At the Peak of the Sea of Clouds, a silver light flashed, and two figures broke through the air, like arrows leaving a bowstring, instantly crossing the continuous and majestic mountain ranges.
As the figures gradually approached, their vision finally penetrated the rushing light and shadow, allowing them to discover that hidden within the two streaks of light were actually three figures.
One of the women had a beautiful face and hair like frost. A form-fitting long dress woven with white and purple perfectly showcased her graceful and slender figure.
What was breathtaking was that she had no wings formed from Dou Qi around her, yet she was able to move rapidly through the air.
This undoubtedly indicated that she was a genuine Dou Zong expert!
Beside her, the young man in green stood tall and straight, with a pair of ice-blue, dazzling wings spread behind him. As the wings cut through the strong winds, they emitted tiny sparks of electricity, granting him astonishing speed far exceeding that of ordinary Dou Huangs.
Of course, the most eye-catching was the little girl in a white dress tightly wrapped around his neck on his back. Her adorable appearance and relaxed expression formed a strange contrast with the sharp aura of the two.
With such a combination, their identities were naturally self-evident; they were none other than the three from the Black-Corner Region: Chen Xiao and his companions.
"Chen Xiao, why aren't we there yet? It's been seven days, and this wind is messing up my hair."
Zi Yan's impatient voice came from behind, causing Chen Xiao to give her butt an annoyed slap. The emperor isn't anxious, but the eunuch is.
Just as the Little Dragon Person said, the three of them had been traveling continuously for seven days.
But after seven days, this girl hadn't exerted even a little bit of effort, completely relying on Chen Xiao's back to be lazy the whole time.
Her excuse was that it was to avoid breaking the Blood Seal, so he wouldn't have to redraw it later.
"Almost there. We've already passed the Falling Eagle Mountain Range. The Heavenly Pillar Mountain Range is ahead, and Horizon City is over there."
Chen Xiao slowed down slightly, took out a map from his Storage Ring, glanced at it, and said.
Little Fairy Doctor also slowed down, glanced at the Little Dragon Person who was like a koala, reached out to help her tidy her slightly messy hair, and chuckled softly, "You should have switched to the front. That way, you wouldn't be affected by the wind. Although we can block the strong winds, when we move fast, a wind field will naturally form."
Hearing this, Zi Yan shook her head vigorously.
In the past, when she was lazy, she also liked to wrap herself around Chen Xiao from the front like a sloth, but ever since Cai Lin and Chen Xiao taught her a lesson, she no longer dared to do that. As soon as the thought crossed her mind, some indescribable scenes would involuntarily appear.
"No, then I wouldn't be able to see the scenery ahead."
Finding a perfect excuse to cover up, Zi Yan put her hands on Chen Xiao's shoulders and asked, "Chen Xiao, can we use the Spatial Wormhole in Horizon City to directly teleport to Sister Cao Ying?"
Because the Black-Corner Region was too far from Central State, even a Dou Zong expert would need at least half a year to cross the distance.
Therefore, to save time and energy, Spatial Wormholes came into being.
The so-called Spatial Wormholes were unique to the Central State Continent. They were two spatial nodes connected by Dou Zun experts using spatial power. Opening them was extremely complex, and they often required maintenance.
And those who maintained them had to at least possess Dou Zong strength to be qualified.
It was precisely because of these stringent conditions that Spatial Wormholes were extremely rare in regions other than Central State, and some regions had none at all.
The Northwest Continent was relatively good in this regard; there was only one Spatial Wormhole in Horizon City that connected to Central State.
This was also the purpose of the three of them rushing to Horizon City.
"I also want to teleport directly to the Cao Family, but unfortunately, I can't. According to Fourth Elder Cao Xi, the Spatial Wormhole in Horizon City connects to a city in Central State near the Northern Heaven Desert called Xian City. After reaching Xian City, we still need to use other Spatial Wormholes and transfer twice to reach the Pill Domain Cao Family."
Listening to Chen Xiao's explanation, Zi Yan's delicate nose wrinkled slightly, and her pink lips pursed.
