"Some powerful figures that follow the devil path intentionally incite bloodshed when selecting disciples, holding trials where only the final survivor is deemed worthy of becoming their successor," Wu Yuan said.
Qiong Sea King shuddered at the thought.
A world where everyone vied for survival until only one remained standing? That was their method of selecting disciples? These people were truly devils!
"Everyone is a dragon, primitive natural selection, and the Asura Devil Path," Wu Yuan elaborated. "These three categories of immortal path civilizations are not mutually exclusive, with many civilizations ending up with a mix of ideologies. Each possesses its merits and flaws, yet they have all produced formidable beings that stand at the pinnacle of strength."
"However, it appears that fortune has favored us, as the region we have arrived at likely aligns with the ideology of ‘everyone is a dragon’," Wu Yuan beamed. "This civilization tends towards peace and is the easiest for us to integrate into."
"Shall we venture into the village, Master?" inquired Qiong Sea King.
"No need," Wu Yuan dismissed the idea. "Inquiry is not the only way to gather information. Wait for me here."
Just as diagnosing ailments required keen observation, listening, and asking the right questions, one could also take the same approach to information gathering.
Merely by observing the mundane activities in the village, Wu Yuan was able to understand many things. Moreover, with his Soul Force, he could perceive even more.
For instance—books! Books served as the crystalization of civilization, recording everything from societal developments to the personal narratives of ordinary individuals. Fortunately, this humble village did not lack books.
When Wu Yuan first set foot in the Middle Land, and then onto Cloudhill, his initial instinct was to immerse himself in volumes of literature, learning new information and news through text. And now, the process repeated itself.
Qiong Sea King waited patiently as Wu Yuan began delving into countless books. By extending his Soul Force, he also eavesdropped on various conversations of the mortal villagers. Slowly but surely, the veil of mystery in this world began to lift before Wu Yuan's eyes.
Every household worships the Taiyuan Divine Court and Immortal Redmoon? Wu Yuan mused to himself. So, this territory falls under the jurisdiction of the Taiyuan Divine Court, and this land is ruled by Immortal Redmoon?
The vast macrocosm stretched out endlessly, comprising numerous spacetime planes. The information provided by the immortal slip merely scratched the surface, and there existed countless forces akin to the Hou Feng Tribe within the macrocosm.
The name Immortal Redmoon was unfamiliar to Wu Yuan, but the Taiyuan Divine Court had been referenced in the immortal slips. It was a colossal entity spanning multiple spacetime planes within the Greenridge Macrocosm, standing as one of the preeminent forces in the macrocosm.
It was evident that the teleportation array had led them to a region governed by Immortal Redmoon under the Taiyuan Divine Court.
Thus, both the Taiyuan Divine Court and Immortal Redmoon were revered here, as the Faith Incense of myriad creatures held significant importance to almost all factions, barring a select few cultivation sects.
"Qiong Sea, we shall head to Fengchuan City," Wu Yuan suddenly declared.
"Fengchuan City?" Qiong Sea King queried, perplexed.
"Humans seem to be the majority race of this expansive territory, which is overseen by a powerful immortal known as Immortal Redmoon," Wu Yuan explained. “Under his jurisdiction lie numerous cities, ranked in nine tiers, with the lowest three tiers primarily consisting of mortals. Cultivators typically only appear in sixth-tier cities and above."
"Fengchuan City is a fifth-tier city, the lowest tier directly governed by the Redmoon Immortal Hall, a true bastion of cultivators," Wu Yuan elaborated with a smile. "Everything within a radius of a million li lies under Fengchuan City’s jurisdiction, and the city serves as a hub for cultivators within this vast expanse. By venturing there, we shall find the answers we seek."
A radius of a million li? A city of cultivators? Qiong Sea King's eyes gleamed with anticipation. Perhaps this was the place he would find the treasures necessary for his breakthrough.
"Master, what’s the level of the strongest cultivator in Fengchuan City?" Qiong Sea King inquired eagerly.
"We’ll find out when we get there," Wu Yuan replied with a mysterious smile.
Qiong Sea King nodded, unaware that even Wu Yuan himself had no idea. After all, how much actual high-level information would this small village have?
If not for the Taiyuan Divine Court propagating its Faith across the land in order to gather Faith Incense, Wu Yuan wouldn’t even have managed to acquire the amount of knowledge he did.
As for Fengchuan City, it was a fifth-tier city that countless mortals pursuing immortality aspired to visit.
In the eyes of the numerous mortal village folk, Fengchuan City was the most powerful city they knew of, a legendary immortal city they might not visit even in their lifetime.
The higher ranked fourth-tier and third-tier cities were beyond the knowledge of these simple villagers.
With a wave, a magnificent purple flying boat appeared. It was nearly 100 meters in length, a treasure Wu Yuan had acquired after defeating Jin Ji – an eighth-grade flying boat.
Wu Yuan's storage artifacts had the capacity to accommodate items up to 100 meters in all three dimensions, barely containing this flying boat.
"Board," Wu Yuan commanded.
"This?" Qiong Sea King was surprised. "Master, didn't you wish to maintain a low profile?"
"I lacked knowledge of the situation earlier, hence the desire for discretion," Wu Yuan stated coolly. "But now, I am confident. We will proceed on flying boat."
“Moreover, the journey to Fengchuan city spans hundreds of thousands of li at least. Do you propose we cross it on foot?" Wu Yuan shook his head with a chuckle.
Qiong Sea King fell silent immediately.
They swiftly entered the flying boat, taking off with a burst of speed. The flying boat ascended to several thousand zhangs, reaching a maximum speed of about six li per second.
Mountain ranges stretched endlessly into the horizon, their peaks disappearing into the ethereal haze of mist and fog.
Amidst the swirling mist, a multitude of majestic halls emerged, their grandeur shrouded in mystery. Within their walls dwelled countless puppets, their mechanical forms moving with precision as they patrolled the vast expanse or dutifully performed their assigned tasks.
Numerous mortal women dwelled within the confines of these halls. Yet their beauty, once a source of admiration, now seemed tinged with sorrow, their gazes haunted by a palpable sense of fear and resignation. Each one was a captive, ensnared within the labyrinthine corridors of the mountain halls.
Within one of the halls, a black haired muscular man indulged himself in pleasure without holding back. As a cultivator, his body was immensely strong. Though the woman beneath him was a martial artist, she struggled to endure the pain. However, she forced herself to display a joyful expression, fearing the wrath of the man above her.
"Brother! Brother!" Suddenly, an anxious voice resounded from the corridor adjacent to the hall.
"Scram," the black-haired man snapped.
"Brother, it’s important," the voice persisted.
"You can go," the black-haired man scowled, gesturing for the woman to leave.
She hurriedly grabbed her clothes and departed.
"Enter." With a mental command, a black robe draped itself over the black-haired man, his gaze fixed on the approaching figure.
A young man garbed in silver robes, appearing somewhat eccentric, hastened into the hall.
"Third brother, I was in the middle of something," the black-haired man stated coldly.
"Hehe,” the silver-robed young man grinned. "Big Brother, a fat sheep has offered itself up. A standard grade flying boat."
"The surveillance array just detected it in the thirteenth sector. The tracking arts and puppets have locked onto the flying boat," the young man in silver robes exclaimed excitedly. "Brother, shall we take action?"