Watchdog

After half a month of traversing the Void, the slightly mottled bronze Flying Boat of the Azure Cloud Sword Sect finally came to a stop before an incredibly massive creation after tearing through the last layer of gale and thunder.

The Divine City of the Southern Nation Immortal Alliance Divine City.

The city wall was built from a single block of Obsidian, reaching straight up to the thunderclouds in the sky.

Ancient Defensive Runes flowed like lava deep within the stone walls, isolating the spiritual energy from the outside world. Thousands of magnificent flying chariots and hundred-foot-long warships of Anomalous Beasts converged from all directions, blotting out the sun.

All cultivators who arrived Heaven-Piercing Gate, regardless of their cultivation level, obediently descended from the clouds and walked into the city.

"Fan'er, stick close to me, and don't let go."

Chen Changqing jumped off the Flying Boat, his large, fan-like hand tightly gripping Chen Fan's small hand, his palm covered in a fine layer of sweat.

Although the newly condensed Nascent Soul within his body was brimming with vitality, looking around, the auras of the cultivators coming and going were thick and powerful. Golden Core cultivators were as common as dogs, and nascent Nascent Souls were everywhere. Chen Changqing's brows were tightly furrowed, and his rough face was filled with a sense of impending doom.

Mo Wendao changed into a brand new gray-white Daoist robe and lowered his voice to remind him.

"Sect Leader, this Divine City. All matters must be handled according to the rules of the Southern Nation Immortal Alliance. Upon entering the city, the jade tablet and special envoy's token must be verified. Under no circumstances should any trouble be caused here."

Chen Fan let Chen Changqing lead him, a Qingxin Grass he had taken from the back of Azure Cloud Peak dangling from his mouth, and looked around listlessly.

The so-called Divine City, which is as sacred as a heavenly palace in the eyes of ordinary cultivators, is nothing more than a stone cage pieced together with crude arrays in his eyes.

Even deep within the city's earth veins, a faint, yet unmistakable, aura of Death Fiend Qi from beyond the Martial God lingered.

"The Immortal Alliance Supreme's Heavenly Five Declines... it seems it's not as simple as his lifespan naturally running out."

Chen Fan thought to himself, but didn't say it aloud.

The three followed the flow of people toward the Heaven-Piercing Gate.

Two paths were set up in front of the gate. The Vermilion Bird Avenue on the left was a hundred feet wide, with the ground paved with flawless warm jade. Gilded Flying Chariot bearing the battle flags of top ancient sects such as the Golden Crow Immortal Pavilion and the Myriad Phenomena Academy roared past. The dozens of golden-armored guards guarding the city gate not only did not stop them, but also smiled and bowed to let them pass, without even glancing at the jade pass.

The narrow passage on the right was blocked by thousands of independent cultivators and small sects from all directions, with the queue stretching as far as the eye could see.

After waiting for a full half hour, it was finally the turn of the Azure Cloud Sword Sect.

The gate was guarded by a twelve-person patrol team from the Immortal Alliance, clad in heavy, gilded chainmail armor, exuding a menacing aura.

The leading patrol commander had a pair of inverted triangular eyes, and a layer of condensed law ripples flowed around his body, clearly indicating that he was a master at the half-step Deity Transformation level.

"Give me the travel permit."

The commander glanced sideways at the old Flying Boat of the Azure Cloud Sword Sect, a mocking smile playing on his lips.

Mo Wendao hurriedly stepped forward and respectfully handed over a purple jade token and the Immortal Alliance Edict.

"Your Excellency, please take a look. We are from the Azure Cloud Sword Sect of the Southern Region. We have come to the Ascension Convention with the sect's Dao embryo, by the decree of the Supreme One."

The triangular-eyed commander took the token, his fingertips swirling with True Essence. He casually glanced at it twice, then with a "smack," he tossed the purple jade token into the mud at his feet.

Mo Wendao's expression changed drastically, and his body stiffened.

Chen Changqing's eye twitched violently, and his Qi and Blood rushed to his head involuntarily.

