Heading to the Great Yan Imperial Capital

He had barely returned from Gold and Iron City and warmed his seat before he accepted a mission and set out for the imperial capital again.

Chen Ning felt helpless.

He was born to toil.

He had another journey to make.

The Peach Blossom Spring Mountain Range was a long way from the imperial capital. Even with a flying spirit beast, the long journey would take more than ten days.

What Chen Ning lacked most right now was time.

The mission had a time limit of only thirty days.

And this was an epic-level mission. No one knew how many stages would follow.

He had to save as much time as possible.

Once the two had packed, they went straight to Verdant Peak and asked Great Elder Cang Yue to activate the teleportation array.

Using the teleportation array, they could reach the array at the other end in the Great Yan Imperial Capital in just one minute.

Such arrays were extremely convenient, but they came with all sorts of restrictions. The power they required was immense and exceptionally precious.

In the entire Great Yan Imperial Dynasty, only the imperial capital had a teleportation array.

Even routine maintenance of the array consumed vast amounts of money and resources.

Verdant Peak.

In front of the teleportation array.

Cang Yue looked at Chen Ning with concern. "Sect Master, there will inevitably be dangers on this trip to the imperial capital. Why not take Ying Wu with you?"

Ying Wu was Cang Yue's personal attendant. She cultivated a remarkably wondrous technique, moving like a shadow, like the wind.

The sect master had suddenly announced that he was going to the Great Yan Imperial Capital, which had truly left Cang Yue deeply worried.

To make matters worse, he would not say what he was going there for. What would she do if he ran into danger?

Ever since she gained sudden enlightenment into that trace of the Spirit Void Seed, Cang Yue had been deeply concerned for Chen Ning's safety.

Every day, she exchanged messages with Xiao Mei several times.

That was how she learned how Chen Ning had been doing lately.

His trip to Gold and Iron City to collect the Marrow-Cleansing Fruit a few days ago was one thing.

With Xiao Mei there, there was no need to worry about his safety.

But now the sect master was taking only Su Ling'er with him to the Great Yan Imperial Capital.

Cang Yue simply could not put her mind at ease.

"Ying Wu should stay and attend to you. It will be enough for me to take Ling'er. There is no need to worry."

Chen Ning gave Cang Yue an impassive glance, showing a measure of the dignity expected of a teacher.

"I understand."

Cang Yue knew she could not persuade Chen Ning, so she had no choice but to call Su Ling'er over.

"Greetings, Great Elder!"

The little loli was still very respectful when facing the great elder.

"On this trip, you must protect the sect master and keep him safe. If anything goes wrong, I'll hold you responsible."

Cang Yue's breathtakingly beautiful face was full of solemnity.

"Don't worry, Great Elder. Ling'er will protect Big Brother Sect Master with her life."

The little loli waved her tiny fists and made her solemn vow.

Su Ling'er had asked Big Brother Sect Master several times, but he had never told her what he was going to do on this trip. In the end, she stopped asking. She only needed to take good care of him.

"Mm."

Though Cang Yue had given those instructions, she still could not feel completely at ease.

Only after Chen Ning and Su Ling'er entered the array did Cang Yue summon Ying Wu.

"Your Highness."

Ying Wu had so little presence that unless one looked closely, she would not draw any attention at all.

"Write a letter and ask them to look after him."

Ying Wu accepted the order and was about to withdraw.

"Wait!"

Cang Yue rubbed the space between her brows. "Not look after him. Attend to his every need."

"As you command."

Only then did Ying Wu withdraw.

She was greatly surprised. She had not expected Her Highness to place such importance on the sect master.

She had even called upon a force she almost never used.

For all these years, Her Highness had never taken the initiative to contact anyone in the imperial capital, for fear of giving others something to talk about.

Or letting them discover some clue.

But now, to protect the sect master in secret, Her Highness had actually made use of that identity.

That alone showed how much the sect master mattered.

The teleportation array blazed with light, and soon the two were transported to the array in the Great Yan Imperial Capital.

They had barely stepped out of the array when several armored soldiers came forward and blocked their path.

"May I ask where you two came from?"

The soldier in the lead first glanced at the two of them, then asked in a low voice.

Chen Ning had already planned to keep a low profile throughout this trip, so he did not reveal his identity.

"My sister and I came from Desolate Province. We simply couldn't bear the harsh, cold life there, so we thought we'd come to Spirit Province to seek an opportunity."

Chen Ning answered with the story he had prepared in advance.

Desolate Province was the most barren land in the Nine Provinces.

It was a desolate place where the Beast Race ran rampant.

Across the vast expanse of Desolate Province, only a few small cities stood, and not even a complete nation had been established. As a result, city lords were the highest authorities, and survival was an uphill struggle for the human race there.

Thus, many people from Desolate Province did everything they could to save up enough money to pay for the teleportation array and come here.

Hearing Chen Ning's words, the soldier immediately relaxed. Since they were lowly people from Desolate Province, there was naturally no need to be too worried.

Everyone who could activate the teleportation array to come here had to be questioned carefully.

This was the imperial city, after all, an important place where no carelessness could be allowed.

Naturally, they could not afford to offend important figures.

But lowly people from Desolate Province were another matter. They could extort them.

The other soldiers relaxed as well.

"You're from Desolate Province, so do you know that maintaining this teleportation array costs a great deal of money?"

The soldier in the lead asked with a malicious smile.

Chen Ning smiled calmly. "Of course we do. My sister and I spent all our savings just to afford the teleportation array's fee."

At that, the soldiers' eyelids twitched.

"You're out of money?"

"Judging by your clothes, you don't look broke. You must have been a rich young master in Desolate Province, right?"

The soldiers had noticed that Chen Ning and Su Ling'er were dressed in extraordinary clothes. They did not believe he had no money.

"We'll be direct. The brothers work hard guarding the teleportation array. If you don't show a little sincerity, that won't do."

As the soldier in the lead spoke, he rubbed his fingers together.

His intent was already obvious.

"Hmph, how dare you! The sect... My brother isn't someone you can extort. I suggest you get out of the way, or else..."

Anger burned in Su Ling'er's eyes. These men were far too presumptuous.

But remembering that Big Brother Sect Master had said to conceal their identities, she could not very well lose her temper.

It had already taken a great deal of restraint to hold it in this long.

"Oh! This girl really has a fiery temper, doesn't she?"

The soldier in the lead straightened his helmet. He had not looked carefully before, but now that he did, he was pleasantly surprised to discover that the girl following the Desolate Province brat was as beautiful as a heavenly immortal, even more beautiful than the prettiest courtesan in the imperial capital.

She also had an otherworldly bearing.

He chuckled. "I like them just like that."

With that, he turned to Chen Ning and said with a lecherous grin, "Brat, now you don't just have to show the brothers some respect with a little money. You also have to let your sister spend the night with me. How about it?"

"You're asking me how about it?"

Chen Ning smiled at him.

"Then I'll tell you."

Bang!

The next moment, he raised his foot and kicked the man's third leg to pieces.

The power of the Spirit Martial Realm was extraordinary, and Chen Ning had also undergone marrow cleansing and bone refinement. That kick could have shattered even iron or stone.