Chapter 188: Chapter 177: Divine Wind City

Shock! Utter shock! Nothing but pure, unadulterated shock!

If the revelation that Nie Yun was an Ultimate Venerable Powerhouse had already left Yangg Yan and Feng Xiao dumbfounded, then the sight of three Ultimate Venerable Level Demon Beasts shattered the very limits of their comprehension. Their heads spun, and they couldn’t believe this was real!

But they had to believe it—the three great Demon Beasts were standing right there before them, larger than life.

"Well... that sets our minds at ease!"

The two exchanged wry smiles.

What was there to worry about? A single person leading three great Ultimate Venerable Demon Beasts was the equivalent of four Ultimate Venerable Powerhouses. With that kind of strength, even annihilating the Imperial Family of the Divine Wind Empire probably wouldn’t be difficult!

With such backing, he could go anywhere in the world!

"Let’s go!" Seeing that their minds were at ease, Nie Yun smiled. He turned and led the three great Demon Beasts out of the council hall, soaring into the sky and vanishing among the clouds in an instant.

"Four Ultimate Venerables... Perhaps Nie Yun’s trip to the Imperial Capital will cause a massive stir!"

"A massive stir might be an understatement. I think the entire political landscape of the Divine Wind Empire will be completely reshaped by this young man!"

Watching the figures of the man and his three beasts recede into the distance, Yangg Yan and Feng Xiao imagined the shockwaves they would send through Divine Wind City. They remained rooted to the spot, voicing their awe.

.................................

’Once I reach the Divine Wind Empire, I’ll first do some investigating. But regardless of whether I find anything, this time I need to make a grand entrance. I’ll use overwhelming force to make sure everyone in the entire Empire knows I, Nie Yun, have arrived! Then, I’ll announce that the Phecda Sword is in my possession!’

Riding on the back of the Wind Wolf King, Nie Yun refined his plan once more.

’The reason they captured my father and the others must be for the Phecda Sword. That being the case, I’ll find an opportunity to make a high-profile display of my power. A supreme powerhouse with combat strength comparable to the Ultimate Venerable Peak, accompanied by three Ultimate Venerable Level Demon Beasts... no faction would be willing to provoke such a force!’

’At that point, once I announce that the Phecda Sword is in my hands, they’ll see that holding my father and the others captive is useless and might just release them!’

’After all, who would risk a falling-out with four Ultimate Venerables over a few ordinary people? You’d have to be insane!’

’Even if they don’t release them, they’ll surely seek me out to negotiate. Then, I can follow the clues right to their source and save my father!’

"Alright, that’s the plan! Xiaolang, Hei Yan, Zi Tong, once we enter the city, act just as you did in Jibei City. Don’t reveal your full strength so easily. I’ll wait for the most opportune moment to let you unleash your power and make sure the entire Divine Wind Empire knows we’re here!"

Nie Yun said with a faint smile.

"Yes, Master!" Hearing Nie Yun’s plan, the three great Demon Beasts grew so excited they wanted to let out triumphant roars.

The reason Demon Beasts typically stayed in the mountain forests year-round wasn’t that they preferred it, but that in a world dominated by humans, the moment they showed their faces, they would be hunted down—even those with the power of an Ultimate Venerable were no exception!

But now, as Demon Pets, they could swagger into a city and openly display their strength, making everyone stop and stare in awe!

"Alright, let’s pick up the pace!"

With a laugh, Nie Yun sat upright on the Wind Wolf King’s back, and they shot off in the direction he remembered from his past life.

Although the Wind Wolf King was the last of the three great Demon Pets to reach the Ultimate Venerable level, it was by far the fastest. Especially when it used its special Whirlwind ability, even Nie Yun would have difficulty keeping up.

It was because of this incredible speed that Nie Yun couldn’t be bothered to fly himself and spent most of his time riding on its back.

Divine Wind City was only a few thousand miles from Luoshui City. Before nightfall, the man and his three beasts could already see the city’s outline.

