Chapter 55: Chapter 55: Heavenly Sword Sect
Chu Yang stepped down from the carriage and stretched lazily as he watched the morning glow redden half of the sky.
He walked up to the two guards who had been on night watch and asked with a smile, “Big brothers, could you tell me how far it is from here to Mysterious Yuan City?”
"Mysterious Yuan City is to the south. It would take at least seven days on a Desert Flying Horse,” the two guards replied warily.
One of them with an unfriendly face said, “Kid, if your injuries are healed, you should leave. The carriage you have been sleeping in these past few days was originally meant for our young lady. Don’t overstay your welcome.”
Chu Yang just smiled and did not say much more.
Being unfamiliar with the place, he naturally intended to follow the convoy to the nearby city.
...
Once he reached the city, he would naturally leave.
However, during these days, Chu Yang had grown quite familiar with Ning Yuyan, who was the second young miss of the great Ning Family from Beacon Fire City, in charge of overseeing the family’s commercial fleet.
This time, she personally went to negotiate business in other cities and coincidentally saved Chu Yang on her way back.
At the time the Space Gate opened, due to the interference of Ancient Nether, the spatial coordinates went haywire, leaving even him clueless about where he would end up.
Now, it seemed the situation was not too bad; at least he was still in the Extreme West Region.
Beacon Fire City’s West Hundred Feet Building, “Standing alone in the autumn sea breeze at dusk!”
Beacon Fire City, belonging to the Purple Sun Empire’s territory, had a wide, clear river flowing slowly in front of its city walls, resembling a crystalline, silver-lit giant dragon.
The end of the river was unknown, winding and twisting off into the horizon.
Chu Yang followed the convoy across the moat and entered Beacon Fire City.
The scene inside the city was much more bustling than he had imagined. Not to mention that the sides of the streets were already full, with hawkers shouting and selling all sorts of spiritual medicines, divine weapons, and secret martial arts manuals.
At the center of the streets, which were already packed with crowds, there were young men with swords at their waists, young men carrying curved blades on their backs, and even young men riding precious Monster Beasts.
From the pavilions and courtyards on both sides of the street, ladies of good families and beauties from smaller households stood high in the buildings, observing the young talents passing by, in hopes of finding their ideal gentlemen.
"Miss Ning, your Beacon Fire City is quite lively indeed,” Chu Yang commented with a smile.
"Today is the day the Heavenly Sword Sect comes to Beacon Fire City to recruit disciples. Naturally, it’s much busier than usual,” Ning Yuyan replied with a smile.
"The Heavenly Sword Sect?” Chu Yang’s interest was piqued. He did want to join a sect, as that would not only provide him with a place of refuge but also access to resources needed for cultivation.
Perhaps he could even find the spiritual medicine needed to restore the Divine Soul of Ink Elder, but Chu Yang didn’t know the strength of the Heavenly Sword Sect.
Sensing Chu Yang’s hesitation, Ning Yuyan chuckled and explained, “Although the Heavenly Sword Sect is only a third-rate force in the Extreme West Region, its Sect Master, Yue Buli, is indeed a powerhouse of the Esteem Vein Realm.”
"Miss Ning, how do you differentiate between first-rate, second-rate, and third-rate forces?” Chu Yang asked earnestly.
He had never left Qingyang Village before, where the strongest person was merely Coach Mo. His understanding of the world was as blank as a sheet of paper.
"If a sect doesn’t have a martial artist beyond the Empty Vein Realm, then those forces are all collectively known as non-entities,” Ning Yuyan explained as she walked, “A sect that has at least one Esteem Vein Realm martial artist can be categorized as a third-rate force.
If there’s an Emperor Pulse Realm powerhouse at the helm, it’s a second-rate force.
A force that boasts a Saint Vein Realm powerhouse is a first-rate force.”
"So the True Martial Holy Sect is a first-rate force?” Chu Yang asked, puzzled.
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"No, no, no,” Ning Yuyan shook her head and said, “Above the first-rate powers, there is a kind of power called the Imperial Rule Immortal Sect.
Each Imperial Rule Immortal Sect has more than dozens of Saint Vein Realm experts, and they also possess various techniques left behind by the Great Emperors of their Sect who have ascended.
There are even rumors that within the Imperial Rule Immortal Sects, there exist some extremely ancient ancestors who have reached the Divine Vein Realm.”
Hearing Ning Yuyan’s introduction, Chu Yang was silent, his fists clenched tight; it was at this moment that he realized just how insignificant he truly was.
After a long while, he suddenly lifted his head, his eyes bright and resolute, and said firmly, “Miss Ning, I have made up my mind. I want to participate in the disciple selection of the Heavenly Sword Sect.”
Chu Yang had also thought it through. No matter how powerful the other party was, he couldn’t set his sights too high and must make progress step by step.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. He believed that one day, he would have the strength to contend with that tremendous entity.
"Okay, then be careful, Young Master Chu,” Ning Yuyan nodded, encouraging him, “Go for it. I believe you can definitely pass the selection.”
"I have no way to repay the life-saving grace of Miss Ning. If you need anything in the future, you can come to find me at the Heavenly Sword Sect,” Chu Yang replied earnestly.
After bidding farewell to Ning Yuyan, Chu Yang followed the crowd and headed towards the center of the city.
In the residence of Ministry Councillor Hu, the deep silence of the night was tranquil in the thick darkness.
All of Hu Residence’s personnel were gathered in the main hall, with hearts in their throats.
The dim night seemed like a silent behemoth that swallowed the whole world.
The hall was brightly lit, and the people were in a state of panic.
Before Xu Zimei and others had come, Ministry Councillor Hu had tried to gather everyone together using the same method, but it was useless; come morning, someone would still be dead.
The servants who remained in Hu Residence were only there for the sake of the several times higher wages; otherwise, they would have left long ago.
Xu Zimei found a recliner in the hall, yawned, and began to sleep on the chair.
Not long after, a plaintive and sorrowful song rose within Hu Residence. The singing was filled with tragedy, sounding like a mix of grinding teeth and a woman’s sobbing.
It made one’s skin crawl and was extremely uncomfortable to the ears.
In front of the rooms in the eastern courtyard, Wang Tao, Xing Lin, and Xiao Ye each held a torch in their hands.
The lanterns lit on both sides of the courtyard cast a red glow on everyone’s faces.
"Where is that singing coming from?” Wang Tao asked with a frown.
All three leaned in to listen, but the singing sometimes seemed far and sometimes near, spreading from all directions, making it impossible to discern the source.
"We’ll search room by room; I refuse to believe it can hide,” Wang Tao said with a cold snort.
"Brother Wang, we’d better be careful,” Xiao Ye cautioned from the side.
"Mere lurkers. If it really had any power, it wouldn’t resort to these little tricks,” Wang Tao nodded yet replied disdainfully.
Then, the three of them began their search, starting with each room in the eastern courtyard.
Hu Residence was not very large, and after searching until midnight, they found nothing. However, the woman’s singing was still ongoing.
"This is a bit strange,” Xing Lin said, frowning slightly.