Chapter 118: Chapter 115: A Thousand Miles of Rosy Clouds

To still underestimate their opponent under these circumstances, one would have to have been kicked in the head by a donkey.

Upon hearing this, Song Changsheng humbly cupped his hands. "You two Fellow Daoists flatter me. I was merely a bit lucky."

Although he was their junior in terms of seniority, they were all Foundation Establishment Cultivators. No one could find fault with him addressing them as fellow daoists.

After they exchanged some pleasantries, Song Luhuai said, "It’s getting late. We should get going."

As he spoke, he waved his sleeve, and a wooden Flying Ship dozens of feet long materialized before them.

"I never thought Fellow Daoist Song would bring the Cloud-Sailing Ship! This journey is going to be much more relaxing," Wang Lizhou said with a grin, stroking the side of the Flying Ship.

"Exactly! We finally don’t have to travel by foot. What are you all gawking at? Get on," Li Tianyou said, glaring at several young disciples from the Li Clan.

Once the members of the various clans were on the Flying Ship, Song Changsheng and the other seniors boarded. They watched as Song Luhuai took out a Compass-like object and channeled his Spiritual Power into it, causing it to emit a faint glow.

A transparent film instantly enveloped the entire Flying Ship. With a low RUMBLE and a slight tremor, the vessel lifted off the ground and soared toward Luoxia City...

On the deck of the Flying Ship, Song Changsheng stood by the railing, gazing down at the world below. He watched as forests and mountains rapidly receded into the distance. He made a quick calculation: the Cloud-Sailing Ship’s speed was comparable to that of an average Late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator—truly impressive.

’At this speed, how many Spirit Stones would a single trip cost?’ Song Changsheng thought, wincing at the imagined expense.

He had long heard of the famous Cloud-Sailing Ship. It was a Tier Two Low-Grade Artifact forged entirely from Tier Two Spirit Wood. The project had been led by Song Xianming, who had brought together all the clan’s Tier Two Refiners and Array Masters to create it.

Its value was comparable to a Spiritual Artifact, and only two such vessels existed in the entire Ling Province.

A journey that would have originally taken around ten days was shortened to just a week aboard this ship...

Along the way, the Foundation Establishment cultivators sat together to discuss the Dao. They all benefited greatly from the exchange, making the otherwise tedious journey quite interesting.

Time passed, and by the fourth day of their journey, they had left the territory of Ling Province and entered Bian Province.

Compared to Ling Province, Bian Province was far more desolate and savage. Signs of human life were virtually nonexistent. Instead, Demon Beasts roamed everywhere. It seemed less like a realm of humanity and more like the domain of Demon Beasts.

Song Changsheng had specifically looked into this situation before. In truth, Ling Province and Bian Province had once been a single entity, the largest province in the Daqi Kingdom.

Two thousand years ago, a Golden Core Independent Cultivator appeared as if from nowhere and established Luoxia City in the Luoxia Mountain Range near the Hundred Thousand Mountains. With the strength of that single city, he held back the tide of Demon Beasts from the Hundred Thousand Mountains that threatened to invade Daqi.

Later, with the approval of the Daqi Kingdom’s two great hegemons, the Golden Crow Sect and the Celestial Vein Sect, Ling Province was officially divided. The southern portion was partitioned off as Bian Province, belonging solely to Luoxia City.

Through years of development, although Luoxia City never produced another Golden Core Cultivator, it had a steady stream of Purple Mansion Cultivators. The city gradually grew and prospered, transforming from a remote border town into the trade hub of the southwestern Daqi Cultivation World—a famed Cultivator City that countless cultivators yearned to see.

In the current generation, Luoxia City boasted three City Lords at the Purple Mansion Realm. The Great City Lord, Muu Guibai, was hailed as the cultivator most likely to break through to the Golden Core Realm. For a time, Luoxia City’s fame was unparalleled, and it seemed on the verge of returning to its peak.

Song Changsheng had long yearned to see this city, and now he could finally behold it with his own eyes!

The Cloud-Sailing Ship traveled uneventfully through Bian Province for three days, crossing barren plains and vast jungles. Finally, an immense mountain range, like a colossal dragon, stretched across the horizon before them, winding endlessly beyond sight.

