Purple Mist Dao Master-Chapter 182 - 163: Incredible Mountains and Seas!

"’Hunxi Royal City’ is inferior to ’Danhu Royal City’, whether in terms of population, territory, or city size, it’s much less."

"Under its jurisdiction, there are only twelve cities with populations of hundreds of thousands, among which ’Nanxiong City’ is the southernmost city of ’Hunxi Royal City’. To the south is the vast Yize Swamp, and the nearby ’Fengbo Ridge’ and ’Nanyue Lake’ are both extremely dangerous places, often with alien beasts appearing."

Wang Zhengyi pointed to Nanxiong City, which was already visible in the distance, and gave a brief introduction.

Beside him.

Yan Chuan and Huo Zhen looked up into the distance, seeing Nanxiong City resembling a beast crouching, majestic and grand. Upon getting closer and roughly estimating, the city walls were at least five zhang high.

"Tsk!"

"Taikang County City is only over three zhang."

"Even Guangling City’s walls, after repeated construction and reinforcement over the ages, are just over five zhang."

"But here, any small city actually surpasses Guangling?"

Huo Zhen exclaimed in amazement.

In terms of bustling and prosperity, this Nanxiong City might not compare to Taikang City or Guangling City, but just by looking at these city walls, they far exceed, towering high, imposing a strong sense of oppressiveness.

Wang Zhengyi, having seen it before, smiled and said, "The situation is different here. In our place, for many years, martial arts practitioners capable of traversing rooftops and scaling walls are too few, and even fewer can leap over three zhang high walls, so there’s no need to build them too high. But over here, many can easily traverse rooftops and scale walls of three to five zhang. A small city with five zhang high walls, a royal city is even more intimidating, I haven’t been to Hunxi Royal City, but I’ve seen Danhu Royal City, it’s a full twelve zhang!"

Twelve zhang!

Forty meters!

Equivalent to a thirteen or fourteen-story building in a previous life!

At such a height, even for an innate expert like Tian Jing, it would be difficult to cross.

The walls are high, the defense is strong.

A royal city holding its ground is difficult to siege!

The major royal cities are usually only breached from the inside, rarely do they fall to frontal assaults.

However—

"The major royal cities, including cities like Nanxiong City, build their walls high not to defend against wars between each other, but against alien beasts."

Wang Zhengyi pointed to the east of Nanxiong City, "To the east of Nanxiong City is ’Fengbo Ridge’, where the wind blows year-round. Hundreds or even thousands of eagles, hawks, falcons, vultures, owls, and falcons reside there. They fight within the ridge and occasionally fly out to hunt. Humans and livestock are all their prey. Without high walls, the city would merely be decoration, unable to defend at all."

Not only the east.

Not only Fengbo Ridge.

Wang Zhengyi pointed to the west of Nanxiong City: "To the west is ’Nanyue Lake’, vast in area and surrounded by mountains. ’Nanyue Lake’ itself is perilous, and the fish and beasts within the lake are ferocious, but this doesn’t concern Nanxiong City as long as one doesn’t enter the water. However, the mountains surrounding Nanyue Lake are different. Coupled with the lake, the mountains are teeming with alien beasts and ferocious creatures. Among them is a kind of alien beast called ’Black Rat’. It feeds on fish bones, beast bones, and various rotting carcasses. Individually, they are not powerful, but they live in groups and reproduce rapidly. Every few years, when the Black Rats become overpopulated and food is scarce, some older Black Rats are expelled by the colony, leading to battles and migrations, a phenomenon known as ’Black Tide’. The ’Black Tide’ stirs up the ferocious beasts and alien beasts in the mountains, causing them to rush out and attack the city, a phenomenon called ’Beast Tide’. The strength of the ’Beast Tide’ varies, and the direction of the ’Black Tide’ migration can be either east or west. Sometimes, the ’Black Tide’ and ’Beast Tide’ happen to head in the same direction, both towards Nanxiong City. This is a tremendous disaster, and Nanxiong City alone cannot withstand it. Only with reinforcements from other cities or even Hunxi Royal City can they survive."

