“So this is the capital of the Hartina Kingdom…” Nagata commented as the apprentices walked along the balcony of the station.

Since this is not just any station, but the Hartina Kingdom’s central station that served numerous lines, the amount of Shinkansens and by extensions, people that transit here is significantly more compared to their origin station. All sorts of hunters ranging from rank 0 apprentice up to rank 3 Legends whose persons are being encircled by a formation of floating Luminar Ward Pylons to suppress their radiations are present.

Of course, Legends are the minority, but any and all Legends that roamed in this station cannot be seen. One can only glimpse at their dark silhouette because photons are either destroyed or refracted due to the sheer radiation that Legends passively emit. If not for the high-rank luminar ward pylons, not even rank 1 Officials can walk without their lifespan deteriorating at the rate visible to the naked eye. Nevertheless, in this city, high-rank cultivators can somewhat mingle with lower-ranked ones.

“What’s our plan, Mister Kenji?” Mordred asked as they walked aimlessly. The core member of Twin Helix is busy doing paperwork and whatnot, so until it is time for them to depart, Kenji has been tasked to babysit the 20 or so apprentices who had signed the soul contract with Shion.

“Dunno.” Kenji shrugged. “Captain Shion told me that you guys need to get used to your new life pretty soon, that means you’ll be a highly respectable student of the Royal Academy.” He scratched his head. “You see, most of the apprentices of the Ninetail Royal Academy are noble families like Sakuya or even the likes of Captain Shion and Ayame, so if you don’t have any servant who took care of your daily needs, you won’t be able to catch up with your studies. Imagine spending two hours daily on basic needs, while your peers have all the resources and assistance they need to focus on their studies or cultivation in all their waking hours.”

He continued, “Two hours a day meant fourteen hours a week, 60 hours a month, and 730 hours per year. Considering the length of normal enrollment in the academy is only five years, that’ll be 3650 hours in total.”

The apprentices are overwhelmed by the numbers, but they are aware that what Kenji is trying to convey is important to their future. “Cultivation is about daily incremental progress. Even when taking a mission, all of my team members have never missed our daily routine, which could either be meditation, physical training, or others. Captain Shion was especially disciplined, she was cruel to her enemies, but even more so towards herself. I have never seen her physically asleep in the last two years.”

“Of course, if you apply for extraplanar missions with faster time-flow compared to the main world, you might get more time, but it is not recommended because… Well, you’ll learn them in the future.” He paused, pondering. “Perhaps, this is a good time for you to get some helpers. Wait for a bit, I’ll ask Katyusha…” He took out a crystal-like mobile device and interacted with it.

In the meantime, the apprentices began to whisper among themselves. Most of them are the absolute peak talent of their villages, the cream of the crop. Except for Mordred who was a trash forcefully made into a diamond-in-the-rough, although they are not real noble, it wasn’t too far off. Their daily necessities had almost always been taken care of by other people. Thus, they are already aware of the usefulness of having servants.

While the apprentices were busy amongst themselves, Mordred made an unapproachable expression to ward off any potentially unnecessary conversation. Due to this, Kaishin, the lone caprine beastman in the group, used him as a shield to protect herself from being a conversational hostage.

After some time, Kenji stopped playing with his hand, “You’re in luck! Katyusha has already proposed this to the captain a while ago, she already had a budget for this. Let’s go!”

Following Kenji, the apprentices resembled eager students on a study tour. As they entered the street of the capital city of Hartina Kingdom, Tenkokyō, they found themselves navigating an urban labyrinth of steel, concrete, and glass. Amidst this modern skyline, hints of tradition peeked through in the form of tall wooden structures, imparting a unique charm to the cityscape. It was a seamless blend of the contemporary and the time-honored, a testament to the deep influence of refinement-path advancement in Morgen World.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

This surge in progress had propelled Tenkokyō's culture into the late modern age, with whispers of the digital era on the horizon. While many vehicles still relied on rubber and steel, maglevs gracefully traversed the skies, ferrying high-profile cultivators to their destinations. Most striking, however, were the VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) bikes zipping along the three-dimensional roadways, a testament to the city's marriage of magic machinery and the enduring values of the Hartina Kingdom.

