127: Chapter 127 The Legendary Genius

Lin Tian heard what Junior Sister Zheng Xiaoyun said and agreed almost without hesitation.

"Go, of course I'll go."

He had been thinking about how to exchange the jewelry he had for silver, and also about buying throwing knives and a bow and arrows.

Although it wasn't impossible to travel alone, since there were fellow Disciples to go with, it was naturally safer.

Although he had been to Yunzhou Prefecture once, the road from the Qixia Sect to Yunzhou Prefecture was not short, and one had to pass through several mountain forests in between. Walking alone always required extra caution.

Following the fellow Disciples, at least there was no need to worry about being targeted on the road.

Seeing him agree so readily, Junior Sister Zheng Xiaoyun laughed: "Alright then, gather at the mountain gate early tomorrow morning, don't be late."

Lin Tian nodded.

Early the next day, Lin Tian arrived at the mountain gate on time. When he arrived, Junior Sister Zheng Xiaoyun was already there, and several other people were standing next to her.

There weren't many people, seven in total including him. Besides Junior Sister Zheng Xiaoyun, there was also a Senior Brother Li.

Senior Brother Li was a bit older than them, looking to be in his early twenties. He had a tall, straight figure, a long sword hanging at his waist, and a calm demeanor.

According to Junior Sister Zheng Xiaoyun, this Senior Brother Li was an old Disciple of Zixia Peak, with a cultivation base at the Early Stage of Fourth-Rank Warrior, and his swordsmanship was quite impressive.

This trip to Yunzhou Prefecture was nominally to let the new Disciples broaden their horizons, but in reality, it also meant to look after them.

The others were all new Disciples who had joined around the same time as Lin Tian.

These people came from various cities under Yunzhou Prefecture, some from Qingmu City, some from Baishi City, and some from Linjiang City.

Most of them had never even been to Yunzhou Prefecture. Hearing that they were going to Yunzhou Prefecture this time, they were all extremely excited, chirping non-stop.

Among this group of new Disciples, the Zhao siblings were the leaders.

Zhao Mingyang and Zhao Mingyue were biological siblings from a large city under Yunzhou Prefecture, and their Family had considerable influence.

Their Aptitude was indeed good; having joined for only half a year, they had both Cultivated to the Peak of Rank 3 Martial Artist.

According to Junior Sister Zheng Xiaoyun, at this rate, they would be able to reach a Breakthrough to Fourth-Rank Warrior in about another half a year.

This speed was considered quite outstanding among the new Disciples.

One had to know that most new Disciples took at least a year to Cultivate from Rank 3 Martial Artist to Fourth-Rank Warrior.

The Zhao siblings could reach a Breakthrough in just one year; their Aptitude was indeed extraordinary.

Precisely because of this, many people surrounded the Zhao siblings. Several new Disciples crowded around them, chatting and laughing, with words full of flattery and obsequiousness.

Zhao Mingyang had a faint smile on his face, while Zhao Mingyue looked accustomed to such scenes, occasionally saying a few words, and everyone listened intently.

As for Lin Tian, no one paid him any mind.

He walked at the very back of the group alone, the autumn water sword hanging at his waist, his pace neither hurried nor slow.

If it weren't for Junior Sister Zheng Xiaoyun occasionally looking back to say a few words to him, these people would probably have forgotten that there was such a person in the group.

Lin Tian didn't care about this.

What was the use of these new Disciples having good Aptitude? They were only at the Peak of Rank 3 Martial Artist.

He had long since reached the Fourth-Rank Warrior level, and the number of Fourth-Rank Warriors who had died under his sword could not be counted on one hand.

If they really were to fight, him killing these Rank 3 Martial Artist Geniuses would be no different from chopping melons and vegetables.

However, he wouldn't say these things. For one, it wasn't necessary, and for another, people might not believe him even if he did.

His reputation on Zixia Peak wasn't very good—someone who had been personally called "mediocre Aptitude" by Peak Master Su Hanyan was just a piece of trash in the eyes of others.

