Yefutidaolu

Chapter 431 Revisiting the Divine Capital (End of this volume)

The expert turned around upon hearing the sound.

The woman in white was smiling at him, her eyes gentle yet seemingly able to see through everything.

She stood there, the gentle breeze and melodious music that had come with her still lingering, making her appear even more extraordinary.

"Yes, they're here." Gao Jian's expression remained unchanged, as if he had expected it. He turned to Li Jun and the Qilin Rui Rui huddled behind him and said one last thing: "Then I'll be leaving now. The affairs of Cangzhou are in your hands."

After saying that, he strode out of the courtyard, his steps calm and unhurried.

At this moment, he was heading to the capital city of Yangjing, a place fraught with danger, where even braving fire and water would not be enough. Yet, his figure moved so naturally and smoothly, as if it were all meant to be this way, as if it were the natural order of things.

For Gao Jian, this is indeed a matter of course. Since he possesses the power to shake up the order of a region, then the strong should face the storms on a broader scale and confront that seemingly unshakeable behemoth.

This is the responsibility that comes with power, and it is also what his heart desires.

He walked to the courtyard gate, stood in front of the woman, waved casually, and said calmly, "Then please."

The woman nodded slightly, and without making any move, the breeze around them suddenly intensified, gently yet irresistibly enveloping the two of them.

In the next instant, Li Jun felt a blur before his eyes, and the two figures in the courtyard vanished without a trace, like a thin mist blown away by the wind. Only the faint, lingering fragrance in the air and the subtle, not-yet-completely-subsided rhythm proved that everything that had just happened was not an illusion.

Li Jun looked at the empty courtyard, sighed heavily, and subconsciously clenched his fists.

Strength, oh strength... it's never enough. There's always that at crucial moments, we have to let others walk the most dangerous paths, leaving us only to clean up the mess...

A mixture of helplessness and determination surged within him.

However… now is not the time for sentimentality. Let's first follow our original plan and work with Lord Sima to reorganize Cangzhou.

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Meanwhile, on the other side, in the instant the breeze swept over him, Gao Jian felt a lightness all over his body, and the scene before him suddenly changed.

He had already risen with the wind, soaring upwards, the earth beneath his feet rapidly receding into the distance, and houses and rivers quickly shrinking like chessboard lines.

In the blink of an eye, he was already on a cloud peak about thirty or forty miles above the ground!

Beneath my feet were rolling clouds like a sea, which were being dispersed by a gentle breeze.

Above them were dazzling stars and a bright moon that seemed within reach, and around them was a gentle breeze that whistled but was not harsh, carrying him and the woman in white forward at an astonishing speed, while the mountains and land below flew past like a flowing scroll painting.

"A thousand miles away, a gentle breeze rises, dispelling the dark clouds and revealing the stars and moon. And one can even travel so swiftly on the wind... What a beautiful technique!" Gao Jian exclaimed sincerely, feeling the gentle breeze flowing around him. He then looked at the serene white-clad woman beside him and asked, "Is this a technique of the Earth Immortal level?"

Upon hearing this, the woman slightly turned her head, her face still bearing that gentle, warm smile, and shook her head softly: "No, I am not an immortal, I have not yet taken that final step."

The superior insight was clear to him.

In other words, this woman is a master who has successfully opened the three gates of "essence, qi, and spirit" in the three gates, nine apertures, and twelve realms system, and has reached the peak of the twelfth realm!
Such cultivation level places him among the top experts within the Divine Dynasty, enough to put him on par with Yuan Lu, the former ancestor of the Netherworld.

However, the emperor of the Divine Dynasty was able to easily command such a powerful figure to serve him, making the other party travel tens of thousands of miles to pick him up. His strength and resources were indeed something that made people feel uneasy.

He nodded, asked no more questions, and turned his gaze to the seemingly endless night sky in the distance.

As the wind rises, the sea of ​​clouds slowly rolls up, layer upon layer.

As the clouds and mist dissipated, the long-dormant earth below revealed its silent outline under the clear light of the stars and moon. The mountains were a pale bluish-green, while the winding rivers shimmered quietly with a soft glow.

The paths, fields, and houses all resemble extremely faint ink marks.

Gao Jian remained silent, simply observing quietly.

The scenery in Cangzhou is quite beautiful.

However, the woman spoke first. Her voice remained clear and gentle in the wind, and her words caused Gao Jian's gaze to flicker slightly:
"What you've done... is quite good in Cangzhou."

"Oh?" Gao Jian raised an eyebrow, showing a hint of surprise at the mysterious woman's sudden praise.

