When he entered Magical City through the eastern gate, evening had already descended. The sky above the city walls had begun turning dark blue, and lanterns were slowly being lit along the main streets. rchants were closing their stalls for the day while several cultivators returned from the surrounding forests carrying beast materials and herbs.
The city had grown noticeably busier during the past few weeks. Caravans arrived more frequently. Travelling cultivators appeared in greater numbers, and the markets began displaying rare materials that had not been seen in the region for years. Many people believed the increased activity was simply the result of better hunting opportunities in the Forbidden Forest.
But after what he had seen earlier this morning in the forest, he knew the situation was not that simple.
Two powerful cultivators had appeared deep inside the forest. The strength they displayed was far beyond anything normally seen around Magical City.
Instead of returning directly to the clan compound, he turned toward a quieter district in the northern part of the city. The streets there were quieter, with fewer rchants and more guarded buildings belonging to organisations that operated quietly behind the scenes.
One of those buildings belonged to Grey Shadow Hall. The structure itself appeared simple from the outside. It was not decorated like the large rchant guild halls or noble clan residences. However, those who lived in Magical City understood that Grey Shadow Hall possessed influence far beyond what its appearance suggested.
Information flowed through this place. Rumours, movents of cultivators, trade routes, and forest activities were quietly recorded and traded within its walls. Many clans relied on the organisation when they needed knowledge about matters beyond their reach.
Calmly, he walked through the door. Soft lantern light filled the hallway inside. While a few guests conversed quietly in little seating sections along the walls, many staff mbers worked behind long wooden desks.
A receptionist sitting behind the front desk looked up as he approached. Her expression changed slightly as she recognised him.
The Osborn clan had previously interacted with Grey Shadow Hall on multiple occasions. He gave the receptionist a courteous greeting and asked to speak with Elder Delvin Lee, who was in charge of Grey Shadow Hall operations in Magical City.
The receptionist nodded and asked him to wait. After a short mont, she disappeared through a side door to inform the elder. The hall remained quiet while he waited. Several people entered and left during that ti, each moving with the cautious behaviour common among those who dealt in information rather than trade.
A few minutes later, the receptionist returned. The elder had agreed to the eting. She guided him through a narrow hallway toward a private room in the rear section of the building.
Inside the room, an older man sat beside a wooden table reviewing several written reports. Elder Delvin Lee looked up as he entered. The elder's appearance was calm and unassuming. His hair had already turned white, and his expression carried the quiet patience of soone who had spent many years observing the movents of others.
He greeted the elder respectfully before taking the seat offered to him.
Delvin Lee studied him briefly before speaking in a relaxed tone. The Osborn clan has grown quite quickly recently.
The comnt was spoken casually, but the aning behind it was clear. Organisations like Grey Shadow Hall always noticed when a clan began rising in influence.
He replied carefully, saying that the clan was simply improving its training and organisation. The elder nodded slowly. After a short pause, he asked the reason for the visit.
He explained that earlier that day, while observing the deeper regions of the Forbidden Forest, he had witnessed a battle. Two extrely powerful cultivators had appeared there. He described what he had seen.
An extrely powerful elderly cultivator is engaged in combat with formidable forest beasts. And a young woman, despite her advanced age, whose cultivation had already reached the Soul Manifestation Realm.
The room remained quiet for a mont after he finished speaking. Then Elder Delvin Lee suddenly laughed softly. The reaction was unexpected. He looked at the elder with slight confusion.
Delvin Lee leaned back in his chair and shook his head with a faint smile.
So they have already begun exploring the forest. The elder then explained calmly that the two cultivators he had described were not ordinary cultivators.
They were strong individuals who had travelled great distances. Strong forces from outside the area had recently started to take notice of the strange activity surrounding Magical City. Reports of increased forest activity, stronger beasts appearing, and the sudden growth of the city itself had reached Shadow Hall headquarters.
Because of that, the headquarters of Grey Shadow Hall had decided to investigate the magical city more closely.
The two cultivators he had seen were sent for that purpose. The elder finally revealed their identities: Elder Varis Valen and Aria Valen.
The nas matched exactly what the system had shown earlier.
Delvin Lee continued explaining. The elder served as a personal attendant and guardian for the won.
The young woman, however, possessed a far more important background.
She is the daughter of the powerful sect that controlled Grey Shadow Hall.
The elder did not reveal the na of that sect. He described it as a force far beyond the influence of the clans surrounding Magical City.
For a brief mont, he remained silent.
The realisation was surprising. The girl who had fought calmly against the Ironback Ravagers deep inside the forest was not simply a talented cultivator.
She is soone from a powerful cultivation lineage. Delvin Lee continued speaking calmly. They had not co to Magical City to interfere with the local clans.
Their purpose was only to observe. The growth of the city and the increasing activity inside the Forbidden Forest had drawn attention from higher cultivation forces.
Soone had been sent to confirm whether those rumours were true.
After explaining this much, the elder stopped speaking. So matters clearly remained unspoken.
He understood that information organisations rarely revealed everything they knew. He thanked the elder for the explanation and stood to leave.
Delvin Lee nodded calmly as he walked toward the door.
The city streets had grown quieter by the ti he stepped outside the hall.
Lantern light illuminated the narrow roads while most rchants had already closed their shops for the night. He walked slowly toward the eastern district where the Osborn clan compound stood.
His thoughts remained focused. Powerful cultivators from distant regions had already begun arriving in Magical City.
And if soone like Aria Valen had personally co to observe the region. Then sothing important was likely hidden within the Forbidden Forest.
He paused briefly and looked toward the dark outline of the forest beyond the city walls.
Whatever had drawn the attention of powerful sects was still hidden sowhere within those depths.
And sooner or later, more people would co searching for it.
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