022: Crossing the River
Zemirah finished her food and paid a total of 300 gold coins.
Then she went to wander on the market.
She bought a map from a shop that sells information. The map showed the whole of the SkyLight Province of the Bright Light Dynasty.
There are a total of five provinces in the Bright Light Dynasty. Each one was unique on its own and contained a large expanse of territory.
SkyLight Province faced the Sectarian territory where sects were established since the Bright Light Dynasty wouldn't let any sects exceed them, most sects chose to establish themselves there. The biggest force in there is the Elemental Root Sect which is also a Gold-Tier force at the same level as Bright Light Dynasty.
Colorful Light Province faced the other mortal empire called Aeros Empire which had the same strength as Bright Light Dynasty.
Bright Light Province is the very center of the Bright Light Dynasty where the imperial capital is founded.
Light Melody Province faced the Endless Sea that no one enters unless one reaches Nascent Soul Realm.
Cold Light Province faced Frost Miracle Mountain, a border that separates this territory from another similar-sized territory. It was said that the place is governed by two large sects.
The Teal River Town under Wintea City is near the border. There are two ways to go out from the territory of Bright Light Dynasty. One is a battlefield guarded by the Dynasty's army while the other is to cross the Azure Sky Forest that few dare to enter.
The most prosperous city in Sky Light Province is the Border city named Azure Light City. That place is safe as the dynasty's army is guarding it while not so safe outside.
Zemirah has no plans to go out of the territory of Bright Light Dynasty yet so she just browsed those details out of curiosity on Azar Continent.
After that, she purchased some trinkets she thought were interesting as a souvenir and gift. One she likes the most is a shell from an Outstanding-Quality Peak-Stage Grade 1 demonic beast called [Ink Spotted Shell] that can be used to make talisman ink.
When it was near the time the boat would sail, Zemirah decided to stop her shopping spree.
Zemirah was embarrassed to remember she forgot to buy a boat ticket. Fortunately, there are some seats aside from reserved ones that can only be bought on-site before the boat sails.
She spent 50 gold coins, twice more expensive than the preordered tickets.
Zemirah didn't feel bad at the expense and was only relieved that she bought one. If not, she would've to waste more time waiting for another boat to sail.
The boat is a medium-sized one, it can carry at most 50 passengers aside from the staff.
The boat is a flying artifact, which is a transportation artifact, and this particular boat emphasize speed, unlike other similar flying boat that has strong defense function.
Zemirah was in favor of the flying boat being fast since she wanted to arrive at her destination sooner. She has promised her disciple to go back quickly.
The boat is named Verona, it is a thin and long type of boat. The boat doesn't have many things on it, unlike the luxurious flying boat she saw at the dock that can rival a luxurious cruise ship in Modern Earth from its extravagance.
Zemirah showed her ticket to the staff at the entrance, it was not the woman she met earlier. The staff didn't see any problem with her ticket so she quickly entered the flying boat.
Each passenger has their own cabin, providing them the privacy needed.
Zemirah heard that the journey will take at least 4 hours and a day the longest.
The famous Teal River is quite wide and long, connecting from Azure Sky Forest and branching out.
People tried to find its very source but never got decent information. The Azure Sky Forest's fame is not for show.
The Teal River and the surrounding Teal River Forest was the habitat of many spirit beast and demonic beast. With the demonic beast actively attacking human settlements and cultivators.
This is also the reason why flying a boat whose business is to cross the river is expensive. They need enough information about the surroundings to bypass the dangerous areas and have enough strength to defend and escape the attacking beasts.
Zemirah observed the other passengers and noticed that everyone was a cultivator, not a single mortal could be seen.
She didn't bother conversing and went to explore the other areas of the flying boat since this was her first time riding one. Though from the memories of the original owner, the previous sect also has flying boats, and a more majestic one at that.
The flying boat she's riding now is a common flying boat artifact since the precious ones are in the palms of bigger forces.
Even with that knowledge, it didn't dampen Zemirah's enthusiasm.
She went to hold on to the railings, watching the teal-colored river that looked so calm one wouldn't think danger lurked within.
There are few passengers wandering outside since most chose to stay inside their cabins. She enjoyed the fresh wind touching her face and hair, inhaling deeply.
This is life, Zemirah sighed in her heart.
Her quiet peace was interrupted when a voice sounded a few steps away from her.
"Be careful that a demonic beast from the river, those guys wouldn't leave a flying ship alone." A male voice sounded, and she could feel the teasing tone of the owner.
Zemirah was startled making her open her eyes. She looked for the owner of the voice and saw someone familiar. It was the person beside the Town Lord from the last auction.
She narrowed her fox eyes and answered, "The flying ship has its own defensive array formation."
The young man shook his head, "Don't trust that the array formation can fully defend against the demonic beasts. Besides, this flying ship's defense is lower than other similar ones to enhance its speed."
Zemirah blinked and didn't argue. She also understands the truth from his words, "Many thanks to young master's reminder."
The young man raised a brow at her address and laughed. Zemirah knew the person in front of her was someone in the Foundation Building realm, so calling him a Fellow Daoist was inappropriate.
"Why is the young lady out of the town? The surrounding is quite chaotic, it's not suitable to wander around."
