Situation, Nine Dragons Pulling a Chariot? Newcomer Report

"Old Zhao, what are the top-tier powers in Tianshui Prefecture these days?"

Gu Cheng asked curiously.

"Well..."

Zhao Yuanjie pondered for a moment, then held up four fingers. "If we're being strict, Tianshui Prefecture currently has four top-tier powers."

"You're most familiar with the first one: Tianshui City's Demon Suppression Bureau. They have four Spirit Sea Venerables stationed there, enough to suppress any troublemakers. Plus, they can call for reinforcements from elsewhere when needed, making them the strongest!"

Zhao Yuanjie tucked away one finger and continued his explanation. "The second is the Chen Family from Dragon Head Mountain's Famous Sword Villa. This is a Spirit Refinement family that has been around for nearly a thousand years. They're not only skilled in sword forging but were once famous throughout Yunzhou for their sword control techniques."

"However, a few hundred years ago, when the Rebirth Sect wreaked havoc across Yunzhou, the Famous Sword Villa suffered heavy losses and almost lost its lineage. After several centuries of recovery, they finally managed to regain their strength and return to being a top-tier power!"

Zhao Yuanjie's tone became a little excited as he spoke. As a swordsman himself, he clearly held a great admiration for the Famous Sword Villa, with its countless legendary swords.

Gu Cheng sighed inwardly. He, too, had been greatly affected by the catastrophe that swept through Yunzhou. The Xiao Family of Chongshan Prefecture hadn't been as fortunate as the Famous Sword Villa.

"The third is Puzhao Temple on Golden Cloud Mountain. Their martial monks are all proficient in Body Refinement techniques and are quite powerful. Their signature ultimate skill, the Diamond Glazed Body, is even said to be the strongest Body Refinement technique in Tianshui Prefecture!"

"Oh? That impressive?"

Hearing 'strongest,' Gu Cheng's interest was immediately piqued. He wondered if his Yin Yang Absolute Immortal Hand could break through the defenses of those devout monks. He then looked at Old Zhao and continued asking, "What about the fourth top-tier power?"

"The fourth one..."

Zhao Yuanjie didn't answer immediately. Instead, he played coy and asked back, "Little Cheng, why don't you guess why the Flood Dragons that pull the carriages have become a specialty of Tianshui Prefecture?"

"This..."

Seeing Old Zhao's serious expression, Gu Cheng instantly understood. "You mean Tianshui Prefecture is the Flood Dragons' lair?"

"That's right!"

Zhao Yuanjie nodded slightly and said gravely, "The last top-tier power in Tianshui Prefecture is the Flood Dragon Palace in the Tianshui River."

"Ever since the Rebirth Sect was wiped out, Tianshui Prefecture hasn't had any particularly powerful demonic organizations. But these few long-worms in the Tianshui River have always been a major headache for the Demon Suppression Bureau!"

"That old Flood Dragon, who knows how many years it's lived. Anyway, all eight of its offspring are Great Demons in the Spirit Sea Realm! And it's rumored that it has been subtly touching upon even higher realms."

"This... so that means the Flood Dragon Palace has at least nine Spirit Sea Realm experts?"

Gu Cheng's brow furrowed. Good heavens, he hadn't even encountered a few experts in the Innate Realm yet, and here the Spirit Sea Realm experts were already appearing in droves?

"Yes, which is why the Flood Dragon Palace's power is considered a top-tier force, second to none, even across Yunzhou!"

Zhao Yuanjie sighed and said mournfully, "Our Demon Suppression Bureau's four Spirit Sea Venerables are almost constantly monitoring these long-worms in the water. It's just that this Flood Dragon clan has always been lethargic, sleeping in the river for years at a time, and they aren't as cruel and bloodthirsty as ordinary demons. Otherwise, with just the manpower in Tianshui Prefecture, we wouldn't be able to maintain the current situation."

As he said this, Old Zhao suddenly thought of something and looked at the handsome young man beside him. "Little Cheng, you must be extra careful when you go out on demon-slaying missions in the future. Ordinary water demons are one thing, but those descendants with Flood Dragon bloodlines, you'd best not provoke them lightly. If you anger the Flood Dragon Palace, they will surely retaliate fiercely!"

"Mm, I understand."

Gu Cheng nodded on the surface, but inwardly he paid no mind.

What a joke!

What reason was there not to kill demons in this world?

Ever since he began practicing the Spirit Refinement method and learned how to refine Demon Servants.

Gu Cheng had been unable to find suitable materials for refinement.

Now, it seemed, the Flood Dragon Palace was an excellent source of materials.

Just imagine, when Gu Cheng's strength grew, he could refine the entire Flood Dragon Palace family of nine into Demon Servants.

In the future, when he went out, he wouldn't need Flood Dragons to pull his carriage; he could directly use Flood Dragon Demon Servants!

Nine dragons pulling a carriage!

That scene would surely be incredibly magnificent, wouldn't it?

Two days later.

After a period of non-stop travel, day and night.

The Demon Suppression Bureau's convoy finally reached its destination for this trip—Tianshui City.

Gu Cheng poked his head out of the carriage window and looked ahead.

He saw an incredibly majestic city quietly standing before them.

The dark green city walls soared high, at least double the height of the walls of Changle County City. They stretched endlessly into his field of vision, disappearing beyond sight.

The Demon Suppression Bureau's convoy gradually slowed down, entering the city through a special passage.

It was high noon.

On the wide avenue, which could accommodate eight carriages abreast, crowds of people bustled about, making it quite lively.

Along the streets, merchants and travelers came and went without end.

Stall vendors, street performers, fortune tellers – everything was available.

Gu Cheng gazed at the noisy and bustling scene outside the carriage window, his expression slightly dazed.

If it weren't for the lack of so many tall buildings and the rather retro attire of the pedestrians.

He would have almost felt as if he had transmigrated back again.

"Little Cheng, this is your first time in Tianshui City, isn't it?"

Zhao Yuanjie, who had observed Gu Cheng's reaction, chuckled and said:

"The area of Tianshui City is a full six to seven times that of Changle County, and its population is close to three million!

Even looking at all twelve prefectures of Yunzhou, Tianshui City ranks among the top three largest cities."

The Flood Dragon carriage slowly proceeded along the dedicated road, heading towards the east of the city.

As they traveled, the pedestrians on the streets became fewer and fewer. Instead, they occasionally saw patrol squads dressed in dark robes.

After another incense stick's worth of time.

The carriage slowly came to a halt beneath a dark brown wall.

Gu Cheng was the first to jump off the carriage, looking around.

He saw that the two-zhang-high walls stretched endlessly, disappearing beyond sight, as if a smaller city had been enclosed within Tianshui City.

Coupled with the fully armed guards in black at the main gate, it had a distinct military base feel.

Clearly, this was the Demon Suppression Bureau's yamen in Tianshui City.

"Kid, keep this token safe for now. If you encounter any trouble in the yamen later, just mention my name, Xu Wenying."

"That guy... Wang Lin, you take him to collect his things and get familiar with the place."

Commander Xu took out a golden token from his embrace, tossed it to Gu Cheng, and then hastily left with Zhao Yuanjie.

The guard who had previously explained Flood Dragons to him stepped forward and smiled slightly at the young man.

"Let's go, Brother Gu."

"Okay."

Gu Cheng nodded and followed Wang Lin through a side gate into the Demon Suppression Bureau's compound.