Chapter 65

From Baiyang Town to Yuanling City, according to the pace of the Black Scaled Dragon Horse, Long Chen estimated it would take about ten days.

He brought enough supplies, and spent half the time on the road, so he basically didn't enter any towns along the way.

Eight days later, a huge city appeared ahead, with towering city walls and a majestic presence. Long Chen originally thought it was Yuanling City, but upon closer inspection, it turned out to be only one of the ten major garrison cities surrounding Yuanling City, known as Yuanyang City.

Walking through the streets of Yuanyang City, he saw a wide variety of goods and passersby with deep, penetrating gazes and full, imposing auras, clearly indicating they were highly cultivated martial artists.

"This Yuanyang City, whether in terms of supplies or martial power, is a hundred times stronger than Baiyang Town, but it is merely a small garrison city of Yuanling City."

Thinking of this, Long Chen couldn't help but marvel.

Seeing his unimpressive demeanor, Ling Xi said with a hint of displeasure, "Country bumpkin, you've never seen the world. Wait until you see the cities of the Imperial Domain, then you'll know what truly great is!"

"What is the Imperial Domain?"

"I won't tell you!"

"..."

Ahead was a bustling inn, which was several times more luxurious than the most famous Xuri Inn in Baiyang Town. Long Chen looked at the magnificent building that rose from the ground, marveling at it as he entered the inn.

"Walking with him is truly embarrassing," Ling Xi thought to herself.

What she didn't realize was that, to outsiders, only Long Chen had entered the inn, while she, Ling Xi, was just a soul in an earring.

A servant quickly came to greet him. This servant was very shrewd and, upon seeing Long Chen's attire, immediately recognized him as a wealthy young man from a small town.

Although he was from a wealthy family, in Yuanyang City, he was not considered high-class, and without even a servant, he seemed even lower. The servant's hunched back straightened, and his tone became much firmer.

"Sir, are you here for a meal or to stay the night?"

In Baiyang Town, any inn would greet him with a smile, but this was the first time he had encountered such a servant.

However, Long Chen understood his current status and knew that being low-key was the best approach. He didn't argue with the servant and simply said, "Take my horse to be fed, and use the best horse feed! Then bring me some dishes. It's getting late, and I want to stay the night."

The servant was startled when he saw Long Chen's Black Scaled Dragon Horse, thinking to himself, "This country bumpkin from a small place can actually tame such a fierce horse; he must have good cultivation. I must be diligent in this inn and not make a mistake. I should serve him well!"

With this in mind, he quickly put on a fawning smile, instructed the stable boy to take care of Long Chen's Black Scaled Dragon Horse, and then led Long Chen to a window seat on the second floor of the inn.

Long Chen looked out the window and saw the stable boy had already tied up the Black Scaled Dragon Horse and was about to feed it.

This was a gift from his sister, Yang Lingqing.

Whenever he saw this horse, Long Chen felt a sense of satisfaction. He then gave the servant some instructions, mainly about taking good care of the Black Scaled Dragon Horse.

"Sir, you can rest assured. Our stable boys are all martial artists with excellent cultivation and years of experience in raising magical horses. By tomorrow, your Black Scaled Dragon Horse will be much stronger!"

The servant left, and soon the food was served. When the table was filled with delicacies from Yuanyang City, Long Chen didn't let the servant leave.

"Sir, is there anything else you need?"

While eating, Long Chen asked casually, "Are you familiar with Yuanyang City? Do you know where I can find herbs to nourish the soul?"

The servant was taken aback and said, "I grew up in Yuanyang City, but I don't know much about herbs to nourish the soul. You've asked the wrong person."

Long Chen frowned.

In the Ling Xi Sword, seeing this guy worrying about his own affairs, Ling Xi felt a sweet warmth.

"Where do you think I can find these herbs?"

The servant thought for a moment and said, "Yuanyang City doesn't have any major herb markets, but I know that in Yuanling City, there is the Chenxi Merchant Alliance, where you can find anything—cultivation techniques, herbs, divine weapons, and all sorts of mysterious and novel items. As long as you have money, you can buy anything. I'm sure they have plenty of herbs to nourish the soul, of course..."

The servant glanced at Long Chen and emphasized, "The most important thing is money. To buy anything from the Chenxi Merchant Alliance, you need at least several dozen divine jade stones..."

From his expression, it was clear he thought Long Chen, from a small place, wouldn't have much money.

"Chenxi Merchant Alliance, huh?"

Long Chen didn't bother with this snobbish servant and dismissed him.

"Since I'm going to Yuanling City anyway, I'll set my sights on the Chenxi Merchant Alliance. But I only have one divine jade stone, and my grandfather gave me some spirit jade, but that's not enough..."

Ling Xi, in a rare gentle tone, said, "Hey, don't worry. You still have about two months. I, Ling Xi, survived a great calamity, and now I have you. What's there to worry about?"