Wang Zhengyi looked up at Nanxiong City, pointing to the countless marks and blood stains on the walls, "The city walls of Nanxiong City are primarily to guard against the beasts of ’Fengbo Ridge’, but more importantly, to defend against the ’Black Tide’ and ’Beast Tide’."

Birds of prey!

Black Tide!

Beast Tide!

The situation in Nanxiong City is indeed challenging.

But this is the main theme of the Six Great Royal Cities and even the entire Mountain and Sea Realm. Among the mountains and waters, there are too many birds of prey and ferocious beasts. If not this kind of danger, then that kind of danger.

If anything, there are few pure lands.

The three approached the city gate, the south gate, where Yan Chuan saw martial artists dressed in leather armor, carrying weapons, returning dusty and weary, most of them looking rugged as if they had spent ten to fifteen days in the mountains.

Some were carrying the carcasses of fierce beasts, others were carrying baskets or sacks, or pushing wheelbarrows, all filled with dead alien beasts.

However, many had blood-stained bodies and returned empty-handed.

Martial artists went in and out.

Travelers were accustomed to it.

Guarding the gate were soldiers and officials who, after inspection, might cut meat or collect money before allowing entry.

"Those are tax officials, collecting taxes."

Wang Zhengyi, smiling, explained, "Although the location of Nanxiong City is perilous, the countless alien beasts in ’Fengbo Ridge’ and ’Nanyue Lake’ are an enormous resource. On one hand, the authorities regularly send troops to hunt alien beasts, splitting into groups. On the other hand, they encourage freelance martial artists to hunt. Naturally, even without official encouragement, those who aspire to change their fate through martial arts will go on their own. After all, alien beasts, though dangerous, are resources. Sinew, bone, skin, and membrane are all valuable. Even the infamous ’Black Rat’, hated by all, has its essence in the two pieces of meat on its back and belly. ’Black Rat Meat’ is the most common alien beast meat, not only in Nanxiong City but also in Hunxi Royal City and even in Danhu Royal City; Black Rat Meat is popular among the lower levels. At Guangling Academy, once you enter, the food more or less contains ’Black Rat Powder’, which can enhance Qi-Blood, although most academy disciples are unaware."

Where fortune lies, misfortune follows. Where misfortune lies, fortune follows.

Danger and opportunity often accompany each other.

Due to its location between ’Fengbo Ridge’ and ’Nanyue Lake’, Nanxiong City has become the political, economic, cultural, and trade center for all towns and tribes within two hundred li, attracting a large number of martial artists to exchange and even settle.

Yan Chuan and his two companions also had this intention!

...

Horse hooves thudded outside Nanxiong City.

Yan Chuan turned his head to see, from the southwest direction, a squad of cavalry in black armor raising a cloud of dust, galloping quickly. Amidst the dust, indistinctly about ten riders, uniform and synchronized, their movements shaking the ground, instilling fear.

"This is—"

Huo Zhen was startled.

Wang Zhengyi’s eyes lit up with admiration, "Clad in heavy black armor, riding a Black Dragon warhorse, these are the ’Black Dragon Heavy Cavalry’!"

Black Dragon Heavy Cavalry!

The absolute elite of Hunxi Royal City!

"Knights armored, mounted on Black Dragon Colts, the armor itself weighs at least three to five hundred jin?"

Yan Chuan felt the power of the ’Black Dragon Heavy Cavalry’, merely ten riders, yet creating the rumble of thousands and the aura of a mighty army; the armor on both horse and rider was black, oppressive, sturdy, but heavy!

"It’s said that the minimum requirement for ’Black Dragon Heavy Cavalry’ is limit-breaking level martial artists, each wearing a hundred and twenty jin of ’Black Scale Armor’, and their Black Dragon Colts are also armored in ’Black Scale Armor’, but larger and heavier, about four hundred jin. The entire armor weighs five hundred and twenty jin, impenetrable to swords and spears, resistant to water and fire, each a miraculous weapon!"

