Shadow Ming's voice echoed in Xiao Wei's mind again, laced with irritation and amusement.
'Brat, stop bragging. You're making it sound like concocting a few Tier 1 pills is something heaven-defying.'
Xiao Wei didn't even bother opening his eyes, his expression remained calm.
"Didn't you see me practicing alchemy with your own eyes? Don't act like I haven't earned it."Xiao Wei murmured back in a voice just above a whisper.
There was a brief pause before Shadow Ming snorted derisively.
'So what? Making a few stable Tier 1 pills doesn't mean you're anywhere near becoming a Tier 2 Alchemist. If you tried refining a Tier 2 pill now, your cauldron would probably explode in your face.'
Xiao Wei's lips twitched slightly, but he didn't argue. Instead, he responded with calm resolve.
"Forget it, I don't want to waste my time on arguing with you. Unlike you, I don't have the luxury of relying on pills to force my Cultivation. So let me Cultivate in peace."Xiao Wei whispered.
But Shadow Ming keep telling him to accept him as his master.
Xiao Wei ignored him and let the world fall silent around him. His breathing gradually steadied, and the gentle flow of Spiritual Energy began circulating through his meridians.
A short distance away, Old Ti was doing his rounds. He paced the perimeter of the makeshift camp, his steps steady and precise despite his age. His sharp gaze swept across the area until it landed on Xiao Wei, who was still sitting cross-legged under the tree.
Old Ti paused.
Xiao Wei's lips were moving again. Though his voice was too low to be heard clearly from where Old Ti stood, the way the boy was talking to seemingly no one made the old man frown.
"Hmph. Cultivating in the dead of night is one thing, but muttering to yourself like a lunatic?"Old Ti muttered under his breath.
He narrowed his eyes, studying the youth for a moment longer. Xiao Wei looked completely immersed in his meditation, not even noticing he was being watched. His expression was calm, but the occasional murmured words raised suspicion in the older man's mind.
Old Ti let out a quiet snort.
"Probably just another stray Cultivator driven half-mad in the mountains. No threat."Old Ti muttered to himself.
Shaking his head, he turned and resumed his patrol. Still, he made a mental note to keep an eye on the boy.
Meanwhile, beneath the tree, Xiao Wei remained undisturbed. His soul was calm, his heart steady. He had no intention of wasting the quiet night.
Next Morning.
The faint light of dawn filtered through the thick canopy overhead, casting golden rays over the forest trail. The Dan family caravan was already bustling with activity. The workers had risen early, quickly packing up tents, extinguishing the last of the campfires, and securing the carts for travel.
Old Ti stood at the front, reins in hand as he climbed back onto the driver's seat of the leading cart. His weathered eyes scanned the group before him with the calm of a seasoned escort.
"Everyone, let's move. If we maintain pace, we'll reach Kin City within a few hours"Old Ti called out with authority, his voice cutting through the morning stillness.
With a soft crack of the reins, the horses neighed and began to pull the cart forward. The other workers, pulling smaller carriages or walking beside them, fell into formation, used to the disciplined rhythm of travel.
A short distance behind them, under a lone tree, Xiao Wei opened his eyes.
He had been Cultivating since late last night, using every second of stillness to temper his growing strength. A fresh breeze brushed past his cheeks as he stood up and brushed off the dust from his white robe.
Without a word, he started walking.
Though he could have reached Kin City days ago, he had no desire to get lost in unfamiliar wilderness. The route to Kin City was long and filled with dangerous monster and shifting terrain. Without a proper map or guide, it would've been foolish to risk it.
So, Xiao Wei continued quietly trailing behind the Dan clan caravan.
Up ahead, Old Ti glanced in his direction again, narrowing his eyes at the youth's steady pace and unwavering presence.
"Matriarch, that kid is still following us."Old Ti said aloud, though not raising his voice as he knew she could hear him clearly from within the cart.
A moment of silence followed before a calm, mature woman's voice floated from inside the covered cart.
"Let him. As long as he doesn't cause trouble, we have no reason to interfere."
