Chapter 53: Arriving

Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Arriving

"A direction-finding spiritual tool."

Zhao Lianyu held it steady in her palm and briefly explained its general function.

"The destination has already been recorded inside it. As long as we are within the region where the destination can be sensed, it will point us toward it."

Zhao Linger leaned closer.

"So it knows where we’re going?"

"More or less."

Zhao Lianyu gave the device another small pulse of spiritual energy. The black needle immediately shifted several degrees, correcting itself before becoming completely still.

"It doesn’t tell us how far away the destination is. It only tells us which direction we need to travel."

Linger nodded slowly, her eyes remaining fixed on the strange little device.

It was remarkably simple.

There were no maps, no glowing symbols, and no complicated formations displayed before them. Just a piece of jade, a metal needle, and a destination recorded within it.

Zhao Lianyu closed her fingers around the device and looked toward the direction it indicated.

"Keep going."

Her spiritual energy flowed outward once more.

The spiritual beasts immediately adjusted their course, turning toward the distant mountains of the eastern region.

The carriage followed smoothly behind them.

Several more hours passed.

The bright sky gradually dimmed as the sun began its descent toward the horizon. The golden light spread across the mountains and forests below before slowly fading into deeper shades of orange and red.

Zhao Linger remained by the window for much of the journey, watching the unfamiliar landscape change as they traveled deeper into the eastern region. The wilderness gradually became less prominent, and signs of civilization began appearing once again.

At first, they saw only the occasional road winding between the mountains. Then came scattered villages, followed by larger settlements whose lights had already begun to glow in the approaching darkness.

Before long, they could even see cultivators traveling between the towns.

Night had almost completely settled by the time Zhao Lianyu’s gaze shifted toward the horizon.

"There."

Zhao Linger followed her gaze.

Far in the distance, a vast city appeared beneath the darkening sky.

At first, it looked like nothing more than a cluster of lights scattered across the horizon. As the carriage drew closer, however, the true scale of the city gradually became apparent.

It was enormous.

Tall walls surrounded the city, stretching far across the landscape. Towers rose above the walls at regular intervals, their tops illuminated by formations that cast a faint glow over the surrounding area.

Countless lights filled the streets within, forming winding lines of brightness that extended deep into the city.

What surprised Zhao Linger most was the city’s location.

The central portion of the city seemed to rise above the surrounding terrain, supported by enormous stone platforms and elevated structures that gave the impression that the city itself had been raised toward the sky.

Several large bridges connected the elevated districts to the lower parts of the city, while faintly glowing formations could be seen beneath some of the platforms.

Even from this distance, the city gave off an imposing presence.

Zhao Lianyu looked toward the guards riding behind them before turning back toward the city.

"It’s the Blue Cloud Mist City, Princess. Be prepared. We are about to arrive."

Zhao Linger blinked.

"Blue Cloud Mist City?"

She looked at the enormous city ahead before turning toward Zhao Lianyu.

"Aren’t we going directly to the Chen Family?"

Zhao Lianyu shook her head.

"Not tonight."

"Why?"

"It’s already getting dark. It would be discourteous to arrive at the Chen Family’s residence without notice at this hour."

Zhao Linger looked back toward the city.

"So we’re staying here tonight?"

"Yes. We will enter the city, rest for the night, and visit the Chen Family tomorrow morning."

Zhao Lianyu’s expression became slightly more solemn as she looked toward the distant city.

"We are dealing with a family that possesses three High Lords. We should show them the proper etiquette and respect."

Zhao Linger nodded slowly.

She had already heard how extraordinary the Chen Family was, but hearing Zhao Lianyu speak so carefully about their etiquette made the reality sink in a little more.

"Three High Lords..." she murmured.

Zhao Lianyu nodded.

"Exactly. We shouldn’t treat them like an ordinary cultivation family."

The carriage continued toward the enormous city, its lights growing brighter with every passing moment as night fully descended over the eastern region.

Their arrival was quickly noticed by the city watchtower.

The guards stationed there spotted the approaching carriage in the distance and immediately recognized the golden royal emblem displayed upon it.

Realizing that members of the Royal Family were approaching, they quickly informed the city authorities.

