Early the next morning, Xiao Xi got up to prepare breakfast for everyone. A Jun, having slept poorly, was still resting—half-asleep, he was awakened by the cat's meowing.
A Jun slowly opened his eyes and squinted. The little cat was staring at him with wide eyes, as if calling him to get up for breakfast. He looked at Xiao Jiuwuo for a while and suddenly felt a bit embarrassed—something felt strange.
A Jun rarely felt this way—except for a few times with Lan'er. He brushed off the feeling, guessing it was just a side effect of waking up. Since childhood, A Jun had never slept enough, and every time he woke up, he experienced varying degrees of physical discomfort and emotional instability. The impact from the recent acceleration had put considerable strain on him.
He smiled at the cat, nodded, and began his wake-up routine—following the Sacred Healer Clan's advice. Given his condition, he had to rise slowly: first fully awaken, then do light exercises like abdominal breathing and tooth tapping, then get dressed. It was a bit tedious and slow, but Xiao Jiuwuo patiently waited beside him, making A Jun feel even more self-conscious. He reminded himself that this was just residual fatigue causing emotional oddities.
—Yes, that's right. Soon after, A Jun felt his mind return to normal, and his interactions with the cat felt natural again.
After breakfast, the children resumed their journey. A Jun checked the wristband and learned that their current location was different from before the cliff fall. There were no shortcuts now—they'd need half a day to reach Nanguo City, the main city of Xuanwu County. So they walked and chatted about last night's game. Xiao Xi kept praising the cat, and Xiao Jiuwuo meowed in response from A Jun's shoulder, occasionally checking on his condition.
A Jun, however, remained silent, listening to Xiao Xi. He needed more time to recover physically. Xiao Xi didn't understand, but the cat seemed to.
After a long stretch of flat road and a forest of fallen leaves, they reached their next destination—a towering twin-peaked mountain: Chongqing Mountain. Its snowy summits looked freezing.
Halfway up the mountain was a massive waterfall, cascading from above like a silver river falling from the heavens. At the top of the cliff, simple buildings clung to the rock face, appearing to float in midair.
Though the structures looked simple, building them required immense skill. A Jun thought even the top craftsmen from his hometown might not be able to pull it off.
Next, the children had to tackle a treacherous path—only by crossing it could they reach the aerial pavilion they had seen.
Unlike the mechanical formations in A Jun and Xiao Xi's hometowns, Nanguo City relied on natural barriers for protection. The path ahead was a true chasm: eighteen winding turns, sheer cliffs, and intermittent trails. For adult guardians, it was manageable. But for children, it was a challenge—and a test of courage.
Following wristband guidance, Xiao Xi and A Jun adjusted their innerwear temperature and put on thicker coats. They supported each other as they advanced. A Jun clutched his cap tightly, bracing for the trial. Compared to the illusion arrays of his hometown, the misty forests and rock formations of Xiao Xi's, this place was harder, duller, and scarier. Looking down from a certain height—yikes! Anyone afraid of heights would faint.
So for a long time, Xiao Jiuwuo stayed hidden inside the cap. A Jun kept a close eye on it—the wind was strong. His body hadn't fully recovered, and the scene triggered reflexive discomfort. Thankfully, Xiao Xi kept encouraging him. The cat occasionally peeked out but quickly retreated, dizzy from the height—she was afraid of heights too, just like A Jun.
The brothers, with the cat, pressed on slowly. By evening, they finally crossed the perilous path and arrived at a place blending tradition and modernity.
A Jun immediately found a spot to sit, let Xiao Jiuwuo out for air, and shared some snacks with her to replenish energy. Xiao Xi, still energetic, went ahead to scout—he'd smelled a faint aroma earlier and hoped to find food.
After a while, A Jun recovered and took the cat to find Xiao Xi. But when they met, Xiao Xi looked disappointed—he hadn't found anything tasty. Their stomachs were already growling.
Just then, a loud boom echoed, followed by sounds of battle nearby. Curious, the children crept closer and saw the city's guardians fighting a group of bird-like humanoid beasts. A Jun checked the wristband—they were the southern Xuanwu County demon tribe: Birdfolk. Same level as the ambushers from the forest, but a different species.
These Birdfolk were the main enemy force opposing Nanguo City's guardian army—the Feather Clan. They wielded spears, had wings on their backs, and could fly like birds. Essentially, they were upright bird-type beasts. The guardians fought back with staffs, unleashing techniques and using secret arts to defend against fierce attacks.
According to the books, this mountain city should've been safe. The southern region under the guardians' jurisdiction was protected by a secret-art-based ultimate defense layer. In theory, no enemy could breach it. But clearly, the layer had aged—somewhere, a gap had formed.
