Cangyun City

"Is everyone here? Then let's set off."

Just as the two were speaking, a voice rang out, followed by a figure suddenly appearing in the main hall.

However, the newcomer was not the Sect Master, but Sword Peak's master, Sword Thirteen!

"Sword Uncle? Are you leading the team this time?" Liu Ruyan could not help asking upon seeing the Sword Peak Master.

"That's right. I'll be leading the team for this competition. Come on, head outside..." Sword Thirteen nodded, and everyone walked out.

The moment the group stepped through the main entrance of the hall, Sword Thirteen raised his hand and waved. A boat-shaped magical artifact the size of a palm, glossy white like mutton-fat jade, flew from his sleeve and hovered in midair.

A wisp of pale golden spiritual energy condensed at his fingertip as he lightly tapped the flying boat.

The next instant, the tiny artifact swelled against the wind. Within a few breaths, it transformed into a spirit vessel roughly a hundred zhang long, with carved railings and jade-inlaid halls.

Dense runes were inscribed across the hull. As spiritual light flowed over them, profound Dao Resonance spread through the air, enough to make one's head spin with a single glance...

"This is the Azure Cloud Flying Boat. It can travel ten million li in a day. Get aboard..."

Sword Thirteen stepped aboard first. His robes fluttered as he landed atop the bow, with Liu Ruyan immediately following him into the air.

"What a huge flying boat..." Mo Shang looked up at the massive vessel before him and sighed softly.

Yet as he marveled, his peripheral vision caught sight of a cloud ladder hanging beside it, leaving him rather puzzled. "If everyone can fly up, why equip it with stairs? Isn't that a waste if nobody uses them?"

Looking at the hanging stairs, Mo Shang did not choose to fly up. Instead, he walked toward the ladder.

Though Jiang Shuyu did not understand, she chose to follow behind Mo Shang.

"Why are you both taking the stairs?"

Gu Qingzhou stared at the two preparing to use the stairs, his face full of question marks. Still, he did not go with them and instead flew up himself.

It did not take long for Gu Qingzhou to reach the flying boat.

Yet when he arrived, he discovered that Mo Shang and Jiang Shuyu had somehow boarded before him.

"Brother Mo, how did you get up here?" Gu Qingzhou asked in shock.

"By taking the stairs." Mo Shang pointed at the stairway beside them.

"The stairs? You're not messing with me?" Gu Qingzhou was dumbfounded.

"I'm not too sure either..." Mo Shang shrugged. Forget Gu Qingzhou—even he was a little confused.

Mo Shang and Jiang Shuyu really had taken the stairs, but they had only stepped onto them once before arriving on the flying boat...

"Huh? Is that right? It was even faster than flying?" Gu Qingzhou looked utterly incredulous.

"Everyone here? Then let's go."

Once everyone had gathered, Sword Thirteen formed another hand seal. The Azure Cloud Flying Boat gave a clear hum, spiritual light beneath its hull surging as it abruptly became a streak of light, pierced through the clouds, and sped forward with them aboard.

Wind howled past their ears, while the sea of clouds, mountains, rivers, and valleys beneath their feet raced backward.

Relying on the flying boat's terrifying speed, after just one day, an enormous city stretching across the horizon appeared in the distance.

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The city floated above the sea of clouds. Its walls were built from massive blue stones, soaring into the sky, bearing the traces of countless years and giving off an ancient, weathered air. No one knew how long it had stood there.

The flying boat slowly descended, and the majestic city spanning heaven and earth became ever clearer. A broad city gate came into view.

Above the gate, the three characters "Cangyun City" were vigorous and powerful, seemingly flowing with spiritual light and exuding an ancient, weighty presence...

"We're here."

Looking at the city before them, Sword Thirteen put away the flying boat and wrapped everyone in spiritual energy, bringing them to the city gate.

At that moment, the gates were bustling with traffic. There were rough martial artists riding Flame Lions, Daoist True Persons with fluttering robes, and scions of great clans seated in luxurious carriages...

These people were either of noble status or possessed formidable cultivation. The cultivators stood in long lines and entered the city only after being checked by guards clad in golden armor. No one dared cross the thunder pool by even half a step.

Mo Shang and the others were no exception. Under Sword Thirteen's lead, they all entered Cangyun City without trouble.

The moment they passed through Cangyun City's heavy, imposing gates, an entirely different atmosphere enveloped them.

The fierce pressure outside the city was gone, replaced by prosperous streets rushing toward them. They were noisy yet not chaotic, bustling yet orderly.

The ground beneath their feet was no longer dirt and bluestone, but a long street paved entirely with lustrous green jade.

The avenue was broad enough for ten spirit carriages to travel side by side. Buildings rose and fell in layers along both sides, reaching all the way into the clouds.

All kinds of shops stood shoulder to shoulder: the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, Elixir Pavilion, Talisman Workshop, Spirit Food Hall, auction houses—everything one could possibly need was present, creating an exceptionally lively scene...

"The competition doesn't begin until tomorrow. You may wander around the city, but don't stir up trouble..." After entering the city, Sword Thirteen stopped and looked at everyone.

"What if someone else picks a fight with us?" Gu Qingzhou asked.

"We sword cultivators do not provoke trouble, but neither do we fear it. If some blind fool comes looking for trouble, beat him up." Sword Thirteen smiled.

"What if their sect is stronger than ours?" Mo Shang asked as well.

"Don't worry. Though our Falling Cloud Sect keeps a low profile, that doesn't mean we lack strength..."

As Sword Thirteen spoke, he suddenly seemed to remember something. He leaned closer mysteriously and lowered his voice.

"You probably don't know this, but when your Sect Master Liu was young, he wielded a long spear and slaughtered his way from the south of Cangzhou to the north without even blinking. People called him the Spear Demon..."

Hearing this, everyone was stunned. In their eyes, the Sect Master was a very easygoing man with little airs around his disciples—a downright good old fellow.

"That really happened?" Liu Ruyan also looked utterly lost. Even she had not known her father had such a past.

Liu Ruyan truly had not expected that her harmless-looking old father had been so fierce in his youth!

"You'll know once you go back and ask him. All right, any other questions? If not, this old man will be going. Use the jade pendant to contact me if anything happens..." Sword Thirteen did not continue the subject and turned to leave.

"I have a question!" However, Gu Qingzhou suddenly spoke again, stopping him.

"What question?"

"The Sect Master slaughtered from the south of Cangzhou to the north without blinking. Didn't his eyes get dry?" Gu Qingzhou asked with a grin.

The moment those words left his mouth, Sword Thirteen looked at Gu Qingzhou as though asking, Are you kidding me? Then he kicked him.

"Scram!"

The next instant, Gu Qingzhou flew away and splatted directly onto the city wall, unable to fall down for a long while.

"You all have fun. This old man is going to catch up with an old friend."

After kicking Gu Qingzhou away, Sword Thirteen did not linger. He turned and left, no one knowing where he was headed.