Chapter 198

Hu~ hu~

The river wind blew, cold air spreading freely.

Chen Mu stood by the river, gazing at the rolling waters racing far away until they vanished beyond sight.

His entire spirit was immersed in the insight of the new sword technique.

One slash severed the river, spanning a thousand meters, shattering a rock wall.

This power—let alone the Earth Altar Divine Bridge, even the Earth Altar Summit could not achieve it.

Because Chen Mu borrowed the power of nature—the power of water!

Even though he had merely glimpsed the Water Intent, its power remained terrifying.

Although that single strike drained more than half of Chen Mu's dantian qi.

In a certain sense, this was the manifestation of nature's power!

This power could only be unleashed by Chen Mu in environments rich with water—rivers, lakes, seas, and abundant moisture.

Pure qi transformed into a blade could only coalesce into a blade of about a hundred meters.

Its power could never be so terrifying, shattering a hundred-zhang rock wall in a single strike.

Of course.

If Chen Mu deepened his understanding of the Water Intent, the power would naturally increase accordingly.

When releasing it, if he held a blade—such as the azure battle knife taken from Lin Kuan, a high-grade spiritual weapon possessing a chilling property, which Chen Mu named "Shuanghan Dao"—the power would increase several tenths further.

Wu Gong, intent, weapon, environment…

A martial artist's combat strength depends on many factors.

The "Hui Lang Dao"…

No, it should now be called "Jiu Chong Lang Tao Jin"!

Chen Mu did not know how powerful this new Wu Gong would ultimately become.

Everything depends on future growth!

…

…

Tianmen River, from its name alone, is known to originate from the Tianmen Mountains.

The great river surged forward, vast and mighty, eventually flowing into the sea.

Chen Mu and Lu Ziyi boarded a merchant ship and traveled downstream along the river.

Though the journey was long and bandits occasionally intercepted them, after the ship's Shopkeeper paid the toll, they passed through unharmed.

Half a month later, the large ship arrived at a docking point: Linjiang City.

This was the largest city along the Jiangnan Dao waterways, with nearly a million inhabitants.

The merchant ship docked for three days to replenish supplies.

Chen Mu disembarked but did not enter the city; he merely strolled along the dock, then chose a secluded corner, sat cross-legged on the shore, and meditated on the Water Intent.

Intent—this thing—could not be awakened simply by wishing for it.

Chen Mu sensed for three days and gained nothing.

He was not discouraged; he had expected this all along.

…

Returned to the ship.

Lu Ziyi returned from entering the city.

Chen Mu greeted her, preparing to enter his cabin.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted on the dock.

Chen Mu paused, turned his head, and saw a group of warriors in uniformed attire surrounding a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old boy with sharp features, chin raised high, eyes brimming with arrogance, pushing past others to board another merchant ship moored beside the one Chen Mu had taken.

"It's the Cao Bang."

At the door of the room next to Chen Mu's, a middle-aged man with dark skin, long limbs, prominent temples, and bright eyes gazed at the arrogant boy on the other ship and said softly, "This young man's aura is nearing Post-Heaven Perfection—he should be like Brother Chen and my son, both heading to Wudicheng for the Long Hufengyun Grand Assembly."

"Is that so."

Chen Mu replied, pondering, "Brother Su, have you had dealings with the Cao Bang?"

Su Zhenye, deputy leader of the Giant Whale Gang in a northern state of Jiangnan Dao, Innate Realm Perfection.

His son Su Yuanhua, one year younger than Chen Mu, was a famed local prodigy who had just broken into the Innate Realm last year.

Like Chen Mu, he had received an invitation to the Wudicheng gathering.

But Su Yuanhua was quiet and rarely left his cabin.

Worried for him, Su Zhenye had accompanied him and spent his time aboard ship, meeting many people.

Chen Mu lived next to the father and son, and after a few conversations, their relationship was decent.

The "Cao Bang" mentioned by both of them was known as the Number One Gang Under Heaven.

Because this gang held a semi-official status, tied to grain transport!

Wherever waterways existed across the land, the Cao Bang had its presence.

Throughout history, every Cao Bang leader had been granted the Wang Jue by the Zhou imperial court—though purely honorary, with no actual office.

Yet a Wang Jue was still a Wang Jue.

Not to mention the Cao Bang leader himself was a formidable force, an Myriad Phenomena realm cultivator.

…

"I've had two dealings with them."

Su Zhenye gave a bitter smile. "Both times were deeply humiliating. The Cao Bang's prestige—those who haven't encountered it cannot possibly imagine."

"I can understand that."

Chen Mu smiled. "The number one gang under heaven — there's some boasting in that, but the Caogang's strength and depth of foundation probably rival even those Qiannianda Sect."

"Overall, that is indeed the case."

Su Zhenye nodded and lowered his voice. "But in reality, the Caogang is very scattered. Each branch holds its own. Within a branch, most of the halls also go their own way, having nothing to do with one another. Privately, they even attack each other and fight over territory!"

"Ha~"

Chen Mu laughed out loud. "That's understandable too. With millions of gang members, besides the gang leader at the top, how could the elders, branch leaders, and hall leaders below know everyone? Each doing their own thing and still keeping things stable on the surface is already quite impressive."

In his heart, Chen Mu left one thing unsaid.

It was that with an organization like the Caogang, every dynasty's imperial court must have planted its own people inside!

Quite possibly, some hall leader or branch leader was secretly a man of the imperial court!

Millions of gang members — not keeping a secret watch on them is terrifying just to think about.

……

The great ship set sail once more.

It continued east along the river.

Another half month or so later, they finally arrived at Wudicheng.

Wudicheng, with its cliffs and the sea on one side, was a sight of magnificent grandeur.

The city walls were not tall, but the buildings within the city were not short — rising in tiered rows, arranged clearly in neat lines and columns.

The dock where the great ship berthed was still several li from the city.

Chen Mu, Lu Ziyi, Su Zhenye, and Su Yuanhua disembarked, stood on the shore, gazed at Wudicheng, and were all full of wonder.

"I've been to Wudicheng three times, and every visit leaves me awestruck."

Su Zhenye sighed. "A city of over two million people, standing on the shores of the Eastern Sea for over a thousand years without ever falling — just thinking about it is inconceivable."

"Indeed."

Chen Mu nodded, his gaze fixed on the outline of the distant city, marveling within.

Keeping a city running is no idle talk.

It has little to do with what realm of cultivator the Lord of Wudicheng happens to be.

The Lord of Wudicheng is, in a sense, more of a spiritual symbol.

The daily necessities of over two million people — just thinking about it gives one a headache.

One must remember this is not a modern metropolis, but an ancient city that runs almost entirely on human labor.

Though there are formations, of course.

But mountains of excrement and urine can't possibly be handled by formations, can they?

Even the Emperor of Zhou wouldn't be that extravagant!

To keep a city of over two million people running without mishap for over a thousand years — there must undoubtedly be a vast host of people behind the scenes managing it.

……

After his sighing, Su Zhenye took Su Yuanhua and departed first.

Chen Mu was about to leave as well, but was called back by Lu Ziyi.

"Lord Chen, Brother Chen — my destination has arrived. Thank you for your care along the way."

Lu Ziyi said with a light smile, "I hope we meet again someday. Until we do!"

"It's not a matter of who took care of whom."

Chen Mu smiled. "Didn't you also look after me?"

When he sat by the Tianmen River for seven days and seven nights, had it not been for Lu Ziyi standing guard, he would long since have been interrupted!

"Out of the way, out of the way — a good dog doesn't block the road!"