"Time is too tight."
Fang Han shook his head slightly.
We need to rush to the Imperial Capital to participate in the Martial Arts Tournament, and time is limited, so it's inconvenient to stop and explore the secret realm.
The only way to explore the secret realm is to wait until the Martial Arts Tournament ends and we return.
"Two maps, enough to bring two people into the secret realm, and enough for one more person..."
Fang Han looked at Luo Yuntian and had the idea of inviting Luo Yuntian into the secret realm, but he quickly gave up on it.
It's not just a matter of trust, but also because of Luo Yuntian's strength; even if he enters the secret realm, the gains he can obtain will be limited.
"Can I enter twice?"
Fang Han suddenly had a whimsical idea.
What is the criterion for determining that a secret realm can only be entered once a year?
If different "keys" are used before and after, is it possible to enter the secret realm twice?
If that's the case, the gains will undoubtedly be even greater.
Furthermore, there's no need to hand over the "key" to others, thus avoiding exposing the secret realm.
The White Tiger continued speeding north along the official road. Inside the carriage, Fang Han and Luo Yuntian sat facing each other.
The scenery outside the window rushed past, the rolling hills appearing and disappearing in the morning mist, and occasionally the outlines of a few villages could be seen in the distance, with wisps of smoke rising from their chimneys.
" Deacon, where are you now?"
Luo Yuntian raised his eyes and asked.
The Azure Profound Sect Deacon turned around, his gaze sweeping across the terrain outside the window, and replied:
"Luo True Disciple has arrived in Westview Prefecture."
He paused, then added:
" Westview Prefecture is one of the five counties under the jurisdiction of the Heavenly Origin Sect, and this area is already within the sphere of influence of the Heavenly Origin Sect."
" Heavenly Origin Sect..."
Luo Yuntian repeated the name in a low voice, his gaze fixed on the vast mountains and rivers outside the window, his voice tinged with emotion.
" The Azure Profound Sect, a top-tier power with a Grandmaster presiding over it, only shares Qingyang Prefecture with six other sects, while the Heavenly Origin Sect, a single sect, occupies five counties. The difference is enormous."
Fang Han nodded slightly and replied:
" The Heavenly Origin Sect is Overlord-Level Faction with Great Grandmaster at its helm. Its strength is among the top in the entire Great Chu Dynasty, so it's not surprising that it can occupy five prefectures."
Upon hearing this, the Azure Profound Sect Deacon shook his head, his voice tinged with consideration:
" The Heavenly Origin Sect was able to occupy five prefectures not only because of its own strength, but also because the prefectures it occupied were not among the Central Thirty-Six Prefectures."
" The Central Thirty-Six Prefectures?"
Fang Han raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of curiosity flashing in his eyes.
What's the explanation for this?
The Azure Profound Sect Deacon gathered his thoughts before slowly speaking:
" The Central Thirty-Six Prefectures are thirty-six counties surrounding Dragon Capital Prefecture, where the Imperial Capital is located."
He paused, his gaze drifting into the distance, a hint of longing in his voice.
"These thirty-six prefectures are blessed with unique advantages. The Heaven and Earth Origin Energy is far richer than that of ordinary prefectures, making them more likely to produce rare and precious materials, and even... Mid-Grade Heavenly Treasure can be nurtured."
Upon hearing this, both Fang Han and Luo Yuntian were taken aback.
" Mid-Grade Heavenly Treasure?"
Luo Yuntian frowned, his voice filled with disbelief.
" In Qingyang Prefecture, it is already extremely rare for Low-Grade Heavenly Treasure to be born. Once discovered, they will surely cause various forces to fight tooth and nail. But unexpectedly, even Mid-Grade Heavenly Treasure can be born in the Central Thirty-Six Prefectures."
Although Fang Han didn't speak, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.
He once obtained a Medium Grade Wind Jade in the secret realm of Westview Prefecture. This Medium Grade Wind Jade can enhance the clarity of perception of the Wind Concept, thereby greatly improving his understanding of the Wind Concept.
