The next day,


    I was walking along the city. Today, I had Uncle Du next to me. He was the only person I spoke to till now who truly sympathized with what I went through. After I started a ruse about how I lost my memory, and how I wanted to know the city properly, he caved and agreed to take me on this tour. It was much needed. I needed to know everything about this city and how it worked.


    We were at the entrance of the city, and walking through the main bazaar.


    "Remember, Liu Feng. There are four major yers in the city. The Bai, Cai and Liu Familes, and the city lord. Now, the Cai family is just mysterious. They are the ones who have been in the city for the most time, but everyone knows that they do not belong here. They are a branch of the Cai family from the royal capital. But, we just do not talk about that.


    All of the families had a Xiantian expert at the helm at one point, and this was the reason that the families are at such an advantagepared to the rest of the city." Uncle Du said.


    "At a time? Does that mean that the other families do not have any Xiantian members now, Uncle? Isnt that a good thing? All the families are on equal ground?" I asked.


    "It is not that simple. It ismon knowledge that the Liu family is the weakest. All the city is just waiting for us to copse, and then tear apart at our remains. But we know better than that. That is why the family is investing heavily to grow an expert within the family to the Xiantian stage. But that is not easy. That is where the Martial Gatheringes into y. The winner gets a grand prize. And the prize is a full five days in the spirit jade pool. Number two gets three, and number three gets one. Everyone in the city will be fighting for those positions, because whoever goes into the pool is probably going to be a top expert, and maybe even reach the Xiantian realm!" he said.


    "I see. But there must be other yers. We cannot be the only ones. What about the city lord? Does his family have a lot of powerful experts?" I asked.


    "You really hit your head hard didn''t you? The city lord is appointed by the King. So his power is the power of the kingdom. That is why no one messes with them. The Bai family is looking to tie up with the city lord''s son in marriage, but for that to happen, they need to annul the agreement they have with you. Your father went into a fit of rage when you left because it cause so much shame." Uncle Du shook his head.


    "But Uncle, they must know that I was forced right? I was forced into the cave and trapped. I don''t remember who was the perpetrator, but whoever it was, the Liu Family must seek him out and punish him for what he has done." I said with anger.


    "Yes, but we do not know who it is, and we do not know where he is from. So we cannot do anything for now. Okay. Let us look at the secondary and uing powers." Uncle Du said, walking to the right now.


    "One more question, Uncle. What is the realm of the most powerful younger generation expert? In the Liu Family, to take an example." I asked.


    "In the Liu family? Probably Liu Xin. He is the older brother of that Liu Kun that you alwaysin about. And he is in the ninth realm of the Qi Condensation stage. He will soon enter the Foundation Establishment stage, if I had to guess. And so will almost everyone else. I heard that you gave that Liu Kun a beating a few days ago? But do not expect to even qualify for the martial gathering. You are out of your league here. I am advising you as a caring well wishes." Uncle Du said.


    I nodded. It was obvious that there was nothing else I could say that could convince anyone that I was ready.


    "Where do I go if I want to increase my strength? I don''t know how to fight, and I really want to learn." I asked.


    "If you want to just fight, then the colosseum is the best ce. Many people fight there, but you will not see anyone from the higher ns go there because they have their own fighting partners, and going somece like the colosseum is a shame for them. But in my opinion, you should go there sometime, and put on a mask. Then, you can fight to your heart''s content." Uncle Du said.


    "The colosseum? I guess that I should go there then? Doesn''t fighting people give me exp? This will expedite the whole process considerably. I should just do that. Tomorrow, I will go to the colosseum and start practising realbat." I told myself.


    We continued our journey through the city. We stopped in front of a Dojo.


    "This is the Martial Tiger Dojo. Let me just tell you this. Every one inside is just crazy. If you get into a fight with them, then you are bound to lose. They fight every battle to the death, and it is just unnerving. I hate it when I have to fight with them. It is like they know that I do not want to kill them, so they push me to an edge. Just, don''t mess with them." he said.


    "What are the other second rate forces in the city, Uncle?" I asked.


    "There is the Du Family, which is allied to the Liu Family. Then, there is the Steel Fist Dojo, which is separate from everyone else. A few families that are allied to the Bai and Cai family, and then there is the Feng family. The Feng family just appeared a few years ago, and now they are one of the strongest second rate families in the city. There are rumors that the Bai and Feng families areing together to go against the Liu Family, but that is all that they are. Rumors."


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