301: Chapter 300 Central Plains

At the banquet, Valley Master raised his wine cup and stood up. His gaze swept over all the Disciples present, and his voice was sonorous: "Today, Yanhuo Valley was able to repel the Liehuo Alliance and suppress the rebellion of the Great Elder, all thanks to the concerted efforts and bloody battles of all the Disciples. I, this old man, propose a toast to everyone!"

The Disciples rose one after another, raised their wine cups, and shouted in unison: "Long live the Valley Master! Long live Yanhuo Valley!" Then they drained their cups in one gulp.

Valley Master put down his wine cup and turned his gaze toward Jiang Hanzhou, his eyes full of gratitude. He stepped down from the main seat, walked up to Jiang Hanzhou, took out a red-gold token from his robe, and held it with both hands, offering it to Jiang Hanzhou.

"Young friend Jiang, I have said it before. You saved Young Valley Master, you saved me, and you saved the entire Yanhuo Valley. Great kindness cannot be expressed in words; from today on, you are a Guest Elder of Yanhuo Valley. Please accept this Guest Elder Token. With this token, you can freely enter and exit any place in Yanhuo Valley, use all the resources within the valley, and mobilize all the Disciples."

Jiang Hanzhou stood up, took the token, and cupped his fists in a salute: "Thank you, Valley Master."

The token was palm-sized and made entirely of red-gold. A fire dragon soaring through the clouds was carved on its surface, its scales looking lifelike. On the back of the token, the ancient character for 'Guest' was engraved. The strokes were as sharp as a blade, each one containing an indescribable fire-attribute True Intent. He put the token into his sumeru pouch, placing it together with the array cores from the Northern Border and the Western Desert.

Valley Master returned to the main seat and took out an ancient wooden box from beside his seat. The wooden box was about a foot long, half a foot wide, and three inches thick. It was dark red all over, with its surface densely engraved with ancient runes in the shape of flames. Layer upon layer, they shimmered slightly under the light of the lamps. The corners of the wooden box were inlaid with red-gold metal pieces, which were also carved with fine patterns that seemed to have light flowing within them.

Holding the wooden box with both hands, he walked to Jiang Hanzhou and solemnly handed it to him.

"Young friend Jiang, this is a treasure guarded by Yanhuo Valley for generations; perhaps it will be useful to you." His voice was low and solemn. "I don't know why you are looking for the array cores, but I know you are an upright person who will not use them for anything harmful. This jade talisman is now entrusted to you."

Jiang Hanzhou took the wooden box. The moment his fingers touched the lid, a warm sensation came from his fingertips—the aura of the earth fire spiritual vein, exactly the same as what he had felt in the Earth Fire Cave. He gently lifted the lid to reveal the contents.

A crimson jade talisman lay quietly in the wooden box. The jade talisman was hexagonal, about two inches long and half an inch thick, with its surface densely engraved with runes. Those runes shared the same origin as the two array cores from the Northern Border and the Western Desert, but were more complex and profound. The arrangement of the runes was not the ice-blue of the Northern Border nor the earthy-yellow of the Western Desert, but the crimson unique to the Southern Border. Every stroke seemed to be cast from magma, fierce and violent.

In the center of the jade talisman, a red-gold light could be seen slowly flowing. This was the power of the earth fire spiritual vein, the final insurance left in the Southern Border by the Innate One Qi Sect.

The core of the third teleportation array.

Jiang Hanzhou took the jade talisman out of the wooden box and held it in his palm. It was burning hot to the touch, unlike the bone-chilling cold of the Northern Border core or the warmth of the Western Desert core; instead, it felt scorching, as if he were holding a ball of fire. He extended his Divine Sense into the jade talisman, and the power fluctuations from the same source as the Northern Border and Western Desert array cores immediately responded. A strong resonance was created between the three array cores. The two array cores in the heavenly secret mirror's storage space lit up simultaneously, and the three lights—ice-blue, shimmering white, and crimson—intertwined, illuminating the entire storage space.

Valley Master watched his actions, a flash of realization appearing in his eyes: "This jade talisman was left by the ancient Innate One Qi Sect. It is said that it can open a cross-realm teleportation array. Our Yanhuo Valley has guarded it for generations, for over a thousand years. Our ancestors left an instruction: if one day someone comes with the array cores of the Northern Border or the Western Desert, we should give this item to them. Now that it is given to you, it can be considered as returning to its original owner."

Jiang Hanzhou put the crimson jade talisman into the heavenly secret mirror's storage space, placing it alongside the array cores from the Northern Border and the Western Desert. The three array cores lay side by side in the depths of the space—one ice-blue, one shimmering white, and one crimson—their lights intertwining to illuminate the entire storage space. He bowed deeply to Valley Master: "Thank you, Valley Master."

Valley Master helped him up and shook his head: "There is no need for such formality. This is all I can do. The rest of the journey will depend on you."

