Chapter 255: Martial Saint's Legacy, Qinglong Mega City

As Lu Qing gazed intently at the three large characters, "Qinglong City," adorning the gate, a dense golden light of exotic power emerged from the characters.

Several strips of information floated into view.

Golden?

Lu Qing was slightly startled and turned his attention to the strips of text.

[Martial Saint's Inscription: These three grand characters were handwritten by a perfect Precelestial Realm cultivator. They possess a graceful style and an extraordinary aura.]



[Contains Martial Dao Will, lasting for hundreds of years without dissipation.]



[There is a rumor that these three characters conceal a legacy left by an extremely powerful Martial Dao cultivator. However, for hundreds of years, no one has been able to unravel their secrets and obtain the legacy.]



[A martial technique has been discovered. Do you want to download it?]



"So, it really contains a legacy?"

Lu Qing was somewhat surprised.

Previously, he had only sensed that these characters held a unique essence, and a guess had formed in his mind. He didn't expect that they actually concealed a martial technique legacy, and from the description, it seemed to be a significant one.

After all, not just anyone could bear the title of Martial Saint.

Seeing the queue of people in front of the city gate, waiting to enter, Lu Qing knew that it would be some time before it was their turn. Without hesitation, he chose to download the martial technique.

[Downloading in progress: Current progress 1%, 2%, 3%... 98%, 99%, 100%]



[Martial technique download complete. Do you want to simulate it?]



Lu Qing chose to simulate.

[Simulation in progress: Current progress 1%, 2%, 3%... 98%, 99%, 100%]



[Simulation complete. Do you want to learn it?]



This time, Lu Qing did not choose to learn it directly.

He had spent over a quarter of an hour downloading and simulating the technique, and their turn in the queue was approaching.

"This inscription above the gate is truly extraordinary."

At this moment, the old doctor also exclaimed in admiration.

"Master, you noticed too?"

Lu Qing was not too surprised. Given his master's talent, it would have been strange if he hadn't sensed the peculiarity of those three characters.

"These three grand characters above the gate seem to contain the sword will of a powerful warrior. Unfortunately, I am dull-witted and only comprehended a small portion of it after pondering for a while."

The old doctor sighed with a sense of admiration.

After contemplating the inscription for a while, he felt that the sword will within held benefits for him.

This Zhongzhou was indeed a place of hidden dragons and crouching tigers, full of talented individuals.

They hadn't even officially entered Zhongzhou yet, and just the inscription on this checkpoint gate had already brought him new insights.

One could only imagine how exceptional and talented the people of the true Zhongzhou land were.

"Comprehended a small portion..."

Lu Qing was left speechless.

His master's talent and comprehension in the Martial Dao were indeed extraordinary.

The inscription above the gate was left by a perfect Precelestial Realm cultivator.

For his master to comprehend a significant portion of its essence in such a short time was truly impressive.

"Where are you all from, and do you have a travel permit? How many people are entering the city?"

Just as Lu Qing was marveling at his master's ability, a coarse voice interrupted his thoughts.

He turned to see two soldiers standing at the city gate, clad in armor and wielding long spears. It was the soldier on the right who had spoken.

Lu Qing's heart stirred.

As expected of Qinglong City, even the two guards at the gate, known as the City Guards, had the cultivation of the Sinew Changing Realm. One of them had even reached the perfect stage of the Sinew Changing Realm, his qi and blood harmonized.

"City Guard, we are from Cangzhou, and there are five of us entering the city," Ma Gu replied with a smile, handing over a small booklet.

The so-called travel permit was a document that proved Lu Qing and his group's identities and origins.

While it was usually unnecessary, it was required at important checkpoints like the Qinglong Pass.

Unless Lu Qing and his group could cross the towering mountain range and enter Zhongzhou without passing through Qinglong Pass.

Lu Qing's group had their identities and travel permits arranged by the Wei family, so there were no issues.

The city guard only flipped through it briefly before closing it.

"The travel permit is in order. It's one tael of silver per person for the five of you to enter the city, and the carriage will be counted separately, making it six taels of silver in total. Pay the fee, and you will be allowed to enter."

One tael of silver per person? Ma Gu's heart skipped a beat when he heard this, but then he noticed that the others waiting to enter the city didn't seem surprised, indicating that this entrance fee was standard and not an attempt to extort them.

