"This is Fenlai City!"
Late at night, Linley stood outside Fenlai City, gazing at the vast city before him with a sigh.
Half a year ago, Linley had set out for the Magical Beast Mountain Range. He had passed through a few cities along the way, but none were as grand as the royal capital before him.
"Fenlai City is the economic, political, and cultural center of the entire Fenlai Kingdom. The Radiant Church's headquarters is here as well, so naturally, it can't be compared to an ordinary city."
Hillman stood beside Linley, smiling.
In the original story, it had been Hillman who accompanied Linley to take his magic aptitude test.
But now, it was Hogg.
"Let's go." Hogg patted Linley on the shoulder. "Fenlai City has no curfew. We'll find a hotel and stay there for the night."
At Hogg's words, Linley nodded and followed him into Fenlai City.
Fenlai City was broadly divided into eastern and western districts.
The eastern district was the royal capital of the Fenlai Kingdom, while the western district housed the headquarters of the Radiant Church.
With a population of over a million, Fenlai City was one of the most prosperous cities on the entire Yulan Continent.
Linley and Hogg walked along the eastern district's main thoroughfare, Champs-Élysées Avenue, while Linley looked around.
The flagstone road was wide enough for several carriages to travel side by side.
Rows of pine trees lined both sides of the road, and magical lamps illuminated them. Even at night, the entire street remained brightly lit.
Though it was already late at night, plenty of customers were still coming and going from the hotels, bars, clothing shops, and other businesses lining the street.
The people passing by were dressed far more elegantly than Linley and Hogg.
Linley's curious glances in every direction drew quiet laughter from quite a few of them.
Country bumpkins in the city.
That was what the people around them thought of Linley and Hogg.
The murmurs weren't loud, but Linley and Hogg heard every word.
Still, the two of them simply exchanged smiles.
Linley and Hogg were, respectively, at the peak of Rank 9 and just beginning to enter Rank 9.
Even if they went to the Fenlai Royal Palace, the Golden Lion would greet them with a smile.
Only these ignorant nobles would judge people by appearances.
Strength really was the greatest source of confidence.
"Come on, Linley." Hogg's gaze settled on a hotel. "Let's check in there."
The two soon arrived in front of a seven-story building.
"Why are those two bumpkins going to the Huali Hotel?"
"They must be new to the city. They probably have no idea how much it costs to stay there."
"Do they think Fenlai City is just like their countryside?"
"Wouldn't be surprised if the hotel manager throws them out in a minute."
"..."
Seeing Linley and Hogg walk straight into the Huali Hotel, many people snickered gleefully.
Quite a few bored onlookers gathered, waiting to see when the two would be thrown out.
But five minutes passed.
"Why haven't they been thrown out yet?"
Ten minutes passed.
"Why's nothing happening?"
Twenty minutes passed.
Linley and Hogg still hadn't been thrown out, and by then, most of the crowd waiting for a laugh had dispersed.
They realized that they had judged the two country folk too quickly. Perhaps they really were loaded.
But there were still people who refused to believe it.
A slightly plump, bald man in a tailcoat approached the Huali Hotel, leaning on his cane.
"That's Baron Modu."
"What's he going to do?"
"That fellow looks down on country nobles more than anyone. This should be entertaining!"
"..."
Ignoring the chatter behind him, Modu entered the lobby of the Huali Hotel.
"Sir, how may I help you?"
A waiter immediately came over and bowed slightly.
"I want to see your manager."
Modu held his head high and didn't even look at the waiter, putting his aristocratic bearing on full display.
"Please wait a moment!"
The waiter glanced at Modu, then turned and left.
"Hello, sir. I'm the hotel manager. You can call me Mylun." Mylun Dawson looked Modu up and down. "How may I help you?"
"Isn't the Huali Hotel supposed to be the finest hotel around?" Modu raised his voice. Several guests in the lobby turned to look. "Why didn't you throw out those two country bumpkins who came in earlier?"
"Sir, please mind your words." Mylun Dawson's expression changed, and he raised his voice as well. "Everyone who comes to the Huali Hotel is an honored guest. We never pass judgment on our customers."
As he spoke, Mylun made a subtle gesture with his right hand.
Two Rank 7 Warriors came over from a corner of the lobby, covered Modu's mouth, and escorted him outside.
Watching Modu's retreating figure, Mylun Dawson's face darkened.
He had only come to inspect the hotel today and hadn't expected something like this.
If Modu's remarks got around, they would deal a serious blow to the reputation of the Huali Hotel—and to the entire Dawson Chamber of Commerce.
In a suite on the hotel's fifth floor, Linley stood by the window, watching Modu being thrown out and beaten. There wasn't a trace of sympathy in his eyes.
With Linley's current strength, he could clearly hear everything around him if he wanted to.
Modu had been hostile toward Linley and his father from the very start. He had even followed them to the hotel.
All because Linley and Hogg were from the countryside?
Could anyone really be that stupid?
"Linley." Doehring's figure drifted out of the Coiling Dragon Ring. "You have to understand that not everyone has the talent to cultivate, and not everyone can persevere in their cultivation."
Doehring paused and looked out the window, his voice turning wistful. "Some people spend their lives chasing fame and fortune, believing that power and money can accomplish anything. They forget that strength is what matters most in this world."
Doehring's words reminded Linley of Philip.
Wasn't Philip just like that noble from the royal capital?
"I understand, Grandpa Doehring." Linley nodded solemnly. "I won't get caught up in those things. Strength will always be my primary goal."
Doehring smiled broadly at Linley's answer.
Meanwhile, inside the System Space.
"Sure enough, having Doehring around saves me a lot of trouble." Watching the live feed from the outside world, Lin Ke nodded with satisfaction. "Doehring is all Linley needs as a spiritual mentor. Linley will soon reach the Saint-level. I should prepare more products related to the Laws for him."
As Lin Ke spoke, a large number of items appeared in the System Space, and Lin Ke began testing them one by one.
Back in the outside world.
"Linley." Hogg came into Linley's room. "I'm going to sell these Magic Beast Cores."
Hogg looked excited. "If we auction off these ten Magic Beast Cores, they'll fetch at least a million gold coins."
"Father." Seeing Hogg's expression, Linley couldn't help asking, "Are we really that short of money?"
Linley's question left Hogg stunned for a moment. Then Linley continued.
"I'm at the peak of Rank 9, and you've just entered Rank 9. Getting Rank 8 Magical Beast Cores won't be difficult for us. Money doesn't mean much to us."
"That's right!" Hogg nodded as the realization dawned on him. "I understand. The Huali Hotel should have a way to sell them. I'll just have them handle it. Go to bed early, Linley."
With that, Hogg turned and left.
"Chirp~"
Bebe jumped from the bed onto Linley's shoulder.
"Hungry?" Linley glanced sideways at Bebe, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. "Wait a moment. I'll have someone bring you something to eat."
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