As Lu Qing gazed intently at the three large characters "Azure Dragon City" on the city gate.
Soon, a rather rich golden light of supernatural power emerged from the words.
Several notes floated out.
gold?
Lu Qing was slightly taken aback and looked at the notes.
【The Martial Saint's inscription: These three large characters were personally written by a powerful expert at the peak of the Innate Realm. The calligraphy is beautiful and the aura is extraordinary.】
【Contains the will of martial arts, which can remain for hundreds of years.】
【It is rumored that these three characters contain the legacy left behind by a peerless martial arts master, but for hundreds of years, no one has been able to decipher their secrets and obtain the inheritance.】
【A cultivation technique has been discovered. Do you wish to download it?】
"Does it really contain a legacy?"
Lu Qing was somewhat surprised.
He had only sensed that these words had a different meaning and had a slight guess in his mind, but he did not expect that they actually contained the inheritance of cultivation techniques.
Moreover, judging from its description, the lineage of this tradition seems to be quite significant.
After all, the title of Martial Saint is not something that just anyone can bear.
There were many people queuing up in front of the city gate, waiting to enter the city. It would take them some time before it was their turn.
Without much hesitation, Lu Qing immediately chose to download the cultivation technique.
【Downloading, current progress: 1%, 2%, 3%... 98%, 99%, 100%】
【The cultivation technique has been downloaded. Would you like to simulate it?】
Lu Qing chose simulation.
【Simulation in progress, current progress: 1%, 2%, 3%... 98%, 99%, 100%】
【Simulation complete. Would you like to proceed with the learning process?】
This time, however, Lu Qing did not choose to study directly.
Because he spent more than fifteen minutes downloading the simulated cultivation method, the queue for the process gradually moved forward, and it was almost their turn.
"The inscription on this city gate is quite extraordinary."
At this moment, the old doctor also sighed.
"Master, you noticed it too?"
Lu Qing wasn't too surprised. With his master's talent, it would be strange if he hadn't noticed the strangeness of those three words.
"The three large characters on this city gate seem to contain the swordsmanship will of a powerful martial artist. Unfortunately, I am dull-witted. I just spent some time trying to understand them, and I only managed to grasp four or five parts of it."
The old doctor sighed.
He had just been studying the inscription on the city gate and sensed that the swordsmanship within it was quite beneficial to him.
This Central Plains is indeed a place where hidden talents abound.
They haven't even officially entered Zhongzhou yet, but the inscription on just one checkpoint gate is enough to give him pause for thought.
One can only imagine how outstanding and fertile the Central Plains must have been, with so many extraordinary people.
"I've grasped about four or five parts of it..."
Lu Qing was speechless.
My master's martial arts talent and comprehension are indeed extremely strong.
The inscription on the city gate contains the insights left by a supreme expert at the peak of the Innate Realm.
Master is truly amazing that he was able to grasp four or five parts of the essence in such a short time.
"Where are you from? Do you have travel permits? How many of you are entering the city?"
Just as Lu Qing was in shock at his master, a rough voice rang out.
Lu Qing turned his head and saw two soldiers in armor, holding long halberds, standing in front of the city gate. The one shouting was the soldier on the right.
Lu Qing's heart stirred slightly.
This Azure Dragon City is indeed extraordinary. Even the two city guards who guard the city gate are both at the Bone and Tendon Realm. One of them is even more perfect in terms of Qi and Blood, having already reached the Perfection of the Bone and Tendon Realm.
“Lord City Guard, we are from Cangzhou, and there are five of us entering the city.”
Magu stepped forward with a smile and handed over a small booklet.
The so-called travel permit is actually something that can prove Lu Qing and his companions' identities and origins.
This thing is usually useless, but it is still needed in an important pass like Qinglong Pass.
Unless Lu Qing and his group can cross that towering mountain range on their own and enter Zhongzhou without going through Qinglong Pass.
The identity and travel permits of Lu Qing and his companions were arranged with the help of the Wei family, so there was naturally no problem.
The city guard glanced at it briefly and then closed it.
"The travel permits are no problem. For the five of you, each of you will pay one tael of silver for the city entry fee, plus the carriage fee, for a total of six taels of silver. After you've been instructed, you can enter the city."
One tael of silver per person?
When Magu heard this number, he was slightly startled.
However, after observing the other people waiting to enter the city, they found that none of them showed any unusual expression, indicating that the entrance fee was normal and not something the other party was deliberately making things difficult for them.