Zemirah was confused by the man's question at first, she didn't expect someone to be so nosy. Only after hearing his last words did she understand. It was indeed not safe to go out, many people wanted to find a safe place to hide and the town could provide that. Yet here she is, wandering outside like the chaos won't affect her.
Zemirah didn't see anything wrong so she answered, "I have to make a trip to a village to find a spiritual plant master. My garden needs someone to take care of it."
The young man didn't expect her reason to be that and laughed. He thought it was amazing how someone would risk going out for such a reason.
"Then I wish the lady a safe journey." He said with a smile in his voice.
Zemirah stared at the man whose gentlemanly aura attracted attention and smiled, "Zemirah wishes the same for the young master."
The man seemed to have something to say when his facial expression changed.
A terrifying aura rose below them, Zemirah felt the five auras of the Foundation Building realm at the same time her jade pendant gave her a warning, making her quickly pull her talisman and activate defensive ones.
The young man, whose name she still didn't know, pulled a sword. The thin black sword was suffused with cold Ice Energy and slashed using a sword move and shattered the three attacks from the enemy that prevented the ship from being destroyed.
Zemirah was splashed with the falling water.
Everything happened so fast that she could only see the young master fighting with the five enemies. She can see that the five cultivators are taking a toll on him, especially since three of them are at the Peak-Stage of the Foundation Building realm, a stage higher than him.
It didn't take long for the young man's subordinate to join the battle, another two Foundation Building realm cultivators fought one each. Leaving three enemies to fight the young man.
**
"The young master really hid well, he actually knows swordsmanship and has a high attainment at that." A female demonic cultivator giggled as she waved her fan to attack.
A bloody light was infused with the attack, confirming the young man's suspicion of the enemy's identity.
The young master didn't have any expression on his face, "I don't know why you ambushed me. I'm a sword cultivator and never hid this fact."
He doesn't seem to be lying, which makes his enemies confused in their hearts.
Could it be they're wrong? The young master of Whitelock House is not this man?
The person they attacked never used any Art Cultivation that is unique to the higher-ups of the Bright Light Dynasty. This is the foundation and proof of identity of the Bright Light Dynasty, the four art cultivations named [Musical Instrument], [Chess], [Painting], and [Calligraphy].
The Whitelock House is known for its calligraphy cultivation, using a brush to write scripts as their power.
They can attack fiercely, defend strongly, and have other magical uses.
The Demonic Cultivators and Demonic Beasts decided to stop thinking deeply and kill this young man first.
"Whatever, kill him first!" Another Demonic Cultivator shouted.
The young man saw that they didn't stop and felt his heart sink. His whereabouts were exposed, and he decided to do a clean-up after finishing his mission.
**
Zemirah saw that there was a Demonic Beast in the enemy's ranks, one of the Peak-Stage Foundation Building realm.
She almost cursed at the sudden turn of events and felt a bone-chilling cold at the looming death. She never felt so helpless, she didn't even have the strength to resist the ongoing battle.
Zemirah wanted to escape but found that many Demonic Beasts in the Energy Refinement realm were attacking the flying ship. She knew she had no choice but to fight, so she pulled her sword, the Celestial-Quality [Purple Heaven Butterfly Sword].
The thin sword was cold flashed with cold light and a head of a fish demonic beast fell down. Zemirah didn't expect that killing someone at the Low-Stage of the Energy Refinement realm would be that easy.
The green blood dripped from her sword to the floor, Zemirah was surprised to discover that… she didn't feel repulsed anymore. In fact, she was happy.
Happy that she can defend herself.
Finding a new source of confidence, she started fighting with the sword in hand. Sometimes, she'll use talismans to help others on the ship.
She started making her way to the control room, where the captain should be residing as she noticed that the fight in there was the most intense. The Demonic Beasts should be trying to take control of the flying ship.
"Damn it! Captain! There are too many of these damned beasts." A burly man shouted angrily. He swung his ax hard and made his enemy step back.
Zemirah saw that his enemy was not a Demonic Beast, but a human. She felt the demonic energy on that person and knew it was a Demonic Cultivator.
There are many kinds of energies in the world of Azar. The most common and the root of all energy is the spiritual energy that most humans and spirit beasts cultivate.
While demonic energy is the opposite of it, this is what the demonic cultivators and demonic beasts cultivate. Differentiating them from the orthodoxy.
"F*cking-" a woman cursed crisply and made a seal to contain the enemies.
A fire snake of chain binds the burly man's enemy, burning his clothes and skin. A loud painful scream sounded, making Zemirah grimace as the burning smell reached her nose.
The burly man didn't let the chance pass and cut off the enemy's head from his body.
Just as they sighed in relief, the burly man shouted in alarm, "Captain! Behind you!"
The woman felt danger from behind, making her expression change. When the burly man was stupefied and the woman making a seal, a blue sword light flashed that killed the sneaking enemy.
"This?" The burly man was once again stunned.
The woman, whom Zemirah recognized as the one whom she asked for information about the sailing time, glanced in shock.
Verona already felt the death ready to drag her to hell when an unexpected scene happened.
She was saved by someone. And it was the woman she thought a naïve young miss from an affluent family. She frowned before sighing, anyway, a life-saving grace has been done.
Verona is not an ungrateful person. In fact, she values sentiments more than a normal person. She will surely find a way to return the favor.