Chapter 344: Gathering of Geniuses_1
Time passed, and half a month had gone by.
On this day, the figure of an Inkwind Spirit Boat appeared over a vast wilderness in the central part of the Wei Kingdom.
The vast stretch of land below the flying boat was known as the Tianfeng Mountain Range, an area even larger than three Luoyun Mountain Ranges combined. The bald terrain and sparse Spiritual Energy made it utterly a barren land.
The Tianfeng Mountain Rage lay in the central part of the Wei Kingdom's Cultivation World, taking the shape of a triangular vacuum zone that belonged to no particular Sect.
This expanse of land, despite its vast size, had been scarcely trodden by human footsteps throughout its thousands of years of existence due to its barrenness.
Consequently, not a single substantial power had emerged in such an infertile place, save for the existence of more than a dozen Qi Refining families at most.
Such territory served as a buffer zone for the three great Sects' influence and, after thousands of years of friction, had ultimately become a no man's land.
At this moment, on the deck of the flying boat.
Zhu Yun stood with his hands clasped behind his back at the forefront, while thirty Foundation Establishment Cultivators sat cross-legged on the ground behind him, each with their eyes closed in meditation.
It was uncertain how much time had passed.
The flying boat descended onto a gigantic platform, and only then did the Cultivators stand up to survey their surroundings.
Lin Tianming also opened his eyes and discovered they were perched on a platform.
Looking out, the surroundings were desolate, the barren expanse stretching as far as the eye could see.
In such an open place, it was extremely rare to even spot any vegetation, and the air carried the scent of drought.
It was quite peculiar!
One must know that the borders of the Wei Kingdom stretched for a long distance alongside the habitat of Demonic Beasts known as the Endless Forest.
In the past, the Wei Kingdom had also been a domain where the Demon Beast Race dwelled.
There were countless mountains and steep peaks on this land, which fostered the dense vegetation and abundant water resources of the Wei Kingdom.
Yet, such a region also possessed such unique climatic conditions, markedly different when compared to other nearby mountain ranges.
However, upon further reflection, it wasn't incomprehensible.
After all, the Nine Provinces Continent was vast, varied in terrain and landforms, and the vestiges left by powerful battles could create such curious landscapes, which was quite normal.
Besides, there might be treasures or mineral veins in this place that could alter some natural conditions.
Therefore, the emergence of such land was not entirely unacceptable.
Regaining his focus, Lin Tianming swept a glance over the surroundings and couldn't help but feel puzzled in his heart.
"Could this be the location of the entrance to the Tianfeng Wind Secret Realm?"
Lin Tianming wondered to himself.
Besides him, the other Cultivators, including the Zhenyang Sect Disciples, also showed expressions of speculation.
After a long while, seeing that Zhu Yun had not spoken, the crowd turned their gaze toward him, waiting for his command.
"We have arrived at our destination. Everyone disembark and wait on the side!"
Following Zhu Yun's order, the Cultivators jumped off the flying boat and landed on the ground.
Subsequently, the group of more than thirty Cultivators found places to descend, with Lin Tianming, Hu Yuan, and the other two sitting together at the rear, forming a small circle.
At this time, the faces of the Cultivators were a mix of emotions, excitement, nervousness, and anticipation included.
Lin Tianming, however, was relatively calm, continually pondering why he hadn't seen people from the other two Great Sects yet.
Maybe they had not arrived? Or were there other entrances?
As he was lost in thought, a shadow appeared from the north, drawing the attention of everyone.
The shadow was fast, arriving before the group in the blink of an eye.
Even from afar, a loud voice could be heard.
"Daoist Zhu, your Sect is further away than our Golden Sword Sect, yet you arrived a bit earlier than I did!"
Following the direction of the voice, Lin Tianming looked up to see a golden flying boat in the sky.
Upon closer inspection, this flying boat was also a Second Order Superior Flying Artifact, somewhat similar to the Zhenyang Sect's Inkwind Spirit Boat, with the only significant difference being its color.
At that moment, at the foremost position of the flying boat, a man in a white Daoist robe appeared, with similarly thirty Cultivators sitting cross-legged behind him on the deck.
Most of these Cultivators were dressed in white Daoist robes, with a small sword emblem on their chests, indicative of the Golden Sword Sect's Disciples.
The Cultivator at the front was also a Golden Core Cultivator of the Golden Sword Sect, Song Hanchun.
Now, as Zhu Yun heard the incoming voice and saw the newcomer, he also spared a chuckle, "Hehe... Daoist Song isn't slow either, I too have just arrived!"
After his response, Zhu Yun didn't wait to see Song Hanchun's reaction and swiftly changed the subject, probing with his next remark.
"I had thought that Elder Xue from your Sect would lead this expedition, but it turns out to be Daoist Song in charge!"
Zhu Yun's question was loaded with significance, as the beast tide had inflicted considerable losses on the Three Great Sects of the Wei Kingdom two years prior.
Take the Zhenyang Sect for instance, the Golden Core Mid Stage Cultivator Wang Hengqiu had perished, and presumably, the other two Great Sects were aware of this news as well.
After all, Wang Hengqiu's Self-Detonating Golden Core had caused a significant disturbance, witnessed by many Cultivators in person. To keep the news under wraps, it would have required the elimination of all non-Zhenyang Sect Disciples, which was impossible.
Given the scale of the battle, such secrecy could not be achieved.
As for the disappearance of the Tyrant Spirit Ape, Zhu Yun was unsure whether the other two Great Sects knew about it or not.
And during the entire beast tide, the other two Great Sects similarly suffered heavy losses, but they too would have trouble obtaining specific details.