After they exchanged some rather peculiar words, the dignified-looking middle-aged man joined our group.
Along the way, the middle-aged man, a blade of grass dangling from his lips, scrutinized me for a moment. “Hey, kid,” he asked, “is that Ye Menghan? The candidate?”
I looked at him, utterly bewildered. “I am Ye Menghan, yes,” I replied, “but what candidate are you talking about? I don’t know anything about that…”
He seemed to choke a little. He then looked at Leixar. “Sis,” he questioned, “what exactly is this?”
Leixar nodded. “She truly knows nothing,” she confirmed.
“Tsk—” Yin spat out the blade of grass. “Then what are you playing at?” He was deeply perplexed. What was the point of concealing such a thing? Surely, concealment would only bring harm, not benefit.
Leixar shrugged. “That’s Klaris’s intention,” she explained.
Yin pondered for a moment, his brow furrowed. “The newly appointed Seventh Divine Pillar?” he mused. “I haven’t been in the Divine Realm for too long; I can’t quite recall her.”
“Precisely. She was also the teacher’s student,” Leixar said with a sigh. “Unfortunately, her appointment came a little late, but that’s all in the past now.”
Yin nodded. He neither understood nor cared for political matters. He was merely a sword, a blade capable of cutting down and tearing apart all enemies. It had always been so, and it remained so now.
****
Soon, we left the forest and emerged onto an exceptionally wide road. The road itself was cast in solid sections from a material resembling concrete, though it was clearly far more durable and resistant to wear.
A “flap—” sound of wings beating echoed. I looked up curiously as a colossal silhouette soared overhead, momentarily obscuring the sky.
This, this was… a silver giant dragon. Indeed, a true dragon. Its wings spanned dozens of meters, and its body stretched nearly a hundred. Under the reflection of the sun, each scale shimmered faintly, as if showcasing the terrifying power contained within.
I turned to Lavishly Karafar beside me and asked, “This… is this a giant dragon?”
Lavishly Karafar was also somewhat surprised, as she had only ever heard of such creatures. Though she knew the Land of Disorder was home to terrifying beings called giant dragons, this was her first time witnessing one. “It should be… It looks incredibly formidable,” she murmured.
Yin, standing nearby, let out a scoff. “It’s mostly for show,” he declared. “This giant dragon, aside from its imposing appearance, possesses no true power of note. In fact, ever since that year, there have been no truly powerful giant dragons left.”
This time, I could largely understand his words. It was as if I had witnessed that ultimate battle myself. The overwhelming giant dragon knights, radiating terrifying oppressive power, and their unstoppable momentum were vivid in my memory.
****
At the edge of the horizon, where vision faded, a massive city began to emerge. It had to be said, the Land of Disorder, much like the Divine Realm, was remarkably adept at blending disparate architectural styles.
From an Earthling’s perspective, it was a chaotic mix: Western-style castles stood beside Chinese-style city walls, while skyscrapers piercing the clouds neighbored stone-built taverns.
Liu Han immediately exclaimed, “The clash and exchange of cultures don’t merely lead to mutual integration; they can also create such a beautiful sense of conflicting aesthetics!”
The city was fortified with gates. Upon its fifty to sixty-meter high walls, what appeared to be heavy artillery pieces were mounted, their menacing muzzles aimed at the boundless plains.
I believed any approaching army would be utterly annihilated before even reaching the city. The main gate itself was a massive steel portal, exuding an oppressive aura.
Outside, a contingent of shield-and-sword infantry stood guard at the pass.
We walked over and presented our documents. The infantryman inserted the papers into a machine for a brief inspection, then waved us through.
Leixar walked ahead, leading the way. “Straight to Keli City’s General Assembly,” she instructed.
“General Assembly?” I was utterly bewildered. What would we do at an assembly? Weren’t we here for an exchange? Surely, we should have gone to an embassy first.
Hailing what appeared to be a “car,” we soon arrived before a massive, white, circular building.
A grand staircase ascended to the building’s entrance. At its summit, a line of formally dressed receptionists could be seen.
We disembarked. “Let’s go,” Leixar commanded, walking directly up the stone steps. We, still bewildered, followed suit.
Reaching the front of the receptionists, Leixar stated coldly, “Tianqi Academy, Leixar Xi.”
Upon hearing this, the receptionist bowed slightly. “Please follow me,” they said, then led the way.
Instructor Leixar motioned for us to follow. Then, turning to Yin, she added, “For this occasion, I must ask you to wait a moment.”
Yin waved a dismissive hand, indicating his lack of concern. “Go on,” he said. “This is quite normal; others likely don’t trust me.”
Thus, we continued onward. Before an ancient, ebony door, approximately five meters tall and adorned with golden carvings, the receptionist stopped, bowing. “This is it. Please enter,” they announced.
Leixar pushed open the grand door. Inside, a massive long table dominated the room. Around it, a circle of opulent chairs was arranged, and further out, rows of ordinary benches formed additional seating.