The news soon reached Chen Guanshan, who immediately went to welcome the delegation and personally guided them into Blue Cloud Mist City.

As Zhao Linger entered the city, she immediately noticed the traces of destruction that still remained from the recent invasion.

Several buildings had yet to be fully repaired, sections of the streets were still being reconstructed, and parts of the city walls bore obvious scars from the battle.

Even so, the city had already regained nearly half of its former glory.

New buildings had risen among the ruins, shops had reopened, and cultivators and ordinary residents had begun moving through the streets once more.

Workers continued repairing damaged structures while carts carried construction materials through the city, giving the entire place a sense of gradual recovery rather than abandonment.

Chen Guanshan led the delegation toward the newly rebuilt City Lord’s Mansion, where accommodations had already been prepared for them.

The mansion itself was newly constructed, with fresh spiritual wood forming its walls and simple defensive formations surrounding the residence.

It was not particularly extravagant, but after a journey that had lasted most of the day, it was more than enough.

That night, the Imperial Family delegation stayed within the newly rebuilt City Lord’s Mansion.

By the following morning, Chen Guanshan had already sent a report back to the Chen Family regarding the arrival of the Royal Family delegation.

Chen Haoran had received the message in advance and was already making preparations to personally receive them.

Morning sunlight spread across Blue Cloud Mist City, illuminating the streets that had begun to stir with activity once again.

The newly rebuilt City Lord’s Mansion stood quietly beneath the morning sky, its fresh spiritual wood still carrying the faint scent of recent construction.

One by one, Zhao Lianyu, Zhao Linger, and the guards stepped out of the mansion.

Chen Guanshan was already waiting outside to see them off.

When Zhao Lianyu appeared, he immediately stepped forward and cupped his hands.

"Your Excellency, I still have to thank you again for what you did during the invasion."

His expression was sincere.

"If it weren’t for you, countless people in this city would have died."

He had already thanked her several times the previous night, yet the gratitude in his voice had not diminished.

Zhao Lianyu simply shook her head.

"It was my duty."

"Even so, your actions saved countless lives." Chen Guanshan lowered his hands only after a brief pause. "The people of this city owe you a great debt."

Zhao Lianyu did not know how to respond to such repeated gratitude, so she merely nodded politely. But beneath the veil, the corner of her mouth was secretly curled upward, clearly pleased.

After all, who wouldn’t feel appreciated when being praised like this?

Behind her, Zhao Linger stepped out of the mansion and adjusted her clothes before looking toward the streets outside.

The guards followed shortly afterward, carrying the delegation’s belongings and preparing to depart.

By now, the city was fully awake.

After one final exchange of information, the delegation team prepared to leave for the Chen Family.

The carriage slowly rose into the sky, carried upward by the spiritual beasts as spiritual energy gathered beneath their hooves.

The city streets gradually shrank below them, and before long, the towering walls and rebuilt buildings of Blue Cloud Mist City disappeared from sight.

Before they departed, Chen Guanshan had already pointed out the direction of the Chen Family’s grounds.

They were located to the north of the city, so the carriage soon adjusted its course and began traveling in that direction.

Zhao Linger remained by the window, watching the city gradually disappear behind them as the carriage continued northward.

The carriage continued northward.

For quite some time, there was little to distinguish the journey from the scenery they had already passed. Vast forests stretched beneath them, broken by winding rivers and occasional mountain ranges.

Then, far ahead, several enormous mountains appeared on the horizon.

At first, they were nothing more than distant silhouettes rising above the forests. But as the carriage continued forward, the mountains gradually grew larger, until their enormous peaks became impossible to overlook.

Zhao Linger leaned closer to the window.

"Miss Imperial Envoy..."

Zhao Lianyu looked over.

"What is it?"

"Those mountains..."

Zhao Lianyu followed her gaze.

Her eyes immediately settled on the three enormous peaks in the distance.

"...Those should be the Chen Family’s grounds, or am I seeing it wrong?"

Zhao Linger stared at them with a growing curiosity. There were three mountains standing apart from the surrounding range.

But then something on the first peak caught her attention.

It was a gigantic sword embedded in its summit. When she saw it, her eyes widened almost immediately.

"That..."

Zhao Lianyu’s expression became slightly more serious.