Chapter 698: Chapter 623 Atop Solitary Mountain (Second update, 5400)_2
"Ultimately, there are too many high-ranking figures in the Imperial Capital, and I feel constricted with much I canât doâjust like you donât wish to return to the Northern Territory and prefer to avoid your father, I feel the same staying in the Imperial Capital. If I were to stay, I would just keep on with some research and pick up a few awards."
"Whatâs the use of getting a large sum of money? It canât revive my family or make my territory thrive."
"Especially now, with so many high-power level giants gathered in the Imperial Capital... Rather than getting involved or just watching, I would rather leave as soon as possible."
"Now that the Cyclops Giant is almost complete, and with my strength at the Second Energy Level, I have enough power to make a place for myself in South Ridge."
Ian said this, and he was not lying. These were indeed his honest thoughts... part of them.
He did plan to return to South Ridge after some time, but that should be a month later, once he had wrapped up all his experiments in the Imperial Capitalâs laboratories.
But Ian was also prepared to leave at any moment.
"Is that so?"
Although Yisen Gard showed a reluctant expression, he had seen all the recent oddities in Ian and understood them, so he wasnât surprised by Ianâs desire to leave: "But thereâs no harm in participating in the design competition... "
Ian lowered his gaze, speaking earnestly, "You should submit it then. After all, the Cyclops Giant was a collaborative effort of ours."
"You have it, I have it, itâs all the same."
Yisen Gard couldnât possibly refuse Ianâs suggestion because the young man with white hair was so resolute in his will; he was determined to return to South Ridge.
So he could only nod: "Alright, itâs a bit regrettable, but itâs not a big deal."
"However, before leaving, shouldnât you prepare more supplies and information about South Ridge?"
This was indeed an excellent suggestion.
Ian couldnât possibly leave that same night; that would be somewhat too strangeâleaving in a few days would be just right. If he could endure these couple of days, he could leave without raising any suspicions.
"Iâll go collect them."
Seeing the mist fading from Huaâan and Frost Butterflyâs bodies until it was almost gone, Ian breathed a sigh of relief.
He smiled at his friend, saying, "Iâll need to ask you to help prepare some supplies for me. Otherwise, with my channels, I certainly wonât be able to assemble a supply convoy that quickly."
"Of course. Iâll organize a group of people for you, including craftsmen and artisans." Yisen Gard also couldnât help smiling, then sighed again, "Itâs just that I donât know when weâll see each other again."
"I donât think it will be too long."
Ian raised an eyebrow, "You wonât necessarily head straight back to the Imperial Capital after coming back from Icewind Fortress. Why not visit my territory then? It would be nice, wouldnât it?"
"Indeed." The golden-haired young man also smiled.
"Fairy Misses!"
After discussing the upcoming plans with Yisen Gard, Ian turned to Huaâan Shuangdie, saying, "In a few days, weâll be heading back to South Ridge! Shuangdie, will you accompany me to the territory, or will you go back to your birthplace with Huaâan to take a look?"
"Weâre going to South Ridge? Great, I also felt that the Imperial Capital got a bit boring after Mo Feng left!"
Huaâan was playing with a walnut, spinning it atop her parasol staff. Hearing this, she immediately tossed the walnut into the air, turning it into a puff of dust with âYayâ written in it as it dispersed.
Meanwhile, Frost Butterfly was cheering and clapping, "Senior Huaâan is so cool!"
The mist on both Fae had returned to normal. Under Ianâs âFamily Revival, Territory Preparationâ combined punch, anyone would think it was perfectly reasonable for him to return to South Ridge. It would actually be strange if he didnât.
As for going back to South Ridge, Frost Butterfly didnât have any particular feelings.
Although Frost Butterfly was born in the South Sea Great Labyrinth, her most vivid memories were of the Imperial Capital, simply because her time there was short and the Imperial Capital was so vast that her memories werenât very deep.
As long as she was with someone familiar, any place was a good place for Frost Butterfly.
"Then, you should go back home with Huaâan and check on things."
Seeing this, Ian thought there wasnât much of a choice. After all, once he had settled the preliminary matters in his territory, he would have to return to Harrison Portâhis identity as the Labyrinth Master, along with Shark, Green Tide, and Scott, all needed to be ready to be brought over.
So, it might be better for Frost Butterfly to continue learning with a real Fae for a while... although he wasnât sure what she could learn, it was certainly better than being just an ornament for him.
After all, with Frost Butterflyâs capabilities, it was no longer practical for her to provide him with prophecies on minor matters.
Having resolved everything and wiped out the huge crisis, Ian, feeling mentally exhausted, went to sleep.
Although at the Second Energy Level one could completely forego sleep, the exhaustion from Foresight View recovered better with a bit more rest.
One night passed.
Then another night passed.
Soon, the time came for Ian to leave the Imperial Capital.
At the same time.
The year of 773 in the Era of Tara, October 8.
Setar Empire, Imperial Capital Upper City District.
Above the halfway point of Solitary Mountain was the commonly understood Upper City District, where all Ascenders of the Third Energy Level and above had residences, even those nobles who theoretically ruled the Lower City District had their own estates in the Upper City District.
High-grade Ascenders rarely visited the Central Urban District and Lower City District, except for work. If they displayed their power naturally, walking unrestrained upon the earth, they would bring about significant changes and destruction to their surroundings.
It was only within the Upper City District, under the suppression of the Imperial Capitalâs power field, that they could live comfortably.