Kaleidoscopic rays of light shone upon the mountains, draping them in a mesmerizing, gauzy veil. It echoed the rosy clouds that stretched for miles across the horizon, creating a magnificent, painting-like panorama of mountains and rivers.

The young cultivators on the Flying Ship gasped in amazement, leaning over the railing to stare, entranced.

Even with Song Changsheng’s composure, he couldn’t help but be stunned by the sight. He stared blankly for a long moment before finally sighing in admiration, "The Luoxia Mountain Range... it truly lives up to its name."

Song Luhuai and the other two elders exchanged a glance, smiles spreading across their faces. The first time they had witnessed this spectacle, they too had been struck speechless. In these young cultivators, they saw a reflection of their own past selves.

"Even after all these years, I still can’t tear my eyes away from the sunset over the Luoxia Mountain Range," Wang Lizhou said, shaking his head with a touch of sentimentality.

"Indeed. The magnificent power of nature is truly awe-inspiring."

"Alright, everyone. If we keep staring, the sun will set completely. Let’s head into the city," Song Luhuai called out, then steered the Flying Ship slowly toward the mountain range.

In less than an hour, they reached the other side of the mountain range and saw a magnificent city. It was built into the mountainside, protected by towering, thick, and incredibly long walls.

It was a true mega-city, like a colossal beast crouching at the foot of the mountains.

"Flying is forbidden within Luoxia City. We’ll land outside the walls."

Song Luhuai found an open area outside the city to land, then led the group toward the main gate.

The area was much livelier. Even though dusk was approaching, a long line still snaked out from the city gate.

Song Changsheng and his party dutifully queued up. Even though the person ahead of them was just a Qi Refining Independent Cultivator with no backing, they had no thought of cutting in line.

After all, Luoxia City had its own rules. Anyone who wanted to throw their weight around here first had to ask themselves if they were worthy!

The inspection process was quick, and their turn came in short order. Several Qi Cultivators in uniform held up a Copper Mirror with impassive faces, scanning each person one by one.

Song Changsheng understood this was a Magical Artifact similar to a Demon-Revealing Mirror, at least of the Tier Three Level. A single scan from it would leave any hidden Demon Fiends or monsters with nowhere to hide.

As they were being checked, Song Changsheng swept his gaze around and was inwardly startled. At this single gate, there were no fewer than three Foundation Establishment Cultivators on guard—and that was only the ones in plain sight.

’Luoxia City is as impressive as they say, so wealthy and powerful,’ Song Changsheng thought with a pang of envy. ’When will our clan be able to afford such extravagance...?’

They quickly and smoothly passed the inspection. After each paying an entrance fee of one Spirit Stone, they entered the city.

The buildings inside were arranged in neat, orderly rows. The air was filled with the shouts of vendors, brimming with a lively, worldly atmosphere.

The wide streets were bustling with pedestrians. With a single glance, Song Changsheng spotted three Foundation Establishment Cultivators. In a place like this, they were hardly a rare sight.

"Brother Luhuai, Young Clan Leader Song, we’ll part ways here. Let’s meet tomorrow morning at the designated spot."

Wang Lizhou and Li Tianyou cupped their hands in farewell to the two Song Clan leaders, then led their own clan’s disciples off in different directions.

"We’ll head to the clan shop to get settled. We can deal with the cargo in the morning."

"Understood."

Led by Song Luhuai, the group headed toward the eastern district of the city. The journey was a real eye-opener for Song Changsheng. The city truly had everything: restaurants, taverns, brothels... and even a Beast Fighting Arena!

Just as night began to fall, Song Changsheng and the others arrived at a general store named the Moon Viewing Pavilion.

The general store was situated in a decent location and was reasonably large. If managed properly, it could undoubtedly generate a handsome profit for the clan.

But for the past several years, the clan hadn’t had the spare resources to manage it. The store lacked a stable supply of goods and was barely breaking even.

When the stationed Song Clan Members and the Steward saw Song Changsheng’s group, their eyes filled with utter disbelief. They stood frozen in place, stunned.

"Clan Uncle, and all of you, thank you for your hard work over the years!" Song Luhuai said solemnly, looking at the white-haired Song Xiantu.

"It was no hardship, not at all. We were only doing our small part for the clan." Song Xiantu’s eyes welled with tears, his voice thick with an emotion he could barely contain.

His emotion wasn’t because someone had finally arrived to relieve him, but because the clan had finally weathered the storm!

...