Faced with this crisis, the children hid and watched. Suddenly, one Birdfolk seemed to notice something and charged toward their hiding spot. With its massive wings, it reached them quickly, startling the cat—who dove into the cap.
Xiao Xi immediately raised his arm to shield them, ready to fight. But A Jun seemed distracted, lost in thought, and didn't react. In a flash, just as the Birdfolk aimed its spear at Xiao Xi's shield, the guardians arrived and blocked the attack with secret arts. Xiao Xi wiped the sweat from his brow, shaken—his basic skills wouldn't have held against that scorching, sharp spear.
At that moment, A Jun snapped out of it. He opened his eyes and saw a semicircular shield before him—formed of ice crystals, thin as cicada wings, radiating cold. It was the Nangong Clan's unique secret art: Realm Seal, an absolute defense.
But the Birdfolk before him now glared fiercely, eyes glowing red—exactly what A Jun had feared. He felt deeply guilty. These enemies were likely after him, disturbing the peace of this place.
Soon, the other Birdfolk turned their spears toward A Jun's group. The guardians rushed in, forming a protective barrier around the children.
Based on what he'd read in books and the wristband's prompts, A Jun realized that due to the presence of absolute defense, the readiness level of the guardian team and army here was the lowest among the five counties—because it was considered safe and didn't require it. But now, facing such a large force of Birdfolk, the guardians seemed stretched thin, barely able to hold a defensive line.
So this foolish boy immediately decided to act as bait to draw the Birdfolk away, buying time for reinforcements—he'd already noticed several guardians injured and fallen in the distance.
A Jun quickly placed his cap on Xiao Xi's head, then stood up, waving his arms and shouting at the Birdfolk to draw their attention. Naturally, they wouldn't let this child go.
Using his speed and agility, guided by the wristband, A Jun darted through the forest. Xiao Xi and Xiao Jiuwuo, of course, wouldn't abandon him—they followed as best they could, hoping to help when it mattered most.
Meanwhile, the guardians were overwhelmed by the bulk of the Birdfolk, unable to chase down a few that slipped through—too far, too fast, too many.
Those stragglers grew more aggressive, relentlessly pursuing the children. Xiao Xi, falling behind, cleverly found a shortcut to catch up with A Jun.
Soon, A Jun, limited by his stamina, found himself cornered by the Birdfolk—out of options. Just then, from the city gate, an old man rushed out, followed by several aides calling for him to slow down.
The elder shouted orders to the battling guardians: "Find and protect the child who was attacked—no mistakes allowed!" He himself trapped a group of Birdfolk with sheer force.
The guardians hesitated, stunned by the command. Then they scrambled to act. At that moment, A Jun was already surrounded by spears, trembling uncontrollably.
Fortunately, not far away, Xiao Xi—guided by the cat—was nearly at A Jun's side. Then, in that instant, something strange happened: the guardians rushing to protect A Jun, Xiao Xi and the cat trying to shield him, and the Birdfolk about to strike—all slowed down, as if time itself had paused.
A freezing gust swept through, enveloping everyone. In a flash, the Birdfolk trapped by the elder were struck by frost and turned into ice sculptures.
Then, just a meter in front of A Jun, a celestial-looking girl descended from the sky. Around them, a circular absolute defense barrier formed—flawless.
Xiao Xi, still moving in slow motion, stared wide-eyed at the girl.
Xiao Jiuwuo leapt onto A Jun's shoulder, meowing at the shivering boy. The temperature had dropped so low that even thermal wear couldn't adjust. Weak as he was, A Jun was struggling—his lips purple, his face pale. The cat dove into his arms to share warmth.
The frozen Birdfolk seemed to snap awake. They glanced at the powerful newcomer, exchanged looks, then summoned a weather-controlling ability. Soon, steaming water columns flowed from afar, converging in the air and reaching the Birdfolk.
Warmed by nature's power, the Birdfolk wisely retreated. No one stopped them.
A Jun, already weak, nearly collapsed from the cold. Thankfully, Xiao Xi rushed over and caught him. They sat down together, but Xiao Xi's eyes remained fixed on the girl who had saved his brother.
It wasn't just gratitude or admiration—it was affection. But the girl seemed unaware of Xiao Xi's burning gaze. The tension between them was almost frozen in place.
After saving A Jun and watching the Birdfolk retreat, the girl withdrew her power. The temperature rose quickly—helped by the water flow. A Jun slowly stabilized. He didn't have time to thank her, just sat there trembling, pulling out snacks to regain energy. The cat stayed nestled in his arms.
