Chapter Nineteen: Azure Cloud City

Yang Xuan did not grovel before Xiao Yun simply because his fortune appeared as a deep purple. His reason for approaching was nothing more than a desire to make a casual acquaintance. After all, this fellow might well be the protagonist of the world’s story—or at least of the region’s. Though Yang Xuan had no intention of flattering him, he also did not wish to become his enemy. It was wise to get to know him ahead of time; should their paths cross in the future, it would make matters much easier.

Moreover, Xiao Yun was now only at the Qi Refining stage; to fawn over him would be beneath Yang Xuan’s dignity. After exchanging a few casual words with Xiao Yun, Yang Xuan made an excuse to leave, then wandered over to converse with other sons of the Zhou family.

While Yang Xuan was enjoying good food and wine at the Zhou residence, far away on the cliff that was the only road to Azure Cloud City, a group of people were enduring the cold wind.

“It seems your information was wrong,” said the effeminate man, his tone betraying neither joy nor anger.

Yet that very tone sent a chill through Old Ma, who stood beside him.

“The information can’t be wrong, unless the boy changed his plans at the last—” Old Ma began, but the effeminate man cut him off, “I don’t want to hear useless explanations. The fact is, he didn’t come. For the sake of our pleasant cooperation in the past, I’ll overlook it this time. Next time, if such a thing happens again, don’t blame me for using your head as a wine cup!”

With that, the effeminate man turned away. “Pack up, we’re going back!”

“Jin Yan, perhaps the boy was delayed—can we wait two more hours?” Old Ma pleaded, seeing Jin Yan was about to leave.

Hearing this, Jin Yan spun around and snapped, “Old Ma, you’ve grown foolish from too much comfort! We just robbed Green Creek Island’s goods this morning, and you want me to wait here for someone who may not come? Do you think Green Creek Island has no one left?”

“Hmph, if you want to wait, do so alone. I hear your daughter married into a noble family—Green Creek Island shouldn’t be able to touch you.”

Having said that, Jin Yan released a spirit boat, leapt aboard, and was soon followed by the others on the cliff, all dressed in various styles. Once everyone was aboard, the spirit boat transformed into a streak of black light and vanished into the horizon.

“Grandfather! They—” Only Old Ma and a young man remained. The youth watched the spirit boat disappear, words stuck on his lips.

“Sigh! Qian’er, it’s not that your grandfather doesn’t want to help you. If Yang Xuan had come today, it would’ve been different, but since he didn’t show, it’s clear fate has spared him. When you return, cultivate diligently. I trust your father won’t let you waste away in the Qi Refining stage,” Old Ma consoled with a sigh.

...

The next morning, Yang Xuan bade farewell to the Zhou family and set off once more with his Dao soldiers.

“Any danger that might have arisen should have passed after last night,” Yang Xuan mused, stroking his chin aboard the spirit boat.

Yesterday, after encountering two men from Green Creek Island, he had chosen to take a detour. Yet after a while, he realized this was not wise. No matter how he circled around, there was one place he could not avoid on the journey to Azure Cloud City: the Twin Broken Mountains.

This range crossed the entire Fuyou Province. Not only was it high and imposing, but it was also home to countless demon clans that lingered within Fuyou. Moreover, the mountains contained several minor spiritual veins, attracting many wandering cultivators who dwelled there. These demons often colluded with the cultivators to ambush passing merchant caravans.

Every year, the noble families of Fuyou Province swept the mountains to clear out the demon clans, but never thoroughly. Thus, merchant caravans rarely crossed through the range except along the main road controlled by the noble families.

After much consideration, Yang Xuan decided that traversing the mountains was too dangerous, and the sole route had just seen Green Creek Island’s merchant caravan robbed. He chose to wait and stay overnight with a nearby family before continuing.

Hence, he visited the Zhou family.

“Master, it’s the people from Green Creek Island!” Bovine, one of his men, suddenly pointed in a direction from the spirit boat.

Yang Xuan nodded and steered toward the other spirit boat.

“Are you from Green Creek Island? I am Yang Xuan of Yellow Maple Mountain. Has something happened ahead?” Yang Xuan called out, stopping his spirit boat in midair before approaching.

“So it’s Second Young Master Yang. I am Liu Changfeng. It’s nothing serious—our family’s caravan encountered demons on this road, so we were sent to clear them out,” replied the driver, a middle-aged man in Daoist robes. At hearing Yang Xuan’s name, he offered a brief salute.

“Oh? Has the demon tribe in the mountains grown restless again?” Yang Xuan probed.

“It’s unlikely. Just a few minor demons—nothing to hinder the trade route. If you have business, Young Master Yang, you may proceed without worry. We must return to report, so we won’t delay you further,” Liu Changfeng laughed, then swiftly piloted his spirit boat past Yang Xuan and his men.

“Master, I fear things aren’t so simple. Those two from yesterday looked like they’d barely escaped death. An entire caravan reduced to just two survivors—how could mere minor demons be responsible?” Bovine muttered beside him.

“No matter what happened, it doesn’t concern us. We only need to pass safely through Twin Broken Mountains,” Yang Xuan replied calmly.

Some matters had nothing to do with him; it was best not to meddle. This was advice Yang Huaiyun had given Yang Xuan before he left home—wisdom he’d also gleaned from his previous life in games.

From Liu Changfeng’s repeated glances downward as he spoke, Yang Xuan deduced they were searching for someone—perhaps the culprit behind the disaster that befell Green Creek Island’s caravan yesterday.

But since the other party wished to keep it quiet, Yang Xuan had no intention of interfering.

Still, while he would not involve himself, perhaps he could report the matter to his father.

With that thought, he took a sound transmission talisman from his storage pouch, whispered a few words into it, and continued on his journey.

The spirit boat flew for about two hours, and gradually the number of passing spirit boats increased. There were also many cultivators riding magical artifacts or flying through the air.

After another quarter of an hour, a grand city appeared in the distance, looming like a giant beast with its maw open, exuding an awe-inspiring presence.

Countless spirit boats and cultivators descended outside its towering gates, hundreds of feet high, and entered the city.

“How magnificent!” Yang Xuan exclaimed as he brought his spirit boat down, gazing up at the city.

From his vantage, he could clearly see claw marks and traces of spells upon the city walls.

Azure Cloud City had once stood on the frontlines against the demon clans. Though that period was short, it had made the city the most splendid and impregnable among the surrounding provinces.

Those marks on the walls were the remnants left by the demon army’s assault in ages past.

“Come, let’s enter the city. We’ll stay here tonight and depart for Coastal State by airship tomorrow.”