April 4th.
For ordinary people in Da Zhou, it was just an ordinary day. But for many influential forces within Da Zhou, this day held a different significance.
Because today, Su Yi, the seventeen-year-old Martial Ancestor, was set to embark on his journey to Yu Jing City!
Turbulent waves had already been brewing in secret.
Dangers lurked everywhere!
Ling Jiao Ridge.
Located about a hundred miles from Gun Zhou City, it was named for its shape resembling a "diamond angle."
The mountain cliffs were steep, and few ventured there.
A dilapidated temple, built who knows when, stood desolate on the side of the mountain path.
The temple gate was crumbling and decayed, covered in spider webs and dust. The clay sculpture of the Land Deity, once enshrined within, had long collapsed into a pile of stones.
As evening approached, with slanting winds and fine rain, the heavy mist saturated the air.
Walking along the winding and rugged mountain road, a young man in a green robe, holding an oiled paper umbrella, strolled leisurely as if taking a casual walk in a courtyard.
It was Su Yi.
He had set off from Gun Zhou City in the early morning, walking all the way, traversing mountains and rivers. He had hardly rested along the journey and now only felt a pang of hunger.
Upon arriving at the dilapidated temple, Su Yi looked up at the sky and decided to take a short rest.
After some thought, he raised his hand and patted the Soul-nourishing Gourd hanging at his waist, saying, "Qing Wan."
The Soul-nourishing Gourd emitted a wisp of white smoke. Amidst the mist, Qing Wan, dressed in a blood-red dress, appeared out of thin air.
"What instructions does Master have?" the girl asked, her clear and innocent eyes filled with timidity.
Compared to before, Qing Wan's aura had completely assimilated with that of a normal human. Her figure was delicate and graceful, her skin crystal-clear like white jade, and her voice soft and sweet, making her charming and adorable.
"Go and catch some game, but don't wander too far," Su Yi instructed.
"Yes!" Qing Wan quickly complied.
With a flash of her lovely figure, she turned into a red light and disappeared into the rain curtain.
Su Yi put away the umbrella, pushed open the temple door, and brought out a rattan chair. He comfortably lay down and took out a map, carefully examining it.
Gun Zhou City and Yu Jing City were separated by a distance of two thousand miles. Along the way, there were not only towering mountains but also vast rivers, deserts, and large lakes...
And, of course, numerous cities.
According to Su Yi's planned route, if he were to walk to Yu Jing City, he would have to cross at least three mountains, nine rivers, and nineteen cities.
However, Su Yi wasn't in a hurry to travel.
He had already made an agreement with Ning Yi Hua and Mu Xi to meet in Jin Liu City, which was dozens of miles away from Bao Cha Yao Shan. They would then explore Bao Cha Yao Shan together before continuing their journey to Yu Jing City.
"With my pace, I should be able to reach Jin Liu City in less than five days," Su Yi thought to himself.
Bao Cha Yao Shan was located along the route Su Yi had planned. Once they passed Bao Cha Yao Shan, they would arrive within the territory of Bai Zhou.
Bai Zhou was the border region adjacent to Yu Jing City. Once there, it would take less than two days to reach Yu Jing City.
Putting away the map, Su Yi took out a gourd filled with wine and drank from it sip by sip.
The sky gradually darkened, and there were signs that the fine rain was intensifying. Raindrops fell on the broken temple tiles, making a pitter-patter sound.
In the desolate mountains, a dilapidated temple, and the rainy evening, darkness enveloped the world.
Su Yi sat alone in the dimness, but he felt at ease. However, his stomach growled louder and louder...
His eyebrows couldn't help but slightly furrow. Qing Wan, that little girl, already possessed power comparable to a Grandmaster. Why did it take her so long to catch some game?
At that moment, a red figure floated in.
It was Qing Wan, holding a giant golden python in her grasp. She stammered, "Master, you've waited a long time."
Su Yi asked, "Why did it take you so long?"
Qing Wan, feeling somewhat embarrassed, lowered her head and said timidly, "Along the way, I did encounter many little rabbits and deer, but they seemed kind-hearted, and I couldn't bring myself to harm them. So, I kept looking for suitable prey, and it was only after much effort that I found this python..."
Su Yi massaged his temples with his hand, his lips twitching slightly. "So, you were able to deal with this python?"
Qing Wan hurriedly explained, "Um... I didn't kill it myself. This python was killed by an eagle. I drove away the eagle and brought back the python."
Su Yi: "..."
He had seen kind-hearted people, but never one this kind-hearted. For cultivators, is there such a thing as not taking lives?
"You've really made it difficult," Su Yi shook his head and started to get busy.
Before long, a blazing bonfire was burning, and the golden python was cut into chunks and skewered, roasting over the fire.
Qing Wan squatted carefully to the side, watching Su Yi skillfully roast the meat, a serene expression on her brows.
"Do you want to eat?" Soon, Su Yi picked up a skewer of snake meat, golden and dripping with oil, and asked Qing Wan.
Qing Wan quickly shook her head.
Seeing this, Su Yi enjoyed the meal himself, eating the meat and drinking the wine, feeling delighted.
It must be said that eating freshly roasted snake meat in this desolate mountain on a rainy night had a unique flavor.
Pitter-patter~~
The rain grew heavier, and the rain curtain flowing from the eaves resembled a cascading water curtain.
The sky grew even darker.
