Upon the vast expanse of the plain, a colossal structure finally materialized. The city walls, so wide and high they were breathtaking at a glance, loomed over the earth like a coiled dragon, radiating an infinite majesty.

Jin Zhanyi spurred his mount, Da Hei, the horse whipping lightly in his hand. He laughed heartily, "Brother He, from this city onward begins the true boundary of our Great Shen."

He Yiming nodded slightly, though his heart was deeply stirred.

It had taken the convoy a full three days to travel from that lawless backwater town to this location.

This border city was naturally semi-garrisoned, yet judging solely by its outward appearance and sheer scale, its scope and prosperity seemed in no way inferior to the capital city of the Tianluo Kingdom.

In that moment, a profound sense of helplessness welled up in his core.

This was the gap—a massive chasm that seemed utterly unbridgeable.

Yet, his expression remained unchanged, as if completely unaffected. After all, the He Yiming of today was no longer the inexperienced youth, the Sixth Young Master of the He family, who wore every reaction upon his face.

Jin Zhanyi suddenly chuckled, "Brother He, are you interested in truly experiencing the flavor of this city?"

He Yiming blinked, puzzled. "The true... flavor?"

Jin Zhanyi tilted his chin up, glancing over the convoy. "If you enter the city with the procession, you will undoubtedly receive the warmest and best reception, but you will also miss out on so much."

He Yiming grasped his meaning and couldn't help but let out a dry laugh. "Brother Jin, what is your suggestion?"

"In our Great Shen, if you truly wish to grasp the differences between the various cities, then I have an excellent suggestion..." Jin Zhanyi extended an open hand, speaking with utmost seriousness: "Eat."

He Yiming blinked twice. It wasn't that he doubted the man, but in that instant, he realized just how far apart his understanding and Jin Zhanyi's were in certain aspects.

"If you follow them, you will only taste the same monotonous delicacies. But if you follow me," Jin Zhanyi puffed out his chest, swearing earnestly, "I guarantee you will taste the most unique flavors this city has to offer."

Though He Yiming was no gourmand, his appetite was suddenly whetted.

He laughed heartily, "Since Brother Jin has such refined interests, how could I possibly decline your company?"

Jin Zhanyi swept his horse whip through the air, unleashing an incredibly loud, sharp whistle. It sounded like a signal. His Da Hei shot forward like an arrow, instantly passing the better part of the convoy. A clear, robust laugh erupted from him: "Brother He, follow me!"

He Yiming found it amusing. Shaking his head slightly, he pressed his legs against his mount, and the trained horse immediately broke into a steady trot.

While this horse was also quite spirited, it was clearly in a different league compared to Jin Zhanyi’s Da Hei. Furthermore, he started slightly behind, meaning even with He Yiming’s world-shaking abilities, he could only trail behind, eating dust.

Zhang Zhongjin, situated in the carriage, sighed softly, but knowing his Junior Brother Jin’s greatest passion, he could only offer a wry smile.

A hand emerged from the carriage, pointing in the direction Jin Zhanyi had departed.

Fei Tianguo immediately understood. He slightly bowed on his horse and spurred out immediately, following closely behind.

Naturally, they weren't worried about the safety of He Yiming and Jin Zhanyi. With those two together, unless they encountered a powerhouse at the Venerable level, who else could possibly give them trouble?

Even the Yellow Springs Sect and the Western Assassin Guild had been utterly defeated by their hands; there was no need to mention others. However, given their differing status, sending a disciple to attend them was only proper.

Fei Tianguo's Jian Ma was superior to the horse He Yiming rode. Still, he carefully controlled his speed, maintaining a distance of just over ten meters behind He Yiming. He wouldn't dare cross that boundary even if his life depended on it, lest he displease the young ancestor ahead and receive a palm strike that would leave him injured with nowhere to appeal.

Moments later, the three of them arrived sequentially beneath the city gates.

The gates here were visibly much larger than those in the Northwestern cities, and every soldier stationed here was a strapping fellow of formidable build. Their sharp gazes revealed just how well-trained they were. As someone on the front lines of the highest caliber, He Yiming could even faintly sense the thick, bloody scent exuding from them.

Frowning slightly, He Yiming rode forward, catching up to Jin Zhanyi, who was waiting specifically for him. He asked, "Brother Jin, are there frequent conflicts around here?"

Jin Zhanyi gave a dry laugh. "No major wars, but small-scale skirmishes are ceaseless."

He Yiming paused, a flicker of realization dawning, "Bandits?"

"Precisely," Jin Zhanyi said gravely. "In this vast area of no-man's-land, there are too many dangers. Establishing a foothold here is no simple task."

