347: Chapter 348 Hope Manor

Atlantis World, Stanro City.

When Lin Muyang's figure reappeared on the towering terrace of the City Lord's Mansion, over a month had quietly passed in this world since his last departure.

The constant flow of magical radiance high in the sky still illuminated this massive floating city like daylight; below, the sea of clouds churned, and the silhouettes of other sky cities loomed in the distance. The concentration of magical elements in the air seemed slightly more active than in his memory.

Lin Muyang hadn't invested much daily energy into this city, which now nominally belonged to his administration. He had entrusted the authority and power to Kandas. As it turned out, he had made the right choice.

Under Kandas's diligent governance, Stanro City operated smoothly, becoming even more orderly than before. The major merchant guilds in the city conducted trade as usual, the artisan district clattered with activity, the magic towers glowed with shifting light, and shouts echoed continuously from the training grounds.

The streets were clean and tidy, the patrolling city guards were full of spirit, and the once-common sight of vagrants and beggars had almost vanished. This was thanks to Kandas's unwavering, and arguably excessive, execution of the orders Lin Muyang had left behind.

At the time, Lin Muyang had only mentioned in passing for Kandas to look out for and take care of the city's beggars, especially those helpless children; if any had resilient temperaments and good character, they could be recorded. It was originally a command born of a touch of compassion, but to Kandas, who revered Lin Muyang as a god, it was nothing less than a top-level Oracle.

Thus, a massive and meticulous "cleansing" operation quietly unfolded in Stanro City. Kandas personally led the team, mobilizing over five hundred city guards and civil officials. Over half a month, they brought out all the vagrants and beggar children scattered in the city's dark corners, under bridge tunnels, and in abandoned houses. The process wasn't a forced eviction; instead, they were patiently persuaded and registered with the promise of food, shelter, and future hope.

Ultimately, more than forty thousand vagrants and orphans of various ages—ragged and mostly emaciated—were centrally relocated to a sprawling luxury manor in the west of the city that had originally belonged to a bankrupt noble. This manor was quickly renovated, with neat barracks, communal dining halls, washrooms, a medical clinic, and several level training grounds being constructed.

This was only the beginning. Kandas knew that simple confinement was not a long-term solution, nor was it Lord Lin Muyang's intention. He allocated special funds from the City Lord's Mansion's reserves to hire over a thousand personnel of various types to reside in the manor, responsible for daily management, hygiene, meals, and... education and training.

These included two hundred experienced junior warrior, mage, archer, and priest mentors responsible for the children's basic class initiation and combat training; one hundred academic teachers to teach common script, basic arithmetic, a brief history of Atlantis, and city-state regulations; and even fifty psychological counselors to help soothe the emotions of these people who had long lived at the bottom of society and were mostly mentally traumatized.

Kandas's goal was clear: not only to give these people a meal and a place to shelter from the wind and rain, but also to give them hope and a future. He strictly screened the management staff to ensure they wouldn't bully these vulnerable groups, and he constantly instilled a concept in everyone within the manor—that it was Lord Lin Muyang's benevolence and foresight that gave them all this, granting them the chance to escape the mire and touch the possibility of changing their destinies.

The results were remarkable. In just one month, the atmosphere within the manor had transformed. Color gradually returned to the children's faces; their eyes were no longer filled with numbness and despair, but with curiosity about training, a thirst for knowledge, and a growing faith in the Lord Lin Muyang they had never met—a faith mixed with gratitude, adoration, and a touch of religious fervor.

They trained hard and studied diligently because the instructors and teachers leading them constantly told them that those who performed excellently might receive Lord Lin Muyang's personal attention in the future, or even gain unimaginable opportunities like that lucky girl, Sagiri.

Indeed, Sagiri's story had now become a legend passed around the manor. That once small and cowardly girl, who had struggled to survive on the streets just like them, had been chosen by Lord Lin Muyang and was now completely transformed, becoming an existence to be looked up to, capable of following by his side. This undoubtedly set the most vivid and inspiring example for all the children.

