Chapter 38: Duoluo Province

Early in the morning the next day, at the Six Ocean Sect.

Several people were roaming about the sect ground, entering certain buildings or just emerging from their dorm. As they went about their way, some of them could not help but notice an auspicious youth in white robe embroidered with red linings walking leisurely across the ground.

Many whispers arose from the ground when they recognized the figure.

“Wahh...that’s brother Huang Xue!”

“I heard he’s been hanging around with Yang Chen and his gang, that’s why he doesn't’ appeared in sect’s main hall anymore. I wonder just what is the relationship between those two?”

“Core disciple...7th stage of Jie Hai...strong battle potential...and now he’s even close friends with Yang Chen from the Yang Chen. This kind of person, I doubt there’s many who would dare provoke him! Ahhh, if only that was me…”

Even though Huang Xue’s immediate promotion to a core disciple as a freshmen sparked a huge conversation, in the end, none of the other core disciples dared to voice anything. With Huang Xue’s family background and great strength displayed previously at the Freshmen Competition, no one was able to complain and could only bury their discontentment inside their heart.

This, was the advantage having a powerful backer!

Huang Xue looked around and gave the surrounding disciples a small smile before he proceeded down the steps of the Six Ocean Sect.

At the bottom, Huang Xue met up with Yang Chen, who was standing near a large carriage pulled by two tough-looking horses. Two smaller carriages were stationed behind, while a group of eight people, filled with males and females, stood behind Yang Chen. They were clearly Yang Chen’s followers.

Seeing Huang Xue, Yang Chen smiled as he said: “Haha, brother Shen, you’re here!”

Huang Xue walked up to Yang Chen with a faint smile as his eyes gazed at the people behind the latter. “They are…?”

Noticing Huang Xue’s look, Yang Chen carefreely replied: “Ah, they are all from my Yang clan. Since the Grand Valley Tomb is opening soon, our clan has sent them to assist me during the treasure hunt. My second and eldest brother should attending as well.”

The group of cultivators behind Yang Chen quickly gave Huang Xue had a respectful salute and greeting. Since the other party was on close terms with their young master, they naturally had to get along with him. But that was merely secondary. With Huang Xue’s extraordinary power and status, even if it was not for Yang Chen, these eight people would want to strike a positive impression with the white robed youth anyway!

Huang Xue nodded without saying a word.

“Alright, let’s not talk here. We can be on our way and enjoy a nice chat inside the carriage. Let us go!” Yang Chen grinned as he opened the carriage door and hopped in.

Huang Xue wordlessly followed inside.

After getting ready, the three carriages began to push forward down a paved dirt road. Their destination: Gongho city!

***

Duoluo Province, one of the eight major provinces of the Long Dynasty!

Spanning a few thousand miles filled with large mountains and thick forest, there were a total of six cities within this province.

The most well known of them all was the Gongho city!

This was mainly because this city...was where a branch faction of the Thousand Flowers llan resided in! Even if it was merely a small portion of the Thousand Flowers clan, it nonetheless a part of a major power. Although the Thousand Flowers clan did not excel in its overall strength, the number of connections made through their merchant and auction businesses could be said to be immense.

Moreover, this naturally meant the Thousand Flowers clan had a greater number of resources compared to most major clans; with such wealthy, their members also began to strengthen themselves. This was how they steadily grew from a mid-sized clan and ultimately ended up as one of the major clans across the entire Long Dynasty!

As such, none of the other cities dared to disturb this Gongho city, allowing it to likewise rapidly flourish and become one of the most popular human location within the Duolo Province!

It was now half past noon.Gongho city was filled with numerous cultivators and commoners walking about. The streets were lined with various stores and stands. Loud voices buzzed through the air and children ran around the street in excitement. Laughter and eager chattering pervaded through every corner of the city. This place was quite lively.

Outside the city gate, three carriages pulled up before several people stepped out. Among them was a luxurious blue robed youth who had an arrogant air about him. Beside him, stood a white robed youth who had an indifferent look as he scanned his surrounding.

After a brief verification of the people’s identities at the city gate, the guards stationed there respectfully gave way.

Entering the city, Huang Xue was greeted by a blast of liveliness around him. It was quite different from his usual peacefulness on top of his mountain peak. But the sensation of being around other people...was not bad.

Yang Chen chattered endlessly with Huang Xue as they explored the city for a while. The Grand Valley Tomb was only opening tomorrow, so they had the entire day to do as they pleased.

Although the city had many extravagant stores that sold high quality items and pills, they were not enough to pique Huang Xue’s interests. Even after visiting several stores and looking around, there was an indifferent expression on Huang Xue’s face. In fact, it was all due to Yang Chen that Huang Xue even bothered entering those shops.

And the one who actually bought the most, if anything, was Yang Chen as well. Huang Xue had politely declined each time when Yang Chen urged him to purchase something for himself. Even if Huang Xue did have a lot of money, he did not want to simply waste it for no reason. Especially on items that served no use for him or Yang Chen.

The entire time, Yang Chen’s gang had followed behind the two youths. This had led to many eyes looking at their direction every time they walked down the street. And given Huang Xue’s handsome appearance and Yang Chen’s proud aura brimming with arrogance, many bystanders could guess that the youths must have extraordinary backgrounds. Moreover, the eight people walking behind the two young mans had auras at the 9th stage of Temporal Di.

One must know that this level of power, although seemingly insignificant, was rather impressive in the Duoluo Province. With such strength, one could comfortably get a job as a head guard of a city or even be an elder of a clan or small sect!

