Gao Tian stepped in front of the floating sword and placed his hand on it, channeling his spiritual energy into its core. The sword pulsed in response, lifting steadily off the ground.
He stepped onto it, balancing himself, and guided it out of the mountains. The cold wind rushed past him as he flew steadily toward Sen City.
Shu Yu remained unconscious in his arms, her breathing light and shallow.
Ruler Dog sat on Gao Tian's shoulder, his small eyes locked on Shu Yu's peaceful face.
Master… you actually lost to this guy. Just who is Gao Tian really?
An hour passed as they soared through the skies. Eventually, the towering walls of Sen City came into view. The scent of incense and roasted meat from roadside stalls drifted on the wind. Ships hovered in the air above the city, one of which bore the symbol of the Ao Clan.
Gao Tian narrowed his eyes, staring at the largest ship.
Just wait… I'll destroy your entire clan.
He brought the sword down, landing gently outside the city walls. Dust stirred as he stepped off, still holding Shu Yu in his arms.
"So this is Sen City," he muttered.
Gao Tian put shu yu's sword inside his spritual ring.
His gaze shifted to the crowd forming at the city gate. People bustled about, some chatting, others holding papers or pills in small cases.
He watched as people handed spiritual stones to the guards at the entrance.
They're paying with spiritual stones? Is that some kind of entrance fee?
Curious, he turned to a man beside him and asked, "Brother, why are they giving spiritual stones at the gate?"
The man, a middle-aged cultivator with a cheerful face, looked at Gao Tian in surprise. "Are you new here?"
"Yes," Gao Tian replied, "Tell me, what's going on?"
The man smiled. "Tomorrow is the Pill Making Competition. To reduce the crowd, the city's collecting a spiritual stone fee for entry. The winner of the competition gets to choose one pill from the Pill Pavilion."
Gao Tian nodded, his eyes thoughtful. "Pill Making Competition…"
"Yeah," the man added. "It's a big deal. This year, it's happening right here in Sen City."
Gao Tian looked down at Shu Yu in his arms.
So she came here for a pill. But then she see Ao Clan ship.
Ruler Dog looked toward the city's grand walls and bustling streets.
This bastard didn't even know about the competition…
Gao Tian smiled faintly to himself.
Heh… I may not have been among the best, but I was a solid pill refiner in my past life.
With that, he walked toward the city gate, his pace steady and eyes calm.
As he neared, the guards standing at the entrance blocked his path. One of them raised a hand and frowned.
"Boy, what are you doing here?"
Their eyes quickly moved to Shu Yu in his arms. Her face was serene, her hair flowing over his arm, and her soft robes clung to her curves.
The guards exchanged glances, their minds filled with vile thoughts.
What a beauty… If only she was in my bed for one night…
Their expressions turned twisted with lust. Gao Tian saw it. His eyes darkened.
"I want to compete in the Pill Making Competition," he said coldly.
One of the guards sneered. "Entering Sen City costs ten mid-grade spiritual stones. Or…"
He looked at Shu Yu, his lips curling with disgusting intent.
"…you can just offer this girl to us. That'll cover your fee."
He was Vin Lin, Sen City's Guard.
Ruler Dog's fur bristled. His little paws gripped Gao Tian's shoulder tightly.
These filthy animals… If they try to touch my master, I'll kill them all—even if it costs me my life. She protected me when Gao Tian almost cut me. This time, I'll protect her… no matter what.
Gao Tian released his aura.
Although his cultivation level wasn't high, his combat strength was terrifying—and the sheer pressure from his aura was overwhelming. The spiritual force surged outward like a crashing wave.
The guards at the gate immediately dropped to their knees, their bodies trembling uncontrollably. Their fingers wouldn't move, their voices caught in their throats. Their arrogant expressions twisted into panic and fear.
One of them, trying to resist the pressure, felt his forehead drenched in sweat.
What kind of monster is this man?
Gao Tian looked down coldly at them and spoke with a voice like steel.
"You are just servants. Learn not to bite your masters."
