The Vermilion Bird Boat traveled through the clouds for an entire day.
The mountains below grew ever steeper, the forests ever denser. Now and then, they could see several barbarian villages scattered among the hills—crude wooden houses, wisps of cooking smoke, and bare-chested barbarian men with bows slung across their backs, gazing up at the fiery streak in the sky with eyes full of awe.
At dusk, a sprawling cluster of buildings suddenly appeared ahead.
It was a massive mountain stronghold built against the slopes, stretching from the foot of the mountain all the way to its waist. Its walls were constructed from whole logs, several zhang high, with an arrow tower every hundred paces, where barbarian warriors stood guard with bows in hand. Inside the stronghold, houses stood row upon row, cooking smoke drifted upward, and the faint roar of a bustling crowd could be heard.
At the highest point of the stronghold stood a grand hall, built entirely from massive stones. Upon its roof was a huge statue of a barbarian bull, head raised toward the heavens, exuding an extraordinary presence.
They had arrived at the Barbarian King Sect.
Lu Chen put away the Vermilion Bird Boat and landed before the stronghold gate with Yun Qingyue.
The gates stood wide open. Two rows of barbarian warriors stood at the entrance, each broad and powerfully built, their muscles knotted, gleaming steel blades in their hands.
At their head was a middle-aged barbarian wearing a beast-hide robe, a massive battle-axe hanging at his waist. Seeing the two descend, he strode forward.
"Who goes there?"
Lu Chen clasped his fists. "Lu Chen of Great Xia. At Young Sect Master Tuoba Shan's invitation, I have come to pay a visit."
The middle-aged barbarian froze for a moment, then delight appeared on his