Heaven-Dominating Martial Emperor

The three of them walked a great distance. Looking back, Windswept City was now just a small black dot standing at the edge of their vision.

Song Yubing glanced at Ye Chen and asked, "Young Master Ye, are we really going to Kunlun Mountain before heading for Dongxuan Province?"

Before Ye Chen could speak, it was the Realm Spirit who answered her this time.

"Of course." The Realm Spirit's voice was cool, yet as pleasant as a silver bell. "Kunlun Mountain is right on the border of Lei Province. Rather than go to Dongxuan Province only to come back and investigate, we might as well just take a trip there now."

"It's on the way, anyway. When we come down from Kunlun Mountain, we can set off directly for Dongxuan Province."

Ye Chen asked calmly, "Are you worried we won't make it in time, Miss Song?"

Song Yubing lowered her head and said hesitantly, "I am, indeed. After all, the Peach Blossom Banquet is in a month, and it's still a long way from here to Dongxuan Province."

"It won't delay us for too long. If worse comes to worst, we can just take a Cloud Sea Ark straight there."

Ye Chen said this casually.

"A Cloud Sea Ark?"

Song Yubing was taken aback; it seemed there were no major powers in the nearby provinces capable of controlling such a rare treasure.

A Cloud Sea Ark, to put it simply, was a flying ship that could soar above the Nine Heavens and traverse the vast sea of clouds.

It was a type of Spiritual Treasure unique to major powers, normally used for transportation. Ordinary Cultivators could board as long as they paid the required fee.

Seeing Ye Chen's unconcerned expression, Song Yubing didn't press the matter.

After all, she wasn't a native of Lei Province and wasn't very familiar with the area, so it wasn't her place to say anything.

...

「Two days passed in a flash.」

Although the trio hadn't been traveling at full speed, their pace was still not to be underestimated.

After all, Song Yubing was a master at the Seventh Layer of the Primordial Mansion Realm. At that level, a single leap could easily cover hundreds or thousands of meters.

Ye Chen's speed was no slower than hers, so in less than two days, the three of them had already arrived at the border of Lei Province.

It was important to remember that Windswept City, as the Liu family's main city, was located in the prosperous heart of Lei Province.

The journey from there to the provincial border was so long that it would have taken an ordinary person at least a month and a half to walk.

To have arrived in under two days was an astonishing speed, let alone the fact that they hadn't even been traveling at their full pace.

As the surrounding sky grew dark and gloomy, Song Yubing glanced up at the night sky and shook her head. "Why has it gotten dark so quickly today?"

"We're still some distance from Autumn City at the border. Should we wait until dawn to continue our journey?"

Song Yubing looked to Ye Chen, as if seeking his opinion.

At that moment, thunder boomed and dark clouds piled up in the sky. Faintly, a sheet of heavy rain began to pour from the heavens, striking the earth with a PITTER-PATTER sound.

Though the trio did not fear the rain, traveling in it would ultimately slow them down. It was better to wait for the rain to stop and for morning to break before setting off again.

"Very well. Let's spend the night here on the mountain."

Ye Chen nodded.

The three happened to be on a mountainside, and in this desolate wilderness, there was a dilapidated temple standing in the distance.

"There's a place to take shelter from the rain!"

Song Yubing's eyes lit up as she pointed to the temple ahead.

The three walked through the rain, with Song Yubing using her profound Spiritual Power to conjure a radiant barrier above their heads, deflecting every drop.

By the time they arrived in front of the temple, their clothes were still pristine, not even slightly dampened by the pouring rain.

"Impressive technique, Miss Song."

Ye Chen remarked with a faint, appreciative smile.

Song Yubing's control over her Spiritual Power was exceptional for someone her age.

"You're too kind. It's nothing to be proud of in front of you, Young Master Ye."

Song Yubing was taken aback. Before a monster like him, her little trick was certainly nothing to be proud of.

They reached the temple. It was pitch-black, so dark you couldn't see your hand in front of your face.

But that was to be expected. After all, a temple abandoned in the wilderness would have been unused for many years. Thick dust covered everything, and the wooden doors were so rotten they let out a loud CREAK with a single push.

However, just as the three of them stepped into the temple, the Realm Spirit suddenly looked into the darkness and said in her cool voice, "Someone's here!"

Ye Chen's expression remained unchanged. Song Yubing quickly took out a candle and lit it. The warm flame immediately illuminated the temple's interior, revealing its desolate and rundown state.

The temple was not large. In the middle was a statue of the Buddha for worship, and next to it were several red incense candles, all half-burnt. On the table before the statue sat some food offerings that had long since gone moldy; there was no telling how long ago they had been placed there.

In a corner of the temple were two large pillars. Next to one of them, a pair of human feet were shockingly visible!

Ye Chen and the others all looked toward the feet.

"A living person," the Realm Spirit said calmly.

Ye Chen shook his head. "Pay them no mind. Let's just find a place for ourselves to sit and rest."

Clearly, this person was most likely also here to take shelter from the rain. They were all strangers; it was best to keep to themselves.

However, the trio had just sat down when a low voice suddenly echoed through the temple like a clap of thunder.

"Get out!"

Ye Chen paused. The voice had clearly come from behind the pillar.

He gave the feet sticking out from beside the pillar a cursory glance, then ignored the voice.

Seeing that both the Realm Spirit and Ye Chen remained as calm as ever, Song Yubing also said nothing.

But a moment later, the voice rang out again. Apparently seeing that the three of them had made no move, it now carried a clear trace of indignation.

"Are you deaf? I told you to get out!"

The voice was like a great thunderclap, echoing unceasingly through the temple. An ordinary person would have been scared witless and would have fled immediately, even if it meant running back out into the downpour.

Yet, Ye Chen and his companions remained impassive, utterly unmoved.

Seeing that these three outsiders were still acting completely oblivious, the voice grew utterly enraged and roared, "Are you bastards deaf—?"

"Shut up!"

Ye Chen's cold retort, though not loud, forcefully cut through the gruff roar and silenced it.

There was a moment of silence from behind the pillar. The speaker seemed not to have expected that this young whelp, Ye Chen, would dare to shout at him.

Then, the pair of feet abruptly pulled back. A moment later, a tall, burly figure with a full beard emerged from behind the pillar.

The man had a ferocious face and carried a large cleaver in his hand. His eyes, glinting with a cold light, slowly swept across Ye Chen and his two companions.