Dryden nodded, then entered the city. As he walked through the streets, he could see that the people here were much better off than in most of his other cities. The buildings were well-maintained, and there were shops and stalls selling all manner of goods.
As Dryden entered the city, he couldn't help but notice how peaceful and prosperous it was, which was in stark contrast to the city he had just left. The streets were clean, and there was no sign of any criminal activity. The people walking around seemed content and happy.
Dryden was curious about this place and decided to investigate further. He walked up to one of the vendors and struck up a conversation.
"Sure, Sir. What can I help you with?" the vendor replied.
"I was wondering about this city. It's in the middle of the Endless Forest, yet it seems so prosperous. How is that possible?" Dryden asked.
The vendor smiled. "Ah, you must be new here. This city is called Eternal City, and it was founded by Lord Tan Zong in just two days. They built this city from scratch, and it's been thriving ever since."
"I see," Dryden said, nodding in understanding. "Do you know where that Lord Tan Zong comes from?"
The vendor's expression turned serious as he replied "From the rumors I heard, Lord Tan Zong comes from a long line of warriors and leaders. He is highly respected and loved by the people of this city for his wise leadership and bravery in battle."
Dryden listened intently, realizing the depth of respect the people held for Lord Tan Zong. "I see," he said, nodding. "He must be quite a remarkable man."
The vendor nodded, "Indeed he is, sir. He's respected by everyone here in Eternal City, and his leadership has brought peace and prosperity to this place."
Dryden was curious about how Lord Tan Zong had managed to achieve such a feat, especially in a place as dangerous as the Endless Forest. "How did he manage to build this city in just two days? And how did he maintain peace and order in such a dangerous region?"
The vendor smiled again, clearly enjoying the conversation. "Lord Tan Zong is a brilliant strategist and a master of martial arts. He led a group of skilled craftsmen and warriors to build the city quickly and efficiently. And as for maintaining peace, he formed alliances with neighboring tribes and worked hard to eradicate the bandits and criminals that plagued the surrounding area."
Dryden was impressed by the vendor's words and began to understand why Lord Tan Zong was so respected. "I see. He truly is a remarkable man, and he deserves our respect."
The vendor smiled once more, "Indeed, sir. Lord Tan Zong has earned the respect of everyone here, and we are all grateful for his leadership."
"One last question, does this city getting constantly attacked by the beasts, or monster race in the forest?" He asked.
The vendor shook his head. "Not at all. Since the city was built, it has never been attacked by any beasts or monster races. It's quite strange, really, considering the territorial nature of those creatures. Maybe, Lord Tan Zong has taken measures to ensure the safety of the city, and it seems to have worked so far."
Dryden was confused by this. Monster races were known for their territorial nature, and even if this location was not particularly important to them, their pride would not let them allow humans to stay inside their forest without a fight.
Dryden looked confused. "That's strange indeed. Monster races are known for their territorial behavior, and they won't easily let humans stay inside their forest without a fight."
The vendor nodded in agreement. "Yes, it is quite unusual. But perhaps Lord Tan Zong's was strong enough to deter the monster race. Or maybe there's something else at work here that we don't know about."
Dryden furrowed his brows, contemplating the possibilities. "Interesting. Thank you for the information, sir. I appreciate it." He then hands five qi stones to the vendor, which made the vendor ecstatic.
The vendor smiled. "You're welcome, sir. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask."
Dryden nodded and continued to walk around the city, observing the people and their way of life. He could see that the people here were hardworking and disciplined, which was a testament to Lord Tan Zong's leadership.
As he walked towards the center of the city, Dryden continued towards the huge tower in the middle of the city, while walking he can see that all of the people in this area were cultivators, which was more than the cultivators in his capital city.
And the cultivation base of the people here was comparable to his capital city, he can see Opening Qi realm walking around busily, and though he didn't see any Qi Gathering realm expert, it was still impressive.
Dryden couldn't help but feel a sense of awe as he approached the tower. It was much larger than he had anticipated, towering over the surrounding buildings and casting a long shadow over the area.
It was at least ten times taller than any building he had ever seen, and it looked ancient and majestic, with intricate carvings and designs covering its surface. As he stood there, looking up at the tower, he felt a sense of awe and wonder, realizing that he was standing in front of a true marvel of architecture and engineering.
Dryden couldn't believe his eyes. The tower was so big that he felt like a mere ant standing in front of it. He wondered how long it must have taken to build such a structure, and who could have possibly constructed it.
As he looked around, he saw that the tower was surrounded by a large courtyard, and there were several guards stationed at the entrance, ensuring that no one entered without permission.
As Dryden was lost in thought, a group of guards approached him. "Halt! Who goes there?" one of them asked, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