Her coming on behalf of the emperor, yet her approval of the purge of aristocratic families, is intriguing in itself.

The woman nodded slightly, her tone tinged with helplessness: "The court is not unaware of the drawbacks of aristocratic families. However, things in this world often have two sides. Although aristocratic families occupy local areas and monopolize resources, the operation of the Divine Dynasty, especially the 'Grand Sacrifice to Heaven and Earth' which is crucial to the cycle of the four seasons and the harmony of wind and rain, cannot be separated from the foundation and connections they have accumulated over generations. Therefore, even if we dislike them, we are often helpless and unable to do anything about it."

Her words seemed to be an explanation of the court's predicament, but also an attempt to exonerate herself.

Upon hearing this, Gao Jian's mind raced slightly, but his expression remained unchanged. He solemnly cupped his hands in greeting and asked, "My name is Gao Jian. May I ask how you should address me, senior?"

"Jiang, Jiang Youlin," the woman said frankly.

A knowing glint flashed in Gao Jian's eyes, which then deepened into contemplation. He sighed softly, "The Jiang family? One of the five great clans of the Divine Dynasty, a top-tier clan that controls the 'Heaven-Mending and Sun-Bathing Refining Technique.' It's not unexpected... However," he changed his tone, his gaze sharp as if he could see through the energy flowing around Jiang Youlin, "the cultivation method you practiced, senior, is incredibly diverse, drawing upon the winds of the universe, agile and transcendent, completely different from the Jiang family's grand and righteous fundamental method of refining all things. Observing its essence, it is quite similar to the famous technique of a rogue earth immortal, the 'Eight Winds Immortal,' the 'Wind Winnowing Method,' which is adept at controlling wind spirits and manipulating celestial phenomena, and can even be said to have the same origin."

He spoke steadily, yet each word was clear, as if peeling back layers: "As far as I know, the Jiang family and that lone-wolf Eight Winds Immortal do not have any obvious deep relationship. Such a connection of core inheritances cannot be explained by a simple political alliance. More likely, it is because you, senior, are exceptionally talented, and your own characteristics are extremely compatible with the true teachings of the other party, making you extremely suitable to cultivate the other party's techniques."

Gao Jian paused briefly, seemingly recalling some information: "The Eight Winds Immortals' dojo has always been located in the southeast of the Divine Dynasty. Coincidentally, the Jiang family does have a branch there, but it has long since changed its name, abandoning the surname 'Jiang' and adopting the surname 'Cui'. Although it still has blood ties and economic exchanges with the main family, in terms of status, it can no longer be considered a member of the Jiang family, at most a vassal force."

His gaze refocused on Jiang Youlin's handsome face, which was filled with undisguised astonishment, and he slowly uttered his final deduction: "Based on this, senior, you are probably not a direct descendant of the Jiang family, nurtured from childhood. A more likely background is that of an orphan girl from the Cui family of the southeast, who, by chance, was noticed by the wandering Eight Winds Immortal for her talent and taken in as his personal disciple, cultivating the 'Wind Winner's Method' until she mastered it. Afterwards, perhaps because of her bloodline or her value, she was 'rediscovered' by the main branch of the Jiang family, who bestowed upon her the surname 'Jiang' in the intention of incorporating your strength into the clan."

“However,” Gao Jian’s voice carried a hint of certainty, “judging from your demeanor and actions, you are not one to be easily bound. The bestowal of your surname and recall might not have truly won you over to the Jiang family. Therefore, you did not remain to serve within the clan, but instead chose to enter the central government of the Divine Dynasty. You are not well-known among the various factions, keeping a low profile, yet you have gained the Emperor's trust, who entrusted you with such an important mission to find me…”

Gao Jian sighed again at this point:
"From this perspective, the Jiang family and the emperor are probably already at odds. His Majesty the emperor has also begun to consciously seek the support of rogue cultivators like Bafengxian in order to counterbalance or even break free from the constraints of powerful clans. Things have developed to the point where external forces need to be secretly introduced to balance the internal situation... The five clans of the Divine Dynasty are probably all harboring ulterior motives and having their own plans."

Hearing Gao Jian's insightful words, Jiang Youlin, who was riding the wind beside him, finally put away his ever-present gentle smile and, for the first time, looked at the seemingly young man beside him with a serious and scrutinizing gaze. His aura was as deep as an abyss.

The breeze was still howling, and the sea of ​​clouds was churning beneath their feet, but the atmosphere between the two had changed completely.

