Entering the City

"Going to Yi Water City?" Zong Ling and Tong San were still caught up in the excitement. Hearing Dongbo Xueying say this, they couldn't help but be taken aback. Dongbo Xueying had always trained very hard, and in the past, he rarely went to Yi Water City even once a year.

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

Dongbo Xueying paused, then smiled. "Uncle Zong, I'd nearly forgotten about that. I really should buy a spear. But the reason I'm planning to go to Yi Water City this time... is that the New Year is almost here. Once the New Year passes, Qing Shi will be ten! He can't keep playing around forever, and I promised him long ago that when he turned ten, I'd find him a good mage teacher so he could begin his formal studies."

"Mm. Having a good teacher is very important for a mage." Zong Ling and Tong San both turned serious.

Mages were learned and wise.

Without a good teacher to guide them, it was difficult to become a learned, wise mage by relying solely on one's own insight. What was more, a mage's cultivation involved the soul. If someone damaged their soul by practicing recklessly on their own, it would be too late for regrets.

"There's only one Star-Rank mage in all of Yi Water City—Bai Yuanzhi," Dongbo Xueying said. "Archmage Bai Yuanzhi lives in the city. I'm going to pay him a visit and hope he'll accept my younger brother as a personal disciple."

"A personal disciple?" Zong Ling said worriedly. "That may be difficult."

A mage's teachings covered every aspect, from knowledge to the way of thinking.

The bond between a mage and a personal disciple was as close as that between parents and their children. That was why the more powerful mages were willing to take in a few nominal disciples and offer them a few pointers, leaving their eventual achievements entirely up to them. As for personal disciples, whom they would carefully teach, even a powerful mage might accept only a handful in his entire life. Mages needed time to cultivate, too, and taking on too many personal disciples would hinder their progress!

"How will we know if we don't try?" Dongbo Xueying said with a smile.

Two days later.

As someone whose skill was nearly at the level of a Spear Technique Master, Dongbo Xueying had grown tremendously stronger, but after two days of adjustment, he had completely adapted. He set out for Yi Water City with his younger brother, Zong Ling, and a hundred-man cavalry escort.

"It's been so long since I last went into the city with Big Brother!" Qing Shi was thrilled.

Dongbo Xueying rode the Frost-Flying Colt, with Qing Shi sitting excitedly in his arms.

As a second-rank magical beast, the Frost-Flying Colt ran remarkably smoothly. Its current speed was only a leisurely trot, after all; the cavalry behind them needed to keep up. If the colt were allowed to gallop at full speed... it would probably vanish into the distance in the blink of an eye.

In less than half an hour, a towering city came into view.

The castle was just over a hundred li from Yi Water City!

When their parents had chosen their territory, they had deliberately picked one close to the city. The edge of Snow Eagle Territory even reached the city walls.

"It's the cavalry from Snow Eagle Territory." The idle gate guards of Yi Water City spotted the cavalry thundering toward them and immediately straightened up. The crest on their armor—a snow eagle with outstretched wings—told them who the newcomers were. Every rider also carried a large Star-Breaking Crossbow, another specialty of Snow Eagle Territory!

"The young lord of Snow Eagle Territory is at the front. The boy in his arms is Young Master Qing Shi."

"I never thought the young lord would come into the city."

"He hardly ever does."

"His younger brother comes often. I've seen Young Master Qing Shi several times just this past month."

The guards chatted among themselves as they stood aside, letting the cavalry ride into the city.

The Empire had been founded more than nine thousand years ago. The lowest-ranking City Guard Army had long since grown corrupt, and all they could do was intimidate minor bandits. They didn't dare provoke the great nobles or particularly powerful bandits.

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

"Make way."

"Clear the road."

The townspeople watched with curiosity, moving aside well before the riders reached them. Snow Eagle Territory was among the ten most prominent families in Yi Water City, and its current lord had come in person. It was quite a spectacle.

"Xuming General Store!" The sprawling shop stood out at once.

"This is the place."

"Whoa!" Dongbo Xueying reined in his horse and immediately ordered, "Wait for me outside."

"Yes, my lord," the soldiers replied respectfully.

"Uncle Zong, let's go in." Dongbo Xueying handed his mount to one of his men, then took his younger brother by the hand and entered Xuming General Store with Zong Ling.

Though it was called a general store, the storefront alone stretched nearly a hundred meters, and it employed dozens of clerks. The shop was crowded with customers.

It was the biggest and best place to buy weapons in all of Yi Water City.

"Yi Water City is only a county-level city, after all. Hardly anyone can afford top-grade alchemical weapons here," Zong Ling said with a smile. "A second-rank alchemical weapon costs tens of thousands of gold coins—enough to buy all of Snow Eagle Territory. How many nobles in Yi Water City could afford one? Anyone who wanted to buy one would probably have to go to the commandery seat, or even make a special trip to the provincial capital! So most of the weapons here are unranked. First-rank alchemical weapons are generally the best you'll find, though they may have a second-rank weapon as the store's prized piece."

Dongbo Xueying nodded slightly. The spear he had broken earlier had been unranked.

"Surely this is the legendary Dongbo Xueying of Snow Eagle Territory! Haha, I've heard your name for ages, young friend, but this is the first time we've met." A middle-aged man in a purple robe came out with a laugh.

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

"Greetings, Count Quan," Dongbo Xueying said with a smile.

There were only a handful of influential figures in Yi Water City, and Quan Xuming was one of them. He had once been a wealthy merchant, with a thriving business abroad. Later, tired of traveling, he returned to his hometown, bought a territory, and opened a general store in the city. Though it was called a general store, its collection of rare treasures, weapons, and other goods was the finest in all of Yi Water City.

The number of treasures on display alone showed just how much influence he had.

"Then I'll presume to call you Xueying," the middle-aged man in purple said with a smile. "What brings you to my store, young friend?"

"A spear," Dongbo Xueying replied.

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

"Yes, the best one! Bring out the very best!" Qing Shi exclaimed excitedly.

"Haha... I admire your confidence. But my store is only a small shop, after all. I have just three spears that could be considered good," the middle-aged man in purple said, a thought stirring in his mind. Those without much strength had no need for ranked alchemical weapons. This young lord must be quite capable—perhaps he had already become a Heaven-Rank Knight. He turned and ordered, "Go bring out the three finest spears for Xueying to choose from. Xueying, let's sit inside and talk."

Quite a few customers in the shop had noticed Dongbo Xueying and were whispering among themselves.

Though he rarely came into the city, the people of Yi Water City had discussed Dongbo Xueying countless times. He had become the lord of a territory at the age of eight, and they said he practiced spear techniques every day, to the point of obsession. Some said his parents had been captured; others claimed they had been killed long ago... There were all sorts of rumors, and some were completely false.

In a private room.

Tea and pastries were served, and they exchanged a few pleasantries.

Six maids entered. Two of them carried one weapon case, and in total they brought in three antique-looking cases.

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

Thump, thump, thump. All three weapon cases were opened.

Dongbo Xueying's eyes immediately lit up, and he examined them closely.

**