Not far from the teleportation hall stood a large, well marked building with sigils denoting information services. Above its entrance, a simple plaque read: Visitor Information Center.
ng Bai nearly laughed in relief. "Finally,"
Inside, the atmosphere was calm and orderly.
Attendants staffed long counters, offering maps, regional booklets, and local notices. Lin Mu purchased several items without hesitation. Detailed maps of the southern continent. A political overview of the Warm Ocean Kingdom. A travel booklet describing major cities, teleportation arrays, and notable regions. For the first ti since entering the Fifteen Ryze World, the group felt properly grounded.
Stepping outside, they found a shaded seating area at a tea house and began reading.
Daoist Chu unfolded the main continental map, smoothing it over the stone table.
"The southern continent is enormous," he said, scanning the markings. "At least twice the size of the northern continent."
Lin Mu nodded. "And oddly shaped."
The continent's outline was unlike any he had seen before. Near the equator, the landmass expanded dramatically, stretching horizontally across nearly a quarter of the world's circumference. This broad belt ford the heart of the southern continent.
Further south, the land narrowed, almost pinching inward, before expanding again into an irregular oblong shape. It never quite reached the southern pole, stopping roughly a thousand kiloters short, where a thin ring of tundra marked the transition to polar regions.
ng Bai traced the equatorial belt with his finger. "This part alone is massive."
"And fertile," Daoist Chu added. "Most equatorial regions are."
Lin Mu turned to the political map. "The Warm Ocean Kingdom occupies much of this belt."
The kingdom's shape was peculiar. It was narrow, barely three hundred kiloters wide in most places, but stretched endlessly along the equatorial coastline. From east to west, it claid nearly half of the continent's equatorial shore.
"A long kingdom," Cattaleya said. "Hard to defend, but perfect for trade."
"Exactly," Lin Mu replied. "Ocean access along its entire length. Ports, shipping lanes, and steady inflow of resources."
The booklet confird this. The Warm Ocean Kingdom was known less for military might and more for comrce, mariti trade, and cultivation resources derived from the sea.
ng Bai flipped a page and paused. "What's this?"
Lin Mu leaned over. "The Equatorial Rainforests."
According to the text, moving south from Equator Port City would eventually lead into a vast forested region simply known as the Equatorial Rainforests. It covered nearly a quarter of the entire southern continent and was described as the most lush and biodiverse area in the world.
Spirit herbs. Immortal plants. Rare beasts.
And danger.
"It's a cultivation paradise," ng Bai said softly.
"And a death trap for the unprepared," Daoist Chu added.
Lin Mu nodded. "Which explains why the Warm Ocean Kingdom thrives on the coast rather than pushing inland."
He closed the booklet, his expression thoughtful.
Sowhere beyond the forests, beyond political borders and humid coastlines, lay the remnants of the Butterfly Kingdom's forr capital. A city that still existed, fractured but functional, its teleportation array still active.
For now, though, they had clarity.
Maps.
Nas.
Routes.
And a world that finally felt awake.
Lin Mu rose from his seat. "We rest briefly, then plan our route. The capital city may be far, but at least now we know how to get there."
As the heat pressed down and the sounds of Equator Port City filled the air, the group moved forward with renewed certainty.
With the sun already beginning its slow descent toward the horizon, Lin Mu and the others decided not to push themselves further that day. The heat of the equatorial region did not lessen much even in the evening, but the golden light of dusk softened it enough to make walking through the city pleasant rather
than oppressive.
They found an inn not far from the market district, a well maintained establishnt built with wide open balconies, flowing water channels, and natural ventilation formations etched subtly into its walls.
The signboard bore the na Tideleaf Rest, painted in flowing blue and green script.
The innkeeper, a middle aged immortal at the First Tribulation Stage, greeted them warmly and showed them to several connected rooms overlooking a canal that led toward the inner harbor. Palm like trees lined the waterway, their leaves rustling softly in the humid breeze.
"Just one night for now," Lin Mu said after checking the place. "We will decide how long to stay tomorrow."
"That is perfectly fine," the innkeeper replied, bowing slightly. "If you need
anything, just call."
The mont they settled in, Little Shrubby hopped off Lin Mu's shoulder, his small kitten body vibrating with excitent.
"Ingredients," he declared firmly. "I slled at least six new types of ocean
spices and three kinds of beast at that I have never cooked before."
Lin Mu sighed, already knowing resistance was futile. "Fine. But we do not buy
everything."
Little Shrubby's tail flicked. "No promises."
And so the group split up.
Elyon vanished into the city almost instantly, lting into the flow of people
and shadows with practiced ease. Lin Mu was confident that this ti, Elyon would return with far more useful information than he had been able to scrape
together in Blue City.
Daoist Chu stretched, adjusted his robes, and gave Lin Mu a knowing look. "I
will be... exploring local culture."
Lin Mu raised an eyebrow. "That is not what you called it last ti."
Daoist Chu waved dismissively. "Details. I will be back by morning."
With that, the crafty man disappeared down a lantern lit street, already humming cheerfully.
That left Lin Mu, ng Bai, Cattaleya, Little Shrubby, and soon after, the twin
snakes.
Xiao Yin and Xiao Yang slithered out from Lin Mu's sleeves, their small forms coiling around his arms and shoulders. Their eyes glead with excitent.
"Shiny things," Xiao Yang said eagerly.
"And new slls," Xiao Yin added.
Lin Mu shook his head. "You two behave. No frightening people. No sudden movents. Stay with ."
The twin snakes nodded in unison. "We promise."
Lin Mu was not entirely convinced, but it was the best he was going to get.
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