Cloud-Treading Villa, Judgment Knights

The Cloud-Treading Mountains were a fine mountain range about thirty li outside Spirit City. Cloud-Treading Villa sat majestically atop the peak. Looking up, one could see dark-green mountains rolling endlessly into the distance, mist like a gauzy veil curling around the mountaintops and painting heaven and earth into an impressionistic landscape. The mountain wind swept through the woods, stirring the branches and leaves of ancient trees across the slopes, while the roar of pines and the murmur of springs intertwined into a melody.

Down the bluestone steps lay a crystal-clear lake nestled among the forest. Water lilies floated upon its surface, red maples cast their reflections, and sunlight and cloud shadows drifted together. Pavilions with upturned eaves hid beneath dense shade, their vermilion pillars complementing blue tiles and the surrounding wild beauty. From the railing, the mountains and waters filled the eye—possessing both the grand majesty of nature and the delicate elegance of a landscaped garden.

"Whoa, so this is Cloud-Treading Villa? The scenery's really not bad. Perfect for retirement."

"Awoo, awoo~" The Jade Balance Xiejing Beast expressed its agreement.

Qian Xunzong brought Gui Mei and Yue Guan to Cloud-Treading Villa. The latter stepped forward and knocked on the gate. Soon, an old man opened it and came out. Upon seeing Qian Xunzong, he hurriedly clasped his hands in greeting.

"This old servant is Zheng Yue, the steward of Cloud-Treading Villa. Greetings, Second Young Master."

"Steward Zheng, there's no need for such formality. You know that I'll be taking over Cloud-Treading Villa today, right?"

Hearing this, Zheng Yue promptly replied, "This old servant knows. His Holiness the Pope already sent someone to notify us. The villa has been cleaned, and Second Young Master may move in at any time."

"You've been thoughtful. Come on, let's go take a look at my Cloud-Treading Villa."

Qian Xunzong strode inside, with Gui Mei and Yue Guan following behind. The moment the three entered Cloud-Treading Villa, they sensed waves of natural energy far denser than outside, leaving them refreshed and at ease.

Zheng Yue stood to the side and introduced the place to Qian Xunzong.

"Second Young Master, Cloud-Treading Villa covers more than seventeen hundred mu and is mainly divided into three major areas. One is a scenic area called the Silver River Waterfall, located behind the villa. Its scenery is beautiful, with artificial hills surrounding cascading waterfalls and lake waters shrouded in blue mist. It is an excellent place to cultivate one's mind during leisure time or to hold dinners and banquets."

Seventeen hundred mu—this could completely rival some of the imperial gardens from Qian Xunzong's previous life. Spirit Hall really was lavish.

"The second is the cultivation area. Cloud-Treading Villa as a whole can be considered a simulated cultivation ground. Back then, the Grand Worshipper dispatched several thousand craftsmen, who spent three years meticulously constructing it. The natural energy here is far denser than outside.

"The true cultivation site, however, is East-Coming Pavilion on the eastern side of the villa. Its name signifies auspicious purple energy arriving from the east. Hundreds, even thousands, of light-attributed plants grow there, while the corpse of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast with a light attribute is buried one hundred meters underground. It is connected to the earth veins, forming one of the finest simulated cultivation grounds on the continent. Light-attributed Soul Masters can cultivate there with twice the result for half the effort."

"My heavens, there are actually the remains of a legendary Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast beneath the villa!" Yue Guan cried out in shock. Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts were even rarer than human Titled Douluo, yet Spirit Hall had used the remains of one to create a simulated cultivation environment. That was far too extravagant!

"Haha, the Grand Worshipper provided those Soul Beast remains. It is said that His Holiness the Pope's ninth Soul Ring came from that very Soul Beast." Zheng Yue stroked his beard.

"This is Spirit Hall, after all. Naturally, it has to be lavish and imposing."

This was way too imposing!

"Alright, wipe that drool off your faces. You're my subordinates, so don't embarrass yourselves." Qian Xunzong patted Yue Guan on the shoulder, then looked at Zheng Yue. "Continue."

"Yes." Zheng Yue answered and continued.

"Besides those two areas, the villa also has facilities such as martial training grounds and parade grounds. His Holiness the Pope instructed that, since Second Young Master has taken over Cloud-Treading Villa, you may select from Spirit Hall or recruit your own villa guards. The villa can accommodate more than two thousand people, who will be responsible for protecting its safety."

"Awoo, awoo~" The Jade Balance Xiejing Beast called out twice.

After thinking for a moment, Zheng Yue smiled. "Oh, right. The villa has its own farmland and breeding grounds, so it can be fully self-sufficient. The food is quite good as well."

Only then did the Jade Balance Xiejing Beast leisurely lie back down on Qian Xunzong's shoulder.

"By the way, Steward Zheng, may I presumptuously ask something?" Gui Mei spoke up from the side.

