Chapter 864
Becoming a Big Fish
At the entrance of the city lord's mansion, several fine horses were already ready.
Elders Guo Shouzhen and Guo Xiong arrived early, both dressed in thick cotton robes with weapons at their waists, looking like they had just embarked on a long journey.
Guo Mingxuan stood beside the two elders, carrying a bundle on his back, his face showing a mixture of excitement and nervousness. This was his first time leaving Hongyun City for such a faraway place, and he couldn't help feeling a little apprehensive.
Zheng Yi walked out of the city lord's mansion and saw that everyone was ready. He nodded.
"Everyone's here, we can set off."
“Mr. Dark Night, thank you for taking care of me along the way,” Guo Shouzhen said, bowing.
"Elder Guo, you're too kind," Zheng Yi said. "We're all in this together; we'll look out for each other."
“Let’s go then,” Guo Xiong said. “Let’s travel as much as possible while it’s still early.”
The group mounted their horses and headed towards the city gate.
Guo Tianyou stood at the entrance of the city lord's mansion, watching them leave.
"Mingxuan, cultivate diligently and don't bring shame to the Guo family!" he shouted.
"Don't worry, brother, Mingxuan will definitely not let you down!" Guo Mingxuan called out as he turned around.
The group walked through the city streets and arrived at the west gate.
When the guards at the city gate saw that it was the elder of the Guo family and Mr. Dark Night, they quickly made way and bowed respectfully.
Once outside the city gate, a wide official road stretched straight westward, disappearing into the distant horizon.
On both sides of the official road stretched endless fields, the crops long since harvested, leaving only bare earth. Occasionally, a few crows would fly over the fields, uttering hoarse cries.
“Xuantian Mountain is in the northwest, about 1,200 li away,” Guo Shouzhen said. “If all goes well, it should take about seven or eight days to get there.”
"Seven or eight days," Zheng Yi nodded. "Then let's hurry on our way."
The group rode their horses westward at breakneck speed.
The clatter of hooves echoed crisply across the open plains. A cold wind howled, causing everyone's robes to flutter loudly.
Zheng Yi rode in the lead, observing the surrounding environment as he traveled.
This was his first time leaving the eastern part of Tianyuan Domain and heading to the central region. Although he had some knowledge of the geography of Tianyuan Domain, this was the first time he had seen it with his own eyes.
As you get further and further away from Hongyun City, the surrounding scenery gradually changes.
The eastern region is mostly plains and hills, with fertile land and abundant resources. As you go west, the terrain becomes increasingly higher and there are more and more mountains.
After walking for about two hours, they arrived at a small town.
This small town is called Willow Spring Town, and it is the only way for Hongyun City to travel west. The town is not big, with only one main street, lined with shops and residences on both sides.
“Let’s rest here for a bit, have something to eat, and then continue,” Guo Shouzhen said.
The group stopped at a small restaurant in town and ordered some simple food.
The restaurant was small, with only seven or eight tables. Inside, some pedestrians and vendors were eating, drinking, and chatting.
Zheng Yi and the Guo family sat down at a table in the corner.
"Shopkeeper, a few bowls of hot noodle soup, and a plate of sliced beef," Guo Xiong called out to the shopkeeper.
"Alright, please wait a moment, sir!" the shopkeeper replied, turning to prepare.
Zheng Yi looked around and sized up the customers in the restaurant.
Most of the customers were ordinary vendors and pedestrians, dressed simply and with peaceful expressions. But in a corner, a few people dressed in black caught his attention.
The group of men sat together, looking wary, glancing towards the door every now and then. They all wore weapons at their waists, clearly not ordinary people.
"Mr. Dark Night, what are you looking at?" Guo Mingxuan asked curiously.
"It's nothing," Zheng Yi said, withdrawing his gaze. "I was just looking around."
A short while later, the restaurant served steaming hot soup noodles and a plate of beef.
Everyone started eating.
As Zheng Yi ate, he kept glancing at the men in black out of the corner of his eye. He noticed that they seemed to be observing him as well, their eyes filled with a hint of wariness.
"Third Uncle, what's the background of those people?" Guo Mingxuan also noticed the men in black and asked Guo Shouzhen in a low voice.
Guo Shouzhen glanced in that direction, then whispered, "Judging from their attire, they're probably from the martial arts world. But don't worry, as long as we don't provoke them, they won't bother us."
"Mm." Guo Mingxuan nodded and continued eating.
After finishing their meal, the group continued their journey.
After leaving Liuquan Town, the road became increasingly rugged. The official road gradually disappeared, replaced by a winding mountain path.
"Qingyun Ridge is just ahead," Guo Shouzhen said. "Once we cross Qingyun Ridge, we'll enter the central region of Tianyuan Domain."