"The Southern Regions? A desolate land of barren mountains and treacherous waters, teeming with unruly people."

The triangular-eyed leader crossed his arms, looked down at the three men, and sneered.

"The Supreme Decree summons the most outstanding talents in the Prodigies, not some lowly chickens and dogs from the mountains. This Divine City absorbs the pure energy of heaven and earth, yet you have brought a boatload of turbid energy from the Southern Region. If you wish to enter, you must pay a purification fee for ascension."

"How many?"

Chen Changqing uttered two words stiffly, his large hand already resting on the hilt of the spirit sword at his waist.

The triangular-eyed leader raised a finger and said disdainfully.

"One hundred thousand High-Grade Spirit Stones."

"One hundred thousand?!"

Mo Wendao gasped, his voice trembling.

"Your Excellency, the laws of the Immortal Alliance clearly state that pilgrims are exempt from all customs duties! Moreover, just now, those carriages from those powerful families and sects on the left entered the city, and you didn't even check them. Why are you demanding 100,000 High-Grade Spirit Stones from us?!"

One hundred thousand High-Grade Spirit Stones are enough to drain the resources of a mid-level sect in the Southern Region for a hundred years!

"Why?"

The triangular-eyed commander seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world, and the eleven golden-armored patrol guards behind him laughed even more unrestrainedly.

The hundreds of cultivators queuing around them shook their heads and sighed, their eyes filled with pity, but none of them dared to offer any help.

"You old bastard, open your dog eyes and see clearly!"

The triangular-eyed commander suddenly took a step forward, and the violent pressure of a half-step Deity Transformation crashed down, directly causing Mo Wendao to take two steps back, his chest feeling tight.

The commander pointed to the unobstructed Vermilion Bird Road on the left and sneered.

"Their carriage carries a patriarch at the peak of the Deity Transformation stage, and their sect has elders at the Half-Step Void Refinement stage! They're entering the city out of respect for the Divine City, so naturally they're not accepted! And what about you?"

He gave Chen Changqing and Mo Wendao a very harsh look, and his gaze finally landed on Chen Fan had a calm expression.

"Two peasants who barely managed to break through to the Early Nascent Soul with the help of elixirs, with an eleven-year-old Mortal Body child who hasn't even grown all his hair yet, do they deserve to be treated equally? They should take a piss and look at themselves in the mirror!"

The triangular-eyed commander grinned maliciously, and his standard heavy sword suddenly emerged halfway from its sheath, its pale white light flickering erratically.

"One hundred thousand spirit stones, not a single one less! If you can't come up with it, you can go back to the Southern Region and scramble for food! If you dare utter another word, I'll charge you with disturbing the order of the Divine City's grand formation and cripple your Nascent Souls on the spot!"

A harsh taunt echoed through the city gates, followed by a deathly silence.

Mo Wendao's face was full of bitterness, clutching his sleeve tightly, his eyes flashing with humiliation and despair. Before such a behemoth as the Central Domain Divine Land, their so-called Nascent Soul cultivation was as fragile as a candle flame in the wind.

However, the next moment...

I'll cripple your mother's legs!

A deafening roar, like a thunderclap from a clear sky, ripped through the silence!

Chen Changqing's rough face instantly turned a deep liver color, and the veins on his forehead bulged out like green snakes!

He was originally cautious and prudent, and he originally thought he would make concessions in every way for the sake of his son's future. But when he heard the other party call Chen Fan Mortal Body child who had not yet grown his hair, the protective instinct that was buried deep in his bones snapped!

"Clang!!"

Chen Changqing didn't even bother to calculate the difference in their cultivation levels. His spirit sword was drawn three inches from its sheath, and his Taixu True Essence erupted like a volcano as he pointed at the half-step Deity Transformation leader's nose and cursed:

"You snobbish scoundrel! I raised my son with all my might, and you, a vicious guard dog, dare to insult him?! I may not have 100,000 spirit stones, but I have my life. Try and touch him!"