Journey I

The evening sun cast its lingering glow.

Above a lake in the Central Prefecture, two monsters shaped like enormous fat men dragged a Black Carriage through the air, gliding along in flight.

The wheels burned with roiling flames, giving off a whooshing scorch as they swept toward the distance. Along the way, the tigers, leopards, and deer drinking by the lake and river below scattered in alarm.

Several hedgehogs as large as baby elephants lay flattened against the ground, not daring to move a muscle.

Inside the carriage.

Before a red wooden cabinet, Lin Xin stood at the window in a fresh red robe, looking down at the scenery of the lake below.

The interior of the carriage was extremely spacious. Wang Peng and the other two, along with the little jade fox, were all inside.

The little jade fox was slowly brewing a small pot of Heart Pleasing Tea obtained from Dao Canon Snow Mountain for him.

Wang Peng and the other two were playing chess at a nearby table.

Outside the carriage, several Foundation Establishment cultivators could vaguely be seen guarding the sides. They were flying alongside it by borrowing the demonic flames stirred up by the Giant Calamity Carriage.

"Master, where are we going next? We've already left the range of Dao Canon Snow Mountain," the little jade fox asked softly.

Lin Xin looked at the fresh green below, streaked with pale yellow, and answered casually.

"Among the major sects of the Central Prefecture, how many currently possess Dao Intent that doesn't overlap with the others?"

"The figures have already been compiled. There are three hundred and sixty-four in total, though that number may not be accurate. There are still many reclusive sects that can't be counted." Hearing the movement, Wang Peng turned his head and replied. "All this information was obtained only because His Highness, as the Crown Prince, mobilized the Immortal Fiend Alliance's intelligence network."

"Only three hundred and sixty-four..." Lin Xin frowned. "We'll visit these sects one by one first, then seek out gifted cultivators who comprehended different Dao Intents on their own. We'll see whether we can complete it."

"So the nearest sect is..." Since joining Lin Xin's ranks, Wang Peng had formally become his subordinate and was responsible for gathering intelligence.

This fellow had always had exceptionally good luck. Lin Xin valued him precisely for that.

"Five Elephants Iron Ridge!"

"Turn directly toward it," Lin Xin ordered.

The Giant Calamity Carriage immediately let out a low growl and veered in another direction, shooting away after changing course.

"Comprehending Dao Intent is, put another way, stealing lessons—stealing the martial arts of other sects. That is a great taboo, so we can't openly visit their doors. Otherwise, they'll certainly send out extremely powerful experts from the start to dismiss us."

Lin Xin said calmly.

"We'll change identities. Capturing a few talented Foundation Establishment cultivators from the outskirts whose Dao Intent is strong enough can achieve our purpose as well."

"Your Highness is indeed wise!" Wang Peng offered a compliment against his conscience.

"I think you meant sinister, didn't you?" Lin Xin shot him a glance.

********************

Wei Lin City lay in the central gorge surrounded by mountains. It was a renowned and distinctive mountain city in the Central Prefecture, as well as the most vital base of the Five Elephants Iron Ridge Sect.

All around stood yellow-brown cliffs and high mountains, their precipices steep. Only a small circle of flat land lay at the center, where a huge twisting stone pillar rose up.

A massive yellow-brown city had been built atop the pillar, with vast stretches of buildings and walls constructed entirely along its curved contours.

From afar, a giant phoenix statue could be seen at the heart of the city, with a faint reddish light floating above its head.

"They say a horse can be run to death while the mountain still seems near. That truly isn't wrong."

At that moment, atop a cliff a thousand li from Wei Lin City.

A group of travelers in red robes slowly approached the cliff's edge and gazed ahead at the immense, majestic stone pillar of Wei Lin City.

"About another thirteen hundred li. Everyone be careful. There are many wild beasts nearby. The last time we came through, we encountered a Grinding Tooth Wolf."

The red-robed traveler leading them was a fairly old middle-aged man.

"Everyone, get in the carts. We still have some distance to cover."

Another person understood and raised a hand to signal the people behind him.

The group walked back some distance. Just below the cliff stood a row of more than ten enormous Ox Carts.

The Ox Carts consisted of enclosed, elongated compartments. Through the windows on their sides, one could vaguely see large crates filled with all kinds of goods.

The last ox cart was empty of cargo. Instead, it carried some travelers picked up midway along the road.

The caravan members climbed into their compartments and drove the Ox Carts onward.

The Ox Carts circled around the side, proceeding steadily downward along a narrow path carved into the cliff face.

The last of the five carts held nearly twenty people.

Rows of seats were arranged neatly, four to a row, and almost all were occupied.

Two of the red-robed people from before also boarded this final ox cart.

Judging by their appearances, one was a young woman and the other an ordinary boy whose childishness had not yet faded. Before entering the passenger compartment, they stood by the driver's section of the carriage and spoke quietly for a few moments.

"About three more days and we'll be there. I really don't know why Father insisted on setting up this halfway stop to give all these people of unknown origins a ride," Feng Ling said impatiently.

Her eyes were large, as though always veiled in mist. Her looks were not particularly lovely, and her skin was somewhat rough from spending years traveling abroad under wind and sun.

Yet perhaps because she was a martial artist, her figure was ********, her legs long, round, and exceptionally alluring.

She had pulled off her red robe, revealing the tight brown leather armor beneath. The **** full, rounded curves were immediately exposed, appearing even more prominent and proud against her slender waist, which could be encircled with one hand.

