“Among the twelve states, Tianduzhou, located at the center of the Central State, is the most prosperous.”
“Not only is Tianduzhou the gathering place for major factions, but the Five Domains Prodigy Gathering will also be held there.”
Yun Heng nodded slightly.
The System continued.
“On the surface, the Central State has six top-tier factions: three major sects, two great aristocrat families, and an imperial dynasty.”
“Beneath the six top-tier factions are over twenty first-rate sects and aristocratic families. As for ordinary sects and small families, their numbers are far greater.”
This was the first time Yun Heng had gained such a detailed understanding of the Central State.
She had previously only known that the Central State was more prosperous than the Eastern Region and possessed far more powerhouses, but she had not realized that its division of power was so intricate.
Yun Heng asked, “How strong are these factions?”
The System bobbed up and down in the air.
“The six top-tier factions of the Central State all have Body Integration cultivators overseeing them.”
Yun Heng's expression shifted slightly.
On the surface, the strongest figure in the Eastern Region was merely Xiao Yin at the late stage Void Refinement Realm, yet in the Central State, a faction only qualified as a top-tier power if it possessed a Body Integration cultivator.
“Currently, the strongest cultivators on the surface in the Central State are at late stage Body Integration, though there are no more than three such individuals, and they rarely show their faces.”
“As for Void Refinement cultivators, the Central State has roughly several dozen, mainly belonging to the six top-tier factions and those first-rate sects and families.”
Yun Heng now had a rough idea in mind.
“In that case, wouldn't Yun Zhao be completely matchless in the Central State?”
“Are there any Grand Ascension cultivators in the Central State?”
“Indeed. It can be said that on the current Taiyan Continent, no one is a match for Yun Zhao.”
“As for Grand Ascension cultivators, none have publicly appeared on the Taiyan Continent for thousands of years. They exist almost entirely in legends.”
Hearing this, Yun Heng felt completely at ease.
Since no one on the entire Taiyan Continent could oppose Yun Zhao, she would have no need for restraint after arriving in the Central State.
If she encountered anyone foolish enough to court death in front of her, she could simply strike directly.
Yun Heng asked again, “What about the strength of the Central State's younger generation?”
“Reaching the Nascent Soul Realm under a hundred years old qualifies one as a prodigy.”
“Reaching late stage Nascent Soul puts one near the top tier of the Central State's younger generation.”
“As for cultivators who break through to Soul Transformation under a hundred years old, there are very few in the entire Central State.”
The System's light sphere circled once in front of Yun Heng, its tone turning somewhat serious.
“The Five Domains Prodigy Gathering gathers the young prodigies of the entire Taiyan Continent; it is a true battle of prodigies.”
“Among those able to participate in the Five Domains Prodigy Gathering, not a single one is easy to deal with.”
Hearing this, the expression on Yun Heng's face grew serious as well.
The Central State was different from the Eastern Region.
She had virtually no rivals among the Eastern Region's younger generation, but at the Five Domains Prodigy Gathering, she would face the most outstanding group of young cultivators across the entire Taiyan Continent.
Those people were backed and nurtured by top-tier sects or ancient aristocratic families. Their cultivation techniques, magic tools, and practical combat experience would all be top-notch.
Though she had already reached late stage Soul Transformation, she could not afford to underestimate her opponents because of it.
Just as Yun Heng was reflecting seriously, the System suddenly shifted its tone.
“Of course, Host is a prodigy among prodigies.”
“Even across the entire Taiyan Continent, you are an unmatched presence!”
The seriousness on Yun Heng's face instantly dissolved, and the corners of her lips curved upward in a subtle arc.
“Alright, cut the flattery and keep talking.”
The System's light sphere spun in midair, continuing to explain the quotas for the Five Domains Prodigy Gathering.
“The Five Domains Prodigy Gathering has a total of one hundred and eighteen spots for participants.”
“One hundred of those spots are pre-allocated to major factions across the Five Domains. The remaining eighteen spots are reserved for rogue cultivators who lack recommendations from sects or aristocratic families.”
No wonder she could not fly straight to Tianduzhou.
Although she was supposedly the Young Lord of a secluded clan, she knew the truth behind that identity better than anyone. Naturally, she had no way to claim a reserved spot like the disciples of major sects and aristocratic families.
“The Eastern Region has twenty spots in total.”
“The Five Great Sects receive two each, totaling ten; the Eastern Region Imperial Family holds five; and the remaining five belong to the major aristocratic families of the Eastern Region.”
“The Northern Wilderness, the Western Sea, and the Southern Border together account for thirty spots.”
“The six top-tier factions of the Central State occupy thirty spots, while first-rate sects and aristocratic families take twenty spots.”
“The final eighteen spots are those that rogue cultivators can compete for.”
“So if I want to participate in the Five Domains Prodigy Gathering, I can only fight for one of those eighteen rogue cultivator spots.”
And Dingchuan City was her first stop toward securing a spot.
One month later.
Inside the Guiyuan Spirit Domain, Yun Heng slowly opened her eyes.
At the same time, the System's voice resonated in her sea of consciousness.
“Host, we have arrived at Dingchuan City.”
Finally.
She stood up, stretched briefly, and retrieved the Ever-Changing Wardrobe Box.
With a thought, the clothing on her body instantly transformed into a light cyan dress.
She looked down. No, too plain.
Change again.
In the next instant, the light cyan dress turned into a crimson long dress embroidered with large golden patterns on the hem. It looked eye-catching enough, but Yun Heng still felt unsatisfied.
Yun Heng changed through several outfits in succession, feeling each fell a little short.
After several tries, the Ever-Changing Wardrobe Box lit up once more, changing her outfit into an ink-black dress. Dark golden patterns shimmered across the fabric, the wide sleeves and layered hem were gorgeous and delicate, and a gold-patterned belt inlaid with dark jade bound her waist—luxurious and flamboyant, yet not overly ostentatious.
Not bad. This one.
With a thought, Yun Heng left the Guiyuan Spirit Domain.
Her figure reappeared inside the cultivation chamber of the Liujing Vessel.
Yun Heng pushed open the door and walked along the corridor to the outer deck.
At this moment, the Liujing Vessel was slowly descending.
The protective barrier surrounding the ship had been retracted, and the incoming breeze billowed Yun Heng's sleeves. She raised her head, and a grand cultivation city came into view in the distance.
That was the state capital of Yongzhou: Dingchuan City.
The city walls of Dingchuan City were tall and wide, constructed from deep cyan megaliths and carved with complex array patterns. The city gates were over a hundred feet high, above which hung a massive black plaque. The three golden characters reading “Dingchuan City” could be seen clearly even from afar.
In the distance, several tall pavilions were visible, the highest of which reached over ten stories tall, standing almost a head higher than the city walls.
The Liujing Vessel gradually reduced speed, dropping down toward the airship ferry dock outside the city.
Outside Dingchuan City, a massive airship ferry dock had been built specifically for this purpose, with neat rows of stone platforms arranged across it.
Airships of various sizes continuously landed and took off, and the passing cultivators were beyond count.
As Yun Heng's Liujing Vessel drew near the ferry dock, it immediately drew the attention of many people.
Near the ferry dock, several young cultivators waiting to enter the city raised their heads, their gazes following the Liujing Vessel as it moved slowly through the air.
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