The clearing behind Robert slowly disappeared as he moved away through the dense forest. The sounds of battle still echoed faintly between the towering trees, but he did not turn back to watch the outco. The fight between the Ironback Ravagers and the two cultivators had already shown him everything he needed to know.
Robert moved silently across the branches before descending from the tree. His landing was light, his footsteps were careful as he began moving through the undergrowth. Instead of heading deeper into the forest, he adjusted his direction toward the outer region that led back to Magical City.
The deeper forest carried dangers that even experienced cultivators avoided unless they had a clear purpose. Robert had co only to observe, and now he had seen sothing far more important than a beast hunt. Two unfamiliar cultivators.
One of them possessed strength that could easily dominate every clan surrounding Magical City.
Robert moved steadily through the forest, breathing calmly as his thoughts organised themselves. Varis Valen Soul Manifestation Realm Level Nine (low-stage).
Even among powerful clans, cultivators of that level were extrely rare. Most clans around Magical City struggled to produce even a single Soul Manifestation Realm expert, and those who did usually remained hidden within their clan grounds.
Soone like Varis Valen could easily control the fate of smaller clans if he wished to. Yet Robert had never heard that na before. That alone ant sothing important.
Whoever these two were, they did not belong to the cultivation forces around Magical City.
Robert continued moving through the forest while replaying the scene in his mind. Aria Valen is seventeen. Soul Manifestation Realm Level One Mid-Stage.
The realisation still felt slightly unreal. Cultivators of their age usually remained in the Spirit Root Realm for years before attempting the breakthrough into Soul Manifestation. Even talented heirs of powerful clans rarely achieved such progress so early.
Yet Aria Valen had already reached that realm. Her sword technique had also revealed sothing else: Efficiency.
Those were not techniques learned through ordinary clan training. They were the type of movents cultivated through years of instruction within powerful sects where high-grade cultivation manuals and combat guidance were available.
Robert slowed slightly as the surrounding forest began thinning.
The towering trees gradually grew further apart, and more sunlight filtered through the canopy above. The distant sounds of beasts faded into the background as the familiar outer forest territory approached.
He stepped across a fallen tree trunk and paused for a brief mont. The presence of such cultivators raised several questions. Why had they co to this low region?
The Forbidden Forest had always contained valuable hunting grounds, but it had never attracted experts at the Soul Manifestation Realm Level Nine. Unless sothing deeper within the forest had changed.
Robert rembered the increasing activity reported by Cedric and Mira. Travelling cultivators have recently begun arriving in Magical City. Markets had grown busier.
Beast materials were appearing in larger quantities. At first, those changes could be explained by ordinary hunting opportunities. But after seeing Varis Valen in battle, Robert realised that sothing more significant might be drawing cultivators into the region.
Robert resud walking. At last, the edge of the forest erged in front of him, where the thick forest slowly gave way to rocky hills that led back to Magical City.
From here, the distant outline of the city walls could already be seen rising above the horizon. Robert stepped onto the path leading toward the city and continued forward at a steady pace.
His mind remained focused on information.
That was the most important thing now. A cultivator at the Soul Manifestation Realm Level Nine appearing near Magical City was not sothing that could be ignored. Although the man had no intention of interfering with the surrounding clans, his presence alone could shift the balance of power within the entire region.
The Osborn clan needed to understand what was happening. And the first person who needed to hear this information was his father. John Osborn.
Robert knew his father would imdiately understand the seriousness of the situation. A cultivator of Varis Valen's level could easily defeat most clan leaders within the region without much difficulty.
Even the Walker Clan, which currently stood among the strongest forces around Magical City, would treat such a cultivator with extre caution. Robert reached the outskirts of Magical City as evening began approaching.
rchants were slowly returning through the city gates after finishing their daily trades along the surrounding roads. Guards stood watch along the walls while several travelling cultivators passed through the gates carrying beast materials from the forest.
Robert entered the city quietly and continued toward the inner districts. The streets were busier than usual.
Market stalls displayed fresh beast cores, herbs, and several unfamiliar weapons that had likely been traded by a travelling cultivator. Small groups of cultivators moved between shops while exchanging quiet conversations about hunting opportunities inside the forest.
Robert observed the activity as he walked. The number of unfamiliar faces had increased. Many of them carried equipnt suited for forest hunting.
This confird his earlier suspicion. More cultivators have begun arriving in Magical City recently. Robert eventually turned down a narrower street that led toward the eastern district where the Osborn clan compound stood.
As he walked, another thought slowly ford in his mind. If unfamiliar cultivators had entered the city, soone must have noticed their arrival. There was one place in Magical City that specialised in gathering such information.
Grey Shadow Hall.
Unlike ordinary trading houses, Grey Shadow Hall operated quietly within the city's intelligence network. rchants, cultivators, and even clans occasionally purchased information from them when they needed to understand movents within the region.
They tracked travellers. Caravans. Cultivators. Rumours.
If Varis Valen and Aria Valen had entered Magical City before travelling into the forest, there was a strong chance Grey Shadow Hall had already recorded their arrival.
Robert continued walking while considering the idea.
Visiting such a place required caution. Information networks rarely provide knowledge freely, and sotis asking the wrong questions could attract unwanted attention.
But understanding who those cultivators were might beco important for the Osborn clan.
Especially if they intended to remain in the region.
Robert finally reached the outer gate of the Osborn clan compound.
The guards recognised him imdiately and stepped aside as he entered the courtyard.
Evening training had already begun in the outer yard. Several clan mbers practised their sword forms while others circulated spiritual energy through ditation under the fading light of the setting sun.
The compound felt calm.
Peaceful.
Yet Robert knew that sowhere deep inside the Forbidden Forest, a battle between powerful cultivators and dangerous beasts was still unfolding.
He paused briefly in the courtyard and looked toward the distant forest beyond the city walls.
The region around Magical City had remained stable for many years.
Clans hunted.
rchants traded.
Cultivators grew stronger slowly over ti. But now new figures have appeared. Powerful ones. Robert turned and began walking toward the inner residence where his father usually handled clan matters.
There were two things he needed to do next. Report what he had seen. And learn more about the nas that had appeared through his system scan.
Varis Valen. Aria Valen.
Sowhere within Magical City, soone might already know who they were.
And if they truly ca from a powerful sect or distant cultivation force. Then their arrival in this region might only be the beginning of sothing much larger.
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