An overwhelming number of scents, sounds, and presences washed over Liam’s perception, attempting to make him dizzy. His mind easily resisted that multilayered, mundane attack, even reaching shocking conclusions.

There had to be over ten thousand people behind the tall protective wall, which was the biggest gathering Liam had ever witnessed by far. Nothing had ever come close to it, and even his now-established mindset as a cultivator faltered a bit before it.

’Can humans truly achieve so much without Qi?’ Liam gasped internally. He had heard and read about cities, but the real deal still put much into perspective.

Of course, the wonder was short-lived. While majestic, that protective wall remained brittle in Liam’s eyes. He was simply a being superior to that incredible mortal achievement, and he had even seen far higher peaks.

Grace soon led the way, and Liam walked at her side. It was already late afternoon, the sun starting to disappear on the horizon, but neither hurried. Things like curfews didn’t apply to beings like them.

The beaten path among the short grass was empty, but the same didn’t apply to the wall’s immediate surroundings. As Liam and Grace climbed the hill, tents, worn-out carriages, and makeshift habitations became clearer, occupied by poorer mortals who couldn’t enter the city for a variety of reasons.

The tall, imposing gate also became clearer. It had no doors, its entrance consisting of an archway, which a group of armored, spear-wielding men sternly guarded.

The sternness remained once Liam and Grace arrived, but only to fuel respect. The mortal soldiers parted ways and bowed at the two, loudly announcing basic greetings.

"Welcome to Kilrest!" The soldier said in unison.

Liam spared the soldiers no looks, not even bothering to tilt his hood in their direction, but his senses captured much nonetheless, and his knowledge filled whatever blanks were left.

’They must be in the know about the cultivation world,’ Liam guessed. ’They might even have connections or be directly under the Enforcement Guild.’

The bigger the population, the greater the chance of cultivators’ involvement. Liam wouldn’t be surprised if Kilrest had a branch of every Guild inside its walls, but something else had fueled his guess.

That destination had been way further north, but also west. The border with the northern region wasn’t exactly nearby, but it was closer. Meanwhile, the next Outer Circle was right around the corner.

The Enforcement Guild managed those boundaries, and the famous inheritance ground probably made the area quite popular, suggesting that even the mortals managing it were aware of the intricacies of the cultivation world.

It was late, so the streets were mostly empty, but they remained a sight Liam couldn’t help but inspect.

The city had a main road, or probably several, but also countless narrower, winding streets that acted like a maze among the many tall houses made of wood, wattle, and daub, with well-kept tiled roofs.

The streets’ materials also varied. The main one had dressed stone slabs, but gravel replaced them in the narrower ones.

That main path also led to the tallest structure in what looked like the city’s center, which was instead made of white stones, the same white as the Church of the Man.

Kilrest was undoubtedly superior to anything Liam had ever witnessed, but all the neatly arranged stones, tall houses, and sheer width just couldn’t hit in the same way as when he had been a monkey-boy. The sole fact that he could sense so much proved his superiority.

Besides, something far more important arrived when Grace stopped before a big four-story building with the emblem of a wheel.

"I must go inside and complete some arrangements," Grace declared, handing Liam a black jade. "You must meet with Lancelot instead."

Liam took the jade, knowing what it was and what it meant. That was where he and Grace would part ways, at least for now.

"Will you be fine?" Liam asked. He had already voiced that question in a different context, but he couldn’t help but repeat it now.

"I’m not some helpless damsel," Grace reassured. "Master William, I appreciate the care, but I’d rather have your trust. I shall handle selling your products and make us money. You can expect plenty of it upon your return."

"I do trust you," Liam announced, "I’m just worried something might happen to you while I’m away."

"And what if something happens?" Grace wondered. "Will my loyal, handsome alchemist unleash death and destruction on whatever force hurt me?"

"Yes," Liam bluntly responded. That was pretty much a certainty. Truth be told, he hadn’t even forgotten about Elder Dominic.

Grace couldn’t help but smile, luckily managing to keep it small and suppress whatever that response triggered in her from leaking into her voice.

"Now I truly can’t let anything happen to me," Grace dramatically sighed. "I couldn’t possibly let so many valuable clients disappear. It’s paramount we make money from them first."

The joke didn’t land. Liam was too serious about his worry to care about money. He would rather pay Grace himself than see her face danger.

Grace shared that serious mood, albeit for different reasons. For all her teases and defense mechanisms, Liam was a first in her life. He was a relationship beyond money that she had no experience handling, one she had grown too fond of to lose.