The fact that the < Void-Sundering Sword Manual > could Perfection Realm so quickly is largely thanks to this piece of Wind Jade, which is enough to show the amazing effects of Mid-Grade Heavenly Treasure.
The Central Thirty-Six Prefectures are capable of nurturing Mid-Grade Heavenly Treasure, truly deserving the title of a treasure land.
"That's what the Azure Profound Sect Deacon said."
"The 36 central prefectures, which are capable of producing Mid-Grade Heavenly Treasure, are treasure lands of far greater importance than ordinary prefectures."
"Even Overlord-Level Faction like the Heavenly Origin Sect wouldn't be able to occupy several prefectures in such a treasure land; at most... they could only manage to occupy one prefecture."
"Even a force like the Heavenly Origin Sect can only occupy one prefecture at most?"
Luo Yuntian frowned even more deeply, and the scrutinizing look in his calm eyes grew even stronger.
The Azure Profound Sect Deacon nodded, his tone resolute:
"That's true. The competition among the Central Thirty-Six Prefectures is far more intense than among ordinary prefectures. Even for Overlord-Level Faction with Great Grandmaster, expanding its sphere of influence in such a place is extremely difficult."
Fang Han asked:
"Since the competition in the Central Thirty-Six Prefectures is so fierce, the number of powerful individuals there must be astonishing, right?"
Upon hearing this, the Azure Profound Sect Deacon showed a hint of admiration on his face:
"Fang True Disciple is right; the number of powerful individuals produced in the Central Thirty-Six Prefectures is indeed greater than in ordinary prefectures."
He paused, his voice becoming more serious:
"Moreover, those strong individuals in ordinary counties, when the resources of their respective forces are insufficient for their continued improvement, often choose to enter the Central Thirty-Six Prefectures in order to seek that one chance to break through to the Grandmaster Opportunity."
"With the influx of powerful individuals from other prefectures, the number of powerful individuals in the Central Thirty-Six Prefectures has further increased, making the overall number of powerful individuals even greater."
Fang Han was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice:
" Deacon knowledge is truly impressive."
Luo Yuntian nodded and said:
"Indeed, what you Deacon today, Steward, has truly broadened my horizons."
The Azure Profound Sect Deacon waved his hand with a smile, a hint of shame on his face:
"You two True Disciple. I am merely a Deacon who drives carriages in the sect. My strength is not particularly great. I have only learned a little by following the sect leader to many places and hearing and seeing a lot."
He gently shook the reins in his hand, and the White Tiger let out a low growl, increasing its speed even further.
The carriage fell silent again, with only the rumble of the wheels, the sound of tiger claws pounding the ground, and the whistling wind outside the window.
Fang Han leaned against the car wall, his gaze passing through the window as he looked at the gradually widening horizon in the distance.
The Central Thirty-Six Prefectures Mid-Grade Heavenly Treasure resources, attracting powerful figures to compete for them.
All sorts of information intertwined in his mind, filling him with intense curiosity and anticipation for that precious land.
This trip to the Imperial Capital allowed me to witness firsthand the splendor of the Central Thirty-Six Prefectures.
Several days passed in the blink of an eye.
Inside the carriage, Fang Han sat cross-legged, slowly circulating the Azure Profound Art within his body. Azure-gold Internal Qi surged through his meridians, refining the Earth Spirit Pill he had just consumed.
Because the carriage was the most suitable place to cultivate Internal Qi, he spent most of his time improving his sharpness.
The Internal Qi rapidly increased, Earth Granary Acupoint was already more than half filled with Internal Qi.
Once the Earth Granary Acupoint is filled, he will be able to attempt to break through to the Second Grade Late Stage.
Luo Yuntian sat opposite him, also circulating his Internal Qi through his cultivation technique.
Outside the carriage, the wind howled, and the White Tiger's hooves pounded steadily and rhythmically.
Just then, the voice of the Azure Profound Sect Deacon came through the carriage wall, carrying a hint of solemnity:
"My two True Disciple, we have now entered the territory of the Central Prefecture."