"Oh, certainly. What question do you have, young brother?"

After considering it, Gui Mei still asked, "Uh, Cloud-Treading Villa is full of light-attributed areas. Is there anywhere suitable for dark-attributed Soul Masters to cultivate?"

The moment the words left his mouth, Gui Mei felt somewhat embarrassed. He had not even started working yet, and he was already thinking about benefits.

Upon hearing this, Zheng Yue sensed the aura on Gui Mei's body and suddenly understood. Then he smiled.

"Ah, the villa is indeed mostly a light-attributed environment. Of course, where there is light, there is darkness. When Cloud-Treading Villa was built, a Dark River was constructed on its western side to balance yin and yang. It connects to a valley and is the place with the heaviest yin energy in the entire villa."

At that, Zheng Yue looked toward Qian Xunzong. "If Second Young Master agrees, this old servant can send people to construct a simulated cultivation environment by the Dark River. It would be very suitable for dark-attributed Soul Masters."

Qian Xunzong nodded. "Sure. That place is just sitting there anyway, so we might as well put it to use."

Gui Mei was dark-attributed, so cultivating in a place filled entirely with light energy was indeed difficult for him. Yue Guan, on the other hand, was like a fish in water. From the look of him, he seemed as if he had returned to the womb.

After all, Gui Mei was his newly recruited deputy. Qian Xunzong could not mistreat him. Besides, for the vast Spirit Hall, this was a trivial matter.

"Yes, this old servant will arrange for the Engineering Division to begin construction at once."

"Thank you, Young Master." Gui Mei hurriedly clasped his hands in salute.

"By the way, how many people are currently in the villa?"

Upon hearing this, Zheng Yue immediately replied, "In reply to Second Young Master, there are currently one hundred maids and servants in the villa, as well as six kitchen staff."

"That's still a little too few. Recruit more people in the coming days. The villa is so large."

"Yes, Second Young Master."

Afterward, the group arrived at the residential and reception area, a luxurious complex of courtyards arranged in a staggered row-house layout. Each residence came with its own small courtyard. The outer walls were built from warm yellow bricks and stone, paired with wooden doors and windows carved with floral designs. Fragrant herbs that repelled mosquitoes and calmed the mind were planted throughout the courtyards.

At its very center stood the residence of the master of Cloud-Treading Villa, called Nine-Cloud Residence. Its name signified the clouds of the Nine Heavens, and it was magnificent, refined, and grand without losing its elegance.

"Second Young Master, you will be the master of Cloud-Treading Villa from now on. This Nine-Cloud Residence is the master's residence. It is divided into the main hall, Nine Heavens, and the rear courtyard, Cloudfall. The rear courtyard is for daily rest, while the main hall is where matters are discussed."

"It really is excellent—far better than I imagined." Qian Xunzong was very satisfied. This place was perfect for retirement.

"Master, where do you plan to select the villa guards from? This old servant can have someone send out word."

"There's no need to trouble yourself over the guards. I've already brought them."

"Oh? You brought them?" Zheng Yue looked toward Gui Mei and Yue Guan, who were looking around everywhere as though they had entered a city for the first time.

These two... could serve as guards?

Noticing Zheng Yue's gaze, Qian Xunzong also gave the pair a somewhat disdainful glance before saying, "Not them. They should be arriving at the villa entrance soon. Go receive them. Have them assemble at the parade ground."

"Yes, Master." Zheng Yue immediately set off for outside the villa to receive the guard unit.

Zheng Yue quickly arrived outside the villa. There, he saw rows upon rows of cavalrymen clad in gilded armor, golden spears in hand, treasured swords at their waists, and fully armored warhorses beneath them. The heavily armed cavalry stood in perfect formation, their breathing and posture without the slightest discrepancy. There were roughly three hundred of them, and their bearing was magnificent and awe-inspiring.

Zheng Yue released his spiritual power to investigate them. He had not expected much, but the moment he probed them, he was shocked—these cavalrymen were actually all Soul Sages.

My heavens, three hundred cavalrymen, all at the Soul Sage realm. Even if the two great empires joined forces, they probably could not gather such a force, could they?

They were the three hundred Judgment Knights Qian Xunzong had obtained by checking in at the Papal Palace. Each was a Soul Sage, and Qian Xunzong had stationed them outside the villa to await orders.

Zheng Yue was deeply shaken. Could they be the guard unit the master had mentioned? A guard unit of three hundred Soul Sages—wouldn't even a Titled Douluo have to take a detour upon seeing them?!

"Uh... are you the guard unit brought by the master?"

"That's right!" The knight commander at the front nodded, his voice deep and powerful.

"Good, good. Then follow me into the villa. The master is waiting for you at the parade ground."

Upon hearing this, the knight commander immediately led the Judgment Knights after Zheng Yue into Cloud-Treading Villa.