Chapter 70

In the Guose Tower, within a small garden, on a soft patch of grass, Wang Qianian, along with several guards from the tower, carefully carried something over and gently placed it on the grass. Xiao Sheng looked closely and saw that it was a large kite.

The kite, also known as a "paper swallow," gets its name from the word "swallow," which means "eagle." Therefore, this kite, in appearance, resembled a majestic and lifelike eagle. Its wingspan was over ten feet wide, and from head to tail, it was about seven or eight feet long. When standing upright, it was even taller than an average adult.

Ordinary kites are made by first binding bamboo into a frame and then pasting paper or silk over it. At first glance, this kite seemed no different from a regular one. However, upon closer inspection, its extraordinary qualities became immediately apparent.

Firstly, the bamboo used for the frame was clear and green, with countless naturally formed talismans that were mysterious and indescribable. When weighed, it felt much heavier than ordinary bamboo. But when gripped and slightly bent, its resilience far exceeded that of ordinary bamboo. Tapping it with a finger produced a clear and resonant sound, like striking metal.

Secondly, the paper covering the kite was both light and thin, yet extremely resilient. Xiao Sheng tried to tear it with a full one-tenth of his strength, but it remained intact. It's worth noting that Xiao Sheng's casual punch could generate a force of sixteen tons. One-tenth of his strength equaled more than one and a half tons, enough to tear even rhinoceros hide into pieces. The fact that this paper could withstand such force without any damage was truly astonishing.

Tianji Xing Yuxuanji had a hint of pride in her expression. She said, "Your Highness, this kite is made from the frame of Ruyi Jin Bamboo. The paper covering the frame is made from Ruyi Jin Bamboo pulp, processed using a special method. Therefore, it is impervious to blades and fire, and can withstand the strong winds at high altitudes."

Xiao Sheng was slightly surprised and asked, "Ruyi Jin Bamboo? I've heard that this type of bamboo is a rare species that can only grow in places with extremely dense primordial energy. It grows only one inch per year. After the first hundred years, the bamboo reaches its maximum height and stops growing. Over the next three hundred years, it turns a golden color; after another three hundred years, it gradually turns black; and in the final three hundred years, it loses all color and becomes transparent like crystal. It takes a thousand years to fully mature.

This bamboo is an extremely rare and valuable natural treasure. Using it to refine various magical artifacts can result in all sorts of incredible and wondrous effects. It can easily merge with the body and mind without much special refinement, and it naturally develops a spirit.

I've heard that among the ten great martial saints of the world, there was a Bamboo Mountain Martial Saint. He refined 9,999 sub-swords and one mother sword from Ruyi Jin Bamboo, forming the Ten Thousand Sword Formation. When activated, it would create a sea of swords that covered the sky, invincible and unstoppable. However, since the Bamboo Mountain Martial Saint, there have been no reports of Ruyi Jin Bamboo existing in the world."

"Your Highness remembers correctly. Ruyi Jin Bamboo is indeed such a rare natural treasure," Yuxuanji smiled. "I obtained the Ruyi Jin Bamboo by chance. Unfortunately, when I found it, it had just turned black, far from its final maturity. So, I only cut a few bamboo poles to make this kite. As for the rest, we'll see who the fortunate person will be in a few hundred years."

Pausing, Yuxuanji smiled again and said, "Your Highness, please stand on the back of the kite."

"Stand on it? Could it be that..." Xiao Sheng was slightly startled, already guessing the reason. Without further ado, he stepped onto the back of the kite. Yuxuanji followed, and together, they weighed over two hundred pounds. If it were an ordinary kite, it would have been crushed. However, the kite made from Ruyi Jin Bamboo was unharmed. It seemed that even more people could stand on it without any issues.

Yuxuanji stood at the front, focused, and formed a magical gesture, chanting, "Magnetic Thunder Earth Gate, Two Instruments of Heaven and Earth, borrow the vitality of the sun, borrow the splendor of the moon, gather the spirits at the Heavenly Gate, achieve the wind and sky, command!"

As her chant ended, a brilliant light converged from all directions, continuously pouring into the kite. The kite's eagle head eyes suddenly lit up, emitting a piercing light. Then, the air stirred, and the wind blew. The kite began to flap its wings rhythmically, steadily lifting itself along with Xiao Sheng and Yuxuanji.

Under the shocked gazes of Wang Qianian and the other guards, the kite flew higher and higher, finally piercing through the clouds and reaching the heavens. At this moment, the sun was just rising, casting a golden glow over the sea of clouds, creating a magnificent and indescribable scene.

On the back of the kite, the two passengers were not interested in the scenery and did not linger. Yuxuanji formed another magical gesture, and the kite circled twice in the air, then headed north, spreading its wings and flying swiftly.

At high altitudes, the strong winds and bone-chilling cold were difficult even for a grandmaster to withstand. However, the two people on the kite felt as if they were surrounded by an invisible shield, isolating the cold and wind, leaving them unaffected.

