Two months passed by on the road. In that time, no bandits or rogue mercenaries dared to attack the procession.
Considering the number of Mana Vortex Magi traveling together, not to mention some of them being the most powerful Magi their respective organizations had nurtured, it was no surprise that the procession reached their destination undeterred.
Three years had passed since the Battle of Ravenfell. In that time, Adam had experienced many things.
From drowning in madness to nearly dying on several occasions. From laughing under the twin moons to sobbing inconsolably at his loneliness. He had experienced it all.
He was already thirty-eight years old this year, an age considered to be an adult by mortal standards, yet still a child in the eyes of the Magus world.
On this day, the groupās destination had finally appeared before them.
Far into the horizon, a silhouette of a grand city reached towards the heavens. This was the seat of power for the orthodox faction of Yen-Lu. This was the headquarters for the Arcane Alliance.
"Yuanshi City," Bai Xun murmured as he looked out of the window, gazing at the silhouette of the grand city in the distance. "Weāre finally here."
Goro stuck his head out of the window, still chewing on cooked meat. He then said with a grin, "No matter how many times I visit this place, it still takes my breath away."
Everyone inside the carriage nodded.
Everyone except Adam, of course.
"Ah, I almost forgot." Goro returned to his seat. He turned to Adam, then asked, "Can you "see" that far?"
"Auhh-auhh." Adam shook his head.
"Understandable." Goro nodded, digging into the meat once again.
"Iām curious," Reika Tsuitsui softly said. "How do you even "see"?"
Adam made a bunch of random gestures, then said, "Auhh."
Goro translated for him, "Itās like a sixth sense. Iām guessing Brother Aoās spirit energy is very sharp and potent. I believe thatās what makes his observation possible even without eyesight."
Adam nodded with crossed arms. "Auhh."
Everyone else in the carriage was once again flabbergasted.
"How the hell can you even understand him?" Renji Kusakabe blurted out.
"Hmph!" Goro raised his chin and snorted in disdain. "Itās because Iām the smartest man in Yen-Lu. You Kusakabe scholars could learn a thing or two from me, you know?"
Renjiās lips twitched.
His sister, the Fleeting Phoenix, Ayaka Kusakabe, chimed in, "Brother Ao, you said youāve never visited Yuanshi City, yes?"
Adam shook his head. "Auhh-auhh."
Ayaka flashed a brilliant smile. "Then, youāre in for a wonderful experience. Yuanshi is the greatest city in Yen-Lu. After all, it was jointly built by the Nine Great Sects and Clans. It has been the seat of authority for almost a thousand years."
A
thousand years, huh?
Adam thought to himself.
Is that how long the Arcane Alliance has been active in these lands? I wonder what the true history of Yen-Lu is.
I havenāt read any records about these mystical lands in Mabi.
Speaking of...
He turned to Goro and thought,
This muscle-head went to Mabi as a kid.
What a mad bastard! Heās crazier than even me. Perhaps, he knows something about the history of Yen-Lu.
I should find some time to discuss it with him.
There were countless other smaller factions beyond the Nine Great Sects and Clans that made up the Arcane Alliance. Naturally, all of these factions had been invited to the vicennial gathering.
For a small clan or sect to become a member of the Arcane Alliance was something they took great pride in. Not only would they have access to techniques and resources, but also many other opportunities that would help elevate their station.
Given that Yuanshi City was vast, there were many private properties within that belonged to the Nine Great Sects and Clans, as well as the smaller sects and clans.
The size of the property within the city equated to their station. The bigger the size, the more influential they were, and therefore, the more power they wielded.
So, naturally, the Nine Great Sects and Clans had the most propertyāboth in terms of size and numbersāwithin the city.
As the procession entered through the towering city gates, Adam finally extended his Sphere of Resonance. In the next moment, he was stunned.
These were some of the tallest buildings he had seen! These skyscrapers were a mix of modern and traditional architecture. There were pagodas consisting of over a dozen stories. In some places, he could even see skybridges connecting buildings.
"Auhh!" He muttered in awe.
"Fascinating, isnāt it?" Reika asked with a beautiful smile.
Adam nodded.
Meanwhile, Reika was very surprised at Adamās reactions.
To think heās able to sense his surroundings to such a great extent despite not having eyesight,
she wondered.
I believe Goro was correct in his judgment. Brother Aoās spirit energy must be truly vast and potent for him to be able to use his senses to this degree.
With the same smile on her face, she added, "We shall be visiting our residence within the city to settle in. Brother Ao, why donāt you come with us?"
Goro nodded. "Yes, itās been a long journey. Iām sure youāre tired. We have a steam sauna chamber. Itās very conducive to muscle growth and recovery. You shouldā"
His words got caught in his throat when Adam disappeared.
Literally, in front of everyoneās eyes, the madman simply disappeared. Perhaps, only Goro and Bai Xun were able to notice Adamās quick movements.
"Where did he go?!" Reika blurted out in panic.
She had promised her father that she would keep an eye on Adam, then bring him home. But now, Adam had decided to simply vanish.
"Relax," Goro casually remarked as he tore a large chunk of meat. "Heās probably curious about this place. I mean, can you blame him?"
Reika was at a loss for words. She couldnāt help but ask, "How is he going to find our residence? No, more importantly, how will he enter the middle ring without a proper permit?"
Suddenly, Goro found himself at a loss for words.
"...I didnāt think about that."
Renji Kusakabe couldnāt help but taunt, "Heh, so much for being the smartest man in Yen-Lu."
***
Adam appeared within the alley the carriage had just crossed. Stepping onto the main road, he was immediately assaulted by the cacophony of noise and chatter.
For a brief moment, he even felt that the noise on the streets was louder than the voices in his head.
Sipping directly from the sake bottle, he blended in with the crowd.
Alright, time to explore this place!