Fang Han slowly finished his practice and opened his eyes.
Luo Yuntian also stopped cultivating, a hint of anticipation appearing between his brows.
" The Central Thirty-Six Prefectures..."
Fang Han repeated the name in a low voice and reached out to lift the curtain on the car window.
His gaze paused slightly the moment the scenery outside the window came into view.
The vegetation on both sides of the official road was significantly more lush than that of the counties we had passed through before.
The trees along the roadside, even though it's only February, already have broad canopies and lush foliage.
The leaves have a full and vibrant emerald green color, as if they are wrapped in a faint sheen.
The wild grass under the tree was also thriving, standing tall and much taller than the wild grass in ordinary places, and its color was also deeper and richer.
"They are indeed different."
Fang Han glanced at the plants and said in a low voice.
Luo Yuntian also lifted the other side of the carriage curtain, looked out the window, and his gaze lingered for a moment on the lush greenery outside. A hint of surprise flashed in his calm eyes:
"If ordinary plants are like this, then medicinal herbs or medicinal plants growing here would probably be far more effective than those grown elsewhere."
"Really."
The Azure Profound Sect Deacon turned around, a hint of emotion on his face.
" The Central Thirty-Six Prefectures are truly deserving of their name. The Heaven and Earth Origin Energy is abundant here, nourishing all things. Even ordinary people who do not know how to cultivate can easily prolong their lives if they stay in such a place for a long time."
Fang Han nodded slightly.
Although he was still a long way from becoming a grandmaster, he could not sense the Heaven and Earth Origin Energy, but he could still feel the difference between this place and ordinary counties from the changes in the vitality of these plants.
Luo Yuntian gazed at the lush green scenery outside the window, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly said:
"With such a uniquely advantageous environment, it's no wonder that the Central Thirty-Six Prefectures have become a gathering place for powerful individuals."
"Yes."
The Azure Profound Sect Deacon nodded.
"Most martial artists in ordinary counties, if they have any ambition, will try to come to the Central Thirty-Six Prefectures to make a name for themselves after they reach a bottleneck in their cultivation."
"There are more Opportunity and stronger individuals here, so the chances of breaking through are naturally much greater."
Fang Han gazed at the vibrant plants and trees outside the window, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes.
Although one cannot directly absorb the Heaven and Earth Origin Energy, if one stays in such an environment for a long time to cultivate, allowing the body to be nourished by the Heaven and Earth Origin Energy, the cultivation speed will definitely be faster.
"Thump--"
The White Tiger strode forward, its wheels rolling over the official road with a dull thud.
The scenery outside the window continued to rush past.
Fang Han stared out the window for a long while before gradually turning his gaze away.
"It's time to continue cultivating."
He muttered to himself, about to close his eyes again and begin circulating the Azure Profound Art.
Just then--
"Um?"
He raised an eyebrow slightly.
For safety, he kept the < Nether Guide > running so he could always sense the movements around him.
At that moment, an unusual aura appeared within his perception range.
It had a strange fragrance.
Extremely faint, carried on the wind, almost imperceptible.
If he hadn't maintained his extremely keen sense of smell, which was characteristic of Minor Accomplishment's < Nether Guide >, he would have almost missed it.
"This fragrance...?"
Fang Han's gaze suddenly sharpened.
He was very familiar with this fragrance—a delicate aroma with a hint of sweetness, like a sacred flower blooming in the mountains at dawn.
Rare and precious materials.
This is definitely the unique fragrance emitted when a rare and precious herb matures!
"As expected of the Central Thirty-Six Prefectures, we encountered rare and precious treasures as soon as we entered."
Fang Han was secretly surprised.
In Qingyang Prefecture, rare and precious natural treasures are extremely rare. To date, he has only encountered one such treasure in the wild.
Now, having just entered the Central Prefecture, they have already discovered rare and precious materials, which shows that the Central Prefecture's production rate of rare and precious materials is indeed far greater than that of ordinary counties.