Chapter 0388: The Royal City of Hongwu

Chapter 0388: The Royal City of Hongwu

Qin Yun was surprised by the complexities of the Ultimate Dragon Palm.

Wei Zhongzheng grinned and explained, "The Ultimate Dragon Palm is an open-style martial art! It allows highly perceptive warriors to combine other martial techniques to enhance the Ultimate Dragon Palm."

"For example, mine is the Ultimate Dragon Wind-Fire Palm! Elder Two has the Ultimate Dragon Rage-Fire Palm, and Elder Three has the Ultimate Dragon Thunder Palm!"

Now, Qin Yun started formulating his own approach to mastering the Ultimate Dragon Palm.

"The first volume of the Nine Extremes Heart Sutra only contains the Nine Extremes Inner Energy, Ultimate Dragon Palm, Ultimate Shadow Style, and Ultimate Spirit Eye. The martial skills in the second volume are even more powerful, but sadly, they’ve been lost to time!" Wei Zhongzheng sighed.

"Why were they lost?" Qin Yun was puzzled. "This is something very important to the Nine Extremes Sect; it shouldn’t have been lost!"

"Mainly because a group of elders suddenly died back then," Wei Zhongzheng hesitated to delve into the topic.

Qin Yun had heard about this from the elders before—that many powerful members of the Nine Extremes Sect were suddenly assassinated. Later, they sent people to investigate and found some clues.

However, only Wei Zhongzheng held the clues.

Qin Yun dropped the subject, feeling it was a shame, and changed the topic. "Sect Leader, what kind of martial art is the Ultimate Spirit Eye?"

"The Ultimate Spirit Eye is a mental energy-based martial art, very difficult to learn!" Wei Zhongzheng frowned. "Even after many years of study, I have not succeeded!"

"Mental energy-based martial art? Is it related to the eyes?"

Qin Yun’s interest was instantly piqued. His mental energy was very special, and he thought it shouldn’t be difficult to learn.

Wei Zhongzheng patiently explained, "Normally, we can use mental energy to scan the surrounding area! After releasing the mental energy, it sends back some information to our minds. But it’s just a rough sketch!"

Qin Yun nodded. "When I close my eyes, I can sense the chairs in the cabin... but it’s only an outline; the specific colors and details are unclear."

"And after cultivating the Ultimate Spirit Eye, you can perceive through mental energy!" Wei Zhongzheng smiled. "It’s incredibly powerful, right? But it’s hard to master... It’s said that if you succeed, you can see through many things with your eyes!"

Qin Yun pulled out the Nine Extremes Heart Sutra, looked at the introduction of the Ultimate Spirit Eye, and found himself lost in thought, pondering the difficulties.

Wei Zhongzheng smiled. "If you can’t master it, don’t be too disheartened! The elders and I have trained for many years and still can’t learn it, which shows how challenging it is!"

"Refining the eyes with mental energy... this is indeed a strange martial art!" Qin Yun smiled. He was confident he could master it, so he read very carefully.

After memorizing some mantras, he put away the Nine Extremes Heart Sutra.

Wei Zhongzheng then inquired about his journey to Yuxuan City.

Qin Yun recounted his experiences in Yuxuan City and the Ancient Jade Mountains, leaving Wei Zhongzheng amazed.

"Sect Leader, Hongwu Country is truly formidable, not afraid of Yuewu Country at all! The city lord of Yuxuan City killed Yuewu’s prince—isn’t he worried at all?" Qin Yun asked.

Wei Zhongzheng replied, "The prince of Yuewu Country was at fault first, trying to kill the Nine Princess! Even the Martial King of Yuewu can’t say anything about this, but since his son was killed, he will definitely take some action."

"Since this involves you, I suspect Yuewu Country will come after you too!"

Qin Yun snorted lightly. "They dare not move against Hongwu Country, but they dare to deal with me—only picking on the soft target!"

Wei Zhongzheng smiled. "Just be cautious! Even the Martial King of Yuewu cannot break through the Nine Extremes Formation, so you don’t have to worry about implicating the Nine Extremes Sect."

"Sect Leader, what’s the deal with that black mountain? Have you heard any related legends?" Qin Yun asked curiously.

Wei Zhongzheng was also puzzled. He shook his head and said, "This matter is very strange! It seems there are many secrets hidden within the Ancient Jade Mountains!"

The small boat flew at great speed, taking only ten days to reach the Hongwu Royal City.

If Qin Yun were to travel alone, it would take him at least fifteen days to arrive.

During these ten days, Qin Yun diligently studied the Spirit-Severing Eye, as he believed it would be of great help to him.

Having a good pair of eyes is also very beneficial when observing or engraving mystical patterns.

And the Spirit-Severing Eye is a martial art that enhances one's vision and can even fuse mental energy with sight!

After several days of exploration, Qin Yun had a certain grasp of the Spirit-Severing Eye, feeling that he was just a step away from mastering it initially.

At the northern gate of Hongwu Royal City, many people were queuing up, waiting to enter.

The conditions for entering the royal city were quite high; one needed to use a large amount of purple crystal coins to purchase a pass, and they must also be individuals of status.

