Lind's trip to the capitol was delayed a day due to several more stops and organizing beast cores or materials. Solon acknowledged that it would give Lind some basic income to start his time at the Academy.
After passing several districts smaller than the Southern District and the wilds in between, a massive skyline appeared behind a wall that lit up to Lind's eyes. Formations burned with various uses and Lind felt some of them focus on Solon and himself. The pale stone wall was at least 10 meters tall.
There were at least 6 towers in view just on the side they approached and Lind could not see the end of the capitol from the air. Lind had once been to New York but while the highest tower here was a joke compared to the skyscrapers of that metropolis, the sprawling buildings reminded him of it. There was a hill on which a massive palace stood behind yet another wall.
Lind could tell the complexity of formations was much higher on that inner wall and looked away. He intentionally filtered his sight while not completely shutting it down. It took over 7 years to pick up the trick to this, but he was stunned to realize it was much easier now. Had he improved his eyes?
He had little time to absorb the view more as Solon brought them down to one of the roads leading into the city. Lind saw a massive line of carts and people waiting to gain entry. Solon did not land at the end as Lind expected, but flew ahead until he reached the larger area opened in front of the gate.
Lind expected the guards and people to be annoyed, but strangely, all looked with respect up at them as they passed by. Eventually, they touched down and Solon sheathed his own sword and stored away the one Lind had been flying on. Lind already missed the feeling, and wanted to try to find techniques he could look at to fly.
He had to resolve the bottleneck of his dantian elements, but it would take time. Lind saw a replica of the lotus symbolizing the Empire on the right breast of each guard. The leather pads had simple decorations but one of them had steel and a more eye-catching lotus. Lind noticed it was a light shade of violet on each petal but otherwise each man was grim faced looking at Solon and Lind.
"Greetings seniors. I am here to complete a mission issued by her royal Highness, Princess Jia." Solon produced a scroll that one of the dark eyed guards took to the steel person that Lind assumed was a captain of the gate. Lind saw a flare of Qi briefly before the scroll was unrolled. While the captain made a show of reading the scroll, he had nodded the moment that burst of Qi appeared in Lind's vision.
"All appears in order, sir Solon. We welcome an honorable member of the Divine Sword Sect to our humble Inner District. Please feel free to use the Golden Lion on Jade Street for your stay." Lind had many questions pop up, but felt this was not the time. He bowed as Solon did and they both entered without any hassle. Whispered voices started up in excitement that Lind picked up mentions of 'Divine Sword Sect!' and general gossiping about who Lind was as well.
"I take it your sect is known for flying swords?" The large tunnel seemed to mute their voices, but Lind spoke quietly anyway. He was just curious on why no one objected to their cutting of the line.
"Indeed. A Soul Realm that can use a flying sword can only be from the Divine Sword Sect. Only a Sky Realm can fly on their own with the appropriate technique otherwise. Our World Realms have a few signature decorations to make them stand out but try to keep a low profile." Lind found this odd. Should not the more powerful cultivator want to flaunt more? Solon once again read his mind.
"It is part of the creed to shout our pride in youth, understand humility in our prime, and to quietly watch over the realm in our maturity." Lind felt warmth in his chest at these words. The Divine Sword Sect knew the hot bloodedness of youth and gave it a clear way to brag but then emphasized passive power over active power.
"Soul Realm, World Realm, and Sky Realm?" Lind asked but Solon only nodded. Even so, it was a fine creed by Lind's values. The bright sun came back at last. The wall had to be almost 12 meters thick! Lind felt his skin itch as Qi density skyrocketed within the walls.
One of the formations must passively improve the Qi gathering for anyone in the Inner District. Learning to curb his innate cultivator talent would have been nightmarish here. The immediate main street was fairly clean even as horses and bulls made their way up and down the avenue. A massive mix of rough to well to do clothes passed through the area to their respective directions.
Lind saw stables able to immediately take in carriages for inspections on either side of the gate but then people were channeled away. Shouts guiding traders and other caravans to the right place quickly sorted the traffic. Solon pierced through the crowd like a hot knife through butter and Lind worked hard to keep up.
Lind was afraid he would lose his way if Solon vanished into the crowd. The braying of animals and shouts of everyone made a chaotic few breaths of time before they finally broke through to just the main street. Lamps lined the sides and Lind was fascinated by the formations.
They reacted to sunlight as he watched, meaning they would light up once the light drops by a certain extent. A clever way to make streets easier to see. Lind was quick to note only the main streets had them as they passed a few narrow alleys or roads. Lind also quickly noted signs of shadowy shapes looking carefully at the crowd. A few feelings of Qi set off Lind's Soul Touch, but he did not react.
The Old Man and Granny had hammered into Lind to not reveal his talents as much as possible. He would have to register when he entered the Academy, but his talents would only be known by the staff. It was still a risk, but far better than his trump cards getting out to the wide world.
The buildings were mostly stone and Lind could not help noticing a swift decline in quality away from the main road but even the main road was colorless stone with sloped roofs. The fronts were stalls with food for the most part but were changing as they progressed deeper into the district.
Lind saw white stone, or painted, replace the colorless version but the trinkets and resources were now being hawked at the stalls. The smell of food awoke Lind's stomach, yet Solon hardly slowed down. The street was not a straight path, instead it swerved back and forth like a snake, but Lind occasionally could see formations indicating passages for imperial forces to bypass as needed. It matched the outer wall's quality and only someone like Lind could make them out.
He also suddenly felt a pain in his eyes that indicated these formations were protected against those that have Soul Eyes, yet Lind could look for a short time. He had improved! After the sun was close to the peak of its path in the sky, the crowd suddenly thinned dramatically.
