Chapter 70 Celestial Essence Country, Four Superpowers

“Challenging rival dojos? Are you really going that far?”

Hearing Xie Jingyuan’s mention of challenging dojos, Xiao Yu immediately perked up. She was quirky and always eager for a little chaos; she never had any resistance against “exciting” things like this.

Xie Jingyuan glanced at her and chuckled. “I call it challenging rival dojos, but they’re actually all my acquaintances. We’re just arranging friendly spars.

“Of course, just because the older generation won’t get angry doesn’t mean the younger generation will go easy. Feng Yin will definitely face the full force of their young talents.

“Only then can Feng Yin truly grow.”

He then looked at Feng Yin. “There are numerous weapons and Martial Arts in the world. If you want to effectively accumulate combat experience, sparring with your fellow disciples isn’t enough. You need to fight against different Flows frequently so you can handle all sorts of bizarre opponents in tournaments.”

Feng Yin nodded in understanding.

His master was right. Figuring things out behind closed doors was useless. If he wanted to perfectly execute the physique and techniques he trained day and night in actual combat—he had to engage in a lot of real fights.

Xiao Yu’s eyes sparkled as she listened. She tilted her head and looked at Xie Jingyuan with a cheeky, ingratiating smile. “Master, can I tag along to challenge the dojos too, please?”

Xie Jingyuan gave her a sidelong glance. “Your father hired many private tutors for you, teaching everything from music to painting. Don’t you have classes to attend?”

“Oh come on—” Xiao Yu quickly feigned pitifulness. “Master, I’ve already finished the college entrance exams. Besides, my Martial Arts talent is so high that learning all that pedantic stuff is a total waste.”

She revealed her true motive. “Master, when we get back, can you help me talk to my dad? Have him cancel all of that so I can focus on practicing Martial Arts with you, okay?”

Xie Jingyuan looked at her with a half-smile. “Xiao Yu, you used to complain about the hardship and exhaustion at the drop of a hat. Otherwise, with your high talent, you wouldn’t still be a half-baked amateur after a whole year.”

“That’s right,” Shen Jia, who was sitting next to Xiao Yu, couldn’t help but chime in.

She continued with a beaming smile, “Xiao Yu, you’ve complained to me plenty of times, saying that practicing Martial Arts is too boring and—Mmph—”

Shen Jia couldn’t finish her sentence because Xiao Yu clamped a hand over her mouth.

Xiao Yu yelled with a blushing face, “That was when I was immature! After this dangerous incident, I’ve realized that relying on myself is better than relying on others. If I were as strong as the Black Armor Swordsman, I wouldn’t be afraid of anyone trying to assassinate me~”

Feng Yin’s heart skipped a beat. He wondered why Xiao Yu was still hung up on the Black Armor Swordsman.

Xie Jingyuan, however, was quite satisfied with Xiao Yu’s words. He had always had a headache over this talented little disciple whose mind was too unfocused and who feared hardship and exhaustion. The fact that this crisis had awakened her and made her realize the need to work hard and grow stronger was indeed an unexpected joy.

On the other hand, Shen Jia understood her best friend’s intentions much better. She smirked.

“I think Xiao Yu just wants to practice swordplay with Feng Yin. Uncle Xie, if you had Feng Yin in your Sect earlier, Xiao Yu would probably already be an expert by now and—Mmph—”

Once again, her mouth was covered by the blushing Xiao Yu.

“You talk too much!”

Feng Yin and the elders watched the two girls bicker, unable to help but smile. Regardless, they would be returning to “civilized society” next.

***

Although a helicopter’s Speed was no match for a jet plane, it still exceeded two hundred kilometers per hour. While Border Prison Island was an exile island belonging to Genroku Country, Genroku Country itself was not far from Celestial Essence Country.

After a nearly three-hour transoceanic flight, Feng Yin felt the helicopter begin to descend.

“Honored guests, we have entered the airspace of Celestial Essence Country and will be arriving at Coastal City shortly.”

