Chapter Fifty-Four: Visitors from the Ancient Capital

The woman was struck with astonishment; she had never imagined that the youth before her acted intentionally. His slender frame wandering these mountains alone—how could he escape becoming a feast for the wild beasts? It was difficult to fathom.

Beside her, the young boy gaped in awe. “Sis, this kid could take on the gods! His luck is terrifyingly strong—he walked through a swarm of beasts and didn’t even get a scratch. I almost want to worship him!”

Cloud Rider Wind felt a few beads of cold sweat trickle down his neck; truly, this bunch seemed rather remarkable.

He wiped his forehead and said, “It’s nothing, really! There aren’t too many reckless beasts around here.”

The woman smiled gently, the young man’s lips curving up, showing his mood was quite good.

“Zhen, don’t be naughty.” She finished, giving Cloud Rider Wind an apologetic look.

Cloud Rider Wind pursed his lips, saying nothing, simply watching the woman, waiting for what would come next.

Seeing his inquisitive gaze, the woman smiled and asked, “You…travel alone. Aren’t you worried at all?”

“What’s there to worry about? This is only a fourth-tier area. If you stay alert, there’s not much danger.”

“Ah…little brother, you truly have courage to match your skill. We admire that. Rou’er, shall we venture deeper?” The young man urged. He’d originally hoped to find a companion, but seeing Cloud Rider Wind’s bold claims, he reconsidered—better alone than poorly matched.

Cloud Rider Wind found it amusing and understood well, replying, “Then I wish you all a safe journey and plentiful gains!”

“Ah…” The young man seemed taken aback. “Safe journey? If the journey’s too easy, won’t I get nothing? Are you blessing us or cursing us?”

The woman laughed aloud, amused by the exchange. “Little brother, why not join us? It’s safer together.”

Cloud Rider Wind thought it over; perhaps it was indeed better than going alone. While solo travel meant greater agility, facing too many dangers could be troublesome. Though he feared little, without using mental power his rank might suffer. Cooperation was, after all, a kind of trial.

He said, “Heh, if you don’t mind me being a burden, I’m happy to join you.”

“Don’t worry, I make the decisions here.”

Looking at the trio, Cloud Rider Wind saw clearly—a pair of lovers bringing their younger brother along for experience. The young man had his reservations about inviting him, but since the woman had decided, he fell silent. The boy seemed interested in Cloud Rider Wind; perhaps peers naturally shared more in common.

“Welcome aboard. Let me introduce myself: I’m Rain Rou,” the woman said, pointing to the young man, “my friend, Bi Xuan. And this is my brother, Rain Zhen. You’re about the same age—get to know each other.”

Cloud Rider Wind nodded casually. “You three seem exceptional, perhaps from noble families. May I ask if you’re from Willow Yang City?”

As they walked and chatted, Rain Rou shook her head. “Willow Yang City is a fine place, but we’re from Changsha Ancient Capital, journeying together for adventure.”

“Heh, Changsha Ancient Capital—a place to aspire to. I’ve heard the families there are immense, and any family that survives there must have something special.”

Rain Rou’s lively eyes sparkled, a faint smile on her lips, tinged with nostalgia and pride. She spoke softly, “Yes, in Changsha Ancient Capital, our family isn’t among the elite. We’re just ordinary members at the upper level, but it’s still an unimaginable enterprise to me. The efforts of our ancestors inspire us all.”

The boy, unwilling to be left out, interjected, “Exactly! When our family head travels, it’s grand—four dragons pulling his carriage, dazzling wherever he goes.”

“Four dragons pulling a carriage?” Cloud Rider Wind was stunned. In his mind, dragons were king of beasts, noble beyond compare. How could they be tamed to pull a carriage?

Rain Rou chuckled and explained, “Don’t listen to Zhen’s nonsense. They’re just ordinary seventh-tier hybrid dragons. The talented ones can reach the peak of seventh tier, and with luck, break into the eighth tier. They have diluted dragon blood, so they’re classified as sub-dragons. Not recognized by the true dragon clans, they can be enslaved by cultivators.”

Cloud Rider Wind nodded; that made sense. But it also highlighted the brilliance of Changsha’s great families. Sub-dragons—aren’t they dragons? At least they’re far superior to ordinary beasts.

“If I ever get the chance, I must visit Changsha Ancient Capital. Rain Rou, Bi Xuan, would you welcome me as a guest then?” Cloud Rider Wind joked.

“No way.” Rain Rou and Bi Xuan didn’t respond, but Rain Zhen shouted.

“Zhen, mind your words. What did you promise me when we left?” Rain Rou tugged at his sleeve.

Rain Zhen pouted. “He’s my age, but he acts like he’s much older, calling you and Bi Xuan ‘brother’ and ‘sister.’ It’s weird.”

Cloud Rider Wind sweatdropped, Bi Xuan’s expression turned odd; Rain Zhen had a point. The youth before them was only fourteen or fifteen, yet he called Bi Xuan—who was nearly twenty—‘brother,’ which was strange.

“Enough, Zhen. It’s just a title; it doesn’t mean much. Besides, he didn’t call you ‘Little Zhen.’” Rain Rou hastily mediated.

