Ji Xia, Zhao Wu, and Fan Zhu were enveloped in a stream of white energy, traveling swiftly through the skies. The three Upper Rune Generals flew alongside them, channeling their immense spiritual energy into the white stream, allowing the trio to safely follow these mighty spirit-controlling experts and experience the thrill of flight.
Looking down, Ji Xia observed the landscape below: vast mountain ranges, lush forests, and sprawling cities swiftly passed beneath their feet. The mountains and forests appeared impressive, but the cities, seen from such heights, looked as small as ants. Their houses were mere pinpricks, indistinguishable without activating the Solar Spirit Eyes.
"So this is the feeling of flight?"
Ji Xia took a deep breath, murmuring to himself, "This sensation of soaring freely between heaven and earth—it's almost addictive."
"Yet this isn't true flight," he mused, "I can't roam the skies as I please. This energy surrounding me is like a giant bird, and I'm merely riding it. It's no different from being carried by a massive flying creature."
"Even so, this feeling is worlds apart from riding a plane or speeding across the plains in my past life!"
His heart filled with longing for the Spirit Control Realm, the stage of cultivation where the spirit wheel nurtures the spirit embryo, granting cultivators a tenfold increase in spiritual energy capacity.
"Mastering a flight-related divine ability in that realm means even those without natural wings can take to the skies." Ji Xia's heart burned with desire. "I wonder when I'll reach the Spirit Control Realm. Then, by practicing a flight divine ability, I'll finally experience the true freedom of flight."
As he contemplated, a thought struck him. "Wait—if it's just a matter of spiritual energy, perhaps I don't need to wait for the Spirit Control Realm. Once I break through my heavenly barrier and step into the Divine Ability Realm, I can inscribe several spiritual seals onto my spirit wheel. With the power of the Jupiter Star Avatar, could I achieve flight even without a spirit embryo?"
Curiosity ignited in Ji Xia's heart. "It should be possible. The Jupiter Star Avatar is incredibly potent and has immense growth potential. When I advance to the Divine Ability Realm, my avatar will surely undergo another transformation. By then, I might just have enough energy to take flight."
Time passed slowly as the trio engaged in idle chatter within their energy cocoon. After three hours of flight, a majestic city finally appeared on the horizon, standing tall on a vast plain.
This plain, covered in swaying black grass, stretched endlessly, its soft blades bowing in the wind like a dark sea.
"Brother Qin," Fan Zhu said, pointing at the expanse, "Do you see this vast plain? It wasn't always like this. It used to be dominated by two massive mountain ranges. Over the first century of Great Fu's establishment, we moved these mountains, reshaped the terrain with rune magic, and redirected a tributary of the Fu River to flow past our capital. It took two hundred years of tireless effort to create this fertile land!"
"The black grass below, known as 'Ink Grass,' was cultivated by Great Fu's people to produce ink for rune writing. Our nation thrives on runes; they're our lifeblood, enabling us to survive and prosper in this boundless wilderness."
Her words were filled with pride, but Ji Xia felt a deep sense of awe.
Moving two colossal mountain ranges? Altering the terrain with rune techniques? Diverting rivers?
For Tai Cang, such feats seemed like myth or legend, yet they were the undeniable achievements of Great Fu.
Fan Zhu spoke casually, but Ji Xia, as a ruler himself, understood the monumental challenges hidden behind her words.
Tai Cang had only just solved its food crisis; the problem of keeping warm in the harsh winters still loomed large, a hurdle pressing on the minds of every citizen, official, and even Ji Xia himself.
Food and warmth go hand in hand. Could a nation survive with food but no warmth? Absolutely not. In the endless wilderness, failing to solve the issue of warmth would stunt a civilization's growth, leaving it vulnerable to the deadly cold.
Faced with such impassable mountains, what could Tai Cang do? Ji Xia knew that if the royal court gave the order, Tai Cang's citizens would rise to the challenge without hesitation. Even on empty stomachs and without warm clothing, they'd dig and haul with relentless determination. But mere mortal strength could only achieve so much—it would lead only to the exhaustion and deaths of Tai Cang's labor force.
Great Fu, on the other hand, had countless powerful cultivators and advanced rune techniques, enabling them to accomplish such wonders in just two centuries.
"When Tai Cang becomes strong, with a larger population and more cultivators, how should we develop?" Ji Xia pondered, gazing at the man-made plain. "Move mountains? The greatest obstacle we face lies to the east—Da Huang. Could it be…"
Ji Xia shivered, quickly dismissing the thought. "I've heard that those who reach the Spirit Palace Realm can sense when others think or speak of them. If I, a mere mortal, even think of Da Huang, would it sense me?"
Suppressing his curiosity, Ji Xia banished all thoughts of the ancient being, redirecting his mind to more immediate concerns. "We can expand southward, annex the territories of minor nations like Gou Quan and E Jiao. With the lands of Zhou Qing included, Tai Cang would have enough space for a population five times our current size."
After a quarter of an hour, the group finally arrived above the capital city of Great Fu—Feng Fu City.
Ji Xia marveled at its scale, spanning seventy to eighty li in length and width. Its streets were orderly, lined with grand mansions, shops, and palaces in the city's center. Surrounding the core were districts of residential housing, marketplaces, and streets bustling with activity.
He saw beings from various races living within the city. The Great Fu people occupied the central districts, benefiting from the conveniences provided by the millions of other inhabitants.
"The bloodline of Great Fu is rare, numbering less than a million across seventy-six cities," Zhao Wu explained. "Even fewer reside in Feng Fu. But within a radius of ten thousand li, countless smaller nations and races rely on our might.
"They use trade routes opened by Great Fu to exchange goods, paying us taxes for their transactions. Those who seek our protection must offer tributes of resources, treasures, spirit crystals, and spirit gold.
"This capital city, Feng Fu, is ironic in a way. The Great Fu bloodline only established the central inner city, Shu Yang Palace. The rest of this grand city was built by these weaker races."
Ji Xia's expression remained calm, but his heart was shaken.
"Great Fu's last two monarchs—one reigning for 101 years and the current King Fu Sheng for 196 years—have demonstrated extraordinary vision and ambition. Together, they've forged a nation that reigns supreme over this vast land."
Ji Xia vowed silently, "One day, Tai Cang too will command such power, with all races coming to pay homage!"