Lind looked around and noted a much higher quality of silk robes on the people around them. No one gave Solon a second glance, but more than a few stared at Lind but did nothing else. His crimson robes were also silk but they did not glisten as the people around here did. The quality of robes varied in the Southern District but Lind knew the twins wore the best the Frey Clan had.
In this crowd it would not have passed. Solon was wearing a travel robe but it was of a very high quality and the sword sheath was branded with a clear emblem of the Divine Sword Sect. Lind also noticed the shocking number of World Realms now showing up.
In the Southern District, only clan elders and the Overseer would be World Realms, but the Inner District had low Sand Tiers everywhere. Lind could still not make anything out of their elements, but the flow of Qi was like a river full of large rocks. The background Qi went around or was forced around those individuals as if they lorded over the Qi.
"Where are we going?" Lind saw a sign pass for Jade Street that went off in a grand circle and fancy gilded decorations were on each sign board. Solon, on the other hand, never stopped on the current street. Solon did not answer and only kept going. They had arrived a few days early so Lind assumed they would rest, but it would seem Solon had other ideas.
Eventually, Lind saw a massive structure revealed ahead. It was not as tall as the palace, but it was not in any way inferior. Lind could also tell that it was in the middle of an open area. It did not take a large leap to determine it was the Lotus Academy facility but Lind saw no sign of the Ruins rumored to be under its control.
"This is not the Academy, this is only the ritual site." Solon finally spoke but his attitude was now the stoic warrior, not the thrill seeker that had bonded with Lind on the journey here. Lind swallowed his curiosity and felt his nerves finally rise as they closed in on the site.
Lind now understood that this was the site that would decide his future. The token in his bag seemed to react at last, but Lind did not see why. It was not a formation, or maybe it was a World Realm formation beyond his ability to comprehend. Nothing stopped them until a short 5 meter wall with a single gate stood in front of them.
A group of people were gathered there, but Lind instantly felt pressure trying to crush him where he stood. He circulated his Qi and focused earth into his legs while water and wind were put into his torso. The pressure lessened to an extent but it still made his body heavy. Lind could tell he was the lowest cultivation base of anyone here.
He was still at mid tier 4 Soul Realm, but the next lowest person was tier 6! The men and women were all exuding an air of arrogance that judged the world wanting around them. There was a dark robed man standing by the gate. Rather than a guard, there was a scholarly air that Lind felt from him. His eyes were bright yellow as he looked over the crowd but his stern face never flinched until the yellowed gaze landed on Solon.
"Honorable Divine Sword, welcome to our ritual site." There was an instant change in the crowd as all of them bowed towards Solon. He ignored them as he pulled Lind up to the gate as if he was in a rush.
"Thank you. I have come to deliver this person, Lind Frey, to you." Lind noticed the omission of who gave Solon the mission, but the towering scholar nodded and then massive pressure slammed onto Lind. Compared to earlier, the quality of this pressure was far above the Old Man.
Iron tier! This scholar was at the Iron Tier. Lind felt sweat break out but he forced his body to stand with Qi circulating. He heard snickers but no one dared to openly mock him so long as Solon was there. A smile flickered on the scholar's face before the pressure lifted.
"Good seed!" Solon bowed before turning to Lind.
"This is where we part ways, Lind. I hope to see you in the future. I want a re-match. I swear to beat you the next time we fight!" Shock disrupted the pressure from the other people in the crowd. Divine Sword Sect disciples were not allowed to do missions unless trusted by their elders. This member claimed a commoner beat him!
"I look forward to it! If you see her, I am sure Shoti shares your view. I hope to see her again one day." Solon looked strange for a moment and then the solemn air returned. Lind realized Solon suppressed a laugh. The gift of words for Lind's prestige was appreciated, but Lind could defend himself. Lind saw Solon nod and offer his hand.
They shook hands hard and Solon then moved off.
Only when Solon was gone did the pressure spike. Lind felt like he was moving through molasses rather than air. Three young men marched forward suddenly and Lind was reminded of his childhood with a single glance.
"You are not worthy to be here! Leave!" Lind felt shock. He had been escorted by Solon, an acknowledged Divine Sword Sect member, who stated Lind had defeated him, but he was unworthy? Was this person dumb?
"I am here at invitation as I am sure you are senior. How am I unworthy?" Lind bowed as a junior should and gave no chink in his armor for complaint on his decorum. The sharply blue-eyed middle youth sneered but did not do anything. The yellow gaze never left anyone in front of the gate.
"You are not anyone I know, thus you are unworthy. Give up your token, now!" A strange tension suddenly filled the group, but Lind was too busy withstanding the pressure. He did not immediately respond to this threat.
His Soul Eyes quickly surveyed the area and he noticed something odd. After studying the token up close he could see most of the crowd had them with them, or could guess based on the Qi flow through their bags. The three in front of him, however, had one member without one.
Lind knew any words were useless and looked towards the scholar. The man never moved nor indicated anything but he was clearly judging how Lind would deal with this issue. Lind would always be a low tier compared to almost all the members here, but then he glance to the left of the gate and saw something interesting.
"If you do not mind, I wish to ask the senior something before I respond." Rage flared in the blues eyes but Lind knew they could not refute his request. Lind moved slowly to the gate and looked up at the yellow eyed scholar.
"Greetings Senior. I am Lind Frey of the Frey Clan. I humbly submit myself to the Lotus Academy ritual." The token appeared and Lind slammed it precisely on a gap in the formations next to the gate. Lind was coated in a glow before disappearing instantly in front of them all.
The yellow eyed scholar smiled as he looked up at the shocked crowd.
"This test gate has been passed, you are all unworthy to enter here. Move to the next one." The dark robes flared as the scholar and the gate disappeared into smooth stone as if they never existed.