When Lin Muyang learned of all this through Kandas's incredibly respectful and somewhat excitedly self-serving report, he was also a bit surprised. He had indeed only felt a bit of pity and given a vague instruction; he hadn't expected Kandas to be so thorough and invest so much. While this certainly contained elements of Kandas trying to curry favor and show loyalty, his execution and the results were truly impeccable.

"You've done very well, Kandas, exceeding my expectations." Lin Muyang looked at Kandas, who was bowing as he reported and couldn't hide his expectant expression, and nodded, giving him the affirmation he desired most.

"It is my honor to share your burdens, my Lord!" Kandas bowed even lower, his voice trembling slightly with excitement. Lin Muyang's affirmation was more precious to him than any reward.

"Take me to see that manor," Lin Muyang said. Returning this time, besides handling the matter of the secret realm, he indeed wanted to see the condition of those taken in with his own eyes.

"Yes! Please follow me, my Lord!" Kandas hurriedly led the way.

A moment later, accompanied by Kandas as well as the young ladies Gui Wanwan, Feng Ling, Jialiya, Lilia, Elena, and Seraphina, Lin Muyang arrived at the Hope Manor in the west of the city. Sagiri, whom Lin Muyang had specifically brought along, was also with them.

Returning to this familiar area, Sagiri's emotions were extremely complex. She looked at the brand-new barracks and level training grounds, and at the children wearing uniformly issued coarse cloth training clothes while seriously performing basic movement drills under the instructors' guidance, as if seeing herself from a month ago. Except now, her destiny was worlds apart.

The manor was large, divided into living areas, teaching areas, training areas, and more. Kandas introduced the various arrangements in detail while leading the way. Lin Muyang saw that on the training grounds, hundreds of children of different ages were divided into several squads, practicing simple slashes, blocks, meditation, or aiming under the instructors' guidance. Their movements were still clumsy, some even wobbling, but everyone's eyes were exceptionally focused as they gritted their teeth and persevered. From the classrooms, the sound of rhythmic reading could be heard. The aroma of food wafted from the direction of the dining hall...

When Lin Muyang's group appeared at the edge of the training grounds, it immediately caused a massive commotion.

"It's the City Lord!"

"Lord Lin Muyang is here!"

"And Sister Sagiri!"

"Heavens, it really is them!"

The training children stopped their movements one after another and quickly lined up at the instructors' signal. Their young or adolescent faces were instantly occupied by extreme excitement, adoration, nervousness, and disbelief. Their gazes were as if glued to Lin Muyang, burning so hot they almost seemed to ignite.

Kandas's daily work was clearly highly effective; in the hearts of these children, Lin Muyang was already the savior who had rescued them from fire and water, granting them new life and hope—an incarnation of a god walking the mortal world.

As for the young ladies following behind Lin Muyang—each with a different temperament yet all possessing world-shaking beauty and unfathomable auras—they left the children feeling dazzled. They were both stunningly beautiful and yet inspired no thoughts of profanity; the children could only steal a quick glance before quickly lowering their heads—these were all Lord Lin Muyang's women! They were existences that similarly needed to be revered like gods!

"Greetings, City Lord!" Led by the instructors, all the children, as well as the staff and teachers who had rushed over upon hearing the news, knelt on one knee in unison, their voices synchronized and filled with heartfelt reverence.

Lin Muyang raised his hand, and a gentle, invisible force lifted the children in the front row. "Rise, everyone, and continue your training." His voice was calm yet clearly reached everyone's ears. "I am gratified to see you full of spirit and training hard. Remember, what I have given you is only a starting point; how far you can go on the path ahead depends on your own efforts and choices. Talent is not everything; character and perseverance often create miracles."

These words were not empty talk. To him, a Class Transferee's talent could indeed be improved later through means like the tears of the angel, but a person's character, integrity, and willpower were the core elements that were harder to cultivate and more important.

He was willing to give these children—who were in desperate situations yet still evaluated by Kandas as having decent character—a chance. If any truly performed exceptionally well and possessed resilient and good character in the future, he wouldn't mind investing resources to cultivate them, just as he did with Sagiri.