In the entire Duolo Province, the strongest existences were at the Jie Hai 8th stage. And in each city, the majority population of cultivators were still in the Temporal Di realm or early Jie Hai realm! Only those mid sized sects and clans or greater, would even be close to possessing a decent Jie Hai practitioner.

From this, relatively to other provinces, the Duolo Province was indeed a bit weaker in comparison.

In Gongho city, a 9th staged Temporal DI cultivator was already considered an elite; especially seeing that the eight youths behind Yang Chen and Huang Xue had not passed the age of twenty five!

As such, no one wanted to purposely block their way; making way for them even down the busy aisles.

After touring a bit longer, Yang Chen finally suggested them to take a rest at nearby restaurant. Everyone agreed.

Quickly, they came to a large building decorated with a wide door and two red pillars supporting it. Noises of chopsticks and porcelain cups clinking together rang from within the restaurant.

Entering the building, Huang Xue’s group was greeted by a middle aged male waiter dressed in a rather expensive robe. He eagerly took the ten people upstairs to a big table situated next to a open window. Looking down, one could clearly see everything that was going on below.

Huang Xue looked around at the extravagant structures and the decent number of people wearing expensive clothes; he could tell that this indeed a high quality restaurant. But judging by Yang Chen’s nature, coming here was not a surprise.

“Hehe, how do you like it here, brother Shen? This is the best restaurant in the entire Gongho city. Their food are quite good and the servants here all know their place. It’s a fitting place for young masters like us, no?” Yang Chen laughed as he took a seat, with Huang Xue seated across from him. Yang Chen’s followers quickly took their seat on the left and right side of the round table between the two youths.

Huang Xue smiled as he replied: “This place looks pretty good. I’m sure the food here would be pleasing to my appetite as well. You truly have sharp eyes, brother Yang!”

Hearing Huang Xue’s flattering, Yang Chen laughed satisfactorily to himself. Being acknowledge by those whom he was agreeable with truly felt great!

Before long, steaming plates of food were served on the big round table. While the ten people ate, they chatted at ease with one another.

“Brother Shen, pardon me, but you are so powerful already. I wonder, why have you not challenge any of those people on the Sea Disciple Ranking tablet? I’m sure if you or young master Yang Chen make your move, you guys would get a pretty good placing!” A young girl in green dress, who was sitting on the right of the table, suddenly spoke as she glanced coyly at Huang Xue.

She looked quite beautiful, with overflowing black hair, and with her brilliant smile when she looked Huang Xue, she could be classified as a beauty. This seventeen years old girl was named Yang Mingmei, a direct younger cousin of Yang Chen. But even at this tender age, her physique was well developed, especially the upper area where two round peaks stood proudly.

Yang Chen placed down the cup of wine he was drinking and said: “Right, why haven’t you challenge anyone yet, brother Shen? Could it be that you are like me, waiting until your strength has improved a greater stage before challenging those of a higher rank in one go?”

Huang Xue smiled as he replied: “Haha, it is as brother Shen said. I am indeed waiting for a little while longer before I challenge someone on the Sect’s ranking tablet. So for now, I simply plan on training a bit more.”

“With elder brother Huang Xue’s Heaven root talent, if you continue train, I am sure the day when you take one of the top ten disciple rankings won’t be far off!” Another girl chirped, this time from the left side of the table.

Wearing a light cyan dress that outlined her fit physique, the girl had similar beautiful features and a pair of astute eyes. Her hair was tied up in a neat bun, and when she glanced over at Huang Xue, a flash of fanaticism subtly surface on her smooth face. This girl was a distant cousin of Yang Chen, named Yang Ruolan; similarly seventeen years old like Yang Mingmei.

The two females who had spoken up were the only opposite genders within the group of eight other men. However, like the other followers behind Yang Chen, their cultivation was not weak at all, being at the 9th stage of Temporal Di. This ‘impressiveness’, of course, was only in context of this shabby environment.

Huang Xue gave Yang Ruolan a gentle smile, causing the latter face to brighten. Off to the right, Yang Mingmei had a slightly ugly expression when she saw Yang Ruolan’s action. As if noticing Yang Mingmei’s glare, Yang Ruolan slightly turned to look at the former before a smirk spread across her lips, further inciting anger in the other party.

After the two female cultivators started the conversation with Huang Xue and seeing that the latter did not seem to mind, the other male cultivators sitting around the table began to talk to Huang Xue as well. The topics ranged mostly from flattery to cultivation advices, but through it all, Huang Xue answered each of their questions and spoke with them with a mild tone.

As such, the eight group of people began to have even greater respect for Huang Xue; especially the two young females. Their eyes could be shining brightly when they listened to Huang Xue speak about cultivation, feeling as though certain aspects of this uncertain martial journey had cleared up for them. They had benefited quite some from Huang Xue’s short talks. Even Yang Chen joined in halfway through the conversation and patiently listened to the other person’s “thoughts”.

While the group of people chattered around the table, outside the restaurant a young man looking to be in his mid twenties ran down the street. Wearing a plain gray robe with a big “Flower” character (花) stitched on the left chest area, the messenger cried out through the street in a passionate voice:

“Hurry, hurry! The Thousand Flower Clan is holding its annual grand auction today! Top quality pills, herbs and even high grade beast cores will now be available for bidding! Hurry over now before the auction starts! Hurry, hurry!”

Hearing the messenger, who was clearly working for the Thousand Flowers clan, a small uproar of excitement erupted from the surrounding crowds of cultivators. It wasn’t before long that everyone, who had quite a sum of Qi stones, began rushing towards the center of the city. That was where the Thousand Flowers clan typically held their auctions, especially when it came to their annual grand auction!