69. The Hero Enters the City and Meets a Strange Person
A team of four journeyed through the forest.
The leader was a young man, his face tense, his eyes warily scanning the dense forest behind him.
Just a short while ago, an indescribably massive magical shockwave, like an invisible tsunami, violently spread from the forest's innermost core without warning.
It seemed to announce the arrival of some entity, its instant confirmation of everything within this area.
With such blatant probing, it was unclear what the other party's purpose was. It was best to get away from the place as quickly as possible.
"Everyone, hurry up!" the leading young man shouted, his voice carrying an unmistakable urgency.
Before he finished speaking, a cyan magical aura rose from his feet, and his body, as if propelled by an invisible wind, suddenly increased in speed by more than double. The young man didn't explain, nor did he need to. The other three, without the slightest hesitation, each channeled their own magic power, closely following the young man's pace, silently darting through the forest at high speed.
They had a single destination: the city of "Karso" ahead.
To ordinary eyes, their speed was ghostly, but behind them, Xiling was even faster.
With one step, his figure appeared more than ten meters away.
Xiling maintained a precise distance from the four in front—neither entering their intense detection range nor allowing them to detect his presence and direction clearly.
Xiling had no intention of approaching to engage in conversation; he wanted to reach a more crowded area. As for why he was following these people...
Just as the group ahead was about to completely leave the edge of the forest, trouble struck.
"Woo!"
Muffled wolf howls echoed one after another, and dozens of pairs of dim green lights lit up in the bushes like will-o'-the-wisps. The air was thick with the stench of wild beasts. A pack of shadow wolves, their hair like steel needles and fangs bared, closed in silently. They were among the most cunning and ferocious predators on the edge of the forest.
The men said nothing, silently drawing their weapons and preparing for battle.
However, something strange happened.
Just as the encirclement formed, the leading wolves, poised to strike, suddenly froze. Their dark green eyes were instantly filled with an indescribable, utter fear, born of the instinctive nature of life!
They whimpered incoherently, their tails tucked tightly between their hips, their limbs trembling uncontrollably.
The next second, as if receiving a silent order to retreat, the entire pack, without a moment's hesitation, instantly fled!
Ignoring their prey so close, they turned in terror, darting ever faster than they had come, madly diving into the pitch-black forest, leaving behind only a trail of trampled flesh and the faint smell of urine. The entire process took no more than three seconds.
The four people remained in combat stance, staring at each other, their faces filled with astonishment and bewilderment.
Where was the expected battle?
"What...what's going on, Aaron?"
A girl resembling a magician gripped her staff, scanning the surroundings warily as she whispered to the leader.
Aaron didn't answer immediately. His brow furrowed as he looked behind the group—just now, he'd sensed something, or someone, behind him. That feeling... seemed to stem from the immense aura that erupted from the center of the forest, but now he could sense nothing.
"Captain?"
The others followed Aaron's gaze.
However, all they saw was a thick, impenetrable darkness and the rustling of leaves in the wind.
Seeing nothing, feeling nothing.
A heavy silence lingered for a long moment.
"...Let's go," Aaron finally uttered in a deep voice, turning decisively. The most important thing now was to reach Karso as quickly as possible!
The other three exchanged a doubtful glance, suppressed their unease, and quickly followed.
And behind them, in the shadows of the seemingly deserted forest that Aaron had gazed upon,
Xiling's figure had vanished without a trace, as if he had never existed.
Almost instantly, on higher ground, atop a massive rock at the edge of the forest, offering a wide view,
Xiling emerged silently, and his vision suddenly opened up.
The massive tree that had blocked his view vanished, and the world unfolded before Xiling's eyes without reservation.
The city—Karso.
This vast city, shimmering in the night, was so magnificent it could satisfy any fantasy world's most magnificent imagination.
In the city's very center, a massive, angular, azure crystal hovered, silently rotating and emitting a soft yet vast, magical glow. In Xiling's perception, this immense magical energy was like a living blood network—precisely connecting every part of the city.
