Lin Wan'er stared at the towering behemoth in the distance, her eyes filled with awe.
Although the place where she grew up was quite prosperous, it paled in comparison to the city before her.
Xiao Yan followed her gaze and saw that they had now reached a point less than a hundred feet from the city wall.
Looking up at it from close range, the city appears even more magnificent and imposing. The dark city walls rise abruptly from the ground, like an insurmountable chasm stretching before your eyes.
More details can be seen on the city wall stones up close. On each stone brick, there are faint patterns of arrays flowing, and those patterns occasionally flash with a glint of lightning, which is obviously reinforced with some kind of protective restriction.
The city gate is five zhang high, and the two heavy gates are made entirely of refined iron, with a pair of huge thunder patterns cast on the gate surface.
On either side of the city gate stood a stone-carved mythical beast, its form fierce, its claws bared, and its appearance lifelike.
The pitch-black bricks created this enormous black behemoth.
From a distance, the entire Wind Lightning City resembles an ancient Ferocious Beast crouching on the edge of a cliff.
Above the Wind Lightning Pavilion, dark clouds gathered in the distance, clouds that were quite different from those on a typical rainy day.
They were thicker and lower, almost pressing down to the top of the city's tallest tower.
A series of thunderclaps echoed from the clouds, each one causing the earth to tremble slightly and the air to resonate in response.
Upon closer inspection, the dark clouds were not formed naturally, but rather swirled and churned around a central point in the city, creating a massive cloud vortex.
Lightning flashed intermittently at the center of the vortex, illuminating the surrounding dark clouds in a ghastly white light.
"I've long heard of the Wind Lightning Pavilion's techniques, which mainly focus on the wind and thunder elements. I never imagined that a mere branch pavilion would use an array to create an artificial thunder-shaped arena."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan's face also showed a hint of shock.
Although he had seen records about the Wind Lightning Pavilion, the impact of seeing it with his own eyes far exceeded any written description.
This method of seizing the power of heaven and earth is completely beyond the imagination of ordinary cultivators.
Controlling lightning was a concept that even in my previous life, in that technologically advanced era, it was something that humanity dared not easily imagine.
The power of lightning is too violent and too difficult to control. The energy contained in a single bolt of lightning is enough to instantly destroy a building and cleave the earth into a scorched crater.
Here, in this world belonging to cultivators, the powerful figures of the Wind Lightning Pavilion can not only control this power, but also use formations to gather lightning in one place, forming such a permanent cultivation ground.
If all the lightning power contained in those dark clouds were to be unleashed, it would probably be enough to raze half a city to the ground.
And now, this scene is right before his eyes.
He could clearly sense the lightning-attribute Soul Power permeating the air; for someone who cultivated lightning-attribute techniques, this place was practically a paradise.
With this in mind, Xiao Yan was even more determined to face the upcoming trials.
The stronger the Wind Lightning Pavilion is, the greater the value of cultivating within it.
He could imagine that if he could learn the Wind Lightning Pavilion's techniques and Dou Technique here, he could raise his strength to another level.
So when he returns to the Douluo Continent in the future, he will have more trump cards and more confidence when facing those opponents who once made him feel powerless.
If I could truly enter the Wind Lightning Pavilion to cultivate...
We'll return to the Douluo Continent then...
Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed slightly, and a bitter feeling welled up in his heart once again.
Bibi Dong, the Pope of the Spirit Hall, the woman who stood at the pinnacle of power on the Douluo Continent, and Yu Xiaogang, the Grandmaster he once respected but who later utterly disappointed him.
Her Highness the Pope's Palace's strength is unfathomable; her Martial Soul and Soul Ring Configuration alone are enough to make most opponents tremble with fear.
Upon entering Wind Lightning City, the two immediately sensed the stark difference between the city and the outside world.
The main avenues within the city were wide and smooth, lined with shops on both sides, including restaurants, inns, medicine shops, and weapon shops.
Cultivators came and went in an endless stream, many of whom possessed formidable auras.
Even when Xiao Yan made eye contact with an old man who brushed past him, he felt a pressure no less than that of Dou Zong expert.
At intervals above the street hang crystals that emit a soft glow; these are lightning-attribute Soul Power crystals that provide illumination and maintain the concentration of lightning-attribute Soul Power within the city.
After asking around a bit on the street, Lin Wan'er headed straight for the Wind Lightning Pavilion's official residence.
After passing through two bustling main streets and turning into a relatively quiet side street, a huge complex of buildings soon came into view for Xiao Yan and Lin Wan'er.
This complex covers a vast area, with its outer walls alone stretching for hundreds of feet.
"Halt! This is the territory of the Wind and Wind Lightning Pavilion. Outside cultivators are prohibited from entering."
Just as Xiao Yan and Lin Wan'er stopped to look at the magnificent complex of buildings in front of them, each lost in their own thoughts.
Suddenly, a reprimand came from the side, the tone stern and arrogant, carrying an air of self-righteous condescension.
Xiao Yan turned his head and saw a middle-aged man walking towards them with a stern expression.
The middle-aged man looked to be in his early thirties, slightly overweight, with a black belt around his waist that cinched his slightly protruding belly.
He had a round face, well-maintained, fair skin, and a few sparse wisps of beard on his chin.
His face showed a stern expression, his brows were slightly furrowed, and the corners of his mouth were pursed down, giving off an aura that kept strangers at bay.
His gaze toward Xiao Yan and Lin Wan'er carried a hint of scrutiny and arrogance.
The look in his eyes was as if he were sizing up two unruly country bumpkins. His gaze swept over them from head to toe, and when he saw that they were dressed plainly, his contempt deepened.
