In contrast, the other young men in the vehicle were more excited. Although the capital was beautiful, constantly gazing at the lake could be boring. Visiting another part of the kingdom could be interesting. Furthermore, there were rumors that a young genius had recently emerged in Yellow City. While the general public might not have been aware of this information, these young geniuses from the clans frequently followed the kingdom's current news.
After a short while, Delia tilted her head toward her elders and asked them curiously, without disturbing Malehit.
"There's a boy in Yellow City who supposedly entered the Core Realm at age 12. Is this really true?"
Delia's sources might not have been as reliable as her elders', and what she had heard was surprising. The young man in his early twenties sitting directly across from her answered her question. Despite his age, his face was quite wrinkled, and while not unattractive, he appeared more mature than he actually was.
"A young man named Kasuur. He has no clan and only came out of the forest with a blind boy. He seems to have a secret agreement with Lord Baro. He'll be a strong opponent for us in the State Tournament," Daniel said. In fact, he was a direct descendant of the clan. Although he was somewhat oppressed because he wasn't particularly talented, the fact that he was born into the main clan remained. As he tried to become a more political figure, he focused on making friends rather than training. His network of contacts was wider than anyone else's here. He hadn't come to this city to hunt for relics but rather to find people to connect with. Although he was known for being self-possessed and mature, he struggled to control himself when Lima showed off her legs so erotically.
"He's only twelve years old and in the Core Realm..."
Even Malehit narrowed his eyes for a moment. Delia frowned and turned her head back to the glass. She hoped the news about Kasuur was just a rumor. Noticing this, the two adult males cast a condescending glance at her.
'Little cub, unaware of the nature of the world.'
Gomez, a large man, had progressed from being a lowly servant in the Gama clan to a skilled combat unit member. He practiced a technique that allowed him to withstand extreme weather conditions — perfect for the reconnaissance mission. That was why he had been chosen for this visit to the ruins. No matter how persistently Malehit had refused to bring him.
Gomez was a spiteful man. As he looked at Malehit, his eyes showed his long-held resolve to seek revenge for the incident that had occurred in the past.
***
Shortly after, they and their vehicles entered the Yellow City, carrying many of the capital's geniuses and talented individuals. Milena's father, the former city lord and Drunken Sage, Wuma Fenua, met them at the northern gate. He was the fifth Sage of the Yellow City. Despite being the oldest, he was far behind in cultivation due to severe injuries from his past. Despite his profound understanding of the techniques, this prevented him from closing the gap.
Sixteen years ago, Baro came to the city with a baby and the current military commander, Wur. When Wur revealed the power gap to him, he decided to retire. Despite this, he remained in the city and continued to live a peaceful life. Despite his perceived weakness, no one but the wise Baro would dare to provoke him.
After all, Wuma was old. A 400-year-old sage should never be provoked.
Many figures descended from the carriage. Although Wuma greeted them, most were indifferent. Wuma was only at the second stage of the Sage Realm, whereas many of them were young men with far greater power. Furthermore, his servants had already arranged their accommodations. They had no legitimate reason to greet him.
Wuma merely smiled at the young men's impudence. He had seen many such "geniuses." Not all of them were still alive.
"Lord Wuma?"
At that moment, a voice brought him back to the present. When he looked up, he saw a young man standing before him, accompanied by five other men. He didn't recognize Malehit at first, but then a smile blossomed on his face. He remembered the first time this young man left the city. If there was any doubt that Maria was the city's greatest genius, Malehit was the source of that doubt.
He also entered the Core World at age 15. Furthermore, his later achievements were even more impressive than his initial entry into the Core World. He was only 20 years old when he entered the Sage Realm!
He was 26 years old. If Wuma hadn't been such an old antique, he never would have found the confidence to defeat this young man.
"It's been so long. I thought you wouldn't recognize me," Malehit said. The figures behind him followed without hesitation. Their prideful nature made them feel no inferiority, even in the presence of an old sage. They treated him like an equal, which was kind of funny. Yet, Wuma didn't care about such things. Although he was old, he wasn't petty.
Wuma laughed and hugged Malehit. Their smiles revealed their close relationship.
"Haha! I'm not that old yet. You're one of the most talented people this old sage has ever seen. It's hard to forget people like you," Wuma said. Despite this, Malehit raised an eyebrow in playful surprise and asked as he stepped back.
"Not the best, then? You don't really think little Maria is better than me, do you? Compare me to her father!"
Wuma had never seen anything beyond the arrogance of young geniuses. So, without any surprise, he grinned, a mysterious expression on his face.
"You were surpassed by a 150-year-old monster."
After a moment of stunned silence, Malehit laughed bitterly. He knew exactly who Wuma was talking about. He was also aware of the bewildered expressions behind him. Nevertheless, he felt compelled to change the subject immediately.
He quickly hugged Wuma's swollen belly.
"Looks like retirement didn't work out for you. Would you like me to take care of Lord Baro for you?"
"Huh? I see your jaw dropped. Looks like you haven't had enough of a beating from the Phoenix's Victim."
Upon hearing this, Malehit and the four young men behind him changed their expressions completely. How could they not have known about this terrifying battle taking place in the capital? They weren't qualified to participate in the fight, but they watched from afar. Malehit and many other powerful figures were crushed like insects under Yukimura's power.
Malehit frowned and glanced around for a moment before whispering to Wuma.
"Don't say too much about it. Some of them didn't handle this defeat very well. They might make things difficult for you," he said. Wuma laughed at that. Honestly, he didn't care what the young people thought of him. Milena could leave whenever she wanted, and as her father, he wouldn't do anything special to protect her. Besides, considering he had no one but Milena, what could they possibly threaten him with? No one could threaten Wuma. Not even with death.
As a result of the omens from the nearby relic, many young experts were accepted into the city. The number of weak people in the city suddenly rose considerably. At this point, the possibility of a random man being in the Core Realm would unsettle many, forcing them to be more cautious. Unaware of this, Kasuur entered a deep meditation and neared a significant realization. He was unaware of the rumors swirling about him and the threats they would bring.
Malehit and his team entered the city with Wuma. They would patiently await a major event expected to occur within a few months. They were joined by countless other geniuses from the capital.