And above the city, nimble figures darted through the night sky—they were the Griffin Knights patrolling the skies.
Below, on the city's streets, there were even more knights patrolling.
Looking at the magnificent city in the distance, even Xiling couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
"Wow, that's awesome!"
But I'm uneducated, so I can only say "wow" to get the whole world going.
Just as Xiling was about to enter the city to take a look,
Something unexpected happened suddenly!
The silent city at night stirred.
In the sky, several squads of Griffin Knights turned almost simultaneously. The griffons they sat on let out a resounding scream and assumed a clear battle stance! With a sudden flap of their wings, like arrows from a bow, they swooped down towards a certain area below the city!
On the ground, the armored knights, who had been patrolling regularly, quickly dispersed, forming several blockades, surrounding a central point. One moment, it was a breathtaking urban spectacle; the next, it had transformed into the scene of an efficient military roundup.
This abrupt shift caused Xiling to pause from his prepared move.
"What's going on?"
Just then, another unexpected change occurred!
A slender figure draped in a sky-blue cloak, like a bird freed from its bonds, suddenly soared into the sky from the chaotic streets below! Her movements were swift and agile, surpassing those of an average person. With a graceful agility, she tapped onto the vertical walls of the buildings, finally landing lightly atop a tall, mechanical clock tower, its hands slowly turning.
However, her breakout immediately drew an even more intense encirclement!
Several griffon knights, atop their mounts, suddenly arrived, leveraging their aerial superiority to blockade the sky above the clock tower from various angles.
More armored knights, demonstrating impressive skill, leaped onto nearby rooftops, forming a crisscrossing, three-dimensional encirclement that firmly trapped the blue-cloaked figure atop the clock tower!
"I can hear it."
Strengthening himself slightly, the conversation from atop the tower, over ten kilometers high, reached Xiling's ears clearly.
The leading Griffin Knight's voice was loud and serious, cutting through the wind:
"Unidentified person below! You do not possess a pass to enter Karso City. You are illegally trespassing and violating city law! Please cease resistance immediately and disarm! I repeat, cease resistance immediately! The situation is not yet irreversible!"
From the blue-cloaked figure trapped atop the tower, a clear, yet clearly helpless, and slightly irritated, female voice rang out:
"Oh my! Brother knights, can you please be reasonable? I didn't mean to barge in! It was just a teleportation error; the coordinates were off by a tiny bit! I'm leaving now, right now! Just pretend you didn't see me, okay? I promise I'll never come back!"
The female voice tried to sound flattering, but it was clearly ineffective.
The Griffin Knight remained unmoved, his voice stern and firm:
"Rules are rules. Surrender immediately! We'll verify your identity. If you have no other criminal record, your detention will not exceed forty-eight hours, according to the law."
"Tsk!"
The blue-cloaked girl let out a clear gasp, her annoyance reaching a peak.
"This is such a hassle! These stubborn stone knights... I don't have time to spend two days with you in detention! Run!"
The guards, as if sensing something, immediately became alert.
The next moment!
Boom! A blinding blue-purple flash of lightning exploded from the top of the clock tower! The blue-cloaked girl's figure seemed to vanish into thin air, leaving only a circle of leaping arcs and deafening thunder in her place! She transformed into a lightning serpent that tore through the night sky, and at a terrifying speed almost intangible to the naked eye, she shot towards the edge of the forest outside the city, far away from the city center, in the direction of Xiling!
"Intercept her!"
The Griffin Knight's roar resounded through the sky. The griffon riders reacted with incredible speed! Almost the instant the lightning flashed, their griffins let out a resounding war cry, their vast wings flapping violently! This wasn't simply a physical flapping movement, but rather the powerful force of the wind element!
The fierce wind no longer acted as resistance but instead transformed into an invisible propulsion force, enveloping the griffons and riders, providing them with an astonishing burst of acceleration! They locked onto the streaking lightning!
