The cart rolled steadily along the dirt road, its wooden wheels creaking under the weight of passengers and supplies. The scent of pine and damp earth drifted through the air as the forest began to thin, revealing distant foothills bathed in golden morning light.
Tian Lei sat quietly at first, his cloak drawn lightly over his shoulders, observing the chatter around him. The middle-aged driver hummed an old tune, while a few merchants discussed market prices in Misty Leaf City—apparently, spirit beast cores had risen in demand since the City Lord announced the Grand Tamer's Selection.
"So you're headed to the city for the selection too, young man?" one of the older passengers asked, eyeing Tian Lei's calm, confident demeanor.
He nodded slightly. "I heard that even commoners can participate, if they meet the conditions."
