C5 Dragon City

In less than fifteen minutes, a sleek black warship adorned with a black dragon's head flag soared from Pluto towards Earth with a howl. The vessel's speed was astonishing; Pluto was left behind in the blink of an eye as it carved a long streak across the starry sky and vanished.

Nangong Fan stood by Hei Yushang, gazing at the colorful planets that had been flung into the wake of the warship. Without these celestial bodies, the Aerial Boundaries would be nothing but a desolate expanse. The myriad of planets bobbing in the cosmic ocean brought a spark of vitality to the otherwise solitary void, each harboring countless poignant and heroic tales.

Hei Ze, having learned from the Dark Alliance's thugs about sightings of a black dragon cub on Pluto ten days earlier, had embarked on a dragon-slaying adventure. He had hitched a ride on the Qing Family's merchant ship to Pluto, narrowly escaping with his life.

In under half a day, a water-blue planet loomed into view, dwarfing the previous planets by at least tenfold. Half of its surface was covered in water, with several blue ribbons of rivers slicing the landmass into sections. The warship sped into its atmosphere.

They safely traversed a thin protective layer, and a meandering river stretched out before them. From their aerial vantage point, the river's breadth was astounding, with occasional glimpses of tumultuous waves.

This river, known as the Yangtze, was the longest on the planet, spanning the eastern expanse of the continent.

"Don't be mischievous anymore. You have no idea how worried your aunt has been," Hei Yushang admonished gently, standing at the forefront of the warship, addressing her nephew. Upon their return to Earth, the warship's protective layer swiftly disengaged. The starry sea was no place for the average person; even Hei Yushang, a Martial Emperor, found it challenging to navigate. The protective layer was a significant drain on resources; for an ordinary Earth family to maintain even a small single-person craft was a mark of considerable wealth, while most people had never ventured beyond Earth.

Even for a Martial Emperor, traversing the entirety of Earth was an unattainable feat within a lifetime, with numerous life-threatening zones beyond their reach.

A gentle breeze caressed Hei Yushang's battle robe, and the sunlight that cascaded over her lent an almost sacred aura to her presence.

Nangong Fan cocked his head, observing Hei Yushang's flushed cheeks. Not only was his aunt shaken, but he too felt a residual dread. He, Hei Ze, the esteemed heir of the Hei family, with such a promising future, had nearly met his end on this journey. He had no choice but to nod in agreement, albeit reluctantly.

...

An ancient golden city stood like a slumbering dragon on the banks of the river.

A moat, twenty meters wide, encircled the city.

The walls rose twenty meters high, with only four towering arched bridges forming the grand entrance. Atop the city gates, two horn-like structures each supported twenty massive cannons, their dark presence sending a shiver down one's spine.

The gates, adorned with these horn-like extensions, resembled the formidable head of a dragon. The mere sight of the cannons atop the dragon's head was enough to chill the soul.

Each stretch of the city wall spanned roughly twenty kilometers. The western gate served as a port, linked to the moat, which in turn flowed into the Yangtze River beside the eastern gate.

At the confluence of the Yangtze and the moat, a colossal military harbor sat, leaving just enough space for a single ship to pass. Nearby, tents were pitched in abundance, with countless black-armored soldiers weaving through them.

In that moment, a black warship sailed through the skies, its dragon-head flag barely visible, exuding an air of majesty.

Nangong Fan stood at the prow of the warship like a poised lance, gazing upon Dragonstone, a sight etched deeply in his memories.

Within the city, mountains undulated, and ancient homes nestled among them, the abodes of the city's elite. Beyond the city lay an expansive plain, devoid of trees, where horses and various mythical creatures roamed freely.

A throng of people amassed before the city gates, orderly queued in four long lines, slowly making their way inside. A ten-meter-wide passage in the center was reserved for the passage of the elite.

Nangong Fan, following in Hei Yushang's footsteps, disembarked from the warship. A wave of heat rolled forth from the military camp ahead, fueled by the fervent zeal of innumerable soldiers.

The Dragon Armored Army of Dragonstone is among the most elite forces on Earth, making it the premier choice for many of Dragonstone's Humble Class disciples to hone their martial arts skills. The Black Family, commanding an impressive two hundred thousand troops, holds a status that one can only imagine, with only the Ao Family of the City Lord's Mansion able to outmatch them.

"Little Ze, your aunt has to continue training the troops. You should head back on your own. I'll have my people escort you back to the mansion," Hei Yushang said as she descended from the warship and made her way directly to the camp.

Upon hearing this, Nangong Fan's face transformed from sullen to radiant as he bounded toward the warship's entrance. Being around the stern Hei Yushang always put a considerable amount of pressure on him.

Strolling along, Nangong Fan, with Hei Ze's visage, fell into a rare contemplation. Memories tumbled through his mind, prompting him to tighten his fists involuntarily.

As a child, his aptitude was notable; a little effort was all it took for spiritual energy to flow into his body, becoming his own spiritual power. Yet, during the Foundation Establishment phase, haste was discouraged. The more gifted the individual, the more they needed to concentrate on solidifying their foundation.

The various methods of Foundation Establishment essentially involved fortifying the body through practices like the horse stance and martial arts, coupled with medicinal aids to retain the innate Qi within. This was the path to the great Dao.

For the impoverished, this process was particularly challenging. Strengthening the body required substantial meat consumption, with demonic beast meat being of top grade and a significant expense for ordinary families. Some couldn't afford such a meal even once a year.

