The ship slowly approached the massive port city, its towering spires and glistening buildings just barely visible on the horizon. Rui stood at the bow, his silver eyes narrowing as the sight of the Central Continent grew nearer. The air was thicker here—charged with energy, excitement, and an undercurrent of tension. This was no longer just an ordinary journey; it felt like the opening of a new chapter, one he had little control over.
Fenrir had already gathered his crew, ordering them to prepare for docking as the city loomed closer. Rui didn't need to ask what was coming. The ship was already drawing the attention of the people in the city. It was rare for someone from the Eastern Lands to make their way to the Central Continent, and rarer still for someone of Rui's ability to make the journey.
As the ship docked, Rui stood quietly, absorbing the unfamiliar surroundings. The moment the ship's gangplank touched the dock, whispers started. A few onlookers, drawn by the imposing presence of Fenrir's ship, began murmuring in awe and curiosity. Most of them hadn't even seen a ship like this before, let alone one carrying someone from the Eastern Lands. Rui stood out like a beacon in the crowd—a stranger with a purpose, but also a mystery.
Fenrir noticed the growing attention and turned toward Rui, his eyes sharp. "Stay close. You're already drawing more attention than you realize," he muttered, his tone calm but with an edge of concern.
Rui nodded, his chest tightening as he realized just how much of a spectacle he had become. He had never asked for this attention, but it seemed inescapable now. His presence—his power—was something that would inevitably spark curiosity and concern among the people of the Central Continent.
As Rui stepped off the ship and onto the bustling dock, the curious stares of the locals were impossible to ignore. There were murmurs about him being from the Eastern Lands, whispers about his extraordinary power, and questions about what brought him here. His silver eyes, gleaming with an intensity that few could ignore, only added to the air of mystery surrounding him.
"Who's that?" a man whispered, pointing subtly in Rui's direction. "A foreigner?"
"From the Eastern Lands, I think," a woman replied in a hushed voice. "They say the East is peaceful, but that boy... there's something different about him."
Rui could hear snippets of conversations as he walked, but he didn't stop to engage. He simply followed Fenrir, who was moving through the crowd with purpose, his eyes scanning the surrounding people. Rui had learned to keep his head down, to focus on the path ahead, especially when every pair of eyes seemed to weigh him down.
As they moved deeper into the city, Rui couldn't help but marvel at the scale of it all. The streets were wide and bustling with activity. Shops were lined with exotic goods, vibrant colors and sounds filling the air. People moved in and out of tall buildings, and powerful cultivators with auras that rippled like waves passed them by. It was a far cry from the quiet, peaceful life he had known in the Eastern Lands.
But with every step, the feeling of being watched only grew. Every time Rui looked up, there were eyes following him—some out of curiosity, some out of caution, and others with a mixture of admiration and wariness. It wasn't just Fenrir's presence drawing attention; it was his. Rui was the unknown in this sea of experienced cultivators, and that made him stand out in ways he didn't fully understand.
They entered a large hall that served as a central meeting point for those traveling to and from the Central Continent. As soon as they stepped through the heavy doors, the murmurs grew louder, a few people even whispering as they pointed in Rui's direction. The atmosphere shifted slightly—like the air had thickened.
"Is that him?" a voice whispered, clearly skeptical.
"Yes, that's the one. From the East," another voice replied. "They say he broke through a barrier that no one from the Eastern Lands has ever been able to."
Rui could feel the weight of their words, and although he wasn't sure whether they were true or just rumors, the idea that people were already talking about him sent a chill down his spine. He had no idea how these people knew of his abilities, but it was clear they had their eyes on him. Every step he took seemed to reverberate through the crowd, his presence felt even when he tried to remain unnoticed.
Fenrir led him toward a back room, away from the prying eyes of the crowd. There, a few more individuals waited—cultivators and high-ranking members of various sects, their eyes keen and assessing. One of them, a man with dark hair and sharp features, stepped forward as Fenrir and Rui approached.
"This is him?" the man asked, his tone assessing, his eyes scanning Rui with open curiosity. "The one from the East? A prodigy, I presume?"
Fenrir nodded, his expression unreadable. "He's more than that. He's a rare find. His potential is... beyond what we expected."
The man's eyes flicked to Rui, and for a moment, their gazes locked. Rui felt an unsettling pressure, as if the man could see straight through him, as if his very soul were being weighed and measured.
"And you brought him here," the man said, stepping back, "for what purpose, Fenrir? Is he here to compete, or is he here to train?"
Rui stiffened at the word "compete." He didn't know what Fenrir had told these people, but the idea of being thrust into competition, surrounded by strangers with unknown motivations, unsettled him.
Fenrir's voice cut through his thoughts. "He's here to train. He's not ready for competition yet. But that will come in time."
Rui could feel the weight of their expectations. The eyes that followed him, the pressure that grew with each passing second—it wasn't just curiosity anymore. It was scrutiny. He wasn't just an unknown; he was a symbol. A new piece in a much larger puzzle. The burden of his potential, his power, was starting to sink in.
"Very well," the man said after a moment, his voice smooth, though tinged with something else, something Rui couldn't quite place. "Let's see how he fares then. The Central Continent has a way of tempering even the strongest. But not everyone survives it."
Rui's pulse quickened, but he kept his composure. His journey had only just begun, and it was clear now more than ever that the trials would be unforgiving. But there was one thing Rui knew—he couldn't stop now. Not when the world around him was opening up in ways he hadn't even begun to understand.
He stepped forward, determined to face whatever challenges awaited him.