Captain Roran wiped the blood from his hunting knife before sliding it back into its sheath.
He rested one hand against the massive corpse.
"Many people only see the Origin Core."
"They forget the Spirit beast itself is a treasure."
Kellan tilted his head.
"...The whole thing?"
Captain Roran nodded.
"It's a Peak Origin Rank Beast."
"Every part of its body has value."
He pointed toward the wolf's thick crimson hide.
"Its hide can be crafted into armor capable of resisting Origin Essence."
His finger shifted to the curved fangs protruding from the beast's jaws.
"The fangs and claws are prized by blacksmiths. Refined properly, they can become excellent weapons or be forged into Origin-grade equipment."
He then gestured toward the blood still flowing from the wound across its chest.
"Its blood is sought after by alchemists. Combined with the right herbs, it becomes medicine capable of strengthening the body or accelerating recovery."
Finally, he lightly tapped the storage pouch hanging from his waist.
"And its Origin Core..."
"...is the most valuable part of all."
The three youths instinctively looked toward the pouch.
Captain Roran smiled faintly.
"Most beginners believe an Origin Core can be absorbed directly."
He shook his head.
"That's a common misconception."
"A cultivator gains very little from a raw Origin Core."
"The energy inside is too violent and too impure."
"If absorbed carelessly, it can damage the meridians instead of strengthening them."
Mira's curiosity immediately surfaced.
"Then why is it so valuable?"
"Alchemy."
Captain Roran answered without hesitation.
"Only skilled alchemists can fully refine an Origin Core."
"They remove its impurities, stabilize its Origin Essence, and combine it with precious herbs to create pills, elixirs, and medicines."
"Those medicines are worth many times more than the Core itself."
Kellan scratched his head.
"So without an alchemist..."
"...it's basically an expensive rock?"
Captain Roran chuckled.
"Not quite."
"It still has uses."
"Formation masters can use it as an energy source."
"Certain artificers embed them into weapons or defensive artifacts."
"But for cultivators..."
"...alchemy remains its greatest value."
Zion listened silently.
Another profession.
Another path beyond simple cultivation.
This world was becoming larger with every mile they traveled.
Captain Roran glanced once more at the fallen beast.
"The stronger the beast..."
"...the more valuable its Origin Core."
"A Peak Origin rank Beast like this one can provide enough material for an alchemist to refine several high-quality medicinal pills."
He looked toward the distant horizon.
"If it had reached the Earth Rank..."
"...its value would increase dozens of times."
The three youths couldn't help but inhale sharply.
Dozens of times...
No wonder powerful cultivators hunted Spirit Beasts despite the danger.
Captain Roran gave the wolf one final glance before speaking.
"Load what we can."
"We're leaving the rest."
Kellan looked surprised.
"We're not taking everything?"
Captain Roran smiled.
"If we spent hours butchering every valuable piece..."
"...we'd attract every predator within several kilometers."
"The scent of fresh blood travels much farther than you think."
"As travelers..."
"...survival always comes before profit."
The three nodded.
Another lesson learned.
In the world beyond Blue Star Village...
Knowing when to walk away was just as important as knowing how to fight.
The crimson stains on the ancient road slowly faded into the distance as the carriage resumed its journey.
No one spoke.
The battle had ended, yet its echoes remained fresh in their minds.
The image of Captain Roran's single slash...
The overwhelming pressure of the Crimson Fang Wolf...
The effortless control over Origin Essence...
Everything replayed again and again inside the minds of the three youths.
Even Kellan, who usually found something to joke about, remained unusually quiet.
Only the steady rhythm of the carriage wheels filled the silence.
---
After nearly half an hour, Captain Roran finally broke it.
"You've all been thinking."
The three looked toward him.
He smiled faintly.
"Good."
"The moment a cultivator stops thinking..."
"...he starts dying."
Kellan scratched the back of his head.
"I was wondering something."
Captain Roran nodded.
"Ask."
"If that wolf was only Peak Origin Rank..."
"...how strong is an Earth Beast?"
Captain Roran remained silent for several moments before answering.
"You felt the pressure from that wolf."
The three nodded.
"If that pressure was a hill..."
"...an Earth Beast would be a mountain."
None of them spoke.
"The gap between realms isn't something numbers can describe."
"When a beast enters the Earth Rank, its body undergoes another transformation."
"Its muscles become tougher than forged steel."
"Its bones rival refined alloys."
"Its Origin Essence becomes vastly purer."
"It gains greater intelligence."
"And many awaken unique abilities."
Mira frowned.
"Abilities?"
Captain Roran nodded.
"Some command fire."
"Others manipulate ice."
"Some create poisonous mist."
"And a few possess bloodline talents passed down from ancient ancestors."
Kellan swallowed.
"So..."
"...they're monsters."
"They are."
Captain Roran's expression remained calm.
