The minutes ticked by with only the faint sound of horses breathing and the occasional rustle of leaves in the evening breeze. The men guarding the convoy kept their eyes on the carriage, sensing that something had shifted. When the door finally creaked open, every guard straightened in their saddle, their attention snapping to the figure stepping into the cool night air. Lucas emerged with a calm expression, but the weight of his presence pressed upon them like an invisible tide. His aura, though restrained, seeped outward in quiet authority, making the very ground seem firmer beneath their feet.

The guards felt it instantly. This was not the aura of a promising young cultivator or even a respected master, but that of a Grandmaster who had crossed the threshold of power few dared to dream of. Each man instinctively bowed in reverence, some bowing from their saddles while others dismounted to kneel. Their voices rose together in greeting, not rehearsed but natural, compelled by the sheer gravity of the strength standing before them. Respect that had been earned through loyalty to the Alden family deepened now into something sharper, a reverence that bordered on awe.

Lucas looked over them, his expression unreadable, though inside he understood what this moment meant. The bond between him and these men had shifted. They would no longer see him as only their young master or the son of Elder Gideon Alden. He was now someone who commanded deference by sheer power. He gave them a single nod, a silent acknowledgment that was more than enough to reassure them, before he spoke. His voice was steady and low, yet it carried weight as he gave the order they had been waiting for. The convoy would stop here for the night.

The men moved quickly, the decision freeing them to act. Tents were pitched, fires lit, and the horses seen to. The air buzzed with quiet excitement, for each guard carried the knowledge that they had witnessed something rare. Stories of Grandmasters were often told around hearths, but now they served one directly. Their loyalty, once rooted in duty, had grown unshakable.

So it went with each evening afterward. Every night they would halt along the road, setting up camp with the discipline of men used to long journeys, and every morning they resumed their steady march forward. There were times when small towns appeared on their path, and on such occasions the convoy would stop to refresh supplies, allow the horses to rest, and give the company a chance to recover their strength. Each stop brought murmurs from townsfolk who noticed the disciplined guards and the noble bearing of their leaders, but none dared approach too closely.

The days blurred into weeks, the rhythm of travel becoming second nature. Fields gave way to forests, rivers were crossed, and villages passed behind them as the horizon stretched ever onward. Within the carriages, cultivation and conversation filled the hours, while outside the guards maintained their vigil, proud to march beneath the shadow of a Grandmaster's presence.

At last, on the forty-second day of their long journey, the skyline of their destination finally rose in the distance. Towers of stone and walls fortified with history marked the proud city of Lechia. The air itself seemed to hum with the activity of a great center of life and power. The sight brought relief and anticipation alike, for after countless nights under the open sky, their journey had reached its turning point.

They had finally arrived at Lechia.

The first thing that struck Lucas when the convoy crested the final ridge was not the bustling sprawl of Lechia's outer districts, nor the distant shimmer of the city's heart beneath the late afternoon sun. It was the walls. They rose in the distance like a living monument, taller than those of Valerion by several measures, built not only for defense but for sheer dominance. Their vast expanse stretched outward, vanishing into the haze of the horizon as though the world itself could not contain them. The walls seemed endless, more a continent-spanning barrier than the fortifications of a single city. It reminded Lucas of his past life, of a wall so vast and mighty it had become a symbol of an entire civilization...the Great Wall of China. Yet this one had a presence that defied simple comparison, pulsing faintly with Qi inscriptions woven into its very stone.

The convoy slowed as the guards, too, raised their eyes in quiet astonishment. None spoke at first. The magnitude of what they were seeing demanded silence, as if to speak too soon would diminish the awe. Lucas leaned slightly forward, resting his arm against the carriage frame, his sharp gaze drinking in every detail. He had prepared himself for many wonders in this empire, but this sight left him staggered in a way he had not anticipated.

Beside him, Selene's lips parted as she whispered, almost to herself, "This… this is not a wall for protection alone. It's a declaration of power." Her voice trembled faintly with both admiration and calculation.

Nyx crossed her arms, though her wide eyes betrayed her composure. "The sheer scale… who could even dream of building something like this? Imagine the resources, the manpower, the knowledge of formations that must have gone into it. Lechia isn't simply strong. They're announcing to the world that their empire is boundless."

Lira pressed a hand to her chest, her youthful features alight with both wonder and excitement. "It feels alive," she said softly. "It's incredible."

Lucas allowed himself a small smile, though inwardly his thoughts ran deep. His past experiences had taught him to measure more than appearances, and what he saw now was not just masonry and formations. It was the ambition of an empire that sought to stretch its influence as far as those walls extended. His eyes narrowed slightly as he thought of how such an empire could be exploited...or challenged.

"I hadn't expected this," Lucas admitted at last, his voice calm but heavy with thought. "Lechia is far more than I imagined. And if their walls are this strong, then what lies within them must be even more formidable." He paused, glancing toward the three women. "But formidable or not, nothing is beyond reach. If Lechia thinks its size and strength will intimidate us, they are mistaken."

Selene's lips curled into a sly grin, her earlier awe now sharpening into ambition. "All the better. The higher they build their walls, the more satisfying it will be when we climb over them. This empire has wealth, knowledge, and secrets. I intend to see all of them laid bare."

Nyx chuckled lowly, the sound edged with mischief. "Imagine the cultivation treasures, the libraries, a place like this is ripe for exploitation."

Lira nodded eagerly, her eyes shining with both innocence and fire. "And with Master leading us, who here could ever stand in our way?"

The three of them looked at him with trust and expectation, their awe of the city now mingling with their faith in the one they had bound their souls to. Lucas exhaled slowly, his gaze fixed upon the towering wall that loomed ever closer. He did not underestimate Lechia, but neither did he fear it. He had conquered obstacles before, and this empire would be no different.

As the carriage rolled forward and the shadow of the colossal wall began to fall over them, Lucas's thoughts sharpened into a single truth. Lechia might be vast, but it was only another step on his path.

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