Chapter 511 - 343: Huaqing City! Sudden Upheaval!

Chapter 511: Chapter 343: Huaqing City! Sudden Upheaval!

Among the vast sea of clouds, a majestic city stands towering, akin to a giant whale sprawling across the earth.

This is Huaqing City.

This city, over two thousand miles distant from the Canglan Celestial Sect, is at the farthest edge of the sect’s sphere of influence.

Three days later, in a sky as clear as washed, a spirit bird, wholly shimmering white with wings dazzlingly radiant, streaked across the sky.

Finally, it precisely landed on the flat plaza in front of the City Lord’s mansion.

Four figures leaped down from the bird’s back.

Leading them was Lu Xuan, standing with hands behind his back, the dark ripples on his azure robe glimmering under the morning sun.

This place is the center of Huaqing City, now already bustling with a cacophony of human voices and extraordinarily lively.

The dense crowd, like a tide, surged over, thoroughly surrounding the area.

The clamorous voices and the rising and falling shouts intertwined into a bustling, albeit slightly chaotic, picture of urban life.

However, aside from the outermost crowded layer, looking toward the innermost circle revealed a completely different orderly scene.

The large venue was ingeniously divided into four well-proportioned areas.

Each area was arranged in neat order, resembling a well-trained military phalanx.

In front of these four areas, four flagpoles stood straight, with flags fluttering in the wind.

The patterns and texts embroidered on those flags were not only markers but also symbols of the majesty and strength of the major factions.

The Qian Family, the Yang Family, the Shi Family, and the Mad Wolf Gang.

These four names, to the citizens of Huaqing City, were already as familiar as thunder, deeply engraved in every person’s mind.

In this city, apart from the official authority represented by the City Lord’s mansion, these four forces were the undisputed "giants."

Each occupying an area, they hold a vital position in Huaqing City’s commerce, urban life, martial deterrence, and many key sectors.

Like four towering giant trees, rooted in the land of Huaqing City, their branches extending to every corner of the city.

On the eastern side, the red flag flapped vigorously, the ancient seal script of "Qian" embroidered upon it.

Under its banner, the scions donned spirit jade at their waists; even the chairs were specially gilded with refined gold.

On the western side, the black banner was like ink, with the character "Yang" in iron brush and silver hook, the young scions bore stern countenances, exuding an aura of unapproachability.

On the southern side, the blue flag curled with clouds, alongside which was an alchemical cauldron pattern next to the character "Shi."

The people of the Shi Family were surrounded by a faint medicinal fragrance, evidently a family of alchemists.

On the northern side, the blood-red flag was fierce, and the Mad Wolf Gang members uniformly wore dark iron bracers.

The Gang Leader sat on a tiger-skin seat, toying with a beast’s sharp tooth.

The brawny men behind him bared their chests, each adorned with vivid wolf head tattoos.

Earlier, occupying the guest seats, the four powerful factions, exuding an air of authority, displaying the demeanor of local strongholds.

Upon seeing the arrival of Lu Xuan and his group from the sky, their faces altered abruptly.

These normally arrogant figures reacted like startled birds, rising simultaneously from their carved sandalwood chairs.

Their postures tense, not daring to breathe too heavily, for fear of inadvertently provoking Lu Xuan and his group.

The crowd parted like waves, revealing a pathway.

At the end of the pathway, the over-fifty-year-old City Lord of Huaqing City briskly approached.

His sparse silver hair was meticulously groomed, clad in a gray cloud-patterned brocade robe.

Though his cultivation was merely at the early Foundation Establishment stage, his gestures bore the aura of one long accustomed to authority.

Typically decisive and resolute in action.

Yet at this moment, none of his usual might was evident, as he hurried forth with wind beneath his feet towards Lu Xuan, his face adorned with a flattering smile.

Upon reaching close, the City Lord of Huaqing City hurriedly bowed, his back bent into a crescent, his aged voice full of respect: "Oh my!"

"It turns out Steward Lu has graced us with your presence, and this old man failed to properly welcome you, my sincerest apologies!"

"I hope Steward Lu will not take offense!" As he spoke, the old man kept stealing glances at Lu Xuan, his eyes filled with anxiety and unease.

As the person in Huaqing City most familiar with the Canglan Celestial Sect, he naturally knew Lu Xuan’s identity and the level of his strength.

Ten years ago, this Steward Lu visited Huaqing City, taking a dozen potential cultivators back to the Canglan Celestial Sect.

Because back then, it was he who personally hosted this Steward Lu.

Lu Xuan’s expression was calm, offering a slight nod, a low, deep sound escaping his throat, imbued with a naturally imposing presence.

"Hmm!"

Subsequently, Lu Xuan’s gaze, as sharp as an eagle’s, swept over the surroundings, taking in the tense yet expectant expressions of the young juniors.

"Since you are already prepared."

Lu Xuan’s lips lightly parted, his voice steady and forceful, carrying an undeniable authority.

"Then let us begin with the Qian Family, proceeding in the order of Qian, Yang, Shi, and the Mad Wolf Gang, conducting the root bone test in turn."

Having said this, Lu Xuan stood with hands behind his back, his form enveloped by faint waves of spiritual Qi, glimmering with a subtle blue hue under the sunlight.

Now, regarding this method of root bone testing, it seemed simple, yet it had its thresholds.

It required a cultivator of post-Foundation Establishment stage or above to channel their potent spiritual power, using it as a guide to probe into the testee’s meridians.

Through sensing the smoothness of spiritual Qi circulation within the subject and the root bone’s speed of absorbing spiritual Qi, one could assess the quality of their root bone.

The higher the cultivator’s realm, the more refined and exquisite their spiritual power, naturally their judgment would be correspondingly accurate and meticulous.

Even extremely subtle differences in aptitude could not escape the senses of a high-level cultivator.

The burning sun above the Spirit Testing Plaza heated the blue stone tiles to scorching temperatures.

Twisting heat waves churned in the air, blurring the outlines of distant buildings.