The carriage that they rode was fancy and extravagant. The passenger cabin was painted cream with gold engravings with the undergear also having gold plating on its wheels. The Coachman seated at front also wore a noble's robe as he reigned the two military grade black horses that would pull the carriage with their backs
"Greetings, milady. Will we be departing soon?" The coachman greeted warmly.
"Yes, we will be. These are my guests." Victoria told the coachman as she said to Dylan and Scarlet, "Please come in."
"A pleasant afternoon to these two esteemed guests."
"A pleasant afternoon to you as well" The two siblings greeted while they entered.
The inside of the carriage was equally as luxurious with red cushions on the seats and on the frame for comfortable seating.
"Wooow!" Scarlet was simply just astounded as her innocence was quite cute to behold.
"Giddy up!" The coach man said as they left with the horses neighing and moving the carriage in a comfortable pace.
...
While on their way to the City Manor, Dylan was contemplating a lot but he had already more or less organized his thoughts one way or the other.
'I don't think that they would have the answers to the mysteries regarding my reincarnation. At the very least, the complexity of my situation and connection with the Cosmic God Mansion seems to massively out scale anything that this planet may provide me...'
'So it seems the answer lies with the Cosmic God Mansion. If it could show us a memory of the past, then it could surely have more memories. The problem is I still don't know the conditions to access the space where the mansion is and the conditions for the Mansion to open its gates..'
Dylan was able to quickly gather his thoughts. He set aside the questions he thinks could not get answer to as he simply focused on the pertinent details he could rationalize that Victoria told him.
Once he did that, he started formulating a plan around it.
'First things first, I need information about this world. Second, I need a way to unlock Spirit Core and cultivate so he can grow in strength. Third, to build a company that I can rely on. I believe that City Lord would be able to give me some benefits regarding my needs.'
'Those reincarnation stories were really just fiction. But I did not think that my starting point would be this low... I haven't even started cultivating yet...' Dylan lamented after examining himself.
'How in the world was that white-haired man fight in a body without cultivation....?' Dylan could not help but think back to the stories that Victoria told him.
Victoria noticed his gaze and merely smiled at him.
Dylan Ford went through the younger Dylan's memories while it gave him a glimpse of the culture, the power dynamics and the influence of cultivation in this world. There was no near enough for him to establish a benchmark.
For example, a child aged 5 or 6 will have awakened their Spirit Core and would be able to cultivate already. However, Dylan's case was especially weird. He is already seventeen-eighteen years old already yet his Spirit Core still has not opened.
The only reason Dylan has the strength to even be guard and a hunter is because of his physical prowess. This was something that Dylan had to painstakingly earn through years of training and hard work.
It was a physicality he gained through pure training, nourished by the meat infused with Spirit Energy over the years. His body had became so robust and strong that it developed into a true deadly weapon!
While not to the point where he can defeat cultivators, but he for sure is able to defend himself against those at the preliminary realms of cultivation.
"Wow! That's one big crater! That's a very tall wall!" Scarlet's voice suddenly rang in Dylan's ears.
Dylan then looked outside and saw the crater that was created by Byron's Black Hole. The forests along the main road and the main road itself had been completely destroyed.
The scale of that power was too massive. It was truly a miracle that no one died to that devastating attack.
It could be seen from afar that there was already efforts in the restoration of the land. Cultivators with the power of earth were landscaping the entire area once more.
Despite it only being five days since the incident, the higher-ups of the city were at least quick in addressing these matters.
The group has eventually arrived at the northern gates of the Soaring Cloud City. The thick gates of the city had seen considerable damage and were currently being repaired as well.
It seems that the attack of those army of gigantic specters of darkness proved to be more troublesome than imagined.
"Big bro! So this is what the gates looks like up close! It's so cool! Didn't you say that you work as a guard there?" Scarlet looked to Dylan and asked.
"Yeah... I did." Dylan awkwardly replied. This was because he had been absent to his guard duty for already five days so it's more than likely that his work is already terminated.
'Missing work for five days, even I would fire myself.' Dylan had a wry expression on his face when he thought of that.
"You were a guard?" Victoria asked curiously.
"Yes, I was." Dylan replied with a complicated expression.
Victoria only offered an understanding smile as she knew what may have happened.
After they passed through the majestic northern gates of the Soaring Cloud City, they were met with a sophisticated view from the windows of the passengers cabin.
"So this is what the City looks like..." Scarlet's eyes glittered in excitement as she looked at every store and building intently. Even the roads was something that she was excited to see!