Of course, that was for later. Currently, the production of tears of the angels was still tight; prioritizing his surrounding young ladies and the core of the Elf World was barely enough, and he couldn't benefit more people for now. Everything would have to wait until he returned from Elena's homeland—that world where more sources of tears of the angels might exist—before making further plans.

Lin Muyang took a brief tour of the manor, feeling relatively satisfied with the overall management, hygiene, and the children's mental state. Sagiri followed by his side, looking at the familiar scenes and the children's fanatical adoration of Lin Muyang; her heart was filled with mixed emotions—both a sigh for the past and an immense sense of fortune and gratitude for being able to stand by Lin Muyang's side now.

"My Lord, the situation of the manor is basically as such. All expenses are currently covered by the City Lord's Mansion's treasury and donations from some merchant guilds; sustainability is not an issue. The children's talent is generally not high, but they all train desperately hard," Kandas concluded, carefully observing Lin Muyang's expression.

"Mm, just maintain the status quo. The focus should be on guidance and observation, especially the cultivation of character and integrity." Lin Muyang nodded, concluding the inspection. "Alright, business first. Take me to see that newly discovered secret realm."

"Yes!" Kandas perked up, knowing the main event had arrived. He hurriedly said, "The secret realm is located in the deepest part of the Wailing Rift, about three thousand kilometers west of the city. It stabilized and formed three days ago after its energy fluctuations reached their peak. The Holy City Council has already issued a directive to designate this secret realm as a special-grade resource point, prohibiting any unauthorized personnel from approaching or exploring it before your return; it is prepared exclusively for you."

"According to the energy levels reported by the detection array, the internal monster levels are expected to be between Level 140 and 150, and there is likely a mythic grade boss creature in the core area!"

When mentioning the words "mythic grade," Kandas's voice instinctively lowered a bit, carrying deep awe.

But a burning light lit up in Lin Muyang's eyes. A mythical-rank secret realm! This meant there was a high possibility of producing a large amount of heaven-opening grade equipment, skill books, and even rarer sky-opening grade materials and inheritance fragments!

This was exactly what he needed most right now: before heading to that unknown Angel World where many powerhouses might exist, to completely upgrade his and the surrounding young ladies' equipment, transforming paper attributes into the ultimate actual combat power!

"A Level 145 mythic secret realm... very good." A smile curled at the corner of Lin Muyang's mouth as he looked at the eager young ladies beside him. "After clearing this secret realm, we should be able to gather most of our heaven-opening grade equipment. Our attributes will see a massive surge. By then, we'll have even more confidence when we go to Elena's hometown."

"Master, I can't wait!" Feng Ling clenched her small fist, battle intent rising in her molten-gold eyes.

"I haven't made a move yet since breaking through to the God Rank," Lilia said with a light smile, taking Lin Muyang's arm.

Gui Wanwan nodded quietly, the nether energy around her fluctuating slightly. A look of expectation also appeared on Jialiya's pale face; her control over the Undead Legion also required the support of powerful equipment. Seraphina licked her lips; as a member of the blood race, she had an instinctive thirst for power. In Elena's eyes, there was both apprehension about her hometown and anticipation for the upcoming battle alongside her master.

Standing slightly behind, Sagiri listened to the conversation, her heart filled with shock and yearning. A mythical-rank secret realm... that was a level she wouldn't have dared to even dream of before. And now, she actually had the chance to enter with Lord Lin Muyang! Although she knew her strength probably wouldn't even count as cannon fodder inside, as long as she could leech a bit of experience from the rear and witness that level of combat, it would be an unimaginable opportunity for her.

"Set out. Target: the Wailing Rift mythic secret realm." Lin Muyang gave the order without further delay.

Kandas had already prepared a high-speed magical transport—a Silver Magic Airship with sleek lines and covered in acceleration and protection runes. Everyone boarded the airship, which turned into a silver line, tearing through the sky as it sped away.

Standing before the airship's porthole, Lin Muyang gazed at the sea of clouds receding rapidly outside and the vast earth below, calculating in his mind. This secret realm journey was not just for equipment but also the final polishing of strength before heading to the Angel World. He wanted to face that sacred kingdom, which might harbor a massive number of unknown powerhouses, in his most perfect state.

Strength is always the most solid foundation.