https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-466-Fu-Jianyun-s-Recent-Situation/12995353/
Chapter 467: Heading West of Jin Kingdom
Chapter 467: Heading West of Jin Kingdom
2024-10-22
In the small courtyard, Su Chen took up his brush and wrote a letter, sending it back to Tiangang City.
It was a way to inform them of his safety and to greet the elders in Tiangang City.
As he sent the letter, Su Chen also thought of his mother and younger sister.
Both of them were in the Great Zhou's capital, and he wondered how they were doing.
To ensure their complete safety, it was best not to write to them for the time being.
Only by diligently cultivating and resolving this crisis could he hope to spare his mother and sister from living in fear.
After settling this matter, Su Chen rearranged some mechanisms in the courtyard.
It wasn't to guard against petty thieves but to be aware if anyone from Wulan Manor came here.
If he noticed any abnormalities upon his next visit, it would indicate someone had been here, and he could be better prepared.
After leaving the courtyard, Su Chen headed west.
Qiu Ruofang had gone to this place for her training over a decade ago.
It seemed like a fleeting moment, but over a decade had passed, which was quite a long time.
It was normal for the terrain to have undergone significant changes during this period.
The map Qiu Ruofang had provided might not align perfectly with the current situation.
However, the general direction was unlikely to be wrong.
Su Chen followed the map.
After nearly seven days, he reached the location marked on Qiu Ruofang's map.
Here, the terrain and landscape had already changed significantly from what was depicted on the map.
The changes were substantial.
In the vast wilderness, finding the mystic was indeed challenging.
According to Qiu Ruofang, when she trained here, she encountered a strange land at the Fifth Stage Snow Intent Realm.
In this strange land, Martial Artists would experience distortions and anomalies.
Each time they resisted and corrected these distortions, it would solidify their realm.
The Snow Intent Realm was the final gathering before transcending to the Transcendent Realm.
Everything was in preparation for advancing to the Transcendent Realm.
This was why, upon reaching the Fifth Stage, one's strength didn't increase dramatically.
The solidification of one's realm could be considered the advancement to the Fifth Stage.
The Fifth Stage Perfection was about stabilizing one's strength completely.
The next step was to break through and transcend to the Transcendent Realm.
Thus, the strangeness of this secret realm could be said to be tailored for the Fifth Stage.
At this moment, Su Chen was in the southwest direction of Jin Kingdom.
This area was close to the border but still some distance away.
The southwestern border connected to other small countries.
Although it was a wilderness with dense forests, it was still considered an inland region, and it was unlikely for many monsters to survive here.
Only a few would dare to venture into this area.
Following the map, Su Chen wandered around this area, first covering a large area.
Then, he began to search more carefully.
After half a day of meticulous searching, he didn't sense the so-called strange land.
Everything around was ordinary, and there were no differences.
Qiu Ruofang had already mentioned this outcome when discussing this place with Su Chen.
Over a decade had passed, and Qiu Ruofang had shared her cultivation experience with the other members of the Autumn Clan.
None of them had gained such benefits after coming here.
The only one who had a slightly different experience was Qiu Ruofang's cousin, who had come here seven years ago.
According to her, she had felt the distortion for a brief moment, but it was only for an instant.
Apart from her, none of the other members of the Autumn Clan had gained anything.
Before coming here, Su Chen had mentally prepared himself.
He was going to test his luck.
As Su Chen explored, he didn't sense the distortion and anomalies, but he did notice a hidden mechanism.
Su Chen had become very sensitive to mechanisms after thoroughly studying the 'Nine Bend Mechanism Art.'
What others considered a masterpiece of concealment was, to Su Chen, as obvious as if it were right in front of him.
With caution, he approached the mechanism.
This mechanism wasn't meant for ambushing enemies but for guiding teleportation.
Su Chen had encountered similar mechanisms in the western part of the Great Zhou.
These mechanisms were likely left by a reclusive force from many years ago.
They were left as a channel for communication with the outside world.
However, after generations of inheritance, it was uncertain if this channel had been forgotten.
Su Chen didn't worry too much.
With his understanding of mechanisms, he wasn't concerned about being harmed by it.
He triggered the mechanism to see where it led.
The mechanism directed Su Chen to a massive wooden stake.
A section of the stake was hollowed out, designed for someone to sit in.
The stake began to slide along a passage, and the speed increased as it went deeper.
This sliding motion lasted for nearly four hours.
As he emerged from the passageway, the sky had already darkened completely.
After sliding for four hours, the distance from the entrance was probably four to five hundred li away.
It was now the Hour of the Tiger, and there was still over an hour until dawn.
Outside the passageway, it was also a wilderness.
After winding around seven or eight times, Su Chen couldn't figure out his exact location.
But one thing was certain: the mechanism that led him here must have had its unique purpose.
Searching outside the passageway for that strange land, he still found nothing.
During his search, he did spot a relatively wide river.
Su Chen followed the river downstream, hoping to find some clues.
Near the river was the most likely place for human settlements.
If he encountered people, he could ask them for detailed information.
That was better than searching aimlessly on his own.
Following the river downstream, around the Hour of the Snake, Su Chen saw a city.
There didn't seem to be any demonic activity here.
Su Chen activated his Demon Hunter Heavenly Destiny but didn't detect any demonic traces.
Standing outside the city, he paused.
Even without demonic influence, the common folk still struggled.
As Su Chen thought about this, he unconsciously froze for a moment.
Whether there were demons or not, it seemed the common people couldn't catch a break.
Without demonic oppression, there would be others to oppress them.