"So troublesome! When we get more Spatial Wormholes in the future, one will go directly to Purple Cloud City, one directly to Jia Nan Academy, and we'll need one for Sister Cai Lin's place too!"
"Alright, you can get as many as you want in the future."
Chen Xiao laughed softly and agreed.
For others, opening a Spatial Wormhole was indeed a troublesome matter.
But for the Void Ancient Dragon race, they were most skilled in this area, and opening Spatial Wormholes would be even simpler. If Zi Yan were truly interested in doing this, in the future, she would only need to give an order, and there would be plenty of people volunteering.
"The Cao Family is in Central State, their status should be quite high, right?"
This time, it was Little Fairy Doctor who asked.
Although Cao Xi and Cao Ying had stayed in Purple Cloud City for quite a long time, these two had always been very humble in front of them and never mentioned the Cao Family's strength.
Furthermore, Cao Ying left early, and Cao Xi spent most of his time with Hai Bo Dong and Chen Xiao, which meant that she still knew very little about Central State.
However, Little Fairy Doctor's thoughts were very meticulous. Just from what she learned from the side, she guessed that the Cao Family was not that simple and was definitely not a small family.
Chen Xiao nodded slightly and took this opportunity to give them a simple科普 (科普 - popular science/introduction).
"In Central State, the forces on the surface can be summarized in one sentence: One Hall, One Tower, Two Sects, Three Valleys, Four Pavilions!"
"One Hall, that is the Soul Hall. The old rat hidden in the Black-Corner Region is a Protector of the Soul Hall. This force is the most powerful. As long as they don't provoke us, we should try to keep to ourselves. Provoking them means endless trouble."
"One Tower refers to the Pill Tower."
"The Pill Tower is a holy place in the hearts of most Alchemists on the Dou Qi Continent. For example, the evaluation of Alchemist ranks by the Pill Tower is the most authoritative and is universally applicable throughout the continent. And the Cao Family is one of the five major permanent Elder families under the Pill Tower."
"The Two Sects are the Flower Sect and the Heavenly Underworld Sect. We may not have contact with them for a while. We can learn about them slowly when we get to Central State."
"The Three Valleys are the Burning Flame Valley, the Ice River Valley, and the Sound Valley."
"The Burning Flame Valley has a relatively upright style, while the Sound Valley is reclusive, with very few disciples traveling outside. The only one we need to be careful of is the Ice River Valley."
"Is it because they cultivate the Ice Attribute, just like you?" Zi Yan muttered softly.
"More or less. Don't interrupt, let me finish."
Giving the Little Dragon Person another slap, Chen Xiao continued, "The main reason we need to be careful of the Ice River Valley is because, as far as I know, there are people in the Ice River Valley who are very interested in the Woeful Poison Body. If Xian'er is discovered by them, there might be danger. So, if we encounter people from this force, we can kill them!"
The Little Fairy Doctor only needed to condense her Poison Pill, and her strength would experience a huge surge.
Coupled with the Cao Family's connections, Chen Xiao wasn't particularly worried about the Ice River Valley.
The reason he said that was simply to avoid unnecessary trouble.
The Little Fairy Doctor and Zi Yan nodded slightly, silently noting down the Ice River Valley in their little notebooks.
"Next, let's talk about the Four Pavilions."
"The Four Pavilions refer to the Starfall Pavilion, Wind and Lightning Pavilion, Ten Thousand Swords Pavilion, and Yellow Springs Pavilion. These four major forces are located in the four directions of Central State, hence the name Four Pavilions."
"Among these four forces, the only ones we might have dealings with are the Starfall Pavilion and the Wind and Lightning Pavilion."
"Specifically, Yao Chen, who came to our Purple Firmament Pavilion a few days ago, was originally the Pavilion Master of the Starfall Pavilion."
"As for the Wind and Lightning Pavilion, it's because of the Three Thousand Lightning Movement I cultivate. This is their secret technique that is not passed down, and if they discover this, it will definitely cause some trouble."
Hearing this, the Little Fairy Doctor and Zi Yan immediately understood.
They had witnessed Chen Xiao's Three Thousand Lightning Movement many times, and it had provided him with great assistance in countless battles.