Sadly, threats or whatever else wouldn’t work in that case. Grace just wasn’t in control. That relationship left her exposed and vulnerable, creating fears she could only express honestly.

"William," Grace called, taking a step forward, her head lowered while she clung timidly to Liam’s cloak. "You will contact me once you get out, right? You won’t leave me, right?"

Liam saw too much of the frailty Grace was trying to hide to respond with anything but honesty. "Of course."

"Good!" Grace exclaimed, her face snapping up, showing a bright smile. "Your inseparable partner is not one to let go of a debt, and yours is huge. Don’t even think about dying before paying me back, either. I’m quite certain my greed is stronger than death."

Grace approached the branch’s entrance afterward, her pace slightly hurried without losing her elegance. Still, she stopped before the large door, bringing her hands to her waist to peek at Liam again.

"I’ll see you soon," Grace promised. "Be careful."

Liam nodded before watching Grace disappear inside the building, too caught in a realization to utter any goodbyes. The bright face she had shown earlier had been fake. It had been a mask with a purpose that he could guess.

’She has no one else, does she?’ Liam understood. ’She lived the life I should have lived after leaving the Pale Moon Sect ever since migrating here.’

Liam couldn’t fathom how long Grace had lived like that. It had to have been years at the very least, but that period was now over because she had found him, just like he had found her.

’I won’t let her be alone again,’ Liam vowed to himself while sending his Qi into the black jade in his hand.

The communication inside the item featured a map of the city and a marker that Liam didn’t hesitate to follow.

Night descended while Liam calmly navigated the city’s narrow streets. Lanterns kept most alleys decently bright, but his surroundings darkened as he got closer to the marker, until that changed again.

Red lanterns suddenly appeared, standing in front of a large, three-story mansion encircled by streets too well-kept for the area. The marker pointed inside, so Liam approached its sliding entrance, only for it to open as soon as he arrived there.

The event couldn’t surprise Liam. He had sensed the foundation expert behind the entrance while he was still blocks away. She was a woman in her thirties, wearing makeup and two buns tied with red ribbons that matched her elegant robe.

"Young Master William," The woman announced, bowing politely. "Young Master Lancelot has been waiting for you."

Liam dismissed the strange title to follow the foundation expert inside. A vast living room with plenty of isolated pillows and low tables expanded right past the entrance, with some areas hidden behind half-transparent curtains.

Mortals occupied that area. Men from all walks of life eagerly drank from cups that the women dressed in red sitting beside them happily refilled while indulging in all sorts of pleasantries.

The scents of wine, perfume that Liam could only describe as pink, and something intimate entered his nostrils. Still, the foundation expert soon led him to the upper floor through a staircase on the side, where something more striking stood.

The upper floor had a series of corridors featuring multiple sliding doors reeking of unnatural vibes. Formations were in place behind each entrance, preventing Liam from sensing their insides, but that blindness was short-lived.

The foundation expert stopped before one of those doors, kneeling on the wooden floor to open it. The corridor had been quite bright, but the long room that unfolded in Liam’s vision was dimmer, illuminated by a single lantern hanging from the ceiling.

The room wasn’t empty. A short table filled with empty jugs of wine stood at its center, surrounded by pillows.

On the left, a rooting expert wearing a sleeveless, worn-out dark robe sat sprawled on the pillows, his bare feet resting on the table, his muscular arms spread, supporting his back on the wall.

On the right, another rooting expert sat on his knees, his stance straight and inflexible, his elegant robe’s blue sleeves hiding how methodically he brought a cup to his mouth.

And at the bottom of the room, Lancelot sat, his arm wrapped around a red-wearing mortal woman’s waist, who leaned on his chest and pointed a coquettish smile at him.

"Fairy, leave us," Lancelot said after a single glance at Liam, whispering something in the woman’s ear that he couldn’t fail to hear. "I’ll come looking for you later."

The mortal woman slowly stood up, her gesture like a performance for Lancelot, before crossing the room and bowing at Liam, ultimately crossing him, too.

Liam stepped inside the room, and the door closed behind him, something magical activating in its surfaces. A barrier rose to separate the outside world, as caves did inside the Sects.

"Master William, you are finally here," Lancelot exclaimed, standing up to lift his cup. "Now that we are all gathered, it’s time I announce our goal."

Liam felt studied, and he was guilty of doing the same. The two rooting experts only glanced at him, but all three could sense their mutual inspection.

"We will claim Archbishop Ignatius’ inheritance," Lancelot declared, a crazy smile broadening on his handsome face, "Even if we have to burn it to the ground."