Chapter 310: Chapter 178: Divine Dragon City

Even from just a cursory glance aboard the Flying Boat, Yang Jing could tell the Dong Kingdom was far more powerful than the Northern and Western Domains.

The most obvious difference was the sheer number of Cultivators.

In the Northern Domain, Cultivators were mostly concentrated in Marketplaces, clearly segregated from mortals. An entire kingdom might have anywhere from a few tens of thousands to just over one hundred thousand Cultivators.

But in the Dong Kingdom, the Dragon Vein radiated to nearly every corner, filling the land with an abundant Spiritual Mechanism. Cultivators and mortals lived side-by-side. This allowed children born with Spirit Roots to have their Talent discovered at a young age and begin their training.

Furthermore, since most of the Dong Kingdom’s citizens were descendants of the Dong Family, their chances of awakening a Spirit Root were far greater than those of ordinary mortals.

All these factors combined meant that the Dong Kingdom had at least five times the number of Cultivators as a single kingdom in the Northern Domain—it was one nation against five. And that was without even counting High Tier Cultivators at the Golden Core and Nascent Soul levels.

After reaching the coast, the Flying Boat flew for another half a day before arriving at the Capital of the Dong Kingdom, Divine Dragon City.

While still in the airspace over a hundred miles from Divine Dragon City, two Flying Boats from the Dong Kingdom flew up to intercept Yang Jing’s Martial Might-level Flying Boat.

The two vessels had their Defensive Spirit Lights at full power. They flew up to flank Yang Jing’s ship, and soldiers on their bows signaled with flags.

"Minister, they’re signaling for us to dock. No other Flying Boats are permitted within a hundred miles of Divine Dragon City."

Yang Jing nodded and ordered the Array Master in the control cabin to turn the ship around. Most Flying Boats were equipped with Spatial Restrictions, enabling them to carry far more people than their tonnage would suggest, and making it nearly impossible to find anyone hiding on board during a cursory search.

Thus, it was an unspoken rule in the Nine Heavens World that Flying Boats were forbidden from entering within a hundred miles of any key location. This prevented surprise attacks that could decapitate the leadership.

The design of these two Flying Boats was completely different from a Martial Might-level vessel. Their hulls were more slender, and each bow featured a lifelike Dragon Head. The critical sections, where the Restrictions and Arrays were placed, were covered in tough Dragon Scales.

They were far more ornate than the spartan Martial Might-level Flying Boats.

Yang Jing was accomplished in the Artifact Refining Technique, and he could tell at a glance that the Spiritual Materials used for the hulls of these ships were far superior to those of a Martial Might-level Flying Boat.

An ordinary Fiefdom would be hard-pressed to cover the daily maintenance costs of such a Flying Boat, let alone build one from scratch. Only a great Noble Family like the Dong Family possessed such immense wealth.

Under the escort of the two ships, Yang Jing’s vessel slowly sailed into an exceptionally busy Flying Boat dock, gradually coming to a stop in its designated berth.

This was Dock No. 7, located a hundred miles outside Divine Dragon City. A vast number of Flying Boats of all kinds were moored here, unloading their cargo into warehouses before it was ferried to the city by smaller vessels.

As the standard-issue vessel of the Six Sects, all Martial Might-level Flying Boats looked largely the same. The only variations were in the Arrays they were equipped with, which were tailored to the specific enemies they were expected to face.

Most of the Cultivators at the dock were well-traveled and familiar with all types of Flying Boats. They recognized the ship as a Martial Might-level vessel at a glance and began to stare curiously, wondering what big shot from the Six Sects had come to the Dong Kingdom, using such a warship as a personal transport.

"Might this esteemed guest be Yang Jing?"

A Cultivator from the Dong Family, dressed in a wide-sleeved robe, flew through the air and stopped beside the Flying Boat’s railing.

"I am Dong Qingtao of the Dong Family."

Yang Jing glanced at him with his Grotto Dark Dharma Eye before ordering his soldiers to lower the Flying Boat’s Defensive Spirit Light.

"Minister Yang, you must be here for the Dragon Transformation Order. Young Master Dong Xiji ordered me to wait here for your arrival."

As he spoke, Dong Qingtao produced a Token engraved with Dong Xiji’s name and offered it to Yang Jing for inspection.

Yang Jing used his Magical Power to draw the Token to his hand. After confirming that the imprint on it was indeed from Dong Xiji’s Magical Power, he returned it.

"Brother Xiji is very considerate."

"The Steward overseeing the Dragon Transformation Pool has grown accustomed to receiving... gratuities. Young Master Xiji was concerned he might fail to recognize a person of your stature and inadvertently slight you, Minister Yang."

Dong Qingtao said respectfully,

"I have a Flying Boat prepared. Please, Minister, come with me."

Yang Jing nodded.

"Fellow Daoist Dong, please wait a moment. I have a few instructions for my men."

Dong Qingtao bowed respectfully and waited to the side.

With two Dragon Transformation Orders, Yang Jing would be staying in Divine Dragon City for two months. That meant the Demon Suppression Army soldiers on the Flying Boat would also be stuck on board for that entire time.

If he didn’t do something to appease them, he feared their morale would waver.

During the Magical Combat the other day, he had grievously offended Dong Xixian of the Dong Family. If Dong Xixian wanted revenge, these Demon Suppression Army soldiers would be the perfect weak point.

Therefore, Yang Jing announced that he would personally pay each soldier a bonus of fifty Spirit Stones. He also ordered Iron Head to remain on the Flying Boat and manage the troops, lest they be lured into a trap with no one around to deal with the situation.

These soldiers were only at the Qi Cultivation Stage, and their salaries weren’t high. To them, fifty Spirit Stones was no small sum—it was nearly three months’ pay.

In the past, running errands for their superiors might earn them a reward of a few Spirit Stones at most. Now, they were getting this bonus just for staying on the Flying Boat and cultivating for two months. Naturally, they all cheered with delight.

"Minister Yang is truly generous to his men. No wonder his soldiers are so competent,"

Dong Qingtao, who was waiting nearby, couldn’t help but remark.

In his role managing miscellaneous affairs at the docks for the Dong Family, he had seen countless crews. Most sailors, upon docking, would immediately scatter into the nearby gambling dens and brothels, not to reemerge until every last Spirit Stone in their pockets was gone.

"You flatter me, Fellow Daoist."