Ahead lies the grand main thoroughfare of Soaring Cloud City, paved with flawless, interlocking dark-brick roads that have been polished smooth by centuries of footsteps.
Lining the wide streets are towering stone structures and bustling open-air markets, but what catches the eye are the street lamps.
Spaced evenly along the brick pathways are elegant, wrought-iron lampposts. Instead of fire, they hold polished spirit quartz crystals that pulse with a soft, warm amber glow. A testament to the city's wealth and Cloudsoar's seamless management.
The air is a lively mix of sizzling spiritual beast meats from street vendors, the chatter of merchants, and the calm, rhythmic marching of the Soaring Cloud Army patrols, whose presence keeps the peace absolute.
"It's so amaziiiiing!" Scarlet said.
"It really is." Dylan had already seen this scenery but not as a visitor, more often than not as a guard.
===
After a while, they went further along the bustling streets of Soaring Cloud City, filled with vendors inviting passerby. Scarlet was of course thrilled to see the city lights and the thousands of people roaming around the city streets.
Eventually, they arrived at the center of the city where the City Lord's Manor is located.
"We have arrived!" The Coachman signaled as he reigned the horses to stop in front of the gates of the opulent manor.
"How luxurious!" Dylan exclaimed
"So cool!" Scarlet praised.
The City Lord's Manor does not merely sit upon the crest of the city. It seems to float within it. Heavy, sweeping roofs of glazed midnight-blue tiles catch the light, designed to mimic the sharp slope of mountain peaks piercing the sky.
Guarding the grand entrance are two massive, sculpted cloud-dragons carved from pristine white marble.
From their stone jaws, a thick, spiritual mist spills continuously, cascading down the steps in a silent, ghostly waterfall that pools around your ankles.
Walking through it feels like wading through the heavens themselves. The air here is so dense with pure, refined Innate Energy that every breath tastes crisp and leaves a faint, invigorating warmth in your chest.
Stationed every ten paces are elite sentries of the Soaring Cloud Army.
They stand perfectly motionless, their silver armor gleaming beneath the specialized manor lanterns, crystals that burn not with flame, but with a swirling, trapped essence of golden dawn-light.
Ahead, the massive vermilion doors of the main hall stand open. Framed within the doorway, the inner courtyard is visible, where carefully manicured gardens feature spiritual trees with leaves that shift color from sunrise gold to sunset violet.
The guards by the grand entrance approached the carriage as they halted the horses.
"State your purpose." The guards said.
"Good day, guards. We have come to visit the City Lord." Victoria opened the window as she greeted the guards with a gentle smile.
"It's the p-princess! It is a pleasure that you bless us with your presence. Open the gates for the princess!" The guard slightly panicked as he recognized Victoria immediately before gesturing to his co-guards to allow them to pass.
The grand entrance to this manor opened slowly and they entered the City Lord's Manor.
Upon reaching the the main door of the manor, the Coachman stopped the carriage right in front of the doorstep.
Dylan, Scarlet and Victoria all came out of the carriage.
"This is one pretty house!" The little girl said.
The large main doors also opened as they were heard a familiar voice. It was Alistair Cloudsoar who wanted to personally welcome these guests. There was a slight commotion happening as it opened.
"Milord, why are you here?!" The butlers and guards were shock to see him come at the fore of his manor.
"To welcome the guests, of course." The City Lord replied.
"We can do that ourselves, milord. We provide them with the most hospitable treatment we can offer. It is a decorum that guests will meet you at your office." They guarded the front door as they said.
"Nonsense, these are my benefactors, my saviors! It is only right that I receive them in person!" Alistair argued as he brushed off his own personnel and went outside.
"Welcome to my abode, my esteemed guests!" The City Lord Alistair Cloudsoar welcomed them with open arms.
The three outside were quite stunned by the enthusiasm of the City Lord to welcome them.
"Wow, he seems pretty nice!" Scarlet said as she blinked and looked at the stunned Victoria and Dylan.
"Haha, he is." Dylan said with a wry smile as Victoria chuckled.
"Good day, City Lord." Dylan and Victoria both greeted.
"What an adorable little girl, this is." The City Lord said as she looked at Scarlet. Then, he looked at Dylan and asked. "Your little sister, I assume."
"Indeed, milord. Apologies for bringing my sister uninvited as we are orphaned." Dylan replied respectfully.
"Fret not, it is but a small thing. Please do come in, everyone. I'll guide you to my office." Alistair invited.