Arrival in Skysea City

Qi Ji had never expected to win Wu Changkong over. To be honest, it was something he had never imagined would happen.

His original plan had merely been to show his face at Eastsea Academy and, while he was there, take Xie Xie and Xu Xiaoyan away. Instead, through a twist of fate, he ended up taking Wu Changkong with him.

However, Qi Ji knew perfectly well that this had only happened naturally. Although Wu Changkong claimed to follow him now, Qi Ji would not truly consider him one of his own until he knew whether Wu Changkong could break free from the influence of Shrek's Loyalty Gu.

He still needed to remain wary. Shrek's brainwashing methods were no joke.

Still, the same rule applied—anyone Qi Ji could defeat today would never be considered a true enemy by him.

Because he did not believe anyone could grow faster than he could, much less become stronger than him.

This confidence was not blind arrogance, but was founded on his absolute understanding of his own talent and potential.

Since they would be heading to Skysea City to compete tomorrow, the exchange soon came to an end.

As students of Eastsea Academy, Xie Xie and the others had to take the school's bus to Skysea City. Qi Ji and his two companions, meanwhile, had their own private car and far more freedom of movement.

Before long, the three of them arrived in Skysea City.

As the core city of the Skysea Alliance, Skysea City was far more developed than Eastsea City. Its streets were wider, its buildings taller, and its crowds denser.

It was Qi Ji's first time here. Looking out through the car window, he saw that it was completely unlike Eastsea City's endless coastal plains. Skysea City had many mountains, so much of it had been built along the slopes.

The buildings climbed upward in layer upon layer, creating a magnificent sight when viewed from below.

Some high-rises stood halfway up the mountains, their peaks vanishing into the clouds, truly seeming to pierce the heavens.

Come to think of it, Qi Ji rarely went anywhere.

Before the age of six, he had remained in the orphanage in Eastsea City. After turning six, he had stayed in Mingdu. His daily life had been little more than a straight line between two places, leaving him with almost no opportunities to travel elsewhere.

This Skysea Alliance Grand Tournament was therefore one of his few excursions.

Thus, the moment Qi Ji arrived in Skysea City, the city's administrative officials could not wait to receive him.

They had long regarded Qi Ji as the pride of the Skysea Alliance and wished the entire city to know that the Seven-Colored Dragon Emperor had returned.

After making his way through all the social niceties, Qi Ji's professional smile was nearly frozen in place. Still, he understood that this was the price one had to pay for enjoying resources, so there was nothing to complain about.

Among the officials and Soul Masters who had come to greet him, Qi Ji also spotted an acquaintance.

"Greetings, Your Excellency Swordfish."

Qi Ji approached the Titled Douluo and gave a slight bow.

The man was the Titled Douluo from the Skysea Alliance whom he had met once at the Eastsea City Spirit Pagoda years ago. At the time, Swordfish had represented the Skysea Alliance in trying to recruit Qi Ji. Although he had failed, the black card he left behind had made quite an impression on Qi Ji.

"It has been a long time. No need for such formality."

Swordfish Douluo smiled and waved a hand. His eyes held the gratification and pride of an elder looking at a junior. "You are the Alliance's most famous genius now. Thanks to you, when I went to meetings in Mingdu recently, people from other regions no longer mocked our Skysea Alliance for having no talented Soul Masters worth mentioning. You have no idea—whenever I attended a meeting in the past, someone would always say sarcastically, 'What does the Skysea Alliance have besides money?' They do not dare say that anymore."

"It is only my duty."

Qi Ji smiled, his tone modest yet proper. "I am glad my hometown's reputation has turned around. After all, I grew up in Eastsea City. The Skysea Alliance is my root."

"By the way," Swordfish Douluo said, seemingly recalling something as he changed the subject, "why have you never used the black card I gave you before? Did you feel we were not close enough, so you were embarrassed to spend from it?"

"Uh..." Qi Ji scratched his head and explained somewhat awkwardly.

"Most of my cultivation resources are covered by the Federation and the War God Temple, while my daily expenses go through the War God Temple as well. I rarely run into situations where I need to pay out of my own pocket. Besides, the Federation Central Bank also gave me a black card, and its credit limit is enough, so that card has just been sitting unused."

"Ah, I did not think it through at the time."

Swordfish Douluo sighed, seeming somewhat regretful. "I came in a hurry back then and had nothing presentable on hand, so I could only give you that pretty but useless gift. Do not worry. In a while, I will prepare a real gift for you, one worthy of your current status."

"Then this junior will thank Your Excellency Swordfish."

Since someone was offering to give him a gift, Qi Ji naturally accepted. Gifts were wonderful—he never minded having more good things.

What followed were some rather boring social obligations.

The Federation's drinking culture had become far too ingrained. Even Limit Douluos and Titled Douluos had to drink a few cups on occasions like this.

As glasses were raised and emptied, flattery and polite pleasantries rose one after another.

Fortunately, Qi Ji was still a child, so no one made him drink. However, the toasts and formal words he was expected to offer could not be avoided.

By the end of the meal, the muscles in his face had nearly stiffened from smiling.

It had to be said that while becoming someone important in the Federation made everything convenient, it also cost him some private time.

For example, while Tang Wuling and Gu Yuena were free to wander around Skysea City, Qi Ji was forced to attend tedious social functions in the banquet hall of the five-star hotel where they were staying.

The banquet did not end until evening. Although his body had suffered no torment, Qi Ji felt more exhausted than he would after meditating without sleep for an entire week.

He had never liked meaningless socializing. Most of the names and faces he had to remember at the dinner table were people he would probably never care about again.

To him, wasting time like this was even more torturous than fighting.

"Still not strong enough."

Qi Ji returned to his room. The moment he shut the door, he finally removed the smiling mask he had worn all day and let out a long breath. "I should cultivate until I reach the point where I can say, 'I don't eat beef.' Then who would dare make me attend such boring banquets?"

He sat cross-legged on the hotel bed, closed his eyes, and began his unwavering daily meditation.

Recently, his cultivation speed had clearly slowed somewhat because of his ultimate attributes, but Qi Ji was not anxious. Cultivation was always a matter of steady accumulation before a breakthrough. As long as he was headed in the right direction, he would eventually reach the point where he could do as he pleased.