67: Chapter 65: The Dragon Horse 67: Chapter 65: The Dragon Horse “`html
This carriage is similar to a prison cart, about six to seven times the size of a normal one.
Thick iron bars stand upright, widely spaced, and glinting darkly in the sunset.
These iron bars are somewhat deformed, seemingly damaged by brute force.
And inside the prison cart, two golden horses stand quietly, motionless, their lively eyes curiously gazing outside, almost human-like.
Chu Zhiyuan’s Super Sense was instantly captivated by them.
Their skin, like gold satin, faintly displays golden scales, as if covered in golden armor, gleaming brilliantly.
Each scale bears a peculiar pattern, shimmering with golden light, extraordinarily splendid.
According to Super Sense, these golden scales are not an external shell but grow naturally on them.
So these two horses should be descendants of demon beasts, and since they are outside, they are hybrids rather than demon beasts, likely a crossbreed between demon and wild beasts.
Searching quickly through his mind, he found them, Heavenly Dragon Divine Horses.
The Heavenly Dragon Divine Horse is a crossbreed between a Flying Dragon and a Cloud Spirit Steed, as ordinary horses cannot bear the Heavenly Dragon Bloodline; only the Cloud Spirit Steed can give birth to Heavenly Dragon Divine Horses.
Immense strength, speed like lightning, inexhaustible stamina, yet unbridled and untamable.
The characteristics of the Heavenly Dragon Divine Horse flashed in his mind.
Though the Heavenly Dragon Divine Horse is mystical, it lacks the treasures of Cheng Tianfeng, allowing Super Sense to see through them inside and out, clearly.
Their bones and muscles differ from ordinary horses, resembling the changes invoked by his own Dragon Transformation Technique, with wide, resilient meridians, bones both hard and light, muscles bundled like steel wire, making it hard to imagine their explosive power.
In any case, he was not their match.
These two Heavenly Dragon Divine Horses, one male and one female, even without Inner Strength, their scales could resist the infiltration of Gang Qi, and with their astonishing speed and strength, even a Grandmaster might not withstand them.
Only a Great Grandmaster might tame them.
But in reality, even a Great Grandmaster couldn’t tame them; no record of taming exists so far.
Were these two horses sent as gifts to the Emperor?
Besides these two Heavenly Dragon Divine Horses, the remaining gifts seemed plain and ordinary; he glanced over them, still focusing on Cheng Tianfeng.
There were actually two Great Grandmasters within the Da Zhen Mission.
One was the Junfeng Star Chart, the other the Thunder Blade Diagram, a blade weathering the onslaught of thunderstorms, growing brighter amidst the lightning.
With two Great Grandmasters present, it was fail-safe.
Even if overwhelmed, one Great Grandmaster could easily take someone away.
A Grandmaster was almost impossible to take down.
The treasures on Cheng Tianfeng’s body shielded his true form, preventing Super Sense from penetrating, allowing only superficial observation.
Without a Dharma Form, he should not be a Grandmaster yet.
Unless there’s a Secret Technique to conceal the Dharma Form.
Therefore, it can’t be overlooked.
He should be treated as a Grandmaster, just in case.
Having mastered Gang Qi through the Washing Sword Technique, Cheng Tianfeng likely could too.
As they approached, Prince Zhuang stepped forward, and Chu Zhiyuan followed, joining Cheng Tianfeng and his group.
Amid hearty laughter, the two groups merged.
Then followed a round of small talk.
Prince Zhuang, without anger, bore a commanding presence, but his smile and words were as refreshing as a spring breeze, impeccably timed and measured.
This impressed Chu Zhiyuan.
Even if he tried, he couldn’t achieve the same effect.
After all, intention and execution are not the same; some reactions are subconscious, without time for deliberation, unable to choose the best option among countless choices.
Chu Zhiyuan stood at the forefront but had no chance to speak, only observing the two Great Grandmasters, Cheng Tianfeng, and Cheng Yilong closely.
Cheng Yilong spoke with humor and wit, his gentle disposition apparent, even with a hint of sincerity, intriguing Chu Zhiyuan.
Was he performing, or was this his true nature?
In contrast, Cheng Tianfeng remained silent throughout, merely standing quietly beside Cheng Yilong, so quiet that if not for Prince Zhuang greeting him, one might think he was mute.
Chu Zhiyuan only greeted them with clasped hands without a chance to speak.
Following Cheng Yilong, the Prince Ying was one Great Grandmaster at the head of the procession and another at the tail.
The two Great Grandmasters complemented each other from front to back.
Chu Zhiyuan also caught sight of the full contingent of Lingshuang Iron Cavalry.
A hundred and eighty Lingshuang Iron Cavalry were clad head to toe in white capes, white armor, and rode white horses, completely devoid of any other color, even the scabbards at their waists were jade-like.