"And that's why cultivators also seek higher realms."
---
The conversation drifted into silence once more.
Zion rested his hand against New Dawn.
The plain sword reflected the afternoon sunlight.
It looked exactly the same as yesterday.
An ordinary blade.
Nothing more.
Yet after witnessing Captain Roran's battle...
He realized something.
The sword hadn't made Captain Roran powerful.
Captain Roran had made the sword terrifying.
Even an ordinary weapon became deadly in the hands of someone who understood it completely.
Zion lowered his eyes thoughtfully.
Power doesn't come from the weapon...
It comes from the one wielding it.
The thought settled quietly in his heart.
---
Several hours later...
The rocky hills gradually gave way to rolling grasslands.
The air became cooler.
Gentle winds swept across fields of waist-high grass, creating waves that stretched as far as the eye could see.
Small groups of Spirit Beasts could occasionally be seen in the distance.
Most resembled deer with crystal-like antlers.
Others looked like oversized rabbits whose ears glowed faintly blue.
None approached the road.
Captain Roran noticed Zion watching them.
"Those are harmless."
"They absorb Origin Essence naturally but rarely attack humans."
Kellan blinked.
"So not every Spirit Beast wants to eat us?"
Captain Roran laughed.
"Not every human is a bandit."
"The same applies to beasts."
"Many simply wish to survive."
Mira quickly wrote another note inside her notebook.
---
As the afternoon sun began its slow descent, the road climbed toward a broad plateau.
Captain Roran suddenly slowed the horses.
"Look ahead."
The three youths leaned forward.
Far in the distance...
Something enormous appeared above the horizon.
At first...
Zion thought it was another mountain.
Then the sunlight shifted.
The entire structure shimmered.
Walls.
Massive walls.
They stretched farther than his eyes could follow, surrounding what looked like an entire kingdom rather than a single city.
Towering watchtowers rose at regular intervals, each one flying banners embroidered with a silver river flowing beneath a black mountain.
Even from dozens of kilometers away...
The walls radiated an ancient majesty.
Kellan's mouth slowly fell open.
"...That's..."
Captain Roran smiled.
"Stone River City."
The words barely registered.l
Because beyond those colossal walls...
Zion could just make out countless rooftops glittering beneath the evening sun.
Smoke rose into the sky from hundreds...
No...
Thousands of chimneys.
The city was alive.
It dwarfed everything Zion had ever imagined.
Blue Star Village...
Would fit inside it countless times over.
Mira whispered almost unconsciously,
"...It's beautiful."
Captain Roran nodded.
"And dangerous."
The three looked toward him.
"The bigger the city..."
"...the greater the opportunities."
He paused.
"...and the greater the dangers."
His expression became serious.
"When we enter those gates tomorrow..."
"Forget everything you think you know."
"The world inside those walls is very different from the one you grew up in."
His words carried an unusual weight.
Even the wind seemed quieter.
Zion continued staring at the distant city.
He could feel it.
His life...
Was about to change again.
Yet none of them noticed...
High atop one of the distant watchtowers...
A lone figure dressed in dark robes stood silently watching the approaching carriage.
The figure's gaze lingered on Zion for only a single heartbeat.
Then...
Without a sound...
They disappeared.
The carriage continued toward Stone River City.
With every passing minute, the enormous walls seemed to grow taller.
The afternoon sun slowly drifted westward, bathing the massive fortress in a warm golden light. From a distance, the walls looked as though they had been carved directly from a mountain. Time had weathered their surface, yet not even centuries of wind and rain had managed to weaken them.
Captain Roran guided the horses at a slower pace.
"We won't reach the city before nightfall."
"So we'll camp outside?"
Kellan asked.
Captain Roran nodded.
"The city gates close at sunset."
"Only military patrols and specially authorized cultivators are permitted to enter after dark."
Mira looked surprised.
"Even merchants have to wait?"
"Everyone."
"The laws of Stone River City apply equally."
He smiled faintly.
"Most of the time."
Kellan chuckled.
"I was beginning to think big cities never slept."
"They don't."
Captain Roran replied.
"They simply stop letting people in."
---
As the sun sank lower, travelers from every direction gradually merged onto the main highway.
Large merchant caravans rolled toward the city, their wagons piled high with lumber, medicinal herbs, ores, and beast materials.
Groups of armored mercenaries escorted wealthy nobles riding elegant horned steeds.
Some cultivators traveled alone.
Others moved in small teams, each carrying weapons unlike anything Zion had ever seen.
One young woman wore a pair of silver gauntlets instead of carrying a sword.
A bald man carried an enormous black hammer across one shoulder.
Another traveler had no visible weapon at all.
Yet the pressure surrounding him caused everyone nearby to instinctively make way.
Kellan leaned closer to Captain Roran.
"Why isn't anyone provoking him?"
Captain Roran answered without looking.
"Because they're alive."
