Chapter 1417: The King's Abode

Having concluded the battle, Jiang Wang found his comprehension of the Wu Yu Yan Jia Dao technique greatly deepened. It was, indeed, a technique remarkably suited for environments of extreme profound gravity.

"Having employed it firsthand, what issues have you encountered?" Zuo Guang Shu’s gaze, filled with eager anticipation, fell upon him.

Jiang Wang was about to speak when the youth, with a solemn expression, added, "Voice any problems you have, do not conceal or gloss over them. The Mountain Sea Realm is of great importance to me."

The final sentence dispelled any inclination Jiang Wang had for jest. He pondered for a moment, then with equal solemnity, stated, "Wu Yu Yan Jia is an excellent Dao technique, but its significance might… not be as great as you believe."

Zuo Guang Shu fell silent for a beat. *Good heavens.* When praising, he was effusive, but when criticizing, he outright negated the technique's very purpose. Yet, he was not one to shy away from critique, and with a proper attitude, he inquired, "Why do you say so?"

"Wu Yu Yan Jia is a Dao technique specifically crafted for environments of extreme profound gravity, its scope of application inherently narrow. Moreover, even within such environments, when should this technique be employed? Surely it cannot be maintained at all times?" Jiang Wang spoke earnestly. "It must be activated during combat. However, during short bursts of combat, under my Five Mansions Same Shine state, I can already withstand the influence of environments with a hundred times profound gravity. Why add another layer of complication?"

Zuo Guang Shu remained silent for a moment before responding, "I devised this Wu Yu Yan Jia technique to be constantly active... We must always ensure ourselves are in the optimal state, ready to react with peak performance at any moment. This is the significance of Wu Yu Yan Jia; it merely consumes Dao Yuan, not additional energy, while simultaneously preserving our state." Having said this, Zuo Guang Shu added another sentence: "The Mountain Sea Realm is exceedingly perilous!"

Jiang Wang furrowed his brow and said, "Then the consumption of Dao Yuan becomes a significant issue. How long do individuals participating in the Mountain Sea Realm typically remain? If the duration is extensive, a Wu Yu Yan Jia that continuously drains Dao Yuan becomes a burden."

"Perhaps a day or two, perhaps a month or two," Zuo Guang Shu replied. "But these are not concerns; we will carry sufficient Yuan Stones."

The word "sufficient" instantly silenced Jiang Wang. Perhaps this was the limitation of his own perspective. He realized he was like someone looking up at a sliver of sky through a crack. He had only considered how to endure the long stretches of time, how to minimize Dao Yuan consumption... After all, using Yuan Stones to maintain an abundance of Dao Yuan was indeed an exorbitant act.

With the terrifying consumption rate of Wu Yu Yan Jia in an environment of hundred times profound gravity, it would devour nearly one Yuan Stone per day. Calculated over a month, for one person it would be thirty Yuan Stones, for two, sixty Yuan Stones. What was the concept of sixty Yuan Stones? It was equivalent to sixty top-grade Opening Pulse Pills, or twenty premium Squirrel Boxes! Even a contemporary True Person like Yu Bei Dou, when asked to perform a task, offered a reward of Yuan Stones in the tens. In the end, even that was not forthcoming...

When Jiang Wang left Qi for Chu, for this distant journey, he thick-skinnedly asked Chong Xuan Sheng for "travel expenses," and even Chong Xuan Sheng only grudgingly produced a few Yuan Stones. This was after their De Sheng Trading House had already flourished and Chong Xuan Sheng's personal wealth had become considerable. And now, before anything had even begun, Zuo Guang Shu was prepared to expend sixty Yuan Stones in the Mountain Sea Realm.

"In that case, I have no further issues," Jiang Wang said. "With ample Dao Yuan, Wu Yu Yan Jia is very suitable."

