CHAPTER 204: 203. "NITPICKING" AT UPPER EXTREME REALM MOUNTAIN

"Wow!"

Qin Mo couldn’t help but shout on the deck, and then he watched as the Blood Bat King drifted further and further away. Only when it completely disappeared into the clouds did Qin Mo reluctantly pull back his gaze.

Yu Mo couldn’t help but exclaim again, "Wandering the world for dozens of years, never stopping, the places I’ve seen, the places I’ve been, all pale in comparison to just a couple of hours spent on this Flying Ship today."

No matter how steady one’s mind is, such a marvel is hard to digest.

Being chased by a Great Demon of the Upper Profound Realm—this feeling is as thrilling as it gets.

The two were utterly excited, unable to calm down for a long time, while Wen Ping stood at the bow, his eyes scanning the surroundings.

Witnessing the sunrise on the Flying Ship, then watching the sunset.

When the fiery red glow disappeared from the bow, and the world turned into night, Wen Ping activated the Invisibility Shield.

Because they had arrived at the Extreme Border Grassland!

Extreme Border Grassland, a vast, green expanse as far as the eye could see with no end in sight. Where the earth met the sky, only the stars gradually emerged one after another. Besides the starry sky, there was a peculiar fiery stream.

On the ground, the distance doesn’t feel significant because one flame is at least several miles away from another.

But from the sky, the cities appear as large as pancakes, and a few miles is nothing. When Wen Ping lowered the Flying Ship and skimmed over their heads, he understood what these things were.

Torch after torch!

Countless torches converged into a stream, flowing like an assembly of hundreds of rivers toward one destination.

Driven by curiosity, Wen Ping piloted the Flying Ship toward the gathering point, arriving at the "Assembly of Hundreds of Rivers"—a vast city resembling a towering Black Iron Castle—after about half a stick of incense had burned.

Wen Ping found a sparse spot outside the city to land, seizing an unguarded moment to jump off the Flying Ship.

After storing the Flying Ship in the system’s void, Wen Ping strode boldly onto the main street of Tong City. Although he had a Profound Realm companion with him, in the bustling crowd, no one paid attention to them, and Profound Realm cultivators were occasionally seen.

Wen Ping couldn’t resist asking aloud, "Friend, what city is this, and why are there so many people?"

"Coming from outside East Lake?" the person asked curiously without a hint of surprise. Before Wen Ping could speak again, the person continued, "Since you’re an outsider, it’s not too late to know now. This is Fengyuan City, and the reason there are so many people is that they have gathered from all directions around East Lake to witness the Ten Talents Trial in a few days. You are aware of the Ten Talents Trial, right?"

Saying this, the person smiled proudly.

From the sound of it, East Lake’s Ten Talents Trial seems to be quite famous, famous enough for a Body Refining Cultivator to maintain pride before a Profound Realm cultivator.

Wen Ping smiled back, cupped his fists, and said, "Thank you, friend, for enlightening me."

It turns out that the Ten Talents Trial, held every four years, is to be conducted here, which explains the large gathering. Furthermore, they encountered a Great Demon of the Upper Profound Realm en route, which is akin to finding a fly in your drink at a tavern.

Perhaps the analogy is exaggerated, but it’s the truth.

However, these things don’t concern him; his concern is whether Fengyuan City has a genuine Vortex Divine Artisan. If not, he will need to leave Fengyuan City quickly. As for the Ten Talents Trial, he has no interest whatsoever.

Even though he holds a Ten Talents Token capable of direct trial participation!

Following the flow into Fengyuan City, Wen Ping simultaneously inquired about Vortex Divine Artisan-related information from those around, while contemplating plans to recruit one, and inadvertently found himself in a peculiar place.

Within the city resembling a Black Iron Castle, there’s a quite large high slope, towering nearly 20 yards above Fengyuan City, allowing a clear view of the scenes within—the City within a City.

Just as Wen Ping was about to turn back, a voice shouted from the stone steps below the slope: "For those wanting to visit my Extreme Realm Mountain, please hurry. Today, tomorrow, and the day after are the only open days."

Upon hearing the words, Wen Ping’s gaze fell forward.

Is this Extreme Realm Mountain?

A high slope within the city?

It turns out Extreme Realm Mountain is just the power’s name, having no real connection with its geographical location.

The middle-aged man shouting from the steps turned away, prompting surrounding people to start discussing.

"What has gotten into Extreme Realm Mountain?"

"Indeed, even sects don’t permit outsiders in, so why suddenly allow visits?"

"How foolish of you. Now in Fengyuan City, it’s not just us from East Lake but also from other lakes too. Extreme Realm Mountain’s actions must be to flaunt their might, so outsiders can be more aware of Extreme Realm Mountain."

"Guess we’re lucky to benefit from it too."

The crowd joyfully gathered then headed toward Extreme Realm Mountain, while Wen Ping initially considered turning away when the system’s voice appeared.

[Side Mission—Journey Through Extreme Realm Mountain]

[Learn others’ strengths, supplement your weaknesses. Witness others’ shortcomings, enhance your strengths. Enter Extreme Realm Mountain, find ten deficiencies.]

[Reward: Two Ten Talents Tokens]

"This..."

Wen Ping was somewhat stupefied by the sudden mission, most fearsome was querying the system revealing a potential penalty for failure—punishment being a downgrade of sect building level.

"It’s just ten places, I’m sure I can find them," harboring this belief, but hadn’t walked far when suddenly a familiar voice reached his ears from behind.

"Sect Leader Yang!"

The familiar voice suddenly came, and Wen Ping turned his head, recognizing the person in the crowd.

Chiba Sect’s Young Sect Leader—Luo Mi!

As Wen Ping turned, Luo Mi joyfully pushed past those blocking her, some of whom immediately showed anger. But upon seeing Luo Qianye behind Luo Mi, they abandoned any impulse to act first.

Luo Qianye, with cold eyes, deliberately released his Profound Middle Realm aura, scaring off those who intended to curse Luo Mi, making them leave without uttering a word.

A Profound Middle Realm cultivator is not someone just anyone can contend with.

After those people evaded the Luo father and son, Luo Qianye’s face changed suddenly, his expression eerily shifting like flipping pages, smilingly approached Wen Ping saying: "Sect Leader Yang, long time no see!"

"Long time no see."

Wen Ping responded.

Though unable to fathom why the Luo family deliberately misaddressed him, he refrained from asking in front of so many people.

Once the crowd headed toward Extreme Realm Mountain, Luo Qianye dared to use Wen Ping’s real name, "Sect Leader Wen, why are you here? You’re currently being hunted by Shan Long, and Extreme Realm Mountain’s chief disciple was ousted by your disciple. Fengyuan City is not a place to stay long."

With these words, Luo Qianye’s brows furrowed deeply, advising Wen Ping to leave.

Only then did Wen Ping understand why the Luo father and son called him Sect Leader Yang.

It was to avoid anyone hearing the name Sect Leader Wen.

To this, Wen Ping naturally shook his head and followed calmly, "Let’s look, what’s there to be afraid of. Aren’t I surnamed Yang?"