Reassured, Ma Gu took out a money pouch with a smile and handed it over, "Yes, here's six taels of silver. Please have a look."

Chapter: "The City Gates"

The city guard weighed the money bag in his hand, his eyebrows furrowing slightly. He opened it and, upon seeing the small silver ingot inside, a smile broke across his face.

With a wave of his hand, he said, "Not bad, you know how to play the game. Go on, get moving. If anyone gives you trouble, just say that Lao San Hu is protecting you."

"Thank you, City Guard!" Ma Gu exclaimed with a delighted expression, offering repeated thanks before returning to the carriage and leading it forward.

Just as their carriage passed through the gate, the other city guard, who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke up. "That young man, you seemed quite captivated by the three large characters above the gate, didn't you?"

Lu Qing was taken aback but turned to face the city guard, realizing he was addressing him. After a moment's thought, he replied with a smile, "Indeed, I have always had a fondness for calligraphy. When I saw the 'Qinglong City' characters above the gate, I was struck by their powerful and majestic style, which seemed beyond that of an ordinary person. I couldn't help but admire them, City Guard. Have I unwittingly trespassed on some taboo?"

"You haven't broken any taboos," the city guard, a youth with a dignified countenance, assured him. "However, I can see that you are also a martial artist, so I feel compelled to give you a word of warning. Those characters above the gate contain a unique essence. But that essence has a rather sinister aspect to it. If you happen to gain any insight from them, believe me, don't practice it. Otherwise, you may find yourself plagued by madness and demonic delusions, causing your cultivation to regress instead of progress, and by then, it will be too late for regrets."

Lu Qing was stunned, but the armored youth's expression was serious, indicating that he wasn't speaking idly.

Lu Qing fell into thought for a moment before nodding slightly. "Thank you for the warning, I will keep it in mind."

Once Lu Qing and his companions had entered the city and were out of sight, the armored youth resumed his indifferent demeanor, ignoring everyone around him.

However, Lao San Hu, standing nearby, was intrigued. "Young Master Ji, why did you specifically warn that young man not to try to comprehend the characters on the gate? Do you really think that boy could uncover their secrets?"

"Who knows?" The armored youth, Young Master Ji, replied nonchalantly. "I just noticed his fascination with those characters and wanted to give him a heads-up. Besides, they were generous with the silver, weren't they?"

"Oh yes," Lao San Hu said, taking out the money bag Ma Gu had given him and pouring out the fat silver ingot. "Young Master Ji, we share what we gain. Here, take half of this."

"Twenty taels?" Young Master Ji was surprised. "I didn't expect them to be so generous."

As Lao San Hu was about to break the silver ingot, Young Master Ji waved his hand. "Never mind, you keep it. Aren't you planning to send your daughter to the Xuanxin Sect to study? You'll need the money."

"Thank you, Young Master Ji," Lao San Hu said, not declining the offer. He pocketed the silver as if the previous gesture had been mere formality.

Seeing this, Young Master Ji's lips twitched. "Just make sure you don't pocket the city's share as well, or even I won't be able to protect you."

"Rest assured, Young Master Ji," Lao San Hu patted his chest. "I, Lao San Hu, am an honest man. I always keep public and private matters separate, and I would never embezzle public funds." As he spoke, he took out another handful of silver coins from his pocket and placed a few into the iron box beside him.

Seeing this, Young Master Ji could only shake his head and return to his pensive state, ignoring the old flatterer.

Lao San Hu, however, was unconcerned. Although he didn't understand why Young Master Ji, of all people, would deign to stand guard at the city gate with him, he was happy to have someone cover for him while he made a little extra on the side.

"With just a bit more, I'll have enough to send Xiao Lian to the Xuanxin Sect," Lao San Hu thought, a pleased smile on his face as he fondled the silver ingot in his pocket.

"Interesting," Lu Qing mused as he sensed the exchange at the city gate. A glint of amusement appeared in his eyes as he retracted his spiritual sense.

It seemed that the armored youth's warning had indeed been well-intentioned.

But... was the essence contained within the three characters above the gate really that dangerous? Lu Qing couldn't help but feel a twinge of doubt.

When he had first seen those characters, he had sensed an extraordinary realm within them but hadn't felt any hint of danger.

