As the center of the Eastern District, East Blade City did not have walls, but boasted splendid watchtowers and city gates, as well as a runes sorcery array enveloping the entire city. To enter, one had to honestly pass through the city gate.
The city gate before me had five arches, with an endless queue of people and caravans, and a dazzling variety of magicalized beasts everywhere.
Seeing the scene in front of the city gate, one could guess how prosperous the city must be.
The name of East Capital was truly well-deserved!
“Such a grand arrangement, I wonder how much energy it consumes in a single day.” Ivan was an Enchanter and was most sensitive to the runes sorcery array; his gaze first landed there.
“Brother, are you an Enchanter? Is this your first time in East Capital?” A group of three riders approached from a distance, slowing down beside him; the leading young sorcerer couldn’t help but ask.
The sorcerer who appeared to be in his late twenties rode a white flying horse and was accompanied by two sword-bearing guards, whose aura suggested that of Flying Knights, indicating that this person was not of common status.
“Indeed.” Ivan nodded slightly.
“I am Rogier, also an Enchanter. I am here in East Capital to participate in the Enchanters Guild’s appraisal competition. Seeing you, it seems you are someone of considerable enchantment skills; I wanted to make your acquaintance,” Rogier introduced himself in a friendly manner.
In fact, he also guessed that Ivan’s identity was not ordinary—Ivan’s swamp ant aura revealed as much.
When out and about, it’s always good to make more friends and connections.
“My name is ‘Ivan,’ and my main purpose here is to answer a summons from an elder. As for the rest, I haven’t decided yet,” Ivan replied, mixing truth with fiction.
“Brother Ivan, let’s enter the city together; we sorcerers do not have to queue like the others,” Rogier pointed to the far right city gate entrance, which was different from the other four, freely accessible.
“Please.”
East Blade City, a city built by sorcerers, not only exempted us from queuing but also from the sorcerer’s entry fee. However, registration and aura recording were required before they would issue a nameplate.
A Level 2 Sorcerer was stationed at the city gate, ensuring that foreign sorcerers did not act recklessly.
Ivan was inwardly impressed and, following the rules, completed the entry procedures. Alongside Rogier, he entered the city, greeted by an array of buildings of various styles. The most eye-catching was the soaring sorcerer tower, which seemed to reach seven or eight stories high from a distance.
“Apart from the East Blade Legion, East Capital forbids any creature from flying at high altitudes. Anything above ten meters is a no-fly zone, and the higher one goes, the more restrictions one faces,” Rogier gestured upwards while explaining.
He and his guards’ flying horses had already taken to the ground, and their pace remained swift, continuing to emit a ‘clip-clop’ sound.
Ivan couldn’t help but glance upward where he sensed a familiar force—the same gravity that swamp ants also controlled. No wonder flying was prohibited.
“Brother Ivan, I need to handle some affairs in Neighborhood No. 355 first. Where are you heading?”
“Neighborhood No. 63.”
“You’ll need to head in that direction. Hope to see you again if the opportunity arises.”
“Farewell.”
East Capital was vast and had been divided by sorcerers into 999 neighborhoods. The two had different destinations and thus parted ways. Before separating, Rogier gave him a detailed map of East Capital.
Only after Ivan studied the map did he learn that East Blade City contained rivers, lakes, mountains, and more; it had everything. Neighborhood No. 63’s location was relatively central, with many official organizations nearby.
Chairman Narnya had given him an address there.
Anyone familiar with the upper echelons of the sorcerer hierarchy knew that an official organization had been established among the entire sorcerer community, the highest of which was the Botta Supreme Council.
The Supreme Council was located in the first-line continent, also known as the not completely occupied territory, the ‘Botta Blood Plain,’ which frequently dealt with battles against the Alien Race.
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Although the Chanay Continent was the heartland of the sorcerer community, it was only the second-line continent, led by the ‘Chanay Tower United Council’ under the Botta Supreme Council.
East Capital had a division of the Tower Council, located near the city center in District One.
“Hasn’t bloodline alteration become a popular trend in recent years? This greatly deviates from the records of Mongna Ant Land Cottage.”
Ivan walked all the way here, noticing that there were also quite a few bloodline alterators in East Capital, although it hadn’t reached the extent of the Blood Plains, where practically everyone underwent alterations.
He also saw pure Alien Races, which were said to be vassal species of the Human Clan, such as the one-horned race, snake-haired race, and two-tailed race, etc.
After traveling half the day, he truly widened his horizons, eventually arriving at his destination in Neighborhood No. 63.
‘Vernon Millennium Archive’
Ivan carefully checked again and confirmed that the old, workshop-like building built next to a low hill was indeed the address given by the Chairman.
It was a perfect description to say that the place was deserted.
He secretly wondered if this could be an inconspicuous clean water yamen.
Waiting at the entrance for a while, he received a message back from Chairman Narnya, instructing him to go straight inside.
Following the instruction, Ivan stepped into the cold archive, stated his intention to meet Director Narnya at the front desk, and was led deep into the archive.
He discovered the place was much larger than it appeared from the outside, having expanded into the mountain at the back.
Before long, he arrived at a repository of archives and met his direct supervisor from the Five Leaves Spear, that gracefully scholarly Level 3 Sorcerer. He was the only person there.
“Chairman Narnya, Ivan Marichardon sends his long due greetings to you.”
“Ivan, you finally deigned to leave Moon Pincer Peninsula. Remember to address me by my official title here,” Narnya said, not angry even though he was half a year late according to the scheduled time.
“Sure, Director Narnya.” Ivan readily agreed.
“People from Five Leaves Spear usually don’t abide by the rules when doing their work, which leads to a lot of sorcerers holding prejudice against us. Unless it’s a special occasion, there’s no need to reveal our organization’s name to avoid drawing unwanted attention from prejudiced people and causing unnecessary complications,” Narnya said.
Narnya walked out, signaling him to follow.
“Understood.” Ivan could indeed understand.
Thinking about the mission of the Five Leaves Spear, ‘fighting corruption,’ ‘innovation’ – which of these did not involve the sorcerers’ vested interests? Considering also the manner of Doug and Solomon, that unabashed attitude, it’s no wonder the reputation of the Five Leaves Spear isn’t very good.
Just not sure if it has reached the point where everyone is calling out for their heads.
According to his analysis, that shouldn’t be the case; otherwise, how dare they nest in such official institutions.
“Good that you understand. In fact, the Millennium Archive is the base of our organization, so there is nothing to worry about.”
“Is he the Senior Enchanter who passed the assessment earlier?”
Narnya led him to another place, past several repositories along the way. While talking, the two encountered a sorcerer whose presence was as deep as an abyss.
This sorcerer looked like a kindly old woman, also resembling a venerable scholar.
“Indeed, he is Ivan Marichardon. This is Director Cherie.”
“He looks alright.”
It was clear that the other party was one of the two Deans of the Vernon Millennium Archive, likely also a Chairman of the Five Leaves Spear. Ivan dared not neglect, and promptly paid his respects.
Director Cherie didn’t say much else.
It was true that the Vernon Millennium Archive served as a branch for the Five Leaves Spear. Hidden deep inside the archive in a secret chamber, there lay the symbol of the Five Leaves Spear, a part of the ‘Prophet’s Treasure Tome,’ and all other arrangements.
In the presence of the two Chairmen, Ivan formally became a member of the Five Leaves Spear through an ancient ritual.