The Xiao Family's carriage drew plenty of attention when it stopped outside the city.
Two green-scaled beasts pulled it, short horns jutting from their foreheads. As their four hooves struck the paving stones, dull thuds rang out. The carriage was made of ebony, its edges inlaid with dark gold ornamentation, and a prominent character for "Xiao" was carved into its door.
A young man stepped out.
He had broad shoulders, a narrow waist, a straight nose, and deep-set eyes beneath defined brows. A gold ring bound his black hair. His black robes were tailored to fit, and a piece of green jade hung at his waist. He stood out in the crowd.
"It's Xiao Lingchuan!"
"I heard he broke through to the Bridge Linking realm. I wonder if it's true."
"Of course it is. The Xiao Family announced it ages ago."
Several young martial artists nearby watched him with complicated expressions.
Some were still struggling in the Sea Breaking Realm, while others had only just reached Bridge Condensation. Xiao Lingchuan was barely older than them, yet he had already reached the final stage of Half-Step Venerable.
Beyond that lay the Heaven Piercing Realm.
Xiao Lingchuan heard their discussion, but his expression remained unchanged as he turned to wait for his elder inside the carriage.
A short old man emerged after him.
His face bore many wrinkles, and his back was slightly hunched, but his hands were slender and clean. He glanced around, and those talking nearby immediately lowered their voices.
The Xiao Family Ancestor, a Heaven Piercing Realm Venerable.
"It's quite a bit livelier than when I last came."
The old man looked toward the city gate and started walking.
Xiao Lingchuan followed beside him, smiling. "The Cloudsea Secret Realm is about to open, so naturally plenty of people have