Xiling stood on a high rock at the edge of the city, watching the chase unfold.
The lightning, along with the relentless pursuit of the griffin riders, whipping up a whirlwind, approached him at breakneck speed.
However, Xiling did not attempt to move or hide.
In a matter of seconds!
Sizzle! Rumble!
The violent lightning, enveloping the girl, whizzed past with a shrill, air-tearing shriek, practically brushing against the edge of the rock where Xiling stood—perhaps only four or five meters away! The Griffin Knights, following closely behind, riding the whirlwind, also passed within striking distance of him!
But neither the desperately fleeing Thunder Maiden nor the Griffin Knights, who focused on pursuit, nor even a single griffon that carried the knights, cast a glance at Xiling on the rock. Their perceptions were as if completely blocked by an invisible barrier.
Xiling's presence was like air, like a backdrop to them.
A few streaks of light vanished in an instant, plunging into the darkness at the edge of the forest, leaving only the scorch marks plowed by the lightning on the ground and the dead branches and leaves swept up by the gusts of wind, still swirling in their place.
Xiling raised his hand to touch his chin, a thoughtful glint in his eyes.
"So... this city has a full-coverage magical detection barrier? Entering the city without that pass as identification means immediate identification and location. The detection accuracy and response speed... are quite impressive."
Although Xiling felt he could block some of the detection, he decided it would be best to observe for a while, waiting until tomorrow. As for what he'd witnessed tonight... well, the guards have already gone about their duties. Hopefully, they can successfully bring that... mis-transmitted visitor to justice.
As for Xiling himself? Of course, he'd find a place to wait until tomorrow.
...
Morning
Xiling stood beneath the towering archway of the city gate, clutching a thin, shimmering card in his hand, his expression unusually subtle.
When Xiling entered the city, he surveyed the bustling streets and then glanced outside the main gate.
"What's going on? Is it that simple?"
Xi Ling couldn't help but mutter a complaint.
...
Early in the morning, Xiling saw some merchants driving—yes, driving!—cars, carrying their goods to a specially designated passageway on the side of the city gate.
The caravan leader walked familiarly to a small hall with a crystal window near the city gate and handed over several documents. The staff inside quickly reviewed them, and seconds later, several shimmering cards were handed out. The merchants took the cards, and the group entered the city unimpeded.
Xiling thought to himself, "...That's it?"
With the mentality that it wouldn't hurt to give it a try, Xiling also walked towards the pass window.
It went smoothly.
Xiling looked at the pass in his hand, then looked up at the people queuing outside. Then, thinking back to last night's aerial manhunt... the stark contrast left him speechless.
Xiling walked down the street, looking at the pass in his hand—more precisely, a temporary pass, with a time limit.
Xiling could sense that this small card held a certain power. Even though it was small, it was pretty strong caliber. Xiling couldn't put a finger on how strong it was compared to others.
Xiling thought about the document he had filled out. It wasn't so much an application form as it was a guarantee or... a contract statement?
And this card in his hand was the token of the successful contract.
Xiling was truly becoming more and more curious about what kind of world this was. The street lights seemed even softer during the day, the light steady and abundant.
Above the streets, small aircraft and tamed flying creatures crisscrossed their designated routes.
A myriad sounds drifted through the air: the cries of vendors, the clatter of bargains, the clang of forges, the melody of bards' harps, the gentle hum of distant magic training grounds.
Xiling walked and looked, his gaze filled with pure curiosity.
Xiling was intrigued by the shops selling magical items, alchemical potions, and monster materials, but right now, he needed information more than anything else.
"I wonder if there's such a thing as a library in this world... Hmm... My hunch tells me there is. But I should ask someone who looks knowledgeable. It would be even better if I could get some information while asking around," Xiling pondered, scanning the crowd.