Old Ti grunted softly in acknowledgment. Still, his instincts made him keep an eye on Xiao Wei. There was something strange about the boy—not dangerous, perhaps, but unusual. He had a presence too steady, too confident for someone at the Martial Apprentice Realm.
The journey continued as the forest thinned, and dirt trails gave way to wide, cobbled roads. Around noon, the group reached the crest of a small hill—and there it stood in the distance, Kin City.
Massive stone walls surrounded the city like the protective arms of a giant. Watchtowers stood tall at regular intervals along the perimeter, each manned by guards clad in black and gold armor. The city gates, wide enough to accommodate entire caravans, bustled with incoming travelers, traders, and Cultivators.
Even from afar, the towering buildings and temples at the city's heart could be seen—testament to its size and power. Unlike Mo City, Kin City exuded a sense of thriving prosperity and overwhelming scale.
Xiao Wei paused for a moment on the road, gazing silently at the grand city ahead. A faint wind stirred the hem of his robe as his eyes reflected the city's towering structures.
"So this… is Kin City"Xiao Wei murmured to himself.
Shadow Ming's voice echoed in his mind with mild amusement.
'Quite the place, isn't it? But it is nothing in front for Fu City'
Xiao Wei didn't reply. He had no clan, no background, no supporters.
But none of that mattered.
He would carve his place in this vast world step by step—with his strength, his mind, and his will.
And so, without hesitation, he followed the Dan Clan caravan.
At the City Gate
The sun hung high in the sky as the massive silhouette of Kin City loomed before the group. At the towering gates, two guards in dark gold armor stood tall. Their presence was imposing—the gleam of their halberds, the sharpness of their gaze, and the steady flow of pressure they emitted revealed their strength.
Both were peak Ninth Layer Martial Masters, the final step before advancing into the Martial Grandmaster Realm.
Old Ti rode calmly at the front of the Dan Clan caravan. As the guards noticed the approaching cart, they nodded, clearly recognizing him.
Without delay, Old Ti retrieved a black token engraved with a flowing flame—the insignia of the Dan Clan.
"Dan Clan business"Old Ti said casually.
The guards stepped aside without a word, allowing the caravan to pass. The horse-drawn cart rolled forward, followed by the workers pulling their smaller carriages.
Xiao Wei, dressed in a dusty white robe with a travel-stained satchel across his shoulder, calmly followed behind the group. His steps were slow but deliberate, his expression composed.
Just as he reached the city gates—
"Wait."
A sharp voice cut through the air. One of the guards stepped forward, his gaze narrowing on Xiao Wei.
"Boy, are you with the Dan Clan?"the guard asked, his voice firm.
Xiao Wei shook his head slightly.
"No."Xiao Wei said calmly.
The second guard sneered.
"Then you'll have to pay an entry fee—100,000 Spirit Coins."the second guard said, his tone was mocking, lips curled into a crooked grin.
From inside the city, Old Ti paused, turning his head slightly with a faint smirk. He knew full well that the actual entry fee for commoners was only 1,000 Spirit Coins. Clearly, the guards were trying to extort the boy.
The other Dan Clan workers also stopped, some whispering among themselves, their eyes gleaming with curiosity. They were eager to see what kind of show would unfold.
"Hah, they're messing with him. No way a wandering Martial Apprentice Cultivator has that kind of money."
"Still, he looks calm... weird."
Xiao Wei remained still under the guards scrutiny. His gaze swept across the two armored men without emotion. Then he exhaled softly and reached into his Tier 4 Storage Ring.
With a flick of his wrist, he take out a pouch full of Spirit Coins from his Storage Ring.
"Here, I'm going in."Xiao Wei said flatly.
Without sparing another glance, he crossed the gate and entered the city, his steps as steady as ever.
The guards faces froze.
The one who had demanded the bribe stared in disbelief, his jaw slack. His comrade stepped closer, eyes wide. From the boy's appearance—dusty robes, unkempt hair—they had assumed he was some wandering beggar, maybe a Cultivator without backing.
But who could casually pay 100,000 Spirit Coins just for a city toll?