As the sun rose, illuminating the sky, the carriage slowly approached its destination.
"We're almost there," one of the cultivators escorting Elias suddenly announced to his comrades.
Looking outside, Elias could see the outline of a town in the distance.
Built next to a deep blue river, the large town was surrounded by a large stone wall. Each side of the wall had two large gates, and several watchtowers were built along the wall. Several armed guards armed with crossbows were patrolling the wall.
From afar, Elias could see a large building in the center. The rest of the buildings were arranged in a circular fashion and were built around the central building.
The carriage slowly stopped in front of the gate, and one of the cultivators got off to talk with a guard. The boy looked around, noticing that the carriage was surrounded by several dozen other carriages. However, there was also a large crowd of people waiting in line. Most of them were carrying heavy bags or pushing carts full of goods.
After a few minutes, the cultivator returned and gestured for the carriage to enter. As soon as Elias saw the inside, he was surprised by the sudden change of scenery, loud noises, and even smell.
"Come and buy the best meat in town!"
"Best quality wood here!"
"Come and try our new wine!"
"Get your clothes here!"
In the heart of the bustling town, a market came alive with vibrant colors and cheerful chatter. Stalls adorned with a rainbow of fruits and vegetables lined the cobbled streets. The air was filled with the sweet aroma of freshly baked bread and the savory scent of grilling meats or fish.
Families strolled, their laughter blending with the melodic tunes of street musicians. Children with sticky fingers giggled as they ate candies while the older ones explored the handcrafted pendants displayed on wooden tables.
Each building was painted in a bright, cheerful color. It was a place where the sound of laughter and music could be heard everywhere.
"Wow, this place is so lively!" Elias's mother expressed, her eyes wide with wonder as she took in the sights.
"Oh, we're still celebrating the clan's young master's fourth birthday," the cultivator answered truthfully.
Elias stood silent and observed the surrounding area. Rather than being excited, he was cautious. Looking around like a gullible child, others would think that the boy was just curious and genuinely experiencing something new, but his eyes were sharp and alert. He was actually trying to memorize the layout of the town and the location of important landmarks.
However, Elias couldn't deny that he was impressed by the sight of such a fictitious town. In Forgotten Games, all towns and cities were described solely through text, so seeing them in person for the first time was somewhat surreal. Yet, he would be a fool to let himself be distracted.
As the carriage slowly rolled through the market, Elias observed a few cultivators, both young and old, donning the same attire as those escorting him and his mother.
"This is the town of White River, the clan's main town," one of the cultivators began speaking to them—or rather, to his mother—while completely ignoring her child. However, Elias did not mind this much.
"We are going to meet an elder who wishes to see you. Before that, listen carefully. Thanks to our clan's great generosity, you will now live a better life. You will be given a new identity and will be treated as a free person. We are even willing to help you hide your shameful past. So it is in your best interest to keep your mouth shut" said the man as he glared at Elias, implying that she should do something to prevent him from saying too much as well.
"Anyways, all we require is that you dedicate yourself to your own cultivation after you get married and obtain a manifestation. Understood?" explained the man escorting them coldly and authoritatively.
"Yes, I understand. Thank you for your kindness," the woman replied, bowing her head slightly.
"Very well. Don't forget what we have done for you." the cultivator said with a strained smile.
Slowly, the carriage moved toward the heart of the town, passing through the market and the busy streets.
"You'll have plenty of time to enjoy the scenery later. Wear this. It will make you look more presentable. I hope you can behave properly. If you do, I'm sure the elders will treat you well," the cultivator reminded them, his voice carrying a hint of warning.
Taking out a key from his robe, the cultivator directly unlocked Elias' and his mother's shackles before giving them a set of new traditional oriental-looking clothes.
Surprisingly, both mother and child did not immediately take the clothes but instead stared at the shackles on the ground for a few long seconds. With a simultaneous deep sigh
Elias and his mother quickly changed their clothes. Surprisingly, Elias's mother's clothes fit her perfectly and seemed extremely comfortable. She wore a simple blue robe with a white sash made from a soft and smooth material.
"I can't believe how soft and comfortable this is," said his mother, feeling the fabric with her hands.
As for Elias, his clothes were extremely uncomfortable and quite "simple" to say the least. His robe was a bit too long, and the fabric was stiff and scratchy. It even had a strange smell. Despite looking better than his previous clothes, it was also somehow far less comfortable.
"Your clothes have been created using a ranked 1 soft weaver spider's silk. It is one of the best available in town… Sadly, we do not have any clothes that fit your child, so we can only give him those temporary clothes." the cultivator said, smiling at her.
"Thank you," said his mother, returning the smile.
"Thank you, sir," added Elias without much thought.
"This is the least we can do," said the cultivator impatiently. He then turned his attention to Elias and smiled a little. Yet after a few minutes and seeing no reaction from Elias, his smile faded and turned a bit grim.
'Why didn't he complain?' the cultivator wondered as he glanced at Elias.
At the elder's request, he purposely used a special material known for being extremely uncomfortable for his clothes, but he didn't expect the boy to not seem to even care.