Wang Zhengyi, coming from Guangling Academy and having spent several years in Danhu Royal City, knew quite a bit about Hunxi Royal City’s ’Black Dragon Heavy Cavalry’.

Limit-breaking to form an army!

Miracle armor!

Black Dragon Divine Steed!

The power of the ’Black Dragon Heavy Cavalry’ is ludicrously strong!

"Truly ludicrous!"

Yan Chuan was puzzled: "How can warriors fight while wearing armor weighing a hundred and twenty jin? Can Black Dragon Colts move with four hundred jin of armor? From what I see, there are many mountains, rivers, and swamps to the south. Can such cavalry traverse a few mountains?"

They probably can’t manage two before exhausting their strength and becoming trapped!

Seemingly powerful!

But in reality, probably useless.

But it’s not—

"Brother Yan is mistaken."

Wang Zhengyi pulled Yan Chuan and Huo Zhen aside, making way for the Black Dragon Heavy Cavalry, then waved away the dust cloud and explained, "Once selected into the ’Black Dragon Heavy Cavalry’, one can learn one of Hunxi Royal City’s Four Heavenly Secret Books, ’Mang Niu’s Great Strength Technique’, which grants amazing Qi Power. Wearing a hundred and twenty jin Black Scale Armor is not a burden. As for the Black Dragon Colt, it is a divine steed capable of carrying a thousand jin for a thousand li - power, endurance, and the agility needed for mountain and wild terrains, it has none lacking. The Black Dragon Divine Steed, combined with limit-breaking martial artists practicing ’Mang Niu’s Great Strength Technique’, form the ’Black Dragon Heavy Cavalry’ - fast, powerful, defendable, virtually invincible!"

Black Dragon, Black Dragon, invincible wherever it goes!

Heavy cavalry, heavy cavalry, unstoppable worldwide!

This is the "Black Dragon Heavy Cavalry"!

...

"Nanxiong City!"

"Fengbo Ridge!"

"Nanyue Lake!"

"Black Dragon Heavy Cavalry!"

Listening to Wang Zhengyi’s narration, Yan Chuan’s heart was stirred.

The Mountain and Sea Realm is much grander than the Great Yan and a thousand times more exciting. For martial arts practitioners, this is paradise—

Slay alien beasts!

Practice divine skills!

Forge miraculous weapons!

Ride magnificent steeds!

How exhilarating!

In Yan Chuan’s prior venture into the Mountain and Sea Realm, he only wandered around the desolate outdoors, encountering shabby tribes, and was disrupted by the White Rock Shuang Tu, hence hadn’t truly appreciated the charm of this realm.

Until this time.

Under the guidance of Wang Zhengyi, he finally experienced it.

He loved it!

Nanxiong City was already so magnificent, martial artists in abundance, even sighted the ’Black Dragon Heavy Cavalry’. One cannot imagine how shocking it would be to reach ’Hunxi Royal City’!

"King City Residence, not easy to obtain!"

Wang Zhengyi shook his head: "We don’t have the qualifications to settle in the royal city yet. Renting long-term requires obtaining a ’Temporary Residence Certificate’, which is too troublesome. Staying at an inn incurs high costs, unnecessary. It’s already January, and next month, the ’Cang Mountain Sword Discussion’ is set to commence, and we have to return. In this more than a month, we’ll first get familiar with Nanxiong City."

"Let’s go with Brother Wang."

Yan Chuan had no objections.

Neither did Huo Zhen, who was content as long as he could follow Yan Chuan.

So—

"Staying in Nanxiong City, what should we do? How to get familiar?"

Where to start?

"I’ll go beast hunting."

"What about you two?"

Wang Zhengyi looked at Yan Chuan and Huo Zhen.

Huo Zhen glanced at Yan Chuan.

Yan Chuan looked at the many martial artists coming in and out of the city gate, his mind turning, an idea forming.

...