64: Chapter 64 Chengtian Academy, Unparalleled Sword Intent!

The sun blazed, a red sun hanging in the sky like a scorching furnace, roasting the earth.

On the ten-zhang-wide main official road, dozens of Green-Scaled Horned Horses galloped past, kicking up dust along the way, covering hundreds of meters in the blink of an eye.

Although the Green-Scaled Horned Horses were only first-rank Vicious Beasts, after generations of careful domestication, their temperaments had long since become gentle and obedient, making them extremely easy to tame.

Their running speed was as fast as the wind; they could gallop three to four hundred li in a single hour, making them the most commonly used mounts for ordinary Martial Artists traveling long distances.

The group of County Academy students and their accompanying elders were all mounted on horseback, the procession moving in a grand, sweeping manner as they rushed toward the Prefecture City.

Although the Great Luo Dynasty was the orthodox Imperial Dynasty of the Human Race and possessed vast territory, countless Vicious Beasts still lurked within its borders.

It is rumored that in ancient times, the entire Cangyuan Continent was a land dominated by Vicious Beasts. Ten thousand beasts roamed freely, while the Human Race was weak and could only survive with difficulty in a small corner.

It was not until the Human Race realized the method of Martial Dao Cultivation and generations of experts rose up that the power of the Human Race grew step by step, gradually gaining a firm foothold.

Later, the incomparably powerful Ancient Demon Race invaded across realms. The Human Race exhausted the strength of their entire race to resist, and in the end, both sides took the Tianyan Mountain Range as the boundary, dividing the land and ruling separately.

To consolidate the Imperial Dynasty's territory and protect the people within its borders, a group of top Martial Dao experts from the Human Race joined forces to launch a massive purge, slaughtering or expelling the vast majority of high-rank Vicious Beasts of the fifth rank and above within the Great Luo Dynasty's territory, leaving only low-rank Vicious Beasts below the fifth rank scattered in the wild mountains and deep forests. (PS: Body Tempering Realm, Qi Condensation Realm, Acquired, Innate, Grandmaster, Great Grandmaster, Martial King, Martial Emperor)

This arrangement, on one hand, allowed young Martial Artists to enter the world to gain experience, engage in combat, and hone their own Martial Dao Foundation.

On the other hand, the beast blood, beast bones, beast cores, and meat obtained from hunting Vicious Beasts were all excellent resources for Cultivation, which could be used by Martial Artists for Alchemy, forging weapons, and assisting in their practice—killing two birds with one stone.

Led by three Innate Realm experts, the group whipped their horses and galloped along the wide official road. After traveling for nearly two hours, a majestic, towering wall appeared at the end of their vision, rising high into the clouds.

Looking from afar, the high wall protecting the Prefecture City rose from the ground. It was built from jet-black cold iron boulders mixed with thousand-year-old solid rock, standing fully ten zhang high, with a thick, imposing body that was indestructible.

The wall surface was covered with mottled traces of wind and frost from the years. The wall stood straight, like a Dragon lying across the earth, stretching endlessly toward the east and west, with no end in sight, its Aura grand and magnificent.

Along the top of the wall were continuous arrow towers and guard posts. Banners fluttered in the wind, and city guards clad in armor stood tall and straight, holding long spears as they patrolled back and forth, their gazes sharp, the defenses rigorous.

This was the Prefecture City of Chengtian Prefecture—Chengtian City!

The procession slowly approached the city gate along the official road. The flow of people along the way suddenly became dense, with an endless stream of pedestrians, presenting a scene of prosperity.

All kinds of Martial Artists could be seen everywhere on the road, with different styles of dress.

Some wore tight short tunics, with hair tied back and waists cinched, looking capable and efficient, clearly experienced Martial Artists who traveled outside year-round; others were scions of noble families in brocade robes, wearing jade ornaments and long swords at their waists, with an air of nobility, followed by servants; and there were many Loose Cultivators in simple clothing, carrying long sabers or heavy swords, their steps steady and their internal Qi restrained.

