https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-538-The-Nine-Headed-Dragon-Chart/12544680/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-540-A-Glimpse-of-Sword-Techniques/12544684/
Chapter 539: Black Star City
Chapter 539: Black Star City
"It's a pity that I don't have enough Spirit Absorbing Grass Pearls. Otherwise, I would have hastened the maturation of the other two Dragon Remains Grasses growing in the Spirit Spring's Holy Water."
Lu Chen gazed at the two slender, dragon-shaped black grasses swimming joyfully in the deep, cold spring water and sighed.
Most of the remaining spirit herbs in the secret realm were of the fifth grade and not suitable for taking outside. As for the lone fourth-grade Earth Emperor Date, its demanding requirements for spiritual energy and soil made its growing conditions stringent, so Lu Chen decided to leave it in the secret realm.
Upon returning to his cave abode, Lu Chen did not rest. Instead, he continued to condense the spiritual seeds of the fifty Water Glow Grasses.
Five days later, he successfully condensed all the spiritual seeds, collecting around two hundred and fifty long, deep blue spiritual seeds.
After inspecting the spirit fields, he hesitated before deciding to bring four Arrow Vines with him.
Arrow Vine was a fourth-grade mutant spirit herb with relatively modest growing demands. It only required Lu Chen to provide spiritual power in the form of arrows, and they were already in the growth phase. Perhaps they would even mature before they returned to the sect.
Among the numerous spirit beasts in his cave abode, he intended to bring only the Cloud-Treading Lynx and the Demon Ghost Vine, leaving the others behind.
As he patiently waited, about ten days later, a talisman flew into the cave abode.
After learning the information on the talisman, Lu Chen's expression turned solemn. With a hint of reluctance in his eyes, he took one last look at his abode and hurried towards the outer sect gathering place.
On a flat, spacious mountaintop, he found his fellow sect members who would be traveling with him.
After confirming their identities, Lu Chen entered the body of a huge dragon puppet lying on the mountaintop.
This dragon puppet was enormous, measuring over twenty zhang long. It was like a world unto itself, with two rows of simple houses and a narrow passage in between. The exterior was protected by layers of restrictions.
Once everyone was onboard, the dragon puppet soared into the sky, heading straight for the clouds.
Lu Chen sat quietly in a small room inside, tilting his head to gaze out of a small window at the rapidly retreating masses of clouds outside. A sense of deja vu filled his mind.
More than twenty years ago, he had been a mere Qi Refining cultivator. To find a peaceful environment for his herbology pursuits, he had spent a considerable amount of spirit stones to board a treasure ship delivering goods for Wanbao Tower, eventually arriving at Jianmen Town.
Back then, he had also gazed out of the ship's window at the swiftly passing clouds, his eyes filled with anticipation and anxiety.
But now, his state of mind had undergone a significant transformation, and he felt confident and assured.
"How people and things change," Lu Chen mused. "That young herbologist back then wouldn't have imagined that he would achieve such growth in such a short time."
Lu Chen's thoughts raced.
Just then, three crisp knocks sounded from outside the room.
"Come in."
Lu Chen stirred his spiritual power, lifting the simple spiritual restriction he had set up in the room, and replied softly.
A slender middle-aged cultivator with a sharp aura entered.
"Greetings, Senior Brother Zhou," Lu Chen said, rising to greet him.
The newcomer was named Zhou Qi, a cultivator at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage. They were both disciples of the Sword Hall and had entered the Sword Pool to obtain swords together, making them acquaintances.
Lu Chen learned from Shen Ye that this Senior Brother Zhou had attempted to break through the Golden Core realm several times, only to fail each time. Having lost hope in further advancement, he had extinguished his drive for progress.
Despite his lack of ambition, his strength was formidable, and he was leading this expedition.
"Disciple Lu, are you cultivating your martial arts?" The middle-aged cultivator looked at Lu Chen, his sharp features softening slightly.
Within the Sword Hall, Lu Chen had gained great fame. Although his cultivation was only at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, far inferior to Zhou Qi's, his skill in cultivating sword grasses and his contribution of the third-grade Wind and Thunder Sword Grass condensation technique had earned him a higher status and potential in the sect.
"No, I was just daydreaming, gazing out the window," Lu Chen replied with a smile.
"I heard from fellow sect members that you usually stay within the sect, devoting yourself entirely to spirit herb cultivation. This time, we're heading to a region thousands of miles away. I wonder how you're adapting to this change, Junior Brother Lu?"
"Then I am forever grateful to Senior Brother Zhou," Lu Xuan expressed his thanks to the sharp-featured middle-aged man.
"This city we're heading to is called Black Star City, less than two thousand miles from the Black Demon Abyss. Often, exotic demons and evil beings escape from within and wreak havoc in the city, causing great losses," Zhou Qi explained the situation they would be facing.
"The most severe incident occurred when the defensive array protecting the city was breached by demons. Nearly half of the cultivators and ordinary humans living within the city perished, and it took the combined efforts of several major sects a long time to eliminate them," he continued, painting a grim picture.
"The strongest forces of several major sects are facing off against these demons and evil beings at the front lines. Our task is to safeguard the city and clear out any stray demons or evil beings that appear in Black Star City," Zhou Qi elaborated, reassuringly adding, "It should be relatively safe."
"Then I can rest easy," Lu Chen nodded lightly, a smile playing on his lips.
The dragon puppet flew swiftly, and in less than two days, they arrived outside Black Star City.
Lu Chen and several dozen other Tian Jianzong cultivators flew out, gazing upon the massive city before them.
The city was encircled by a thick, dark wall, its bricks engraved with intricate patterns that glowed with spiritual light. The entire city was enveloped in a giant spiritual energy shield.
Black Star City had endured countless assaults by demons and evil beings, and the signs of battle were evident everywhere. Cultivators rode flying swords and wielded spiritual artifacts within the shield, their spiritual senses sweeping over Lu Chen and the others.
"Brother Zhou, you've finally arrived," a burly, muscular young man with a towering stature flew out from within the shield, his voice carrying a hint of relief as he addressed Zhou Qi and the group of Tian Jianzong cultivators.
"Please forgive our delay, Brother Wan. The journey was long," Zhou Qi replied courteously.
"How is the situation in Black Star City now?" Zhou Qi inquired.
Lu Chen's keen spiritual sense perceived that this Brother Wan was at the same cultivation level as Zhou Qi, having reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage.
"It's manageable for now, but we have to constantly remain vigilant within the city and patrol its surroundings," Brother Wan explained. "Occasional incidents of cultivators turning into demons, hidden demons launching surprise attacks, and the like keep the city from ever truly being peaceful."
"That's good to hear," Zhou Qi nodded, and together with Brother Wan, they made their way toward the massive spiritual energy shield.
At the edge of the shield, three cultivators bowed respectfully to them.
"Senior Brother, to prevent evil beings from parasitizing and sneaking into the city, we need to inspect you and the other Tian Jianzong disciples. Please forgive the intrusion," one of them said politely.
"Not at all," Zhou Qi readily agreed, understanding the necessary procedures to prevent rumors and gossip from other sects.
The cultivators took out a grayish bronze mirror and shone it on each of the Tian Jianzong disciples in turn. The mirror showed no abnormalities, and Lu Chen, along with his fellow sect members, entered the city.
(End of Chapter)
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