The azure sky was clear, without a cloud for thousands of miles.
People flowed through Maple Leaf City in an unceasing stream, and it was bustling with life.
Six years had already passed since the city lord's son, Hong Ting, was born.
Over these six years, Maple Leaf City had suffered neither disaster nor calamity. The weather had been favorable and the rains timely, while its scale continued to expand. It had long since grown more than tenfold beyond its former size, becoming the greatest human city across the entire plain.
Chirp chirp chirp chirp...
A flock of spirit sparrows flew in from somewhere unknown, their whole bodies glittering with golden light as they swept through the sky.
Possessing extraordinary spirituality, they flew straight above the city lord's residence, then suddenly burst apart with a series of pops, turning into specks of golden radiance that rained down.
Within the city lord's residence, Hong Ting was brandishing the little treasured sword in his hand, weaving swiftly through the artificial rock formations while practicing his swordsmanship.
For a time, Hong Ting himself could not be seen. Only clusters of sword light flashed everywhere like bright silver.
"Good!"
"Amazing!"
"The young master truly possesses unparalleled talent! He has only studied this swordsmanship for three months, yet he has already mastered it completely. Its bearing is stern and imposing—simply unimaginable!"
The surrounding guards praised him one after another, every word sincere.
City Lord Hong Zhu stroked his beard and nodded with a smile. He was filled with pride in his son. As for shock, that emotion had long since faded away.
Over these years, Hong Ting's aptitude and performance had repeatedly shattered the limits of his understanding, making him realize just how shallow his former comprehension of the word "genius" had been.
Having been