For example, when facing the three Grand Elders of the Demon Flame Valley back then, with the Three Thousand Lightning Movement, Chen Xiao was able to advance and retreat as he pleased, standing in an invincible position.
Without this movement technique, facing those three, Chen Xiao would only have two choices: either constantly avoid their attacks, or go all out from the start.
After all, with Chen Xiao's realm at the time, ordinary methods couldn't threaten those three.
"One Hall, One Tower, Two Sects, Three Valleys, Four Pavilions. This mnemonic is quite easy to remember. When the Purple Firmament Pavilion moves to Central State, it will be the Five Pavilions from now on. They guard the four directions, and we'll be in the middle!"
Zi Yan waved her fists, full of enthusiasm.
In response to this, Chen Xiao could only say:
It's too small, the scope is too small!
You, the dignified Dragon Emperor of the Void Ancient Dragon race, are only thinking about playing house with the Four Pavilions. Isn't that lowering your own status?
"You can set your goals higher. What I just mentioned are just the forces on the surface of Central State. Besides these sects, there are countless hidden sects in Central State, many of which are comparable to the Two Sects and Three Valleys."
Among these hidden sects, the ones Chen Xiao remembered most clearly were the three that hosted the spatial trade fair.
Because the last piece of the Purifying Lotus Demon Fire Remnant Map would appear there.
"Furthermore, these are all human forces. There's a place in Central State called the Beast Region, which is the territory of Magical Beast races. The top-ranked ones there are just as strong, if not stronger, than the Two Sects and Three Valleys."
"Finally, above all these forces, there are eight, or more accurately, seven transcendent ancient races. They are the true rulers of the Dou Qi Continent, and each of them has produced an Emperor level expert!"
The situation in Central State couldn't be explained in detail with just a few words; Chen Xiao could only give a general overview.
As for the specifics, once they entered Central State and stayed for a while, they would naturally come to understand them slowly.
Hearing the words "Emperor," even the usually lively Zi Yan was slightly stunned.
Such legendary powerhouses hadn't appeared on the Dou Qi Continent for tens of thousands of years.
While chatting, the ground below rapidly receded. After passing over another plain, the three of them arrived at a completely new mountain range.
Looking out, wide, interconnected roads within the mountain range were clearly visible, with people constantly moving back and forth on them. Even from a distance, the sounds of commotion from the ground could be faintly heard.
At the foot of this mountain range, a massive city stood tall. In terms of scale, it was no less impressive than large cities like Black Emperor City.
"Horizon City, we've arrived!"
Just as Chen Xiao and the other two were looking down at the city, a figure suddenly soared from below towards the sky.
"Three friends, please descend."
The voice arrived before the person.
As he got closer, they could see that it was an old man dressed in yellow robes.
His aura was also extraordinary; he was a Dou Wang expert.
The yellow-robed old man approached, his gaze sweeping over the faces of the three, his expression slightly solemn.
He was a member of the Luo Family in Horizon City, and the Spatial Wormhole within the city belonged to the Luo Family.
Being able to firmly control the Spatial Wormhole without others coveting it meant the Luo Family's strength was considerable. They had a five-star Dou Zong ancestor within the family.
It was precisely because of this foundation that the Luo Family could remain neither humble nor arrogant when receiving Dou Huang, and even Dou Zong experts who came to use the passage.
What surprised the old man the most about Chen Xiao and the other two was how young they looked.
Leaving aside the little monster Zi Yan, even Chen Xiao and the Little Fairy Doctor looked like they were only around twenty years old, yet their strength was far beyond the yellow-robed old man's reach.
Especially the Little Fairy Doctor, who was standing in mid-air. The old man only needed to glance at her, and an inexplicable sense of oppression surged in his heart. Even under this pressure, the flow of Dou Qi within his body became much more sluggish.
"The three friends look unfamiliar, so this must be your first time in Horizon City. May I ask your purpose?"
The old man suppressed the slight turmoil in his heart, cupped his fists in greeting, his attitude becoming even more courteous.
A Peak Dou Huang under twenty years old and a Peak Dou Huang who was several decades or even a hundred years old might seem equal in strength, but the true value was vastly different.