Clearly, Jiang Youlin hadn't expected that simply reciting her surname would allow Gao Jian to deduce almost her entire background, lineage, and even glimpse a corner of the power struggles at the top of the Divine Dynasty. This terrifyingly sharp insight and ability to integrate information deeply shocked her.

This person is truly... their meticulousness is frightening.

"You're a genius in cultivation, and you're also very clever." Jiang Youlin composed himself after a moment of lapse in composure, and put on his gentle smile again, his tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible admiration. "This time when you go to the capital, you might actually do something unexpected."

"Isn't the point of living to do things?" Gao Jian neither agreed nor disagreed, but simply smiled and said, "Farmers tend seedlings, soldiers guard passes, and craftsmen create things; it's all the same. Everyone does their job and accepts their fate."

“Farmers, soldiers, and officials all earn their living by doing what they do. But you are not like that.” Jiang Youlin’s gaze narrowed slightly as he looked at Gao Jian. “What you have done goes far beyond your ‘duty’. You have directly overturned the entire power structure of the Cangzhou aristocratic families. This move is too risky and will make countless enemies. I don’t see any real benefit for you personally.”

“Yes, of course there is.” Gao Jian laughed, his smile carrying a pure and frankness. “A person’s life is all about breathing. When your breath is flowing smoothly, your whole body feels refreshed and you live comfortably, feeling even better than a farmer with a bountiful harvest; when your breath is not flowing smoothly, it stagnates in your heart, and you’re bound to die young. In order not to die young and to live longer, you naturally have to find a way to get your breath flowing smoothly.”

His theory was simple and direct, full of the impulsiveness and irrationality of a warrior, reducing a massive change that could shake a province and affect the central government to the most basic word "following the flow of qi".

Upon hearing this, Jiang Youlin paused slightly, then chuckled and shook her head, her tone carrying a genuine sense of admiration: "Truly... the temperament of a warrior. However, this impulsive and reckless courage is worthy of respect." As she spoke, she slightly curtsied and gave Gao Jian a solemn female bow, not out of respect for status, but as an acknowledgment of his character and conduct.

Gao Jian accepted the bow without hesitation, showing no deference. He then looked up at the seemingly endless scenery ahead and asked, "How much longer until we reach the capital? We must be moving very fast, right?"

“We’ve arrived,” Jiang Youlin replied softly.

As her words fell, the swirling, whistling wind that had been carrying them at great speed vanished instantly, as if gently smoothed by an invisible hand.

The blurry scene caused by high-speed movement suddenly became clear and stable.

Gao Jian's pupils contracted slightly.

He had been mentally estimating the speed. The capital was a million miles away from Cangzhou, so it was impossible for them to arrive in this time unless the other party used other means.

Unfortunately, he hadn't noticed that.

I need to be more careful in the future. With the light of my own heart shining upon me, I shouldn't have made such a mistake. I'll learn from this experience next time.

When I killed Cangzhou before, I thought the Divine Dynasty's techniques were nothing special. But now it seems... even at the Earth Immortal level, they are still a grade higher than me. I probably haven't reached the seventh grade yet, so I still can't let my guard down.

Gao Jian sighed inwardly, secretly learning from the lesson.

At the same time, what lies before us is no longer a rolling sea of ​​clouds and a distant starry sky.

The legendary, magnificent wonder suspended above the sea of ​​clouds—the divine capital Yangjing—was already within reach, its indescribable grandeur and oppressive aura filling his entire field of vision.

The enormous floating city resembles the base of Mount Buzhou in mythology, with countless arrays of flowing runes supporting this creation that defies common sense.

Above, there are layers upon layers of palaces and pavilions that stretch as far as the eye can see, with flying eaves, brackets, and glazed golden roofs reflecting a dazzling light.

The Twenty-Eight Mansions area is surrounded by stars like the moon, while the Ziwei Enclosure at its core is like a giant pillar reaching into the sky, its scale so vast that it seems to be an independent world in itself.

A dense aura of spiritual energy from heaven and earth formed a visible mist that lingered around the giant city. An ancient, majestic, and unfathomable aura permeated every inch of space, silently proclaiming the supreme authority and millennia-old heritage of the divine dynasty.

The mere sight of the capital city of Yangjing itself is a silent awe-inspiring presence.

Gao Jian hovered in mid-air, appearing as insignificant as dust compared to this colossal city. Yet, he stood upright, his gaze calmly meeting that floating city that represented the ultimate symbol of the divine dynasty's power and order, his eyes showing no fear, only unfathomable serenity.

We've learned our lesson.

The journey to Beijing has come to an end.

However, the real storm has only just begun.

(End of this chapter)