Journey 1

The setting sun cast its glow.

Above a lake in Central Prefecture, two strange, obese figures dragged a black carriage, gliding through the air.

The wheels burned with rolling flames, emitting a whooshing, scorching sound as they sped towards the distance. Below, herds of tigers, leopards, and deer by the lakeside and riverbanks scattered in fright.

Several hedgehog-like creatures, the size of small elephants, lay prostrate on the ground, not daring to move.

Inside the carriage.

Before a red wooden cabinet, Lin Xin, dressed in a red robe, stood by the carriage window, overlooking the lake scenery below.

The interior of the carriage was spacious, accommodating Wang Peng and his companions, as well as the little Jade Fox.

The little Jade Fox was slowly brewing a small pot of Heart Pleasing Tea obtained from the Dao Canon Snow Mountain.

Wang Peng and the others guarded a table to the side, playing chess.

Faintly visible outside the carriage were several Foundation Establishment cultivators, acting as guards, flying alongside by taking advantage of the Demonic Qi flames generated by the Giant Calamity Carriage.

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

Lin Xin gazed at the refreshing hues of lush green mixed with light yellow below, and casually said.

"Among the major Sects in Central Prefecture, how many Sects with unique Dao Intents are there?"

"We've already compiled the statistics. There are 364 in total, but this number may not be entirely accurate, as many reclusive Sects are impossible to track," Wang Peng replied, turning his head upon hearing the question. "This information was obtained by His Highness, as the Crown Prince, mobilizing the Immortal Fiend Alliance's intelligence network."

"Only 364..." Lin Xin frowned. "First, we'll visit these Sects one by one, and then seek out geniuses with self-comprehended Dao Intents to see if we can fill in the gaps."

"Then, the nearest Sect is..." Now that Wang Peng had joined Lin Xin's command, he had officially become his subordinate, responsible for intelligence gathering and summarization.

This guy always had extremely good luck. Lin Xin valued this aspect of him.

"Five Elephants Iron Ridge!"

"Let's make a detour directly," Lin Xin ordered.

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

"Comprehending Dao Intent, to put it another way, is actually stealing, learning the martial arts of other Sects. This is a major taboo, so we can't visit them openly, or they will definitely send out extremely powerful experts to dismiss us from the start."

Lin Xin said calmly.

"We'll change our identities. Grabbing a few Foundation Establishment cultivators with strong enough Dao Intents from the periphery can also achieve our goal."

"Your Highness is indeed wise!" Wang Peng complimented insincerely.

"I think you wanted to say insidious, didn't you?" Lin Xin glanced at him.

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

Wei Lin City, located in a central canyon surrounded by mountains, was a well-known and unique mountain city in Central Prefecture. It was also the most core base of the Five Elephants Iron Ridge Sect.

Surrounding it were yellow-brown high mountains and cliffs, steep and precipitous, with only a small circle of flat ground in the center, where a winding, giant stone pillar stood.

At the top of the pillar, a yellow-brown giant city was built. It was a large complex of buildings and walls constructed entirely according to the curvature of the stone pillar.

From afar, one could see a giant phoenix sculpture in the center of the city, with a faint red light floating above its head.

"Looking at a mountain makes a horse die," this saying is indeed correct.

At this moment, thousands of miles away from Wei Lin City, atop a cliff.

A group of travelers clad in red robes slowly approached the edge of the cliff, looking towards the enormous and majestic stone pillars of Wei Lin City.

"There are still about thirteen hundred miles left. Everyone be careful, there are many wild beasts around here. Last time we came, we even encountered a Grinding Tooth Wolf."

The leader of the red-robed travelers was a rather old uncle.

"Everyone, get on the Ox Cart, there's still some distance to go."

Another person understood and waved his hand to signal the others behind him.

The group walked back a distance, to a point below the cliff. There was a row of more than a dozen huge Ox Carts.

The Ox Carts were sections of closed, long, strip-shaped carriages, with windows on the sides that vaguely revealed large boxes of various goods piled inside.

The last Ox Cart was empty, filled not with goods, but with some travelers who had joined along the way.

The group of the Wolf Shooting Caravan got into the carriages and began to drive the Ox Carts forward.

The Ox Carts went around the side, along a small path carved into the cliff wall, constantly moving downwards.

In the last of the five carriages, there were about twenty people sitting.

Rows of seats were neatly arranged, with four people in each row, mostly full.

Two of the red-robed people from before also got into this last Ox Cart.

Judging by their appearance, one was a young woman, and the other was an ordinary boy who had not yet lost his childishness. Before entering the passenger compartment, the two stood at the driving position of the carriage and whispered a few words.

"There are about three days left until we arrive. I don't know why Dad insists on setting up a halfway house and taking these people of unknown origin along for the ride," Feng Ling said with some impatience.

Her eyes were large, as if covered with a layer of mist at all times. Although her appearance was not considered pretty, and her skin was somewhat rough due to years of traveling and exposure to the elements.

But perhaps because she was a martial artist, her figure was devilishly voluptuous, her legs were long and round, exceptionally alluring.

The red robe she was wearing was now pulled down, revealing the tight-fitting brown leather armor underneath. The round and full curves of her breasts were immediately exposed, and even more prominent and proud when set off by her small, graspable waist.

