The moment Xiao Tian and Tang San crossed through the gates, a wave of sound and color struck them like a living storm.
Stalls lined the busy streets, filled with shouting merchants hawking roasted meat skewers, cloth, or jars of fragrant wine. Horses clopped past, pulling carts stacked high with grain. Children darted between the crowds, laughing as they chased one another. The air carried a mix of scents—fresh bread, manure, sweat, and spice—all blending into a single dizzying atmosphere.
Xiao Tian slowed his steps, eyes wide. His heart pounded not from fear, but from excitement.
So this is Notting City…
In his mind's eye, a shadow of Earth's cities flickered. Towering skyscrapers of steel and glass, neon lights that burned through the night, streets buzzing with cars and the hum of electricity. Compared to that, Notting City was crude—stone walls instead of highways, carriages instead of engines, oil lamps instead of electric light.
And yet, here it was alive in a way no modern city could match. People bartered face to face, shouted across streets, pulled neighbors by the sleeve to share gossip. Life was rough, noisy, unpolished—but vivid.
No machines, no power grids, no factories… Everything depends on muscle, beasts, and spirit power. To them, this is the peak of civilization. To me, it's like stepping back into the pages of history. But that just means opportunity.
He watched a blacksmith hammering in front of his forge, sweat pouring down his back as the ringing of metal filled the street. Sparks danced, and Xiao Tian's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. Weights… benches… bars… Yes, with the right design, I can build the first training tools here. A gym in this world… heh, let's see if they laugh at me then.
Tang San walked quietly beside him, his expression calm as ever. His gaze lingered not on the bustling shops but on the weapons hanging at a roadside stall—short blades, spears, bows. His hand twitched slightly, as though recalling hidden knowledge of forging and hidden weapons that no one here could imagine.
The boys trailed behind Old Jack as he led them deeper into the city. Though the old man was tired from travel, his chest swelled with pride. To him, bringing children from Holy Soul Village into such a grand place was an honor in itself.
Every now and then, he would point his cane. "That there's the market square. Over there—see that tall building? That's a merchant guild."
Xiao Tian nodded, memorizing every detail. A guild system… no unified economy, just loose trade networks. Which means if I play it right, there are gaps I can exploit. Simple tools, farming methods, training equipment—they could spread fast. The village was only the beginning. Here, the city will be my testing ground.
As they passed through a broad street, the noise only grew louder. Carriages rattled, vendors called out deals, and beggars sat in the corners with bowls extended. Tang San glanced at them silently, his eyes flickering with an emotion that Xiao Tian couldn't quite read.
To Xiao Tian, though, the sight was almost nostalgic. So even in this world, poverty walks beside wealth. Different world, same struggles. But maybe… maybe I can change that, at least a little.
Old Jack finally stopped at the end of a wide avenue. Ahead stood a row of tall stone walls enclosing a sprawling compound. At the gates hung a wooden plaque with three simple characters carved in bold strokes:
Notting Primary Spirit Master Academy.
Old Jack's lips curled into a smile. "Here we are, boys. From this day on, this place will be your new home."
Xiao Tian clenched his fists, excitement surging in his chest. Not a home. A forge. This is where I'll shape the foundation of my path.
Tang San's expression remained calm, but in his eyes a quiet determination flickered, sharp as a hidden blade.
The two boys stood together, gazing at the academy gates—unaware that the choices they would soon make inside would set their lives on paths that no one, not even destiny itself, could predict.