Entering the City

"Going to Yi Water City?" Zong Ling and Tong San were still in high spirits, but they couldn't help but be stunned upon hearing Dongbo Xueying's words. In the past, Dongbo Xueying had been so diligent in his training that it was rare for him to visit Yi Water City even once a year.

"Xueying, are you planning to buy a weapon?" Zong Ling suddenly asked.

Dongbo Xueying was slightly taken aback, then smiled. "Uncle Zong, if you hadn't mentioned it, I would have almost forgotten. I do indeed need to buy a spear. The reason I plan to go to Yi Water City this time... is because the New Year is approaching. Once the New Year passes, Qing Shi will be ten years old! He can't keep playing around like this forever. I promised him long ago that when he turned ten, I would find him a good mage teacher so he could officially begin his studies."

"Indeed, a mage's teacher is of the utmost importance." Zong Ling and Tong San both looked very serious.

Mages are learned and wise.

Without a good teacher to guide them, relying purely on one's own intuition makes it very difficult to become a learned and wise mage. Furthermore, the advanced training of a mage involves the soul; if one were to train haphazardly and damage their soul, it would be too late for regrets.

"There is only one Star-level mage in all of Yi Water City—Bai Yuanzhi," Dongbo Xueying said. "Grand Mage Bai Yuanzhi resides within the city. I intend to visit him and hope he will accept my younger brother as a personal disciple."

"A personal disciple?" Zong Ling said, worried. "That will likely be difficult."

A mage's instruction covers knowledge, reasoning, and every other aspect of development.

The bond between a mage and a personal disciple is as close as that of parents and children. Therefore, the more formidable a mage is... the more they would prefer to take on nominal disciples, giving them casual lectures and leaving their achievements entirely up to their own efforts. As for 'personal disciples' who require meticulous guidance, even a powerful mage will not take on many in their lifetime, as mages also need to spend time on their own cultivation, and taking on too many personal disciples would hinder their progress!

"How will I know if I don't try?" Dongbo Xueying smiled.

Two days later.

After all, he was an expert who had reached the level of a 'Spear Master.' Although his strength had surged, after two days of adjustment, Dongbo Xueying had fully mastered it. He set off for Yi Water City, accompanied by his younger brother, Zong Ling, and a cavalry escort of one hundred men.

"It's been so long since I went into the city with big brother." Qing Shi was very excited.

Dongbo Xueying rode a Frost-Flying Colt, and Qing Shi sat in his arms, feeling incredibly thrilled.

As a second-rank Magic Beast, the Frost-Flying Colt was extremely steady when galloping, and its current speed was merely a leisurely stroll for it! After all, they had to let the cavalry troop behind them keep up. If the Frost-Flying Colt were to let loose and run at full speed... it would likely vanish from sight in the blink of an eye.

In less than half an hour, a towering city appeared before them.

The castle was only a little over a hundred miles from Yi Water City!

When his parents chose their territory back then... they had specifically chosen a territory close to the city! The very edge of the Snow Eagle Territory reached the city walls.

"It's the cavalry from Snow Eagle Territory." The lazy guards at the gates of Yi Water City saw the thunderous cavalry troop approaching from afar and immediately held their breath. They recognized the visitors from the 'winged snow eagle' emblem on the soldiers' armor. Moreover, every cavalryman carried a large Star-Breaking Crossbow, which was unique to the Snow Eagle Territory!

"At the front is the young lord of Snow Eagle Territory, and in his arms is his younger brother, Master Qing Shi."

"I didn't expect this young lord to actually come into the city."

"He rarely comes."

"His younger brother comes often; I've seen Master Qing Shi several times in the last month alone."

The city guards chatted among themselves as they stood on both sides, letting the cavalry troop enter the city.

More than nine thousand years had passed since the founding of the empire, and low-level city guards like these had long since become corrupt; they were only good for intimidating small-time bandits. They dared not provoke great nobles or truly formidable outlaws.

