Traveling over mountains and rivers, wind-blown and dusty. Tang Xiaoqi traveled east all the way, not knowing how many mountains, rivers, kingdoms, and wilderness he had crossed. He did not deliberately count the days. He simply followed his heart's guidance and the All Things Guiding Compass's occasionally bright, often malfunctioning needle direction, constantly moving forward.
On this day, after crossing a majestic mountain range spanning heaven and earth like a dragon's spine, the scene before him suddenly opened up. A vast aura completely different from the Southeast region rushed toward him.
First, what he sensed was spiritual energy.
If the spiritual energy of the Southeast region was mountain spring water, sweet and pure, then this place's spiritual energy was like a rushing great river, surging and abundant. Spiritual energy particles in the air were almost visible to the naked eye. Simply breathing, abundant spiritual energy voluntarily flooded into limbs and torso. Even without deliberately circulating cultivation techniques, one's cultivation would subtly increase. The heaven and earth laws here seemed also more active and clearer, providing inexpressible benefits for cultivators comprehending the great Dao.
"So this... is the Central Plains?" Xiao Qi stood atop the ridge, gazing into the distance, his heart shaken.
East of the mountains was a vast, boundless, vibrant plain. On the plain, towns and villages were scattered like stars, fields and paths crisscrossed, population dense, far beyond the Southeast region. More startling was that in the depths of the plain, countless powerful auras were faintly rising like wolf smoke toward the sky, some grand and righteous, some cold and sinister, some with demonic energy rushing to heaven, some with Buddhist light shining. Interweaving, they formed a complex and huge aura network covering the entire heaven and earth.
Sects were everywhere, families spread throughout.
Just the edge areas his spiritual sense could perceive had no fewer than ten factions with Nascent Soul cultivators presiding. And this was only the border of the Central Plains.
In the sky, it was no longer like the Southeast region where cultivators riding swords or sitting on flying artifacts occasionally crossed overhead. Here, countless multicolored light trails like meteor showers frequently streaked across the long sky, in various directions, clearly showing the enormous number of traveling cultivators. He even saw massive tower ships and warships, inscribed with complex runes, slowly sailing in clouds and mist. The spiritual energy fluctuations emanating from the ships' bodies even made him feel somewhat alarmed. There were also cultivators riding various shaped spirit beasts, whooshing past, their momentum stunning.
On the ground, the public road became wider and smoother, enough for dozens of horses to ride abreast. On the roads traveled not only mortal carriages but more cultivators. They traveled alone or in groups, dressed differently, with varied aura strengths, but overall, the average cultivation level was clearly higher than the Southeast region. Foundation Establishment cultivators were everywhere, Golden Core cultivators common, and occasionally one could sense Nascent Soul cultivators' powerful spiritual sense patrolling openly.
An atmosphere of prosperity, flourishing, yet full of competition and danger permeated every inch of air.
The rabbit spirit on his shoulder also seemed shocked by this grand scene and powerful aura. It was no longer as lively as before but tightly clutched Xiao Qi's collar, its little head alertly turning, observing this brand-new world full of the unknown.
Xiao Qi took a deep breath of that abundant spiritual energy that was almost impossible to dissolve, suppressing his surging emotions. He knew he had finally stepped into this legendary cultivation holy land: the Central Plains.
Here was the true great stage of cultivation. Compared to here, the Southeast region truly was only a pond at peace. There were more cultivators here, stronger ones, more complex forces, and opportunities and dangers multiplied.
He gathered his own aura, pushing the Omni-Shadow Cloak to its best effect (though still sometimes malfunctioning), making himself look like an ordinary Golden Core early-stage rogue cultivator, blending into the flow of people on the public road.
Walking along, what he saw and heard further broadened his horizons.
Along the roads, there were no longer merely mortal towns. Every several hundred li, one could see huge cultivation marketplaces shrouded by massive formation light screens. These marketplaces were huge, with varied architectural styles: some like immortal palaces, some like demon fortresses, some with exotic styles. Inside the marketplaces, shops were numerous. Pills, artifacts, talismans, techniques, spiritual materials, rare treasures. Everything was available. Many treasures rarely seen in the Southeast region seemed almost common goods here, though the prices were also astonishingly high.