He was waiting for Elias to whine about the clothes. He could then scold him and use this opportunity to teach him some manners and make him look like a spoiled brat in front of his mother.
Although it probably wouldn't work for now, he knew that alienating both of them would be a slow process.
.Unfortunately, the boy said nothing, leaving the cultivator a bit speechless.
He did not realize that Elias genuinely did not care about his clothes or their comfort. Since his reincarnation, the Rune of End had suppressed Elias's sensations of pain and pleasure to an extreme degree.
Although he could still perceive these feelings, they were so dulled that they felt as distant as if someone else were describing them to him. Elias could easily explain what was wrong with his clothes and why they were uncomfortable, but it didn't matter to him because he could effortlessly ignore these sensations.
The cultivator shook his head and sighed."Anyway, we're almost there. Remember, be polite and respectful. Don't speak unless you're spoken to. If the elder asks you a question, answer it truthfully and without hesitation."
"Yes, I understand," said his mother, nodding.
"Good."
After a few minutes, the carriage finally stopped. Opening the door, the cultivator gestured for them to get off.
"Come on. We're here."
Getting out of the carriage, Elias looked around. He noticed they had arrived in a large courtyard of around 150 meters surrounded by high walls. A substantial building stood firmly before them, made of red bricks and topped with a red roof. A large white river symbol was painted on the front wall. All around the yard, there were several rows of trees and flowers.
The building was encircled by a large garden, and a small stream of water flowed through it, creating a peaceful atmosphere. In front of the main building stood a tall man in his fifties, exuding an air of authority
"Elder Xiangor, thank you so much for accompanying and protecting my son's future wife! Please accept this gift as a token of my gratitude," the man in front of the main building said, bowing slightly. He then took a glass bottle containing a dark brown flame and handed it over with a respectful nod.
Elias stood behind his mother and observed the situation carefully.
'Wife of my son? So that's why he wanted to meet my mother. More importantly, this is my first time seeing it, but this strange flame should be a manifestation. A rank 2 brown manifestation precisely,' thought Elias, gazing intently at the brown flame.
Like potential, manifestations have ranks, and similarly to them, the color of manifestation could indicate their rank. The brighter the color of the flame, the higher the rank of the manifestation. However, the rank of a manifestation doesn't actually matter much.
While it does influence overall power, a manifestation's rank can be increased through a process called "ascending," given enough effort and resources.
When a cultivator increases their rank, they gain the ability to upgrade or "ascend" their existing manifestations to match their new rank. For instance, a newly promoted rank 2 cultivator can absorb a rank 2 manifestation. If they already possess a rank 1 manifestation, they can upgrade or "ascend" it to rank 2.
Since rank 2 cultivators can absorb up to two manifestations, they can choose either to directly absorb a new rank 2 manifestation or take a rank 1 manifestation and "ascend" it to rank 2 to maximize their power.
This means that a manifestation's initial rank isn't as vital as it might seem... At least for low-rank cultivators.
However, that being said, not all manifestations are equal, far from it. Just because two manifestations share the same rank doesn't mean they will be equal in power or potential.
In one of the numerous runs Elias had played, he once had a legendary rank 1 fire-type manifestation that could burn half this town in mere seconds. Even if the cost of using it was absolutely horrifying, it was one of the most frightening manifestations he had ever obtained in any run he had played. Sadly, he could not ascend it at all because of the harsh requirements and ultimately died even with it.
In conclusion, the rank of non-absorbed manifestations, or "wild manifestations," doesn't say much beyond the rank required to absorb them. Additionally, while the rank indicates the minimum level needed for a cultivator to absorb the manifestation, it doesn't necessarily reflect the manifestation's power.
"I have already told you, Elder Xianwen, there's no need for that. I'm only doing my duty, and I am happy to help a fellow member of the clan. But since you already brought such a precious gift... I will gladly take it." The other elder who had accompanied Elias remained silent until now replied, accepting the gift.
They then proceeded to exchange pleasantries about everyday life before Elder Xiangor, who had accompanied Elias and his mother, left with a grin and his newly acquired manifestation.
'So this clan's elders accept bribes openly. It is both a good and bad thing.' Elias concluded.
After the carriage left, Elder Xianwen turned his gaze toward the newcomers.
"Oh my! You must be my son's future wife! How come you look so young yet so mature and beautiful!" exclaimed the old man, his eyes glued to Elias' mother.
Elias's mother didn't know how to respond to such a compliment and simply bowed her head, looking slightly embarrassed.
"Ah, sorry for the late introduction; I should have started with this. My name is Liandor Xianwen. Just call this old man Grandpa Liandor! Come, follow me; we will prepare a feast for you! I'll also introduce you to your future husband and stepson later," announced Grandpa Liandor, laughing loudly.
"What do you mean by stepson—" Elias's mother began, but before she could question him, the elder was already out of sight.
Hearing this, Elias was silent. Then, as if anticipating the imminent troubles, he sighed and entered the building, followed closely by his mother.