East Sea City was one of the mid-sized border trading cities of the Federation.
It rose along the Eastern Sea of the continent, making it a river port that never slept.
The old walls no longer existed in this era; Soul Guidance Cannons, mechs, and automated watchtowers were far more capable of protection than any stone rampart.
Today the city was open on all sides except toward the Eastern Sea where the port lay — open, of course, to ships, but only after they passed the inspection points.
Wide roads were cut through by soul cars, and glass-and-metal buildings rose dozens of stories high, reflecting sunlight as if they were pieces of the sky itself.
At night the streets were lit by soul energy panels, so the city looked from afar like a star that had fallen to earth.
The city was considered a semi-border city because of its view over the Eastern Sea, and it remained a pivotal point for hunting sea soul beasts.
Even after the end of the Soul Beast Era, the city had not lost its commercial character.
Its central market was still its beating heart, where all kinds of merchants gathered — from traders of marine soul guidance devices to dealers in rare metals and marine spiritual treasures, herbs, and relics.
Small academies were scattered through the old districts, teaching a generation that now saw soul beasts only in books and museums.
And today, a forgotten man approached this city.
Some distance from the city, specifically at the inspection checkpoint on the main road that served as the entrance before it branched off, members of the Security and Inspection Force were inspecting any car or heavy truck, checking what it carried and the official proof of its legitimacy to enter the city — showing how far humanity had advanced compared to ten thousand years in the past.
“Huh?
What’s that?” one inspection officer suddenly said to his colleague in shock.
They had just finished an hour of work and would rest a while before continuing, but this man saw something approaching and told his colleague with some shock to look.
The colleague, who looked to be about thirty, turned to see what looked like the hide of a large animal walking and approaching from about a hundred meters away.
“Is that a wild predator that came out of the nearby forest?” “Maybe, but it’s unlikely.
The forest is far, and it wouldn’t keep walking beside the road where the cars and trucks are.
That would scare it.” “Hmm, you’re right.
And it also looks a bit short for a wild creature.” “Huh?
Did some smoke just come out of it?” The colleague turned away to look at that distant shape, but because of the distance he didn’t see any smoke.
“Are you starting to hallucinate from fatigue or what?” “No, no, I didn’t.
It’s getting closer.
Doesn’t that look like a bear’s head?” “You’re right, but it doesn’t look like a real bear.
Is someone wearing a bear pelt?” “That’s rare these days, but it’ll get closer and we’ll see.” Of course, the “bear” they were talking about was none other than Mu Ji Wu, who had happened to make a bear his prey while it was sleeping but it woke him because of his spiritual sense, and then the predator became the prey.
After a delicious bear-meat dinner, Mu Ji Wu cleaned the pelt and cut it, turning it into a head covering and a half-cloak.
Of course, due to his lack of craftsmanship, its design relied on its original shape, but it was enough.
Mu Ji Wu was approaching East Sea City — a city he had never heard the name of before.
As for him, who had traveled from Leaf Fire City, a second-tier city, he had never known the size of the world before.
Or rather, he had never seen a reason to.
He just lived quietly with his wife while working.
Why bother his head with more information?
He smoked his pipe as he approached the inspection point, where he saw with his sharp eyes the guards’ faces watching his approaching figure with some shock.
He felt puzzled, then remembered what he was wearing now: Fur-lined underpants, a deerskin skirt, a fox-fur coat, and a cloak with a bear’s head.
A barbarian straight out of history books.
That’s why the puzzlement vanished from his mind, and he didn’t stop.
It wasn’t as if slightly strange clothes would get him expelled from the city.
And indeed he reached the inspection area, smoking his pipe and exhaling a small cloud every few steps.
As he got closer to the city he was no longer stingy with his last bag of tobacco.
The few guards watched the smoking child pass by as he nodded his head to them before passing, leaving behind the scent of mint and jasmine wafting from the smoke in the air.
“Chief… should we stop him?” “On what charge?
Or rather, why?
He’s a strange child, indeed looks like some strange barbarian, but that’s not our job.” “But what if he’s smuggling something strange?” “And what if he is?
Our duty is only the road, not the sidewalk.
Let those inside handle it if a problem happens.” The other guards felt helpless because of their slightly lazy, corrupt chief.
Mu Ji Wu ignored the commotion behind him and heard only the beginning before it gradually faded with his stride.
‘Hmm, so this is where my eyes want me to go?
No, I feel it’s here — rather, inside.
Should I go eat something or buy some tobacco before going?
No, I’ll go see what’s happening first with this call before I do anything else.
But this city is indeed prosperous.
The tallest building in Leaf Fire City isn’t even half the height of the tallest one here.
The streets are tidier and the buildings newer.
Is this what they call a famous city?’ Deep in his thoughts and with some curiosity, Mu Ji Wu observed what was around him as he entered the city.
He had to admit that after those 130 years in a cave, curiosity about everything now ranked second only to the will to die.
After refilling his empty pipe and lighting it, Mu Ji Wu truly entered the city.
He walked while observing what was around him with all curiosity.
At the same time, people around him looked at him with all curiosity.
“What’s this strange child?
Did he live in a cave?” “Is he a barbarian from one of the hidden villages in the forests?
I thought the Federation had discovered all those nearby villages and even the whole continent.” “He’s carrying a bag and wearing leather boots, so he’s not a complete barbarian.
Maybe something happened to him and he wore this for lack of suitable clothes?” The more Mu Ji Wu walked, the more he heard people’s murmurs around him about his outward appearance, which made him feel somewhat helpless.
Was he really that strange?
Yes, yes he was.
If it were ten thousand years ago, or even seven thousand, maybe he would have been normal among people.