Soon, a figure caught his eye. Not far ahead, a man in a black robe walked slowly forward with his back to him. A wide-brimmed, pointed magic hat crowned his head, and his deliberate gait contrasted sharply with the hurried vendors and tourists around him.
"Immediately found an intellectual one!"
Xi Ling didn't hesitate. He took a few decisive steps forward and spoke from a distance behind him. His voice, low but clear, cut through the background noise of the street:
"Friend, can I ask you something?"
The man ahead paused. As if completely unprepared for someone to call out to him in such a place, he paused but didn't immediately turn around.
Xiling took a step closer, adding with a hint of apology for disturbing the others:
"Um, excuse me, do you know where the library is?"
The man ahead spoke slowly, with a hint of curiosity in his voice:
"Are you calling me?"
He seemed to be confirming an extremely rare situation.
Xi Ling was also taken aback by his question.
"What kind of question is that? Who else could I call if not you?"
Xi Ling muttered to himself, but maintained a polite and confident expression. After all, he had a request.
"Yes, I did."
"Heh..."
A soft chuckle emanated from beneath the magic hat, a touch of amusement.
"Interesting," the man muttered to himself, his tone filled with curiosity.
Then, he finally turned around, revealing a handsome face with deep, three-dimensional features, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
The man wore a monocle over his right eye, and now he gazed at Xiling with undisguised interest and inquiry.
The man's gaze lingered on Xiling for a moment, then his smile deepened slightly. He bowed slightly, his movements smooth and elegant, like a gentleman.
"Of course. How can I help you, my friend?"
Xiling felt the man's gaze on him was a little strange, but his attitude was so kind.
It shouldn't be a big deal, Xiling once again stated his purpose.
"Excuse me, do you know where the library is?"
The man stood back up, a smile still on his face.
"Of course, few people wouldn't know about the library in Karso City."
"I just don't know," Xiling thought to himself.
The man smiled and suggested, "You're from out of town, right? If you don't mind, I can be your guide. Karso City is huge, and there are many rules. Without a guide, things could go wrong."
Xiling was about to refuse, but then he recalled what he had seen last night and the pass he had received this morning...
"I really do need a guide, lest I break some law and end up in jail," Xiling thought silently, a sheepish smile breaking across her face once again.
"Thank you for your help. As for the reward, just name your price."
"Ah—" the man sighed, seemingly resigned, and waved his hand.
"Of all the people, you chose me. This is truly a rare fate. No need for reward."
The man paused, his tone tinged with genuine inquiry.
"If possible, please tell me your name. It's more valuable than gold."
"How can I not pay you? Wouldn't that mean you've wasted all that time on my behalf?"
Xiling felt something was getting off his chest. Could it really be that? Xiling suppressed his inner murmurs and answered frankly, "Also, my name is Xiling. What's yours?"
"Xiling..." the man repeated the name quietly. As the name was pronounced, the curve of his smile revealed an indescribable satisfaction.
"What a... nice name."
The man paused briefly, as if just realizing his impoliteness, and bowed slightly.
"I forgot to introduce myself. How rude! My name is Ute. Nice to meet you, my friend."
"Nice to meet you, Ute." Xiling politely extended his right hand.
A handshake is basic etiquette, right?
Ute looked at Xiling's outstretched hand and was visibly stunned, but the momentary pause passed. He also extended his own hand and firmly shook Xiling's.
Ute smiled and asked a very abrupt question: "Excuse me, how happy are you?"
"..." Xiling choked at the sudden question.
What kind of trick is this? Xiling's mind raced, deciding to lighten the awkward atmosphere with a lighthearted joke: "Hmm... maybe happier than you meeting me?"
However, Ute shook his head: "That's probably a little difficult. Meeting you, Xiling, is one of the happiest things that's happened to me in all these years."
The air seemed to freeze for a second. The smile on Xiling's face froze.
"Huh?" Xiling's mind was already furiously complaining and sounding alarm bells.
