The moon rose high, silver light spread across the dirt road. After the clash with the bandits, Luo Tian headed straight south. The noise gradually resounded in the night: the sound of hawking, the sound of musical instruments, the sound of drunk people laughing loudly.

A short while later, a rough wooden wall appeared, along with an open gate. Above, several magical crystal lamps cast flickering light on a large wooden sign:

"Greendale Town – The Crossroads of Travelers."

Luo Tian raised his eyebrows, smiling. "Finally here."

The scene inside the town surprised him.

If the magnificent palace was a symbol of majesty, then Greendale was a mixture of prosperity and chaos. The cobblestone streets were narrow, the taverns were crowded, the weapon shops were glowing with red lights, the street stalls sold everything from herbs, magic gems to dried cacti. People jostled each other: merchants in brocade robes, wandering magicians with sticks, mercenaries in scratched iron armor, and even shady people wearing hoods.

Cries:

"Fast healing herbs, buy three get one free!"

"Low-grade fire jade, only ten silver coins!"

"Come here, freshly brewed stout beer!"

The atmosphere was bustling and bustling, as if the whole world had shrunk into a few narrow streets.

Lac Thien leisurely walked through the crowd, his gray robe making him blend in, no one could tell that he was once a prince. He looked around, his eyes flashing with interest.

"Not bad. The outside world is indeed much more noisy and lively than that gilded cage."

A child ran past, almost bumping into him, clutching a mooncake in his arms. Behind him, a woman was frantically chasing after him. Luo Tian raised his hand slightly, a light breeze stopped the boy, causing him to stagger. The woman caught up in time, grabbed his shoulder, and glared at him while breathing.

Luo Tian just smiled and continued walking, no one noticed.

The night was getting late. He found a two-story inn, the wooden walls were dark, on the door hung an old iron sign carved with an eagle - the symbol of free travelers.

Inside, the tavern on the ground floor was bustling with laughter. Mercenaries clinked their glasses loudly, young magicians talked animatedly, the strong smell of beer mixed with the smell of burning wood from the fireplace. In the corner of the room, a musician played a lyre, the melody wavering and lost in the noise.

When Luo Tian entered, a few eyes glanced at him, then turned away. No one cared about an ordinary gray-robed man.

He rented a simple room on the second floor. The innkeeper – a straightforward middle-aged woman – took a few silver coins and handed over the key, without asking any further questions.

In the small room, the flickering oil lamp cast shadows on the wall. Luo Tian sat at the old wooden table, opening the ancient book again.

When his finger touched the faint characters, he heard a sound ringing in his head again – not language, but like the whisper of the wind. He frowned, his eyes flashing:

"It seems... your secret won't be easy to reveal."

Outside the window, the town was still lit up, the noise still echoing. But in that small room, there was only him and the mysterious book, along with a vague spark of excitement in his heart.

Extended ending:

The first night he left the palace, Luo Tian set foot in the real world. No throne, no dignity, no one knew who he was. But it is in the bustling and chaotic town of Grendale that the first steps of a magical genius's journey begin to be etched into destiny.