It had been three days since they departed from the Blaze Clan's territory.
By the time the Imperial Capital came into view, even Lyra—who had grown up amid one of the great clans—couldn't suppress her astonishment.
Calling it a city felt misleading.
Compared to what lay before her, Blaze City seemed almost modest.
The capital stretched endlessly across the horizon, its sheer scale overwhelming. Towering walls forged from an unfamiliar metallic alloy gleamed faintly, dense runic arrays woven into their surface like living veins. Even from this distance, Lyra could sense the terrifying defensive pressure emanating from them.
Silvia noticed her expression and allowed herself a faint smile.
"The gates alone could withstand days of continuous assault from Emperor Realm beasts," she said, pride evident in her tone. "And that's before the city's true defenses activate."
As they passed through the outer gates, Lyra found herself surrounded by a breathtaking sight.
Massive skyscrapers rose into the sky, interspersed with buildings of all shapes and sizes. Some bore sleek, modern designs of glass and metal; others carried ancient architectural influences, engraved with glowing formations. Floating platforms drifted overhead, while transport arrays pulsed quietly along the streets.
The paved roads were wide and immaculately maintained, lined with shops, guild halls, and towering office complexes. The flow of people never ceased—cultivators, merchants, officials, and warriors moving with purpose through the heart of the Federation.
As they walked, Silvia provided brief explanations, pointing out notable landmarks and districts before waving her hand dismissively.
"You'll have plenty of time to explore later."
She went on to explain the city's structure.
"The capital is divided into three districts: the outer, inner, and central."
The outer district, she explained, was open to the public. Anyone could enter or leave freely.
"The inner district, however, is different," Silvia continued. "It houses the headquarters of major guilds, trade associations, and high-level smithies. Every square meter of land there is worth no less than a thousand violet crystals."
Lyra blinked.
A single violet crystal was valued at over two hundred thousand merit points.
Violet crystals, Silvia explained, were energy stones formed from highly condensed spiritual energy. For Emperor Realm experts, absorbing ambient qi was no longer sufficient. Advancement required massive quantities of refined energy, making violet crystals both a cultivation necessity and a universal high-level currency.
"Which is why," Silvia added calmly, "transactions involving rare resources or powerful artifacts rarely involve merit points alone."
She also warned Lyra about the inner district's curfew.
"The gates close at sundown and reopen at dawn. If you return late from an academy mission, you'll be staying in the outer district for the night. No exceptions. Parliamentary law."
Despite the crushing taxes and astronomical land prices, people still fought desperately for property within the inner district.
The reason was simple.
Experts.
In the event of disasters or large-scale beast stampedes, the concentration of powerful cultivators stationed within the city all but guaranteed survival.
Lyra found herself recalling her grandfather's words.
There is nothing the wealthy fear more than death.
Understanding dawned quickly. No price was too steep when safety was at stake.
By the time they reached the gates of the central district, night had nearly fallen.
The massive doors loomed before them, heavily guarded. Armed personnel stood in formation, their expressions sharp and disciplined. Mounted beside them were heavy rail guns engraved with complex runes, each radiating a cold, lethal pressure.
"This is the central district," Silvia said. "The Royal Academy, Parliament House, and the residences of the five peak clans are all located here."
A guard approached them, requesting identification. He raised a holographic scanner, its surface glowing softly.
Silvia pressed her token against it.
A shield-shaped emblem appeared—at its center, a radiant star surrounded by seven runes, flanked by four wings.
Lyra recognized it instantly.
Among academy elders, wings denoted rank.
Four wings marked an Inner Elder.
The scanner flashed, projecting Silvia's name and status into the air. The guard immediately bowed and stepped aside, signaling for the gates to open.
The doors slid apart soundlessly.
The moment Lyra crossed the threshold, a wave of concentrated spiritual energy crashed over her.
Her steps faltered.
The pressure was staggering—far denser than anything she had experienced before. Her breathing hitched for an instant before she steadied herself, circulating her qi instinctively.
Even so, she couldn't hide her shock.
Silvia noticed but said nothing. Instead, she pointed upward.
Lyra followed her gesture—and froze.
High above the city, barely visible unless one looked closely, was a colossal translucent barrier arching across the sky. It shimmered faintly, enclosing the entire central district like a vast, invisible dome.
A formation.
One of unimaginable scale.
Once Lyra adjusted to the pressure, they resumed walking. Silvia quickened her pace slightly.
"We should reach the academy before full nightfall."
With the capital's heart unfolding before her beneath that immense protective veil, Lyra felt a quiet certainty settle in her chest.
This was where destinies were forged.
And hers had just taken its first true step.