One of the city's most captivating features was the abundance of shrines dedicated to the worship of the kingdom's Patron Deity, the Kyuubi. Each shrine entrance was distinguished by the iconic Torii, its crimson hue and distinctive structure commanding attention. It was widely believed that these traditional gateways marked the passage from the mundane world into the sacred realm of the shrine, creating an atmosphere of reverence and spirituality.

Naturally, since this is the capital of the Kingdom, the number of Kyuubi’s Divine Envoys is numerous. While following Kenji, Mordred had counted over a hundred Divine Envoys, all wearing traditional Miko (shrine maiden) outfits. In this city, if he were to use the most minor soul-path method, the Kyuubi would be quickly made aware.

There are simply too many eyes.

Nevertheless, the bustling streets of Tenkokyō are a mesmerizing symphony of energy and motion. The towering skyscrapers and neon-lit holo-boards paint the cityscape in a kaleidoscope of colors, casting a vibrant glow upon the sea of people below. The thoroughfares are a testament to modernity, seamlessly merging cutting-edge technology with the enduring charm of Hartina’s unique culture.

Here, the ceaseless hum of activity never before seen in the frontier village reverberates through the air, as commuters rush to and fro, each one a participant in this orchestrated dance of urban life. Mortals and cultivators alike, the sidewalks are lined with vendors peddling everything from savory street food to the latest magitek artifacts. Of course, the magic machinery artifacts used by cultivators wouldn’t be available in random stores on the side of the road, as there are shops specialized in selling those. Thus, the ones mostly being sold here are those useful for mortals to enhance their daily lives.

Navigating the multi-level streets and visiting the city’s ground level is an experience in itself, with a constant ebb and flow of pedestrians, cyclists, and a myriad of other vehicles. The orderly chaos is a reflection of Hartina Kingdom’s meticulous planning, where even amid the city’s ceaseless movement, a sense of harmony and efficiency can be felt. Intertwining alleyways lead to hidden gems, revealing cozy cafes, theaters, anime-goods shops, unique magitek artifact shops, or even serene gardens that offer a moment of respite from the urban frenzy to satisfy the high demand, all can be found if you know where to look for them.

When Kenji led the apprentice into the entrance of the underground level of the city, their shock was greater than the first time they saw Tenkokyō’s skylines.

The underground level is an even more frenetic world, a subterranean metropolis teeming with life and pulsating with different kinds of energy. The amount of luminar ward pylons, at least the high-rank ones, is several times greater than the ones on the surface, as this is no longer the place for mortals to roam. Only cultivators are allowed. Without a sufficient cultivation base, the intense radiation of this place would turn mortals into a puddle of goo.

In fact, Kenji had to rent radiation-repellent artifacts at the entrance for the apprentices. They are in the shape of a belt, and function by projecting a special force field to block the harmful radiation.

Here, the labyrinthine network of underground passages and tunnels hosts a thriving community of artisans, craftsmen, blacksmiths, rune enchanters, alchemists, and all sorts of refinement-path occupations. The glow of luminar ward pylons and the holo-lights are mostly focused on enchanted artifacts, casting an ethereal radiance and illuminating the bustling markets where traders barter rare and precious resources.

In this subterranean realm, the dichotomy between tradition and progress is even more pronounced. The sturdy stone walls laced with newly forged steel bear witness to centuries of dedicated craftsmanship, while ancient, pulsating magical conduits wind through the earth, channeling energy generated by cultivator’s radiation. As these conduits hum with vitality, they power the impressive machinery and enchantments that propel the city's industry forward.

Catering to the diverse demands of cultivators, this underground metropolis offers a plethora of services. From honing combat skills with sparring partners, procuring rare artifacts, cultivator prostitution, and even venturing into the realm of illicit combat-enhancing substances, every desire can be met for those who know where to look.

In this unique space, ancient wisdom harmonizes with cutting-edge innovation, and the vices of the world coexist with its virtues. Most crucially, it is a place where the synergy of supply and demand weaves a tapestry of commerce and industry, where the sellers find eager buyers in every corner of this subterranean enclave.

“We’re here…” Eventually, Kenji led the group to a shady shop in a dirty alleyway.