Lin Chen had a sour look on his face but still nodded in agreement to Yan Shou's words.
Now, the two of them were sitting together on a strange flying boat, drifting steadily through the clouds. The world below looked small.
Lin Chen didn't ask where Yan Shou had gotten this kind of flying treasure. He could tell just by looking that it wasn't ordinary.
But everyone had their own secrets—he had his, and others had theirs. He wasn't foolish enough to pry into another man's matters without a reason.
Still, he couldn't help but admit—the flying speed was impressive. Much faster than he had imagined.
He once tried to ride his sword in the same way, but after a few breaths, his Essence Qi ran dry, and he fell straight down. Remembering that, he let out a quiet sigh and rubbed his forehead.
"I'm very happy that Brother Lin became my friend," Yan Shou said with a bright smile.
"You left me no choice. Since you're lending me a hand, I'll call you a friend—for now."
If this guy's intentions are pure, then perhaps… he would be his first genuine friend in this world.
Yet deep down, a part of him stayed alert. If this guy's motives ever turned out to be malicious, then this fellow would be buried six feet under. After all, Yan Shou's cultivation was only at the first stage of Essence Forging, weaker than his own.
Yan Shou, however, seemed blissfully unconcerned with such thoughts.
"So, Yan Shou," Lin Chen asked, his tone half teasing, half serious, "do you always make friends by pestering them until they give up?"
Yan Shou chuckled, "No, Brother Lin. You're the first."
Lin Chen blinked, then gave a helpless sigh. "So I'm the only one who had to suffer this bad experience, huh?"
"Yes, Brother Lin."
"I wonder what you even saw in me to pester me this much," Lin Chen said half-jokingly as he leaned against the side of the boat, gazing down at the rolling clouds below.
He had to admit, the view was beautiful. When his cultivation improves, he will definitely learn to fly properly.
Yan Shou only smiled at Lin Chen's words, but didn't reply. His eyes lingered on the other man for a moment, thoughtful and silent.
How could he explain it? Lin Chen might appear calm and simple, but in truth, he was far from ordinary.
He still remembered the sect's tournament—how Lin Chen, a newcomer barely at the first stage of Essence Forging, had displayed the combat strength of the sixth stage.
The crowd fell silent that day. Even the elders had fought among themselves, each wanting to claim him as a disciple.
That kind of talent wasn't something that could be called genius.
No… that was monstrous.
After that contest, Yan Shou quietly investigated him. He dug through every record the sect had—his entry test, his missions. What he discovered only deepened his shock.
Three months ago, Lin Chen was nothing more than a Root Vein Awakening Realm novice. No spirit energy, no special talent, no signs of greatness. And yet now—Essence Forging Realm.
Three months. It was unthinkable. Even the sect's most gifted prodigies took a year to achieve that.
There was only one possible explanation.
Lin Chen had awakened something unique—perhaps a hidden constitution, a dormant bloodline, or a power that defied the heavens themselves.
Yan Shou's gaze softened slightly. He wasn't helping Lin Chen out of kindness. In the cultivation world, kindness without a purpose didn't exist.
No—he had his own goal. Something he needed Lin Chen's help with.
Something that could only be achieved by someone who could break through limits others couldn't even imagine.
And so, he smiled faintly and looked ahead.
"Brother Lin," he said quietly, "you'll understand it one day."
"You said something?" Lin Chen turned his head slightly.
"Nothing, Brother Lin," Yan Shou replied quickly.
Lin Chen gave him a sidelong glance but didn't press further. "Then tell me—where exactly are we going?"
"The biggest city in the Hangzhou region—Purple Cloud City," Yan Shou answered, his voice carrying a hint of pride, as if he were announcing the name of a grand empire.
"Hmm? Purple Cloud City? Where's that?" Lin Chen blinked, clearly lost. Truth be told, this was the first time he had even heard of the Hangzhou region.
Yan Shou's jaw went slack. "You really don't know? Have you been living under a mountain your whole life?"
"No," Lin Chen said, his expression deadpan. "I live on the mountain. Keep talking before I bury you under it."
"…Right." Yan Shou coughed, wisely choosing to continue with his explanation.
"Purple Cloud City is one of the largest and most prosperous cities in the eastern region. It lies right between our sect's territory and the Skyward Blade Sect's domain. You could say it's a meeting point for all major forces in this part of the continent."
"Eastern region?" Lin Chen asked again.
Yan Shou gave him a long look, half exasperated, half amused. "It seems you don't even know the basic map of the world you live in. The Taixuan Continent—the land we stand upon—is divided into four great regions: East, South, West, and North."
He paused for a moment, as if enjoying the chance to lecture.
"The Eastern Region is blessed with abundant forests, fertile soil, and thick Essence Qi. It's a paradise for cultivation, which is why so many righteous sects are based there."
He shifted his gaze to the horizon. "The Northern Region, on the other hand, is a frozen wasteland. Endless snow, howling winds, and beasts of ice. Only the strongest can survive there."
Lin Chen listened quietly as Yan Shou continued.
"The Southern Region…" Yan Shou's tone dropped slightly, becoming more somber. "That place is different. It's called the Land of Death. Thousands of years ago, it was said to be the most prosperous region, filled with countless powerful sects and cultivators."
"But two thousand years ago, something happened—something no one understands. The entire region had turned into a wasteland. "
"The air reeks of death, and countless strange beings roam its lands. Even the strongest Void Shatter Realm cultivators dare not step foot there."
He took a breath, then added, "And finally, the Western Region—home of the Demonic and Evil sects. It's a place where laws mean nothing and only strength decides who survives. Chaos is their only order."
Yan Shou folded his arms and grinned faintly. "Among all, the Eastern Region is the largest and most prosperous."
"Naturally, it's also the most tempting target for demonic sects. But they've never succeeded in invading—too many sects guard the borders, and too many hidden powers watch from the shadows."
Lin Chen nodded slowly, digesting the information. His mind lingered on the Southern Region. A land once full of life turned to death… what could destroy an entire region like that?
"Two thousand years ago…" he murmured under his breath. "Did a great war happen?"
His curiosity stirred for a moment, but he quickly brushed it aside. Forget it. It has nothing to do with him right now.
"So the things I need are in that Purple Cloud City?"
"Yes," Yan Shou said, a sly smile forming on his lips. "But it won't be easy."
Lin Chen's expression darkened slightly. "You know," he said with a gloomy grin, cracking his knuckles, "how about a friendly spar between two friends? That way, you'll learn to talk straight instead of in circles."
*****
Technique Grades:
Mortal → Profound → Spirit → Illustrious → Saint → Immortal
Each Grade ⟶ Low | Mid | High
Even within the same realm, technique grade determines dominance. A High Profound art can suppress a Low Spirit one; a Saint technique bends entire battlefields.
Realm Breakdown:
Root Vein Awakening → Essence Forging → Pulse Convergence → Soul Embers → Spirit River → Heavenmark → Voidshatter → Celestial Ascension
Each Realm ⟶ 1st Sub-Realm → 2nd → 3rd → 4th → 5th → 6th → 7th → 8th → 9th
Even within the same realm, sub-realm determines dominance. A 9th-stage cultivator can suppress a 1st-stage cultivator of the same realm completely; only overwhelming talent or special techniques can bridge that gap.