Chapter 251 - Cangdu City

Chapter 251: Chapter 10 Cangdu City"Lu Hong, brother, this is as far as I escort you," the City Lord of Qing Xiao said as they parted three thousand li outside the city, arriving at the boundary of Qing Xiao City’s influence. "Participants from all cities of the Empire will gather in the Imperial Capital and travel together with the king to the Sunfire Coliseum in the center of Ambra. Kado will take care of everything for you on this journey, you just need to make an appearance at the banquet before the martial assembly. If you do not wish to attend any other social obligations, he will help you decline them, so you needn’t worry about threats or oppression from other courtiers."

"Thank you for your kindness, City Lord; I understand," Lu Hong said.

After bidding farewell to the City Lord, Kado drove the carriage, leading a squad of soldiers onto the main road to the Imperial Capital of the Sacred Empire.

Qing Xiao City was a peripheral city of the Sacred Empire, with many disturbing elements still faintly visible around it, but as they set off towards the center of the Empire, the traces of war became increasingly rare. Finally, entering Lu Hong’s vision was a colossal city that didn’t pale next to the magnificent Jinrui City of the Sacred Empire.

After Kado and the city guards had confirmed their identities, the carriage rolled along the spacious causeway and the bustling scene of Cangdu City, the Imperial Capital of the Sacred Empire, slowly passed by Lu Hong.

"Lord Lu Hong, this is Cangdu City, our Imperial Capital," said Kado, gradually becoming more familiar with Lu Hong as they traveled, occasionally informing him of the customs and people of the Sacred Empire. "Inside and outside the city, there are stationed seven hundred thousand of the Empire’s most elite heavy-armored cavalry, each one at the Second-Transformation Peak, invincible wherever they strike."

"It seems your Sacred Empire is indeed very powerful," Lu Hong said with a slight smile.

"That’s right. Our Empire has stood for many years, and no one has ever attacked the footsteps of our Royal Capital. Just this fact is the greatest pride of our people," Kado said with a laugh. "Back at the station, please rest well, sir. A few officials from the country will come to verify your identity and add you to the roster for the Seven Kingdoms Martial Assembly."

"You handle it," Lu Hong replied before retreating back into the carriage and closing his eyes for meditation, seizing every opportunity to cultivate.

About thirty minutes later, the noise gradually faded, and soon the carriage stopped. Kado called from outside: "Lord Lu Hong, we’ve arrived. Please, get down."

Lu Hong stepped down from the carriage, just as the caravan from Guangless City also arrived at the inn’s entrance.

Looking at the several dozen Second-Transformation Peak warriors coming down from the seven or eight carriages of the other party, then back at his own solitary carriage, it seemed he was being used as a disposable piece by Qing Xiao City’s Lord.

"Is there a limit to how many people from each city can participate in the Martial Assembly?"

"Lord Lu Hong, each City Lord can select up to seven representatives to attend the assembly," Kado answered.

Kado’s reply confirmed Lu Hong’s speculation, and he then said jokingly, "It seems the Qing Xiao City Lord really trusts me, huh!"

"The City Lord has his plans, not for us to speculate. Since the City Lord has asked you to represent Qing Xiao City alone, he must have his reasons," Kado said before moving forward to speak with the officers of the station.

At that moment, a skimpily dressed woman from Guangless City, twisting her slender waist, appeared by Lu Hong’s side in the blink of an eye: "Young man, are you the representative from Qing Xiao City for the martial assembly?"

"Yes," Lu Hong said, stepping back half a step to put some distance between them.

"Just you alone?" The woman’s gaze swept over Lu Hong’s body, her sultry red lips curling slightly: "It seems the young man must be very capable, having earned Qing Xiao’s trust." With that, her fair jade hand reached towards Lu Hong’s chest.

Lu Hong stepped back again, avoiding the woman’s harassment: "Miss, we don’t seem to be acquainted, do we?"

"Hehe~" The woman giggled, "My name is Leng Yue. What’s yours?"

"Lu Hong."

"So, are we familiar now?" The woman pressed closer to Lu Hong again.

"Hey!" A man from the Guangless City caravan shouted at Leng Yue: "Come back here, don’t make Qing Xiao City forfeit before the selection battles have even started; that old man holds grudges."

"Got it, got it," Leng Yue patted her hands and whispered to Lu Hong, "Little brother Lu Hong, make sure to survive until the end, hmm? If you need any help, you can come to my room anytime."

Lu Hong watched Leng Yue leave and only then relaxed the Pure Steel Battle Energy gathered behind his back.

Staring intently at the woman’s retreating figure, he considered those pale hands that had likely taken many lives; her inadvertent aura of killing intent was something Lu Hong could not ignore.

It seemed that those who could participate in the Martial Assembly were no weaklings.

After completing the simple procedures, Lu Hong and Kado entered the inn, which was larger than any City Lord Mansion they’d ever seen.

Qing Xiao City had a fixed manor within the inn. As Lu Hong walked in, a faint fragrance greeted him.

"Is there a woman here?" Lu Hong was surprised. Wasn’t this place supposed to be unoccupied?

"My lord, I still have some tasks assigned by the City Lord that I need to attend to. If you need anything, you can inform the guards outside the manor," Kado said.

Watching Kado hurry away, Lu Hong stepped further into the manor, where he gradually heard the faint sound of a guqin.

Deep within the garden, a young woman was quietly playing the guqin, her music resonating with a melancholy tune.