Zuo Guang Shu added, "Even so, we must still strive to allow the physical body to adapt to similar environments. We need to consider situations where Yuan Stones are consumed excessively, or the storage box is lost. Of course, unless one has lived in such environments for many years, the physical body, no matter how adapted, will definitely not be as unhindered as when utilizing Wu Yu Yan Jia."

"That is naturally the case. But speaking of which..." Jiang Wang glanced left and right. "How is the profound gravity environment here generated? Does the Zuo family also possess individuals with profound gravity divine abilities?"

Zuo Guang Shu explained, "A portion relies on profound stones, minerals that naturally enhance or diminish nearby profound gravity force, which are quite rare. Another portion relies on the profound gravity array discs produced by the Heavy Profound House."

Minerals that naturally enhance or diminish nearby profound gravity force... Jiang Wang almost immediately thought of the Suspended Empty Temple.

"Suspended Empty Stone?" he inquired.

Zuo Guang Shu said, "Also known as Suspended Stone or Feather Stone, it is certainly among them, but it is now nearly extinct."

Suspended Empty Stone was actually extinct? That phrase, "Exhaust the world's Suspended Empty Stones to become Suspended Empty Temple," was not an exaggeration after all? This kind of precious stone could actually be exclusively monopolized by the Suspended Empty Temple... Jiang Wang couldn't help but muse. The Suspended Empty Temple of the past was perhaps even more formidable than it was now. The current Suspended Empty Temple was already one of the world's top sects; what was its appearance during its even more powerful, more glorious era?

"The Heavy Profound House actually sells array discs to Chu country?" Jiang Wang inquired about another matter of concern.

"Many forces construct complex profound gravity environments to aid cultivation. Profound gravity array discs are considered a pillar industry of the Heavy Profound House." Zuo Guang Shu said with some surprise, "They rely on this to amass wealth; you truly didn't know?"

"I haven't paid much attention to such matters," Jiang Wang shook his head. "And since it's a pillar industry, Chong Xuan Sheng probably isn't yet qualified to take over this aspect of the business."

Zuo Guang Shu nodded, "Also true."

The two remained in the extreme profound gravity environment for three days, temporarily concluding the adaptation cultivation. Not because their bodies couldn't endure, but because Jiang Wang had already preliminarily adapted. Counting carefully, along Jiang Wang's journey thus far, the Four Spirits Refining Body Decision had laid the foundation for his physical body, he later consumed the Stone Gate Grass gifted by Elder Grand Madam Li, before setting out to Guan He Tai he enjoyed the Warm Spring Palace's celestial bath, then there was the body refining unique to Heaven Mansion cultivators with the Five Mansions Same Shine, and further, in an environment of extremely abundant star force, he completed the star light quenching of the Outer Building Realm... Unbeknownst to himself, his physical body was already quite formidable. Although perhaps still not as robust as the Profound Gravity Venerable Liang Chui, it was no longer inferior to cultivators from general military families. With such a level of physical body, coupled with familiarity with profound gravity force, his adaptation speed to the profound gravity environment was very rapid.

Zuo Guang Shu was delighted. According to his initial estimation, Jiang Wang would require around six to ten days to fully adapt to the environment of hundred times profound gravity. The Tianjiao he had previously invited to assist in fighting had taken fifteen days. Therefore, upon receiving Jiang Wang, he had rushed to Mount Luo, not even setting a welcoming banquet, his time very constrained. He hadn't expected Jiang Wang to complete the adaptation cultivation in only three days, which saved them time for their subsequent cultivation— Yes, besides the cultivation in the extreme profound gravity environment, there were many other types of cultivation to follow.

The Zuo family, in imitating the Mountain Sea Realm environment, had spared no expense to construct the Mountain Sea Hell. It was likely not merely a few rooms with extreme profound gravity environments. To be precise, simply an environment of crushing profound gravity force might not even be considered "Hell"...