Her leather armor also differed from that of ordinary hunters and martial artists. It tightly covered only three areas: two at her chest and one between her legs. Only those three vital points were thoroughly concealed, while everything else was casually left bare. Vast stretches of milky-white skin gave off a soft sheen beneath the light, making one want to reach out and gently caress it.

"Sister Ling gets this angry every time. Father was once saved by a passing caravan too. If they hadn't taken the initiative to rescue Father when he lay severely injured on the ground, there probably wouldn't be a Wolf Shooting Caravan today," the youth Zhao Ziqiong said with a bitter smile. Both of them had grown up in this caravan and felt deeply attached to these carriages. Yet whenever their father gave these passing outsiders a free ride, they worried that bandits or ill-intentioned people might appear. That was why they had volunteered to guard the cart.

"Knowing there's danger, he still lets them aboard. Isn't that just asking for trouble?" Feng Ling snorted a few times, pushed open the carriage door, and swept her gaze over the interior.

A refugee couple with two children.

Three burly saber-wielding men who, at a glance, clearly did not look like kind souls.

Several wandering monks with white headscarves and faces full of hardship.

Then there were scattered men and women who appeared to be travelers roaming the martial world. This group was the largest, numbering more than ten.

"There are still three days until we arrive. Watch your own food supplies. Our caravan has already done everything humanly possible," Feng Ling said flatly.

Several young people in gray robes sat toward the back. They did not seem to have much style or bearing and were likely fallen young masters and ladies. Hearing her, they looked hesitant, as though they wanted to say something but could not bring themselves to speak.

"If you have money, you can buy from us directly," Feng Ling tossed out before preparing to leave.

"Since your caravan has already brought us this far, why not be a good person to the end and send the Buddha all the way to the west? Wouldn't it be enough to give us some provisions?"

One of the three burly men chuckled.

"A good person to the end?" A flash of ferocity passed through Feng Ling's eyes. "Say one more word of nonsense, and get off the cart yourselves!"

"How dare you speak like that?!" The burly man's expression changed at once as he rose, rolling up his sleeves.

"You want to fight?" Feng Ling raised her right fist. A faint, obscure aura flashed over it.

"A cultivator!" The burly man's expression changed again. His face reddened, but he no longer dared show any sign of attacking.

Lin Xin's group sat at the very back, finding the scene rather amusing.

Qiu Ling was carefree by nature. She lowered her head and could not help laughing aloud.

"What are you laughing at?! Laugh again and get off the cart!" Feng Ling's eyes widened as she stared straight at the lowered head of Qiu Ling. Wang Peng and the others were too embarrassed to meet her eyes and all lowered their heads.

Qiu Ling, however, did not back down in the slightest. She met Feng Ling's gaze directly, her eyes rolling once.

"We're guests who boarded this cart. Is that any way to treat guests?" She shook her head slightly. "Then again, no wonder you're already past thirty and still don't have a man. With that temper of yours, I'm afraid nobody dares get close to you."

"What did you say?!" Feng Ling could never stand hearing people bring up this subject, and her hackles immediately rose. "If all you wanted was to provoke me, then congratulations—you succeeded!" Her tone suddenly sank, and strands of obscure aura slowly seeped from her body.

"Someone like you, dressing like this all day and attracting bees and butterflies everywhere, with such improper conduct..."

"Enough, enough, Qiu Ling! Say less!" Rong Yan hurriedly pulled her back.

"We came here to save..." Qiu Ling could not help blurting out half a sentence, but Wang Peng shot her a glare from beside her. Her momentum immediately weakened, and she said nothing more.

Yet Feng Ling had heard that half-sentence, and her willow brows rose.

"You little bean sprouts want to save what? Save people? Let me tell you, if Father hadn't kindly picked you up halfway, no one knows how many young masters and ladies like you—fools who know a few flashy moves and think they can roam the martial world—would die before even reaching the middle of the road!"

"What the hell do you know!" Qiu Ling flared up as well. She stood, ready to start cursing at Feng Ling.

"Enough."

Suddenly, a man's voice came from nearby.

The burly men watching the spectacle, the monks who had been about to intervene, and the other young men and women traveling the martial world were all immediately drawn toward that voice.

For some reason, the moment it sounded, Qiu Ling became like a shriveled eggplant. She pursed her lips and fell silent.

Seeing the other side yield, Feng Ling too gave a cold snort at the youth's urging.

"Sooner or later, you'll realize how much we helped you on this stretch of road. So young, yet you don't know the height of heaven or the depth of earth. I can't be bothered to argue with you." She turned to leave.

But then she heard the woman mutter another sentence under her breath.

"When trouble comes, don't come begging us!"

"Beg my ass!!" The anger in Feng Ling's heart surged again, and she nearly jumped to her feet. "I've cultivated for thirteen years, and I'll beg you people!? Don't fucking joke! A bunch of pampered little brats who don't know a damn thing—if I can't handle it, all you can do is wait to die! A single little fang wolf could fuck you up so badly you won't know north from south! And you still dare act tough with me!"

Feng Ling had grown up among guards, escort agencies, and caravans, surrounded by coarse, rugged men. Her insults and foul language were far more vicious than Qiu Ling's.

Even Lin Xin was left slightly stunned as he listened. This woman looked as though mist veiled her almond eyes, wearing an innocent, cute, harmless expression—but once she started cursing, even he was startled by the contrast.