Pillar of Yita

Fang Hong looked up at the scene, his heart surging with emotion.

That was one of the biggest land creatures in the world, the Catoblepas—a mythical monster said to petrify people with its gaze. Of course, it wasn’t Medusa but resembled a mix between a cow and a triceratops. Its body was as large as a hill with a towering back spine made of nerveless calcified bone plates. On either side hung wood houses of various sizes, resembling a city—this was the upgraded version of the Garcian Carry House, the ”Building House.”

Even after entering Elpaxin’s customs, the French girl still hadn’t recovered from her excited state.

Hilveld and her servant seemed to have their own connections. After bidding farewell to everyone once again, they left first—of course, taking with them the Fairy Construct that Fang Hong had been longing for.

Atira had to take others to return the Beast of Burden and handle formalities, so Fang Hong actually gained some free time to move about.

But he didn’t really have anything to do, and he stayed in the hall with Luo Yu and Parker, utterly bored. Looking up, he saw the terrace on the second floor facing directly into Elpaxin City, so he got up and went over. Pushing the door open, he stepped out—

As the wood door with embedded glass was pushed open, the sea breeze from the direction of the Cloud Sea came at him full force. The heavy clouds and turquoise sea, the sky and sunlight filled his lungs as he took a deep breath.

The gentle touch of the breeze on his face made him feel as if he were really there. He pressed his hand to his face, opened his palm, and caught a falling leaf.

The leaves of the parasol trees outside the terrace rustled softly in the wind.

Unconsciously, Fang Hong lifted his head and saw before him the closest large city that he had been to since arriving in this world—a city of craftsmen and Magic Guided technology. Layer upon layer of brown rooftops densely packed with chimneys, some topped with tower-like caps. Further on was the massive shadow of the Artisan Association, the giant wheel turning slowly, each tooth pulling chains that caused pendulums inside towers to swing. Every so often, the heavy hammers rang out with loud clanks.

That grand factory continuously released steam into the sky through several tall chimneys. Next to the smokestacks, flames occasionally burst from the flues. On the other side of the Guild, a massive windmill stood erect, its gigantic arms almost overlooking the entire town.

A shadow fell across the district, and Fang Hong raised his hand to shield his eyes as he looked up.

The airship from earlier had already slowly entered the airspace over the Inner City, approaching the Airport District. The huge body of the ship was flanked by balloons and sails. Sailors threw cargo overboard, deftly guided in an orderly fashion by an invisible force into the top-level area of Elpaxin’s Airport District.

Sailing ships were parked there like a row of cloud shadows aligned in the sky— and on the Guild-prescribed air routes flew various magical vehicles and beasts. Some were taking off to leave the city, while others were landing slowly.

All these fantastical scenes, at this moment, reflected truly and vividly in Fang Hong’s eyes, against the backdrop of the majestic peaks of clouds in the distance.

Fang Hong clenched the wooden handrail of the balcony tightly, the coarse and slightly warm touch responding.

Outside, the flower beds bloomed with primroses and pansies. He looked down, only to see below the balcony another bustling and thriving scene:

Colorful fabrics were draped over the winding narrow streets above, alleyways extending into the horizon, filled with shops and workshops. They hung various drapes and signs, and stalls laden with goods crowded the long street.

The streets were bustling. There was food from Colin and fruits, leather goods transported from the Forest of Summer’s End— porcelains from across the sea, weapons and armor, and local machines and Alchemy Magic Guided Conductors.

Women haggled fiercely with vendors, Carriers carrying colorful pottery crossed the streets, and an exotic Merchant Group led their camels through the middle of the crowd. Fang Hong recognized these Desert People, who hailed from the central Colin—Istania, the homeland of Mazak.

Fang Hong watched this scene quietly.

He watched leaves falling onto the balcony, the intoxicating sunlight shimmering, a cat on a nearby roof turning to look at him, pigeons landing on the side of the square by the parasol trees.

He watched this city, so vibrant, yet so different from Earth.

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