135: Chapter 135 A Country Bumpkin Enters the City? No, It's a Dragon Crossing the River

The gale was like a blade, tearing out sharp howls beside his ears.

The moment Gu Yan's toes touched the deck, that suffocating wind pressure vanished abruptly. In its place, a dense Spiritual Qi, so thick it was almost liquid, frantically drilled into his body through his pores.

This "Sky Patrol Guard" class flying boat was, in itself, a massive Spiritual Qi Gathering Formation.

The deck was cast from a mixture of hundred-refined fine iron and the "Black Iron Wood" that grew here. Stepping on it, there was no warmth of wood; instead, it exuded a metallic chill and hardness.

"Is this that 'Guest Elder' from the countryside?"

A very faint sneer drifted into Gu Yan's ears on the wind.

Not far away, four young Cultivators—three men and one woman—dressed in cloud-patterned Daoist robes were gathered together. They were dressed flashily, with jade pendants hanging from their waists shimmering with the faint light of defensive Formations, and even the hairpins in their hair were tiered Magical Artifacts.

The one speaking was a round-faced youth, toying with a crimson Fire Essence Bead in his hand, looking at Gu Yan as if he were a dirt duck that had mistakenly wandered into a flock of swans.

There was no concealment, nor was there any disdain to conceal it.

In the eyes of the Yunlan Sect Inner Sect Disciple, a Cultivator from a borderland like Baifeng City, even with the title of "Guest Elder," was essentially nothing more than an upstart with some brute strength.

Gu Yan ignored them, not even letting his gaze linger on them for half a second.

He walked to the edge of the deck, placed his hands on the cold railing, and looked down at the city where he had lived for several years.

Looking down from a thousand zhang in the air, Baifeng City, which he had once felt was vast, was now nothing more than a dusty chessboard. The Gu Mansion, which he had just felt was impregnable, had also become an inconspicuous piece on the chessboard.

One's perspective determines one's horizon.

"What? Can't bear to leave?"

Elder Su Ming appeared behind him at some unknown point, carrying two wine gourds, and tossed one over casually.

Gu Yan raised his hand to catch it, pulled out the stopper, and a pungent aroma of wine rushed into his nose.

"It's not that I can't bear to leave."

Gu Yan tilted his head and took a gulp. The strong liquor entered his throat like a line of fire burning into his stomach. "I'm just thinking that this chessboard is too small; playing chess on it always feels restrictive."

"Hahaha! Well said!"

Elder Su Ming laughed heartily, not bothering with a cup, and drank straight from the gourd's mouth. "The chessboard of the Yunlan Sect is big enough; I'm just afraid that when the time comes, you'll find the pieces too heavy to move."

He glanced at those few Disciples who were still whispering in the distance, not lowering his voice. "Don't pay attention to those brats. Flowers raised in a greenhouse, while pretty, cannot withstand the wind and rain. A wild grass like you, who crawled out of a pile of dead bodies, is what can truly kill."

The faces of those Disciples changed. They wanted to lash out, but hindered by Elder Su Ming's prestige, they could only shut their mouths sullenly, glare fiercely at Gu Yan, and turn to duck into the cabin.

[Tsk tsk tsk...]

The System popped up a series of data analysis charts in his mind:

[Those brats only have Foundation Establishment Early Stage combat power, but their equipment is ridiculously luxurious. That Fire Essence Bead in the round-faced one's hand has a System store recycling price of two thousand Spirit Stones! Host, do you want to find a place with no one around and teach them a lesson about 'the beating of society'? While you're at it, loot some gold coins?]

"No rush."

Gu Yan rubbed the wine gourd in his hand, his eyes indifferent. "Pigs should be fattened before slaughtering. Taking action now is too beneath me."

Hum—!

The deck beneath his feet suddenly vibrated slightly.

The huge statue of the Mysterious Bird at the bow of the ship suddenly lit up its eyes, and two substantial red lights pierced through the clouds. Immediately after, a terrifying sense of thrust came from behind.

The flying boat moved.

There was no roaring sound as imagined, only the low humming of the Formation in operation. The massive hull pushed aside the air waves, accelerating instantly.

Baifeng City below shrank rapidly in his field of vision.

Gu Yan saw that beautiful red figure at the entrance of the West Courtyard's warehouse, and also saw that black dot on top of the pavilion.

That was his Foundation, and also his retreat.

"Goodbye, Baifeng City."

Gu Yan silently thought to himself.

The next moment, the flying boat soared upwards, plunging headlong into the thick sea of clouds.

All around was a vast whiteness, and moist water vapor rushed towards his face.

When the flying boat broke through the clouds again, the scene before his eyes had completely changed.

It was no longer barren and desolate hills, but a majestic mountain range that stretched endlessly, resembling a coiled Dragon.

Amidst the mountains, clouds and mist swirled, and countless pavilions and towers appeared and disappeared. Massive waterfalls cascaded down from ten thousand zhang in the air, like an inverted Milky Way. From time to time, immortal cranes cried out, and sword lights shuttled between the peaks like meteors.

The most eye-catching thing was the giant tower on the main peak that pierced straight into the clouds. It was pitch black, and even from dozens of miles away, one could feel the terrifying pressure that suppressed the heavens and earth.

The Yunlan Sect.

The absolute Dominator of ten thousand miles around.

[Ding! New map loading complete!]

[Current location: Yunlan Sect outer airspace.]

[Environmental Spiritual Qi concentration: fifteen times that of Baifeng City. Cultivating here for one day is equivalent to half a month of Cultivating in that dump!]

[Detected a large amount of high-energy reactions... Host, wipe your drool. We are like mice that have fallen into a rice jar, but we could also be fat meat that has fallen into a wolf's den.]

Gu Yan took a deep breath.

The dense Spiritual Qi caused the True Yuan in his body to circulate automatically, emitting a joyful roar.

"Elder Su Ming, what is that tower?" Gu Yan pointed at the main peak.

"The Demon Locking Tower."

Elder Su Ming put away the wine gourd. The smile on his face faded slightly, and his eyes became somewhat complicated. "It imprisons countless demons and monsters captured since the founding of the Yunlan Sect, and also... Disciples who have violated sect rules."

He turned his head and looked deeply at Gu Yan. "In this place, ascending to the heavens in one step and falling into eternal damnation are often just a thought away. You are a Guest Elder; although you don't need to follow those cumbersome formalities, there are some bottom lines that are best not touched."

"For example?"

"For example, what the Lin family wants to do."

Elder Su Ming stopped at that, patted Gu Yan on the shoulder. "We've arrived. The Law Enforcement Hall is on the West Peak. You go first to collect your stipend and Immortal Cave. As for the rest... there is plenty of time in the future."

The flying boat began to decelerate, slowly descending towards a steep mountain peak on the west side that looked like a sharp sword.

Gu Yan looked at the magnificent mountain gate that was getting closer and closer, clutching the blood-stained Jade Slip hidden in his sleeve.

Bottom line?

In Gu Yan's dictionary, the only bottom line is to survive, and to live better than everyone else.

If the Lin family wants to use him as a sacrifice, they must be prepared to have their teeth shattered.

"Yunlan Sect..."

The corners of Gu Yan's mouth moved, not curling into an arc, but merely revealing a few stark white teeth.

"I have arrived."