The Rich Cultivator-Chapter 443. Rabbit-Ears City Lord

Three Days Later

A quiet breeze rustled the silk curtains of a small guest room nestled within the upper levels of Verga City’s central hall. The scent of herbal incense drifted faintly in the air, mingling with the warmth of the afternoon sun filtering through the windows.

Lily Gomes and Darla sat patiently on a modest yet polished wooden couch. Between them, a table bore a decorative platter filled with fruits— shiny apples, orange-spotted peaches, and thick-skinned blue grapes —untouched since they had arrived.

They weren’t here for a meal.

They were waiting for someone important.

A knock echoed at the door, followed by the sound of it creaking open.

Entering the room was the Bull-Horned Guardian, Tarus, gently pushing a wheelchair. Seated in it was a rabbitfolk man wrapped in bandages from ears to toes, his fluffy white fur peeking out in a few places. His left ear drooped lazily, bent in half from some injury, and a thin but playful smile adorned his otherwise tired face.

"Apologies for the state I’m in," the rabbitfolk said with a light chuckle. "Most of my rabbit bones are broken. I don’t recommend taking on a Grandmaster pirate with only a spear and overconfidence."

He gave a small wave with his uninjured hand. "I’m Hutson, City Lord of Verga City. And this here—" he gestured to the large, stoic figure behind him "—is Tarus, our Guardian and also like a brother to me."

Lily stood and offered a respectful nod. Her long hair shimmered slightly as she moved, and her brown coat with lining gave her a commanding presence.

"Lily Gomes," she introduced herself. "Vice-Captain of the White Pearl. We’re part of the White Merchant Group— sailing the seas, trading where we can, adventuring where we must. We’ve come from the South, seeking opportunity."

She turned to her companion. "This is Darla —our representative, whenever our ship lands in new island, she manages the trade arrangements."

"Pleased to meet you both," Hutson said with a warm grin. "Tarus mentioned you’ve been a great help. Your crew has been distributing food and medicine. That’s no small kindness."

Lily smiled but said nothing.

From the side, Hutson added, "I also heard your group plans to head further north?"

"That’s correct," Lily replied, crossing her legs with a relaxed air. "Like others who take to the sea, we follow the same dream. To the Eternity."

Hutson’s brows furrowed. "You shouldn’t."

His tone was firm now, more serious than before. "If possible, consider redirecting. Build trade routes between some northern islands instead. There’s plenty of profit to be made without sailing to your deaths."

He leaned forward slightly in his wheelchair. "No one’s ever made it to Eternity. At least, no one who’s come back to tell the tale. It’s been more than a million years— only stories, no survivors."

Lily tilted her head, her smile unchanged.

"Let me get this straight... Rabbit-Ears City Lord—"

"Vice-Captain..." Darla whispered sharply beside her, clearly trying to rein her in.

But Lily waved her off. "Come on now. A little nickname never hurt anyone."

She turned back to Hutson with a challenging smile. "You really think a few words are enough to stop someone like us?"

Hutson chuckled. "I don’t. But I still had to say it. The North is cruel. That’s not a secret."

He paused, then added with a sigh, "Just think of it as an old man giving you advice."

Lily gave him a scrutinizing look. "You don’t look old to me. But then again, as the saying goes..."

She let the sentence hang.

Tarus, still standing behind Hutson, spoke up softly to finish it:

"There are no young or old among Immortal Practitioners. We are only old when we reach the end of our lifespan."

Lily grinned beautifully. "Exactly. It’s an old quote, right?"

Tarus gave an awkward blush and nodded. He was captivated by her beauty.

"Well then," Hutson said, relaxing into his seat. "Since you’re headed Northern waters regardless, allow me to offer some practical guidance. Things that could save your life."

Lily raised an eyebrow. "We’re listening."

"First," Hutson said, motioning to Tarus, who handed over a round orb, "your compass will be useless in the far north. You’ll need one of these."

Lily took the item into her hand. It was a smooth crystal orb, about the size of an apple, with a faintly glowing isosceles triangle-shaped needle floating in the center.

"Oh, I’ve heard of this," she said confidently. "It points toward the nearest island, right?"

"No," Hutson said flatly.

Lily blinked.

Darla chuckled quietly from the side.

Lily shot her a glare, but said nothing.

Hutson continued, "What you’re holding is a Guiding Needle, designed specifically for the Northern Seas. Up there, the ocean is layered with what we call Dimensional Waves. They’re not dangerous—not physically —but they interfere with technology and even suppress our divine sense. These waves can’t be detected. Not even with high-grade scanning arrays or immortal techniques."