One of the happiest things?
We've only known each other for less than five minutes!
Big brother, that line is so corny and so... so wrong, isn't it?! Are you sure it's not that?
But hearing this "happiest" expression from a handsome guy who had only known him for five minutes, with a mysterious and slightly eerie aura, was quite shocking.
Xiling calmly withdrew his hand. It was all that, but it was just that.
He, Xiling, respected everyone. Ute seemed completely oblivious to Xiling's subtle movements, or perhaps he did but didn't care. He watched Xiling withdraw his hand and smiled, a laugh tinged with the cunning of a triumphant prank.
"Hehehe... Relax, my friend. It's just... a little joke."
Ute adjusted his right monocle, then turned and pointed in the direction of the city, where the faint outlines of several towering spires could be seen.
"Then let's go. I'll take you to one of the heart of Karso City—the Library of Time."
"It's hailed as one of the ten greatest libraries in the world."
"Let me lead you there now."
Watching Ute's advance, Xiling... followed without hesitation.
Something was wrong with the other party. It had been that way from the beginning.
But... so what?
Warning?
Caution?
Scared?
There's no need for that. Moving forward, constantly moving forward, facing danger head-on, and blazing a trail—that's what Xiling should do.
If he encounters someone harboring ill intentions and intent on carrying them out, the Holy Sword's sharp edge will never cease...
Ute, walking ahead, clearly caught the sound of footsteps following without hesitation, and a silent, elusive smile curled up at the corner of his lips.
...
The vastness and prosperity of Karso City were beyond imagination. Countless new and exciting things piqued Xiling's curiosity. Ute, who was walking ahead, diligently fulfilled his role as guide, introducing Xiling to various new and exciting things.
Xiling pointed to a car on the side of the road. He had been wanting to ask this question for a long time: Is there something wrong with this world's technology tree?
"Ute, what is that?"
Ute glanced along Xiling's finger.
"Oh, that."
Ute's tone was tinged with nostalgia.
"In ancient times, when magic was highly advanced, they were collectively called magical devices, sophisticated creations powered by magic cores. But now..."
Ute shrugged.
"It seems more popular to call them technology? As for the specific name..."
"I think it's called an energy vehicle."
"Energy vehicle? Why don't you call it a car?" Xiling muttered to himself, but didn't ask any more questions. Someone must have invented it, surely? People with creativity, ideas, and the ability to act are everywhere.
"Could it be that a time traveler came to this world and invented this project? That's not impossible."
The closer they got to the city center, the stronger the magical pulse brought by the prosperity became.
The massive crystal suspended above the city's central square, like the beating heart of Karso, emanated a majestic and steady magical glow. Xiling could clearly sense that it wasn't a chaotic dispersal of magical power, but rather a flow of energy meticulously orchestrated by some supremely sophisticated technology or magic.
Like a pre-programmed program, the invisible magic flowed precisely along invisible pipes to key nodes throughout the city, triggering the operation of countless large-scale magical circles.
For example:
Clear water silently flowed into the crisscrossing network of city waterways.
The soil in public gardens and planting areas, nourished by gentle, magical energy, maintained its incredible fertility.
Tiny runes lit up on the exterior walls of residential buildings and shops, providing constant energy for lighting, warmth, and even defense.
The streets glowed with liquid "light strips."
This enormous city, with the vast energy required to operate, surprisingly came mostly from this one massive crystal!
It was a truly gigantic, ultra-efficient magical generator, supporting the entire city's lifeline.
"Isn't this a waste?" Xiling wondered inwardly.
To maintain such a massive magical output, what a terrifying energy source would be required? At this moment, Ute, who had been walking ahead, suddenly spoke with a scholarly tone of inquiry and emotion:
"It's spectacular, right? The 'Stella Crystal', the brilliant crystal born from one of the four ultimate plans of the Dawn Kingdom, theoretically, it can achieve a near-perpetual motion machine effect within the limits of its radiation range— its energy circulates perfectly within a closed system, almost endlessly."
