Leaving Flowing Frost for Purple Thorn City

Flowing Frost.

Bart's Manor.

Thud!

"What an adorable little rabbit!"

Lian Qiu cried out in delight, and the little thing she had just caught was lifted into the sunlight.

She took the rabbit from Lei Wen, as carefully as if she were holding some rare treasure, her fingers gently stroking its soft fur.

"It's so white! Not a single black hair!"

"Brother, where did you catch it?"

The little girl smiled so brightly that her eyes curved into crescents.

Her fair little face was still smeared with dirt from earlier, making her look both silly and adorable.

"Right in the forest outside the city!"

"It ran into the bush in a panic, so I caught it and brought it back."

Lei Wen shrugged casually.

"Good boy!"

"This little rabbit is so clever!"

"Look, it's moving its ears. It's listening to me talk!"

Lian Qiu wrinkled her little nose.

She could not put it down, completely immersed in the joy of having a new pet.

Seeing his little sister's beaming face, Lei Wen quietly let out a breath of relief.

Luo Ye's "sister-con skills" were truly useful!

In the blink of an eye, a month had passed.

That morning, Bart's Manor was much livelier than usual.

A finely decorated carriage stood at the manor gate. Servants bustled in and out, carrying boxes and bags of all sizes.

Those were Lian Qiu's things for Moria Academy.

The carriage was stuffed with dresses, shoes, and all sorts of snacks and pastries she had carefully picked out.

Even the teddy bear she usually loved hugging was packed inside.

"Have you checked everything?"

"Did we leave anything behind?"

Xue stood beside the carriage, holding a long list and checking off each item one by one.

She had specially worn a light purple dress today, looking especially graceful and elegant.

But the worry she could not hide between her brows revealed her reluctance as a mother.

"Mom!"

"You've checked it three times already!"

"I'm only going to academy, not wandering the world. If I need anything, I can just buy it there."

Lian Qiu rolled her eyes helplessly.

Yet this time, she did not argue with her mother. Instead, she clung to her mother's arm with a hint of attachment.

"You child!"

"How could things outside be as good as things from home?"

"Barte Lei, say something too!"

"Shouldn't you arrange some guards to accompany her?"

"What if she runs into danger on the road..."

Xue worriedly patted the carriage once, then turned to Barte Lei, who was directing the servants as they loaded the carriage.

"All right, all right!"

"With me there, what danger could there be?"

"Besides, Moria Academy is in the neighboring province!"

"The entire route is on official roads. Who would dare trouble the Bart family's carriage?"

Barte Lei's hearty voice interrupted his wife's nagging.

The Ninth Rank Warrior was not wearing armor today, but casual clothes.

Even ordinary fabric could not conceal his explosive muscles.

Watching this scene.

Lei Wen, standing off to the side, curled his lips faintly.

This was home.

Warm, broken, yet more reassuring than anything else.

"Let's set off."

Very soon.

With a wave of his hand, Barte Lei was the first to leap onto the foremost carriage.

Lei Wen also mounted a black warhorse.

The horse was named Black Wind, a birthday gift Barte Lei had given him nine years ago.

Black Wind was naturally not some famous steed with magical beast blood, but it was strong and had excellent endurance.

The carriage slowly began to move.

Its wheels rolled over the bluestone road, making a rhythmic clattering sound.

Lian Qiu leaned out of the carriage window and waved hard behind her.

Only when the manor gate had shrunk into a tiny black dot in her sight did she withdraw into the carriage with some disappointment.

This trip was not only for Lian Qiu to enter school; it was also a rare long journey for Lei Wen.

Ever since coming to this world, he had spent most of his time in Flowing Frost. The farthest he had gone was to the few nearby mountain villages for hunting.

Lei Wen was also full of curiosity about the outside world, especially those large cities that were more prosperous, bustling, and crowded than Flowing Frost.

The carriage headed north all the way.

The familiar hills along the road gradually gave way to open plains.

Unlike the quiet seclusion of Flowing Frost, the farther north they traveled, the more pedestrians and merchant caravans filled the road.

From time to time, they could see mages in robes carrying staffs, or warriors with great swords on their backs and cold expressions.

Lei Wen sat on his horse, seemingly admiring the scenery, but in truth he was quietly observing.

He was observing the strength of this world.

Some of the warriors on the road walked steadily, while others had deep, heavy breaths.

Some mages looked arrogant, while others muttered incantations under their breath.

Through the fluctuations of magic power around them.

Lei Wen silently assessed their strength levels.

That one with the tall build, whose steps are steady and whose landings are silent, is at least a Level Four Warrior.

That young man in gray robes has a Level Two magic crystal set into his staff. He's probably a Level Two Mage...

His observations were not pointless.

In this world where the strong were revered.

The ability to judge others often saved one's life at critical moments.

At dusk.

A majestic city gradually appeared on the horizon.

It was the city where Moria Academy was located—Purple Thorn City.

Even from far away, Lei Wen could feel the imposing pressure radiating from the city.

The City Wall stood dozens of meters high, built entirely from massive black stones, its surface mottled with marks left by the years.

People flowed endlessly through the City Gate. Carriages and horses packed the road, and the noise could be heard from several miles away.

"So this is Purple Thorn City..."

Lian Qiu poked her head out of the carriage, her small mouth slightly open in a look of shock.

In comparison.

Flowing Frost was like a tiny village in the countryside.

After entering the city, the difference became even clearer.

The streets were wide enough for several carriages to travel side by side, and the sounds of hawking and bargaining rose and fell continuously.

The pedestrians' clothes were much more splendid as well.

But what caught Lei Wen's attention most was the density of warriors here.

In Flowing Frost, a Level Six Warrior could be considered an expert, while a Ninth Rank Warrior was rare enough to be seen only once in a generation.

But here.

Less than half an hour after entering the city.

Lei Wen had already sensed dangerous auras from quite a few people.

One had to know.

Lei Wen's body and perception had both reached the level of a Level Eight Warrior.

Even some Level Six Warriors could not make Lei Wen feel threatened.

"No wonder this is the provincial capital of Purple Thorn Province."

"This city hides dragons and crouching tigers. There are more than a dozen Ninth Rank experts in plain sight alone, and I heard there's even a Saint Domain Expert stationed here!"

Speaking of his son's future.

Barte Lei rode beside Lei Wen and said in a low voice with emotion.

"Saint Domain..."

Lei Wen's pupils narrowed slightly.

That was a true peak existence.

In this world, all beneath the Saint Domain were ants. Though harsh, those words were an ironclad truth.

Saint Domain Experts possessed long lives, could fly through the air, and even wielded power capable of destroying heaven and earth.

To ordinary people, and even to Ninth Rank experts, they were beings like gods.

"Father!"

"Who is that Saint Domain Expert?"

Lei Wen could not help asking.

"I don't know that."

"Those great figures are elusive. How could someone like me casually come into contact with them?"

"We'll only be staying here for a few days. Once we deliver Lian Qiu, we'll leave. Just don't cause trouble."

Barte Lei shook his head and answered helplessly.

Lei Wen nodded and did not ask further.

But the flame of desire for strength in his heart burned even hotter.

In this world, only those with sufficient strength could control their own fate.