Who would believe what a piece of trash said?

Lin Tian restrained his aura, not revealing a single bit.

Unless they actually fought, these Rank 3 Martial Artist Disciples wouldn't be able to detect the Internal Energy circulating within his body at all.

When they looked at Lin Tian, it was like looking at an ordinary Rank 3 Martial Artist, with nothing special about him.

The group left the Qixia Sect and walked along the official road in the direction of Yunzhou Prefecture.

The journey was very smooth.

In this day and age, no one dared to stop the Disciples of the Qixia Sect. The seven of them were wearing the Qixia Sect uniform, and as they walked on the road, whenever they occasionally met some Loose Cultivator Martial Artists, the other party would see their clothes from afar and voluntarily clear the way.

Let alone making a move, they didn't even dare to take a second look.

After walking for most of the day, the walls of Yunzhou Prefecture finally appeared in their field of vision.

The city walls were blue-gray, tall and thick, shimmering with a faint light under the sun. The city gate was wide open, and the flow of people coming in and out was endless.

There were peddlers carrying poles, merchants driving carriages, Martial Artists riding tall horses, and ordinary people wearing coarse cloth clothes.

Several new Disciples stood at the city gate and let out a collective "wow."

"This city wall is too high!"

"Look at that city gate, three carriages could pass through side by side!"

"The people on this street are ten times more than in our Qingmu City!"

Although Zhao Mingyue was more reserved, her eyes also lit up as she looked around.

Zhao Mingyang couldn't help but take a few extra glances at the shops along the street; the storefronts of those shops were more impressive than the largest shops in their hometown.

Senior Brother Li couldn't help but laugh when he saw them like this. Junior Sister Zheng Xiaoyun also laughed. She turned to look at Senior Brother Li and said: "I remember when we came for the first time, we had the same expression."

Senior Brother Li nodded: "It's all the same."

Junior Sister Zheng Xiaoyun turned her head again, wanting to see what Lin Tian's reaction was. After all, Lin Tian was also a new Disciple and shouldn't have seen such a big scene either.

But when she turned her head, she was stunned for a moment.

Lin Tian stood at the back of the group, his expression composed and his gaze calm. He looked at the city wall and streets in front of him, without any look of surprise on his face, as if he were looking at something very ordinary.

"Junior Brother Lin, have you been to Yunzhou Prefecture?" Junior Sister Zheng Xiaoyun asked.

Lin Tian nodded: "I've been here once."

When he came for the first time, he was indeed very shocked.

The prosperity of Yunzhou Prefecture far exceeded his imagination. But that was already a thing of the past.

Coming again this time, he had long lost that initial sense of novelty.

Hearing that Lin Tian had been to Yunzhou Prefecture, the other new Disciples also turned their heads curiously. Zhao Mingyang glanced at Lin Tian, and Zhao Mingyue also cast her gaze over.

Senior Brother Li was also a little surprised and asked: "What did Junior Brother Lin come here for?"

Yunzhou Prefecture was not close to the Qixia Sect. One had to pass through several mountain ranges and forests in between, and those places were not peaceful territories.

Although there were no particularly dangerous Yao Beasts, there were still wild animals and scattered bandits.

Generally, a Rank 3 Martial Artist would not dare to walk this road alone; at least a Fourth-Rank Warrior would dare to travel alone.

This Junior Brother Lin had only joined the Sect for half a year, he should only be a Rank 3 Martial Artist, right? A Rank 3 Martial Artist dares to come to Yunzhou Prefecture alone?

Senior Brother Li's gaze sized up Lin Tian. His aura was plain, with nothing special to be seen. It should be Rank 3, no doubt.

New Disciples were all Rank 3 when they first entered the Sect; this was the rule. To Cultivate from Rank 3 to Fourth-Rank, even those with good Aptitude would need a year.

This Junior Brother Lin had only been in the Sect for half a year, so even if his Aptitude was good, it was impossible to have such a quick Breakthrough.

Then what did he come to Yunzhou Prefecture for?

