The ship glided along the gentle currents and warm sea breeze for seven days on the blue sea like a jewel.
In the second half of the journey, the fertile picture of the river bend slowly unfolded on both sides of the river.
The summer sun generously pours on the boundless fertile fields, and the verdant ridges crisscross like the veins of the earth, dotted with gently rolling hills, covered with deep green woodlands and lush grasslands.
Farmers toiled in the fields, fishermen's boats cast nets in the dotted rivers and lakes, butchers' squeaky donkey carts ran through country roads, and the shouts of vendors echoed over the market, full of vitality.
In this peaceful and almost lazy scene, Liu Qian and Janice's boat sailed into the harbor of the old town.
In the early morning of arrival, the milky white mist that could not be dissolved enveloped the sea and the city lowly, enveloping everything in hazy silence.
Only the rough and energetic chirping of seagulls penetrates the thick fog and echoes in the wet air.
Liu Qian and Janice stood side by side on the bow deck, their clothes blown by the morning breeze with salty water vapor.
Their gaze penetrated the flowing veil and cast their eyes on the towering tower, the giant shadow that rose from the ground and pierced the fog on the distant battle island.
The 700-foot-tall tower, carefully built of white and delicate marble, exudes a warm and holy glimmer even in the thick fog.
At the top of the tower, the blazing fire penetrates the confusion, guiding the ships and lost travelers in the fog.
Its history dates back to the Dawn Age, and today the main body of this magnificent white stone tower is the culmination of the continuous expansion of the Hightower family over the years.
The original watchtowers were low, simple wooden structures, only fifty feet high.
The Hightower ancestors were still huddled in dark halls, domes, and ancient fortresses made of rough black stone.
After many constructions, the tower was truly reborn and became the majestic family fortress built entirely of boulders and symbolizing the supreme glory and power of the Hightower family.
As the ship slowly sailed past the towering tower that guarded the mouth of the Mead River, it was about to merge into the boiling harbor of mast, sail shadows, and the noise of the whispering bay.
Janice had a curiosity and a hint of intimacy in her purple eyes, and she looked sideways at Liu Qian:
"My lord, this is the towering tower, the clan fortress of Miss Linis's family?"
During the days of Torture, she gets along well with Lineth, and the depressed Miss Hightower often tells her about the family's ancient and glorious history.
"Not bad."
Liu Qian nodded in response, but his eyes did not stop on the white tower, but explored downwards, firmly locking the unfathomable and huge base of the towering tower.
It was a square labyrinth fortress made of rough, heavy, and deep-colored black stones.
It crawls on the rugged rock pedestal of the conquest island, with rough lines and ancient forms, exuding a sense of primitive power that is completely different from the white tower above, almost barbaric.
The black base silently supports the splendor above, while its impressive barriers block all eyes that attempt to peek into its inner secrets.
Janice was keenly aware of the landing point of Liu Qian's gaze, and her eyes also fell on the huge black stone pedestal.
She stared for a long time, her brows furrowed slightly, as if searching for something in her memory, and after a moment, she whispered thoughtfully:
"The texture of that black stone is very similar to the material on the walls of Tria..."
Liu Qian nodded: "The cutting process and stacking method of this black stone are almost the same as the handwriting of the Valyrians."
In addition to the walls of Tria, the black walls of Valantis, as well as those avenues of Valyria, exhibit similar stylistic characteristics. "
When Janice heard this, her beautiful purple eyes widened in surprise, and she looked at Liu Qian in disbelief: "Could it be... A long time ago, the Valyrians visited the old town and built this black stone pedestal? "
Liu Qian shook his head slowly, his eyes still staring deeply at the silent black giant: "Historical records record that as early as the Dawn Era, the ancestors of the Hightower family had built this black stone fortress here.
At that time, the Valyrian Fortress of Freedom had not yet been established.
This shows that Valyrians are not the only ones who have mastered this blackstone craft. "
Janice was still confused, her slender fingers unconsciously rubbing against the side of the ship: "But, my lord, cutting, carrying and erecting such a huge and tightly sealed stone is an almost impossible feat without the help of magic. "
"Magic?"
The corners of Liu Qian's mouth curled up with a meaningful arc, and he asked, "Then Janis, where do you think the source of the magic of the Valyrians comes from?" "
Janice was stunned when she heard this, and she instantly remembered the records she had seen in those dusty blood wizard collections.
She lost her voice and said, "Do you mean that the Hightower family has a common origin with the Valyrians?!" "
The smile on Liu Qian's face deepened.
Before seeing this black stone pedestal, he might have only speculated based on ancient records.
However, at this moment, this Black Stone Fortress, which contains ancient power and craftsmanship in the same style as the ruins of Valyria, stands so realistically in front of you is a silent but powerful testament in itself.
The Hightower family and Valyria must have an extremely close and deep connection far beyond imagination.
"Janice that you have studied the secret history of Valyria in the Blood Wizard's collection.