"Qingyun Ridge?" Zheng Yi looked up.
Ahead lay a continuous mountain range, its peaks soaring into the clouds, its slopes precipitous. The mountains were covered with thick forests, which appeared lush and verdant under the winter sun.
"Qingyun Ridge is the dividing line between the eastern and central parts of Tianyuan Domain," Guo Shouzhen explained. "This mountain range stretches for hundreds of miles, and there are only a few roads that can pass through it. The road we're taking is the most commonly used one, called Qingyun Road."
"What is the relationship between Qingyun Dao and Qingyun City?" Zheng Yi asked.
“It’s alright,” Guo Shouzhen shook his head. “It’s just that the names are similar. The name Qingyun Path comes from the fact that the mountain is always shrouded in mist and clouds, and from a distance, it looks like a road leading to the clouds.”
The group walked up the mountain path.
The mountain path was narrow, only wide enough for two people to walk side by side. Dense forests lined both sides, and occasionally a few mountain birds would fly out from the woods, emitting a few clear calls.
The higher you go, the lower the temperature becomes. A cool, crisp air permeates the atmosphere, mingled with the scent of pine trees.
"The spiritual energy of this mountain is much richer than that at the foot of the mountain," Zheng Yi exclaimed.
“Yes,” Guo Shouzhen nodded. “Qingyun Ridge is a sacred mountain, its spiritual energy several times richer than that at its foot. A sect used to be stationed here, but for some reason they moved away, leaving only this empty mountain.”
"Was there a sect stationed here before?" Zheng Yi asked curiously. "What sect?"
"It seems to be called the Qingyun Sect," Guo Shouzhen said. "However, that was a long time ago, and I've only heard of it; I don't know the specifics."
The group continued their ascent, and after about two hours, they finally reached the summit.
Standing atop the mountain, Zheng Yi looked westward and saw a vast plain stretching out before him. Rivers crisscrossed the plain, and towns dotted the landscape, making it far more prosperous than the eastern region.
"That's the central part of the Tianyuan Domain," Guo Shouzhen said, pointing into the distance. "The central region is flat and rich in resources, making it the most prosperous area in the entire Tianyuan Domain. The Xuantian Sect is located on Xuantian Mountain over there."
Zheng Yi gazed into the distance, a surge of pride welling up within him.
He was finally about to step into the heart of the Tianyuan Domain. There would be more opportunities there, and more challenges. He couldn't wait to see what it was like. "Let's go, down the mountain," Guo Xiong said. "We need to reach Qingyun Town at the foot of the mountain before dark."
The group walked down the mountain path.
The path down the mountain was even more difficult than the path up; the trail was steep and the stone steps were slippery. Guo Mingxuan was young and unsteady on his feet, almost slipping several times.
"Mingxuan, watch your step," Guo Shouzhen warned.
“Yes, Third Uncle.” Guo Mingxuan carefully walked down.
About two more hours later, the group finally descended the mountain and arrived at Qingyun Town at the foot of the mountain.
Qingyun Town is much larger than Liuquan Town; it's a rather bustling little town. It has several streets lined with shops, teeming with people and bustling with activity.
“We’ll stay here tonight,” Guo Shouzhen said. “We’ll continue our journey early tomorrow morning.”
The group found an inn to stay in.
The inn is called Yuelai Inn, and it's the largest inn in town. The inn has an impressive facade and is clean and tidy inside, clearly designed to cater to traveling merchants.
"How many are in your party, sir?" the waiter greeted them warmly.
“Five people, three superior rooms,” Guo Shouzhen said.
"Alright, please follow me, sir."
The waiter led everyone up to the second floor and arranged three adjacent rooms for them.
Zheng Yi and Guo Mingxuan shared a room, Guo Shouzhen and Guo Xiong shared a room, and the remaining room was reserved for the accompanying servants.
After settling in, everyone had dinner in the lobby of the inn.
The lobby was quite crowded, mostly with merchants and travelers from all over the country. They sat in twos and threes, eating, drinking, and talking about their experiences in various places.
Zheng Yi ate while listening to the conversations around him.
He noticed that many people were talking about one topic—the Xuantian Sect's disciple-acceptance ceremony.
"Have you heard? The Xuantian Sect is holding a disciple recruitment ceremony next month, and they're recruiting one hundred new disciples this time," said a man who looked like a merchant.
“One hundred? So many?” His companion was somewhat surprised.
"Yes, I've heard that the Xuantian Sect has developed rapidly in recent years and needs more disciples to bolster its strength. Many people want to try their luck at this disciple recruitment ceremony."
"The Xuantian Sect isn't easy to get into," another person interjected. "I heard their entrance exams are extremely rigorous; you're lucky if one out of ten people passes."