And his master had also attempted to comprehend them without any apparent ill effects.

"Could there be some hidden mechanism to the legacy within the characters? I'll have to investigate further once we've settled down," Lu Qing thought.

"Lu Qing thought for a moment before making a decision.

"Wow! What a big city!"

Just then, Xiaoyan's astonished voice suddenly rang out.

Lu Qing turned his head to see that the little one had already gotten off the carriage and was standing there, hugging Xiao Li, her eyes and mouth wide open in surprise as she looked at the scene before her.

On the other side, Ma Gu and Wei Zian looked equally astonished, their eyes wide as they took in the bustling scene.

Right in front of them was a street spanning dozens of zhang in width, filled with a bustling crowd of pedestrians, horse-drawn carriages, donkey carts, and more.

The sounds of vehicles, hawkers, and shouts filled the air.

Just the spectacle on this main street was more impressive and bustling than any city Lu Qing and his companions had ever seen.

Not to mention the tall, rugged-style houses on both sides of the street, built from large stones, which were a rare sight for them.

"Truly worthy of being the famously renowned Qinglong Pass. I wonder how grand the other three passes are," Lu Qing couldn't help but exclaim.

People from other states who wanted to enter Zhongzhou would typically pass through these four passes named after mythical beasts.

The pass Lu Qing and his group were at was the eastern Qinglong Pass.

Of course, while there were four passes, it didn't mean that these were the only entrances to Zhongzhou.

It was just that taking any other path would present far more complexities.

Usually, only those who didn't want their identities revealed and had exceptional martial arts skills would choose to do so.

Ordinary people would rather spend some money and take the safer route through the passes.

"Master, what should we do now? Should we look for lodging first?" Lu Qing asked.

The old doctor pondered for a moment and said, "Let's find a place to stay first. We've been traveling for so many consecutive days, and everyone must be tired. Let's rest well in the city today and enter the pass tomorrow."

"I was thinking the same, Master," Lu Qing nodded.

They had been rushing for several days, and although the protection of the formation chariot spared them physical exhaustion, they still felt somewhat mentally fatigued.

While Lu Qing and his master were fine, Xiao Yan and Wei Zian were struggling to keep up.

Especially Ma Gu, who had to maintain his focus on driving the chariot, which took a toll on his mental energy.

If he didn't get proper rest soon, it might affect his foundation.

As one of the hubs connecting Zhongzhou with the other eastern states, Qinglong City naturally thrived with commerce.

It didn't take long for Lu Qing and his group to find a satisfactory inn.

Although it was a bit pricey, they didn't mind the cost, as they had plenty of money.

After settling into their rooms, Lu Qing had just finished arranging the beds when he heard Xiao Yan and Xiao Li giggling and playing in the room.

A knock sounded at the door, interrupting their fun. "A-Qing, come out for a moment."

"What is it, Master?" Lu Qing opened the door.

"Come with me to inquire about some matters," the old doctor said.

"Alright, Master. Wait a moment," Lu Qing replied.

He went back into the room to instruct Xiao Yan and Xiao Li to stay inside and not run around, then he left the room with his master.

Once they were out on the street, Lu Qing asked, "Master, what are we going to inquire about?"

"Some matters regarding entering the pass and the latest developments in the world," the old doctor replied.

"The latest developments in the world?" Lu Qing was surprised. "Master, where are we going to find out about that?"

Could it be that his master had some connections in Qinglong City? Lu Qing wondered.

However, the old doctor didn't directly answer Lu Qing's question. Instead, he took out an object and showed it to him.

"A-Qing, do you recognize this?"

Lu Qing examined it and immediately identified it. "Isn't this the jade tablet that Minister Zhi Rui gave to you, Master?"

"That's right. It's the same jade tablet. When we entered the city earlier, I suddenly felt a stir within the tablet.

I sensed it again just now in the room and discovered that the disturbance was coming from a particular location within the city.

According to Minister Zhi Rui's instructions, that place should be one of the branches of Tianji Tower."

"I see," Lu Qing said, understanding his master's implication.

Since Tianji Tower was renowned as the foremost intelligence agency, it was natural that they would have established multiple branches to gather information.

A city as prominent as Qinglong would undoubtedly be one of their key locations.

"Then let's not delay. Master, let's go there now," Lu Qing said.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end