Xiao Sheng stood with his hands behind his back, steady as a rock. He smiled and said, "Military Advisor, I didn't expect you to have such a treasure. Hmm, this kite flies so fast. At this speed, it would take only two or three days to tour the four borders of the Da Hao Dynasty."

Yuxuanji said solemnly, "This kite is called the 'Ten Thousand Mile Cloud-Chasing Kite,' made according to the secret techniques of my sect. It can travel ten thousand miles in a day and easily traverse the four seas in a single day. Since it automatically absorbs the energy of heaven and earth as its power source, any martial practitioner below the grandmaster level can drive it if they know the technique. Standing on the back of the Cloud-Chasing Kite, one is protected from any wind, fire, or lightning.

Unfortunately, the Ruyi Jin Bamboo used to make this Cloud-Chasing Kite was not fully mature. Otherwise, it could not only fly in the sky but also dive into the sea, moving freely without any constraints. Its power and abilities would be even greater."

"Nothing in the world is perfect, so that's fine," Xiao Sheng smiled and asked, "Military Advisor, where are we heading north?"

Yuxuanji said calmly, "Your Highness, please be patient. We'll arrive shortly, and you'll know then." She formed another magical gesture, accelerating the kite. The kite's eyes glowed intensely, and its speed increased by more than thirty percent, carrying the two passengers at a breathtaking pace toward the north.

After about an hour, the kite suddenly folded its wings and plunged downward. In an instant, it broke through the clouds and returned to the ground below. The two people on the kite felt a sudden brightness. A vast, endless grassland stretched before them. Not far away, a towering mountain stood majestically, its peaks piercing the sky, presenting a grand and magnificent sight.

However, the mountain's summit was shrouded in thick smoke, with flashes of lightning and rolling thunder, adding a touch of dominance to its grandeur.

As Yuxuanji drove the kite closer to the mountain, she said, "Your Highness, do you know where we are?"

Xiao Sheng pondered and said, "After flying for so long, we should be in the northern border region. That mountain, which is often shrouded in lightning and smoke, could it be... Gold Peak Mountain?"

Yuxuanji nodded and said, "Yes, that is Gold Peak Mountain. Hundreds of years ago, one of the ten great martial saints of the world, the Thunder and Wind Martial Saint, created the 'Thunder and Wind Body' technique, which made him invincible.

At that time, the thirty-six tribes of the northern border formed an alliance, intending to invade the south. When the Thunder and Wind Martial Saint learned of this, he went alone to the northern border and challenged the thirty-six khans on Gold Peak Mountain. In a single battle, he destroyed half of Gold Peak Mountain, turning the summit into a lake called Gold Peak Lake. The thirty-six khans were all annihilated, their bodies reduced to dust.

Since then, the thirty-six tribes of the northern border have never recovered and were eventually incorporated into the territory of the Da Hao Dynasty, becoming an inseparable part of it."

Xiao Sheng marveled, "The greatness of the past is truly awe-inspiring. I wonder what kind of luck Old Nine and the Marquis Bai Li Kun Luo had to inherit the legacy of the Thunder and Wind Martial Saint. Unfortunately, they failed to master it, a true waste of a precious treasure. But Military Advisor, why are we here? Surely not just to enjoy the scenery?"

Yuxuanji said calmly, "Your Highness, please be patient, you'll know soon." She drove the kite to the halfway point of Gold Peak Mountain, found a relatively flat slope, and landed steadily.

The Ten Thousand Mile Cloud-Chasing Kite is a rare treasure. Leaving it in the wilderness would be inappropriate. However, due to its large size, it is difficult to carry around, making it very inconvenient. Therefore, the female military advisor, Tianji Xing, rarely used it after creating it.

But now, with Xiao Sheng traveling with her, it was no longer a problem. The two of them stepped off the kite, and Xiao Sheng waved his hand, immediately storing the kite in the storage space of his bracelet. They then walked up the mountain toward Gold Peak Lake.

After about two incense sticks' worth of time, they reached the summit. Looking around, the terrain at the summit resembled a large iron wok used for cooking. Inside the wok, instead of oil or boiling water, there was molten lava emitting a fierce red glow! Its temperature was so high that even steel would melt instantly upon contact.

The lava boiled continuously, and thick smoke rose endlessly, connecting the sky and the ground, enveloping the area. Within the smoke, thunder and lightning flashed constantly, creating a spectacular sight.

Yuxuanji said solemnly, "Back then, the Thunder and Wind Martial Saint not only destroyed Gold Peak Mountain but also broke through the earth's core, causing the underground lava to surge out from this exit. The so-called Gold Peak Lake is actually a lava lake. The residual power from his attack has persisted for hundreds of years, causing the lake to be shrouded in thunder and lightning year-round."

Xiao Sheng took a deep breath and nodded, "So, Military Advisor, are we here today to train me using the residual power of the Thunder and Wind Martial Saint's attack?"

Yuxuanji smiled and said, "Exactly. So, Your Highness, are you ready to enter hell?"