At the ferry pier, countless people, carriages, and boats bustled back and forth, creating a lively and prosperous scene.
Docks were lined with all manner of vessels: massive cargo ships, ornate pleasure boats filled with passengers, and strangely shaped craft of unknown purpose. On shore, the clamor of voices rose in a roar, hawkers’ calls echoing without end while colorful banners and shop signs fluttered in the wind, creating a bustling atmosphere.
A giant stone stele towered beside the water, engraved with several large characters: “Ying Land - Zhiyu City.” Next to the stele, a golden light barrier separated the river mouth from the town. Only through a single gateway in the barrier could one pass through the pier and enter the town proper.
As the small cargo boat approached the light barrier's gateway, two cultivators dressed in guard attire speed-flew over and intercepted the vessel. One of them called out loudly, “Who are you, and what brings you here?”
He Chiqiong stood up, cupped his hands to the man, and presented a jade token, saying, “We are on our way to attend the Shiyan Academy enrollment exam. We come to borrow the teleportation array.”
Beside her, He Lingling tugged at Shi Yu’s sleeve and whispered, “My brother says Zhiyu City here in Ying Land is the gateway to Tianyuan Prefecture and a mandatory stop on the way to Zeshui, where Shiyan Academy is located. That's why Shiyan Academy specially set up a teleportation array here.”
Shi Yu nodded in understanding.
The territorial divisions of Tianyuan Prefecture differed from Changyuan Prefecture. Changyuan Prefecture was divided into seventy-nine sub-prefectures, each with a primary city and several minor cities.
Tianyuan Prefecture, on the other hand, was broadly divided into four territories: Ying Land, Zeshui, Jiyun Ruins, and Fire Ridge.
Shiyan Academy was located in Zeshui. Traveling there on foot would take quite a few days, but with a teleportation array, it would be much faster.
The guard took the jade token from He Chiqiong and inspected it carefully for a moment before returning it, waving them through. “Enter then. The teleportation array is at the end of the river.”
A teleportation array... Shi Yu gazed into the distance, slightly surprised.
Setting up a teleportation array required a spiritual material called Star Medium Stone, which was exceptionally rare and ridiculously expensive. The array setup was extremely difficult and maintenance was equally troublesome. Short-range teleportation was one thing—a Tier-4 array master could manage to construct one with effort—but the cost-effectiveness was terribly low; the short distance saved hardly warranted the massive expense.
Because of this, Shi Yu had previously only experienced a teleportation array once, right in front of the Xuexiao Spirit Node at the Lingtai Prefecture Array Association. Since the spirit node was of vital importance, the association blocking off the entrance and using a teleportation array instead was understandable.
The teleportation array at Xuexiao Spirit Node was only for short distances, and she could likely construct something similar herself. Long-distance teleportation, however... setting aside the exorbitant costs, just setting up the array itself required at least a Tier-5 or even Tier-6 array master to attempt. Array masters of that level were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns; they certainly wouldn't act lightly.
In all her travels, she had never seen even a shadow of a long-distance teleportation array—otherwise, why would she have bothered crafting so many Flying Star Dragon-Wandering Talismans?
Only a place like Tianyuan Prefecture—the hub of the East Continent and a realm of legendary treasures and talent—could command such grandeur as to set up a teleportation array leading directly to Shiyan Academy.
On her side, He Chiqiong thanked the guard, sat back down with his jade token, and the boatman pushed off with his oar. The small vessel smoothly passed through the gateway in the light barrier, drifting inland along a tributary of the Silver River that wound into the city.
Along the wide waterway, exquisitely decorated pleasure boats were moored at intervals or drifted leisurely past. There were plenty of small craft like theirs as well. Thanks to the wide channel and patrolling river guards calling out directions, traffic flowed in an orderly fashion, with congestion rarely occurring.
The youths aboard lost all interest in playing leaf cards, their eyes fixed hungrily on the singing, dancing, and elegant music echoing from the nearby pleasure boats.
“I heard that 'Tingyu Mian', the largest pleasure boat in Zhiyu City, has a Fairy Nongyun who plays the zither exquisitely! Her notes are ethereal and her artistic realm profound, capable of helping cultivators perceive intent and temper their Dao Hearts!”
“I really wish I could see it. What a pity Shiyan Academy's enrollment is right around the corner—we can't linger here for too long.”
“Hahaha, Fairy Nongyun doesn't perform easily! If you want to appreciate her music, you’d better be prepared to empty your storage bag!”
