To Elkom City
Aside from some speed bumps along the way (cough bandits cough), there are no further interruptions in their travel.
In fact, Ryker could even considered it to be peaceful, though it's most likely because they are traveling with others.
Due to certain compilation, they needed to travel into the first village inside the core are of what is Birak Kingdom before finding the caravan they will be part of.
An unfortunate delay but one they did not mind, especially the children who seek intent on playing with anything they lied their eyes on.
Though, the caravans guards can be annoying, especially with how openly they are eying his wives.
'They are lucky they are needed alive or I would have ended them,' and he would have ended them easily as well.
With his current strength at the 2nd Stage of Genesis Lake, Ryker could easily defeat 4th Stage Genesis Sea expert, and there are no such expert in the guards, only up to the 2nd Stage of Genesis Sea was a part of it.
Still, the lineup can be considered luxurious, but then again, since the caravan was owned by one of the most powerful merchant family in Kilrun Duchy, it made sense for them to not spare on any expenses.
"Whose they cutest child, yes, you are," he could see Hylla playing with Ariana, the little girl giggling at the attention given to her by the gray-haired woman.
He smiled at them before his eyes narrowed as his Soul Sense detected the presence of a group of unsavory people.
"Be right back," he told them before he kissed Ina's forehead, before flying towards where he sensed the disturbance.
As he flew on top of the bandits, he pressed his palm against them, sending a large hand made of qi towards the bandit group.
They were able to see it but before they could run away, were turned into paste immediately as Ryker did not show any mercy whatsoever.
He then return to the caravan, as the guards looked at the now dead bandits with no small amount of horror.
"Let's continue the journey. The pest already dealt with," Ryker said, as the leader of the caravan nodded fervently as they continue their journey to Elkom City.
-x-
They made a stop at a nearby town, which was about half a day travel to Elkom City.
In the town, Ryker made some inquiry regarding the current situation of Elkom City, as well as the power inside the city, and subsequently, the entire District.
"It seem there are about 8 Noble Realm experts in the city, while the entire district had about 12 of them," Ryker muttered as he looked at the information gathered to him by one of the information brokers in the city.
"There also 4 Great Families in the entire District, though all of them conglomerate in the major city of the District," Era added as she read the information as well.
"No surprise. The major city would be the most ideal place for resource gathering not to mention it show the strength of the family to have a base inside the major city," Miriad added her two cents into it.
"Yeah, but let's not made an enemy out of them," Ina decided to be the diplomatic one and reminded them of it.
Ryker and the rest nodded, as they hope the same as well. But, in case they decided to cause trouble for him, Ryker was not afraid to slug a young master and his entourage, though he did not voice it out loud.
"Oh yeah, how about the auction house. Didn't we come here for that as well?" Hylla reminded them of it.
"Right, Elkom Auction House, one of the largest inside the entire core area. The owner is a Noble Realm expert," Ryker read.
"Made sense. After all, for it to grow to such size, they will need a Noble expert at the helm," Mashia said, eying the information.
"It also said the owner of the auction house is a woman," at once, all of his women eyed Ryker with side glances, to which he replied with a roll of his eyes.
"I don't have the habits of picking up women left and right. Besides, she is a Noble expert, so, there is no reason for her to take any interest on me," he replied calmly, though it seem they were not convinced.
Ryker sighed, wondering of how to deal with his women accusing him as playboy. Besides, they, or more specifically Ina, was the one that helped him picked up women left and right.
Ryker sighed before reading the information was once more, hoping to find a decent distraction for once.
"Oh, it seem there had been some commotion in the major city. It seem there had been a dangerous criminal on the lose, and from the sound of it, they are a Noble Realm expert," Ryker exclaimed, as he read the latest information alongside the general one he procured.
Quickly, his women gathered around him to read it, frowns appearing on their faces.
"Should we change our target," Ryker shook his head,
"Elkom City is the closest major city, and where it would be easy for us to get the necessary permit into the capital. So, it better if we go there and try to stay out of trouble," Ryker gave his final decision.
All of his women nodded, though from the looks on their face, they are still worried.
Ryker grasp the hand nearest to him, one belongings to Miriam, and gave it a light squeeze of assurance. She smiled as they head towards their bedroom, intent of spending some quality night of not sleeping.
Later that night, the sounds of moaning and trashing filled the room, though through the usage of a Sound Blocking Formation, the sounds only can be heard inside their bedroom.
-x-
"We arrive," Ryker heard the yelling of one of the guards and quickly poke his head out of the carriage he was in.
He gasped. He thought he could get used to seeing large cities, but he was stand corrected. Then again, it was the first city where there are Noble Realm experts, so he should have guessed from the start it would be grand.
Elkom City is a large one with a size probably about twice of Kilrun Capital City. The large size alone was impressive. Added to the population inside the city and it become even more so.
He could see large number of cultivators above Genesis Core flying around, as it seem flying was permitted inside the city, though whether it was a certain privilege or not, it was something he did not know of.