"It's the young lord of Snow Eagle Territory."

"Make way, everyone."

"Move aside."

The people in the city watched with curiosity, all of them moving aside from a distance. For a member of the top ten great families of Yi Water City, and the current lord himself to be out in public, it was quite a grand scene.

"Xuming General Store!" A shop occupying a massive area was very eye-catching.

"This is it."

"Whoa there~~~" Dongbo Xueying reined in his horse and immediately ordered, "Everyone wait for me outside."

"Yes, Lord." The soldiers respectfully obeyed.

"Uncle Zong, let's go in." Dongbo Xueying handed his horse to a subordinate, then took his brother's hand and entered the Xuming General Store with Zong Ling.

Though called a general store, the storefront was nearly a hundred meters wide, with dozens of clerks inside and a large number of customers.

This was the largest and best place to buy weapons in all of Yi Water City.

"Yi Water City is only a county-level city after all; very few can afford truly high-quality alchemy weapons," Zong Ling said with a smile. "A second-rank alchemy weapon costs tens of thousands of gold coins, which is worth the price of the entire Snow Eagle Territory. How many nobles in Yi Water City can afford that? Even if they wanted to buy one, they would likely have to go to the commandery city or even specifically to the provincial capital! So, most of the items here are unranked, and first-rank alchemy weapons are generally considered top-tier. Perhaps they have a second-rank alchemy weapon as a shop treasure."

Dongbo Xueying nodded slightly. The spear he had broken earlier was an unranked one.

"This must be the legendary Dongbo Xueying of Snow Eagle Territory, haha. I've heard of your great name for a long time, little brother, but this is our first meeting." A middle-aged man in purple robes walked out with a smile.

"Xueying, this is the owner of the shop, Count Quan Xuming." Zong Ling introduced him.

"Greetings, Count Quan." Dongbo Xueying smiled.

There were only a handful of powerful figures in Yi Water City, and Quan Xuming was one of them! This man had once been a great merchant who ran a massive business abroad. Later, unwilling to continue the hustle, he returned to his hometown, bought a territory, and opened a general store in the city. While it was called a general store... it held all kinds of rare treasures and weapons, making it the best in all of Yi Water City.

One could tell he had quite a bit of influence just by the sheer number of treasures on display.

"I'll be bold and call you little brother Xueying," the man in purple robes laughed. "Since you've come to my place, little brother, I wonder what you're looking to buy?"

"A spear," Dongbo Xueying said.

"Count Quan, please bring out the best spear in your shop," Zong Ling added.

"Yes, the best! Bring out the very best!" Qing Shi, standing nearby, said with excitement.

"Haha... what spirit! However, my shop is but a small establishment; as for high-quality spears, I only have three." The middle-aged man in the purple robe felt a slight stir in his heart. Generally, those with weaker strength had no need for ranked alchemical weapons. It seemed this young lord possessed considerable ability, perhaps having already stepped into the ranks of a Sky Knight. He immediately turned his head and instructed, "Go, bring out the three best spears for Brother Xueying to choose from. Brother Xueying, let us go inside and sit; we can talk slowly while seated."

Many customers in the shop had already noticed Dongbo Xueying and were whispering among themselves.

After all, although Dongbo Xueying rarely entered the city, his name had long been a frequent topic of discussion among the people of Yi Water City. He had become the lord of a territory at the age of eight, and it was said he practiced spear techniques every day until he was obsessed. Some said his parents had been captured, while others claimed they had long since been killed... there were all sorts of rumors, and many were quite absurd.

Inside the private room.

Tea and pastries were served, and they exchanged a few words of casual conversation.

Six attendants entered, two carrying each weapon case, until three antique-looking weapon cases had been brought in.

"Open them all and let Brother Xueying take a look," the middle-aged man in the purple robe ordered.

Clack, clack, clack, all three weapon cases were opened.

Dongbo Xueying's eyes immediately lit up as he looked over them carefully.