This was even more true for the Dou Zong level. Although the pressure the Little Fairy Doctor gave him wasn't as intense as his family's ancestor, the Little Fairy Doctor was young and beautiful, while the Luo Family's ancestor already had one foot in the grave.
"Since we've come to Horizon City, naturally we're here to use the Spatial Wormhole," Chen Xiao said calmly, his gaze sweeping over the old man.
"The Spatial Wormhole is located in the central plaza of Horizon City. Please feel free to proceed, three distinguished guests. However, to travel through the Spatial Wormhole, you need a Spatial Ship. If the three distinguished guests are not prepared, you can purchase one at our Luo Clan Auction House. Their quality is definitely superior to other shops."
The old man nodded slightly, not surprised by Chen Xiao's purpose.
People come and go in Horizon City every day, and at least seventy percent of those from out of town want to use the Spatial Wormhole.
The rest are here for auctions or similar events.
Chen Xiao nodded lightly, didn't continue the conversation, and led Little Fairy Doctor and Zi Yan into the city.
Walking along the bustling streets, they could see a shop selling Spatial Ships every ten meters or so. This unique feature made the three of them feel slightly curious.
"It's been a long time since I've been to a normal city like this. In the Black-Corner Region, the people in Purple Cloud City are too reserved when they see us, and other cities are too chaotic. It's much more comfortable to wander around a normal city like this."
As soon as she landed, Zi Yan reverted to her lively nature, like a cheerful bird, constantly darting into the shops on either side, as if she had endless energy.
Chen Xiao and Little Fairy Doctor let her go, walking side by side, stopping and going, quietly enjoying the rare peaceful time.
After wandering for about half an hour, the three of them finally saw a tall, luxuriously decorated building near the city center. There were five golden shining characters on the plaque.
Luo Clan Auction House!
Having no interest in participating in an auction, Chen Xiao led Little Fairy Doctor and Zi Yan into the venue, called over a Steward, and directly stated their intention to purchase a Spatial Ship.
"Three distinguished guests, please take a look. These are the Spatial Ships used in the Spatial Wormhole. With your status, I won't bring out any Spatial Ships below Fourth Tier to make a fool of myself. All the Spatial Ships here are above Fourth Tier, clearly priced, and honest."
The middle-aged Steward led the three to a heavily guarded room. Inside, there were more than twenty crystal counters, and in each counter, there was a wooden ship about the size of a palm.
On these wooden ships, a faint silver light flickered. The three of them were surprised to find that these things actually contained a trace of extremely weak spatial power.
Spatial Ships above Fourth Tier were extremely expensive to build, with prices exceeding a million.
Among them, Chen Xiao noticed that the most expensive one was a Sixth Tier Spatial Ship, priced as high as four million!
This price was already enough to buy a Low-Level Earth Tier Dou Skill!
The Spatial Ships in this room alone, when totaled, were already a terrifying fortune. It was easy to imagine how much wealth the Luo Family had accumulated by relying on the Spatial Wormhole.
After a brief moment of emotion, Chen Xiao called the Steward over.
"No need to look any further, this one will do."
Saying this, Chen Xiao took out his Gold Coin Card and handed it over.
He hadn't brought too many Gold Coins, but it was enough.
"Alright, distinguished guest, please wait a moment."
After a simple verification, the Steward carefully opened the crystal counter and held out the Spatial Ship, whose silver light flickered on the surface, with both hands. Only after Chen Xiao had put it away did he let out a long sigh of relief and take out a card from his Storage Ring, handing it over.
"Also, this is a VIP Card from our Luo Clan Auction House. Distinguished guest, please accept it. With this card, if you wish to purchase anything else, you can enjoy a discount."
"Okay."
Chen Xiao casually accepted it and didn't linger at the Auction House. He immediately led Little Fairy Doctor and Zi Yan towards the Spatial Wormhole in the central plaza.
Aside from regular maintenance times, the Spatial Wormhole could be used at any time, requiring only a fee.
After simply completing the process, the three of them arrived before the Spatial Wormhole, exchanged glances, and then stepped into it without hesitation.
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