The victory banquet lasted until late at night. The Disciples drank wine, ate meat, and played drinking games, their laughter and singing echoing through the valley. Someone sang a battle song passed down through generations in Yanhuo Valley. The singing was rugged and tragic, telling of the hardships the ancestors faced when founding the valley and the passion of generations of Disciples guarding the Sect for a thousand years. Some listened with tears in their eyes, some held wine jars and wailed, and some put their arms around their comrades' shoulders, speaking drunken words and smiling through tears.

Jiang Hanzhou did not drink. He sat in the guest seat, watching the Disciples crying, laughing, and fooling around, a mix of emotions in his heart. He thought of the fishermen at Canglang Water Dock, of Old Third Zhao in Donghai Prefecture, of the tribespeople of the White Deer Tribe, of Teng Qinghan of the Mystic Ice Sword Sect, and of Princess Yueli of the Ancient Kingdom of Yellow Sands. Every place he had traveled and every person he had saved had become a scene on his path of martial arts. He would not stop, but he would keep those scenes in his heart.

After the banquet dispersed, Jiang Hanzhou did not return to the guest courtyard. He walked to the entrance of the Earth Fire Cave and sat cross-legged beside the giant rock covered in runes, closing his eyes to begin regulating his breath. The resonance of the three array cores made the Burning Heaven True Intent within him even more active. The seven-colored fire dragon surged in his Dantian, its body stretching and its tail swaying, every breath driving the Spiritual Qi to flow through his Meridians.

He rested in Yanhuo Valley for another ten days.

During these ten days, he Cultivated on the ninth level of the Earth Fire Cave during the day, using the purest power of the earth fire spiritual vein to temper his Burning Heaven True Intent and consolidate his Early Stage Dragon-Elephant Intersection Realm cultivation. The earth fire on the ninth level was several times more violent than on the third level. The surface of the magma lake was as wide as a sea, and the magma within boiled and churned. The flames erupting from bursting bubbles were over a zhang high. He sat cross-legged on a stone platform by the magma lake, drawing the power of the earth fire into his body to sear his Meridians and temper his bones, allowing the Burning Heaven True Intent to deeply fuse with his Physical Body.

At night, he browsed the classics in Yanhuo Valley's Scripture Pavilion, looking for clues about the fourth teleportation array core. From a fragment titled "Records of the Five Domains," he found records of the Central Plains. The Central Plains was the center of the world's Five Domains, where the Great Qi Imperial Dynasty had its capital, dragon veins converged, and experts were as numerous as clouds. The once-in-a-century Martial Arts Tournament was about to be held in Central Plains City, where Prodigies from all over the world would gather to compete for the title of the world's number one. Among the prizes of the assembly was a treasure said to be passed down from the ancient Innate One Qi Sect, named the "five elements heaven-sealing token," which was exactly the core of the fourth teleportation array.

He firmly memorized that information and then put the "Records of the Five Domains" back in its place.

On the morning of the tenth day, Jiang Hanzhou packed his gear and prepared to set off.

Young Valley Master personally saw him off to the valley entrance. She had changed into a capable martial outfit, with a jade sword hanging from her waist and her long hair tied in a ponytail, looking heroic and spirited. She held a bundle containing a large amount of fire-attribute medicinal herbs and Medicinal Pills, including Blazing Flame Grass, Fire Lingzhi, and Lava Crystal Essence, as well as dozens of Medicinal Pills for healing and recovering Spiritual Qi. She handed the bundle to Jiang Hanzhou and then took a red-gold token from her robe, pressing it into his hand.

"Senior Jiang, this is Yanhuo Valley's Elder Token. With this token, you can receive help at any of Yanhuo Valley's branches. There is a branch of our Yanhuo Valley in Central Plains City. If you encounter difficulties in the Central Plains, you can go to them."

Jiang Hanzhou took the token, put it into his sumeru pouch, and cupped his fists in a salute: "Thank you, Young Valley Master. If Yanhuo Valley is ever in danger again, just send word to me, and I will definitely come."

Young Valley Master looked at him, a trace of reluctance in her pale gold eyes. Her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she just nodded and said softly: "Senior Jiang, please take care on your journey."

Jiang Hanzhou nodded and leaped onto a Blazing Flame Horse. The Blazing Flame Horse was fiery red all over, its mane fluttering like flames, and its four hooves made a dull thudding sound on the ground. He pulled the reins, and the Blazing Flame Horse turned around and galloped toward the Central Plains.

The crimson figure grew further and smaller in the morning light, eventually turning into a crimson dot and disappearing at the end of the horizon.

Young Valley Master stood at the valley entrance, watching that figure disappear into the distance, remaining silent for a long time. In her hand, she still held the protective talisman she had prepared to give to Jiang Hanzhou—a small knife carved from Blazing Flame Crystal, with the words 'Safe and Sound' engraved on the blade. She had wanted to give it to him during the send-off, but when the words reached her lips, she couldn't say them.

She put the protective talisman into her bosom and turned to walk back into the valley.

Behind her, the valley gate slowly closed with a dull thud.

The Blazing Flame Horse galloped across the crimson earth, its hooves kicking up clouds of dust. Leaning over the horse's back, Jiang Hanzhou extended his Divine Sense into the heavenly secret mirror's storage space, looking at the three array cores lying side by side and silently calculating in his heart.