Long Chen chuckled and said, "Xiaoxi, are you being so affectionate because you have designs on me? Come on, admit it, are you already so infatuated with my handsome looks that you're ready to offer yourself to me?"

"Bullshit! I don't like you, you ugly brute, disgusting!"

Just as Long Chen and Ling Xi were chatting happily, a group of people on horseback stopped in front of the inn.

The leader was a young man in a yellow, luxurious robe and black, high boots, looking very imposing.

This young man was only about twenty years old, but he had a cold demeanor and sharp, electric eyes, exuding the aura of a true heir from a high-ranking family.

The servant who had just served Long Chen immediately ran over, bending and bowing, fawning over the young master. The young master in the luxurious robe was very unfriendly, but the servant's fawning remained unchanged.

"Servant, take our horses to be fed, and use the best stable boys and the best horse feed. Also, prepare the best dishes for my young master. If you serve well, you'll be rewarded!"

Beside the young master in the luxurious robe, a sharp-nosed, monkey-faced butler-like figure was making arrangements, leading the young master into the inn. At this moment, the young master's eyes lit up, and he said casually, "Servant, take me to your stable."

The servant was taken aback, not knowing what the young master wanted, but seeing his authority, he couldn't refuse and quickly said, "Yes, yes, I'll take the young master to the stable right away!"

The group soon arrived at the inn's stable, not far from Long Chen's window.

The young master in the luxurious robe immediately spotted a tall, magnificent black horse with scales, clearly Long Chen's Black Scaled Dragon Horse.

Seeing the Black Scaled Dragon Horse, the young master's eyes lit up, and he said, "Truly, what you seek, you will find. Heaven is kind to me, Huang Xiang. Old Liu, isn't this a very rare fifth-rank magical beast, the Black Scaled Dragon Horse?"

Old Liu, the butler, also examined the Black Scaled Dragon Horse and marveled, "Indeed, this horse is exceptionally magnificent, with pure black fur and orderly scales. It is truly a top-quality Black Scaled Dragon Horse. Congratulations, young master, to have found such a magnificent horse in Yuanyang City!"

The other servants also praised it.

Huang Xiang was very pleased. He stepped forward, ready to tame the horse.

At this moment, the Black Scaled Dragon Horse, surrounded by so many people, was quite displeased. Its eyes scanned the crowd coldly, gradually turning blood red.

"Little horse, be good. Meeting me is a great fortune for both of us. If you listen to Master Huang, I'll give you the best food and drink!"

Huang Xiang, excited, gradually approached the Black Scaled Dragon Horse.

The servant, however, was very conflicted.

He knew the horse belonged to Long Chen, but the young master Huang Xiang clearly had a higher status than Long Chen. Huang Xiang was someone not to be offended, so the servant quickly made a decision.

He ran to Huang Xiang and fawned, "Young master, it seems you really like this horse. But it belongs to one of our guests. Shall I persuade him to give the horse to you?"

Huang Xiang was taken aback, his face showing displeasure, and said, "Such a fine horse already has an owner? Ordinary people only defile such a fine horse. But my father advised me to be more restrained when traveling. Old Liu, give him two divine jade stones."

Hearing about two divine jade stones, the servant's eyes lit up, thinking, "This young master Huang is indeed from a wealthy family. Just a casual offer, and it's two divine jade stones..."

Old Liu quickly agreed and was about to follow the servant, but Long Chen had already jumped down from the window. He had clearly seen Huang Xiang's interest in his Black Scaled Dragon Horse from the inn.

"This Huang Xiang, though only a little older than me, has cultivation that feels even stronger than my grandfather..."

Though shocked, Long Chen was not afraid.

He had always lived in the small town of Baiyang, and seeing Huang Xiang now, he understood even more clearly that there was always someone better.

Seeing Long Chen arrive, the servant quickly greeted him, using his eyes to signal and fawning, "Sir, our young master Huang wants to buy your horse with two divine jade stones. This Black Scaled Dragon Horse is only a fifth-rank magical beast, not even worth half a divine jade stone, but our young master..."

The servant spoke as if Long Chen was getting a great deal.

The young master, however, continued to marvel at the Black Scaled Dragon Horse, not even looking at Long Chen. The butler, Old Liu, glanced at Long Chen, then immediately put on a blank face, took out two divine jade stones from his bag, and casually threw them to Long Chen.

He added, "Take the divine jade stones and leave quickly. If our young master remembers that you rode such a fine horse first, he might break your legs."

He then ignored Long Chen.

Two pure white divine jade stones fell to the ground, and Long Chen did not reach out to catch them.

The servant was stunned, then quickly reacted, somewhat reproachfully, muttering to himself, "Sure enough, he's not much. He can't even catch two divine jade stones."

Old Liu, hearing the sound of the jade stones hitting the ground, turned around and carefully examined Long Chen. When he saw the mocking look in Long Chen's eyes, he was taken aback and then laughed.

"Those who don't know their place usually end up very badly... Boy, don't you understand this simple truth?"