Jiang Wang happily concluded the cultivation in the profound gravity environment, with absolutely no time for rest. He was simply pulled by Zuo Guang Shu, opening one by one the other crystal doors— Upon entering, skin cracked and blood spurted in the Gold Hell... Giant trees entwined branches, and enemies were everywhere in the Wood Hell... There was the pressure of ten thousand *jun*, making one suffocate in the Water Hell... Furthermore, there was the Fire Hell, the Earth Hell, the Wind Hell, the Thunder Hell... All kinds of extremely harsh environments were unveiled one by one in this secret base in the Luo Mountain valley. Jiang Wang could be said to have ascended the knife mountain, descended into the oil pot; the legendary eighteen levels of hell were probably no different. He had not yet even entered the Mountain Sea Realm, but had already followed Zuo Guang Shu and endured enough hardship.

Despite his resilience, he still only frowned and wore a long face each day. In the short span of half a month, Jiang Wang had almost forgotten the purpose of his visit to Chu country. Where was he helping to fight? He was clearly serving a sentence! He relied entirely on the momentum of not wanting to lose face in front of his younger brother to maintain his basic dignity. In contrast, Zuo Guang Shu, who entered various extreme environments with him, was full of energy every day. To the extent that Jiang Wang even somewhat suspected, was the Mountain Sea Realm truly that difficult? Was Zuo Guang Shu intentionally tormenting him? Was this revenge?

But no matter how arduous it was in the Mountain Sea Hell, Zuo Guang Shu was not absent from any cultivation session. As the elder brother, Jiang Wang truly had no reason to avoid it. Speaking of which, the disciples of top-tier world-renowned families and great clans enjoyed the world's finest cultivation resources and various amenities. However, the various hardships they endured to temper themselves were also considerable. The most crucial point was that they could safely endure hardship and safely temper themselves.

Take Zuo Guang Shu as an example. The resources consumed in constructing a Mountain Sea Hell were something Jiang Wang could not imagine. Relying on this Mountain Sea Hell, Zuo Guang Shu could, in his own home, in a completely safe environment, adapt to various difficult environments in advance... Those with insufficient backgrounds, naturally, could only wait until they encountered such environments to adapt. And all environments that were considered difficult for superhuman cultivators were also environments that would truly endanger their lives. In the worst environments and predicaments in life, the former only needed to consume resources to adapt, while the latter could only consume lives. This was the difference.

Therefore, the reason why those world-renowned families and great clans generally produced geniuses was because their geniuses could certainly grow into geniuses. While those with insufficient backgrounds, their geniuses might not necessarily live to see their time to shine. Of course, at levels like Dou Zhao and Profound Gravity Venerable, such absolute Tianjiao, their achievements were not merely the result of a good family background. Talent, effort, aptitude, opportunity – none could be lacking.

After eighteen full days of adaptability cultivation in the Mountain Sea Hell, the moment of departure finally arrived. If not for the sake of maintaining dignity in front of his younger brother, Jiang Wang would have been close to tears. He was not someone who couldn't endure hardship. What kind of predicaments hadn't he experienced along the way? But he couldn't bear this daily change of torment... To the extent that even his awe for Huang Wei Zhen significantly diminished, even suspecting whether Huang Wei Zhen had some perverse hobby, to create such a deliberately tormenting Mountain Sea Realm.

Casually grabbing, Zuo Guang Shu snatched away all the water droplets from his and Jiang Wang's wet clothes and hair. Having emerged from the Water Hell, Zuo Guang Shu's mood was clearly better than after emerging from other Hells. Because this was the Hell where he could truly gain an advantage over Jiang Wang. His eyes were bright, his smile lovely: "How? The cultivation effect was very good, right?" In the end, even his clothes and hair were not spared, getting wet with water, fully demonstrating the difficulty of that particular Hell.

Jiang Wang said indifferently, "Still alright."

As they walked out along the tunnel, Zuo Guang Shu casually remarked, "We can go to Ying City. First, to rest and adjust our state of mind. Second, my grandfather has long wanted to see you."