Xiao Xi's eyes took in the girl: slender, about A Jun's height, skin flawless like snow, dressed in traditional Hanfu—light and graceful, with long black hair flowing to her waist…
After resting a while, A Jun recovered and opened his eyes, beginning to observe the girl Xiao Xi was staring at. He noticed her weapon was different from the guardians' staffs—more unique. It was the town's exclusive weapon: the Losh Star Staff. Though its basic structure resembled those from A Jun's hometown and could channel guardian power, its complete form was distinct. At the top of the handle was a crystalline core—the source of its power.
But the girl's staff was fully formed. Its crystal didn't need activation—it was already present. Its shape was special: a floating six-petal frost flower, transparent like the handle, glowing faintly blue, resonating with the vein patterns on her arm. This must be the legendary artifact of Xuanwu County: the Tear of Xuanwu, wielded by the Saintess of each generation.
From this, A Jun deduced that the girl before him was likely the current Saintess of Nanguo City—the guardian of the sacred domain.
By now, everyone had arrived at the children's side. The girl glanced gently at the now-stable A Jun, said nothing. The crowd, young and old, bowed to her.
In this place, the Saintess held a status equal to the clan chief. Such respect was customary. The girl nodded gracefully, returning the elder's bow. Her gaze was cold, yet carried warmth. A Jun guessed the elder was likely the city lord—perhaps even the girl's grandfather, head of the ruling Nangong Clan of Nanguo City.
At that moment, Xiao Xi, standing off to the side, seemed to forget why he was even there. He ran up to the girl with a silly grin, greeting her cheerfully, asking all sorts of questions, even introducing himself. The girl appeared startled—she took a small step back, glanced at A Jun, then looked straight ahead without responding to Xiao Xi.
A Jun also felt his younger brother was being a bit inappropriate, making the girl uncomfortable. He quickly pulled Xiao Xi back and apologized to both the old city lord and the Saintess. Meanwhile, Xiao Jiuwuo, perched on A Jun's shoulder, meowed in protest—scolding Xiao Xi for being rude to a girl.
The chubby boy finally realized his mistake. He stood there sheepishly, smiling and apologizing repeatedly, then instinctively helped support the still-weak A Jun.
Fortunately, the old city lord was gracious. Though his expression was stern and emotionless, he didn't scold them. Instead, he comforted A Jun and said not to worry, even asking about Xiao Xi's master—apparently an old acquaintance. The people around the elder all had blank faces, staring at A Jun and Xiao Xi without expression.
Then, the Saintess turned gracefully toward them and softly said, "It's fine."
From her eyes, it was clear she wasn't offended. She hadn't ignored Xiao Xi—she simply didn't seem fond of conversation, accustomed to solitude and rarely interacting with strangers. More precisely, she wasn't used to socializing. Faced with Xiao Xi's enthusiasm, she was a bit overwhelmed. In truth, she was a natural ice beauty—her coldness was just surface-level.
A Jun also noticed something else: the girl's power seemed to contain a purifying force. When she activated her skill earlier, the strange Birdfolk suddenly calmed down—their eyes no longer looked so frightening… though maybe they were just frozen stiff.
Nanguo City, an ancient city built into the mountains, was ingeniously designed. The old district's buildings clung to cliffs near the summit—complex terrain, yet solidly built, connected by corridor bridges like a sky garden. The new district sat on the mid-mountain plateau, with modern, stylish architecture full of technological flair. The two districts—one old, one new—were tightly linked yet oddly mismatched.
Due to year-round snowfall, the climate was extremely cold—snow, frost, or ice in every season. But locals were used to it. Inside the city, it was quite warm, thanks to the ever-flowing hot springs—the same water that had warmed A Jun earlier. The city thrived because of them. Thus, hot spring bathing became a local custom, and the city even hosted an annual Hot Spring Festival.
The hot spring water of Xuanwu County was known as divine water—not only warming the body, but healing injuries and restoring strength. That's why A Jun, though frail, recovered so quickly.
As for the Saintess of Xuanwu County, she usually lived in seclusion atop the mountain, in the central sanctuary of a prestigious academy, rarely venturing out. Meeting her this time felt like a coincidence to A Jun.
The group walked along the city roads—winding mountain paths that still retained their ancient layout. The elder told A Jun that the Saintess had returned home thanks to his arrival. Upon hearing from the White Tiger County chief that the children were coming for training, the elder knew this day would finally reunite grandfather and granddaughter.
The Saintess had been guided by the sacred beast, the Black Serpent—just moments ago. So she rushed over and arrived just in time to save A Jun from being skewered by Birdfolk.
