Weapon seller in the world of magic

Fei Weiman stood and took a step back, positioning himself slightly behind Mark in a posture that clearly signified deference rather than equality.

Mark then turned his head toward his family and companions and spoke in an even tone. ”Stay within the barrier.”

Before anyone could question him, Mark poured ether energy into his feet. The power flowed downward, spreading like liquid silver beneath everyone’s soles. In a smooth motion, he solidified the energy into a broad platform, then gently lifted it.

The group felt no jolt, no vertigo.

The platform rose steadily, carrying everyone together as though the air itself had become solid. With precise control, Mark guided the entire group upward, bringing them onto the top of the flying whale mount.

Only once everyone was safely positioned did the colossal beast let out a deep, resonant call.

Its massive fins shifted, and the mount began to move.

The journey was smooth, almost eerily so.

Snowy mountains rolled beneath them like waves frozen in time. After only a short while, the scenery ahead began to change.

Tall spires and winding towers rose from the icy landscape like frozen flames, each structure sculpted with meticulous precision. The architecture was neither crude nor overly ornate—it was refined, purposeful, and ancient.

They had arrived.

Tianhan City/Heavenly Cold City.

The city walls shimmered like translucent jade, faintly glowing under the pale light filtering through the clouds. Bridges and walkways formed from condensed ice stretched across vast gaps, humming softly as if alive. Formation runes pulsed beneath the surface, reinforcing the structures against gravity and cold alike.

Below them, citizens moved through the streets with practiced ease.

They were human in appearance, yet different in subtle ways.

Their skin was unnaturally pale, almost porcelain-like, and their eyes glowed faintly blue—reminiscent of Alina’s gaze. Even the weakest civilians, some barely at the 1-circle realm, walked casually through the crushing gravity and extreme cold, their bodies perfectly adapted to this harsh world.

Song Yue stared downward in awe. ”They… they live like this every day?”

Lan Jingyi nodded softly.

At the heart of the city, built directly into the side of the tallest mountain peak, stood the Ice Palace.

It was immense.

Its halls and terraces carved directly from glacial stone, reinforced with formations that refracted light into shimmering prisms. Towering crystal-clear ice sculptures lined the palace exterior—dragons, phoenixes, ancient beasts, and nameless entities frozen in lifelike poses, each one radiating a faint pressure that spoke of forgotten legends.

Within just twenty minutes of flight, the mount descended smoothly and came to rest before the Ice Palace gates.

As soon as the group disembarked—still standing atop the ether platform—Mark saw them.

Elders. Clan members. Sect officials.

And at the forefront, dressed in elegant frost-blue ceremonial robes, stood Lan Xia.

She smiled the moment she saw them.

Her gaze swept across Mark’s family with warmth and curiosity before settling on him. She stepped forward gracefully and bowed in a manner befitting the Sect Master’s wife.

”Welcome to Tianhan City, and to the Ancient Lan Clan.”

Her voice carried calm authority, yet there was unmistakable affection beneath it.

Then she lifted her eyes to Mark, her smile softening.

”Husband,” she said gently, ”you have returned.”

For the first time since arriving, Mark allowed himself to truly relax.

He stepped forward, dispelling the ether platform as the barrier slowly dissolved around his family. Standing beside Lan Xia, he looked back at those he had brought from another world—his wives, his children, his parents, his kin.

”This,” Mark said calmly, his voice echoing faintly across the palace courtyard, ”is where we stand now.”

Lan Xia followed his gaze and nodded, understanding immediately.

Shen Ling tilted her head slightly as she studied Lan Xia, her sharp eyes sweeping from the frost-blue robes to the composed smile that never wavered. Then, with a faint curl of amusement at her lips, she leaned closer to Song Yue and whispered just loud enough for her to hear.

”The new wife looks beautiful,” Shen Ling said, her tone deliberately light. ”She might give you some serious competition.”

Song Yue’s ears reddened instantly. She shot Shen Ling a warning look and reached out to swat her arm. ”Shush,” she muttered, lowering her voice. ”This is not the time.”