Jiang Wang, as the silent elder brother, was concise—

"Okay."

Stepping out of the Mountain Sea Hell, leaving that enormous stone door behind, Jiang Wang felt a strong sense of liberation. He truly wanted to sleep directly under the open sky, lie on the ground and sleep soundly. But after all, he needed to maintain the elder brother's dignity, so not only did he not relax, but he instead wore a face of still being unsatisfied, even frequently looking back, reluctantly.

"Let's go, let's go," Zuo Guang Shu pulled him. "We can come back next time if we have time."

"No matter, no matter, it's fine even if we don't have time, as your elder brother, I won't insist..."

On the stone tower, "Uncle Scar" watched the two figures walk away with an expressionless face. The handsome youth in the water-blue ornate robe was about half a head shorter than the elegant man in the green shirt beside him. The former was pulling the latter's sleeve, walking outward, playful all the way, incessantly bickering. The one with the huge knife scar on his face watched for a very long time.

The capital of Chu was named "Ying." From ancient times, it was the residence of kings. It was naturally the foremost city of the Southern Domain. Not as towering and broad as Lin Zi City, yet it was a beautiful and dreamlike city— Houses like beauties, their colors brilliant. Flying eaves and corners, leaping with azure birds. Buildings with makeup moon and colorful lights, illuminating the night. Flying celestial dragon boats, traversing the star sea. Goddess Mountain, overlooking Cloud Dream Marsh in the distance. Dripping You Waterfall, embracing the Frost Horn Rhino. Flower carts roamed the long streets, handsome men and beautiful women danced to the beat of large drums. Strong, burly men plucked the pipa, their sounds fierce as war. Fire-red Zhu Rong trees, hundreds of zhang tall, their history said to be older than Chu country. Witch priests with painted faces, singing the thousand-year-old uninterrupted music of Chu land.

Jiang Wang was someone who had seen the world. The Suspended Empty Temple, the three hundred *li* grand city, the highest royal court that could fly... But no city, no building, was as magnificent as Ying City. Every detail of it was a favor of inspiration, a manifestation of beauty. One could even say it reshaped Jiang Wang's impression of beauty. How to describe this city in words? How to convey even one ten-thousandth of its splendor! The records in "History Knife Chiseled Sea," recounted in a few strokes, suddenly became vivid after Jiang Wang personally witnessed this city.

"A sight one can hardly forget!" Jiang Wang couldn't help but praise.

Sitting in the luxurious carriage adorned with jade thread patterns, the Little Duke of Great Chu looked at him, his eyes full of smiles as Jiang Wang looked left and right. Yet he said, "You still haven't seen anything truly beautiful. If you were to come during the New Year's Eve, Goddess Peak would be shrouded in mist, Frost Horn Rhinos would roam the streets, and phoenixes would fly in the sky!"

Jiang Wang showed an expression of someone who had never seen the world: "True phoenixes?"

The Little Duke smiled proudly: "Naturally!"

Jiang Wang could only sigh, unable to imagine. Speaking of the past several years' New Year's Eves, he had almost entirely spent them on the road, truly never experiencing the atmosphere of any particular city's New Year's Eve. The only memorable one... was in the rain.

Zuo Guang Shu's carriage, naturally, traveled unimpeded in Ying City. Thus, when it was stopped, it was exceptionally surprising.

"What's happening?" Zuo Guang Shu's voice, although not very mature, was at this moment quite authoritative.

The coachman outside the curtain replied, "Little Duke, it's..."

"It's your elder sister!" a pleasant voice said.

"Where have you been hiding these past few days..."

Jiang Wang's eyes blurred, and a tall woman squeezed into the carriage. Upon seeing Jiang Wang, she was also momentarily stunned.

This chapter was the most difficult to write, particularly the one hundred forty-eight words describing Ying City.