Ute stopped and tilted his head slightly, gazing at the enormous crystal radiating endless light and heat. His monocle reflected the crystal's light. "Of course," Ute said, changing the subject.
"What you see before you is just a sophisticated replica. Its functions naturally can't match the original; even so, it does achieve a key point: within the relatively closed, vast 'system' of Karso City, most of the released energy is recaptured through recycling arrays throughout the city, channeled back into the crystal itself for further conversion and utilization, forming a powerful internal cycle."
"But since it's a replica, it needs to be replenished with 'magic energy' every two years, like a giant magic battery that requires regular recharging."
"Even so, that was still outrageous!" Xiling screamed inwardly.
Xiling tried hard to suppress his rant. How could he not scream like a country bumpkin? In the end, all the turbulent shock could only be reduced to an outwardly calm, yet turbulent sigh:
"It's truly... magical."
"Yes, it's truly magical..."
Ute's gaze lingered on the Stella crystal. A strange flicker of something seemed to flash across his pupils, but it was fleeting. Turning his head again, Ute's signature smile once again rested on his face as he looked at Xiling.
"Let's go, my friend," Ute extended his hand, pointing in a certain direction.
"The Library of Time is right next to us..." His words abruptly stopped.
The smile froze on Ute's face, his brow furrowed, and his expression darkened visibly.
Xiling asked with confusion and concern, "What happened, Ute? ... are you feeling unwell?"
Only after hearing Xiling's words did Ute retract his gaze from a distance and refocus on Xiling. He was silent for seconds...
Finally, an apologetic smile appeared on Ute's face, and he spoke with a hint of embarrassment:
"My apologies, my friend. I just saw someone I haven't seen in years. Something unexpected has happened, and I must leave immediately to deal with it."
"I can't continue to guide you. I know it's extremely rude. Please forgive me."
Xiling waved his hand.
"Of course, it's alright! It was I who had troubled you for so long. Thank you so much today, Ute. I'll treat you to a meal when I'm free to thank you. If you have something urgent, go quickly. Don't delay it!"
Ute smiled and nodded, then pointed to a building.
"That's the Library of Time you're looking for! Its main entrance is at the end of that avenue over there! Well, please excuse me now!"
After saying this, Ute turned and walked towards the crowd, slowly disappearing from Xiling's sight. Xiling stood there, looking in the direction where Ute had disappeared, then back at the spot Ute had just looked—a few hurried merchants, an elderly man leisurely walking his pet lizard, a couple cuddling intimately...
"They're leaving in such a hurry, could they be enemies?"
Sadly, no matter how Xiling looked, the crowd remained as calm as usual, and no clues could be found.
"Forget it," Xiling shook his head and looked away.
"In any case, I still have to thank him for helping me find the library."
Xiling took one last look at the giant crystal before turning and heading towards the vast library.
He asked the library staff where the historical books were located.
Xiling began searching for the information he wanted, but when he reached the historical section the staff had mentioned, he gasped at what he saw.
Row after row, layer upon layer, stretching as far as the eye could see, each shelf densely packed with enormous books of various bindings, astonishing sizes, and thicknesses far beyond ordinary imagination.
"This is too much! Where do I even begin?" Xiling walked forward, his eyes filled with worry, looking at book after book, thicker than his face.
Xiling took a deep breath.
"Everything is difficult at the beginning, but there has to be a beginning."
Xiling's face was heavy as he reached for a thick-looking book. But before he could even get halfway through, a male voice, with just the right amount of concern and kindness, spoke beside him:
"Sorry to bother you, but you look... like you're struggling with something, and it seems like you're looking for a good starting point?"
"Perhaps I can offer a little help? Could you tell me which time-forgotten story you're searching for?"
Huh?
Xiling turned around, puzzled.
A strange, black-haired man with a gentle smile met his gaze.