But before she finished, Cloud Rider Wind chimed in, “Zhen, it’s just a name—don’t take it so seriously.” His voice was lazy, as if he found all this rather dull.

Rain Zhen had already cooled off under his sister’s persuasion, but Cloud Rider Wind’s words set him off again. Angry, he pointed at Cloud Rider Wind and shouted, “Sis, look at him…no way! Come over here, kid, I challenge you to a duel!”

Cloud Rider Wind rubbed his forehead, unable to help a groan. “Can’t a man catch a break?”

“Zhen, do you still want me to take you out in the future?” Rain Rou scolded.

“Fine, you win.” Rain Zhen sulked, eyes smoldering with fury as he glared at Cloud Rider Wind, then trudged ahead.

Cloud Rider Wind shook his head, suddenly losing the mood for conversation. The group fell quiet—Bi Xuan led the way, Rain Rou and the two youths followed, making their way toward the mountain summit.

The fog thickened, shrinking visibility to less than a hundred meters. Sunlight filtered through branches was almost gone. They walked several miles, but in this dense mist, it took hours. They encountered many beasts, but none of fifth tier.

“Rain Rou, are you here just for adventure?” Cloud Rider Wind asked.

Rain Rou didn’t answer immediately, walking in silence. At length, she replied, “We’re out for some fresh air, bringing Zhen along. We stroll around, and if we encounter a fifth-tier beast, maybe earn some pocket money.”

Cloud Rider Wind didn’t press; who doesn’t have a story? If it’s awkward to speak, best to leave it unsaid.

“Careful, something’s moving up ahead,” Bi Xuan halted, signaling with his hand.

Cloud Rider Wind stopped as well, sensing a beast approaching. A fierce aura flickered on the edge of perception—too distant to be clear.

Rain Rou and Bi Xuan both possessed mid-fifth-tier cultivation. Ordinary fifth-tier beasts weren’t a problem; together, they could defeat them. Surely, a great family would possess special combat skills.

Thus, Cloud Rider Wind stayed put, adopting a defensive posture beside Rain Zhen.

Rain Rou nodded slightly at his readiness, then moved stealthily toward Bi Xuan. Cloud Rider Wind smirked inwardly—they certainly had confidence in him.

Sword in hand, he instructed Rain Zhen to hide behind a large tree. Rain Zhen behaved for once, sensing the seriousness—he’d never seen Bi Xuan so grave on their journey.

Suddenly, a beast’s roar rang out. The low shrubs thirty paces away parted, and a black shadow shot out like lightning. It was Bi Xuan, apparently struck by a beast and flung aside.

The clang of metal echoed as Rain Rou engaged the beast. The crisp sounds continued, and seeing Bi Xuan’s trembling arm, Cloud Rider Wind realized they’d encountered a powerful beast—one thick-skinned and tough. Rain Rou’s attacks clearly had little effect.

Bi Xuan glanced at Cloud Rider Wind and Rain Zhen, then gritted his teeth and rushed back in. If they couldn’t deal with this beast, they’d all perish here. Bi Xuan cursed inwardly—how had a late fifth-tier Spirit Rhinoceros appeared? This thick-skinned brute even sixth-tier beasts struggled with. If not for its sluggish movements and fear of magic, it’d be the absolute ruler of these mountains.

Cloud Rider Wind watched the flickering silver shadow outside the gap Bi Xuan had created, his pupils contracting—it was indeed the iron shielded Spirit Rhinoceros. Rain Rou and Bi Xuan would have their hands full.

He glanced at Rain Zhen. “Can you climb trees?”

Rain Zhen rolled his eyes, releasing a surge of battle energy. “What do you think?”

Cloud Rider Wind said no more, pointed upward, and leapt into the trees. Higher ground meant a clearer view and greater safety.

Hissing sounds came from nearby. Cloud Rider Wind swung his heavy sword, sending a four-tier serpent flying. The several-meter-long creature bent a bush with its weight, lying limp and still.

Rain Zhen stared at him in surprise, moving his lips but saying nothing.

Rain Rou and Bi Xuan were still wrestling with the Spirit Rhinoceros, with no solution in sight.

“Rain Rou, try stabbing its eyes!” Bi Xuan called.

“Alright.”

Swish, swish, swish—several sword strikes, each aimed at the beast’s eyes. The blade shimmered with cold, a layer of frost coating it, icy chill swirling as it stabbed toward the beast’s eye.

Clang! The sword pierced the eyelid, drawing blood that filled the beast’s eye.

Roaring in pain, the beast became frenzied, attacking the pair wildly. Its massive body plowed through like a bulldozer, ignoring their assaults.

“Rain Rou, we’ll have to use our ultimate moves, or none of us will get out alive.”

“Bi Xuan, what about the weakness afterwards? Besides, with only one of us, it’s hard to bring this beast down.”

“No choice. Who’d have thought we’d run into the toughest Spirit Rhinoceros? These beasts are supposed to be extremely rare—never seen one before, and now it’s out of our hands.” As he spoke, Bi Xuan’s body glowed faint red, his aura surging to the peak of fifth tier, battle energy pulsing violently.

It was the sign of unstable cultivation—an abrupt rise in rank that couldn’t be perfectly controlled, battle energy not yet refined.

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