"Even the strictest rules can't stop those with talent," the merchant said. "The Xuan Tian Sect is the largest sect in the central Tianyuan Domain; getting in means a limitless future."
Zheng Yi was puzzled upon hearing this.
He turned to Guo Shouzhen and asked, "Elder Guo, hasn't the Xuantian Sect already agreed to accept Mingxuan as an outer disciple? Why is it still necessary to participate in the disciple acceptance ceremony?"
Guo Shouzhen put down his chopsticks and explained, "Sir, you may not know this. The Xuantian Sect accepts disciples in two ways. One is through the disciple-acceptance ceremony, where they are assessed and become formal disciples, who receive better treatment. The other is through recommendation, where they are recommended and become outer disciples, who receive less favorable treatment."
"Mingxuan was recommended through the Guo family's connections, so he can only be an outer disciple for now. However, if he performs well, he will have the opportunity to become a formal disciple in the future."
"I see." Zheng Yi nodded.
“However,” Guo Shouzhen paused, “if Mingxuan can pass the assessment at the disciple-acceptance ceremony, he can directly become a formal disciple, which would be more beneficial to his development.”
"Third Uncle, you mean you want me to participate in the apprenticeship ceremony?" Guo Mingxuan's eyes lit up upon hearing this.
“I have that idea,” Guo Shouzhen nodded. “Anyway, we happen to be holding a disciple recruitment ceremony, so why don’t we let you give it a try? Even if you don’t pass the exam, it won’t affect your status as an outer disciple.”
"Great!" Guo Mingxuan said excitedly, "I will definitely work hard!"
Zheng Yi smiled slightly as he looked at Guo Mingxuan's excited expression.
This young man certainly has a lot of drive.
After dinner, everyone returned to their rooms to rest.
Zheng Yi lay in bed, closed his eyes, but did not fall asleep immediately.
He was thinking about the Xuantian Sect.
The Xuantian Sect is the largest sect in the central part of the Tianyuan Domain, possessing immense strength and profound foundation. Establishing connections with the Xuantian Sect would greatly benefit his future development.
Sending Guo Mingxuan to the Xuantian Sect this time might be an opportunity.
“Mingxuan,” he called out.
"Sir, is there anything I can help you with?" Guo Mingxuan sat up from the bed.
"How much do you know about the Xuantian Sect?" Zheng Yi asked.
"This junior doesn't know much," Guo Mingxuan said. "I only know that the Xuantian Sect is the largest sect in the central part of the Tianyuan Domain, with over a thousand disciples and dozens of elders. The sect leader is a Transcending Tribulation Realm expert named Xuantian Zhenren."
"Master Xuantian," Zheng Yi pondered for a moment, "Do you know what the cultivation path of the Xuantian Sect is?"
"It seems to focus primarily on swordsmanship," Guo Mingxuan said. "I've heard that the Xuantian Sect's swordsmanship is extremely powerful and renowned throughout the entire Tianyuan Domain."
"The way of the sword..." Zheng Yi thought of Shen Qingyun, "That is somewhat similar to Senior Shen's."
"Senior Shen?" Guo Mingxuan asked, somewhat puzzled.
“It’s that sword immortal who lives in the city lord’s mansion,” Zheng Yi said. “His swordsmanship is also extremely powerful; he might even have some connection to the Xuan Tian Sect.”
"This junior does not know," Guo Mingxuan shook his head.
Zheng Yi didn't say anything more, closed his eyes, and gradually drifted off to sleep.
The group continued their journey early the next morning.
After leaving Qingyun Town, the road became much wider and smoother. This was the official road in the central part of Tianyuan Domain, and it was very well constructed, with carriages and pedestrians coming and going in an endless stream.
The further west they went, the more prosperous the surrounding towns became. They passed through several large cities, each more bustling than Hongyun City.
"The central part of Tianyuan Domain is indeed prosperous," Zheng Yi exclaimed.
“Yes,” Guo Shouzhen nodded. “The central region is the heart of the Tianyuan Domain, densely populated and rich in resources, naturally much more prosperous than the east.”
"Then why doesn't the Guo family move to the central region?" Zheng Yi asked.
"While the central region is prosperous, the competition is fierce," Guo Shouzhen said. "There are countless powerful families and sects here, and the Guo family is nowhere near the top. It's better to stay in the east; at least then we can be local tyrants."
Zheng Yi listened and nodded thoughtfully.
He understood Guo Shouzhen's meaning. Hongyun City was one of the top cities in the eastern part of Tianyuan Domain, and the Guo family was a powerful force there. But if they moved to the central region, the Guo family probably wouldn't even rank in the top 100.
It's better to be a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in a big pond. (End of Chapter)