154: Chapter 154 Wanghai City

Afterward, Lin Qing went to have a drink with Sun Shaoping, meeting at the same tavern in Yunjí Market.

"Shaoping, your talent is very high, and you will certainly have your own path to walk in the future. However, before you have fully grown, whether it concerns you or the Sun Family, you can come to me if you encounter any trouble. As long as it is within my power, I will certainly not refuse."

Lin Qing had always been very grateful to Sun Shaoping; if not for Sun Shaoping, he would likely still be trapped within the Hundred Thousand Mountains.

Sun Shaoping raised his wine cup. Although his tone was flat, there was no sense of distance, as if this were simply his natural personality.

"Rest assured, if I encounter trouble, I will definitely ask for your help."

After the two of them drank a cup of wine together, Sun Shaoping continued:

"By the way, Lin Qing, you must come find me before you leave."

Lin Qing raised an eyebrow.

"Am I not here to see you now?"

"Not this time. You will know when the time comes. Enough talk, come, let's have another cup."

...

A few days later, in the Sect's main hall, Grand Aunt-Master Qing Yao stood on a high platform, while the white-bearded Sect Head and a crowd of Elders stood on both sides of the hall. In the center of the hall were a dozen young figures, and Lin Qing was among them.

Because the purpose of this trip to the Secret Realm was primarily exploration rather than competing for any rankings, the Chuyun Immortal Sect allowed them to sign up voluntarily.

Grand Aunt-Master Qing Yao stood on the high platform, her voice still carrying a light and ethereal quality.

"I will remind you all one more time: the path of cultivation in the Central Continent is much more prosperous than in Dongxuan. With such a massive population base, it is inevitable that some truly extraordinary monsters will be born."

Having said this, Grand Aunt-Master Qing Yao cast a faint glance at Lin Qing before continuing.

"Although you are already top Prodigies in Dongxuan, you might only be at an average level once you reach the Central Continent. Competing in a Secret Realm is no child's play; there is a risk of falling at any moment. It is not too late to regret your decision now."

After speaking, she scanned the crowd below. These people were almost all Prodigies in the mid-to-late Eighth Stage, nearly two hundred years old, who had only reached this point after experiencing countless hardships.

They had long been prepared for the risk of falling. Since they had signed up, they would naturally not retreat now.

"Since no one is giving up, let us depart!"

Afterward, the group first took a teleportation formation to the Wanjun Empire, located north of the Chuyun Immortal Sect. Then, under the awestruck gazes of the Cultivators in the imperial capital, they boarded a massive Flying Boat bearing the mark of the Chuyun Immortal Sect and continued flying northward.

This kind of Sect Flying Boat was naturally incomparable to the ones Lin Qing had ridden before; it had unsurprisingly reached the Divine-Grade level, and its speed was not much different from Lin Qing's own flight speed.

Because the number of people traveling this time was small, even the few accompanying deacons each had their own individual rooms. Lin Qing's room was naturally assigned to the top floor, right next to Grand Aunt-Master Qing Yao's room.

Aside from a brief interaction with the other members of the Yunyin Sequence when they set off, Lin Qing had spent his time in his room practicing his Eighth Stage Cultivation Technique, hoping to reach Perfection sooner. Finally, two days later, the team arrived at Wanghai City.

Wanghai City was the northernmost city in the East Xuanqing Province. Beyond it lay the endless ocean, where the number of rare treasures and precious Yao Beasts far exceeded those on land.

The vast ocean attracted countless Cultivators to explore it, and against this backdrop, the scale of Wanghai City was immense.

Although the Chuyun Immortal Sect had a stronghold in Wanghai City, Grand Aunt-Master Qing Yao did not go there, instead parking the Flying Boat directly on the surface of the sea.

After the ship was stabilized, Grand Aunt-Master Qing Yao's voice was transmitted into everyone's minds via Divine Thought.

"We will wait here for the people from the Duchuan Sword Sect and the Qingyuan Sect to arrive and rendezvous. During this time, you may make your own arrangements, but remember to return before noon tomorrow."

Before long, there was a knock on Lin Qing's door. Lin Qing opened the door, and it was Ling Shu!

That's right, she also intended to go to the Central Continent. Compared to those veteran members of the Yunyin Sequence, Ling Shu was only around a hundred years old. She was the youngest person on the entire Flying Boat aside from Lin Qing, and she was more vibrant than the others.

"Senior Brother Lin Qing, would you like to go look around together?"

Ling Shu had only just joined the Yunyin Sequence and was not very familiar with the others, so she had come to invite Lin Qing. Lin Qing thought about it and nodded. He might be spending an entire year on the sea this time, so perhaps he could go and purchase some supplies.

Then, Lin Qing went to Grand Aunt-Master Qing Yao's door, intending to ask her to join them. Ling Shu, standing behind him, tugged on Lin Qing's sleeve, wanting to stop him.

She had little contact with God Realm experts and possessed a natural fear of them, especially since she had seen Grand Aunt-Master Qing Yao lead a team of God Realm experts to fight against the Demon Court; knowing that Grand Aunt-Master Qing Yao was among the stronger ones in the God Realm made her even more in awe.

Although she knew Grand Aunt-Master Qing Yao would not harm her without reason, she could not help but feel a bit reserved about traveling with a God Realm expert. However, before she could speak, Lin Qing's voice had already sounded.

"Grand-Masters Aunt, would you like to go into the city to look around?"

A moment later, the door opened, and Grand Aunt-Master Qing Yao stood at the entrance, dressed in a green robe.

"Let's go."

Although they were away from home, the Chuyun Immortal Sect was different from the Luoxia Valley of the past; the Flying Boat was parked openly on the surface of the sea, with no need to worry about anyone causing trouble, so Grand Aunt-Master Qing Yao did not need to remain on the ship at all times.

A salty bitterness drifted on the wind as the three of them walked along the wide main thoroughfare of Wanghai City.

Unlike inland cities, the street stalls here were filled with baskets of seafood. There were all kinds of fish—fresh or cured—as well as algae harvested from the deep sea, and various colorful seashells and pearls.

Grand Aunt-Master Qing Yao's personality was not as cold as her appearance suggested. From time to time, she would stop to pick up and fiddle with uniquely shaped coral on the street, or be drawn in by the aroma of grilled fish from the roadside.

Influenced by Grand Aunt-Master Qing Yao, Ling Shu also slowly relaxed. The three of them strolled through the city just like that, occasionally buying some local delicacies to sample as they walked.

"Lin Qing, come, let's go there."

Looking in the direction of Grand Aunt-Master Qing Yao's finger, one could see a tavern. The entire side of the tavern facing the street had no wall, and inside, many shirtless men were drinking and playing finger-guessing games, possessing a bit more of a Jianghu atmosphere compared to Cultivators.

It was not that they were crude; these people who spent their lives making a living on the sea rarely returned to land, so everyone took advantage of this time to relax properly.

Although this group of men looked intimidating, even Ling Shu would not be frightened by such a minor scene. Thus, after Grand Aunt-Master Qing Yao suggested they go take a look, the three of them walked straight toward the tavern.

The handsome man and beautiful women immediately attracted the gazes of the men in the tavern. Grand Aunt-Master Qing Yao ignored them and walked to the bar counter.

"Waiter, bring us three jars of Cangbo Brew."