It was early morning, and grandmother had hurriedly finished her work yesterday to prepare for our journey. I couldn't deny that I felt a tinge of excitement about meeting this new senior sister, whom grandmother had recently accepted as her disciple.
I was ready for the journey to the Imperial Capital, though I wasn't particularly thrilled about mingling with the people I would inevitably meet. Most of the time, dealing with others was something I disliked. However, the allure of Mingdu City, said to be the most advanced city in terms of technology, piqued my curiosity. I wanted to see how it compared to the Earth I once knew.
When I arrived at the carriage, grandmother was already there, standing beside a girl who appeared to be slightly taller than me. She had auburn hair that glinted under the soft morning light.
"You're late, Xue. Come here and let me introduce you to my disciple and your senior sister, Ju Zi. Ju Zi, this is my grandson I told you about," grandmother's stern voice broke me out of my thoughts. I had been too engrossed in admiring the girl's appearance. Though still young, it was evident she would grow into a striking beauty.
Snapping myself out of it, I avoided staring too long—it was a bad habit I was trying to curb. However, I couldn't help but notice her expression. It lacked the joy one might expect. Instead, sadness seemed etched into her features. I wasn't a master at reading people, but her demeanor spoke volumes.
"Hello, Senior Sister. My name is Luan Ningxue. Please take care of me in the future," I said, attempting to introduce myself in a polite and childlike manner.
Ju Zi turned her gaze to me, her expression shifting slightly. Yet, what replaced it was neither warmth nor excitement. Instead, it was a blend of weariness and seriousness.
"Hello, Junior Brother. My name is Ju Zi," she replied curtly, her voice steady but lacking energy.
An awkward silence lingered between us, the kind that made me shuffle my feet nervously. Wanting to ease the tension, I decided to speak up again.
"Senior Sister," I said cautiously, "are you excited about going to the Imperial Capital?"
Her gaze shifted to me briefly before she replied, her tone flat, "No."
Her curt answer left me momentarily at a loss. I didn't want to press her further, sensing she wasn't in the mood for small talk. Instead, I tried a different question.
"Have you been to the Imperial Capital before?" I asked, trying to keep my voice light.
She shook her head. "No. This will be my first time."
I waited for her to elaborate, perhaps to express some curiosity or interest about the city, but she said nothing more. The silence that followed felt heavier than before.
She doesn't talk much, does she? I thought to myself, starting to feel self-conscious. As an introvert myself, I wasn't particularly skilled at keeping conversations going, and now I was struggling even more. My mind raced as I tried to think of something else to say, but everything I came up with felt forced or awkward.
Sensing my discomfort, grandmother finally intervened. "Enough with the awkward small talk, you two. Get into the carriage and settle yourselves. You'll have plenty of time to get to know each other during the journey."
Relieved to have an excuse to end the faltering conversation, I nodded quickly. "Yes, grandmother."
Ju Zi didn't say anything, but she followed me into the carriage. As we took our seats, I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye. She sat stiffly, her hands resting on her lap, her expression unreadable once again.
The ride began in silence, the only sound being the creak of the carriage and the steady clatter of horse hooves. I decided not to push her any further for now. Instead, I gazed out of the window, trying to focus on the scenery and shake off the lingering awkwardness.
On the way, we passed through numerous cities, towns, and villages. Each place had its charm, but what truly stood out was the lessons grandmother shared with Ju Zi during the journey. She taught her some of the foundational knowledge of soul tools, explaining the intricate mechanisms behind them.
Ju Zi absorbed the teachings earnestly, her focus unwavering. It was then I learned more about her. Her martial spirit was Orange. For a moment, I was surprised—though she wasn't what one might call a genius, she was undoubtedly talented. At the age of nine, she had already reached Level 15.
Grandmother remarked that with the right pills from the Illustrious Virtue Hall—the so-called holy land of Soul Engineers—Ju Zi could rise to prominence as a genius soul engineer, though not necessarily as a combatant. Being an Auxiliary-type soul master, she didn't need immense strength to fight; her value lay elsewhere.
As I watched grandmother demonstrate and explain the functions of various soul tools, I couldn't help but think about the technology from my past life. Ideas swirled in my mind—cars, radios, even basic engines—but my enthusiasm quickly faded. I didn't know the first thing about creating them, much less the specifics of their design. For now, these dreams would remain ideas, stored away for the future when I might have the means to act on them.
Ten days later, after traversing what felt like half the Empire, we finally arrived at the most advanced city on the Douluo Continent—Mingdu City.
As we approached the city, my eyes widened at the sight before me. The city stretched endlessly, its sprawling layout blending architectural grandeur with technological brilliance. Grandmother, began introducing me to the city as we entered.
Mingdu City was a marvel, the pinnacle of technological and cultural advancement. It served as the Sun Moon Empire's administrative and economic hub, a symbol of progress unmatched anywhere else. Its skyline was an endless sea of buildings, rising as high as ten stories in some places. Most were adorned with gleaming facades that reflected the sunlight during the day and came alive with a dazzling array of soul-powered lights at night, transforming the cityscape into a breathtaking panorama.
The city's security was equally impressive. Over the years, after numerous threats to its safety, Mingdu had been fortified with a high-energy compression array, an impenetrable defensive barrier that encased the entire metropolis. This barrier didn't just protect its residents—it stood as a testament to the Sun Moon Empire's unrivaled mastery over soul tool technology.
For a moment, the sight of it all overwhelmed me. Mingdu City felt like a glimpse of my past life, a world of innovation and ambition, though here, it was powered by soul energy rather than electricity.
As our carriage rolled deeper into the city, grandmother leaned forward and spoke. "Xue, Ju Zi, welcome to Mingdu City. If you want to roam around you can after we go to my mansion in capital city there are still some days before Imperial Banquet."
Ju Zi, seated beside me, gazed out of the carriage window, her expression unreadable. I couldn't help but wonder what thoughts were running through her mind but in past few days she opened little bit with me. Which I thought was good start to ease up her mood.