Chapter 478: Liu Xingyi
Xi Ling City’s gates were made using gilt bronze, which was very heavy and huge. Rumors had it that even a stage-eight warrior could only leave a few light marks on it at best, but the door couldn’t be broken open.
The walls were made from greenish-grey marble and were very st.u.r.dy.
Thousands of years of wind and snow caused the ancient and holy imperial capital to look even more aged.
The city gates had three entrances, and the middle one was the largest. Only the most distinguished people of the Tianling Dynasty could enter through there.
Normally, this gate would be tightly shut.
A golden plaque was hung on the door, and it wrote: Xi Ling. It was majestic, solemn, and grand.
The two entrances at the side were for civilians to enter. Even though they were smaller than the middle entrance, all of them could take up to hundreds of people entering and leaving at the same time.
There were hundreds of Black Guards guarding near every entrance. Anyone who entered Xi Ling had to go through strict checks.
Even so, there were still many people coming in and out.
As the Tianling Dynasty’s imperial capital, countless cultivators came forward as if they were going to heaven.
Chu Liuyue and Jian Fengchi followed the crowd and walked in.
But as the two of them had extraordinary appearances and many people had seen the commotion at Ping Liang Square, there seemed to be an invisible barrier surrounding the two of them, blocking others on the outside.
Walking to the entrance, a guard standing in front looked up and saw Jian Fengchi before he respectfully said, “Greetings—”
Jian Fengchi waved his hands and threw his plaque over. “I brought one person with me.”
That guard looked at Jian Fengchi’s humble manner and couldn’t help but find it amazing. In the entire Xi Ling, this master is definitely the one that loves crowds the most. It’s rare for him to be so low-key.
His gaze landed on Chu Liuyue beside him, and he looked surprised. “This is…”
Chu Liuyue pa.s.sed her plaque over. “Country Yao Chen’s Chu Liuyue.”
So she’s from outside Heaven’s Canopy… and she’s just a stage-three warrior? But since she could come with Jian Fengchi, I must give her face. He checked Chu Liuyue’s plaque and was shocked.
This is clearly Lieutenant Mu’s plaque! It seems like this woman’s background is even more complicated than I imagined… He respectfully returned the plaques to the duo and looked at Chu Liuyue. “You came at the right time; the Wan Zheng Compet.i.tion will start tomorrow. You just have to sign up at Xin Li Garden, and you can officially join the compet.i.tion tomorrow.”
Chu Liuyue was dazed. Wan Zheng Compet.i.tion? I’ve never heard of it before.
Seeing Chu Liuyue’s gaze, that guard thought that she didn’t know where Xin Li Garden was. Hence, he said, “Do you need me to get someone and bring you over?”
Chu Liuyue instinctively shook her head. “I… I can get Young Master Jian to help me. I don’t need to trouble you.”
Jian Fengchi raised his brows. This girl seems to make use of me very easily.
That guard was shocked before he glanced at Jian Fengchi carefully. Seeing that the latter didn’t get angry, he became slightly more relaxed.
“That’s right. I’ll bring her there.” Jian Fengchi curled his fingers at Chu Liuyue. “Follow me.”
Chu Liuyue smiled lightly and followed him.
…
Xin Li Garden was a famous imperial garden in Xi Ling City, and it had already existed since their grand ancestor’s time.
Chu Liuyue liked to go there when she was free. She didn’t expect to go there once she came back.
Jian Fengchi walked in front, and he held a jade fan in his hand. “Xin Li Garden is a good place. You can go in and take a look later. In the past, not everyone could go in there.”
Chu Liuyue could tell that he had something else to say, so she acted curious and conveniently asked, “In the past?”
“In the past, that garden was… Forget it. There’s not much point in telling you all of this. Anyway, the view isn’t bad.”
Chu Liuyue sensibly changed the topic. “Then… What’s up with the Wan Zheng Compet.i.tion? Lieutenant Mu hadn’t told me about this before.”
Jian Fengchi paused in his actions, put away his fan, and lowered his chin. “That… It’s just some boring compet.i.tion. You’ll find out yourself when you go there tomorrow.”
Anyway, in his eyes, this was just Shangguan Wan and the others’ way of saying things.
They set up this Wan Zheng Compet.i.tion for no rhyme or reason in the name of cultivating talents, but who knew what they were up to?
Seeing Jian Fengchi’s face of nonchalance, Chu Liuyue lightly nodded and didn’t ask further.
The duo went forward and quickly reached Xin Li Garden.
But after they reached Xin Li Garden, Chu Liuyue sensitively noticed that there were quite a few strong warriors here.
Countless judging gazes swept across her.
Chu Liuyue acted as if she didn’t know and followed behind Jian Fengchi obediently.
Two servants stood in front of Xin Li Garden.
Chu Liuyue quickly scanned them, and as expected, they were two unfamiliar faces.
But the two of them clearly recognized Jian Fengchi since their originally cold and solemn faces immediately revealed kind smiles. “Greetings, Young Master Jian.”
Jian Fengchi waved his fan in frustration and asked, “How do we sign up for the Wan Zheng Compet.i.tion?”
The duo’s gazes landed on Chu Liuyue. Without asking, they knew he wanted to sign someone up. But… Jian Fengchi doesn’t seem to be on the list of people bringing candidates over.
But they didn’t dare to ask as they respectfully said, “Please come in. The reporting place is in Xiao Fu Garden. When you reach there, someone will naturally help you.”
Jian Fengchi winked at Chu Liuyue, and he walked in first.
Chu Liuyue’s expression didn’t change as she stepped across the entrance.
A light fragrance wafted toward her nose. It contained some bitter notes, but it rejuvenated one’s soul.
Xin Li Garden was very big, and it had all sorts of herbs and plants. Thus, this smell filled the entire garden.
Herbs that were rare outside could be found everywhere here.
Chu Liuyue’s gaze lightly swept across every plant and wood as she sighed in her heart. I committed suicide, and my subordinates were all dismissed. However, these herbs were left behind in one piece.
Oh, I almost forgot that Shangguan Wan is also a heavenly doctor. I meticulously grew all these plants, but they all benefited Shangguan Wan in the end. Uponthinking of this, Chu Liuyue’s eyes turned cold, but they returned to normal the next moment.
This was because there was something that she couldn’t ignore—There were even more cultivators hidden in this Xin Li Garden!
Walking over, she felt that she had been scrutinized over and over.
Jian Fengchi clearly noticed this, and his expression turned cold. He walked across the front yard and pa.s.sed the Seven Stars Bridge.
The duo finally arrived at Xiao Fu Garden.
A man that looked like he was in his thirties sat quietly behind a square table. Hearing the footsteps, that man looked up and smiled when he saw Jian Fengchi. “I was wondering who it was. So it’s you.”
Jian Fengchi knitted his brows. “Liu Xingyi? Why are you here?”
Enemies meet each other everywhere!
“The Third Princess sent me over. Where can I be if I’m not here?” said Liu Xingyi as he looked at Chu Liuyue with much interest. “This is the person you brought over?”