Bright Moon City

Silver Moon City of Twin Dragon Prefecture, where Gu Changge was located, lay in the southeastern region of the Star Luo Divine Dynasty. Gu Changge controlled his flying sword and flew toward the imperial capital.

The Star Luo Divine Dynasty, the Dou Tian Divine Dynasty, the Soul Annihilation Sword Sect, the Demon Suppressing Pagoda, and the Jade Cauldron Sect were all powers with one sect and one emperor. Back in the royal library of the Qianyuan Divine Dynasty, Gu Changge had once browsed through an ancient tome called Record of Spirit Martial Emperors. It recorded the life stories of every Great Emperor throughout Tianwu Continent's history, along with the factions they had founded or belonged to.

The Star Luo Divine Dynasty's territory was vast, with small sects and lineages standing everywhere. Traveling from Silver Moon City to the imperial capital, even at Gu Changge's current first level of the Skin Scraping Realm, would take at least several months of flight. Thus, he flew northwest all the way, cultivating as he traveled.

"Stop! Flying above Bright Moon City is forbidden!"

Just as Gu Changge was controlling his flying sword through the air, a booming voice suddenly rang out.

Looking down, Gu Changge realized that he was already above a city. At the city gate below, two guards shouted at him.

"My apologies. I was focused on flying and failed to notice the city below."

Gu Changge guided the flying sword slowly down to the ground, stepped off it, and set foot on the earth as he spoke.

According to the laws of most divine dynasties, flying above cities was forbidden. Gu Changge had not paid attention for a moment, which was why he had failed to stop upon reaching the skies above Bright Moon City.

Bright Moon City was a city west of Silver Moon City. It likewise belonged to Twin Dragon Prefecture and was not particularly far from Silver Moon City.

Seeing Gu Changge land, the two guards no longer stopped him.

"Pay the entrance fee. Five Spirit Stones."

One of the guards spoke.

Gu Changge handed over five Spirit Stones and entered Bright Moon City.

Although Bright Moon City was not the prefectural capital of Twin Dragon Prefecture, it was far more imposing than Silver Moon City. It could be considered a major city within Twin Dragon Prefecture.

Bright Moon City was thick with the bustle of mortal life. Rows upon rows of tightly packed homes and markets could be seen everywhere, filled with countless cultivators. There were also many establishments devoted to cultivators' auxiliary professions: Alchemy Pavilions, Artifact Refining Pavilions, Formation Arranging Pavilions, Talisman Drawing Pavilions, Puppet Pavilions, Gu Worm Pavilions, Beast Taming Pavilions, and Plant Cultivation Pavilions.

Plant Cultivators were somewhat similar to Beast Tamers. Both cultivated Spirit Beasts or spirit plants.

Generally speaking, spirit plants could be divided into two kinds. One absorbed the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, continuously accumulating years and advancing in grade. The other absorbed spiritual energy, chose to awaken its intelligence, transformed into a Demonic Beast, and upon cultivating to great accomplishment, could take human form.

Those who kept their original spirit plant forms and were raised by cultivators belonged to Plant Cultivators. If they transformed into Demonic Beasts and were raised by cultivators, then those cultivators were called Beast Tamers.

Do not look down on Plant Cultivators merely because they only cultivated spirit plants.

If a spirit plant advanced to Emperor grade, it could give birth to a Spirit Plant Spirit, which could continuously cultivate and raise its own cultivation, heed the Plant Cultivator's summons, and attack enemies.

Most importantly, a spirit plant that had birthed a Spirit Plant Spirit could continuously bear fruit, or grow roots, stems, leaves, and flowers without damaging its foundation, supplying the Plant Cultivator with precious spiritual materials.

It could both aid the Plant Cultivator in battle and provide an endless stream of spiritual materials.

For example, Gu Changge's current Emperor-grade spirit plant, Spirit Gathering Grass—if it were planted in Spirit Seed spiritual soil and supplemented with a spirit formation, then once it absorbed enough spiritual energy, it would have two choices.

The first was to awaken its intelligence and transform into a Demonic Beast. The second was to give birth to a Spirit Plant Spirit, remain a spirit plant, and forever be unable to take form.

Though a spirit plant awakening intelligence and giving birth to a Spirit Plant Spirit both appeared to be the opening of wisdom, there were certain differences between them.

A Demonic Beast that awakened its intelligence could continuously grow wiser, while a Spirit Plant Spirit possessed only basic primitive intelligence. It could merely understand human speech and display basic emotional responses.

"Move aside, move aside! This young master is making his entrance! You lowly commoners, get the hell out of my way!"

At that moment, an arrogant voice interrupted Gu Changge's thoughts.

Standing not far from the city gate, Gu Changge saw a richly dressed young man driving a carriage pulled by three crimson horses wreathed in flames, each with horns growing from its head. The young man wildly raised the whip in his hand and drove the carriage recklessly through the streets, paying no heed whatsoever to the safety of the city's residents.

"Hmph, isn't he just relying on having a fine father who's the city lord? He acts so arrogant and overbearing. One day, he'll surely suffer a huge loss."

A passerby who was displeased by the youth's conduct could not help muttering softly.

"Shh! Are you tired of living? Wang Yu is a famous young master of Bright Moon City, and he's the city lord's son. If he hears those words and becomes dissatisfied, your whole family will be buried alongside you!"

The passerby's friend quickly covered his mouth and spoke.

"May I ask, is the Wang Yu you mentioned that young man charging through the streets in his carriage?"

Gu Changge happened to be standing nearby. His keen ears had caught their conversation, so he stepped forward and asked.

"Judging by your appearance, you're from out of town, aren't you? Since you've only just arrived, you may not know this. In Bright Moon City, the one person you absolutely cannot provoke is that young man ahead."

The passerby's friend said.

"Could you explain why in detail?"

Gu Changge asked.

"This Wang Yu is the son of Wang Aotian, the city lord of Bright Moon City. The city lord had him late in life, and when the city lord's wife gave birth to Wang Yu, she unfortunately died in childbirth. Thus, the city lord spoiled Wang Yu greatly, which created Wang Yu's arrogant and domineering nature."

"And within Bright Moon City, there are four major powers: the Xiao Sect, the Flute Playing Gate, the Li family, and the City Lord's Mansion."

"The City Lord's Mansion is an official power to begin with, and City Lord Wang Aotian is also the strongest person in all of Bright Moon City, a third-level Qi Condensation Realm cultivator. On top of that, the two first-level Qi Condensation Realm commanders among the city guards are Wang Aotian's confidants. The strongest members of the other factions are merely at the first level of the Qi Condensation Realm. Thus, the City Lord's Mansion's influence in Bright Moon City is like the sun at high noon."

The passerby's friend patiently explained it to Gu Changge.

"So that's how it is. It seems this Wang Yu is a festering tumor in Bright Moon City."

Gu Changge could not help sighing.

Yet by sheer coincidence, Wang Yu, who was driving the carriage, happened to pass by Gu Changge at that moment and heard his casual remark.

"Insolence! You are nothing more than an ant at the first level of the Skin Scraping Realm, yet you dare slander the young city lord!"

Two squads of city guards closely followed Wang Yu on either side. Calling them guards would have been putting it nicely; in truth, they were simply Wang Yu's lackeys.

At that moment, one captain among Wang Yu's guards heard Gu Changge's words and immediately stepped forward to defend Wang Yu's dignity, speaking with righteous indignation.