Chapter 13: Entering the City

“Going to Yishui City?” Zong Ling and Tong San were still excited when they heard Dongbo Xueying’s words and couldn’t help but feel surprised, because in the past Dongbo Xueying had always been diligent in cultivation, rarely visiting Yishui City even once a year.

“Xueying, are you planning to buy a weapon?” Zong Ling suddenly asked.

Dongbo Xueying was slightly taken aback, then smiled, “I almost forgot, yes, I do need to buy a spear. Actually, the reason I’m going to Yishui City this time is because the New Year is approaching, and after the New Year, Qing Shi will be ten years old! He can’t keep playing around like this, and I promised him long ago that when he turned ten, I would find him a good mage teacher to start his formal training.”

“Yes, a mage teacher is extremely important,” both Zong Ling and Tong San nodded solemnly.

Mages are knowledgeable and wise.

Without a good teacher’s guidance, it’s difficult to become a knowledgeable and wise mage by self-cultivation alone. Moreover, the advancement of mages involves the soul, and reckless self-training could damage the soul, leaving one regretful too late to do anything about it.

“There is only one Star-ranked mage in the entire Yishui City—Bai Yuanzhi,” Dongbo Xueying said. “Great Mage Bai Yuanzhi resides within the city, and I plan to visit him, hoping he will accept my younger brother as his personal disciple.”

“Personal disciple?” Zong Ling expressed concern, “That might be quite difficult.”

Teaching mages involves comprehensive instruction in knowledge, thinking, and more.

The relationship between a mage and his personal disciple is as close as that between parent and child. Therefore, the more powerful the mage, the more they prefer to take only nominal disciples, giving them general guidance while leaving their achievements to depend entirely on themselves. As for carefully mentoring personal disciples, a powerful mage would rarely take more than a few in their entire life, because mages also need time for their own cultivation, and taking too many personal disciples would hinder their progress!

“How can we know without trying?” Dongbo Xueying smiled.

…

Two days later.

After all, Dongbo Xueying was nearly at the level of a “Spear Master,” and although his power had surged, after adapting for two days, he had fully acclimated. Thus, he set off toward Yishui City, accompanied by his younger brother, Zong Ling, and a retinue of a hundred cavalry soldiers.

“It’s been a while since I last entered the city with my older brother,” Qing Shi was very excited.

Dongbo Xueying rode his Frosty Colt, while Qing Shi sat joyfully in his older brother’s arms.

As a second-tier magical beast, the Frosty Colt ran extremely smoothly, and its current speed was merely a leisurely stroll! After all, it had to allow the cavalry behind to keep up. If the Frosty Colt were to gallop at full speed, it would probably vanish in the blink of an eye.

Merely after a short half-hour, a majestic city came into view.

The castle was merely over a hundred li away from Yishui City!

When their parents had chosen their territory, they had deliberately selected a domain close to the city! The edge of Xueying Domain already reached the city’s outskirts.

“It’s the cavalry of Xueying Domain.” The lazy guards at Yishui City’s gate saw the thundering cavalry galloping from afar and immediately stood at attention. From the emblem on the armor of the cavalry—”a snow eagle spreading its wings”—they recognized the identity of the approaching riders. Moreover, each cavalry soldier carried a large Starbreaker Crossbow, which was unique to Xueying Domain!

“The one in front is the young Lord of Xueying Domain, and the one in his arms is his younger brother, young master Qing Shi.”

“Never thought this young lord would actually enter the city.”

“He rarely comes here.”

“His younger brother often comes. I’ve seen young master Qing Shi several times in the past month alone.”

The city guards chatted among themselves and stood aside, allowing the cavalry to enter the city.

The Empire had existed for over nine thousand years, and the lowest-level city guard units had long since become corrupt, only capable of intimidating minor thieves. They dared not provoke major nobles or powerful bandits.

…

“It’s the young lord of Xueying Domain.”

“Make way.”

“Clear the path.”

The people inside the city looked on curiously, keeping a wide distance as the young lord of one of Yishui City’s top ten families, with its current lord personally visiting, was indeed a grand sight.

“Xuming General Store!” A massive shop stood out prominently.

“This is it.”

“Neigh~” Dongbo Xueying pulled his horse to a stop and immediately gave orders, “Wait outside for me.”

“Yes, my lord,” the soldiers respectfully responded.

“Uncle Zong, let’s go,” Dongbo Xueying handed his horse to one of his subordinates and, holding his younger brother’s hand, entered Xuming General Store with Zong Ling.

Though called a general store, the shop’s facade spanned nearly a hundred meters, with dozens of clerks and many customers.

It was the largest and finest weapon shop in the entire Yishui City.

“Yishui City is ultimately only a county-level city; very few can afford top-tier alchemical weapons,” Zong Ling chuckled. “A second-tier alchemical weapon costs several ten thousand gold coins—enough to buy the entire Xueying Domain. How many nobles in Yishui City can afford such a price? If they want to buy one, they’d probably have to go to the Prefecture City, or even all the way to the Provincial Capital! So here, most weapons are non-tiered, and first-tier alchemical weapons are already considered the best. Perhaps there’s a second-tier alchemical weapon as a store treasure.”

Dongbo Xueying nodded slightly; the spear he had previously broken was a non-tiered weapon.

“Ah, so this is the legendary Dongbo Xueying of Xueying Domain! Haha, I’ve heard much about you, young brother, but this is our first meeting!” A middle-aged man in a purple robe walked out with a smile.

“Xueying, this is the shop owner, Baron Quan Xuming,” Zong Ling introduced.

“Greetings, Baron Quan,” Dongbo Xueying smiled.

Among the influential figures in Yishui City, Quan Xuming was one of the few notable ones! Once a great merchant with vast business ventures, he later retired from his travels, returned to his hometown, purchased a domain, and opened this general store. Though called a general store, it carried all sorts of rare treasures and weapons, making it the best in Yishui City.

One could easily tell his influence from the sheer number of valuable items.

“I’ll take the liberty to call you younger brother Xueying,” the man in the purple robe chuckled. “What brings you to my humble shop?”

“A spear,” Dongbo Xueying replied.

“Baron Quan, bring out the best spear your shop has,” Zong Ling added.

“Yeah, the best, bring out all the best!” Qing Shi beside them was extremely excited.

“Haha… impressive! However, my shop is ultimately just a small one. There are only three spears I’d consider top-tier,” the man in the purple robe thought to himself. Usually, those with weaker abilities didn’t need alchemical weapons of tiered quality. It seemed this young lord had considerable strength—perhaps he had already reached the Sky-tier Knight level. He immediately turned to give orders, “Go, bring out the three best spears for younger brother Xueying to choose from. Younger brother Xueying, let’s go inside and sit down for a chat.”

Many customers on the shop floor had already noticed Dongbo Xueying and were quietly discussing him.

Although Dongbo Xueying rarely entered the city, his name had long been the subject of much discussion in Yishui City. At eight years old, he had become the lord of a territory, and it was said he practiced spear techniques daily to the point of obsession. Rumors also circulated that his parents had been captured or even killed—many different tales, some of which were clearly false.

Inside the private room.

Tea and pastries were served, and a brief exchange of pleasantries took place.

Six servants, two carrying a weapon case each, brought in a total of three ancient weapon chests.

“Open them all, let younger brother Xueying have a look,” the man in the purple robe instructed.

Thump! Thump! Thump! The three weapon chests were all opened.

Dongbo Xueying’s eyes immediately lit up as he looked closely at the contents.