Free Web NovelChapter 54: Chapter 54: Yunling Academy
The True Dragon Secret Realm was located in a place called the True Dragon Nest. It was situated at the border of three kingdoms, more than five thousand li from the Martial Kingdom’s imperial city.
Traveling on foot, even a Martial Artist at the Grotto Heaven realm would need half a month to make the journey.
Therefore, Ling Shuanghua chose to travel by Cloud Ship with Shen Daoxing.
Cloud Ships were flying vessels capable of carrying passengers. A first-class Cloud Ship could accommodate a thousand people in its hundreds of rooms, traveling three thousand li a day. At that speed, they would reach the border of the three kingdoms in less than two days.
Shen Daoxing gazed at the Cloud Ship before him and exclaimed in awe, "This thing is a real treasure!"
The massive Cloud Ship stood before them, its hull possessing a deep, black luster. All sorts of runes were inscribed upon it, shimmering with light.
Ling Shuanghua said nonchalantly, "Of course it is. This Cloud Ship is one of the Business Alliance’s prized possessions."
"The Business Alliance!?"
Shen Daoxing asked, his voice laced with confusion.
Ling Shuanghua’s expression turned solemn. "The Business Alliance is an extremely powerful force in the East Continent," she warned. "You can find their members active in every kingdom. If you ever travel the East Continent, you must never provoke them."
Shen Daoxing nodded. "I understand."
’Any power that could operate freely throughout the East Continent was one that shouldn’t be trifled with.’
Seeing Shen Daoxing just standing there, Ling Shuanghua said, "What are you waiting for? Go buy the tickets."
Besides those who had pre-ordered, a certain number of tickets were available for purchase on-site.
A single ticket to the True Dragon Nest cost three hundred Gold Coins, meaning the two of them would need six hundred.
"So expensive!"
Shen Daoxing clicked his tongue in disbelief.
’Back in the Shen Family, a disciple’s monthly allowance was only twenty Gold Coins, but a single ticket to the True Dragon Nest cost three hundred!’
Ling Shuanghua said, "The Business Alliance’s Cloud Ships aren’t just fast; they’re also extremely safe. Every passenger gets a private cabin, so of course the price isn’t cheap."
The two then went to one of the private cabins.
Ling Shuanghua sat cross-legged on a cushion. "Rest well for these next two days," she instructed. "You need to stay in peak condition."
Shen Daoxing nodded.
’Students from Celestial City Academy will also be going to the True Dragon Secret Realm this time—and the Four Heroes will be among them.’
’They failed to kill me back on Desolate Mountain. If we cross paths again, neither side will hold back.’
「Two days later.」
"We’ve reached the True Dragon Nest!"
A clear voice called out from outside.
Ling Shuanghua and Shen Daoxing both emerged from their cultivation and left the cabin.
Outside, the air was thick with yellow sand as a fierce wind raged, whipping the flags on the Cloud Ship every which way.
Before them lay a massive canyon, enveloped in a golden glow. Clouds and mist churned within, obscuring the scenery. The occasional roars of tigers and dragons echoed out, a soul-shaking sound.
Numerous Martial Artists had already gathered at the canyon’s entrance.
These Martial Artists wore varied attire and rode all sorts of fierce, terrifying, and intimidating demonic beasts.
After they disembarked, Ling Shuanghua said, "I’m going to meet up with an old friend. Feel free to look around on your own for a while."
With that, she vaulted into the air and sped off into the distance.
The "old friend" Ling Shuanghua had mentioned was a woman in her early thirties, an age when a woman is in her prime.
The woman had a voluptuous and alluring figure, curvy in all the right places. Her gorgeous face was lightly made-up, perfectly epitomizing the image of a mature, ripe beauty.
Never mind the young Martial Artists passing by; even some of the older ones were stealing glances, wishing they could look a moment longer.
Just then, a crisp voice rang out. "Hello, my name is Lin Ke’Er."
"And you are?"
Shen Daoxing looked up to see a pretty and charming young woman.
"She is my master."
