Inside the gate, foreign disciples were forbidden from flying. This rule had cursed Adrei countless times in his heart over the past two years.
He clumsily climbed onto the back of the paper crane, and suddenly the paper crane creaked, its bamboo strip bending. His movement became stiff, but after a while, seeing that the paper crane hadn't collapsed, he felt relieved.
"Blasio, now's not the time to falter."
Holding onto the paper crane's head, Ariel gently guided it down to the ground. The sound of bamboo and paper rang out again. The paper crane wobbled like a tipsy reveler, tracing an odd arc through the air. It zigzagged, tilted left and right, and then shot forward along the mountain road.
Ariel sat with exceptional stability; his experience evident. Though this lowest-grade common paper crane, with a maximum carrying capacity of less than four hundred pounds, was currently very precarious, it still managed to make other foreign disciples envious.
Among the outer disciples, he was the first to possess a mount. Of course, considering the common paper crane as a mount was a stretch, not something Ariel seriously contemplated.
Amidst the rhythmic creaking that persisted for five hours, Ariel's zombie-like expression turned a bit pale, and the East Ring came into view.
Emerging through the mist-covered sky, the East Ring loomed ahead.
Five centuries ago, the people of Mesotron Mountain had shattered a peak with a sword, using the half-remaining pinnacle as the foundation to establish the East Ring. Half a millennium later, the East Ring had developed into one of the thirteen towns of Yuanming.
The paper crane descended to the foot of the East Ring, and intermittent laughter could be heard from the surroundings. A slender zombie perched atop a slender, paper-like crane, appearing as though a drunkard. The sight drew chuckles from onlookers.
Ariel remained seated as he was, seemingly absorbed in his own world. Though to an observer, he looked like a peerless zombie, in truth, the creature atop his head riding the DC was the true mount!
The gray-bodied fire goose, with its broad and cushiony back, provided an almost bump-free experience—supreme enjoyment at its finest. Then there was the ethereal Rui Xiangyun, upon whose back he trod, stepping on clouds with an undeniable flair. And lastly, hovering behind the back of the practitioner, the lightning-imbued flap allowed for lightning-quick movement, offering the thrill of speed...
These adjectives were reversed, but Ariel could only recite them in that order.
However, what truly left him astounded was the massive Yufu boat that passed overhead. The entire ship resembled a mountain. As it soared over him, Ariel found himself enveloped in darkness, and upon looking up, he could only glimpse the faint light emanating from the densely packed bottom of the vessel.
Luxury, he mused, was the greatest original sin of cultivators!
Ariel couldn't help but groan inwardly, but then he noticed other cultivators also meandering about, which suddenly improved his mood.
Another span of time passed, and at long last, person, crane, and bag arrived at the base of the East Ring. With Blasio's flying ability, attempting to reach the East Ring directly was nothing short of a fantasy.
Descending from the paper crane, he unloaded his bag and retrieved the paper crane. The visible cracks on its surface were ominous, eliciting a lament from Ariel. Would he need to buy another one again? The thought of it pained him deeply.
Lifting his gaze, he blinked, taking in the towering East Ring ahead. Countless stone steps led up to its peak, though he couldn't discern exactly how many. Then, glancing at the bag near his feet, he involuntarily winced.
"Brother, could you use a hand?" Ariel muttered to himself.
And then he saw him – a towering figure, his upper body bared.
"How much?" Ariel inquired; his caution evident as his gaze swept the surroundings. Encouraged by his glance, several burly men who had been sitting nearby got to their feet.
Sensing the approach of his peers, the burly man's heart raced. Hastily, he answered, "Three items."
Three pieces of spar.
"Outrageous!" Ariel exclaimed, followed by a more resolute statement, "Only two. If you're up for it, do it. If not, move along." While making a surprised expression would have been ideal, he couldn't help it. His zombie-like face revealed no emotions, leaving the atmosphere rather awkward.
"That's too steep!" The burly man clenched his teeth, but observing the reactions of those around him, he motioned toward his companions and said, "Fine!"
With a sweeping gesture, he extended his large, fan-like hand toward the bag on the ground. Ariel barked, "Slow!"