Having gained some confidence, Ma Gu smiled obsequiously and took out a money pouch, handing it over: "Yes, here is six taels of silver. Please take a look."
The city guard weighed it in his hand, his brow furrowing slightly. When he opened it and saw the small silver ingot inside, he immediately smiled.
He waved his hand and said, "Not bad, you have good eyesight. Hurry up and go in. If anyone makes things difficult for you, just say that I, Hu Laosan, am protecting you."
"Thank you very much, Lord City Guard!"
Magu's face lit up with joy. After thanking him repeatedly, he returned to the carriage and led it forward.
As the carriage passed through the city gate, another city guard who had been silent suddenly spoke up: "Young man, judging from your earlier demeanor, you seemed quite interested in those three large characters on the city gate?"
Lu Qing was slightly taken aback. He turned his head and saw that the city guard was looking at him. After thinking for a moment, he smiled and said:
"I have always been fond of calligraphy. Seeing the three large characters 'Azure Dragon City' above my head, written with such a majestic style, it seems to be the work of no ordinary person. I was so excited that I studied them for a while. City Guard, I wonder if I have violated any taboos?"
"You didn't break any taboos."
The city guard who spoke was a handsome young man.
"However, I see that you also seem to be a martial artist, so I would like to give you some advice: the inscriptions on the city gate contain a special meaning."
But its meaning is somewhat sinister. If you happen to glean anything from it, believe me, don't practice it.
Otherwise, if one falls into madness and is plagued by inner demons, causing one's cultivation to regress instead of advance, it will be too late for regrets.
Lu Qing was taken aback, but the armored youth's expression was serious, so it seemed that what he said was not a lie.
He hesitated for a moment, then nodded slightly to him: "Thank you for your advice, sir. I will pay attention."
Once Lu Qing and the others had entered the city and disappeared from sight, the armored youth reverted to his indifferent expression, ignoring everyone.
However, Hu Laosan, who was narrating, became interested: "Young Master Ji, why did you specifically remind that boy not to try to understand the inscriptions on the city gate? You don't actually think that kid could figure out the secrets of the inscriptions, do you?"
"Who knows? I just noticed he seemed a bit obsessed with those words, so I gave him a heads-up. After all, they gave us extra silver, didn't they?" the armored youth said casually.
“That’s right.” Old Hu took out the money bag that Ma Gu had given him earlier and poured out the fat silver ingot inside. “Young Master Ji, this silver is for everyone. You and I will each have half.”
"Twenty taels?" The armored youth was somewhat surprised. "I didn't expect those people to be so generous."
Seeing that Hu Laosan was about to break the silver into pieces, the armored youth waved his hand and said, "Forget it, I don't need my share. You keep it. Didn't you say you wanted to send your daughter to Xuanxin Sect to learn martial arts? You can't do that without money."
"Then thank you very much, Young Master Ji."
Upon hearing this, Hu Laosan did not refuse and casually put the silver back into his pocket, as if his actions were merely polite formalities.
Seeing this, the armored youth smirked: "You can take the money, but don't try to swallow the City Lord's share too, or even I won't be able to protect you."
"Don't worry, Young Master Ji." Old Hu patted his chest. "I, Old Hu, keep perfect accounts. I always keep public and private matters separate. I would never embezzle public funds."
After saying that, he reached into his pocket and pulled out another handful of loose silver coins, counted a few pieces, and put them into the iron box next to him.
Seeing this, the armored youth could only shake his head, ignoring the old fox, and continue to daydream.
Hu Laosan didn't care at all, even though he didn't know why this dignified Second Young Master Ji would be so foolish as to come with him to guard the city gate.
But since they don't hinder him from making money, and even occasionally cover for him, why wouldn't he be happy to do so?
"If we can raise another hundred taels, we'll have enough silver to send Xiaolian to the Xuanxin Sect to learn martial arts."
Hu Laosan touched the silver ingot in his pocket, feeling quite pleased with himself.
"That's interesting."
Having already entered the city, Lu Qing sensed what was happening at the city gate and a hint of amusement appeared in his eyes as he withdrew his divine soul power.
It seems that the armored youth was indeed acting out of kindness when he reminded him.
But... is the meaning contained in those three characters carved on the city gate really that terrifying? How come he didn't feel it?
A hint of doubt arose in Lu Qing's heart.
When he first saw the three characters, he only felt that the artistic conception on them was quite extraordinary, but he did not feel that there was any danger.
