The boy stood motionless, his eyes wide with shock. The scene before him was one of utter devastation: the lifeless form of Uncle Jiang sprawled on the ground, surrounded by the bodies of several dead wolves.

Tears welled up in Lin Tian's eyes and he fell to his knees, sobbing uncontrollably. This wasn't the first time Lin Tian had witnessed death, nor was it the first time he had seen someone killed. But it was the first time someone so close to him had died.

Lin Tian's mother had died giving birth to him, and his father, consumed with grief and anger, had abandoned him. He left Lin Tian with Grandpa and Grandma Lu, who raised him with love and care. Uncle Jiang, a father figure to Lin Tian, had taught him martial arts and the virtues of patience, calmness, and prudence. Lin Tian's real father had been killed by a bear while hunting, but Lin Tian had felt no sorrow for the man who had never been more than a stranger to him.

Uncle Jiang, on the other hand, had been everything to Lin Tian. He had taught him everything he knew. Lin Tian recalled Uncle Jiang's frequent coughing fits and the whispered conversations with Grandma Lu about a poison in his body. Uncle Jiang had claimed to have found a cure, but the sight of the dead wolves suggested otherwise. It seemed the poison within Uncle Jiang had been far from ordinary.

Lin Tian wiped away his tears and looked towards the direction from which the wolves had come. He took a deep breath, trying to etch this tragic scene into his memory. He would not forget Uncle Jiang’s sacrifice.

The boy grabbed Uncle Jiang's sword and the bag he had carried with him, then set off with heavy footsteps. It was already morning, and the twin suns shone brightly in the sky, casting long shadows on the ground.

Rather than returning to the village like any boy his age might have done, Lin Tian continued on his way, heading towards High Cloud City. He had no horse or cart to ride, so he resigned himself to completing the journey on foot. Instead of feeling daunted, he felt a renewed determination pushing him forward.

Lin Tian had learned hunting skills from Uncle Jiang, so he had no trouble finding food. Along the way, he encountered many travelers, but most of them glanced at him with contempt. This initially stirred anger within him, but he quickly remembered Uncle Jiang's teachings. In the Rising Dragon Continent, respect was earned through strength.

Lin Tian’s goal was clear: he needed to become strong. Strong enough that no one would dare look down on him for being an orphan or for being poor. He now had an additional reason to seek strength.

As he pondered the long journey to High Cloud City, three black-robed horsemen galloped past him. His heart raced with a mixture of fear and hatred as he recognized them. "It's them," he muttered under his breath, his eyes flashing with anger.

One of the horsemen seemed to sense Lin Tian's animosity and reined in his horse, turning to face him with a mocking grin. "What is a little boy like you doing here alone?" he sneered. "Hehehehehe."

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Lin Tian struggled to hide his hatred and responded in a low voice, "I got separated from my parents by the wolves."

The black-robed man guided his horse in a slow circle around Lin Tian, "Oh, you've been in the forest?"

Lin Tian's heart skipped a beat when he heard the man's question, but he replied calmly, "I haven't ventured in, I have only approached the periphery."

Number Three narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the young boy, suspicion evident in his gaze. He was about to press further when the boss’s voice interrupted, "Let’s go. We don’t have time to waste on this nobody."

Though dissatisfied, Number Three followed the boss’s orders, and soon the three black-robed men galloped away, vanishing into the horizon.

Lin Tian clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms, drawing a thin line of blood. His eyes, brimming with hatred, remained fixed on the direction they had gone. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. He needed to focus on what he should do upon arriving at High Cloud City. Though he had never been there, he had overheard enough from the villagers to form a mental map of the city.

High Cloud City was a prominent city within the Rising Sky Kingdom, a realm boasting dozens of cities. High Cloud City was among the largest and most influential. Its significance was such that even the emperor treaded carefully around it. This was primarily due to the High Cloud Sect, whose power eclipsed even that of the kingdom's government. The city lord, although officially a representative of the kingdom, was appointed by the sect, effectively making the city semi-autonomous.

Aside from the sect, the city housed seven prominent clans, each excelling in a different profession—be it alchemy, blacksmithing, merchant trade, or martial arts. The city lord wielded considerable authority, but the true power lay in the hands of the sect and these influential clans.

Three days had passed since Lin Tian's encounter with the black-robed men. As he trudged along the dusty road, he finally saw the magnificent walls of High Cloud City rising in the distance. The sight filled him with awe. "Indeed, it's a magnificent sight," he mused to himself.

His awe quickly turned to surprise as he noticed something near the city walls. A long queue of people snaked its way from the city gate, each person waiting for their turn to enter. Lin Tian wondered how such a vast city could have only one gate.

"Move to the side, boy!" A loud shout startled Lin Tian, and he quickly stepped aside. An exquisite carriage, pulled by two strange beasts that looked like a cross between a horse and a lion, passed by him. Their powerful, muscled bodies and gleaming coats made them an imposing sight.

The carriage rolled to a stop at the city gate, and an old lady with thick eyebrows and curly white hair stepped out. As soon as the city gate guards saw her, they immediately bowed low, indicating her significant status.

"Old woman, you're back already? Hahaha!" A booming voice echoed from the gate’s direction, and a robust man approached the old lady. The guards bowed again and shouted in unison, "Greetings, Commander Shi!"

The old woman’s face darkened, and she shouted furiously, "Who are you calling old, you empty head?"

Commander Shi laughed heartily, his robust frame shaking with mirth. "Have you found the girl?"

"Yes, I did. If I had been a little later, she would have already died. Humph!" replied the old woman, her voice filled with indignation.

One guard leaned towards another and whispered, "Who is this old woman? How can she speak to the commander like that?"

"Shhh," the other guard whispered back. "She is Alchemist Lady Ling. Besides her status as an alchemist, she holds an important position in the Ling Clan."

Commander Shi showed no reaction to Lady Ling’s scolding. He replied nonchalantly, "It’s your clan’s matter. Don’t drag me into it. Hahaha!"

Lady Ling glared at the commander with disdain and raised her voice, "Ling Zi, come and greet Commander Shi!"

Two young women stepped out of the carriage. Lin Tian’s eyes widened in surprise at their beauty and poise. The two young ladies bowed respectfully to Commander Shi.

Ling Zi walked beside the old lady and said sweetly, "Greetings, Grandpa Shi. I have heard a lot about you from Granny Ling."

Commander Shi grunted, his gruff exterior melting slightly. "Women are only good at talking. Humph. Hurry and enter the city; you're delaying everyone else." Despite his harsh words, his face betrayed a hint of pleasure at Ling Zi’s greeting.

"Okay, girls, let's go," ordered Lady Ling, looking at the girls sternly.