"Capital? You don't mean the capital of the Azure Kingdom, right?" Ezio's mouth opened so much that even an ostrich egg would fit. One should know the Azure Kingdom is a Duke II Tier powerhouse and all the Sects with the power level at Duke III Tier powers are subordinates of the Kingdom. Going to the biggest city of this power was a dream for Ezio since he learned the structure of this world.
"I do! Of course, I do. Imagine the beauties in the capit-" Ezio froze before he could finish his sentence. "Ahem. I meant I would like to go and broaden my horizons." Ezio fake coughed and took a solemn disposition again.
"Hahaha. I always knew you were a little pervert. It is okay to be a philanderer, but do remember that beautiful women are sought after and you may offend someone just by appreciating beauty. Don't let this cause a problem for you." Abbot warned Ezio with an earnest tone. Of course, Ezio was aware of this. He has seen many cases before, not in this lifetime maybe, but in previous.
"I will take Abbot's teaching seriously." Ezio said solemnly, "I thank Abbot for taking care of me for this long. I can never repay you for what you have done for me, and I will always try to pay you back with every action of mine." Ezio said seriously. He was raised and looked after by Abbot since he was found. He was aware of the fact that Abbot had ulterior motives for doing it. But those motives were to protect the Sect, how could Ezio blame him for knowing these.
"I only need you to do one thing," Abbot said while looking Ezio in the eye.
"I will put my life on it. Please tell me." Ezio said with all the mustered determination on his face. It was funny for a twelve years old kid to talk like that.
"Exact opposite. I want you to treasure your life beyond anything. Do anything to live. Don't throw your life away."
"Before that though, do you know what titles are Ezio?" Abbot added.
"An appellation of dignity, honor, distinction, or preeminence attached to a person or family by virtue of rank, privilege, attainment, or lands. Such as your titles as Abbot, but other than that they are meaningless right?" Ezio explained with his best, without offending Abbot.
"Hahaha. They are usually meaningless, but sometimes they are not. There are some such titles that can change the person from commoner to God. But they are vague, and can't be seen, thus not worth pondering over it. Just know this, a belief, an idea is not weightless. Even a shepherd's view of life carries power if they are condensed enough!" Abbot spoke mysteriously.
"I will keep Abbot's teaching in my heart."
Six months after those events, Abbot and Ezio snuck out from the Sect and started to journey towards the Azure Kingdom. It would take them six months to arrive at the capital after stopping at three different cities on foot. From the Sect to the nearest city there was also a forest zone. Ezio could not pass through alone, because of the Demonic Beasts that dwelled there.
The forest itself was a Duke III Tier, which meant there was at least the first level of the Qi or Mana Crystallization Realm beast in the forest. Duke III Tier ranked places must have Qi or Mana Crystallization Realm powerhouses between First and Third Layers. Fourth to Sixth Layers, the place would be promoted to Duke Tier II rank, and the Seventh to Ninth would be Duke Tier I. There were higher powers around the world, but Ezio was too insignificant to know them for the time being.
The Cleansing Buddhist Sect was also a Duke III Tier power. Which meant the highest cultivator in the Sect, which was Abbot, was at the Qi Crystallization Realm. In Abbot's case, he was at the peak of the third layer, this would also bring The Cleansing Buddhist Sect to the peak of the Duke III Tier power.
But Abbot's presence was not only to escort Ezio to the capital but also to see his old friend.
Their first destination was Azure Rising City. This was the first city the founder of the Kingdom conquered. Lands of the Azure Kingdom once belonged to many other surrounding countries. Until came along a bandit known as Azure Bandit. Azure Bandit started to attack all of the countries together when there was a war between them. In their weakened state, the surrounding countries lost cities one by one. The worst outcome occurred in the Violet Kingdom.
The Crown Prince, the beloved son of the Kingdom has been kidnapped by the Azure Bandit while he was sent to take away the cities they lost. For the life of his favorite son, the king of the Violet Kingdom traded the border city known as Violet City. It was the leading city among the surrounding countries because almost all trade paths would cross this city. And to mock the king of the Violet Kingdom, Azure Bandit named the city Azure Violet City.
Between Azure Rising City and the Sect, there was the Red Cloud Forest. In the legends there lived a beast that could blow red clouds and rode on them to charge at anyone who dared to enter his territory. But later on, nothing else was heard about this violent beast. As if it vanished into the thin air.
Ezio wandered as he passed through the forest. He really wanted to see this beast when he read it in the books. After all, even though he was in this world for twelve years now, he didn't see anything magical at all. Qi, inner strength, mana, and other cultivation-related stuff aside, he wanted to see spells, floating techniques, and real beasts. Dragons and phoenixes. But he was disappointed. They walked through the forest without a hitch. Maybe because of the aura Abbot released, maybe because of something else...
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