Grey had dealt with the bandit camp. Given the gap between his strength and theirs, there was no way they were able to even show any hint of resistance. He isn't a saint, but seeing bandits who would've most likely robbed and killed a lot of people, he didn't have a bit of sympathy for them. As long as he encountered them, he didn't have any problems dealing with them.
After dealing with the bandits, he continued on his way.
The rest of the journey was uneventful. With his current strength, there were very few things that could threaten him, so traveling has become quite easier. When he first came to the Aurora Continent, he was forcefully taken by Sylvia and made to compete in different regions. With his current strength, there was no way something like that would happen... well, as long as Half God Plane Elementalists were excluded!
He soon got to the Southern Continent, and after a short moment of recalling the location the O'Brien Family was located, he rushed towards it.
Grey got to the gates of the Manor and knowing that there were a few experts in the Manor, he didn't dare to be careless. If there were no Half-God Plane experts present in the O'Brien Family, he would've sneaked in to meet up with Ellis and then quietly left. But when he used his mental sense to inspect the place a few minutes ago, he sensed a powerful aura that scared him and not just one too. A Peak Ninth stage Sovereign wouldn't give him such a feeling.
After informing the guard of his intention to see Ellis, he was asked to wait outside, and only after about five minutes did he hear rushed steps coming from inside the Manor.
"Grey, it's been so long."
Before Grey could see the figure, a familiar voice came from behind the gate. The owner of the voice soon opened the gate and looked in Grey's direction. Seeing the familiar face, Grey nodded.
Ellis looked at Grey with a surprised face and led him into the Manor, apologizing for keeping him waiting.
After the duo entered the Manor, Ellis led Grey to a garden.
"I wonder what brought you here this time?" Ellis gave Grey a questioning look. Since Grey came to the Aurora Continent, other than the first time Grey came to his place, he hadn't come to visit again. The last time they saw each other was after Ellis delivered something to Grey a few weeks before the opening of a secret world.
"I'm heading to the Vaergahl Family, so I decided to check up on you," Grey replied with a smile; scanning Ellis with his mental sense, he noticed that he was already a stage Sovereign.
While he was scanning Ellis, Ellis was doing the same. When he realized that he couldn't sense Grey's cultivation stage, he wore a shocked expression.
"What stage are you now?" He couldn't hold it in and chose to ask.
When he heard Grey's reply, his eyes twitched repeatedly. The last time he saw Grey, he was still a few stages above him, so after trying to sense his cultivation stage and he couldn't, he realized that he might be stronger hence the reason he asked the question. Hearing Grey's answer, although he already knew it, he almost couldn't accept it.
He had been cultivating very hard over the past few years and had gotten to the Second stage of the Sovereign Plane in such a short time that even the Elders of the Family praised him as a thousand years' talent, yet he couldn't compare to Grey. And unlike most people, he knew where Grey grew up. At the time he first saw Grey, the other was only an Origin Plane Elementalist while he was in the Sage Plane already. Yet in the space of just over a decade or so, Grey had not only caught up but had fully surpassed him.
While Ellis was in a state of shock, Grey, on the other hand, was reminiscing about the time he was still in the Azure Continent. At that time, the Overlord Plane was his goal. Now, he has gone past the Overlord Plane, reaching a realm way higher than it.
The duo quickly came out of their dazed state with Ellis asking, "Heading to the Vaergahl Family might be a little dangerous for you."
Grey looked at him with a confused expression.
"The Dragon blood essence you used."
"Oh... will they be able to sense that?" Grey didn't think about this. Although he recalled using it, he felt that since it had been so long, there was no way they'd be able to know that he used
"They shouldn't, but you should be very careful. If they notice it, you'll be in some trouble. Of course, you don't have to worry about your life, no one wants to make your father an enemy at such a time." Ellis waved off the matter. Although he was a bit concerned about it, given Grey's identity, there's very little the Vaergahl Family could do to him, no matter how upset they were.
Grey also didn't think too much about it. As long as he was careful, they shouldn't be able to sense it. With that thought in mind, he engaged in a long conversation with Ellis.
The duo spoke for an hour or so before Grey told Ellis of his intention to set out for his mission. Ellis didn't have any problems with Grey leaving, and after giving Grey the direction to the Vaergahl Family territory, the duo parted ways.
A day went by in a flash.
With Grey's speed, it didn't take long to cover a few thousand kilometers. Arriving at the destination, he saw the Vaergahl Manor. On the gates, the image of a Dragon was drawn on both sides. He walked to the gate and introduced himself, letting them know the reason for his visit.
Someone soon came out to lead Grey into the Manor where he was taken to a large square where a group of people were gathered.