82: In the bustling provincial capital, the Yao family

Lu Yuan spent a long, anxious day in the luxurious villa at Yujing Garden.

The next morning, at the first hint of dawn,

Lu Yuan and Yao Xiao, accompanied by Yao Tianbi himself, boarded a luxurious anti-gravity hovercar.

They sped towards Canglan Province City, the political, economic, and cultural heart of Canglan Province.

The hovercar's interior was spacious, its comfort far surpassing any vehicle Lu Yuan had ever ridden before.

Yao Tianbi was in a good mood today, and personally poured Lu Yuan and Yao Xiao each a cup of fragrant Source Power drink.

Lu Yuan took the drink, took a small sip, and felt a refreshing coolness spread through him, his Source Power limit directly breaking through to 165 points!

“Holy crap,” Lu Yuan thought, startled. “There's such a good thing!”

He drank two or three more sips, and his Source Power felt loose again.

Yao Xiao smiled and explained, “This is juice pressed from a plant-type demon beast. The essence in this one cup is no less potent than killing a third-tier demon beast.”

“It tastes good, doesn't it? It sells for 38,000 a cup outside!”

Lu Yuan: ...No wonder it's so amazing, it's the taste of money.

“Uncle Bi, you've gone to great lengths.”

“Hahahaha, no problem, no problem, as long as you two like to drink it.”

Yao Tianbi poured himself another cup.

“Lu Yuan, how do you feel about your first trip to the Province City?”

“A little excited, and a little nervous.”

“That's normal,” Yao Tianbi smiled. “Canglan Province City is far more complex and exciting than Jiang City.”

He drained his cup, set it down, and began to explain in detail to Lu Yuan.

“The power structure of the Province City is far more intricate than you imagine.”

“Besides our Yao Family, Zhou Corporation, Canglan University, and Deyun Hall, these four overt giants, there are also many ancient, deeply rooted hidden families and emerging enterprises.”

“Among these forces, there is both cooperation and competition, and the network of relationships is as tangled as a spiderweb, where a single move affects the whole.”

Yao Tianbi's tone was calm, accustomed to it over many years.

“In terms of top academies, Canglan University is naturally the leader, but beyond that, there are several colleges specializing in specific fields, such as Shen Gong Academy, which focuses on card manufacturing and enchanting, and Canglan Martial Arts University, which cultivates combat-type Card Masters. Their strength should not be underestimated either.”

“They all belong to the first-tier institutions.”

“Nickname... you can consider them later.”

“Okay, Third Uncle.”

“I'm not worried about Lu Yuan. Canglan University has probably already extended an olive branch to him.”

Lu Yuan smiled and nodded, not responding.

If he told him he planned to test into Jing University, he would probably be lectured.

“As for the unwritten rules...” Yao Tianbi paused, his eyes deep with meaning, “The most important thing is that strength is paramount, but you must also know how to assess the situation and hide your edge.”

“In the Province City, geniuses are not uncommon, but those who can truly grow are few and far between.”

“Many times, being too ostentatious is not a good thing.”

“Especially the temptation of gold card!”

“You must be careful.”

Lu Yuan listened intently, taking all these warnings to heart.

It's best to keep a low profile when first arriving.

Time passed. The hovercar steadily cut through the clouds, over desolate lands and forests, and the outline of the city below gradually became clear.

As the hovercar began to descend, entering the Province City's airspace, Lu Yuan looked down through the reinforced observation window.

Instantly, he was deeply shocked by the sight before him.

A super metropolis, a hundred times grander and more magnificent than Jiang City, appeared before his eyes like a crouching steel beast.

Countless skyscrapers pierced the sky, their tops reflecting dazzling light in the sun.

All he saw was a vast expanse of white.

Dozens of giant energy towers, emitting a faint blue light, stood evenly in every corner of the city, providing an endless supply of Source Power to this massive city.

In the air, various models of hovercars shuttled back and forth like migrating fish, forming streaks of colorful light.

On the ground, maglev trains sped through transparent tubes, emitting a faint hum.

A sense of technology and future rushed at him.

This city seemed like a scene from a sci-fi movie brought to life, giving Lu Yuan a more intuitive and profound understanding of the prosperity and power of this world.

Compared to it, Jiang City was like a remote village.

“Wow! The Province City still looks grand!” Yao Xiao pressed against the window, looking at the strange yet familiar scene below, her small face filled with excitement.

She turned her head, tugged on Lu Yuan's sleeve, and enthusiastically became his guide.

“Lu Yuan, look, that tallest building over there is the Tower of Canglan, one of the iconic landmarks of the Province City. It has a panoramic observation deck where you can see the entire night view of the Province City, it's super beautiful!”

“And over there, that building that looks like a giant seashell is the Heart of the Ocean Grand Theater, where top-tier musicals and concerts are often performed.”

“Oh, and by the way, when we have time, I'll take you to the Myriad Delicacies Food Street. It gathers specialty foods from all over Canglan Province and even the Alliance, I guarantee you'll eat so much you can't walk!”

The girl's clear voice chattered on and on, enthusiastically introducing Lu Yuan to some famous landmarks, bustling commercial districts, and local anecdotes that only residents would know.

She seemed to want to use this method to alleviate any stiffness or unease Lu Yuan might feel upon arriving in a new metropolis.

Lu Yuan looked at her lively and cute appearance, listening to her slightly boastful introduction, and the tension in his heart indeed dissipated quite a bit, a relaxed smile appearing on his face.

“Really? Take me out to play in a couple of days.”

“Let me experience the life of a rich young lady.”

“Get out of here, you're the rich young lady.”

...The hovercar traced a graceful arc in the air, not heading directly towards the bustling city center.

It passed through neatly planned high-end residential areas and finally flew towards a huge estate located in a prime city location, yet surrounded by dense vegetation, appearing exceptionally quiet and ancient.

This was the true core of the Yao Family—the Yao Family Ancestral Home.

From above, the estate covered a vast area. Its outer perimeter was still composed of tall, heavy walls, built from an unknown dark green giant stone, exuding a sense of weathered age.

Inside the estate, green bricks and dark tiles, flying eaves and intricate brackets, filled it with the charm of a classical garden, forming a stark contrast with the surrounding modern skyscrapers, like a secluded paradise.

However, beneath this understated luxury, extraordinary heritage was hidden.

As the hovercar slowly descended, Lu Yuan keenly sensed that this area was permeated with a Source Power several times richer and purer than outside.

This Source Power was gentle, nourishing every inch of land within the estate, causing the exotic flowers and plants to grow exceptionally luxuriantly, full of vitality.

Clearly, the entire estate was enveloped by an extremely high-level Source Gathering Array.

As expected of a prominent family.

As the hovercar was about to land, Yao Tianbi, who had been smilingly looking out the window, suddenly became serious.

He turned his head, his gaze stern as he looked at the two of them: “According to the family rules, and to show our regard for you two juniors, before arranging any other matters, we must first go to pay our respects to the Old Master.”

“You must remember,” Yao Tianbi warned, “the Old Master has a somewhat eccentric personality, sometimes unpredictable in his moods, but he values rules above all else and appreciates honest and straightforward people the most.”

“In front of him, you must never try to be clever, and certainly not hide anything or speak falsely, otherwise the consequences are unpredictable.”

Upon hearing this, Yao Xiao's previously cheerful expression also sobered a little, and she nodded obediently: “Understood, Third Uncle.”

Lu Yuan's heart tightened, and he solemnly responded: “This junior understands.”

...