Everyone is stunned for a moment. Then the city lord and Xiao Han who knows some of Cloud's story realize.
Right, he came from a village deep in the mountain. It's not strange for him to never learned riding a horse.
He is still young after all. If he was born in the village, it's not unusual to have no chance to learn.
Small villages don't usually have horses after all.
But then it also means that Cloud didn't came from a secluded family.
Because a secluded family big enough to nurture him to this level should have some horses.
That leaves only a secluded master.
This is what the city lord and Xiao Han speculate. But they don't think too deeply about it.
Because its probably not a big deal. If the master is powerful then that person shouldn't have let Cloud enter a Sect.
That person would've nurture Cloud himself and provides resources himself.
As for growing by himself to this point without any guidance, Xiao Han and the city lord threw away this idea.
Cultivating in the Martial Body Realm is very hard. You need consistency, patience, and harsh training.
For young people at Cloud's age, those are all a difficult things to do.
At such a young age, people rarely do something consistently. As for patience, that is an even rarer thing to have.
Harsh training is also the same. At such an age, they would prefer playing than training hard.
This is why guidance from someone more senior is necessary.
And those all didn't even consider the people that progress to Cloud's current stage.
To reach ninth stage at his age, he has to do those three things and additionally he has to encounter many difficult battle as well.
In Cloud's case, he encountered the beast tide, great battle on his journey to the city, pushing himself to the limit when battling countless beasts in the mountain and battling Xiao Fan and Fang Yue in the competition.
Without those events, he wouldn't have reached his current stage at this point.
As for Xiao Fan and Fang Yue who is around the same age as Cloud, they have guidance and resources.
They took many pills that would help strengthen their bodies.
This pills is the major reason they reached this stage at this point.
Cloud have heard of this pill. Its called Body Strengthening pill.
He encountered one when he buy some medicine before. He asked about it and it cost one gold coin for one pill.
One gold coin is equal to around ten silver coins. It's ridiculously expensive for Cloud.
And that pill doesn't guarantee a breakthrough in stage, especially at the later stages of Martial Body Realm.
Also, there are clearly other disadvantages when you improve by using the pill. For example, the difference in Cloud and the two's combat experiences.
When they fight seriously, Cloud can easily win even though they are in the same stage.
He can even win before, with a lower stage. So the difference is apparent.
But it does significantly shortened the time it took to cultivate. So people who have enough money would prefer it.
After a brief silence, Xiao Fan laugh at the side. Riding a horse is as common as riding a bicycle in this world. So someone who can't do that is funny to him.
Many people at the city learned from a young age. So is Xiao Fan and Fang Yue.
"It's fine, we'll just teach him on the way. For now, he can ride with one of us." Said Xiao Han.
He then look sharply to the laughing Xiao Fan and said, "Since you think it's so funny then you ride with him!"
Xiao Fan stop laughing when he heard that. He feels like he should've shut his mouth.
Riding a horse with someone isn't exactly a problem. It's just a bit uncomfortable.
But he just sigh at his misfortune then accept his fate. There is no knowing what that brother of his would do if he protest or speak further.
Everyone then ride the horses.
Xiao Han is riding one while while bringing Cloud's horse with him. Fang Yue is alone while Xiao Fan is with Cloud behind him.
They say goodbye to the city lord and depart.
After leaving the city, Xiao Han pick a direction and then they move.
The journey would take some time so they chat amongst themselves.
Fang Yue asked Xiao Han if they are going to the sect right away. Xiao Han shake his head and said that they are not.
Their first destination is Bright Moon City.
Xiao Han said that they would meet up with the others there first.