This was not the first time Xia Yang had encountered the power of the Celestial Kingdom. Just six months earlier, he had met his second brother’s teacher, Master Yu. However, at that time, he was an invalid, unable to feel the power of the spiritual Qi rushing inside this man’s body. But now he could feel the immense power flowing within Master Bai. It was as if he was standing dangerously close to an active volcano that, if it erupted, would shake the whole world.
Now Xia Yang understood the meaning of the phrase, “under the Heavenly Kingdom, all men are ants!” He understood why even the most heavenly blessed talent could get stuck in a half-step of the Heavenly Kingdom, unable to progress through life, no matter how hard they tried.
“Maybe I will reach the same realm soon,” Xia Yang whispered, and his heart blazed with fire.
– Your Highness, I have received news of your future arrival and have come to greet you.
– Moreover, I wanted to congratulate you in advance. I wish you and the second princess much happiness,” Master Bai said with a smile.
Master Bai’s appearance did not surprise Xia Yan. He was sure that Master Bai, as the overseer of the borders of the Northern Wasteland, had placed several spies in the imperial city to pass him news of events in the palace. However, this Master Bai seemed to prefer to remain outside the palace intrigues.
– Thank you very much, Master Bai,” he finally replied.
– Let’s go into the city first and set you up there. Then tomorrow we can let everyone know who you will accept as city lord,” Master Bai said.
– Master Bai, can’t we delay the release of this news for a few more days? – Xia Yan’s vision sharpened as he continued. – Before arriving here, I heard stories about the Northern Wasteland, mainly that it is a place well known as the “banished vicious cultivators.” I’d like to take a look at it.
– You want to go deep into the North Hollow.
The smile disappeared from Master Bai’s face, and he raised his eyebrows.
– Your Highness, First Prince, do you know how dangerous the depths of the Northern Wasteland are? This place is at the crossroads of fire, rain, and the lower realms of the Sky Wolf Alliance and our Xia. Exiles from all four lands live there, including many powerful cultivators. If you want to go there, nothing good will come of it.
The scariest area of the Northern Wilderness town was the Northern Wilderness. Criminals in this place could be recognized by the seal of exile imprinted on each of their foreheads. It was a countermeasure that could only be eliminated if the cultivator entered the Celestial Kingdom and underwent the process of rebirth from flesh and blood. But as long as the seal of exile marked their bodies, few dared to leave, because if they did, they would instantly become universal victims. Xia and every surrounding realm offered a reward of 1,000 spirit stones for the fugitives’ heads, which in this era was reason enough for any ordinary cultivator to risk his life.
Therefore, regardless of where the exile fled to, they faced a sad end. As a result, most of them remained within the Northern Wilderness and maintained their miserable existence. However, the more wicked often spared no effort to escape. Freed from exile, they killed entire villages and stole food and women. The town of North Hollow was usually the first place they targeted because of its proximity to the Northern Wilderness. That is why Master Bai’s presence was necessary.
But if the exiles were so ferocious, why not execute them immediately upon capture? Wouldn’t death put an end to all the troubles?
That’s what everyone thought. Little did they know, however, that the place of exile also served as a boundary connecting the four kingdoms, a naturally strong barrier. If any enemy forces intended to invade, they had to pass through the Northern Wasteland. Thus, the exiled cultivators became the first line of defense.
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Instead of immediate execution, the four kingdoms found a way to use their waste productively.
Such was the brutal truth of the Northern Wasteland’s existence.
– I am aware of this, Master Bai. I just want to explore the outer realm,” Xia Yang smiled, his eyes bright and reassuring.
– Then I am somewhat relieved, Your Highness,” Master Bai said without insisting further. Xia Yan’s position was above him, and as Xia’s Imperial Preceptor he had done more than enough in trying to dissuade the First Prince from his decision. Now no one could blame him, not even the Xia Emperor if anything happened to Xia Yan. So with a resigned nod, Master Bai led him through the well-defended gates of the city of the Northern Wasteland.
When evening came, Master Bai immediately gathered the ten commanders of the city and gave a grand reception for Xia Yan.
At the sight of this spectacle, Xia Yang gasped convulsively.
– The ten great commanders of the Minor Extremity with two already half a step away from the Celestial Realm… in fact, only the most dangerous places can produce the strongest experts,” he whispered, assessing each of them.
Under the Great Extremity, each realm was divided into nine steps. But after that, they were divided into an initial rank, a higher rank, an earthly rank, a heavenly rank, and a half-step.
There were only two Heavenly Kingdom half-step specialists in the imperial palace itself to provide protection. From this point of view, the level of defense of the city of the Northern Wasteland could almost match it.
However, Xia Yang did not find this strange, as each of these warlords had to wander on the brink of life and death every day to protect this city. It was only natural that the breakthrough rate of their cultivation was more frightening than that of the others. Perhaps it was for this reason that even these half-step specialists of the Celestial Kingdom were willing to stay. They could only fulfill their long-held dream of surpassing heaven in such a place.
– … What did you say, Your Highness? Do you wish to go deep into the North Hollow? If I have not misheard you, you must be very careful. There is a ferocious man who is currently in the middle of closed training. It is said that he is trying to break the barrier and break into the heavenly kingdom. If he succeeds, none of us sitting here will be able to restrain him except Master Bai!
– Hey! Don’t frighten his highness. You think it’s so easy to enter the Celestial Kingdom. You and I have spent almost ten years trying to accomplish such a feat. And yet we haven’t progressed an inch. What makes you think an exiled criminal can do what we can’t?
– Moreover, what does it matter even if he succeeds. Master Bai has long been in the heavenly kingdom. I don’t believe he can’t handle a chick.
– Ha, why bother Master Bai? That Lao Tzu will kill him if he dares to come!
A beautiful light flashed in Xia Yan’s eyes as he listened to them and thought, “Perhaps this man’s cultivation base will soon be mine!”