Mark noticed the small exchange but chose to pretend he hadn’t. Instead, he stepped half a pace forward and began making introductions properly, his voice steady and unhurried.

”These two,” he said, gesturing gently, ”are my parents. My father, Shang Fu, and my mother, Lan Jingyi.”

Lan Xia’s eyes brightened immediately. The formal composure she had maintained cracked just slightly, replaced by genuine warmth. She stepped forward instinctively, her posture respectful yet eager, but after barely three feet, her movement halted as though she had walked into invisible glass.

Her brows knit together in surprise.

”This barrier…” she said softly, lifting her hand to feel the unseen resistance.

Mark nodded, unsurprised by her reaction. ”My family comes from the mortal realm. The environment here is too dense for them. It will take time for their bodies to adjust. There are also children here. I don’t want to take risks.”

Lan Xia straightened at once, her tone turning brisk as if a switch had been flipped. ”Don’t worry, Husband. I already prepared for this.”

Reaching into her spatial ring, Lan Xia took out several pale-blue bracelets, each etched with faint runes that pulsed gently with restrained energy. One by one, she handed them over.

She first offered one to Lan Jingyi, bowing slightly as she did so, then another to Shang Fu. Her movements were careful and respectful, the actions of someone who knew precisely what position she occupied.

Next, she turned to Song Yue and Shen Ling, hesitating only briefly before handing two bracelets to each of them. ”These will give you protection from all sorts of outside effects,” Lan Xia explained. ”You can remove them once you are fully accustomed to Tianhan.”

She paused, then frowned faintly as she looked back into her ring.

”I’m sorry,” Lan Xia said, turning toward Sylvandria with a small bow. ”I only prepared six. I didn’t expect—”

Lan Jingyi waved her hand lightly, her expression calm. ”It’s alright, dear. I don’t need one. I’m an ascendant and an inheritor of Bloodline.”

Before Lan Xia could protest, Jingyi took the bracelet she had just received and gently placed it into Sylvandria’s hand. ”Give this to one of the children.”

Sylvandria froze for a moment, clearly caught off guard. She lowered her head slightly in gratitude. ”Thank you.”

Lan Xia hesitated again, her gaze flicking between the twins and Mark. ”One is still missing,” she said, clearly dissatisfied.

Mark then reached out and took one bracelet from Lu Shang’s. Song Yue blinked in surprise but did not resist as he passed it to Sylvandria.

”That should cover them,” Mark said evenly.

Then he lifted Lu Shan into his arms. The child giggled instinctively, wrapping his arms around Mark’s neck. Mark adjusted the barrier with a thought, drawing it inward until it covered only himself and Lu Shan, the invisible field humming softly as it recalibrated.

”I’ll carry him,” Mark added calmly. ”It won’t be a problem.”

Lan Xia watched the scene quietly. The way Mark handled his family, the instinctive ease with which he protected his child, and the subtle authority he carried even in such small gestures all settled into her eyes.

A faint smile curved her lips, softer than before, warmer.

”Then,” she said gently, turning toward the palace gates, ”please allow me to formally welcome all of you.”

She extended her hand toward Tianhan City, the Ice Palace looming behind her like a frozen crown.

”From this moment onward,” Lan Xia continued, her voice carrying both dignity and sincerity, ”you are guests of the Ancient Lan Clan. No one here will dare treat you with anything less than respect.”

Mark glanced down at Lu Shan, then at Shen Yi cradled in Shen Ling’s arms, and finally at the faces of those he loved.

For the first time since leaving Earth, the words felt true.

They had arrived somewhere that could become a home.

Lan Xia flushed faintly as she apologized once more, clearly troubled. ”I truly didn’t want to make such a clumsy first impression,” she said. ”Please don’t misunderstand.”

Mark shook his head, his expression relaxed. ”It’s fine. We’re all one big family anyway. There’s no need to worry about impressions.” He glanced toward the palace halls ahead and added, ”Let’s go inside first. We can talk properly there.”

Lan Xia nodded, visibly relieved.