Chapter 70: Arrival at Yuanchu City

Meng Chuan and his father also met representatives from various Godfiend families.

"Meng Chuan, you are the pride of our Dongning Prefecture. We will be waiting for your good news here," Yun Fucheng said, smiling at Meng Chuan. "Become a Godfiend and slay more demon kings."

"I will," Meng Chuan nodded.

"I injured my dantian back at Qinyang Pass, so becoming a Godfiend was out of reach for me. But seeing new Godfiends emerge from our Dongning Prefecture still brings me joy," Yun Fucheng said with a sincere smile.

Meng Chuan nodded slightly. He knew of Yun Fucheng, the Yun family patriarch's, past achievements and greatly admired him.

"It's still too early for Chuan'er to become a Godfiend. He still needs to pass the entrance examination for Mount Yuanchu," Meng Dajiang said humbly.

Yun Fucheng shook his head. "He slew a high-ranking demon commander with a single strike, and he's only eighteen. How could such talent not enter Mount Yuanchu? Brother Dajiang, I truly envy you for having such a remarkable son."

"Brother Meng, I also greatly admire your ability to raise such a son," Yun Fu'an finally added, his manner bordering on sycophantic.

"We know you're busy, so we won't trouble you any longer. Please stay," Yun Fucheng said with a smile, then departed with Yun Fu'an.

Meng Dajiang and Meng Chuan watched them leave.

"The Yun family's Three Heroes are indeed extraordinary, but Yun Fu'an is merely a petty man," Meng Dajiang remarked. "Your great-aunt also said that the Yun family ancestor truly rendered meritorious service in protecting Dongning Prefecture this time! It was the Yun family ancestor who initially fought desperately to resist the demon kings, preventing them from harming your great-aunt. Only when the Yun family ancestor fell did those demon kings have a chance to attack your great-aunt, and that's when the situation took a drastic turn for the worse. Based on this alone, there's no need to hold a grudge against the Yun family. This is also your great-aunt's wish."

"Father," Meng Chuan chuckled, "you underestimate me too much. From the very beginning, I never cared about such things. What I care about is entering Mount Yuanchu and cultivating to become a Godfiend."

Meng Dajiang looked at his son, filled with deep satisfaction. He thought to himself, "Nianyun, our child is truly exceptional, truly exceptional."

Night fell.

However, Yu Yang Palace in Dongning Prefecture was bustling, filled with many people who had gathered to bid farewell to Meng Chuan, Liu Qiyue, and Yan Jin.

"Meng Chuan," Principal Ge Yu of Mirror Lake Dao Academy said, a little excited, "When you go to Yuanchu City this time, prepare well. Then, in the twelfth lunar month this year, pass the Mount Yuanchu assessment in one go and enter Mount Yuanchu!"

"I will work hard, Principal," Meng Chuan replied.

"For me, Ge Yu, to have taught a Godfiend from Mount Yuanchu is enough to brag about for a lifetime," Ge Yu chuckled.

Principal Zhong Qianhe of Blazing Sun Dao Academy, standing nearby, laughed, "Old Ge, how much of Meng Chuan's skill did you actually teach him? Do you have the nerve to brag?"

"Why wouldn't I have the nerve to brag? I taught him the Falling Leaf Saber technique one-on-one many times!" Ge Yu glared. "Brother Dajiang asked me to teach Meng Chuan fast saber techniques precisely because I excel at them. I might not be as good as Meng Chuan now... but my greatest pride is that my disciple is stronger than me! I'm only happy when my disciples surpass me."

"Well said, it's good for disciples to be stronger than us," Zhong Qianhe nodded in agreement.

"Principal, we're leaving now," Liu Qiyue also said, bidding farewell to Zhong Qianhe.

"Go, go," Principal Zhong said with a smile, looking at his most admired disciple. He was particularly proud to have trained a Godfiend with the Phoenix Divine Body.

Meng Chuan also bade farewell to Principal Ge Yu and began walking towards the Godfiends.

Several Godfiends stood together.

Among them were Marquis Nanyun, a long-browed elder from Mount Yuanchu, and by their side, the Master of Yu Yang Palace and Godfiend Meng.

"It's almost time to go," the long-browed elder nodded slightly.

Godfiend Meng turned to Meng Chuan as he approached and instructed, "Meng Chuan, once you arrive in Yuanchu City, settle in and focus solely on your cultivation. Don't concern yourself with anything else, and prepare for the Mount Yuanchu entrance examination in the twelfth lunar month this year."

"Don't worry, Great-aunt," Meng Chuan respectfully replied.

