Winds swept across ten thousand miles as several streaks of light hurtled through the sky. Before long, they approached what had once been the heartland of the Purple Dusk Empire, now Great Xia's Chen Capital Prefecture.
Yun Qing sat cross-legged on the serpent's head, cultivating through measured breaths. The chaos immortal light he breathed in and out continually nourished the little serpent's flesh and bones beneath him.
Outside Chen Capital Prefecture, Yun Qing opened his eyes and swept an indifferent glance over the city below, clearly sensing the earth-shaking transformation Purple Dusk had undergone.
Half a year ago, he had set out from Yu Pass on Great Xia's border, crossed half the Purple Dusk Empire, and settled in Blackwater Town. Back then, the passes had been laxly guarded and the post roads neglected. The watchposts along the way had either fallen into disrepair or been seized as private property by local cultivator lineages.
Now, Great Xia's dragon banners flew over every fortified pass along the route, and the troops guarding them below were no longer Purple Dusk soldiers.
Great Xia's Blackgold Armored Soldiers stood with halberds arrayed, their dragon horses stepping soundlessly. Patrols and border inspections proceeded in orderly fashion under ironclad military discipline.
Yun Qing patted Ye Hui's head and gave a quiet signal.
The imposing Chaos Heaven-Swallowing Giant Python immediately shrank, turning back into a tiny, delicate ink-and-gold python in an instant.
Yun Qing raised a hand to gather the little serpent into his palm, his black robe flowing as he landed outside the city with the others.
Ye Tianchen's party had barely followed the crowd to the city gate when a Great Xia soldier raised a hand to stop them.
"Cultivators entering the city must register their origins, cultivation level, and reason for entering."
Ye Tianchen stopped,