Chapter 195: The City

Chapter 195: The City

Bran had always wanted to build a tall tower, but he never found the right location or the right opportunity. In a brand new city, as long as he created a landmark building first, the structures that followed would inevitably be influenced by it.

If he returned here a few years later, an unfamiliar yet familiar city would appear before his eyes.

The siblings arrived at the city center, where piles of stone materials and construction supplies were already gathered. Amid Bran’s pride and Lily’s amazement, an octagonal exquisite tower rose from the ground.

Following the spiraling staircase upward, the siblings reached the top of the tower.

Bran pointed downward. “Everything is different now. When we left, I didn’t expect you to grow up so fast. And I underestimated myself as well.”

Lily glanced at her brother and quietly waited for his further explanation.

“I was bound by some habits, subconsciously thinking that things should be a certain way, that limits were just there. Zoya came, pestered me for a long time, and asked me many ‘whys’.

A Wizard’s abilities are inherently inexplicable; who can truly know why? I gained improvement and Evolution from my understanding of the World, so I thought things should be this way.

However, I observed interesting phenomena from some Wizards. They only needed to believe in their own abilities and break their own perceptions.

I was like a dog that had been chained since childhood and gradually grew up. I became accustomed to the chain held in someone’s hand, and it gave me a sense of security. My power was bound by that insignificant chain. I could have easily broken free, but I forgot to even try, for the ridiculous reason that I was used to it. Until someone asked—why?”

Lily slapped Bran, scolding him. Who describes themselves as a dog?

“I thought I had found a singular type of Mana—darkness, and then I saw its counterpart—light—from you. Just as I was filled with joy, thinking I would discover more, I made a new discovery: they were merely coarse grains of sand. Within the Soul, there exists something finer. I saw within it—clarity and turbidity, but I don’t know what that counts as.”

Bran smiled. “I prepared many methods to deal with you, so that match wasn’t won fairly. Those people I killed with sound were originally meant for you.

Don’t look at me like that. I had no intention of harming you, and such methods couldn’t truly hurt you anyway. It’s just that there were only a few people around me, so naturally, I used you all as targets during simulation.”

Lily took a sharp breath. “Including Huahua and Danny?”

“Yes, including them.

As I killed more and more people, I became increasingly skilled at these things and began to realize it didn’t need to be so troublesome. Vibration was the fundamental principle; one only needed to create intense vibrations. Many creatures might be protected from sound wave damage by Mana, but against direct, strong vibrations, Mana’s protection is very limited.”

Lily looked at Bran and smiled happily. “I knew you would tell me this secret sooner or later.”

“Don’t be so pleased with yourself! It’s because there’s no need to hide it anymore.

Ability is the foundation of all this. I once thought that once Mana accumulated to a certain level, I could break through the limitations of my ability. Just like those Ancient Trees, after thousands of years, they grow into relatively pure Mana beings and gradually learn to wield Mana. Unfortunately, their application is too crude, always relying on brute force; they cannot achieve precise control.

Can you imagine it? Our little sister is probably going down this path.”

Bran laughed somewhat unfairly, seeming to take great pleasure in this situation.

“It wasn’t until I saw your wings, and until new power grew within me, that I realized it was impossible to completely shake off the influence of my ability or break through its limitations. Because it has always accompanied our growth and breakthroughs, becoming only more tightly intertwined with us.

When I thought I had broken free from the shackles of my ability, it was merely like a silkworm spinning a cocoon. When it emerged as a butterfly, I gradually understood its true nature.

That fire didn’t grant us any new power; it only provided the nourishment needed for growth—life.”

Bran sighed. “I killed many more people before I gradually sobered up and understood. There are some things that, even if you know about them, you can never achieve—just like this tower. From the day we gained our abilities, we were destined to be different, so I don’t need to worry.

At this level, it is always a confrontation on the Mana level. Methods are built upon the foundation of Mana confrontation. Either you can suppress my ability, or you cannot. As long as you suppress your opponent’s ability, we become undefeatable.”

Lily snorted dismissively and reached her hand out to Bran. “Let’s not talk about this. Give me your notes; I’ll read them myself.”

Bran shook his head with a wry smile but still took out the notes and handed them over.

Lily casually tucked them into her bosom, patted them contentedly, and then asked, “What should we do with these Demon Clan members?”

“It’s up to you.”

“I thought you would care about whether they live or die.”

“I don’t. It’s only because they still have some use.” Seeing Lily’s somewhat doubtful look, Bran continued to explain. “Just ask yourself. If the Demon Clan broke through the pass of the Western Territory, what would happen to the Northlands? Would they spare us? So, I truly don’t care about these people’s lives or deaths.

Whenever I think about how the other side would act, the little compassion I have left disappears.”

Bran pointed downward and continued. “I kept those Knights and soldiers because they are physically strong and can serve as good laborers. I kept the City Lord here and his clan because they are indeed very useful.

There’s a reason the Demon Clan is more prosperous than us. Look down there. They have dedicated blacksmiths, stonemasons, and other more specialized divisions of labor. They possess a large amount of currency, unlike us who still barter. They have an operating system that is much more efficient than ours in city management.

So, I need the original City Lord to temporarily maintain the city’s order. He has done very well. In just a few days, this city completely fell under my control, and all wealth was confiscated and categorized. As a reward, I let them keep enough food to survive and clothes to cover themselves.

They have lived until today because they could help me quickly complete the plunder of this place. Now that you have come, and the plunder is basically finished, how to deal with them is your matter.”

“Any suggestions?”

“No, this is your city. You should decide everything here for yourself. From now on, you need to think about what the city should be like? How will it operate, and how do you plan to manage it?

And your followers will gradually change along with your decisions.”

Bran chuckled. “Those clansmen who passed through my city liked it very much, but when they entered my City Manor, they seemed at a loss. During meals together, they were reluctant to extend their grimy hands. Lying on the carefully prepared, fresh-smelling beds, they could only toss and turn.

In just over a year, the people who follow me could no longer bear some of the clansmen’s habits; they subconsciously frowned. Many who wanted to stay thus gave up the idea of settling in Northland City.

This is your city. In the end, it can only be decided by you.”