"Let’s land here."

They found a secluded spot outside the city, and the man and his three beasts landed softly.

Divine Wind City was truly worthy of its title as the Imperial Capital. Forget Luoshui City; even Jibei City was a distant second in comparison. The towering city walls, the smooth and spotless streets, the crowds of people and vendors—it was all extraordinarily lively!

Compared to this, Luoshui City was nothing more than a remote backwater. There was simply no comparison between the two!

In his previous life, he had been twenty-six or twenty-seven when he first came here. Now, he had arrived a full ten years earlier, and his strength was far greater than it had been back then. The thought filled Nie Yun with emotion.

"The entry fee is three taels of silver!"

Following the crowd to the city gate, he saw a group of soldiers guarding the entrance and collecting the entry fee.

’Three taels of silver? The Empire sure knows how to make money!’

As the largest city in the Empire and the seat of the Imperial City, the Imperial Capital was naturally a safe haven. People who suffered from the constant threat of the Demon Race flocked to it. In order to curb this influx and place a check on the city’s population, the entry fee system was created.

But it wasn’t all bad; public order in the Imperial Capital was much better for it, and the people were more obedient to the rules.

"Your fee..."

When it was Nie Yun’s turn in line, a soldier stepped forward to collect his fee. But his expression changed the moment he saw the three massive Demon Beasts following behind Nie Yun. "My lord, may I ask if these three Demon Beasts are yours?"

"Heh, that’s right. They are my Demon Pets."

Nie Yun confirmed with a nod, not denying it.

’A Dragon Race Demon Beast, a Black Bear, a white Wind Wolf... These Demon Beasts must be at least at the Gang Formation Realm!’ "My lord, please come in. The Imperial Capital is more than welcoming to powerhouses such as yourself. We won’t be collecting a fee from you!"

The soldier clasped his fist, his attitude reverent.

"Oh? Is that a rule?" Nie Yun didn’t care about three or four taels of silver, but he was quite pleased to be treated as a powerhouse the moment he entered the city.

With a faint smile, Nie Yun walked through the city gates under the watchful eyes of the crowd.

"Why didn’t he have to pay? That’s not fair!"

"Not fair? Are you kidding? He’s a powerhouse! Look at that Wind Wolf of his—it’s pure white without a single stray hair. It’s probably at least at the Armor Realm!"

"And that Black Bear! You can tell just by looking at it that its power is immense. It could probably kill a Gang Formation Realm powerhouse with a single swipe!"

"A powerhouse like that is one of the Empire’s finest elites. Would you dare ask him for money?"

Some in the crowd started to voice their indignation, but they were immediately cut off and harshly reprimanded by others.

The strong are respected wherever they go. That is an undeniable truth!

"Did you hear? Young Master Zhao Xingpu of the Zhao Family is getting married in three days!"

"Young Master Zhao Xingpu? He’s a generational talent! Only thirty-two years old and already at the Qi Sect level—truly extraordinary! Any woman who marries him would be incredibly fortunate!"

"Fortunate? I heard the girl isn’t even willing to marry him!"

"Unwilling to marry him? Don’t tell me the girl has some incredibly high status?"

"I don’t know about her status, only that she’s from the Baihua Sect. I also heard she possesses a nation-toppling beauty and is absolutely stunning!"

"What’s the use of being beautiful? If you don’t have the strength to back it up, it’s all just talk!"

"Not enough strength? You’re mistaken there. I heard the girl is only seventeen, but she already possesses the strength of the Armor Realm. Seventeen years old and at the Armor Realm! With that kind of cultivation speed, it probably won’t take her any longer to reach the Qi Sect level than it took Zhao Xingpu!"

"If what you’re saying is true, that’s incredible! What’s the girl’s name? If she’s that amazing, she must be quite famous in the Baihua Sect!"

"Her name? I’m not too sure myself. I think she’s from some small, remote place!"

Having just entered the city, Nie Yun overheard the sounds of gossip coming from a tavern by the roadside.