But now, in this era, no.
He was like an embodiment walking out of a museum.
Of course, it wasn’t as if he cared.
With his expressionless face, dead eyes, long gray-white hair, long pipe, and the smoke spreading from it, his appearance drew attention wherever he walked.
He might even be expelled from some shops because of his appearance before he even entered, and thus even if he had ideas about buying something, he wouldn’t be able to.
With that he walked toward the attraction he felt in his eyes.
On his way he passed a very tall building, one of the tallest in the city.
On it was a glaring sign: “Spirit Pagoda,” very clearly, where only soul masters could enter, almost.
Mu Ji Wu recognized it from the legend — the legend of ten thousand years ago.
It was Huo Yuhao, disciple of Shrek Academy, one of Shrek’s Seven Monsters of that generation, founder of the Spirit Temple, the person who revived the almost-dead Tang Sect.
Articles about his glorious life with his wife went on and on.
‘So this is the famous Spirit Temple?
It does look majestic.’ Looking at the Spirit Temple, Mu Ji Wu’s memory returned to when he was six years old and awakened his martial soul — the eyes.
At that time, an employee of the Spirit Pagoda responsible for awakenings grabbed him excitedly, happy, and told him the legend of Huo Yuhao, but unfortunately the result was that he had no soul power and was not destined to become a soul master.
The poor employee almost cried with sorrow and lamented it strongly, repeating, “What a pity.” Of course, he was a little happy at the time when he failed as a soul master.
He was a poor orphan with no family, and even the lowest soul ring would require selling himself to buy it, which he wouldn’t do.
Who knew what trouble he’d get into if he had a rare spirit like the legendary temple master while being just an orphan.
After watching the tall temple for a while and drawing enough attention, Mu Ji Wu continued on his way again.
After walking another hour he found himself staring again at a towering building competing with the previous Spirit Temple in height.
And on it was a big sign too saying “Blacksmiths Guild,” but this time he didn’t focus on it much.
First, because he wasn’t interested in blacksmithing and had no knowledge of it.
He knew that some strong humans could study it, but to truly advance in it he had to be a soul master.
And the other reason was that he was already approaching the desired place.
While walking he arrived in front of an area surrounded by long, high walls.
He felt that this was the place that attracted him.
He reached the main gate and read the name of the place: “East Sea Academy — Elementary & Middle School.” “Academy?
Is this what I traveled for a whole month?
Interesting.
But the city is average in terms of education, according to what I heard.
The residents really love to talk as if they’re afraid no one will know anything.
Why do my eyes draw me to it?” Mu Ji Wu began analyzing the desired place finally after a long wait.
He thought a little, closed his eyes, and focused on his eyes and the vague feeling in them.
After some scrutiny he was sure that what was meant was not the school in front of him but a person inside specifically.
And thus he felt the matter made more sense, because if it required coming to a mediocre place like this for training, he would feel some disappointment.
He headed straight toward the gate, his pipe in hand, nearly finished, and just as he was about to enter the guards suddenly stopped him.
“Wait, child, what are you doing here?
The next academic term won’t start for a week and a half.
Registration too.
Why did you come early?” The guard building was right after the main gate to monitor who entered and who exited, and the guards themselves were shocked by the barbarian who entered.
Mu Ji Wu stopped and looked at the guard who spoke and said nothing for some time, which made the guard tense from those eyes.
“So I can’t enter now?” Mu Ji Wu spoke after some thought.
“Yes, correct.
The academy is currently closed to students and those who don’t work there, so you have to come back later when classes start to register.” ‘What registration are you talking about?
I don’t even know how this school works,’ though Mu Ji Wu thought this, he said something different: “But there’s someone inside I have to meet.” “Oh?
What’s his name, and do you have a letter or official document?” “I don’t know his name and I have no proof,” Mu Ji Wu replied calmly and tersely, as usual.
The guards looked at each other before one of them said, “Then you can’t enter, unfortunately.
You have to leave now.” Mu Ji Wu nodded, then went out and went to the opposite sidewalk where there was a wooden chair and sat on it.
It was nearly eleven o’clock, so he didn’t mind waiting, hoping the one he wanted would come out.
And indeed, after a full four hours of waiting, smoking, and eating the fruits he had carried from the forest as food, he felt that person advancing outward and raised his head to look.
There was a handsome man in his twenties, tall with a well-proportioned body, long silver hair, a stern face — but not as stern as his — and calm eyes almost beginning to die.
Of course, no comparison to Mu Ji Wu’s eyes.
Mu Ji Wu didn’t recognize him, but it didn’t matter whether he knew him or not.
The moment he saw that man, the attraction in his eyes disappeared completely and never appeared again.
Mu Ji Wu got up from the chair and walked toward him directly.
The tall man stopped and turned toward Mu Ji Wu, shocked by the eyes and strange clothes.
When he noticed he was coming toward him, he stopped and turned to him, waiting for him to arrive.
Mu Ji Wu reached him and stood before him, and the two looked at each other for a few seconds, and no one said anything.
Mu Ji Wu was thinking to himself how to address him when two words appeared in his mind: ‘Sky Ice.’ He didn’t know how, but he felt he had to say the two words.
The man finally spoke first under the scrutiny of the eyes.
“If you don’t say anything I’ll go,” his voice was cold and distant like his face and aura.
As he turned and walked, he heard a voice from behind him: “Sky Ice?
Or Ice Sky?” Mu Ji Wu asked calmly without knowing the meaning of what he was saying.
The silver-haired man’s body froze and he turned with a fierce look on his face, and a light but heavy pressure spread quietly as he looked at Mu Ji Wu and said slowly, “How do you know this title?”