Moreover, the master also pondered it, and I didn't see him say anything was wrong.
"Could there be some hidden meaning in the inscription? It seems I'll have to figure it out once I'm settled."
Lu Qing thought for a moment and then made a decision.
Wow! What a huge city!
Just then, Xiaoyan's surprised voice suddenly rang out.
Lu Qing turned his head and saw that the little guy had already gotten off the carriage and was holding Xiao Li, his mouth and eyes wide open, looking ahead in surprise.
On the other side, Ma Gu and Wei Zi'an looked almost the same, both staring wide-eyed at the bustling scene before them.
Right in front of them, on a street several tens of feet wide, all sorts of pedestrians, horse-drawn carriages, and donkey carts were moving about in a constant stream.
The sounds of vehicles, vendors hawking their wares, and shouts blended together.
The scene presented by this main street alone was far more magnificent and prosperous than any other major city that Lu Qing and his companions had ever seen.
Not to mention, the tall houses on both sides of the street, with their rugged style and built of huge stones, were something that Lu Qing and his group rarely saw.
"It truly lives up to its reputation as the world-famous Qinglong Pass. I wonder how magnificent the other three passes are," Lu Qing couldn't help but praise.
People from other states in the world who want to enter Zhongzhou normally usually have to pass through four passes.
These four fortified passes are all named after legendary mythical beasts.
Lu Qing and his group headed towards Qinglong Pass in the east.
Of course, although there are four passes in the world, it does not mean that you can only enter the Central Plains by passing through the passes.
However, the situation would be much more complicated if one wanted to enter Zhongzhou through other routes.
Generally, only those powerful martial artists who do not want to reveal their identity and whereabouts, and who are exceptionally skilled, would choose to do that.
Ordinary people would rather spend some money and take the safer route through the fortified city.
"Master, what should we do next? Should we find lodging first?" Lu Qing asked.
The old doctor pondered for a moment and said, "Let's find a place to stay first. We've been traveling for so many days, and everyone is exhausted. Let's rest well in this city for a day and then enter the pass tomorrow."
"That's what I think too," Lu Qing nodded.
They had been traveling for the past few days. Although they were protected by the array vehicle and did not feel physically tired, they were still somewhat mentally exhausted.
He and his master were alright, but Xiaoyan and Wei Zian were having a hard time.
Especially for Magu, the increased speed of the carriage meant he had to concentrate fully on driving it, resulting in a significant mental strain.
If we don't get a proper rest soon, it might damage our foundation.
As one of the hubs for communication and exchange between Zhongzhou and other states in the east, Qinglong City naturally has a highly developed commerce.
Lu Qing and his companions found a rather satisfactory inn without much effort.
Although it was a bit expensive, they weren't short of money these days, so they didn't care about the cost.
After settling into their lodgings, Lu Qing had just finished making the bed when Xiao Yan and Xiao Li were playfully fighting nearby.
There was a knock on the door: "Aqing, come out for a moment."
"What is it, Master?" Lu Qing opened the door.
"Come with me for a while, I need to find out some things," the old doctor said.
"Okay, Master, please wait a moment."
Lu Qing returned to his room, gave Xiao Yan and Xiao Li some instructions, told them to stay in the room and not to run around, and then left the room.
Once they had followed their master outside the street, Lu Qing finally voiced his question: "Master, what do we need to ask about?"
"Some matters concerning entering the pass, and the recent general situation of the world," the old doctor said.
"The state of the world?" Lu Qing was startled. "Master, where can we inquire about this?"
Could it be that Master has some connections in this Azure Dragon City?
A thought suddenly occurred to Lu Qing.
However, the old doctor did not answer Lu Qing's question directly, but instead took out something and showed it to him.
"Ah Qing, do you still recognize this?"
Lu Qing took a look and immediately recognized it: "Isn't this the jade token that Lord Zhi Rui gave to you, Master?"
"That's right, it is that jade tablet. Just when we entered the city earlier, I suddenly felt a strange movement coming from the jade tablet."
I sensed something in the room just now and found that the cause of the jade pendant's unusual movement was a certain place in the city.
Based on what His Excellency Zhi Rui had instructed, perhaps that place should be a branch of the Tianji Tower.
“That’s right.” Lu Qing realized what his master meant.
Since Tianji Tower is known as the best intelligence agency in the world, it must have established branches in various locations to collect intelligence.
A large city like Qinglong City must have its strongholds.
"Then let's not delay, Master, let's go now."
