Chapter 263: Chapter 144: Tributor
’So this is a major city in this world?’
Qin Fang’s eyes shone as he gazed at the scenery across the marsh. Its grandeur and prosperity surpassed even his imagination.
Administratively, True Martial County wasn’t directly under Lan Central’s jurisdiction. Below a prefecture, there were also counties.
True Martial County was under the jurisdiction of Bibo County.
However, this place was both Bibo County and Lanyang City.
Therefore, Lanyang City served as both the prefectural and the county seat.
"Keep moving, what are you spacing out for?"
As Qin Fang was lost in thought, gazing at the view across the marsh, someone behind him urged him on. He snapped out of it and started walking forward.
At this moment, he was standing in a line.
This great marsh was called the Great Cloud Marsh. It was vast and abundant with resources; the Chujiang River was merely one of its tributaries.
Lanyang City was situated in the very center of the Great Cloud Marsh. It was a massive island, connected to the outside world by only a few narrow paths.
Because of this, reaching the Prefecture City from most areas required travel by boat.
In every area near a tributary of Lan Central, large official boats ferried people day and night without cease.
People coming to Lanyang City from the direction of True Martial and Gusha almost all had to board a ferry from the bustling market town of Qingmu, which was where Qin Fang now stood.
Here, the Black Armor Army of Lan Central was stationed year-round, inspecting identities, travel permits, and the like.
The administration was extremely strict.
Qin Fang stood in line, feeling a little apprehensive.
But then he recalled his senior brother’s words, let out a soft breath, and waited patiently.
A line of Black Armored Soldiers stood in formation up ahead, their presence imposing. Qin Fang’s Eye Power was exceptional; a single glance filled him with astonishment... because these soldiers of the Black Armor Army were, at the very least, Mingjin Martial Artists!
The few leading them were even Dark Force Powerhouses!
’And these are just ordinary soldiers of the Black Armor Army, yet the weakest among them is a Mingjin Martial Artist.’
’It just shows how powerful the Black Armor Army is!’
’There are probably quite a few Huajin Martial Artists among them, too.’
’Heck, there might even be Martial Artists in the Divine Domain!’
he thought to himself.
The line was long, but no one dared to cause trouble. Everyone obediently cooperated with the inspection of their identities and travel permits before passing through the checkpoint and boarding the large ship behind it.
After waiting in line for almost an hour, it was finally Qin Fang’s turn.
He walked up to the Black Armored Soldier in charge of inspecting identities.
The lead soldier was writing something down. He looked up at Qin Fang and said coldly, "Identity."
Qin Fang handed over his identity document.
The Black Armored Soldier took it, glanced at it, and frowned. "From Yanfang Prefecture?"
’Yanfang Prefecture is nowhere near Canglan Prefecture!’
Qin Fang nodded.
The Black Armored Soldier looked Qin Fang up and down, his brow furrowing slightly. "Your appearance doesn’t match this identity document... Where’s your travel permit?"
At the soldier’s words, several other Black Armored Soldiers nearby all turned to look at Qin Fang, their gazes sharpening with obvious scrutiny.
Qin Fang said calmly, "There was a great drought in Yanfang the year before last. I went to the Government Office for a travel permit, but everyone there had fled. So I don’t have one."
The Black Armored Soldier was still frowning, but before he could speak again, Qin Fang added, "I have come to Canglan Prefecture to participate in the Martial Arts Examination and obtain Martial Arts Records."
’The Martial Arts Examination?’
Upon hearing this, the nearby Black Armored Soldiers all showed looks of surprise.
The seated Black Armored Soldier’s brow furrowed even deeper. He asked in a grave voice, "Participating in the Martial Arts Examination is no simple matter... What is your current cultivation?"
"Huajin," Qin Fang answered truthfully.
As soon as he said it, Qin Fang clearly heard several sharp intakes of breath.
...It wasn’t just the Black Armored Soldiers. Even some of the commoners in line near him gasped, and they all subconsciously turned to stare at him.
Having reached the Huajin realm, Qin Fang’s mind was as clear as a mirror, and he immediately perceived the gazes filled with shock and astonishment...
’To be honest, this feeling of suddenly being the center of attention was something he wasn’t quite used to.’
However, his expression remained unchanged as he stood calmly in place.
The Black Armored Soldier holding his identity document hurriedly looked down at it again.
"Born in the ninth year of Guangwu? That means... you’re only twenty years old?"
A look of utter shock appeared in his eyes.
Qin Fang nodded.
"Are you truly at the Huajin realm? Don’t lie to me. You won’t be able to bear the consequences if you do," the Black Armored Soldier said seriously, looking up.
Qin Fang nodded once more.
The Black Armored Soldier stood up, took a deep breath, and said to him, "Since you’re here for the Martial Arts Examination, this is beyond my authority... Please wait here for a moment. I’ll be right back."
After speaking, he gestured for Qin Fang to wait to the side. He then shot a look at the other Black Armored Soldiers, who understood immediately. Qin Fang noticed them subtly moving closer to him.
Then, the soldier hurried past the checkpoint and over to the shore... where two other Black Armored Soldiers of clearly higher rank were standing.
The soldier rushed over and said something to them in a low voice. The two men looked surprised and turned their heads to look at Qin Fang.
Qin Fang’s expression didn’t change. He met their gaze calmly and even gave them a slight nod.
One of the men took Qin Fang’s identity document and looked it over, his eyes also showing surprise.
Immediately after, the two men followed the soldier and walked over together.
"You’re really at the Huajin realm?"
the man holding Qin Fang’s identity document asked.
He appeared to be around forty years old, with rugged features, some stubble on his face, and a sharp, spirited gaze.
Qin Fang nodded. "I am."
"Are you sure? Don’t lie,"
The other man, also middle-aged, watched Qin Fang with flickering eyes. He narrowed his own and said seriously.
"I wouldn’t dare," Qin Fang said, shaking his head.
"Alright... Come with me. If you’re truly at the Huajin realm, then you’re not someone we can manage."
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