The mounts ridden by the people were diverse. Apart from the common Green-Scaled Horned Horses in the procession, there were also Flaming Wind-Chasing Colts with red fur that ran with great speed, and Rock-Armored Savage Bulls with sturdy builds and great endurance. Those from wealthy families rode Cloud-Winged Spirit Sparrows that possessed wings and could soar for short distances, which were particularly eye-catching.

When the group reached the city gate, they all dismounted and followed the rules to proceed on foot.

The city guards stood tall and straight with solemn expressions, carefully verifying identity documents and scrutinizing passersby, the process orderly and methodical.

After the inspection, the group entered the territory of Chengtian City without any obstruction.

As soon as they entered the city, the noise and bustle rushed toward them.

The streets inside the city were wide and flat, the bluestone-paved road surface clean and orderly. Shops were arranged along the streets on both sides, with restaurants, teahouses, Medicinal Pill workshops, and weapon shops standing in rows. Various shop signs swayed in the wind, and street vendors shouted loudly, their cries rising and falling, making it extremely lively.

The long street was packed with people, and the passersby were of all kinds.

There were mountain herb gatherers carrying bamboo herb baskets, covered in the dust of travel, hurrying through the streets; there were groups of merchants escorting carts piled high with Vicious Beast meat, bones, and spiritual materials, moving slowly; and there were many Martial Artists in groups of three or five, entering and leaving restaurants, teahouses, medicine workshops, and trading firms.

Carts and horses came and went endlessly, pedestrians brushed shoulders, and the atmosphere of everyday life was rich. Coupled with the Martial Dao Aura flowing everywhere, it displayed the prosperity of a great Prefecture City in every aspect, a true world of difference compared to Wurong County.

In the crowd, watching the prosperous scene of Chengtian City, Chen An could not help but feel slightly surprised and shocked.

Although the two worlds were different civilizations, in his view, the noise and prosperity of Chengtian City were already on par with the first-tier cities of his previous life.

Led by County Magistrate Zhang Xuanming, Instructor Fan Suiyun, and others, the students walked through the streets and alleys, proceeding slowly along the wide streets. After walking for about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, they finally arrived at the final destination of this trip—Chengtian Academy.

Compared to the ordinary and simple gate of Wurong County Academy, even just the main gate of Chengtian Academy had an overwhelming Aura, the two worlds apart in grandeur.

The main gate of the Prefectural Academy was built of giant white jade stone, the gatehouse towering and majestic, with flying eaves and upturned corners piercing the sky. In front of the gate stood two mighty giant beasts over three zhang tall, their expressions sharp and stern, fully displaying solemnity and dignity.

Hanging above the main gate was a large, ancient plaque, the brushwork vigorous and imposing, clearly inscribed with the four characters: Chengtian Academy.

However, looking at these seemingly ordinary characters, it was as if someone had unleashed an entire set of peerless saber techniques while wielding the brush, the strokes full of piercing Saber Intent.

If one let their gaze linger for a moment, a piercing, bone-chillingly sharp saber edge would emanate from between the characters, its sharpness weighing heavily on the spirit, making one want to immerse themselves in it and try to comprehend the supreme Saber Intent within.

"Haha, where did these country bumpkins come from, daring to stare straight at the Prefectural Academy's plaque?"

"They truly don't know the immensity of heaven and earth. A mere group of Qi Condensation Realm brats, and they think they are worthy of staring directly at the plaque personally inscribed by Master Lin?"

"These four characters contain a peerless Saber Dao Concept. Those with insufficient Cultivation who gaze at them rashly are easily distracted by the sharpness. Do these people not even understand this basic rule?!"

"The new students these days are truly getting worse with each generation!"

Just as the students of Wurong County Academy all stopped and stared intently at the four characters on the plaque, intoxicated and wanting to comprehend the Saber Intent, many students of the Prefectural Academy dressed in the uniform Martial attire, as well as students from other counties who had come for the examination, saw this and stopped in their tracks. One by one, they stood to the side with their arms crossed, their eyes filled with mockery and disdain, watching them with great interest...