Even disciples of Xuan-level sects could not enter for free and had to buy a pass separately.

Despite this, there were still many people who wanted to enter the city, with four to five thousand people queuing at the northern gate.

"There are really a lot of people. Let's go to the eastern gate!" Wei Zhongzheng sighed and then controlled the boat to fly towards the eastern gate.

There was no one at the eastern gate, as this gate was reserved for those with special identities.

Qin Yun was a senior mystical pattern spirit master, and Wei Zhongzheng was a Xuan-level alchemist. They could enter the royal city for free by showing their badges.

"Headmaster, should I contact Nine Princess now?" Qin Yun asked, "To have her arrange for us!"

"Not for now!" Wei Zhongzheng whispered, "Come, take me to the Runes Hall for accommodation!"

Wei Zhongzheng was an alchemist, and he also had a medicinal manor here, but it was too crowded, so he didn't want to go in.

The number of Runes Masters was fewer than that of alchemists, and usually, not many people stayed at the Runes Hall, offering the best environment.

Qin Yun took Wei Zhongzheng to the Runes Hall in the royal city.

The Runes Hall in the Martial King's city was like a small town within the city, with many shops and pavilions established by the Runes Hall, gathering many people for trading.

The central Runes Hall was also dozens of stories high, immensely grand and towering, entirely in purple-gold, reflecting strong purple-gold rays under the sunlight, enveloping the surrounding gardens and pavilions.

Qin Yun showed his badge and was arranged into a luxurious suite.

After entering, Wei Zhongzheng took off his hat and remarked with a sigh, "The treatment for you Runes Masters is much better than for us alchemists! In my medicinal manor, I never had such an environment!"

"After all, there are more alchemists!" Qin Yun chuckled, "Master, we have just over ten days before we have to enter the palace for the celebration banquet. What should we do in the next ten days?"

"You can go around and explore on your own! I want to see if my old friends are still here and gather some information while I'm at it!" Wei Zhongzheng said.

"Then I'll go out and play first!" Qin Yun said and dashed off.

Wei Zhongzheng had also obtained a jade token for free access, so even without Qin Yun's company, he could enter and exit this luxurious suite.

Qin Yun walked out of the Runes Hall, called a Spirit Crane outside, and flew towards the palace gate.

The Martial King's city was not much larger than a typical city, but what stood out most in this city was the presence of many high-level warriors, Runes Masters, and alchemists.

Because many strong individuals were here, the royal city was also bustling with activity.

Strong individuals value their time highly. If they need something, they will directly offer a bounty.

In this way, many can sell items at a high price.

Moreover, the royal city is filled with exotic and unusual items, as well as numerous auctions of all sizes. With enough purple spirit coins, one can purchase relatively rare items here.

After a half-day flight, the spirit crane arrived at the palace gate.

Qin Yun handed two thousand purple spirit coins to the middle-aged crane driver, quietly annoyed because the Spirit Pattern Hall was too far from the palace, and the journey had consumed a significant amount of purple spirit coins.

He was clad in the attire of a wandering warrior, wearing a black robe and a bamboo hat, making him less recognizable.

The palace's grand gate loomed as large as a city's, standing fully open at that moment.

Majestic spirit beasts pulled grand carriages at a leisurely pace into the palace.

Standing at the gate, Qin Yun observed opulent carriages and aerial spirit vehicles entering through the grand entrance.

"Using spirit beasts to pull carriages is a way to show off one's status and power!"

He marveled inwardly, not expecting Hong Yan's celebration banquet to be so grand.

"It seems Hong Yan, the Seventh Prince, is not merely enrolling in a royal-level sect. He must have secured a formidable mentor! Did he become the Martial King's disciple?"

Qin Yun felt his guess was almost certainly correct.

Approaching the gate, he handed a token to the guard, asking him to relay a message to Hong Mengshu to come out.

The guard, startled by the token, hurried to summon Hong Mengshu.

The token had been given to Qin Yun by Hong Mengshu for easy access to the palace.

Qin Yun paced impatiently at the gate, waiting patiently.

After about half an hour, a sudden tap on his shoulder made him turn. He saw a figure adorned in a white robe and a jade mask.

"It's me, Brother Yun!" Hong Mengshu whispered.

"I know it's you!" Qin Yun smiled. Hong Mengshu’s disguise was meant to avoid recognition.

"Let's go!" Hong Mengshu called over a spirit crane, and the two mounted its back, soaring over the royal city.

Hong Mengshu removed her mask, revealing her charming and sweet face, and said with a smile, "Both the Seventh Prince and I thought you wouldn't come!"

"I came, and I came with the sect leader!" Qin Yun pouted. "Do you think I'm a coward in your eyes?"

The spirit crane flew toward the Spirit Pattern Hall, and Qin Yun wondered what Hong Mengshu had planned.

"Mengshu, Hong Yan's royal sect celebration is truly grand!" Qin Yun exclaimed. "Did he become a disciple of some extraordinary figure?"

"Yes, he became a disciple of the sect leader of the Fire King Sect. His fire spirit vein is exceptionally rare, so he was taken as a disciple! He is the tenth disciple of the Fire King Sect's sect leader."