Su Yi finished his meal and drank his fill. Seeing the weather, he couldn't help but frown, contemplating whether to continue the journey through the night.
Suddenly, faint footsteps sounded outside the dilapidated temple.
Soon, in the pouring rain, a man wearing a raincoat and a bamboo hat strode into the temple.
This man had an imposing stature that gave off a sense of oppression. Water cascaded off his body, but it couldn't disperse the aura of solemn and bloodthirsty killing that surrounded him.
As soon as the man entered, he respectfully bowed to Su Yi with clasped fists. "Young Master Su, my master is hosting a banquet at the 'Dragon Bridge Inn,' twenty li away from here. He has sent me to invite you to attend!"
His voice was deep and thunderous, causing the broken temple tiles to tremble slightly.
Sitting on a rattan chair, Su Yi remained calm and asked, "Who is your master?"
The man in the bamboo hat maintained his respectful posture and said in a deep voice, "You will know when you arrive, Young Master."
Su Yi nodded and said, "In this remote and desolate mountain, in such heavy rain, your master can find me in this broken temple and arrange a banquet in advance. That's quite impressive."
The man in the bamboo hat replied in a low voice, "If Young Master accepts the invitation, please come with me."
"And if I refuse?" Su Yi asked calmly.
"My master said that since Young Master has the courage to travel to Yu Jing City alone, he will not be afraid to attend the banquet," the man replied. "My master also said that if Su Yi refuses, he will let me choose between two ways to die."
Su Yi raised an eyebrow and asked, "Which two ways?"
The man in the bamboo hat slightly raised his head, revealing a pair of indifferent and almost ruthless eyes beneath the hat. He said in a deep voice, "Either Young Master Su kills me, or my master kills me."
Snap!
Su Yi flicked his finger, and a strand of sword aura shot out, like lightning, aimed at the man's throat.
The man's pupils suddenly contracted like needles, but he stood there motionless.
When the strand of sword aura reached an inch from the man's throat, it abruptly exploded and dissipated into nothingness.
The man took a deep breath and clasped his hands, saying, "Thank you, Young Master Su, for sparing my life."
Cold sweat seeped from his temples, neck, and spine, revealing that he was not as calm as he appeared.
"Lead the way," Su Yi said, rising from the rattan chair and calling Qing Wan back to the soul-nurturing gourd at his waist.
...
Dragon Bridge Inn.
A relay station built on a remote mountain road, with a huge courtyard in front. Within the courtyard stood five stone-built towers, arranged in a scattered manner.
The rain poured heavily, and the night grew darker.
Inside the central tower, a massive three-story building, the lights were on, emanating a warm glow.
The man in the bamboo hat led Su Yi into the inn, taking advantage of the rainy and dark night. They walked straight into the central tower.
As they entered through the doors, a wave of heat hit them, and they saw the hall illuminated by lanterns, with a red carpet spread on the floor and incense smoke curling in the air.
Inside the enormous hall, there was a long pearwood table adorned with exquisite delicacies, fruits, and pastries, all emitting steam.
Outside, the wind howled and the rain poured, but inside, there was a scene of luxury and splendor, creating a stark contrast.
Seated at the opposite end of the long table was a man wearing a feathered crown and a feathered robe. He had sharp eyebrows and star-like eyes, exuding an elegant demeanor.
Resting on his shoulder was a lazy black cat, its deep blue eyes shimmering with a mesmerizing and eerie light.
"The young master has arrived, my lord," the man in the bamboo hat respectfully reported.
"You have no business here. Leave," the feathered man said with a smile.
The man in the bamboo hat nodded and stood up, raising his right hand and bowing slightly to Su Yi. "Wen Zhou Wang Zhuo, I greet Young Master Su."
If it were any other martial artist from the Great Zhou Dynasty, upon hearing the name "Wang Zhuo," they would immediately think of a series of dazzling titles.
The master of the Tianxing Academy, one of the ten major academies, one of the "Ten Celestial Martial Ancestors" of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the "Qingxun King" among the nine kings from different surnames...
He began cultivating at a young age and reached the Grandmaster realm at the age of fourteen, becoming the undisputed leader among his peers in the Tianyuan Academy.
At the age of seventeen, he became a Celestial Martial Ancestor. In just ten years, he ascended to the ranks of the Great Zhou Dynasty's Ten Celestial Martial Ancestors, earning praise from the Tenfang Pavilion as a "dragon among men, an extraordinary martial talent."
Now, at the age of thirty-seven, it had been twenty years since he had reached the Celestial Martial Ancestor realm. No one knew the extent of his cultivation, this legendary martial genius.
Of course, Su Yi was unaware of all this.
Even if he knew, he wouldn't care too much.
In the face of Wang Zhuo's greeting, Su Yi simply nodded and casually sat down on a seat beside the long table, saying, "Speak up. You arranged this banquet and sent someone to invite me. What do you want?"
Wang Zhuo smiled faintly and also took a seat. He said, "Young Master Su is straightforward and concise, and I won't beat around the bush either. The reason for inviting you here is to discuss a momentous joyous occasion with you."
"A joyous occasion?" Su Yi raised an eyebrow. "Go on."
Wang Zhuo's eyes were profound as he looked at Su Yi with a smile. He said sincerely, "While others may covet the opportunities and secrets you possess, I value you as a person even more."
Pausing for a moment, he leaned forward slightly and continued, "Therefore, I have arranged this banquet and extended an invitation to ask you to join the force I belong to."