He also saw Myriad Phenomena Pavilions specially publishing missions and allowing cultivators to form teams for exploration (seemingly a cross-realm ultra-large organization). He saw cultivation family fortresses with different family emblems, heavily guarded. He saw branch academies opened by large sects recruiting disciples, with long queues of young cultivators yearning to become disciples of immortal doors.
Information became even more explosive.
At any casual tea shed on the roadside, cultivators could be heard debating loudly. The topics were no longer about ancient cultivator cave dwellings in some remote gully, but major events involving the entire Central Plains and even other great realms.
"Did you hear? The Saintess of the Northern Territory's Ice Plain Immortal Palace has come south. They say she will also participate in this Tian Shu City's Asking the Way of All Things Assembly."
"That is not all! The Buddhist Son of the Western Territory's Myriad Buddha Sect, the Heir of the Southern Frontier's Witch God Sect, the Young Sect Master of the Eastern Sea's Penglai Immortal Sect. All geniuses from everywhere are heading to Tian Shu City. This assembly will be the grandest in ten thousand years."
"Hmph, grand? More likely blood and carnage! Those killing stars on the Hidden Dragon List, which one is easy to deal with? I heard the top hundred are at least Golden Core late stage, the top fifty start from Nascent Soul."
"And those hidden geniuses from the Immortal Families and Imperial Dynasties will probably appear this time. Tian Shu City is about to see dragon contests and tiger fights."
"Tsk, too bad our cultivation is low. We do not even have qualification to enter. We can only watch the show outside."
"Entry? Just the fee for the cross-realm teleportation array could bankrupt a small sect. Not to mention the entry fee and expensive staying fees."
Listening to these discussions, Tang Xiaoqi gained a clearer understanding of the situation he would face. Tian Shu City was indeed a place where wind and clouds gathered. Hidden Dragon List, Geniuses from All Sides, Imperial Dynasties, Immortal Families. These terms all represented powerful forces and supreme talents.
He touched the Invitation to the Way in his bosom. This invitation from Tian Shu City's Star Decree Hall now seemed even more precious. This was not merely a ticket but a recognition and qualification.
At the same time, he also felt invisible pressure. Here, his World-Purifying True Lord reputation probably meant little. He needed to start from scratch, using his own strength, to carve out a piece of heaven and earth on this soil brimming with powerful people.
He did not linger at the border. He continued toward the Central Plains interior, toward Tian Shu City's direction.
The deeper he went, the more abundant and pure the spiritual energy became. The average strength of cultivators he met also rose. He even witnessed two Nascent Soul cultivators fighting fiercely in the wilderness over a rare spiritual herb. Their divine abilities and magical spells crashed against each other, causing mountains to collapse. In the end, both were injured, and a third party arriving later reaped the benefits.
The law of the jungle, with the strong prevailing, was exhibited to the fullest here.
He also became more cautious, trying to avoid unnecessary conflicts. But his low profile sometimes attracted unnecessary trouble. Some cultivators believing in their high cultivation or powerful backgrounds, seeing him alone with a not-manifesting aura, wanted to take advantage.
The result was naturally kicking an iron board. Xiao Qi did not kill. He merely gave slightly warnings, startling those unwise fellows. After several times, his strange image of seemingly ordinary yet actually unfathomable spread in small circles locally, saving him a lot of trouble.
On this day, he arrived at a metropolis called Wang Xian (Gazing Immortal). This city was one of the important hubs for entering the Central Plains interior. It was massive. City walls rose a hundred zhang high, inscribed with countless defensive runes. At the city gate, traffic was endless, streams of people, complex and powerful auras.
Standing before the majestic city gate, looking up at the dragon-flying phoenix-dancing characters Wang Xian that contained sharp sword intent on the plaque, Tang Xiaoqi knew he had truly stepped into the core circle of Central Plains cultivation world.
The road ahead was still long. Tian Shu City was even farther east.
But he already felt this land's pulse: strong, powerful, full of limitless opportunities and challenges.
His gaze was calm yet resolute, carrying a barely detectable excitement.
Central Plains, here I come.
Tian Shu City, wait for me.