After quickly tidying up the items on his bed, Leilin sank into a deep sleep following his daily meditation.
He slept soundly, and by the time he woke naturally, it was already approaching noon the next day.
After a moment's thought, Leilin put on a loose, comfortable robe and stepped out of the villa.
Following the narrow path between the villas, Leilin began making his way toward the fourth tier of Polar Night City, using the map he had obtained the previous day.
"Good day, sir!"
The red-haired old man he had seen yesterday was trimming his lawn. Spotting Leilin come out, he offered a warm smile and a greeting.
"Hello!" From this old man, Leilin could clearly feel the powerful fluctuations of his spiritual power — not a newly promoted First-level Wizard, but one who had lingered at this rank for a long time, accumulating vast experience. He was an elite in every sense.
Furthermore, judging from the traces of elemental energy particles around the old man, the Chip estimated that he had already reached the level of semi-elementalization.
Taken together, his level was very close to the clone that the Lisiteer Family had sent to pursue Leilin that day.
"Though I wonder how he actually fares in combat?"
White Wizards were generally better at theory and research. From this old man, Leilin felt not the slightest hint of a kindred spirit — clearly, this was a White Wizard.
A higher realm did not necessarily translate to greater combat strength. Leilin himself had only reached one percent elementalization, yet he had narrowly defeated a semi-elementalized Wizard. The same principle applied here.
"My name's Cleo. It's been quite some time since a new neighbor moved in here!"
The old man cheerfully set down the shears in his hand, clearly taking an interest in Leilin.
"I'm Leilin. I've just arrived in Polar Night City. It's a peaceful city — I like it here very much!"
Leilin gave a slight bow.
From this old man, he sensed a long-lost aura of tranquility. The old man carried a strong scent of books about him, brimming with the air of a scholar.
Back at Black Bone Forest Academy, every instructor carried a deep, oppressive chill that couldn't be dispelled — a presence that terrified every apprentice.
"Haha… You made the right choice!"
Upon hearing Leilin's words, the old man's wrinkles spread into a beaming smile.
"Where are you off to?" The old man settled into a seat at one end of the garden. "Would you care to share a cup of red tea with this old fellow?"
"No, thank you. I'd like to take a walk around the city first, and then visit the trading district!"
Leilin smiled and politely declined the old man's offer, then moved on.
"Such a tranquil city. Perhaps I could stay here for a while longer."
Leilin wandered casually through the streets.
Polar Night City's third tier was entirely different from the first and second. Since this was the residential area for Wizards, every villa was spaced far apart, marked with prominent signposts.
In addition, the walls of the third tier were constructed using Star Iron as a building material.
This stone was not only visually stunning but also had the effect of absorbing dissipated energy and radiation.
According to the Chip's estimate, the total cost of the entire wall exceeded two million Magic Stones — a figure that made Leilin click his tongue in silent amazement.
Once inside the third tier, the pedestrians on the streets thinned considerably. Those occasionally seen were all formal Wizards accompanied by entourages.
Leilin even spotted several individuals wreathed in the stench of vengeful spirits and blood.
Obviously, they had noticed him too. Kindred spirits were always quick to recognize one another.
But owing to the rules of Polar Night City — and perhaps other reasons as well — Leilin and those Dark Wizards merely exchanged distant glances before swiftly moving away from each other.
Passing through multiple guarded gates, Leilin arrived at the fourth tier of Polar Night City.
Here, all manner of shops lined the streets, with Wizards constantly coming and going.
Every Wizard walking about possessed the energy intensity of a formal Wizard — there was not a single Apprentice among them.
"So this is a trading platform specifically for formal Wizards."
Leilin's spirits lifted. The White Wizard Domain was the trading center of the entire South Coast, and Polar Night City was one of the largest cities within it. Here, the finest resources of the entire South Coast were gathered — an endless supply of goods that would surely meet his needs.
Leilin casually glanced at the shop signs on either side as he made his way down the street toward the center.
"Old Green's Potion Shop!" "Cape of Good Hope Alchemical Items!" "Tailor's Shop" "Finished Gem Store" "Magical Creature Specialty Shop"…
The sheer variety of shop names made Leilin's eyes swim.
However, following the information he had received the day before, Leilin pressed on without hesitation, heading straight for the central plaza of the fourth tier.
In the middle of the area surrounded by shops lay an enormous granite square. Around its perimeter stood eighteen massive stone pillars, each roughly as thick as a person's head.
On the square, several Wizards stood with their eyes closed, running their hands over the pillars as though sensing something.
Meanwhile, other Wizards who had been milling about the shops like headless flies, upon making contact with the pillars, seemed to find their bearings — as if given a destination — and promptly left or headed toward a particular shop.
"We've arrived — the Trading Plaza!"
A note of wonder rang in Leilin's mind, and a flash of anticipation crossed his eyes.
He then stepped up and joined the queue behind a middle-aged man wearing a red robe.
There weren't many Wizards on the plaza, and soon it was Leilin's turn.
Leilin took a deep breath, stood before the stone pillar, and pressed his palm against it.