Lin Tian smiled and didn't explain much: "Came to do a task."

"So it was to do a task." Senior Brother Li nodded and didn't press further.

The others also withdrew their gazes. Doing a task, they must have come with a group of people, it couldn't have been alone.

It was probably just some simple errand of delivering letters, nothing worth asking about.

Zhao Mingyue shifted her gaze away and continued to look at the silk shop by the street. Zhao Mingyang didn't take this matter to heart anymore either.

Senior Brother Li waved his hand: "Let's go, I'll take you all to explore Yunzhou Prefecture."

Several new Disciples cheered and followed him, crowding around.

Senior Brother Li was indeed very familiar with Yunzhou Prefecture.

He led the group from the city gate all the way in, passing by the street selling weapons, the street selling Medicinal Pill, and the street selling silk and fabrics.

Every time they arrived at a place, he would give a brief introduction. The new Disciples listened with great interest, their eyes unable to take it all in.

After walking for more than an hour, Senior Brother Li took everyone into a large restaurant.

This restaurant was three stories high, with a spacious storefront, and inside there were dozens of tables, filled with people.

The waiter was shuttling between the tables with a tray, shouting the names of the dishes. The air was filled with the aroma of wine and meat, mixed together, making people salivate.

Senior Brother Li ordered a private seat on the second floor, by the window, where they could see the scenery on the street. Several people sat down and ordered a table full of dishes.

The restaurants in Yunzhou Prefecture were indeed much better than those in small cities, with exquisite dishes and good taste.

Several new Disciples ate until their mouths were oily, and even Zhao Mingyue picked up a few extra chopsticks full of food.

While eating, the Martial Artists at other tables in the restaurant were also talking loudly. These people came from all directions; there were escort guards, merchants' guards, Loose Cultivators out for experience, and local Family descendants.

After a few cups of wine, they said everything that came to mind.

"Have you heard? That eldest Young Master of the Liu Family has reached a Breakthrough, Fourth-Rank Warrior Middle Stage! Only twenty-five years old, extraordinary!"

"Twenty-five years old, Fourth-Rank Warrior Middle Stage? Indeed a Genius."

"What Genius, you haven't seen a real Genius. That third Young Miss of the Wang Family, twenty-two years old and already at the Fourth-Rank Warrior Middle Stage, and she is so beautiful, like someone out of a painting."

"What's the use of being beautiful, can you marry her?"

Everyone laughed loudly.

Someone else said: "I heard that a precious medicine appeared recently in Heifeng Ridge, and several Families have sent people there. I don't know who will eventually get it."

"Dare to go to that place, Heifeng Ridge? Are you tired of living?"

Various pieces of news were told by these Martial Artists with added embellishments, some true, some false, some half-true and half-false. Several new Disciples listened with fascination, even forgetting to use their chopsticks.

Just at this moment, a Martial Artist in the corner gulped down a large mouthful of wine, slammed the wine bowl onto the table, and said loudly: "If you ask me, the Family Geniuses you are talking about are far from it! I know a Genius, that one is truly powerful!"

Everyone looked at him.

The man's face was flushed red, the wine fumes rising, and his voice was much louder than usual: "Let me tell you, that Genius killed several Fourth-Rank Warriors of the Black Tiger Gang alone! Alone! Several of them! Fourth-Rank!"

The restaurant was quiet for a moment.

"Killed several Fourth-Rank Warriors alone?"

"And they were from the Black Tiger Gang?"

"You're boasting!"

"Exactly, we drink too, but we don't talk as outrageously as you!"

The man got anxious and stood up, slapping the table: "Where am I boasting? This is true! That young Genius is actually a Disciple of the Qixia Sect!"

Qixia Sect.

As soon as these three words came out, the wine cup in Senior Brother Li's hand stopped in mid-air. Junior Sister Zheng Xiaoyun's chopsticks paused. Zhao Mingyang and Zhao Mingyue looked at each other.

The other new Disciples were all stunned.

A Genius of the Qixia Sect? Who is it?