"So how does this thing work?" Lily asked, turning the orb in her hand.

"The needle doesn’t point to islands directly," Hutson explained. "It reacts to the presence of Dimensional Waves. Normally, these waves are constant and cover the entire ocean, Until something blocks it, ...."

"Islands.... when an island blocks the flow..." Lily began. frёeweɓηovel_coɱ

"Exactly," Hutson nodded. "When an island is present, the waves bend or break. The needle then turns away from the flow— toward the ’wave break point,’ so to speak. That’s how it indirectly guides you toward land."

"You’ll still need to use your divine sense," he added, "to make sure it’s not just pointing back to the island you just left. But it’s reliable. Saved many lives."

Lily examined the device again with newfound respect. "I see. This will definitely be useful."

"Consider it a gift," Hutson said.

Lily smiled and bowed a little "Thank you, City Lord. That was... surprisingly generous."

"I owe your people for helping us when no one else would," Hutson said quietly. "This is just a small gesture in return."

Lily pocketed the Guiding Needle.

Darla gave a polite nod beside her Vice-Captain.

"Now, about the Northern Seas," Hutson said gravely, his tone shifting from friendly to firm. "Everything you see out there could be dangerous. Especially for a ship like yours—too flashy, too clean. At the very least, use camouflage arrays. Blend in with the fog or the waves."

He paused, then added, "Beware of pirates. Beware of Overlord territories. And most importantly... don’t put too much trust in the Federation."

He shifted in his wheelchair and glanced out the nearby window.

"Also..." he continued, "many trials and ancient games left behind by gods are still active in the Northern Waters. They appear randomly—floating temples, submerged palaces, drifting ruins. If you find one, try your luck. Some are dangerous, yes. But if you can’t handle those, you won’t survive any further north."

Darla’s expression grew serious.

Hutson let out a slow breath. "Some of those trials have hidden routes. Secret paths—teleportation gates, forgotten channels beneath the ocean—that send you deeper north than you’d ever go by ship. Useful shortcuts... if you can survive the challenge."

He looked at Lily again. "Sometimes, you may feel like you’re heading north... but you could end up drifting in an entirely different direction."

For the next half hour, they spoke at length —about distorted currents, territories ruled by ancient sea clans, and wandering isles that moved like living creatures. Hutson shared everything he could, bits of lore and navigational tricks passed down from shipwrecked survivors or passed on by long-lost allies.

When their conversation finally reached its end, Lily stood and adjusted her coat.

"We’ll be setting sail soon," she said with a nod. "But your advice will not be forgotten."

Hutson gave a faint smile. "Nor will your kindness."

Just as Lily and Darla turned to leave, Hutson called out once more.

"Oh, and one last thing... remember this," he said with a hint of warning in his voice. "The Guiding Needle doesn’t always point to islands."

Lily paused mid-step and turned back. She gave him a look that suggested understanding— though she said nothing.

Darla, on the other hand, looked puzzled.

"Wait— what does that mean?" she whispered as they stepped outside.

The sunlight bathed them as they exited the hall. The sea breeze carried with it the scent of salt and ash, mingled with dust from ongoing construction.

All around them, Verga City had begun its slow process of recovery. Workers moved rubble, engineers erected new pillars, and Federation soldiers patrolled with cautious eyes. A city once broken was now being slowly stitched back together.

Darla tugged at Lily’s sleeve. "What did the City Lord mean, about the Guiding Needle?"

Lily didn’t answer right away. Instead, she scanned the horizon, her eyes lingering on the distant shimmer of water.

Then she turned to Darla with a faint smirk.

"Well," she said, "what’s the only other thing in the ocean that’s as big as an island?"

Darla blinked, then her eyes widened in realization.

"...Sea Titans."

Lily nodded. "Exactly."

The Guiding Needle didn’t distinguish between land and something massive that blocked dimensional waves. If a Sea Titan, ancient and monstrous, was lying dormant beneath the waves—or worse, floating near the surface—the needle would react the same way.

"It’s like playing a game where the rules constantly shift," Lily said softly. "Sometimes, it points to safety. Sometimes, it points to your doom."

Darla shivered.

They both looked out toward the sea again, where their ship, the White Pearl, waited patiently in the harbor.

Beyond it, the Northern Seas stretched endlessly— vast, treacherous, mysterious.

And somewhere out there... the path to Eternity waited.

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