Their energy interlinked, as if one person.
Although a hundred and eighty Iron Cavalry might seem few by number, facing them directly would convey their immensity.
Such a vast number moves in unison, as if one, truly remarkable.
After shifting his Super Sense from Cheng Tianfeng and the Heavenly Dragon Divine Horses, he kept his eyes fixed on these hundred and eighty Lingshuang Iron Cavalry.
Prince Zhuang and the Prince Ying, Cheng Yilong, seemed well acquainted, chatting openly about their journey’s sights and experiences.
The Grand Eunuch Zhou Fu also interjected occasionally, their interaction genial, like old friends reuniting.
Through Super Sense’s insight, Chu Zhiyuan discovered the intricacies of their formation.
It was a brand on their left arms.
Like a tattoo, it bore an unusual script.
He tried to memorize it, only to find his mind blank, unable to recall the peculiar script.
So he observed it, focusing on the Feng Pendant in his sleeve, noting they were not the same.
He then activated the third layer of the Dragon Transformation Technique.
Even so, they still did not match.
This was the third type of peculiar script he’d encountered.
Such an unusual script, with formidable power, yet it couldn’t be memorized or replicated, only observed but not utilized.
But it did mark the weakness of the Lingshuang Iron Cavalry.
To counter them, one need only sever their left arms.
This shouldn’t be done on the battlefield, but outside it, as the Lingshuang Iron Cavalry are humans, not war machines, having their own lives beyond camp.
Whenever they left, unexpected surprises could occur.
These thoughts flitted through his mind, then he dismissed them.
By that time, Prince Zhuang and the Prince Ying had finished their greetings and started heading into the city.
Chu Zhiyuan’s Super Sense quickly shifted from the Lingshuang Iron Cavalry to the surroundings.
The Imperial Army formed a human wall, keeping the curious civilians on both sides of the street, with experts from the Military Suppression Department stationed every three steps, mixed within the crowd.
City Guards also mingled through the crowd, patrolling and ready to eliminate threats at any time.
Additionally, infantry officers guarded the alley entrances and street corners, preventing the influx of carriages and people.
The Azure Dragon Avenue formed an impregnable barrier.
Amidst it all, Chu Zhiyuan still felt like he was seated on a volcano on the verge of eruption, ready to consume anything in its path.
Among the curious crowd were many experts, including Innate Masters and Grandmasters, but no Great Grandmasters.
The Grandmasters and Innate Masters mixed in the crowd, with no one knowing when they might suddenly make a move.
Although making a move would result in being caught or even killed, the Martial Arts world had too many fearless individuals, making defenses difficult.
Chu Zhiyuan walked beside the Left Vice Minister, Duke An.
Duke An, Xiao Youping, was a consummate Grandmaster, with a Flood Dragon surging through ocean waves above him, projecting majesty and awe.
Xiao Youping glanced at him and smiled without speaking.
Chu Zhiyuan returned the greeting with clasped hands, also not saying much.
They maintained their silence, while Prince Zhuang and the Prince Ying seemed to never run out of things to say, often laughing heartily.
In the gaze of the crowd, the Lingshuang Iron Cavalry guarded both sides, their energies connecting, the tips of their long spears glistening in the sunset.
In an instant, the Martial Arts experts hidden among the crowd were so awe-struck that they missed their chance to strike, watching them leave.
With one breath, they covered most of Azure Dragon Avenue, then turned right, eventually reaching the Four Directions Pavilion.
This was a refined residence and separate courtyard set for foreign missions, boasting distinctive architectural styles, each unique.
Within the Four Directions Pavilion, there was a dedicated Da Zhen Pavilion, its style matching that of Da Zhen, making it feel no different from being in Da Zhen.
Thus, Chu Zhiyuan concluded this welcoming task, first following Prince Zhuang and others back to the Ministry of Rites, before each returned to their own quarters.
Gao Lingfeng accompanied him back to his room, exhaling deeply: “Sir, luckily nothing went wrong.”
Chu Zhiyuan nodded with a smile.
He also thought there might be an assassination attempt, but there wasn’t.
The experts in the crowd were eager to move, but seeing the tight security, they managed to maintain their calm.
However, this was merely the state before a volcanic eruption, which would inevitably happen.
“Let’s hope the Da Zhen Mission people behave and don’t wander around frivolously.”
“Let’s hope so,” Chu Zhiyuan chuckled.
He felt this was a pipe dream.
How could the Da Zhen Mission not seize the chance to observe Yujing and understand the Da Jing Dynasty’s reality?
As for the rumored duel with Cheng Tianfeng, it was likely to be during tomorrow night’s banquet at the Imperial Palace.