Chapter 148
*Thump!* The flying artifact began to slow down and descend before a loud thump resounded, giving everyone a small shake.
“Mmm… Looks like we are here!” Qian Yu got off the bed and stretched. The ride had been a short one but he had been pretty much isolated in his room so he had been anticipating their arrival ever since.
*Knock* “Come out,” Bai Jia’s voice quietly entered their rooms.
“Are you ok to be visiting us?” Qian Yu opened the door and whispered.
“Mmm… my cousin is busy dealing with the others so he told me to get you guys,” Bai Jia replied.
“Alright, let’s head out!” Qian Yu couldn’t hide his excitement as he took the lead. Roaming through the hallways, Qian Yu arrived at the deck. Hundreds of soldiers were starting to move off and in the distance he could see Bai Jia’s cousin.
More importantly though, a gentle warming air hit his body as he stepped outside. In the skies, the air had always been cool but now that they had descended, it was a lot warmer. Being closer to the equator compared to the Soba Empire, it was a lot warmer as well.
The previous gray eerie skies in the Southern Ice Continent had disappeared as well and replacing it was a vast endless blue sky with light clouds here and there.
Most notably though, a quick glance around the area included many other flying artifacts in the vicinity.
“This is the docking place for flying artifacts. All flying artifacts that are under the control of our family land here and they are kept here under protection by our forces,” Bai Jia explained.
“The city is down below us. Anyways, welcome to Bai City,” Bai Jia pointed downwards. The mountain was tall and being where he was on the deck, Qian Yu had no choice but to walk closer to the edge to look downwards.
An endless plain of grass greeted his eyes before he saw the large walls surrounding the city. Every city had some type of wall protecting it but this wall here was yellow instead of the gray stoned walls in the Xia Empire. More importantly though, Qian Yu couldn’t help but notice the numerous watchtowers that were built into these walls. In True Ice City, their walls contained few watchtowers but it was important to note that these towers on the walls at the edges of the city were important places for large formations.
As he got closer to the edge of the deck, the city appeared in his view. “They are all so tall!” Qian Yu noticed. Practically every building was a pagoda with many stories to it.
“Mmm, the city is pretty dense population-wise. While the city is the same size as the Xia Capital, the population here is many times more dense. You’ll see why later,” Bai Jia chipped in.
Qian Yu nodded at her words and looking more inward, the towering pagodas continued until they reached another wall. Much thinner and smaller, it still separated the areas apart.
“Is that for the main family?” Qian Yu guessed. Unlike before, the area seemed a lot more spacious and not completely filled with tall pagodas everywhere.
“Mhm! The original ancestors of our family first built their city at the base of this mountain. It has grown to become this over the ages,” Bai Jia answered with a prideful smile.
“Come, let’s go,” Bai Jia motioned her hand for Qian Yu and Zhen Yue to come.
Following the lines of soldiers, they quickly got off the flying artifact and started travelling down the mountain. At the bottom of the mountain, a large military base was stationed, likely for protecting the dozens of flying artifacts and after going through a series of identity checks and registrations, they were finally able to enter the city.
“Ok! Let’s go around the city!” Bai Jia hurriedly grabbed Qian Yu’s hand.
However, someone appeared before them, stopping their advances. “No. You are to go back and report to your parents first,” Bai Yijun interrupted them.
Bai Jia clicked her tongue and sighed, “Alright… you can still see a small part of the city on the way at least.”
Seeing that, Bai Yijun turned around and started leading the three behind him.
As Qian Yu walked around, he only grew more and more amazed by what he saw. Naturally, pill and weapon shops and stores were common but more importantly, he saw many new types of businesses such as fighting arenas, training areas, and special dojos.
“It’s like a cultivator haven!” Qian Yu held back his urge to run off and check out some of these attractions.
“Have you noticed it?” Bai Jia laughed before she whispered to him.
“Hmmm… notice what exactly?” Qian Yu rubbed his chin.
“The people here. Have you seen a regular mortal?” Bai Jia replied as quiet as before but her words were like thunder to Qian Yu.
Turning his head all around, Qian Yu realized that she was right. Most of the people here emanated a qi at the quality of the qi gathering stage, with a few at the soul foundation stage. While it wasn’t that high, it was something Qian Yu hadn’t seen outside before the start of the war.
“This is why sects are pretty nonexistent in our country,” Bai Jia said.
“Hmm… I see, it all makes sense now,” Qian Yu nodded as he heard her words. From his prior research, he had learned that the Central Union was vastly different from the Xia Empire. Large sects didn’t really exist because cities owned by powerful families became the gathering point for cultivators. Of course, these major families didn’t take in random people into their family.
Passing by a series of pagodas, Qian Yu took a peek inside, seeing a couple hundred soul foundation cultivators training against each other. As more cultivators entere the city, local fighting clubs or dojos would eventually be created. However, this was fine since the family controlling the city could easily control and tax these startups while also attracting more attention to the city.
“Alright, we’re here,” Unfortunately, Bai Yijun’s voice interrupted them once more.
Seeing Bai Yijun approach them, the guards hurriedly opened the gates as the group of 4 finally reached the territory of the main family.
“Cousin, go visit your parents first,” Bai Yijun said once again.
“What about them?” Bai Jia questioned her cousin.
“They will have their own guest rooms,” Bai Yijun replied.
“... alright,” Bai Jia gave Qian Yu a deep stare.
“Your parents must miss you a lot,” Qian Yu smiled and reassured her to leave.
Seeing Qian Yu’s composure, Bai Jia nodded and departed.
As she left, Bai Yijun waved to a nearby servant, “Please arrange a guest room for her.”
“What about me?” Qian Yu and Zhen Yue both furrowed their brows.
“You will be assigned a guest room too. Later though. For now, there is someone that you need to talk to,” Bai Yijun answered.
“Me? Who?” Qian Yu asked.
“The previous head of our family. The father of the current head, Bai Zedong,” Bai Yijun answered.
“What!?” Qian Yu and Zhen Yue both shouted.
“You heard right. Now, let’s go,” Bai Yijun didn’t say anymore before departing.
“... I don’t think we really have a choice. I’ll be fine though,” Qian Yu clicked his tongue and turned to Zhen Yue. Even though it was a little weird, he didn’t think they had ill intentions towards him.
“Yes, hopefully… anyways, stay safe master,” Zhen Yue nodded.