The idea of daily medicinal soaks was another luxury, out of reach for many wealthy households, let alone the less fortunate.

But for someone with Hei Ze's talent and the Black Family's resources, only the finest was within reach. Yet, on his sixteenth birthday, the day he came of age, the prodigious Hei Ze became known as the "body of a hundred flaws," a devastating blow for any young person.

Nangong Fan's brow furrowed in concern. He questioned the accuracy of his memories. If they were true, did it mean he was on the cusp of being able to cultivate? His face flickered between hope and anxiety, a tumult of emotions brewing within.

He was so apprehensive that he couldn't even bring himself to confide in his aunt, fearing that his glimmer of hope would be swiftly snuffed out, leaving him to grapple with an even greater sense of despair.

The last thing he wanted was to witness his aunt succumb to such hopelessness.

Striding into Dragonstone with an air of nonchalance, Nangong Fan was met with the reverent stares of the city guards. The spacious streets were lined with hawkers peddling an assortment of goods, while stern-faced men armed to the teeth strolled among them. These individuals shopped with a no-nonsense attitude, never haggling over prices. Most were solitary wanderers, living on the razor's edge, their lives steeped in bloodshed. They took each day as it came, placing little value on worldly possessions.

Others were seen trading with crystals emanating an eerie aura. While these were mostly low-grade spirit stones, they were still considered treasures by the common folk. Goods exchanged with spirit stones often possessed a hint of spirituality, including exceedingly rare weapons or elusive spiritual herbs—items of great significance to those on the path of cultivation.

Dragonstone was abundant in a spiritual herb known as "Dragon Whisker Grass," which, while commonplace within the city, could fetch a handsome profit elsewhere. This spurred the emergence of a robust trade, with groups of merchants banding together to buy in bulk and set out on their journeys, providing mutual support along the way.

The route was fraught with bandits, making travel perilous. Now and then, Nangong Fan would see a convoy of carriages from renowned trading houses pass by. These companies often employed lone rangers for protection as they traversed through dangerous territories.

Nangong Fan's attention, however, was not on the roadside activities. His mind was a whirlpool of memories, with long-forgotten knowledge from Hei Ze resurfacing in his consciousness.

In this realm, cultivators were categorized into ten levels. Martial Disciples, Martial Warriors, and Martial Masters lacked Spiritual Qi within their bodies, relying instead on the Spiritual Qi of the environment to fortify their physical forms. Their ranks were determined by their bodily strength. It was only upon reaching the Martial Ancestor Realm that one would begin to internalize Spiritual Qi, marking the true commencement of one's spiritual cultivation journey.

Most people don't engage in cultivation before the age of sixteen; instead, they focus on strengthening their bodies and improving their physical condition. Wealthy families often provide their younger members with a variety of practical medicinal concoctions to establish a robust foundation. As a result, when they reach the ages of seventeen or eighteen and possess spiritual Qi within their bodies, they are considered prodigies.

Cultivators can refine their essence, energy, and spirit, leading to three different paths of cultivation. While most choose the path of spiritual cultivation, there are those with exceptional talent who pursue dual or even triple cultivation paths to become unrivaled among their peers.

Hei Ze was one such individual with astonishing talent, yet it remained hidden. By the age of five, his physical strength had already reached that of a Martial Master, but he had never engaged in combat. Being young and spending his days in the shadow of his impressive father, Hei Yuqing, his potential as a young prodigy went unnoticed. After turning five, Hei Ze accompanied Hei Yuqing to the Black Family's Myriad Treasure Tower for leisure. There, he stumbled into a mysterious sealed space, sustaining injuries that prevented his spiritual Qi from circulating properly, resulting in what is known as the Hundred Leaks Body.

Hei Ze was just a child at the time and the shock of the experience led him to repress the memory.

Two years later, Hei Ze's parents ventured into the outside world, leaving only his father to return home, bloodied and choosing to live a reclusive life in the Hei Family's backyard, detached from worldly affairs. This marked the beginning of a significant shift.

Despite being the family's sole direct heir, the revelation of his Hundred Leaks Body on his sixteenth birthday and his father's seclusion led to a swift decline in his status among his peers. With only a handful of friends and unable to cultivate, he spent his days idly, becoming known as the notorious wastrel of Dragonstone.

Recently, Hei Ze learned of a Black Dragon cub on Pluto that could greatly benefit the Hei Family, thanks to their thin Black Dragon bloodline. Without hesitation, he set off alone for Pluto.

Meanwhile, Nangong Fan walked thoughtfully along the spacious boulevards of Dragonstone. Lost in his reverie, he seemed oblivious to the way pedestrians gave him a wide berth, steering clear of him as if he were something to be feared.

Nangong Fan's attire clearly marked him as someone beyond the ordinary. Such individuals rarely tangled with the rough and tumble of the martial world, unless absolutely necessary.

Unconcerned with the opinions of others, Nangong Fan's actions were purely instinctive. Besides, as one of Dragonstone's most notorious playboys, these trivial matters hardly fazed him.

It appeared a visit to the Black Family's Thousand Treasures Tower was in order. With this in mind, Nangong Fan quickened his pace, heading towards the mountain range that loomed on the outskirts of Dragonstone, where the Hei Family Ancestral Mansion perched on the mountainside.

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