High above in the sky, a flying ship enshrouded in purple light was gliding silently.
Inside the flying ship, Wang Chen and Zuo Xiaomo sat opposite each other, playing chess.
This Purple Lightning Flying Boat had been seized by Wang Chen from the Mysterious Intent Taoist, its tier quite high, hence it had become his mode of transportation back to the sect.
Although the interior space of the flying boat wasn't large, it was luxuriously furnished, making the journey extremely comfortable for both passengers.
The game that Wang Chen and Zuo Xiaomo were playing was the highly popular Tianji Chess in this world.
This chess consisted of 365 pieces, corresponding to the 365 stars in the sky, similar to Go in Wang Chen's previous life, but with its own set of unique rules that were very brain-intensive.
Since playing chess was unrelated to one's cultivation realm, in theory, a Qi Cultivation novice could defeat a Nascent Soul True Immortal on the chessboard.
But in reality, that was simply impossible.
Wang Chen and Zuo Xiaomo were only separated by one great realm in cultivation level. Wang Chen was a novice in the way of chess, while the latter came from a deeply learned family background; thus, they had their wins and losses and were equally matched.
With one move, Wang Chen sealed off Zuo Xiaomo's star formation and devoured the majority of his opponent's star pieces.
Zuo Xiaomo shook his head and relinquished the chess piece in his hand, admitting defeat.
Wang Chen's progress was simply too fast. At first, Zuo Xiaomo could almost always win, but as Wang Chen became familiar with the rules and mastered some techniques, his chess strength increased sharply.
He said with a bitter smile, "If we keep playing, I'll just keep losing."
Wang Chen responded with a silent chuckle.
Zuo Xiaomo's character was quite admirable, and he possessed a certain talent for cultivation, but perhaps due to the advantages of his family background, he wasn't overly zealous in his practice, carrying a certain contentment with the status quo.
His participation in the Outer Sect assessment was largely due to pressure from others.
After considering for a moment, Wang Chen took out a copper bell from his Storage Bag and handed it to Zuo Xiaomo: "This is the Five Dragons Flame Cover, refine it a bit, and take it with you to the land palace for body protection."
As Zuo Xiaomo's Taoist Protector, Wang Chen had a responsibility to ensure his safety during the assessment.
But the environment in the Nine Dragons Land Palace was extremely complicated; it was impossible to predict what could happen inside, and Wang Chen had no absolute guarantee of ensuring Zuo Xiaomo would remain unharmed.
Therefore, he decided to temporarily lend this body-protecting Spiritual Artifact to Zuo Xiaomo.
"Is this a Spiritual Artifact?"
Zuo Xiaomo, who knew his stuff, was taken aback at the sight of the Five Dragons Flame Cover.
Wang Chen nodded, "I've already erased the Dharma Seal inside; take it and try to get used to it."
Zuo Xiaomo was a high-tier Qi Cultivation cultivator; fully controlling this high-tier Spiritual Artifact was impossible for him, but using the Five Dragons Flame Cover solely for self-protection was just within reach.
All he had to do was activate it when facing danger and buy time for Wang Chen to come to his rescue.
"Senior Brother Wang..."
Zuo Xiaomo was so moved his eyes welled up with tears.
This was a Spiritual Artifact, and a high-tier one at that, worth an extraordinary amount.
And Wang Chen had just lent it to him.
If Zuo Xiaomo had been a woman, he might have promised himself to Wang Chen on the spot.
Wang Chen, however, was made uncomfortable by his look and hastily waved his hand, saying, "I'm only lending it to you."
Zuo Xiaomo certainly understood that Wang Chen was lending it to him.
Still, he couldn't express the gratitude he felt in his heart, as he felt meeting Wang Chen was the greatest fortune of his life.
Determined not to let down Wang Chen's care for him, in the following journey, Zuo Xiaomo focused on refining and familiarizing himself with the Five Dragons Flame Cover, and resolved to pass the assessment.
Only by becoming an official disciple and striving to Breakthrough Mansion to enter the Inner Sect, could he possibly repay Wang Chen's kindness!
To give Zuo Xiaomo more time, Wang Chen deliberately slowed down the speed of the Purple Lightning Flying Boat.
The Purple Lightning Flying Boat could be powered either by the controller's mana or by Spirit Stones; the latter required medium-grade Spirit Stones, analogous to Wang Chen's previous life's BBA, which had to be fueled with high-octane gasoline.
Although Wang Chen had seized a large number of medium-grade Spirit Stones this time, he was reluctant to use some for the sake of accelerating the journey.
He was content to proceed at low speed, sustaining the operation of the flying boat with his own mana.
For several days, he did just that until the final leg of the trip when Wang Chen finally activated the flying boat's array.
Instantly, this high-tier spiritual boat transformed into a streak of purple light, dashing towards the core of Central State.
On the first day of April, in the morning.
Three hundred li south of Wanling City lay the Ancient Capital Ruins.
Morning light bathed the enormous ruins, draping the fragmented walls and shattered masonry in a thin coat of gold, while the mist that shrouded the ruined city slowly dissipated, revealing its time-worn true face.
Thousands of years ago, this had been the capital of a heavenly country on earth, which was later destroyed in a cataclysmic battle.
After establishing their Sect in the West Sea, the West Sea Sect cleared the Evil Wraiths that had nested in these ruins.
They also unearthed the Nine Dragons Land Palace.
The Nine Dragons Land Palace was in fact an enormous secret realm, containing special prohibitions. The higher a cultivator's realm, the greater the suppression they experienced inside the palace.
As a result, it became a place of trials and missions for the disciples of the West Sea Sect.
However, even after hundreds of years, the West Sea Sect's exploration of the Nine Dragons Land Palace was still limited to a portion of it, probably not even one-tenth.
The deeper regions remained shrouded in mystery.
Possibly to accelerate the pace of exploration and development, the West Sea Sect did not treat the Nine Dragons Land Palace as forbidden. Loose Cultivators could enter for exploration after paying a certain amount of Spirit Stones.
So when Wang Chen and Zuo Xiaomo arrived at the Ancient Capital Ruins, the place was already abuzz with noise and excitement.
Especially at the entrance to the underground palace, there was a dense crowd of West Sea Sect's Outer Sect disciples.
And Purple Mansion cultivators!
Clearly, they were all disciples who had come to participate in the Outer Sect assessment, along with their Taoist Protectors.
Wang Chen noticed that not all the assessing disciples were accompanied by Taoist Protectors; many were solitary individuals.
This was actually quite normal. Those who could afford or persuade Purple Mansion cultivators to be their protectors were generally descendants of Noble Clans or from the Immortal Second Generation.
Without influence, power, or Spirit Stones, one would have to stake their life for a chance at a future!
And when Wang Chen showed up at the entrance of the underground palace with Zuo Xiaomo, more than a dozen unusual gazes fell upon both of them.
Surprise, confusion, resentment, malevolence...
This guy sure knew how to attract enmity!
Wang Chen thought to himself.
"Senior Brother Zuo."
At this moment, a crisp and pleasant voice suddenly reached them from the side.
"Junior Sister Ling Shan!"
Zuo Xiaomo looked with delighted surprise at the pretty young girl who appeared before him, "Why are you here?"
The girl's cheeks turned a shade of red, "I, I came to see the excitement."
Her insincerity was obvious.
Wang Chen quietly stepped back a few paces, leaving space for the two of them.
This young lady was clearly the daughter of the Lv Family who was in love with Zuo Xiaomo, said to possess great natural talent for cultivation, considered a Golden Core seedling with limitless potential.
The unfriendly gazes from the surroundings intensified manifold!
The first update is delivered.