The guards of the caravan didn’t give chase, merely releasing a few arrows after them. Their duty was to safeguard the convoy, not engage in a battle to the death. If there was a way to avoid bloodshed, they would gladly seize it. Furthermore, the events unfolded so quickly that many guards and merchants were still in a daze, unable to react in time.
“Little Mao,” Wu Yuan lifted his gaze and took a sip of fruit wine, a serene smile gracing his face. “Do you recall the two saber techniques I taught you on our journey?”
“I do! I do!” Little Mao finally snapped out of his stupor, nodding vigorously.
“Haha, practice diligently. Who knows, one day you might use those saber techniques to win the hearts of a hundred wives.” Wu Yuan chuckled, passing the bottle of wine to Little Mao.
Then, Wu Yuan leaped into the air like a ghostly apparition, effortlessly traversing dozens of zhangs in an instant and vanishing into the thick forest.
It all took place in the blink of an eye, and the majority of the caravan failed to react until he was gone.
“It’s Young Master Wan!”
“So, it was him all along. He saved us.”
“He’s a formidable expert.” Amidst their astonishment, the caravan buzzed with discussions and jubilation.
Meanwhile, Little Mao recalled Wu Yuan’s departing words.
Two sets of saber techniques… Little Mao’s eyes gleamed with determination. Big Brother Wan is incredibly strong. The saber techniques he taught me must be equally strong. I will practice diligently, without fail!
Perhaps, I might one day become an Adept too. Little Mao didn’t dare dream of becoming as powerful as Wu Yuan. In his eyes, becoming an Adept expert was an incredible enough accomplishment.
Without delay, the caravan continued its journey.
Before long, tales of the indomitable white-robed gentleman Wan Shui singlehandedly repelling a thousand bandits began to spread through the region.
…
A mere two days later, thousands of li away, a man in his 30s dressed in white arrived at a large city astride a Bluethunder Horse, looking at the distant city walls stretching longer than ten li long.
I had planned on leisurely making my way to the Chu Continent, but it seems fate has compelled some people to offer themselves up as blood-red mist. The man in white fixed his gaze on the distant city. Well, I suppose I shall savor these remaining days by exploring Ly City at my leisure.
Of course, this man in white was none other than Wu Yuan. Throughout his months of travel, he had encountered similar situations more than once, often finding trouble shortly after adopting a disguise. Though he could usually pass unnoticed, Wu Yuan, accustomed to roaming the world and following his whims, would often dispatch those who displeased him before departing nonchalantly. Each time, he would leave behind a different persona.
It could be said that Wu Yuan’s actions played a significant role in the Starcom Consortium’s ‘Fengyun Chronicles’.
“Go!” Wu Yuan urged his horse into the city.
…
Meanwhile, in a mysterious location within the Holy Continent.
This was a forbidden zone of Great Jin, a sacred ground of the royal family, and one of the three holy sanctuaries of the Holy Continent. In the depths of this area, a majestic hall lay concealed. On this day, the doors swung open, and a group of figures emerged.
“Sixth Uncle!” Emperor Jin, accustomed to surveying all beneath him, humbled himself by donning a black robe and going out of his way to greet the arrival.
“Greetings to the Grand Elder.” The ten or so individuals accompanying Emperor Jin paid their respects with utmost reverence, careful not to display any hint of disrespect.
All Grandmasters of the Jin royal family, regardless of position, were required to abdicate and join the royal clan elders council upon turning 80 years of age. All clan elders of the royal family were Grandmasters!
One could only fathom the immense power of the Jin royal family. Over the past two centuries, the number of concealed Grandmaster experts remained unknown. Every ten years, the royal clan elders council convened to determine their rankings through combat, and at the top of the Royal Family Land Rankings stood the Grand Elder.
“Your Majesty.” The black-robed middle-aged man gave an easy smile. At first glance, one could mistake him as Emperor Jin’s brother, for the resemblance was uncanny. Yet, everyone present knew that this middle-aged man, who was Jin Cang’s biological uncle, had long surpassed 90 years of age and once held the title of north king.
“Sixth Uncle, I received word from our ancestors that you have successfully reached the Unity level,” Emperor Jin exclaimed, his excitement evident.