Su Luoyao curled her lip, speaking with evident disdain. “They're just boat musicians. Were it not for our hurried trip and the need to keep a low profile, what would be wrong with enjoying a performance?”
Someone chimed in, “That's true! With Brother He here, we could benefit from his status. Why worry about not seeing Fairy Nongyun's face?”
He Lingling clearly disliked Su Luoyao. Tugging at Shi Yu's arm, she muttered softly into her ear, “Who does she think she is, looking down on everything? Hmph.”
Shi Yu merely smiled without responding. Gazing at the riverbank, she thought that since she now knew where the teleportation array was, she might as well part ways with them here.
Before she could speak, He Chiqiong heard the boys' excited yet joking remarks and forced a wry smile. “Mind your words. Fairy Nongyun possesses a noble status; do not make light of her.”
Su Luoyao hated seeing the young men praise some unseen fairy to the skies. Hearing He Chiqiong's words, she gave a soft laugh, her eyes touched with disdain and arrogance. “Noble? She's nothing more than a musician serving others with her songs—”
Before she could even finish her sentence, a powerful gust of wind suddenly struck. Waves rocked the vessel violently, causing the small boat to capsize sideways.
“Ah!” Caught completely off guard at the front of the boat, Su Luoyao tumbled straight into the water with a splash.
The others were thrown into disarray as well, though their movement techniques were quick enough. Stamping against the water's surface, they kicked the boat upright, scrambled back aboard, and hurriedly reached out to pull Su Luoyao up.
Shi Yu, however, acted with lightning speed. The moment the gust hit, she grabbed He Lingling and leapt into the air, stepping gracefully across empty space before landing back onto the boat.
“Sister Ah Yu...”
Patting the lingering terror off He Lingling, Shi Yu looked up. Not far behind their small vessel, a magnificent pleasure boat was slowly approaching. At the bow sat a woman in white robes, softly strumming an ancient zither.
A white veil covered her face, embedded with restrictions that obscured her full features, yet one could still tell from her eyes and brows that she was a rare beauty.
Her indifferent gaze swept across the youths on the small boat without a ripple of emotion, as if they were merely floating duckweed in the river, unworthy of a second glance.
Standing behind the woman were two men dressed in black, flanking her left and right like twin icebergs, exuding a frigid killing intent that warned everyone against drawing near.
Both had their swords unsheathed, glaring furiously at Su Luoyao—that violent gust of wind had been unleashed by them. “Impertinent! How dare you disrespect the Young Lady!”
Only now did the crowd realize that this woman was Fairy Nongyun. Su Luoyao's disparaging remarks about her being a mere musician serving others had undoubtedly fallen right on her ears.
The pressure emanating from the two black-robed men was immense—their cultivation was likely at least at the late stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm. Even more astonishingly, Fairy Nongyun's aura seemed to eclipse theirs, holding the subtle promise of reaching the Golden Core Realm. With such cultivation, how could she possibly be an ordinary musician?
Oppressed by this terrifying pressure, the youths reaching out for Su Luoyao trembled violently, unable to extend their arms any further.
Su Luoyao turned pale as ash. Floating up and down in the river, her eyes darted nervously as she cast a desperate look toward He Chiqiong for help.
Although He Chiqiong didn't know Fairy Nongyun's exact identity, he could guess enough to realize she was far beyond what any of them could afford to offend. His brows furrowed tightly in anxiety.
Yet Su Luoyao was, after all, a childhood friend. He Chiqiong could only brace himself and step forward, cupping his hands. “My friend misspoke. I hope Fairy Nongyun will not take offense—”
However, the two black-robed men merely sneered. Without a moment's hesitation, one of them swung a hand, launching a fierce arc of sword Qi straight toward the small boat with zero intention of holding back to avoid collateral damage.
The youths on the boat were all merely at the Qi Refining Realm. How could they withstand a strike of sword Qi from a late Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator?
He Chiqiong's expression drastically shifted as he frantically summoned a protective artifact. The artifact was of no ordinary caliber and barely managed to block the gleaming sword light.
Yet no one knew how long it could hold out.
Suffering such undeserved trouble for no reason, Shi Yu frowned. The Hidden Hatred Flute slid into her palm. Su Luoyao's life or death was none of her business, but she had to protect herself.
Just then, Fairy Nongyun's gaze drifted over and happened to land on the Hidden Hatred Flute in Shi Yu's palm, uttering a light, intrigued exclamation.
Rate on N.U.
