Yulan City

"What kind of atmosphere?" Liewen asked, puzzled.

Master Longers nodded. "Liewen, you have lived in Chiyan City too and experienced the atmosphere of the O'Brien Empire. The entire O'Brien Empire revered martial strength; its people worshipped the strong. It was a nation of warriors. Many nobles became nobles only because of their great strength, which was why it became the continent's foremost military power."

Liewen nodded. Take Linley's younger brother Wharton, for instance: though only an Eight-ranked Warrior, he had defeated a 9th-Level expert. Because of his outstanding strength, he had been granted the title of earl and bestowed an Earl Mansion.

"But the Yulan Empire's atmosphere was not so good. Those nobles lived extravagantly, their minds focused on indulgence and competition. They even came up with titles like hundred-year families, thousand-year families, and ten-thousand-year families."

As he said this, Master Longers showed undisguised disgust.

"Hundred-year families? Thousand-year families? Ten-thousand-year families? What are those?" Liewen asked in confusion.

"They are just pointless titles invented by a group of nobles to compete with one another."

Master Longers wore a mocking expression. "The Yulan Empire has stood for over ten thousand years, and many ancient families have long inheritances. To elevate themselves, these families divide the ranks of nobility according to their family histories."

"Those with histories exceeding a hundred years are hundred-year families; those exceeding a thousand years are thousand-year families; those exceeding ten thousand years are ten-thousand-year families. They use this to divide themselves into circles. The longer a family's history, the more noble it is considered."

Liewen understood and laughed. "That really is pointless."

Master Longers nodded in agreement. "What does family history matter? What does worldly power matter? The Saint Realm can disregard it all entirely."

Still, Liewen could somewhat understand these families' thinking. Naturally, they wanted a Saint Realm expert to emerge from their own family as well, but Saint Realm experts were not so easy to produce.

Take the Jax Family of the O'Brien Empire. Because it had produced a Mackenzie, it could control the entire Northwest Province.

One had to know that the entire O'Brien Empire had only seven provinces.

From this, it was clear just how difficult it was for a family to produce a Saint Realm expert.

Without a Saint Realm expert, a family still had to find ways to continue its lineage. Family history and worldly power could both help a family endure.

Master Longers looked at Lena playing in the air. "There are quite a few noble children at the Imperial Magic Academy, so these influences have inevitably been brought in as well. I only hope little Laina will not be affected by them. Her talent is no weaker than Dixie's, and she has hope of reaching the Saint Realm in the future."

Delia's older brother, Dixie, was now an 8th-Level Mage and had already been accepted by the High Priest as a personal disciple.

If not for Linley, Dixie would have been the foremost magical genius on the Yulan Continent today.

The riverboat sailed along the Yulan River, and after more than half a month, it finally arrived at the imperial capital, Yulan City.

Yulan City was the oldest city on the Yulan Continent. Unlike Chiyan City's iron-blooded solemnity, Yulan City exuded the ancient aura of ten thousand years of history. If Chiyan City was a ferocious magical beast, then Yulan City was more like a towering ancient tree.

Once the delegation returned to the Yulan Empire, there were naturally official procedures and ceremonies to follow.

Liewen could not be bothered with any of that. Taking Kuhn and Lena with him, he bade Master Longers farewell and left the delegation early.

As the three arrived at the city gate, a middle-aged man in luxurious clothes, his back ramrod straight, came forward to greet them.

"Mr. Liewen, I am White, the person in charge of the Dawson Chamber of Commerce in Yulan City. I have been waiting here especially for you."

While in Chiyan City, Liewen had contacted the Dawson Chamber of Commerce and paid a high price to have them purchase an estate for him in Yulan City in advance.

The Dawson Chamber of Commerce was naturally more than willing to do business for a Saint Realm expert, and it quickly took care of everything.

When White learned that Liewen and the others would arrive today, he had come early to wait for them.

The three boarded the carriage White had prepared. As it slowly began moving, it entered Yulan City.

The carriage cabin was spacious. Even with Liewen's group of three and White seated inside, it did not feel crowded.

It was the first time Liewen and the other two had visited Yulan City, and they curiously watched the street scenes beyond the windows.

The streets of Yulan City were noticeably different from those of Chiyan City.

Chiyan City's streets were bold and grand in style. Warriors and mages riding magical beasts could be seen everywhere, and the air itself seemed filled with the iron and blood of battle.

Yulan City, on the other hand, was far more luxurious. Exquisite statues were carved onto the buildings and shops lining the streets.

Pedestrians on the street dressed meticulously, and their every movement followed specific rules of etiquette. Even some rough-looking warriors appeared refined and courteous. As for anyone riding a magical beast through the streets, there was not a single one.

Knowing that it was their first time here, White enthusiastically introduced the city to them.

"Mr. Liewen, look at that white building with the pointed roof. That is the renowned Proulx Gallery. After the Day of Destruction, the Proulx Gallery's headquarters in Fenlai City relocated to Yulan City."

"Please look at that elegant circular venue. It is the Imperial Opera House, where magnificent operas are performed every day."

"And over there is the Royal Art Gallery, where many paintings by top masters are exhibited."

White introduced Yulan City's landmark buildings to Liewen and the other two.

"Mr. Liewen, Yulan City is the artistic center of the Yulan Continent. The nobles of the Yulan Empire place great importance on artistic cultivation. If one does not appreciate art or understand art, one will be looked down upon."

Liewen smiled casually. He had not studied such things and was not interested in them for the time being.

Kuhn was a warrior and had little interest in them as well.

Little Laina understood them even less.

The estate the Dawson Chamber of Commerce had bought for Liewen was on White Jade Avenue.

"Mr. Liewen, the most prestigious area of Yulan City is Yulan Road. It is where the top nobility gathers, and the imperial palace is also on Yulan Road."

"All the estates on Yulan Road already have owners, and the residents are at least thousand-year families. White Jade Avenue is second only to Yulan Road. It is home to many newly risen nobles and wealthy people. Your estate is here."

The carriage arrived before a luxurious estate on White Jade Avenue.

Liewen and the others got out one after another.

"Mr. Liewen, please come in. Everything has already been arranged. When purchasing the estate, we also followed your wishes and did not reveal that you were the buyer," White said.

Liewen nodded. He only wanted to buy an estate as a temporary residence and cultivate in peace. If people learned that the White-Clad Light Saint lived here, the threshold would likely be worn down by visitors hoping to call on him.

They entered the estate. The Dawson Chamber of Commerce had already arranged everything inside.

Several exquisite stone sculptures stood in the estate courtyard, each at least the work of a master-level sculptor.

Quite a few oil paintings hung in the hall. Liewen could not really understand them, but he could tell they were not cheap.

All the furniture was carefully selected as well. Many items had long histories and were antiques with distinguished origins.

"Mr. Liewen, in Yulan City, a noble's estate must have such things. They call it artistic cultivation and historical heritage. Otherwise, people will gossip and mock you," White explained to Liewen.

"I do not understand any of this. Wouldn't pretending to understand only make people laugh at me more?" Liewen said with a smile.

"Mr. Liewen, you need not think too much about it. In truth, many nobles do not study it deeply either. They are merely putting on airs of refinement. We only need to follow local customs," White said casually.

"Oh, right, Mr. Liewen, are you satisfied with these sculptures? Today, I arranged for Alice, the manager of the Proulx Gallery, to come personally. If you are not satisfied, you can have her replace them."