“I was just lucky,” Jin Cang replied nonchalantly. “I was worried I wouldn’t break through before reaching 100, but with the guidance of our two ancestors and the insights from the ‘Amethyst Cradle Jade Record’, I attained the Harmony of Man and Nature before I knew it. Stepping into the realm of the immortals, heaven and earth’s power flows through the body, rejuvenating one’s youth.”
“Congratulations, Sixth Uncle.” Emperor Jin bowed respectfully, his eyes filled with longing.
Though he was the emperor, the real power and authority in this world was held by the Heavenly Rankers. Only they possessed incredible lifespans, along with the ability to fly and tunnel. The emperor was merely a figurehead, controlled by Heavenly Rankers.
“Congratulations, Grand Elder.” The crowd behind him chorused. Even the weakest of them was a Savant expert, and all understood the significance of this accomplishment – it meant that Great Jin was about to welcome another Heavenly Ranker.
“Your Majesty may rest assured.” The black-robed middle-aged man smiled, “I am already aware of the matter regarding the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm.”
“As of now, I have just made a breakthrough and my body is still transforming. I have not unlocked my qi sea yet, thus I can still enter the Immortal Realm, although I will be unable to harness heaven and earth’s power.”
“In just a few short months after my breakthrough, my strength has reached 280,000 catties.” said the black-robed middle-aged man, “Plus, I am equipped with spirit armor and a first-grade divine sword.”
“One could say, even ten Grandmasters joining forces would be no match for me. If Bu Yu and Chu Ping dare show their faces, I will make sure they won’t leave alive.” The black-robed middle-aged man declared confidently.
“Excellent.” Emperor Jin was delighted. Eliminating Bu Yu and Chu Ping would clear the path for Great Jin’s conquest of the Jiang Continent. With them out of the way, the army could sweep through the entire region without any resistance.
“Sixth Uncle, do you think Ninedeaths Circle and Starcom Consortium will also send their quasi-Heavenly Rankers?” Emperor Jin expressed his worries.
“The odds are slim,” the black-robed middle-aged man murmured. “To reach the Heavenly Rankings from the Land Rankings, it takes half a year for the young and two to three years for the old. The Ninedeaths Circle, Starcom Consortium, Pleiades Guild—all of them boast Heavenly Rankers in their midst. Yet, producing a new Heavenly Ranker is no trivial task.”
“Moreover, for one of them to coincidentally break through during this exact period? It’s nearly impossible! In this generation of the Jin royal family, I am the sole Grandmaster who has achieved a breakthrough.”
“Moreover, the Ninedeaths Circle and the other powers have a far shallower understanding of the Chu-Jiang Empire compared to Great Jin.”
“Indeed,” Emperor Jin concurred, nodding in agreement.
Their conquest of the Chu-Jiang Empire not only secured them the Chu-Jiang Tokens but also a wealth of related information. The Cloudstride Sect and the Baijiang Kingdom, long-standing subjects of the Chu-Jiang Empire, possessed a trove of detailed information. On the other hand, the Ninedeaths Circle and Pleiades Guild? These factions might be powerful, but the information at their disposal was mostly fragmented or rudimentary, nowhere close to the archives maintained by Great Jin.
“Sixth Uncle, these five are the Grandmasters who shall accompany you on this trip,” Emperor Jin declared, motioning towards the five Grandmasters behind him. Swiftly, he proceeded to introduce each one in turn.
“And these twelve are the Savant experts who will join you, responsible for gathering natural treasures from the outer region,” Emperor Jin casually added.
“They’re decent,” the black-robed middle-aged man nodded. “Keep in mind, the Grandmasters will assist me in securing the two spirit fruits. As for the Savant experts, do not be overly greedy. Avoid venturing into the inner region!”
“Yes!” the group of experts replied respectfully.
Originally, these five Grandmasters had various personal agendas, but now, they dared not entertain them. This man was a quasi-Heavenly Ranker, generously bestowed a multitude of treasures by the Jin royal family. He was capable of single-handedly obliterating them all!
“The Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm is set to open in less than ten days. The journey there is almost 10,000 li.”
“Let us depart!”
…
Wu Yuan had taken up residence in a spacious courtyard house in Ly City. Apart from his daily cultivation routine, he wandered through the bustling streets, immersing himself in Ly City’s rich culture while perceiving his surroundings with Soul Force.
Soon, August 21st arrived.
They’re here. Wu Yuan, standing within the confines of his courtyard house, sensed the arrival of several formidable vital auras, making their entrance into the city from the East.