not want to. I will...make a request."

"Thank you. Your man told me I did enough work to be able to take the next few days off, is that right?"

"Correct. You may stay back until the rest of the slaves catch up to you."

"Good, I will do that then. If there is nothing else-" Hao Xuan was about to turn around but Rufgar stopped him.

"You have earned far more!" he stressed, "If the city can do something for you then you may ask."

But since they couldn't give out gold and spirit stones Hao Xuan had no real use for their services.

"I don't need anything, I can fend for myself. Give whatever benefits you can to the children like Che Yun who have no one to depend on. A safe place to sleep, some food and water. However much you think I have earned, pass it on to them."

Rufgar's brow began to knit, "Are you sure?"

"I am," he nodded.

The children's pleas and prayers were far too distracting for him and he was afraid they might interfere when he ventured back into the Umbral Planes.

Before he could take his leave Hao Xuan thought about warning them of the danger that lurked under the mines. But he couldn't say it outright since they wouldn't believe a nobody like him.

So instead he casually asked, "And if I give you some extra information, will that earn me some more benefits?"

Making it seem as if his greed was behind it.