He Yiming contemplated for a moment, nodding slightly, and asked no further questions. However, one thing was certain: regardless of what upheaval occurred here, figures of He Yiming’s caliber would never be affected.

Fei Tianguo had long since reined in his horse and stopped. Seeing the two conversing so casually, he dared not approach to join in, instead positioning himself just outside the city gate.

The nonchalant manner of He Yiming and Jin Zhanyi had already drawn the attention of countless soldiers. If anyone else had behaved that way, they would have likely been lashed, or perhaps even cut down immediately in a border city like this. But Jin Zhanyi, even while suppressing the aura of a Three-Flower expert, naturally carried an air of refined nobility in his bearing, preventing the soldiers from daring to show any disrespect.

When Fei Tianguo stepped forward, the soldiers immediately blocked his way with their sabers. One of them snapped angrily, "Who are you people? This is a vital border town, dismount at once!"

Although his voice was stern, his movements lacked harshness, and his words contained no insult, clearly leaving room for maneuver.

He Yiming, watching from behind, smiled faintly. Before entering Great Shen, he had heard rumors that the city guards in this nation were unreasonably brutish. But now, it seemed those rumors had been greatly exaggerated. At the very least, among the gate guards he had encountered, there were none of those senseless fools who would just charge headfirst into a wall. In fact, the soldiers guarding the gates usually possessed some discernment, knowing whom they could afford to provoke and whom they could not. The chance of meeting a blockhead who could clearly see someone’s extraordinary bearing yet rush forward to court death was likely less than one in a hundred.

Fei Tianguo let out a cold snort. While he was intimidated into silence before He and Jin, showing the slightest lapse in deference, he was icy cold toward these ordinary soldiers, not even deigning to speak a single word.

He reached inside and pulled something out, tossing it toward the leader. Most soldiers in this area had cultivated some internal strength, though the majority were only at the third or fourth layer of Inner Strength. This leader, however, had reached the fifth layer. Yet, when he caught the object Fei Tianguo tossed, his wrist tingled painfully, and his entire arm felt jolted by a powerful force.

His expression shifted instantly. He knew this person's cultivation of internal strength was unfathomable; perhaps a mere gesture could kill him. He glanced at the item in his hand—it was an iron tablet forged from a strange metal, engraved with a symbol almost universally known in Great Shen.

He sucked in a cold breath, immediately sheathing his saber and respectfully holding the tablet with both hands, presenting it before Fei Tianguo's horse.

Fei Tianguo didn't even spare him a direct glance. He merely flicked his horsewhip; the tip seemed to come alive, circling the tablet once before flying back into his hand.

"Move aside."

As his cold voice sounded, everyone, including the soldier leader and the crowd waiting outside the gate, instinctively moved away. Fei Tianguo spurred his horse to the side of the main thoroughfare and waited silently.

Only then did Jin Zhanyi squeeze his legs, and Da Hei raised its head and stepped into the city. He Yiming felt the countless envious and awestruck gazes from the surroundings, shook his head slightly, and followed on his mount. Only after both of them were safely inside did Fei Tianguo finally ride through the gates.

A few dozen meters after the three of them passed the gate, order was restored. Even this mere entry showed He Yiming the standing of the Lingxiao Palace within Great Shen. In this nation, the Lingxiao Palace held a status similar to that of the Heavenly Pool in the Northwest. They did not control the territory as a ruling government, but their authority subtly surpassed that of the state.

The token Fei Tianguo produced was certainly not a high-ranking insignia from the Lingxiao Palace, but here, it served as a universal pass. From the soldiers' eyes—which showed even a hint of panic—He Yiming truly grasped the transcendent status of the Lingxiao Palace in this country.

After entering the city, He Yiming’s gaze frequently drifted to the streets on either side. The road they were currently traveling was undoubtedly the main avenue, but what surprised He Yiming was the architectural style, which differed vastly from the Northwest. The sides of the grand avenue were lined with massive mansions, and the signboards above them were incredibly varied. With a slight twitch of his ears, He Yiming faintly heard the sound of soldiers drilling in the distance. He looked up and saw dust billowing in a corner of the city, seemingly concealing thousands of troops, inspiring yearning.

Jin Zhanyi suddenly laughed, "Brother He, let's not bother with the children's games. We have serious business to attend to."

He Yiming was momentarily startled, then understood—he meant eating.

He let out a dry laugh. In the eyes of someone like Jin Zhanyi, the defensive power of a border city was merely child’s play, while what truly stirred his heart was the street food within the city.

Looking down at his own hands, He Yiming slowly clenched his fists. In Great Shen, formidable power seemed to command even greater reverence than it did in the Northwest. At that moment, a certain resolve in his heart seemed to harden even further.

Ps: The last four hours of the double-monthly ticket period are about to end; brothers who still have tickets, don't waste them!