Placidium

During the day, walking on the mountain road, Jia Ruo wielded his sword, flying around Yi as Yi taught him the profound principles of martial arts in simple terms. At night, they meditated in the air amidst the forest, circulating mana within their bodies, with green and purple lights interweaving.

Sometimes they talked at length, sometimes they spoke briefly.

As the weather gradually warmed, Ionia transformed from a place of spring chill to one that was pleasant and agreeable.

Yi finally felt at ease—Jia Ruo had fully learned his true inheritance.

As for the path ahead, it was up to him to forge his own way.

May the Unending exist forever.

One day, Yi, Jia Ruo, and Neeko arrived before a bridge.

On the other side of the bridge lay Placidium.

"This..."

Jia Ruo looked up at the magnificent bridge, unable to conceal his inner shock.

The bridge passed under incredibly tall archways, and the bridge itself was suspended in mid-air by ropes hanging from the archways.

It was important to note that each of these archways was erected from the cliff below the bridge.

Clouds and mist filled the space beneath the bridge, and Jia Ruo had no idea how deep it was, only that looking down from the bridge made him dizzy.

Even on Earth, with its high technology, he had never seen such a breathtaking structure.

Without a doubt, this must be a product of magic.

Walking on the bridge, which was as wide as a six-lane road on Earth, Jia Ruo saw pedestrians coming and going, among them quite a few Vastaya.

Like the villagers in the various villages before, they wore colorful clothing, but most people on the bridge carried bamboo baskets or luggage on their backs.

It took them nearly ten minutes to cross the bridge.

Neeko, like Jia Ruo, was visiting a big city in Ionia for the first time.

They were like Grandma Liu Visiting the Grand View Garden, looking around curiously.

Although not arranged in an ordered distribution like a tic-tac-toe shape, the streets of Placidium extended irregularly, revealing a unique aesthetic sense.

Walking on the spacious and tidy streets, the houses on either side were different from those in the villages.

Although they were also wooden, the houses in Placidium were not built from lumber.

Instead, they seemed to be made from living trees as frames, with wall panels added by people, exuding a natural beauty.

Between these houses, some merchants had set up stalls, selling mostly food and ornaments.

"Placidium is truly prosperous! Neeko likes it here."

Placidium, a city where humans and Vastaya coexist, made Neeko feel like it was the prototype of her Utopia.

"Master, Placidium is so big. Where do we report to the council? Also, what is the Job you mentioned for me and Neeko?"

"Don't rush, Jia Ruo. Just follow me. Also, I'll tell you about the current Political Situation in Ionia, so you don't accidentally offend anyone."

Yi walked ahead of Jia Ruo and Neeko with his hands behind his back, and began to speak of Ionia as he understood it.

Ionia, built on a Vast Archipelago surrounded by treacherous seas, is composed of many Allied Provinces.

Placidium is located in the Heartland of this land and is one of Ionia's most Sacred Places.

Many people make the Long Journey here to study at a Renowned Academy or to practice Meditation in the unrestrained, prosperous Magic Gardens.

Undoubtedly, this is also why it has become an Invasion Target coveted by Noxus...

Currently, Ionia's Ruling Head, or rather, the Leadership Department, is a council composed of Highly Respected Wise Persons from various regions of Ionia.

The pursuit of the Balance of All Things has been Ionia's long-standing Cultural Tone. Therefore, the Boundary between the material and Spiritual Realms is almost imperceptible here, especially in the wilderness forests and Mountains.

Although the Mana in this land can be Unpredictable, and the Inhabiting Creatures can be Dangerous and Magical, the residents of Ionia have lived a Prosperous Life for the past few hundred years.

The Martial Arts Monasteries, the Militia of each province, and even the land of Ionia itself were sufficient to protect the local residents.

But all of that ended twelve years ago, because that year, Noxus sent troops to attack Ionia.

The boundless Imperial Army rampaged through Ionia, and it took the Ionians years of Hard Battle and immense sacrifice to Defeat Enemy.

Today, Ionia is in a Fragile Peace.

Different responses to that war have caused a Division in this land—some groups, like the Warrior Monks of Shu Ji and the Kinkou Order, want to return to their Secluded peace and Pastoral traditions.

Other, more Radical Factions, such as the Navoli Brotherhood and the Shadow Order, advocate for the militarization of the land's magic to establish a Unified Nation strong enough to enact Retaliation against Noxus.

Ionia's Destiny hangs in a Delicate Balance, with almost no one willing to push it in any direction, yet everyone can feel the land beneath their feet is Restless.

"Ionia is at a Focal Point, whether it will Sink or Float is still Unknown. This time, if Zed, or rather the Shadow Order, does this, the council will not Ignore it."

Yi paused as he said this. He thought of Master Ku Shuo.

He was the former Sect Leader of the Kinkou Order and the previous Eye of Twilight.

Yi had a brief meeting with Master Ku Shuo, a Chance Encounter from how long ago?

Yi couldn't remember, but he was certain that Ku Shuo was a person with Great Wisdom within him.

Later, Yi heard shocking news: Ku Shuo's Beloved Disciple, Zed, not only committed Matricide with his own hands but also Expelled his fellow disciples from the Kinkou Order, established the Shadow Order on the Kinkou Old Site, and thus Renamed himself Zed.

He merely lamented that the world had lost a master, and the council remained indifferent to the matter.

That was the Kinkou Order's internal affair; they had no right to interfere.

Perhaps it was a bit cold, but wouldn't matricide be punished by Smite?

It wouldn't.

Since ancient times in Ionia, the various sects had never interfered with each other. Meddling in another sect's affairs had always been taboo.

He hadn't expected to actually clash with Zed this time.

Ku Shuo, what exactly did you and your disciple go through?

"And then?"

Jia Ruo's voice pulled Yi back from his thoughts.

"Then, we need to report this matter to the council. Look."

Yi raised his hand. Following the direction of Yi's finger, Jia Ruo saw a magnificent monastery.