Xiao Yan's gaze swept over the middle-aged man. His soul perception was so sharp that he judged the other party's strength almost instantly.
If he wasn't mistaken, the aura emanating from this person was probably only around that of Seven-Star Dou Wang.
In a typical city, someone with that kind of ability would probably be considered a big shot.
But compared to Xiao Yan now, they are simply no match.
However, judging from the clothes the other party was wearing and the undisguised arrogance on his face, Xiao Yan knew very well that the other party was probably from the Wind Lightning Pavilion.
The middle-aged man wore a long, gray-blue robe with silver lightning patterns embroidered on the cuffs and collar, and a lightning bolt-shaped emblem on his chest, which was the symbol of the Wind Lightning Pavilion.
This outfit wasn't particularly luxurious, but in the Wind Lightning City, it represented a certain status.
Even a mere gatekeeper or manager of the Wind Lightning Pavilion naturally feels superior to outsiders.
He wasn't there to cause trouble, so naturally he wouldn't deliberately antagonize the other party.
Although the middle-aged man's attitude displeased him slightly, Xiao Yan was very clear about the purpose of his trip.
He came to participate in the Wind Lightning Trial and strive for the opportunity to enter the Wind Lightning Pavilion for cultivation, not to argue with a minor gatekeeper.
Offending the Wind Lightning Pavilion for the sake of momentary pleasure is not worthwhile from any perspective.
"This is my letter of recommendation. I'm here to participate in the Wind Lightning Trial of the Wind Lightning Pavilion."
Xiao Yan spoke calmly, his tone neither humble nor arrogant. He took out the letter of recommendation that Chen Yunzhou had given him from his pocket.
The letter was sealed with red sealing wax, on which Chen Yunzhou's personal mark was printed.
He handed the letter to the middle-aged man, his movements composed yet courteous.
As he handed over the letter, Xiao Yan's gaze swept over the aura emanating from the middle-aged man, and at the same time, his own Soul Power rippled slightly.
This fluctuation was not strong; in fact, it could be described as extremely restrained.
But even that brief moment of aura emanating was enough for the middle-aged man to clearly sense it.
The middle-aged man, who had initially looked arrogant and disdainful, felt as if he had been doused with a bucket of ice water after sensing the fleeting, terrifying aura emanating from Xiao Yan.
Although that aura only appeared for a brief moment, the sense of oppression it contained was very real.
That was genuine Dou Emperor- level pressure, a full realm stronger than his.
Faced with this overwhelming pressure, his strength as Seven-Star Dou Wang was like that of a pedestrian standing at the foot of a mountain looking up at the summit—pitifully insignificant.
The middle-aged man's body stiffened involuntarily, his shoulders hunched slightly, and even his breathing paused for a moment.
His facial expression immediately became fascinating, and his previously raised chin quietly returned to its original position.
His expression changed so quickly that his round face looked somewhat comical for a moment.
"I see!"
The middle-aged man smiled and approached Xiao Yan and Lin Wan'er, his pace more than twice as fast as before, almost running and stumbling as he came over.
His smile was so bright that Lin Wan'er thought she was hallucinating.
The same person who was coldly reprimanding them just a moment ago, how did they change their attitude so drastically in the blink of an eye?
The speed at which this expression changed was faster than turning the pages of a book. Lin Wan'er couldn't help but rub her eyes, wondering if she was seeing things.
The middle-aged man had no time to pay attention to Lin Wan'er's confusion; all his thoughts were focused on pleasing the young powerhouse before him.
He bent slightly, adopting an extremely humble posture, and his tone of voice became exceptionally attentive, a stark contrast to his previous demeanor.
"This way, please. I'll take you to register."
The middle-aged man's gaze swept over the two of them. This time, there was no trace of disdain in his eyes; instead, there was Xiao Xin respect and a hint of curiosity.
The young man in front of me, who looks to be no more than twenty years old, actually possesses the strength of Dou Emperor).
Moreover, he was qualified to be recommended by Nine-Star Dou Emperor. He had been in the Wind Lightning Pavilion for so many years, so he naturally knew what this meant.
Such a talented individual will undoubtedly receive special attention and training within the Wind Lightning Pavilion in the future.
If you can make a good impression on the other party now, you might benefit from it in the future.
After saying that, he turned to the side and gestured for them to enter, then led Xiao Yan and Lin Wan'er to the reception room next door.
The reception room is located to the left of the main entrance. It is a standalone, single-story building, and the steps in front of the door are kept very clean.
The middle-aged man eagerly stepped forward, opened the door, then stepped aside, smiling broadly as he invited Xiao Yan and his companion to enter first.
"Please wait a moment, senior, I will go and inform the steward immediately."
After examining the letter of recommendation in Xiao Yan's hand, the middle-aged man moved even more swiftly than before.
He held the letter in both hands and carefully checked the markings on the sealing wax.
After confirming that everything was correct, he Xiao Xin returned the letter to Xiao Yan, his attitude as respectful as if he were holding some rare treasure.
When his gaze fell on the recommender's signature, and he saw Chen Yunzhou's name and the mark of a Nine-Star Dou Emperor, his fawning smile became even brighter.
Nine-Star Dou Emperor is someone who is only one step away from becoming Dou Zong, and is considered a prominent figure in the entire Northern Continent.
The fact that this young man was recommended by such a powerful figure speaks volumes about his stature.
The middle-aged man secretly rejoiced, thankful that he hadn't offended the other party too much.
Otherwise, if the other party actually enters the Wind Lightning Pavilion in the future and makes things difficult for me, then life will be tough.