The young woman pointed in the direction Ling Shuanghua and her companion had gone. "Are you Elder Ling’s student?"
"I’m not."
Shen Daoxing shook his head. "I’m a student at the Sword Institute."
"The Martial Kingdom’s Sword Institute!?"
When Lin Ke’Er heard this, she blurted out, "Hasn’t that place fallen into ruin?"
Shen Daoxing rubbed his nose and gave an awkward laugh.
Lin Ke’Er quickly waved her hands. "That’s not what I meant! I mean... people are still enrolling in the Sword Institute? No, that’s not it. I mean that the Sword Institute is..."
By the end, the young woman was sweating nervously, unsure how to explain herself. She looked quite earnest and adorable in her flustered state.
"It’s all right, I know what you mean."
Shen Daoxing waved his hand dismissively and asked, "I see you’re already at the Fifth Layer of the Profound Platform realm despite being so young, Ke’Er. Where are you and your master from, if you don’t mind my asking?"
Hearing how Shen Daoxing addressed her, a blush crept up Lin Ke’Er’s cheeks. She lowered her voice and said, "Didn’t Elder Ling tell you? I’m a student at the Tang Kingdom’s Royal Academy. My master is one of the Four Guardians of the Tang Kingdom."
"The Four Guardians of the Tang Kingdom!?"
Shen Daoxing was inwardly surprised.
’The Tang Kingdom and the Martial Kingdom are neighbors, but Tang is slightly more powerful. To become a Guardian of the Tang Kingdom, one’s strength must be extraordinary. They would have to be at the peak of the Grotto Heaven realm at the very least, or perhaps even in the Spirit Transformation realm.’
Lin Ke’Er then remembered something and offered a well-intentioned warning. "Oh, right. I heard there’s been some friction on the border between the Martial Kingdom and the Yan Kingdom. You should be careful of the experts from the Yan Kingdom. Their prodigies are extremely powerful, and they’re known to be ruthless when they strike..."
Her master was a Guardian of the Tang Kingdom and was thus intimately familiar with the friction between the various kingdoms.
There was a rift between the Yan Kingdom and the Martial Kingdom at present. The two sides were at an impasse, unable to go to war, but also unable to reconcile.
This True Dragon Secret Realm would very likely become the focal point for the two kingdoms’ strategic maneuvering.
Shen Daoxing cupped his fist at her words. "Thank you."
Just then, a horse-drawn carriage came charging from the distance, aimed directly at the spot where Shen Daoxing stood.
The driver’s eyes glinted with malice as he bellowed, "Yunling Academy is here! Get out of the way!"
"Shen, look out!"
Seeing this, Lin Ke’Er leaped in front of Shen Daoxing. She gathered the Primordial Energy in her body and struck the horse’s head with her palm.
THUD!
The horse was killed instantly by the heavy blow, and the driver was sent tumbling across the ground.
Meanwhile, the carriage was cushioned by a wisp of gentle wind, allowing it to land steadily on the ground.
"Hm!?"
Shen Daoxing observed the driver’s behavior. ’That felt deliberate.’
The driver glared at Lin Ke’Er. "You’ve got some nerve! How dare you obstruct a carriage from Yunling Academy!"
Lin Ke’Er frowned. "You’re the one with all the nerve! The road is plenty wide, but you charged straight at him. You almost ran someone over..."
The driver clenched his fists, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
"Hit someone?"
Just then, the carriage curtain was pushed aside, and a young woman in a white dress stepped out.
Lin Ke’Er froze for a moment before replying, "Of course. If I hadn’t stepped in, you would have hit Shen."
"So, no one was hit, then."
The young woman’s expression turned icy. "If no one was hit, then how dare you attack my carriage? You have quite the nerve!"
With that, the young woman vanished.
Hm!?
Shen Daoxing was about to make a move, but he was too late.
The young woman, despite her age, was at the Seventh Layer of the Profound Platform realm.
SLAP!
The crisp sound of a slap echoed through the air.
One side of Lin Ke’Er’s face was already swelling, and blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. Her wide eyes were locked onto the young woman in the white dress.