The co-pilot in the front turned around. “We will land on the helipad of the Zero Point Group Building. The pick-up vehicles have already been arranged.”

Xie Jingyuan nodded gently.

Soon, through the windshield of the cockpit, Feng Yin saw Coastal City illuminated by the lights of tens of thousands of homes.

Beside him, Xiao Yu smiled. “Feng Yin, that’s Coastal City, one of the Four super metropolises of Celestial Essence. Does it ring a bell?”

Feng Yin silently gazed at the distant neon lights that remained brilliant even in the dead of night, and slowly shook his head.

Coastal City, one of Celestial Essence’s Four super metropolises. If he were to compare it to a counterpart in his home world of Earth, it would probably be similar to Shanghai. But this was not Earth; he just needed to play the role of an amnesiac well.

Xiao Yu smiled faintly. “The headquarters of our Xuan Guang Group is right here in Coastal City, and the Gangrou Sword Hall that Master founded is also here.”

Feng Yin nodded in acknowledgment. He glanced at Xie Yanran across from him. “Senior Sister told me before that the Gangrou Sect belongs to the Yin Yang Sword Sect, which is located in the Northern Sea District. So, does that mean Coastal City is also a city in the Northern Sea District?”

Xie Yanran smiled faintly but didn’t explain, knowing that a chatterbox like Xiao Yu wouldn’t be able to hold back from answering.

Sure enough, Xiao Yu cheekily began her explanation. “The Northern Sea District is in the northern part of Celestial Essence, while Coastal City is the capital of the East Ascending District on the eastern side of Celestial Essence.”

“Then why did Master choose to establish the Gangrou Sect here?” Feng Yin was a bit curious.

Xie Jingyuan smiled slightly. “The Yin Yang Sword Sect is the main headquarters, and the Northern Sea District is its foundation. There’s no need for me to create a branch there.

“If one wants to establish their own lineage and spread their teachings, they must head to other regions to break new ground. This principle applies to the other major Sects as well.”

So that was it. Listening to Xie Jingyuan’s introduction, supplemented by Xiao Yu, Feng Yin gained a rough understanding of the layout of the Martial Arts Influence in Celestial Essence Country.

First were the large-scale Sects anchored in the Four major districts of Celestial Essence Country.

Northern Sea District—Yin Yang Sword Sect.

East Ascending District—Penglai Martial Pavilion.

Nanming District—Vermilion Building.

Western Yan District—Kunlun Sect.

Additionally, Celestial Essence Country boasted a vast territory. Outside of the Four major districts, there were other small and medium-sized regions and cities scattered between them, where various Sects of different sizes were stationed to develop.

It could be described as Four superpowers alongside many strong entities, with branches of major Sects and marginal minor Sects scattered like stars in the sky, blooming like a hundred flowers.

And there was an unwritten agreement among the “Four superpowers” rooted in the Four major districts: they could not plant their flags in other districts under the name of their main Sect. For example, the Yin Yang Sword Sect could not establish dojos or clubs under any name related to the “Yin Yang Sword Sect” outside of the Northern Sea District. They could only rely on experts like Xie Jingyuan to act as representatives and found branch sword halls like the Gangrou Sect.

Amidst Xiao Yu’s gentle whispers, the helicopter landed on the roof of a skyscraper in the Coastal City Center.

Xiao Yu nudged him again and smiled. “When we get down, there will be official agents to collect the relevant identification data for the three of you. Don’t be nervous. Just act natural.”

Feng Yin nodded slightly.

Then, led by Xie Jingyuan, the group hopped out of the helicopter. The moment his feet touched the ground, Feng Yin breathed a profound sigh of relief in his heart. This was what true safety felt like.

He looked up to see a middle-aged man in a formal suit with a thin mustache leading the way toward them. He was closely followed by a graceful assistant and two uniformed personnel who exuded a distinct sense of solemnity.

“That guy with the mustache is my dad, hehe,” Xiao Yu informed Feng Yin in a voice as soft as a mosquito’s buzz.

Then, she happily ran forward.