Chapter 207: Journey
The Peka Kingdom spanned the entire vast and boundless East Continent. During the desolate period before the Ancient Era, trees and vines that grew in the presence of beasts and demonic energy occupied most of the land. Back then, it was extremely difficult for people to pass through these dangerous jungles occupied by wild beasts, even to the point of risking their lives. The distance from western Peka to the Duke Territories of Iris City, which many people could not reach in their lifetime, was immense.
Thousands of years ago, the pioneers of Peka established a kingdom in the wild and desolate west of the continent. Along with the expansion of the kingdom’s power, flat and wide roads ensured that its strength could reach every inch of its territory without loss.
The carriage moved smoothly. Ig, the black-haired youth, sat cross-legged inside the carriage. Having just finished his daily meditation, Ig opened his eyes, wiped his sword, “Finale,” with his palm, and stood up after stretching his arm. Elissiya’s carriage didn’t look particularly large, but it was inscribed with rather profound space runes internally. The space inside the carriage was enough for Ig’s daily cultivation.
“It’s gotten harder after reaching Silver…” Ig said helplessly, raising his palm as a silver stream of light flowed through it.
In the more than a month since he was promoted and left Rubiel City, Ig had tried many times to cultivate his Dou Qi. Even Verafia had taken him to conduct several experiments more than once. However, the final results remained largely unchanged. This left Verafia puzzled for a long time, with her delicate hand supporting her small face.
Still, despite his Dou Qi cultivation progressing slowly, Ig’s mindset was quite good. After all, not long ago, he was merely a little Bronze. Ig’s cultivation efforts were more focused on condensing his spiritual power and trying to use his talent to practice Duke Oran’s sword techniques and swordsmanship, as well as a few new sword techniques taught by Verafia.
The young man stood up and glanced around, seeing Ophi and the Blood Race girl, Flarn, on the side. Although the Ice Dragon Girl was still a bit shy, she had gradually become more familiar with them. At least, she no longer nervously tucked her small tail away whenever Verafia appeared, as she did at first. At this moment, the Ice Dragon Girl was not conversing with Flarn. The girl with silver long hair held her sword, her slender eyelashes lightly covered her snow-white skin, concealing her big red eyes. Magic and the power of blood flowed within her petite body. Beside her, Ophi swayed her slender and beautiful tail, engrossed in the storybook she had just bought.
However, Ig did not see Verafia. He thought for a moment, lifted the curtain, and got out of the carriage. The magnificent Aislahti horses, driven by the coachman, pulled the carriage. The girl swung her slender and graceful little feet, her delicate jade-like fingertips propping up her snow-white cheek. She seemed a little bored, leaning against the front of the carriage. As Romantic Night drew to a close and the aura of the summer Fire Month gradually permeated every corner of the world, Miss Verafia’s clothing became lighter. Her simple and elegant white dress subtly outlined the beautiful lines of her delicate body, and the hem was adorned with pure white lace and pale gold trim. The clear and bright blue sky after the rain was illuminated by the sunlight. The fine sound of the wind blowing carried the sweet scent of fruits. A few strands of the girl’s delicate, silk-like hair lightly touched her tender skin.
“Young Lady.” Ig called out. Verafia turned her head and looked over. Beneath her slender eyelashes were magnificent, brilliant golden eyes.
“Ig, are you done cultivating?” Verafia stretched a little lazily and asked casually, her expression somewhat languid. Ig nodded and sat down beside Verafia. The girl’s two slender legs under her skirt were bare, with evenly proportioned and smooth bones and flesh. Her delicate, moon-like fairy feet were clad in flat sandals, subtly revealing her small, delicate, and beautiful toes, like lustrous white pearls.
Verafia handed a fruit in her arms to the attendant beside her, then picked up another and bit into it with her teeth. “Ig, how much longer until we reach your hometown…” Miss Verafia said, quite bored.
“Young Lady, we’re not far. We’ve already covered almost half the journey from Rubiel City. We should arrive at Lorinc in Mess Marquisate next month.” Seeing the Phoenix Miss’s almost daily complaints, Ig showed a slight smile and carefully tidied a few strands of hair that the wind had disturbed for his Young Lady. Verafia playfully pulled her little head away with a hint of displeasure. “Why is it still so far… It’s not fun at all.” Verafia complained, resting her cheeks on her hands. “Besides, my strength has been stuck at Crystal for a long time… How much longer until I can return to Star.”
Ig felt deeply speechless towards the Phoenix Young Lady. When Ig had reported his promotion to Silver, Verafia had casually mentioned that she had also reached Crystal, which had deeply discouraged Ig. Now, after only a month, this little phoenix was already worrying about Star, a terrifying realm that ordinary professionals spent decades trying to reach and was undoubtedly considered a powerhouse on the entire continent. How Versailles was this! Of course, Ig would never dare to argue with his Young Lady.
After all, according to Verafia, she had fallen from the Star realm purely to save him. Moreover, this Phoenix Miss was willing to return to Lorinc with him only because Ig had tempted her with the family’s precious Crimson Flame Flower. What if she became unhappy and decided not to go with him? He couldn’t leave this Phoenix Miss, as his own life was in her hands.
Therefore, Ig agreed with the girl: “Young Lady, Lundoran City, the capital of Andor Province, is not far ahead. Why don’t we stop there to rest for a while?” Ig looked at the city faintly appearing at the end of his vision. “Moreover, Lundoran City is a large city that is no less impressive than Lorinc. Perhaps you might find a sacred relic you need here.”
In theory, the journey from Rubiel to Mess Marquisate should take at most a month. The reason they had spent so much time and only covered less than half the distance was entirely due to this Phoenix Miss. At the beginning of the journey, Miss Verafia was still quite interested, often humming songs by the carriage window. However, as time passed, the girl became bored and began to show dissatisfaction. Therefore, Ig, as the responsible party, had to propose stopping the journey to rest and allow Verafia to relax whenever they passed a town, just as he had done earlier. Thus, this journey, which was supposed to be a rush, had turned into him taking this little phoenix on a tour.
“Andor Province’s Dorun City… Hmm, okay.” Verafia thought for a moment and then nodded her little head. However, the girl felt that the name sounded familiar, so she looked up at the boy beside her: “However, I think I’ve heard you mention this name before… Andor Province, Dorun City…” Verafia racked her brain, and suddenly, the girl’s big eyes lit up, and she lifted her little face: “Ig, was that Douglas, who almost killed you back then, from here?”
