The fiery hooves of the Flaming Hooves horses kicked the ground. The Wu Clan convoy lifted off without a sound. Thick white mists were conjured when the carriages pulled to the sky, covering the entire group.
A hundred Wu Clan scarlet armored guards surrounded them in formation, mounted on top of their Flaming Hooves horses. From afar they looked just like a patch of clouds drifting in the firmament.
Wu Feng never went far away from the Wu Clan's territory before, and not in such a convoy either. He did not waste the opportunity and watched in delight the sceneries along the way.
There was a low-quality Scrying Mirror on the carriage that was used to scan the surrounding ten li distance to give the passenger visibility awareness of the outside situations. Wu Feng can spectate the busy streets below in the mirror.
Soon Wu Feng got bored when the convoy left the habitable area to enter the wilderness. Only trees and many more trees along the way. He started to get sleepy and fell asleep.
"What is it?!"
So he exclaimed in surprise when he got awoken with a rude jolt from the tremors. They got caught up in a turbulence and later a lightning storm in their way. But the Flaming Hooves mounted guards only have to release their aura to shrug off the hurricane and lightning.
The three carriages also quite formidable, not even a streak of lightning can get close. They always dissipate mysteriously mid-air whenever a streak of lighting veered towards the carriages.
Suddenly, a wild Zhen bird appeared!
Wu Feng saw a Zhen bird climbing fast from the sea of green forests a few li away. "Father, what is that bird?"
Wu Hao glanced at the mirror before replying in a bored tone, "oh, a Zhen bird. It is rare here. What a pity, it is useless. It was better if it is a Luan or a Vermillion bird."
Xu Yue who heard from the side rolled her eyes. "Stop daydreaming. A Luan won't be found here. Much less Vermillion bird."
Meanwhile, the guard commander have sensed the bird's aura even before it appeared. He swiftly gave a command.
"Prepare for battle! It is a mid-stage Foundation Establishment Zhen bird! Everyone take out you Sacred Rhino horn!"
The huge Zhen bird attacked the Wu Clan envoy who was intruders in its territory.
The Zhen bird had a purple abdomen and green tipped feathers. It had a long neck and a scarlet beak.
The Zhen bird's entire body contained powerful poison condensed from poisonous snakes it ate. The feathers were poisonous, the meat was poisonous, the organs were poisonous.
It was a specialist expert on poison. Well, basically as Wu Hao said, it was a useless bird unless someone wanted to use its carcass to concoct poison.
The Zhen bird, in its furious state knew that it encountered powerful enemies. But as a vicious bird it was very protective of its territory.
It soared high to the sky and breathed out poison mists covering the entire sky region. It hid in the clouds as cover and fired streaks upon streaks of poisonous qi from time to time towards the convoy whenever it showed itself.
But the Wu Clan guards, as the guards of the most powerful clan in the Jiang Xia commandery were experienced and knew the terrains of Jing province like the back of their hands.
As the ancient saying said, anything in nature complements each other and everything has something that restricts them.
Yin and Yang gave birth to the Five Elements and each element either complements the other elements or restricts them.
The Wu Clan guards were equipped with the horn of Sacred Rhinoceros that perfectly matched the poisons of Zhen bird.
Thankfully the Zhen birds in the entire White Crane Empire did not have supplies of the most powerful poisonous snakes to eat so their poison never gets the chance to be cultivated until perfection or just the Sacred Rhinoceros horn would not be enough to last the Wu Clan guards from the onslaught of the Zhen bird for the entire battle.
The horn emitted a weak light that kept the poison mists in the air off while dispelling the poisons that managed to get into the bodies of the guards and their mounts.
Finally, a squad of the guards consisted of ten men broke off from the main group and managed to surround the bird, cutting off its maneuver space. They fired Lightning Coiled in Ring arrows to finish the damn bird.
"Waa, so powerful!" Wu Feng's eyes widened in amazement witnessing the power of the arrows. He did not stop nagging for the rest of the journey asking for them until his father gave him a set of bow and arrows with a headache to shut him off.
The little Feng eyed a Lightning Coiled in Ring arrow he held in his small hands with joy.
There were three blue ring marks on the shaft of the wooden arrow. When it fired, the ring marks will blast the target with azure lightning rings that spread over an area of five zhang, zapping everything inside.
Everyone inside the area will suffer the first, the second, and the third impact. Sadly there won't be any angel to save them from the destruction.
With the average traveling speed of two thousand li a day, Wu Clan convoy traveled leisurely along the way. They would camp in the wilderness when night came to avoid unnecessary attention by staying in the inns with such a large number.
There was a saying in the jianghu, 'enemies made in every corner, friends made in every toast.' You will never know when you will meet an enemy when you turn at the next corner. Like you will never know when you will make a friend when you toast a wine with a stranger you meet in your journey.
Cultivator world is full of dangerous people, and conspicuous acts will always paint the biggest target on the back. Even a big clan like the Wu will tread carefully when they travel out of their territory.
"Young master, we have arrived." The coach politely informed Wu Hao.
"Um." Wu Hao nodded.
He activated the Scrying Mirror which gradually reflected a clear image of a mountain range filled with white mists.
Mountain peaks reached high to the skies. One can vaguely make out the silhouettes of buildings on the hills and peaks. At the foot of the forefront mountain, a magnificent gate stood erect emitting elegant and otherworldly bearing, as if it was aloof beyond the mortal world.
It was painted with alternating white and azure color. Its roof was decorated with two green dragon statues made from two whole slabs of highest quality jade.
Beyond the gate was majestic buildings in two and three stories. One will feel that they have encountered a gate to the immortal land if they chanced upon such buildings when they are wandering a mountain.
Of course, that was only what mortals would think because such buildings actually were very common. The imperial palace of the White Crane Dynasty was much grander. But there were no ordinary mortals in this world and there isn't any mortal kingdom in this world.
Every people can cultivate even if they will only be able to cultivate to the door of cultivation, the low levels of qi condensation, unable to advance for the rest of their lives. But it was enough to ensure their livelihood.
"Alright, we have arrived. Feng'er, wake up."
Wu Feng opened his eyes lazily. He heard his mother's voice but he felt very reluctant when they have arrived at their destination.
"Come on, wake up already. It won't look good if you look so sloppy." With a smile, Xu Yue shook her only son's shoulder.
Wu Feng let out a big yawn and stretched his body. But the next moment he felt chill water touched his face. Her mother conjured water and start washing his face before tidying his hair.
"Uh, mom. I am big enough already. I can do it myself."
"What are you saying? We are all family here. No need to feel embarrassed." Then she proceeds to dry his face and clothes with magic technique.
Wu Hao grinned on the side.
"You too." Xu Yue poured cool water on his head.
"Hahaha..." Wu Feng can not hold out his laughter. His mother is still mischievous even now.
Black lines filled Wu Hao's forehead. "Just you watch tonight."
"Hmm? Did you say something?" Xu Yue glared with her big eyes and lifted her chin.
"Cough. Nope, nothing."
Wu Hao calmly used her moment of distraction to wash her face with the water then dried his face and clothes.
At their level, using feints and seizing opportunity in split second is daily breakfast. His demeanor was calm and smooth to maintain his dignity in front of his son.
Wu Feng already used to their daily lover's quarrel, so he snickered at his father's obvious attempt to save his face.