He flicked his fingers, and ten mid-grade spiritual stones dropped from his spatial ring to the ground. The stones clinked against the stone pavement as Gao Tian walked past them without another word.
The onlookers outside the gate murmured in shock.
"Who is this guy?"
"He must be new here… Doesn't even know who the City Lord is!"
"He's asking for death, walking around like that."
Gao Tian paid no attention to their whispers. He stepped into the city calmly, his expression indifferent, his focus fixed on the road ahead.
As he walked down the main street, rows of vibrant stalls caught his attention. The roads bustled with cultivators and traders. Aromas of grilled beast meat wafted through the air, along with the scent of herbs from pill vendors. Stalls were filled with clothes, weapons, spiritual items, and more.
Gao Tian slowed his pace slightly.
There are so many stalls here… I need to buy a decent weapon soon. And I'm running out of spiritual stones too.
But it wasn't just the marketplace that drew people's eyes. Nearly everyone he passed turned to look at him. Whispers followed him.
Not because of Gao Tian's face—but because of the unconscious girl in his arms.
Shu Yu's beauty was breathtaking. Her black hair spilled over his arm, her pale face serene, and her delicate features like a painting. With her soft robes fluttering gently with each step, she looked like a fallen immortal.
Gao Tian ignored the stares and stopped in front of a large inn with a wooden sign hanging above the entrance.
"Roasted Inn," he read the name silently, raising an eyebrow.
These people really don't know how to name places…
He pushed the door open and walked inside.
The moment he entered, a woman in her thirties with thick makeup and an overly warm smile approached him quickly.
She looked him up and down, then glanced at Shu Yu in his arms.
"Oh, sir," she said with a knowing smile, "how many rooms would you like?"
Gao Tian opened his mouth to respond, but she didn't give him the chance.
"I understand," she said with a wink. "Don't worry. I'll place a sound-isolation formation around the room. No one will hear a thing."
Again, Gao Tian tried to speak, but she interrupted him once more with an even wider grin.
"No need to pay now, sir. You can settle the bill… after you're done."
Before he could say anything further, she turned and guided him toward a room down the hall, swaying her hips dramatically with every step. She opened the door and gestured for him to enter, then left him standing at the threshold with a sly chuckle.
Gao Tian sighed heavily.
He entered the room, which was clean but simple—a modest bed, a wooden table, and a small window that let in the afternoon light.
He walked to the bed and gently laid Shu Yu down, adjusting the blanket over her. She remained still, her breathing soft and steady.
Gao Tian looked around the room and muttered under his breath.
"That woman was really a creep…"
Just then, Ruler Dog leaped down from Gao Tian's shoulder and landed on the bed beside Shu Yu. He padded quietly to her side, sat down, and stared at Gao Tian with narrowed eyes.
His fluffy face was full of warning.
If you dare lay a hand on my master… I'll kill you, even if I die doing it.
Gao Tian raised an eyebrow. He didn't know why the dog was glaring at him with such hostility, but he didn't bother asking. With a quiet breath, he turned away and walked toward the window.
Outside, the streets of Sen City bustled with life.
Gao Tian spotted a weapon stall just across from the inn.
Let's buy a weapon, he thought.
Without hesitation, he leapt from the window. His figure descended like a feather, landing smoothly on the ground below.
People nearby turned to look.
"Who is this madman?"
"He's just trying to show off."
"Wait… isn't he the one who made the guards kneel at the gate?"
"Yeah, that's him!"
Ignoring the murmurs, Gao Tian walked straight toward the weapon stall. A simple wooden counter displayed various blades and weapons, gleaming under the sunlight.
What are they even talking about, he thought, glancing briefly at the crowd.
He stopped in front of the stall and looked at the man behind it.
"Do you have weapons?" he asked casually.
The vendor, a man in his late twenties, sat cross-legged behind the table. He glanced up with a smile.
"Yes, I do. What kind are you looking for?"
Gao Tian folded his arms and said, "I want a sword. Show me a good one."
The man's smile deepened, and he reached under the table.
"Then let me show you something special."