Su Chen looked at the working commoners outside the city, they seemed more exhausted than the people of the Zhou Kingdom.
Coming from humble beginnings himself, he could sense their state.
He could also tell the extent of their labor.
In the Zhou Kingdom, due to the presence of demons, even when commoners went out to work, they faced constant danger.
It was also because of these dangers that rulers treated the commoners with leniency.
Conversely, in this safe place, the rulers were harsh towards the commoners.
As expected, they faced exorbitant taxes.
Not as exhausted, they couldn't even pay enough taxes, let alone feed themselves.
Living here, they wouldn't be bitten to death by demons.
But they might be exhausted to death.
Taxes more ferocious than tigers, as the saying goes, were indeed a harsh reality here.
In the distance on a hillside, a middle-aged man carried two bundles of firewood towards his home.
From a certain angle, these bundles of firewood completely covered him.
The firewood bundles seemed to float forward, covering him.
Seeing this, Su Chen leaped forward and helped support the man with the firewood.
He politely offered some silver taels, hoping to have a meal at the man's home.
The middle-aged man, named Liu Gui, was still distrustful, sizing Su Chen up and down.
He was worried that Su Chen had ill intentions.
But seeing the silver taels, he agreed.
Perhaps Su Chen had offered too much.
For these silver taels, Liu Gui was willing to face the danger.
Su Chen helped him carry the firewood, and they walked towards his home on the hillside.
Liu Gui had prepared these two bundles of firewood to sell in the city in the afternoon.
This morning, several firewood gatherers had gone to the city, and with competition, they might drive down the prices.
He decided to go tomorrow instead.
Hearing the term "Divine Paradise," Su Chen pondered for a moment.
This evaluation was indeed quite high praise.
It was unclear if they were exaggerating in their speech or if it was truly so.
But from Liu Gui's words, it was evident that there were indeed benefits to be gained here.
The heavenly paradise within Yue Xi Mountain, an inner peak, might just be the strange land Qiu Ruoshuang had spoken of.
As Su Chen silently contemplated, Liu Gui felt confident that he had guessed correctly.
Next, Su Chen was about to ask him how to get to Yue Xi Mountain.
At this thought, Liu Gui spoke first.
"In the latter half of each month, people in the city can sign up to go to Yue Xi Mountain for a trial."
Liu Gui's face showed some envy.
In fact, rulers in various places were more or less the same, always leaving a channel for upward mobility.
For example, this trip to Yue Xi Mountain for education.
It just had a significant threshold, and the registration fee alone would take ordinary people a long time to save up.
But the upper echelons always gave the lower classes an opportunity.
While the lower classes complained, they could convince themselves.
It was their inability, the path was there, but they didn't take it.
Su Chen had lunch with Liu Gui's brothers.
During their conversation, they gathered a lot of information about the martial arts in this region.
However, Liu Gui's description was quite strange.
Sometimes it sounded as powerful as a divine being, and other times, it seemed like the strength of only Seventh or Eighth Stage Martial Artists.
It was evident that Liu Gui's understanding of martial arts was rather shallow.
Perhaps it was all hearsay, and he was describing it in various ways in front of Su Chen.
After lunch, Su Chen prepared to go into the city.
Liu Gui was enthusiastic and offered to guide Su Chen.
Along the way, they sold the firewood in the afternoon, so it wasn't a wasted trip.
After a journey of more than one hour, they arrived at the nearest city.
Liu Gui led Su Chen to the West Street intersection and pointed out the direction for him to sell his firewood.
West Street was a street frequented by the city's elite.
For someone like Liu Gui, just seeing his attire would get him immediately chased out.
Su Chen walked into West Street alone, and here, the strollers' clothing clearly distinguished them from one another.
No one stopped Su Chen, given his outstanding demeanor.
In terms of temperament, Su Chen was far superior to them.
Judging by appearance alone, Su Chen would be considered of higher status than them.
As they walked further into the street, they arrived at the local Martial Mansion.
This Martial Mansion was the only place for martial arts cultivation in the surrounding areas.
Young people from nearby cities who wanted to study would come here.
Su Chen efficiently paid the fee and signed up, joining the next trip to Yue Xi Mountain with the Martial Mansion.
There were more than ten days until the next trip, and Su Chen paid extra gold and silver.
He stayed at the Martial Mansion and took the opportunity to observe their martial arts teachings.
The entire process was completely devoid of learning value.
It was too basic, similar to the cultivation techniques he obtained with minimal contribution at Yunyang Sect.
Calling it martial arts, it was more like a method for strengthening the body.
At this Martial Mansion, Su Chen met two fellow disciples, one named Lu Xiaonan and the other, Qian Cheng.
Both were quite enthusiastic and spoke with consideration.
During these days, Su Chen interacted with both of them.
From the information they provided, it was clear that this place was the most basic martial arts cultivation ground.
Those who came to the Martial Mansion were mostly beginners in martial arts.
To go deeper into the martial path, one had to go to Yue Xi Mountain.
Additionally, there was a chance to visit some sects.
It was within those sects that core cultivation techniques would be taught.
The Martial Mansion was known to everyone for what it was.
Su Chen felt the gains here were too few.
He hoped that the divine paradise and cultivation techniques they mentioned would bring him benefits.
Lu Xiaonan and Qian Cheng also felt that Su Chen's guidance was more exquisite than what they learned at the Martial Mansion.
In the following days, both completely gave up on the Martial Mansion's teachings.
Listening to Su Chen's suggestions, the two of them...
(End of Chapter)
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