BLEEDING UNIVERSE (The warrior in two worlds)

Chapter 6

Behind him, the arrivals terminal was in absolute chaos.

He could hear Kate’s screeching voice cutting through the noise of the sliding glass doors, shouting threats and demanding that he turn around.

“You get back here, you silly village boy. You know no place over here, listen to me at once.” She shouted at him.

Margret remained silent, but her calm expression cracked for the first time.

Baron didn’t even turn his head. He didn’t care.

He walked with quick, heavy steps toward the open curb.

In his past life, he had stood in that exact spot for forty-five minutes, shivering in the breeze, waiting for them to finish their luxury coffee before they finally dragged him to their sports car.

He had been so terrified of getting lost in this massive city. He hadn't known the streets, the buses, or the rules.

But this wasn't his past life. This was a life he had already lived, memorized, and conquered.

He knew every single corner of Tuntadel City like the back of his hand.

He knew the shortcut lanes, the crowded avenues, and the hidden alleys. He didn't need their charity, and he certainly didn't need their pity.

A wave of pure, total freedom washed over his chest. For the first time since his rebirth, he felt like he was completely holding the steering wheel of his own destiny.

Standing right at the edge of the yellow-painted taxi lane, Baron raised his right hand. He didn't look desperate or frantic like the other travelers.

He just raised his hand with absolute, calm confidence.

Screech.

A standard yellow city cab pulled out of the chaotic traffic lane and slid to a smooth halt right in front of him.

Baron grabbed the handle, pulled the door open, and hopped inside, slamming it shut behind him. He threw his single, faded blue backpack onto the seat next to him.

"Where to?" the middle-aged driver asked, pulling down the meter tab.

"Tuntadel City University."

"You got it."

For nearly a minute, neither of them spoke.

The middle-aged driver kept stealing glances at Baron through the rearview mirror, his eyes locking onto Baron’s face over and over again. He looked incredibly curious.

Finally, he couldn't help himself.

"Kid..."

"You were the one at the airport just now, weren't you?"

Baron looked up, “What makes you think that?"

The driver chuckled.

"I've been parked outside this terminal for years. I saw the whole thing. You dropped that big guy with one punch."

He shook his head in disbelief, "Honestly... I still can't believe it."

"He hangs around the airport all the time, picking on newcomers. Most people just apologize and take the beating. I've never seen anyone knock him down before."

Baron remained calm.

"He started it."

"Yeah." The driver nodded. "He always does."

He hesitated for a second before lowering his voice.

"Word is... somebody pays him to target certain people. He doesn't usually pick random fights."

Baron's eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly. "I figured."

"You don’t seem surprised." The driver glanced at him again.

"I've met worse." Baron answered casually.

The driver laughed awkwardly."Worse?"

"Kid, you talk like you've lived through a war."

Baron looked out the window. "I have."

The calm certainty in his voice made the driver strangely unable to laugh.

"Uh... right. Cool," the driver muttered, suddenly feeling a bit intimidated by the kid's intense vibe.

He simply gripped the steering wheel tighter, deciding it was better to just drive.

The radio continued playing softly as the taxi sped onto the expressway.

Outside, the towering skyline of Tuntadel City gradually filled the horizon.

Baron leaned his head back against the worn leather headrest and slowly closed his eyes.

He took a deep, silent breath, pulling the outside air into his nose and down into his lungs.

He wasn't just breathing; he was using his ancient sensory techniques to test the atmosphere of the planet.

A moment later, disappointment flickered across his face.

Just like I remembered, Baron thought, his brows knitting together slightly.

The spiritual energy on Earth right now is completely dried up. It's almost dead.

Compared to the cosmic realms where he had spent a hundred years—where the natural energy flowed like thick, heavy rivers through the sky—the air on Earth felt suffocatingly thin. It was like trying to drink water from a bone-dry desert well.

To a normal cosmic cultivator, this planet was a literal prison. There was almost no Qi in the atmosphere to absorb. If he tried to train using standard methods, it would take him fifty years just to clear his first energy meridian.

But Baron didn't panic.

His greatest advantage had never been Earth’s spiritual energy, It was the hundred years of cultivation experience engraved into his soul.

Every cultivation technique, every hidden treasure, future opportunity, every person is worth recruiting and every enemy is worth eliminating.

He would take them all before anyone else could.

A slow smile appeared on Baron's lips.

"The game begins."