The sightseeing in the Eighteen Duchies of the Northern Territory was peaceful. After wandering around for several months, the two people and two beasts visited the Ice Goddess Temple, went to the capitals of the eighteen kingdoms in turn, and toured the North Sea coast.
No formidable enemies emerged to cause trouble during this period, and the group did not actively challenge anyone.
Jason knew that a Saint-level Limit "Cecily" was in the Ice Goddess Temple on the Yulan Continent, but he didn't visit her. He had no connection with her and didn't want to cause any more trouble.
So, in the fourth year of Jason's travels, the group arrived at the O'Brien Empire.
Jason is currently in the Northwest Province of the O'Brien Empire.
The group had traveled by ship along the North Sea coast to the O'Brien Empire, and the fleet's destination was the Northwest Province.
"Linley first came to the O'Brien Empire from the Northwest Province. I remember there was a city there called ' Blackstone City.' As for the other cities Linley went to, well, I'll have to look for them carefully." Jason compared the detailed map in his hand, recalling his memories from his previous life.
"Where do we go next?" Veronica asked.
Linda and Clear Spring, as Warcraft beings, have always been easygoing and adaptable.
"First go to the provincial capital, Basil, then to Chier County City, take a boat along the Yulan River to Blackstone City, and finally enter the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts to meet that Twin-Headed Silver Dragon. After that, head east again into the O'Brien Empire, which will lead all the way to Chiyan City." Jason vaguely remembered the cities Linley had visited.
Jason decided to go and take a look at the Twin-Headed Silver Dragon. Linda and Clear Spring were small magical beasts, Jason wanted Veronica to get a mount, since she wasn't good at speed, so having a mount would be better.
A person can contract three magical beasts at the same time. Jason contracted Lumba because he practiced Necromancy, which took up one slot, so now there is only one contract slot left.
This province, with an area comparable to a smaller duchy, is more prosperous than most small duchies because it is backed by an empire.
The Jax Family is one of the most powerful clans in the entire O'Brien Empire. The Northwest Province, one of the seven major provinces of the O'Brien Empire, is controlled by the Jax Family.
The current Jax Family has been established for over four hundred years, and officially took over power in the Northwest Province more than a hundred years ago.
Within his family, the Peak Saint expert, Mackenzie Jax, was the restorer of the family. It was because Mackenzie broke through to the Saint-level that the Jax Family gradually rose from a middle-class family in the empire to a powerful warlord family in the northwest, reaching its zenith.
In the original work, Mackenzie was a Peak Saint weaker than Haydson.
According to Jason's on-site observations, the current Mackenzie is weaker than in the original story. He rose through the Saint-level from an officer in his early years, breaking through to the Saint Realm in battle. It has been less than two hundred years since he broke through to the Saint-level, and he was only appointed as the guardian of the Northwest Province one hundred and twenty years ago.
As for the Jax Family behind it, they don't yet have a very strong grasp of the Northwest Province.
Jason hadn't been very familiar with the distribution of Saint-level on the Yulan Continent before, and Bloodshadow Valley was a gathering place for powerful individuals, so he was somewhat unclear about his social standing as Peak Saint who had only broken through less than ten years ago.
Generally speaking, a Saint-level is enough to establish a powerful family on the Yulan Continent. If a Peak Saint is managed properly and has the support of a strong family behind them, it is entirely possible to establish a small duchy or govern a province within an empire.
If Jason and Veronica choose to settle down now, have children, and build a family, they could establish a powerful clan within three hundred years that could rival the two major papal houses— the Dragonblood Warrior bloodline combined with Necromancy inheritance gives them a much stronger starting point than ordinary families.
Moreover, Jason felt that with his current aptitude, even if his luck was bad and his comprehension was low, he would have broken through to the Deity-level in five thousand years.
"I heard that Mackenzie is Peak Saint cultivator specializing in fire attribute. How about we spar?" Jason asked.
Veronica shook her head. "No, my human form isn't at the Saint-level yet, I don't want to transform."
"Okay," Jason said, indicating his understanding.
I stayed in Basil for a few days, then went directly to Chier County City for a stroll, and then followed the Yulan River to Blackstone City, which is adjacent to the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts.
Blackstone City is a frontline fortress defending against the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts. Although there are basically no large-scale monster tides in the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts, small-scale monster attacks on human-inhabited areas still occur frequently, and Blackstone City is such a military fortress.
After traveling for more than five months from the Eighteen Duchies of the Northern Territory to Blackstone City, the group finally encountered a familiar situation in Blackstone City —a group of clueless bastards blocking their way.
"Look at this idiot, he's got a cat and a mouse following him! Hahaha."
"The girl is quite pretty."
A group of people surrounded Jason and Veronica, laughing.
Jason was debating whether to chop these people up or freeze them into ice sculptures.
"A bunch of thugs, daring to cause trouble in Blackstone City!" A young man leaped over, his feet surging with Battle-qi and his hands flashing with Lightning Flash, revealing himself to be a dual cultivator of magic and martial arts.
The men were no match for the handsome young man and fled in a few moves.
"Miss, Blackstone City is adjacent to the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts, and the roads are chaotic. Be sure to find a powerful guard to accompany you." The young man was dressed smartly, his clothes spotless after the battle, and he exuded an air of grandeur.
Jason, who was left out in the cold, appeared quite ordinary because he deliberately kept a low profile when he went out.
"Wow, that's General Zamuto's third son, Pierrot!" Because Blackstone City is a military fortress, the garrison here is directly under the Northwest Province and is not under the jurisdiction of the Blackstone City Lord.
"I heard that young master Pierrot was taken in as a personal disciple by the Saint-level powerhouse Lightning Flash and Blood Rain, five years ago!"
Wow, so handsome.
Exclamations of admiration rose from the surrounding crowd.
Veronica frowned and looked at Jason.
In Pierrot's view, the beautiful redhead had already developed a sense of disgust for the scoundrel beside her. He imagined that after their big argument, he could offer a few words of advice, and the beauty would fall into his arms, while the unremarkable man would become enraged. He would then prove who was truly worthy of the beauty—but what did that man's raised hand and curled fingers mean?
Jason flicked the youth in front of him, sending him flying backward and crashing into the shop behind.
"Young Master Pierrot reached level seven at the age of twenty-five, and he is proficient in both magic and martial arts." The people around him were still praising him.
"Wow--wait, where did everyone go?"
Jason then hurled another beam of blue light into a distant alley, instantly freezing a group of thugs who were watching the spectacle into ice sculptures. These people were directly mocking him, and he wasn't going to let them get away with it.
After that, those shills who had been egging him on... Blinding lightning bolts shot out from Jason, leaping through the crowd, accompanied by screams and the smell of burning. These people would probably need to rest in bed for a few days.
Let's go.
After the brief incident, the group headed out of the city.