It clearly states that the ancestors of Valyria came from the distant Yidi east of the Skeleton Mountains, and more precisely, they came from the royal blood of the legendary 'Dawn Kingdom', and were descendants of the Amethyst Empress and the Bloodstone Emperor.
The Bloodstone Emperor killed his sister and lover to seize the throne, and turned his faith to the extraterrestrial stars, which led to the arrival of the 'long night'.
Its descendants fled in a hurry, and one of them crossed the Skeleton Mountains to the west, and finally established the Valyrian Freedom Fortress in the Land of Long Summer, so the Hightower family is most likely another descendant of the exile. "
The shock in Janice was indescribable, like a huge wave on the calm sea.
She never thought that in this southern border of Westeros, thousands of miles away from the ruins of Valyria, the owner of this white tower standing at the mouth of the Mead River might be connected to the Valyrians, by blood, with the same roots.
The threads of history suddenly become clear and extremely complex in front of our eyes.
Liu Qian's heart was also surging, but his surprise was different from Janice's.
What really surprised him was that the Hightowers arrived in Westeros much earlier than the Valyrians arrived in the Land of Long Summer.
As the descendants of the Dawn Kingdom, why have they been so "low-key" on the historical stage of Westeros for thousands of years?
They have never shown the amazing power of riding dragons and burning cities and destroying countries like the Valyrians, and they are not even good at magic, but are known for their wisdom, wealth and devout faith.
So, what did they take away from that ancient kingdom of blood and magic?
Or what are they hiding?
Deep in the silent black stone pedestal, at the top of the tower burning with fire, is there another unknown legacy of the Dawn Kingdom?
Just as Liu Qian was immersed in this grand puzzle about the origin of the world and the nature of power, the atmosphere on the ship suddenly became noisy and lively.
He retracted his gaze and found that the ship had smoothly docked at the busy dock of the old town.
Temporarily suppressing the thousands of thoughts in his heart, Liu Qian said to Janice: "It's here, let's get off the boat." "
He no longer thought about Hightower's secrets, and now he had a more urgent goal.
The two descended the gangway with the flow of people and left the port area, which was full of fishy, sweaty and exotic spices.
They walked along the long cobblestone street on the banks of the Mead River, polished by the years, towards the heart of the old town, the school city.
Walking on the cold and damp streets of the old town, where the fog had not yet completely dissipated, Liu Qian's face couldn't help but pass a hint of surprise.
Compared to the Valantis he had set foot in before, the old town took on a very different look.
It is obviously neat and refreshing, and even has an orderly temperament.
On both sides of the river bank are dense but staggered stone buildings, mostly three or four stories high, with roofs covered with dark red tiles.
Although the streets are slightly slippery due to the fog, they are relatively clean, with no accumulated garbage or filthy puddles.
What surprised him even more was that there were no ragged beggars on both sides of the street, and there were no loitering troublemakers, and the security seemed to be quite good.
The most striking difference from Valantis is that there is no cruel scene of slave owners wielding whips and slaves shivering under leather whips.
Some are just street vendors selling melons, peaches, apples, fire plums and other river bay specialties.
The air is filled with the fragrance of fruit and the aroma of wheat from baking bread.
In the "Quill Bottle" tavern on the island in the river in the distance, there were faint bursts of cheerful laughter and clinking glasses.
Liu Qianqian stopped in front of a fruit stall and bought a few attractive fruits and handed them to Janice.
How has a girl who has lived in the abyss of torture for a long time taste such a fresh and sweet taste?
Janice happily took it, and took a small bite of the juicy peach as she walked, and the sweet juice instantly filled her mouth.
She narrowed her eyes with satisfaction, and a pure and joyful smile bloomed on her face, as if dispelling the fatigue of the journey and the coldness of the morning mist of the old town.
The thick fog that permeated the city seemed to be slowly lifted by an invisible hand.
In the distant eastern sky, a rising red sun struggled to break free from the shackles of the clouds, splashing down thousands of golden red light.
The morning light is like a giant paintbrush, painting the bustling streets, towering towers, and rows of rooftops of the old town with a warm and brilliant color, while also casting long, deep shadows on the ground.
Liu Qian's gaze was involuntarily attracted by the magnificent buildings that cast huge shadows.
The solemn spire of the Seven Temples, the magnificent arches of the Lord's Sanctuary, the unique emblem of the Sailor's Sanctuary, and the dome of the Starry Sanctuary, which symbolizes the endless starry sky...
These temples of faith stand tall and astonishing in scale.
The intricately carved reliefs come to life in the morning light, and the tall dome seems to pierce the sky and connect the kingdom of God.
At this time, the sunlight completely tore through the heavy cloud curtain and completely immersed the entire city in a holy brilliance intertwined with gold and red.
Bell-bell-bell-bell——
At this moment, in the towering churches, the solemn and melodious morning bells rang one after another.
The thick sound of bells penetrates the fresh air and echoes and intertwines over the city, as if playing a grand movement to welcome distant guests.
Liu Qian and Janice finally arrived at the destination of the trip - the school city, accompanied by these rounds of solemn bells.