"I'll be waiting for your good news here in Dongning Prefecture, at the ancestral home," Godfiend Meng said, looking at Meng Chuan with anticipation.

"Let's go."

The long-browed elder urged from a distance.

There, a massive black flying beast, about ten zhang long even with its wings folded while on the ground, waited. Yan Jin, dressed in white and carrying a satchel, was already seated on its back.

"Let's go," Liu Yebai and his daughter, Liu Qiyue, also boarded the flying beast.

"We'll get on too." Meng Dajiang and Meng Chuan followed with a leap. The flying beast's back was several zhang long and wide, spacious enough for them to sit comfortably cross-legged.

The long-browed elder finally boarded the flying beast and sat down cross-legged.

"Go!"

He gently stroked the flying beast's feathers.

With a cry that echoed through the heavens and earth, the enormous black flying beast swiftly soared into the sky.

"Dongning Prefecture," Meng Chuan and Liu Qiyue both gazed downwards, both very reluctant to leave. They had lived there for too long.

In Dongning Prefecture under the night sky, many places were adorned with lanterns, but they were white, and white banners fluttered, accompanied by faint sounds of weeping. Brothels and other establishments throughout the city had closed down.

"Thankfully, we won," Meng Dajiang murmured. "Dongning Prefecture will soon return to its former prosperity and liveliness. If we had lost, the entire population of Dongning Prefecture would likely have been slaughtered. That would have been truly horrific."

Yan Jin also looked down.

His mother's death and everything he had experienced over the years had even filled him with hatred for his father.

However...

The admiration the people of Anhai Pass held for 'King Anhai,' and the entire Dongning Prefecture saved by that one sword, made him reconsider his feelings towards his father.

"At least he protected many people," Yan Jin thought silently, then looked in the direction the flying beast was heading—towards Mount Yuanchu.

Meng Chuan and Liu Qiyue reluctantly watched Dongning Prefecture shrink in their view until the flying beast ascended above the clouds, and the city could no longer be seen.

Above the clouds.

The stars in the sky were incredibly clear. The massive flying beast, with a wingspan of twenty zhang, soared forward, whistling through the air. Everyone sat cross-legged, most curiously observing the surrounding scenery. Even Meng Dajiang and Liu Yebai had never been above the clouds before.

"We'll reach Mount Yuanchu before dawn," the long-browed elder stated, then fell silent.

Indeed, about three hours later, still in the dead of night, Meng Chuan and the others caught sight of Mount Yuanchu.

"That is Mount Yuanchu," the long-browed elder pointed ahead.

"Mount Yuanchu?"

Meng Chuan, Yan Jin, and Liu Qiyue looked on with excitement. In the distance, towering mountain ranges pierced through the clouds.

Even from their vantage point on the flying beast above the clouds, Meng Chuan and the others felt the immense grandeur of the mountains.

"Mount Yuanchu is the highest mountain range in the world," the long-browed elder explained. "That's why it was chosen for establishing a sect here. It's also the oldest sect in the world, with a long history stretching back to the tribal era of humanity."

"We'll go to Yuanchu City first," the long-browed elder said, then lightly patted the flying beast's feathers.

The black flying beast immediately swooped downwards.

After piercing through the thick clouds, they saw a massive city built at the foot of Mount Yuanchu. From high above, it was clear that Yuanchu City was divided into an inner and outer city.

"Yuanchu City also has a long history," the long-browed elder continued. "Human dynasties have risen and fallen, and capitals have changed, but Yuanchu City has remained constant. In the past, Yuanchu City covered only about fifty li, the size of an ordinary prefecture city. However, since the demon invasion, because Yuanchu City was incredibly safe, many families migrated here, leading to the construction of the outer city. This expanded the city walls to an astonishing two hundred li, and its population now surpasses that of the royal capital, making it the largest city in the Great Zhou Dynasty."

Meng Chuan, Liu Qiyue, and Yan Jin gazed in awe at the immense city, which was far larger than Dongning Prefecture.

"Yan Jin, Meng Chuan, I will take you two to the Wuzhou Guild Hall," the long-browed elder stated. "You will reside there from now on and await the entrance examination at the end of the year."

"Yes," Meng Chuan and Yan Jin both replied.

The long-browed elder nodded slightly. The massive black flying beast had already swooped into the city and landed directly in front of a sprawling, luxurious mansion. A plaque above its entrance read: Wuzhou Guild Hall.

In front of the mansion, a group of people had been waiting, having been there for most of the night.

"Whoosh."

As the flying beast descended, the people respectfully bowed.