The Jingxiang Plain lay in the middle reaches of the Tian River, the greatest river in Shenzhou. The Chushui, a direct tributary of the Tian River, also flowed through it. Its soil and waters were rich, making it one of the finest places to live.
The fact that it lay in the middle reaches of a great river was important. The upper reaches of great rivers were filled with valleys and waterfalls. The middle reaches broadened, with many floodplains and terraces. But the lower reaches had gentler riverbeds; once the dikes burst, a thousand li would become a vast watery kingdom. In the era of ancient methods, cultivators fought without cease, and two Golden Core cultivators battling could force a major change in a lower river's course. Moreover, the lower reaches lay close to the sea, and the sea had always been the domain of the dragon race and sea demons. Thus, no matter how fertile or fine the land at a river mouth might be, it was not suitable for human habitation and could never form large settlements.
Thus, though the Jingxiang Plain accounted for less than five percent of Shenzhou's land, it held thirty percent of Shenzhou's population. A village every three li, an estate every five, a town every ten—it was truly a scene of peace and prosperity. Even the wilderness opened up for roads was not without human traces.
Wang Qi sped through the wilderness with his movement technique. He was now in the middle stage of Qi Refining and had gained a few scraps of True Disciple teachings. His ability to make long-distance dashes was no less than that of a thousand-li horse. Along the way, he passed quite a few towns, but never entered any of them. Whenever he encountered a village, he went