Northern Border, Western Desert, and Southern Border—three array cores had already been collected. The Central Plains array core was among the prizes of the Martial Arts Tournament, and the final one in the Eastern Region should be at the bottom of the Dragon-Locking Abyss in the Dragon Abyss Palace.

He needed to win the "five elements heaven-sealing token" at the Martial Arts Tournament in Central Plains City, then return to the East Sea to retrieve the final array core from the bottom of the Dragon-Locking Abyss. Once all five were collected, he could completely close the Dragon Slaying True Person's Rebirth channel and also travel freely between the Five Domains.

The Blazing Flame Horse galloped for three days and three nights, crossing the border between the Southern Border and the Central Plains. The ground beneath changed from crimson to earthy-yellow, then from earthy-yellow to bluish-gray. The smell of sulfur in the air gradually faded, replaced by a fresh breeze carrying the scent of vegetation. In the distant skyline, the outline of a massive city was faintly visible, with high walls and towering gatehouses. Golden flags fluttered on the walls, embroidered with a five-clawed golden dragon soaring through the clouds.

Central Plains City.

The center of the world's Five Domains and the capital of the Great Qi Imperial Dynasty. The city had a population of millions, with experts as numerous as clouds, dragon veins converging, and abundant Spiritual Qi. The once-in-a-century Martial Arts Tournament was about to be held, and Prodigies from all over the world were gathering in the city to compete for the title of the world's number one.

Jiang Hanzhou pulled the reins, and the Blazing Flame Horse stopped, huffing. He dismounted and led the horse toward the city gate. At the gate, soldiers were inspecting passersby, checking entry documents, and searching for suspicious items. The queue was very long, consisting of merchants, Loose Cultivators, Martial Artists, and officials. It was bustling and full of noise.

He stood in the queue, looking at the towering city ahead, a surge of indescribable emotion in his heart. From the East Sea to the Northern Border, from the Northern Border to the Western Desert, from the Western Desert to the Southern Border, and from the Southern Border to the Central Plains. He had traveled through four of the world's Five Domains and experienced countless life-and-death battles, finally standing here.

The core of the fourth teleportation array was in the city. He had to get it, no matter the cost.

The queue moved forward slowly, and the city gate drew closer.

Jiang Hanzhou gripped the tiger soul saber at his waist, took a deep breath, and stepped through the gates of Central Plains City.

Central Plains City was not just one city, but a cluster of cities.

The Outer City, Inner City, and Imperial City were layered like a giant maze of three concentric rings.

The city walls were about twenty zhang high, built from bluish-gray giant stones. The surfaces of the stones were densely engraved with runes that flowed with a pale gold light under the sun. Every fifty paces along the top of the wall was an arrow tower, garrisoned by the Imperial City Guard in golden armor, their spears reflecting a piercing cold light in the sunlight.

Leading the Blazing Flame Horse, Jiang Hanzhou followed the flow of people through the gate passage of the Outer City.

The gate passage was deep, a full ten zhang long. Night-luminescent pearls were embedded in the walls on both sides, emitting a soft glow that made the passage as bright as day. The moment he passed through the passage, a Spiritual Qi so dense it was suffocating washed over him.

That Spiritual Qi was not the gentle and long-lasting Water-element Spiritual Qi of the East Sea, nor the bone-chilling cold of the Northern Border's Ice-element Spiritual Qi, nor the dry and violent Sand-element Spiritual Qi of the Western Desert.

The Spiritual Qi of the Central Plains was heavy and steady, like the pulse deep within the earth, containing a perfect balance of the Five Elements: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth.

The streets were wide, with the main street being five zhang across. The ground was paved with smooth bluestone slabs, the gaps between them filled with fine sand, making the footing firm and steady. Shops lined both sides of the street, with tavern flags fluttering in the wind, teahouse signs swaying, various sabers and swords displayed in front of weapon shops, and a dazzling array of jade bottles showcased in the windows of Medicinal Pill pavilions. Pedestrians jostled each other—wealthy merchants in silk robes, Martial Artists with long swords at their waists, Daoist priests holding fly-whisks, monks in cassocks, and even several blond-haired, blue-eyed Western Cultivators wearing the silver-white robes unique to the Storm Kingdom, standing out in the crowd.

High-level Cultivators could be seen everywhere in the city. For every ten people walking on the street, one was at the Primal Form Realm or higher, and for every fifty people, one could see a Dragon Fetus Realm expert. The auras of those people were either as deep as an abyss, as sharp as a sword, or as fierce as fire, intertwining into a magnificent tableau within the crowd. Jiang Hanzhou suppressed his cultivation to the Early Stage of the Dragon Fetus Realm, hiding the pressure of the Dragon-Elephant Intersection Realm deep within, and walked down the street leading his horse like an ordinary Loose Cultivator.

He found an inn, settled the Blazing Flame Horse in the stable, and paid for three days of fodder. Then he walked into the inn's lobby, requested an upper-floor room, put down his gear, washed his face, and went out to ask for news about the Martial Arts Tournament.