Kellan blinked.
"...That's the reason?"
Captain Roran nodded.
"In the cultivation world..."
"The strongest argument is often strength."
---
Zion quietly observed everyone they passed.
He noticed something unexpected.
Not everyone wore expensive robes.
Many cultivators dressed simply.
Some looked no different from ordinary farmers.
Others wore patched clothing stained with dust and dried blood.
Strength...
Didn't seem to care about appearance.
Captain Roran suddenly spoke.
"Never judge a cultivator by clothing."
"Many who appear poor..."
"...could destroy an army."
Mira smiled faintly.
"You noticed us staring."
"I've been doing this long enough."
---
The road eventually widened into an enormous open plain several kilometers from the city.
Hundreds of temporary camps already covered the area.
Small cooking fires flickered beneath the evening sky.
Merchant caravans formed circles with their wagons.
Mercenary groups sharpened weapons while sharing stories from the road.
Children laughed as they chased one another between tents, seemingly unaware they stood before one of the largest cities in the region.
Captain Roran guided the carriage toward an empty space near several other travelers.
"We'll stay here."
The horses were quickly unhitched and allowed to graze.
Zion immediately began gathering firewood.
Kellan volunteered to fetch water from a nearby stream.
Mira organized their supplies with practiced efficiency.
Without anyone saying it...
Everyone naturally found something to do.
Captain Roran watched silently.
A faint smile crossed his face.
---
Not long afterward...
A small campfire crackled beneath the darkening sky.
Dinner was simple.
Roasted beast meat.
Fresh bread.
Hot vegetable stew.
Even after finishing two large bowls...
Zion still looked mildly disappointed.
Kellan laughed.
"I'm convinced your stomach has its own cultivation realm."
Captain Roran nearly choked on his tea.
Even Mira covered her mouth to hide a laugh.
Zion looked genuinely confused.
"...Is that unusual?"
All three answered together.
"Yes."
---
Night gradually settled over the plain.
Above them...
Countless stars illuminated the heavens.
Stone River City's towering walls glowed beneath rows of spirit lamps mounted along the battlements, making the city resemble a sleeping giant watching over the surrounding land.
Zion sat beside the fire.
His gaze remained fixed on those distant lights.
Tomorrow...
He would step inside.
Captain Roran walked over and sat beside him.
"Nervous?"
Zion considered the question.
"A little."
"Good."
Captain Roran nodded.
"People who fear nothing usually die first."
They sat in comfortable silence for a while.
Eventually, Captain Roran spoke again.
"Do you know what your greatest weakness is?"
Zion thought carefully.
"My cultivation?"
"No."
"My experience?"
"Partly."
Captain Roran picked up a small stick and drew two circles in the dirt.
"The Impossible Trial gave you an extraordinary foundation."
"But your understanding is shallow."
He pointed to the smaller circle.
"This is your strength."
Then he pointed to the larger one surrounding it.
"This is the world."
"No matter how talented you are..."
"...you've barely stepped through the front door."
Zion stared at the drawing.
Captain Roran erased both circles with one sweep of his hand.
"The academy exists for one reason."
"To teach talented people how little they actually know."
Those words lingered in Zion's mind.
---
A sudden bell echoed across the plain.
Dong...
Dong...
Dong...
Everyone looked toward Stone River City.
Three deep chimes rolled across the night air.
Captain Roran stood.
"The city gates have officially closed."
The camps gradually became quieter.
One by one...
The fires burned lower.
Travelers retired to their tents.
Even the merchants stopped talking.
Only the guards remained awake.
---
Deep into the night...
Most of the camp had fallen asleep.
Only the soft crackling of dying campfires and the occasional snort of a horned horse disturbed the silence.
High above...
Clouds slowly drifted across the moon.
Atop Stone River City's western wall...
A middle-aged guard frowned.
His hand tightened around the shaft of his spear.
"...Did you feel that?"
Another guard looked around.
"Feel what?"
"For a moment..."
"...it was like someone was watching us."
The second guard laughed.
"You've been on duty too long."
"Maybe."
The first guard slowly relaxed.
Yet his eyes continued scanning the darkness beyond the walls.
Far away...
Hidden atop a rocky hill overlooking every camp below...
A lone figure stood motionless beneath a black cloak.
Only a pair of cold silver eyes remained visible beneath the hood.
The figure's gaze swept across hundreds of travelers...
Before finally stopping on one small campfire.
On one sleeping youth.
Zion.
For a long moment...
The figure simply studied Zion.
A faint crease appeared beneath the hood.
"...Strange."
"Nothing."
"I see... nothing at all."
For the first time in many years...
The cloaked figure felt uncertainty.
A moment later...
The figure vanished.
Meanwhile, far below...
Zion slept peacefully, completely unaware that, for the first time since leaving Blue Star Village...
Someone had taken an interest in him.
____
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