35: Chapter 35: Encounter on the way and arrive at the royal capital.

"Shi old ghost, who are you calling a brute? Believe it or not, I'll chop your ship into pieces with one slash!" Ouyang Cai's fiery aura burst forth, dispelling the chilling cold.

As he spoke, the two flying boats gradually approached, and the students from both sides observed each other. Most of the people from Donglin Prefecture were curious; they had never seen Disciples from other Martial Houses.

Jiang Xuan casually glanced over and immediately noticed the gap between the two groups of students. In Donglin Prefecture, Spirit Infant Perfection was considered top ten strength, but among those on the opposite side, there were several at the Spirit Connection Early Stage.

"No wonder they're always at the bottom. The strength gap is indeed a bit large," Jiang Xuan shook his head and sighed.

Just then, Yang Lin walked over. Noticing Jiang Xuan's thoughts, he said, "That's the Yellow Spring Prefecture's flying boat. The person who just spoke is Shi Wuchang, their City Lord, and he's an old rival of Ouyang Cai."

Jiang Xuan looked at the gloomy middle-aged man on the opposite side, whose entire body exuded a Death Qi. He asked, puzzled, "What's with that aura? Why is it so eerie?"

"Haha, that's caused by the Cultivation Technique they Cultivate. Constantly dealing with dead people naturally makes them tainted with Death Qi."

Jiang Xuan clicked his tongue, surprised that such a disgusting Cultivation Technique existed.

As they spoke, the two ships were only about ten meters apart and stopped approaching.

Shi Wuchang glanced at the students from Donglin Prefecture with a sneer. "Tsk tsk, if you ask me, your Donglin Prefecture shouldn't bother joining the fun. You're always last anyway, so it's all the same whether you go or not. Save yourselves from being ridiculed."

Shi Wuchang looked at Ouyang Cai mockingly. The two had been rivals for so many years, always evenly matched, but Yellow Spring Prefecture's ranking was much higher. Therefore, every time they met, Shi Wuchang would taunt him until he was satisfied.

Ouyang Cai was so angry his teeth itched. If it weren't for the wrong timing, he would have gone up to fight three hundred rounds already. Then, as if he thought of something, a strange glint flashed in his eyes.

"Shi old ghost, the wheel of fortune turns. Don't speak too soon. Perhaps this time, the throne of last place will belong to your Yellow Spring Prefecture."

Shi Wuchang's expression froze, and he felt puzzled. Why was this brute acting differently from usual? In the past, he would have cursed loudly in response to his taunts, but today he was so quiet. Something was off.

He suppressed the doubt in his heart and deliberately said, "Oh? Could it be that your Donglin Prefecture is hiding some trump card? We've been old friends for many years, let's see it!"

"Don't try that with me. You'll know what trump card it is when the time comes."

Yang Lin, standing nearby, was speechless. He was so easily tricked into revealing information. This Ouyang Cai truly had no cunning at all.

To avoid exposing his strength, all of Jiang Xuan's information and combat techniques had been sealed. Now, thanks to Ouyang Cai's words, wouldn't Shi Wuchang start to suspect something?

He stepped forward and reminded him, "Didn't we say to keep it a secret? Saying that will only make people suspicious."

Ouyang Cai waved his hand. "I know. Do you really think I'm stupid? Hmph, I just want to make that old fellow uncomfortable. He always ridicules me, and now that I have a chance, I have to get my revenge."

"Besides, other than him, who would believe that my Donglin Prefecture has any trump card? They'll just think it's bluster. Only that old fellow who knows me will be suspicious."

Yang Lin thought about it and agreed. For so many years, the other Prefectures had accepted Donglin Prefecture as the youngest. If they suddenly claimed to have a trump card, they would probably just laugh it off.

"Heh heh, my Donglin Prefecture truly is an insignificant existence, always treated as a joke by the other Prefectures," Yang Lin said self-deprecatingly, a hint of weariness flashing in his eyes.

He glanced at Jiang Xuan beside him, his expression turning expectant. "This time, my Donglin Prefecture will definitely wipe away its past disgrace!"

Hearing Ouyang Cai's words, Shi Wuchang became even more suspicious. He knew his opponent too well; he would never speak without reason.

He narrowed his eyes and carefully scrutinized, looking for anything else unusual.

"Hmm?" Suddenly, Shi Wuchang saw Jiang Xuan standing beside Ouyang Cai and felt puzzled. "This young man... Spirit Infant Early Stage?"

How could a Spirit Infant Early Stage Cultivator stand so far forward? Something was strange.

Jiang Xuan seemed to sense something, glanced over, and then calmly looked away.

"Hiss... such strong perception." Seeing Jiang Xuan look his way, Shi Wuchang was inwardly startled. A mere Spirit Infant Early Stage Cultivator could actually notice him watching him. Based solely on this perception, that young man was not simple.

Moreover, everyone else looked at him with a hint of fear, but this person's eyes held only calmness, as if he were looking at an ordinary person.

"Could it be that young man is Donglin Prefecture's trump card? Well, whether he is or not, I need to pay extra attention."

He turned to a young man behind him and said with a serious tone, "Did you see that kid behind Ouyang Cai? If it's not necessary, try to avoid conflict with him during the selection."

The young man behind him also looked at Jiang Xuan upon hearing this. Seeing only a young Cultivator in the Spirit Infant Realm, he nodded, pretending to be serious. In his heart, however, he felt disdain.

"The City Lord is too cautious. He's just a Spirit Infant Early Stage Cultivator. I could crush him with one hand. What's there to pay attention to?"

His goal was those from the higher-ranked Martial Houses, not these weaklings in front of him. The young man's expression was arrogant, not putting Jiang Xuan and the others in his eyes at all.

The two teams stopped talking and quietly continued forward.

Another day passed, and a city several times larger than Donglin Prefecture appeared before everyone's eyes. This was Tiandu Prefecture City.

"Is that Tiandu City? It's magnificent!" The students of the academy were excited. This was their first time in the Royal Capital, and they were all awestruck by the sight before them.

Tiandu City, the capital of Tiandu Prefecture, the Great Li Dynasty's largest Prefecture, and the Royal City itself was located within it.

Jiang Xuan looked up and around, feeling shocked. Crowds of people were flying towards the Royal Capital from all directions. Some, like them, were taking flying boats to participate in the selection, while others stood on the backs of flying Yao Beasts, and still others controlled their own Spirit Treasures to travel, a diverse array of methods.

Within the capital city, endless magnificent buildings rose and fell, but the most striking was a colossal tower that soared into the clouds, standing in the center and overlooking the entire city.

"The Royal Capital selection is a grand event for the entire Great Li Dynasty. Not only students from the thirty-two Prefectures, but also various Sects, and even some Loose Cultivators—any young Cultivator of our Great Li Dynasty can participate. There are also people who travel from all over to observe the ceremony. It can be said that the entire nation is watching."

"Jiang Xuan, no matter what, I hope you take this selection seriously and don't hide your strength.

If you succeed in the selection, you will be the most dazzling person in the entire Great Li Dynasty. The Dynasty will fully protect your Family, and after the grand selection, before you participate in the Supreme Beginning Holy Land assessment, there is an enormous benefit waiting for you."

Yang Lin's voice came from the side, speaking with utmost seriousness.