Wusteria was the largest city Jared had ever seen.
“Mr. Yorba,” Jared asked, still taking in the sight of the people frozen on both sides of the street, “why did everyone stop moving when we entered?”
Ezequiel smiled. “It’s a rule in Allardland, designed to prevent assassination attempts. In such a vast empire, there’s always the risk of ill- intentioned individuals. This way, no one is allowed to make a move while we pass through, and any sudden movement would be considered an attack.”
Jared was left speechless. While the method seemed harsh, it was undeniably effective. In the mortal world, similar precautions were taken when important figures were on the move, with roads cleared and access restricted. It seemed the Ethereal realm and the mundane world weren’t so different after all.
It was just that everyone in the Ethereal Realm was a spiritual energy cultivator. With so many of them available, the rarity and demand was significantly diminished..
Soon, they reached the imperial city at the heart of Wusteria. Upon arrival, they had to leave the carriage and continue on foot.
Waiting at the entrance were none other than King Bernard and his son, Cedric. The fact that they were waiting personally spoke volumes about how much they valued Jared.
“Mr. Chance, you must be tired from your long journey,” Bernard greeted Jared with great politeness, showing no trace of the pride typically associated with royalty.
Cedric stepped forward, bowing deeply. “Mr. Chance, I will never forget the life-saving grace you bestowed upon me.”
“Your Majesty, Your Highness, you’re too kind,” Jared replied humbly. “I simply did what I could. You’ve already repaid me-it was a transaction, not a favor.”
Jared was surprised by the respect and humility shown by Bernard and his son, especially given their status.
Meanwhile, Dylan and his companions looked on enviously, wishing that their Zeever family could one day receive such an honor from Allardland.
“Oh, I almost forgot!” Bernard said, slapping his forehead. “I haven’t given you the immortal’s bone I promised yet. I’ll send someone to fetch it immediately.”
“That’s not necessary right now,” Jared quickly responded. “Let’s focus on the sick spirit beasts first. We can handle the immortal’s bone later.”
Bernard nodded in agreement. “Very well, I’ll show you to the beasts at once.”
It was clear from the way Bernard ignored Dylan and the others that the Zeever family meant little to the mighty Allardland. They were as insignificant as ants in comparison to this majestic empire.
Bernard personally led Jared and the others to a large area beside the imperial city, where many spirit beasts were kept.
“Mr. Chance,” Bernard said, pointing toward one of the courtyards, “the spirit beasts in this area suddenly fell ill. Please take a look.”
Jared surveyed the courtyard and noticed dozens of spirit beasts, but something was off. The creatures appeared lethargic, some of them howling wildly with their eyes glowing red. Others seemed completely unresponsive. The variety of symptoms puzzled Jared.
“Are the other spirit beasts in the nearby areas showing any issues?” Jared asked.
“No,” Bernard replied. “The beasts in the neighboring courtyards are perfectly healthy. They’ve all been fed the same resources daily, so we don’t know why only the ones here are affected. We’ve had our best alchemists examine them, but no one can figure out the cause.”
Jared frowned. “How strange. If they’re all consuming the same resources, why are only these spirit beasts getting sick? Could it be some kind of infection? But these creatures aren’t even the same species, so how could they all be affected by the same illness?”
He turned to Dylan and Hartwin. “Have you two noticed anything unusual?” he asked, hoping for some fresh insight.
