Chapter 18: Go to the Imperial City

As dusk fell over Purple Chain Mountain, the miasma thickened. "Squeak!" "Squeak!" From the cave halfway up the cliff, chewing sounds echoed continuously. The ground was littered with precious Double Marked Spirit Jade. Travis sat on the ground, stuffing Spirit Jade into his mouth like candy, crunching them effortlessly. His dental prowess allowed him to grind the Spirit Jade to bits, a feat that would surely shatter the teeth of anyone else. "All gone, huh?" Travis suddenly reached for more, only to realize he had finished them all. Iwao sighed and handed him a few more pieces. "Iwao, you're so stingy." Travis looked disdainful. "There are Triple Marked Spirit Jade too. Why not give me those?" "You've eaten all the Spirit Jade. Won't we be left without any food for the journey?" Iwao scowled at him, exasperated. Though Travis had a strong digestive system and could convert the Spirit Jade he ingested into Spiritual Energy for cultivation, there had to be a limit. One couldn't rely solely on Spirit Jade while traveling. Without a supply, they would face numerous restrictions. "Iwao, have you named your Illusionary Beast yet?" Tammy sat nearby, smiling as she watched the scene unfold, her eyes crescent-shaped with delight. "Not yet." Iwao smiled. These days, they had been constantly surrounded by danger. Every day was spent training and getting stronger, leaving little time for other matters. Tammy picked up Travis and suggested, "Why not let me name him? Since he eats so much, how about calling him 'Swallow'?" "Swallow?" Iwao chuckled. "You can call him whatever you want, even 'Gut-Head.' I don't mind!" "You're the Gut-Head!" Travis retorted, his leafy crown trembling. Then, he nodded solemnly. "This name... hm, it's not bad. From now on, Travis, you'll be called 'Swallow'!" The philosophy of "eat and swallow" had deeply ingrained itself in his being! In the vast expanse of the world, eating was the top priority! "Swallow" indeed suited his temperament. That night, after devouring over twenty Double Marked Spirit Jade and seven Triple Marked Spirit Jade, Swallow finally advanced in the realm! With one man and one tree, they surged to the Fifth Level of the Earth Spirit Realm! As dawn broke, Iwao carried Tammy and left Purple Chain Mountain. Initially, he had planned to rush back to the family and take down that old guy Ensio. But upon second thought, carrying his sister would be too inconvenient. If they were caught in battle and she got hurt in the aftermath, it would be disastrous! His sister couldn't cultivate and her body was fragile, unable to withstand the impact of Spiritual Energy. After leaving Cloud-Flipping City, Iwao hired a carriage and traveled along the main road. In half a day, they would reach Imperial City. During the journey, he engaged in idle chatter with the carriage driver. "Judging by your appearance, are you heading to Imperial City for medical advice?" The carriage driver grinned. "Indeed." Iwao nodded. The driver laughed heartily. "Imperial City is indeed remarkable. Our Cyan Kingdom is thriving. By the way, do you know Princess Doris? She just entered the Wind Sword Sect three days ago and was accepted as Mateo's disciple! I heard even the Fiery Fire Sect is extending an olive branch to her!" Upon hearing about Doris, Iwao's expression turned cold involuntarily. The temperature in the carriage dropped suddenly! "Iwao, relax..." Tammy hurriedly patted Iwao's shoulder, signaling him not to get angry. The driver seemed completely oblivious to the tension. He sighed and continued, "It's just a pity. Our Great Cyan Empire's former pride, Iwao, has now been reduced to nothing..." "Wind Sword Sect accused him of cheating on the Spirit Path. I'm sure there's more to it. Although I haven't met Iwao, I know his character! He fought for the family and the country for five years, dedicating himself to cultivation. With such pride, he couldn't possibly cheat! Even a commoner like me understands this. Isn't it strange that Imperial City would devalue a former prodigy? Is what Wind Sword Sect says always true?" The driver, cynical and resentful, couldn't help but say a few more words. Iwao kept his head down, his face devoid of much expression. After experiencing great ups and downs, Iwao no longer cared about the outside world's opinions of him. Whether good or bad. He had already decided on the path he would take next! The carriage arrived at Imperial City. Iwao paid the fare, then looked up at the gates of Imperial City. It was a magnificent ancient city nestled among the mountains. It exuded a sense of antiquity and solemnity! Iwao's gaze was calm. "Sister, the last time you carried me out of here on your back." He had been judged by City Lord Elian on Imperial City Square! He had been stripped of all his titles and treated like a worthless dog! Elian even ordered that no one lend a carriage to his sister. Tammy, already weak, had to carry him on her back for three days and three nights before returning to the family. The blood-curdling hatred, Iwao would never forget! "Iwao, promise me, don't act impulsively." Tammy's eyes were filled with worry. "Your cultivation was once destroyed. Even though you've awakened an Illusionary Beast again, you're still not comparable to a true prodigy... We're very small now. Even if you harbor hatred, you must endure it. We have no backing and can't afford to offend those major powers!" Iwao nodded, speaking softly, "Sister, rest assured, I won't act impulsively." Beside him, Swallow stood on Iwao's shoulder, scoffing at the notion. Endure it? What a joke! With this guy's personality, he wouldn't even let a grudge wait until tomorrow. Iwao put on his hat and carried Tammy. He found a hotel to temporarily stay in while also inquiring about news regarding the Fiery Fire Sect's arena. Sure enough, it was the perfect time to arrive! Yesterday, the Fiery Fire Sect set up an arena in Imperial City Square, with a total of forty to fifty young participants. After multiple rounds of selection, they reached the finals. Zhao Long, the son of City Lord Elian, and Raman, the seventh prince of the Great Cyan Empire and Doris's younger brother, would engage in the ultimate showdown one hour later! After all, there was only one spot in the Fiery Fire Sect. Everyone was ambitious about this! Entering the Fiery Fire Sect, even as an outer disciple, symbolized reaching the pinnacle in the Land of the Five Kingdoms! It was the strongest sect in this region! When Tammy fell asleep, Iwao put his hat back on and went downstairs. "Prepare some food. I'll take it up to my sister when she wakes up." Iwao took out a piece of Spirit Jade and arranged for the innkeeper to help. "Sure thing, you can count on me!" The innkeeper's eyes sparkled when he saw the Spirit Jade. "Iwao, you should be prepared. Once you reappear in Imperial City, you'll inevitably become a target again!" Swallow reminded him.