"Miss, so young, yet why does your guqin weep?" Lu Hong asked.

Startled by the sudden sound, the woman panicked, her playing came to an abrupt halt as the strings snapped, "You? Who are you? Why have you come back here?" The woman’s voice was frantic and rushed.

"No, no, no, don’t be afraid; I’m not a bad person."

"Bad people always say that!" The woman retorted sharply, her delicate nose crinkling in disdain.

"Well... but I’m not a bad person. I was actually about to ask why you are here."

"Were you sent by Qingxiao City to attend the martial arts conference?" the woman asked smartly, immediately guessing Lu Hong’s identity.

"Yes, so may I ask, are you also someone from Qingxiao City?" Lu Hong asked with a smile.

"Of course not." The woman stood up, straightened her wrinkled clothing, picked up her ancient zither, and walked away. "Since someone from Qingxiao City has arrived, I’ll be leaving."

"Safe travels," Lu Hong waved his hand to bid farewell.

"May the Heavenly God bless you," the woman offered her final blessing before disappearing around the corner of the garden.

"How odd," Lu Hong shook his head, wondering what sort of background allowed a woman to roam freely within the station—she certainly was no ordinary person.

Lu Hong didn’t dwell on it; he found an open space and began to meditate, continuously enhancing his battle energy.

That night, Cardo gently called out to Lu Hong, "My lord? My lord?"

"What is it?"

"There is a banquet tonight. I request that you accompany me to attend. The Cang King will meet with the warriors sent by various city lords."

"Alright."

The Imperial City of Cang was incomparably vast; they passed through seventeen grand halls before arriving at the side hall where the banquet was being held.

Cang only had a few cities, so the number of people who were qualified to enter the banquet hall was quite limited. Upon looking up, Lu Hong saw Leng Yue—the woman who had taken the initiative to greet him during the day.

Sensing Lu Hong’s gaze, Leng Yue lifted her wine glass and took a delicate sip. Her eyes and brows were enchanting beyond words.

Lu Hong’s arrival coincided with the start of the feast. The Cang King ascended the stairs and drew all eyes with his imperial air, "Warriors, among you, there will be seven who will represent my Cang in the grandest martial arts conference in Anbula. Regardless of who earns this honor tomorrow, tonight, you are all the finest warriors of my Cang."

"Your Majesty, we of Ning City are willing to dedicate everything to Cang!" The first to curry favor was a group of seven experts from Ning City, earning the Cang King’s satisfaction, "No need for excess formality. Tonight, you are the protagonists, please enjoy this bountiful banquet to the fullest."

As the banquet commenced, the exotic customs from Anbula were on full display. Excellent wine and beautiful women, along with grand performances, filled Lu Hong with a sense of novelty.

"Little brother, are your eyes dazzled by all this?" Suddenly, Leng Yue’s voice reached Lu Hong’s ear, followed by her slender hands encircling his chest, exploring continuously.

"Lady Leng Yue, please show some self-respect." With the likes of stunning beauties like Lando and Danni, one truly becomes immune to seduction.

"Ah, so unromantic," Leng Yue was about to complain further when a sword’s cold light suddenly burst from the southwest of the banquet hall, heading straight for Lu Hong’s heart.

Faced with the unexpected attack, Leng Yue simply let go of Lu Hong and stepped back half a step.

"Little brother, this woman is picking a fight with you," bellowed Ancestor Dragon inside Lu Hong’s mind, "With such a malicious woman, if it were me, I’d have clawed her to death by now!"

As battle energy coalesced into a shield, the obstructed cold light exploded, drawing the attention of everyone in the hall.

The security guards of the banquet were about to step forward but were stopped by the Cang King, "Don’t rush, let’s see what happens first."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Instantly becoming the center of attention, Lu Hong fixed his gaze on the man carrying out the sneak attack, "Why are you targeting me?"

"Leng Yue is my woman, well-known throughout the whole Cang. Kid, tomorrow will be your death day!"

"Oh, I’m really looking forward to it!" Lu Hong didn’t seek trouble, but that didn’t mean he was afraid of it. Since that woman named Leng Yue had brought him a challenge, he would settle it before seeking revenge on her.

"Hahaha, hahaha!" The man laughed loudly, "Who do you think you are, daring to talk back to me?"

After speaking, the man stepped through the crowd, his massive fist smashing towards Lu Hong’s face.

The powerful pressure from the punch left Lu Hong unable to dodge—it must be some kind of targeting skill.

The aggressor made the first move, and Lu Hong didn’t show weakness. Pure Steel Battle Energy burst forth from his body, forming a sharp blade that slashed fiercely at his opponent.

The collision of the two unleashed a powerful roar, and a storm seemed inevitable, but this was the Imperial Palace; someone was bound to intervene.

A figure swift as lightning swept past everyone’s view, forcing the man attacking Lu Hong back a hundred paces, only stabilizing when his companions intervened.

Lu Hong, on the other hand, fared much better; only his battle energy was shattered, without any harm done to him.

The man was about to rage, but upon further thought, broke out in a cold sweat, "Demon Wind pays respects to Elder Li!"

"If I see you misbehaving at His Majesty’s banquet again, the consequences won’t be so mild next time," Elder Li’s voice sounded calmly across the banquet, serene yet sending tremors through the soul.

This person’s strength was surely no less than that of a secret technique master! Lu Hong looked around and failed to detect the elderly man’s presence.