Of course, A Jun wanted to thank the girl, but couldn't find the right moment—because Xiao Xi had activated his exclusive chatter mode, constantly trying to strike up conversation with the Saintess.
Watching his brother, A Jun shook his head helplessly. The Saintess seemed uncomfortable, a bit awkward. Thankfully, the clever cat ran over, interrupted Xiao Xi's chatter, and began interacting with the Saintess—creating a warm atmosphere.
Gradually, the girl's expression softened. She seemed to like animals, showing gentle joy in her eyes as she looked at the cat.
A Jun truly felt Xiao Xi had been a bit too forward. Though he knew his brother was a bit thick-skinned, this was still a bit rude toward a girl like her. So he pulled Xiao Xi aside and started chatting about the new game they'd been discussing earlier… and it worked. The chubby boy immediately quieted down and began passionately explaining his thoughts to A Jun. The Saintess occasionally glanced back—perhaps sensing A Jun's thoughtful gesture.
The old city lord also explained the training schedule to A Jun: it would begin the day after tomorrow at noon. They could rest for a full day to recover—because the challenge ahead was much tougher, known as the "Heart Trial."
@
Nanguo City felt very different from A Jun's hometown—simple, quiet, and ancient. At dinnertime, the streets were nearly empty. Locals preferred eating at home, rarely dining out. A Jun occasionally passed a few pedestrians, but most were silent and not very warm—though they greeted politely. Everyone was respectful and courteous, perhaps due to the cold weather.
One exception was the hot spring hotel—warm and inviting. That night, A Jun and the others stayed at the town's largest, most prestigious century-old hot spring hotel.
Three people and one cat, one suite, two rooms. Yes, the Saintess stayed with them too—perhaps to host the guests. Quite the honor.
Even A Jun and the cat were surprised. But considering the upcoming training would require the Saintess's help, getting familiar now wasn't a bad idea.
The hotel's architecture was unique—standalone cabins beside the hot springs, two stories tall. The first floor had a large living room and kitchen; the second had two bedrooms and a small lounge, all in a retro style. A Jun and Xiao Jiuwuo liked it—it felt homey. The Saintess did too, though mainly because it was quiet.
As for Xiao Xi, besides trying to bond with the girl, his main concern was food. After the earlier battle and no snacks, he was starving—now rummaging through the fridge.
The Saintess didn't have culinary skills, and as host, couldn't let guests cook. So she invited everyone to the hotel restaurant to try local dishes. Perfect for Xiao Xi, who loved eating—especially new specialties. He was like a child, thoroughly enjoying himself, while A Jun and the cat could only shake their heads.
Surprisingly, the Saintess seemed amused by Xiao Xi's antics—a faint smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.
Still, she was used to solitude, so socializing felt unnatural. A Jun asked the cat to help ease her mood, but Xiao Jiuwuo wasn't in the mood—she simply sat beside the Saintess, meowing at A Jun.
At that moment, Xiao Xi, standing off to the side, seemed to forget why he was even there. He foolishly ran up to the girl, smiling brightly, asking all sorts of questions, even introducing himself. The girl appeared startled—she took a small step back, glanced at A Jun, then looked straight ahead without responding to Xiao Xi.
A Jun also felt his younger brother was being a bit inappropriate, making the girl uncomfortable. He quickly pulled Xiao Xi back and apologized to both the elder city lord and the Saintess. Meanwhile, Xiao Jiuwuo, perched on A Jun's shoulder, meowed in protest—scolding Xiao Xi for being rude to a girl.
The chubby boy finally realized his mistake. He stood there grinning sheepishly at the girl, apologizing repeatedly, then habitually helped support the still-weak A Jun.
Fortunately, the elder city lord was gracious. Though his expression was stern and emotionless, he didn't scold them. Instead, he comforted A Jun and told him not to worry. He even asked about Xiao Xi's master—apparently, they were acquaintances. The people around the elder all had blank expressions, staring at A Jun and Xiao Xi without a trace of emotion.
Then, the Saintess gracefully turned to face A Jun and the others, softly saying, "It's fine."
From the look in her eyes, it was clear she wasn't offended. She hadn't ignored Xiao Xi—she simply didn't seem fond of talking, used to being alone, rarely interacting with strangers—or rather, with anyone. Faced with someone as enthusiastic as Xiao Xi, she was just a bit overwhelmed. In truth, she was a natural ice beauty—her coldness was only surface-deep.
A Jun also noticed something else: the girl's powers seemed to contain a purifying force. When she used her skill earlier, the strange Birdfolk suddenly snapped out of their trance—their eyes no longer looked so frightening… though maybe they were just frozen stiff.