Her leather armor was also different from that of ordinary hunters and martial artists. The only parts tightly wrapped were three places: two on her chest, and one between her legs. Only these three key areas were tightly covered, while the rest of her body was casually exposed, with large areas of milky white skin glowing softly in the light, making people want to reach out and stroke it gently.

"Sister Ling is always so fiery. Dad was saved by a passing caravan once. If they hadn't taken the initiative to rescue Dad, who was seriously injured and collapsed, we probably wouldn't have this Wolf Shooting Caravan," the boy Zhao Ziqiong said with a wry smile. Both of them had grown up in this caravan and had deep feelings for these carriages. But every time Dad gave these passing strangers a free ride, they would worry about the possibility of robbers or ill-intentioned people appearing. So they took the initiative to come and guard.

"Knowing there's danger, and still letting them on board, isn't that just asking for trouble?" Feng Ling snorted a few times and pushed open the carriage door, scanning the inside.

A refugee couple with two children.

Three strong men who didn't look like good people at all.

Several wandering monks wrapped in white turbans, with faces full of suffering.

And scattered men and women who seemed to be wandering travelers. This group was the largest, with more than a dozen people.

"There are three days left until we arrive. You can figure out your own food and drink. Our team has done its best," Feng Ling said indifferently.

Sitting in the back were several young people in gray clothes. They didn't seem to have any pomp or airs, and were probably young masters and misses in distress. Hearing the voice, their faces were hesitant, as if they wanted to say something, but couldn't bring themselves to say it.

"If you have money, you can also buy directly from us," Feng Ling left a sentence and was about to leave.

"Since your caravan has already taken us this far, why not go all the way and be a good person to the end? Sending the Buddha to the West, wouldn't it be over by just providing some food?"

One of the three burly men chuckled.

"Be a good person to the end?" A fierce glint flashed in Feng Ling's eyes. "One more word and you can roll off the cart yourself!"

"How are you talking to me?!" The burly man's expression changed instantly, and he was about to stand up and roll up his sleeves.

"Want to fight?" Feng Ling raised her right fist. A faint, obscure aura flickered on her fist.

"A cultivator!" The strong man's face changed again, turning red, but he didn't dare to make any move to fight.

Lin Xin and the others sat at the back, finding it somewhat amusing.

Qiu Ling was very boisterous. She lowered her head and couldn't help but laugh.

"What are you laughing at?! Laugh again and get off the cart!" Feng Ling glared, staring directly at the head-down Qiu Ling. Wang Peng and the others were embarrassed to meet her gaze and lowered their heads.

But Qiu Ling didn't back down, directly meeting her gaze, her eyes rolling.

"We are guests on the cart. Is this how you treat guests?" She shook her head slightly, "No wonder you're in your thirties and still don't have a man. I'm afraid it's this temper that keeps people away, right?"

"What do you mean?!" Feng Ling was most sensitive to this topic, and she immediately bristled. "If you just want to piss me off, then congratulations, you've succeeded!" Her tone became a little low, and a faint aura slowly emanated from her body.

"You dress like this all day long, attracting bees and butterflies everywhere. This kind of indecent behavior..."

"Alright, alright, Qiu Ling! Say less!" Rong Yan quickly pulled her back.

"We came to save..." Qiu Ling couldn't help but say half a sentence, but Wang Peng glared back at her. Her momentum weakened, and she stopped talking.

Feng Ling heard half a sentence, and her willow eyebrows stood up.

"You few bean sprouts? Save what? Could it be saving people? I'm telling you, if it weren't for my dad's kindness in taking you on the road, young masters and young ladies like you, who are foolish and only know a little fancy fist and embroidery, would die on the road! There are countless of you!"

"You know nothing!" Qiu Ling was also angry. She stood up and prepared to start cursing at her.

"Alright." Suddenly, a man's voice came from the side.

The burly men watching the excitement in the carriage, the monks preparing to persuade, and some other young men and women who came out to experience the world were all attracted to this voice.

Somehow, as soon as this voice came out, Qiu Ling was like a shriveled eggplant, immediately pursing her lips and no longer speaking.

Seeing the other party soften, Feng Ling snorted coldly under the persuasion of the young man.

"You'll know how much we've helped you on this journey in the future. You're young and don't know the immensity of heaven and earth. I can't be bothered to argue with you." She turned to leave.

But she heard the woman couldn't help but say softly.

"Don't come begging us when you encounter trouble!"

"Beg for what!!" The fire in Feng Ling's heart rose again, and she almost jumped up. "I've been cultivating for thirteen years, why would I beg you!? Don't fucking joke around! A bunch of pampered brats who don't know anything, if I can't do it, you can only wait to die! A little Grinding Tooth Wolf can fuck you up! And you're still being tough with me!"

Feng Ling had been in the bodyguard biao hang caravan since she was a child, surrounded by rough men, and her swearing was far more powerful than Qiu Ling's.

Lin Xin was also a little dazed listening from the side. This woman looked like she had almond eyes covered in mist, a pure and lovely harmless appearance, but when it came to arguing, even he was taken aback by the contrast. (To be continued ~^~)