The Yu Mountain Great Range stretched for tens of thousands of miles.
West of Region City, the terrain rose abruptly.
The mountains stood between heaven and earth like knife-carved blades, one after another, overlapping endlessly.
The deeper one went, the more majestic the mountains became.
The highest peaks vanished into the sea of clouds, hidden from the sun all year round.
Below the mountainsides lay suffocatingly dense primordial forests with ancient trees so thick that a dozen men couldn't encircle them.
Occasionally, waterfalls cascaded down from thousand-zhang cliffs.
The sound of water roared like thunder, echoing repeatedly through the valleys without end.
A White Bone Chariot sped across the sea of clouds.
Eight exotic beasts pulled the chariot, tearing through the thick mist and leaving a straight wake of air.
Inside the carriage.
Three figures occupied different sides.
In contrast to the Girl in Black Robes in the center, who leaned against the wall with one hand on her cheek, eyes closed as if resting and looking calm...
...the other two figures appeared much more ill at ease.
Tiger Cuihua curled her massive body into a corner, even tucking her tail tightly between her legs.
Her pricked tiger ears twitched constantly, catching every rustle of wind outside the chariot.
From time to time, she peeked through the cracks in the window at Juechen Yao Emperor, who was riding an exotic beast as the driver, and the three Yao Emperors guarding the flanks.
With every glance, her tiger body couldn't help but tremble.
Wang Ziyu sat opposite her.
His small Face was tense, hands tucked into his wide sleeves with fingers interlaced.
To be honest.
Even as a True Disciple from the Xuanzhen Grotto-Heaven, he had seen his fair share of grand scenes.
But having a Yao Emperor of the Ascending the Tower Perfection stage as his driver, with three other Ascending the Tower Yao Emperors obediently escorting them...
This kind of pomp was something not only he had never enjoyed...
...but even his Master likely had never experienced such a display.
What made him even more helpless...
...was that every time he thought he had figured out this girl's way of doing things...
...she would invariably do something completely beyond his expectations.
Now that the heart material was in their hands...
According to normal logic, the best course of action would be to find a way to escape as quickly as possible.
He truly couldn't think of any reason to follow these demons to that place called Wangchuan.
That was the territory of the Xirang Lineage... If their identities were exposed and the other party turned hostile, they would all end up dead here in the Yu Mountain Great Range.
Yet right outside was the Juechen Yao Emperor of Ascending the Tower Perfection, separated only by a carriage wall.
Even though he possessed the Sound Transmission Secret Technique from the Xuanzhen Grotto-Heaven Legacy, who could guarantee it was foolproof?
If even a hint leaked out, it would only cause trouble for the girl.
Wang Ziyu could only swallow his words.
But he truly couldn't suppress the anxiety in his heart.
His eyebrows twitched up and down, his left eye blinked twice, his right eye three times.
His mouth twitched, and his chin jerked repeatedly toward the carriage door.
The range of expressions on his small Face was so rich it looked like he was practicing a set of fist techniques.
Finally.
Jiang Yuechu slowly opened her eyes.
She turned her head and looked at the distorted little Face before her.
Her brow furrowed slightly.
"You haven't stopped since we got in the carriage."
The girl's voice was flat, her tone tinged with confusion.
"All that winking and twitching... is there something wrong with your eyes?"
"..."
Wang Ziyu's mouth hung open, his fists clenching inside his sleeves.
How the hell do you not know what I mean?!
We have the heart material!
We should be leaving!
Wang Ziyu's teeth itched with frustration; he was about to give another wink.
Outside the carriage, Juechen Yao Emperor's voice rang out at almost the same moment.
"Senior, is the carriage moving too fast, causing discomfort for your attendants?"
"If so, this Junior will immediately slow the beasts. I wouldn't dare let Senior's people suffer the slightest grievance!"
Wang Ziyu froze slightly.
A cold sweat instantly broke out on his back.
He instinctively held his breath and glanced sideways at Jiang Yuechu.
He was terrified that the lingering expressions on his Face would be detected as something suspicious by the Yao Emperor outside.
Fortunately, the carriage curtains were thick and tightly closed.
Just then.
Jiang Yuechu spoke indifferently, "It's fine. They're just some lowly attendants with weak constitutions; a bit of shaking will do them good."
She paused.
Then added.
"This Emperor has slept for too long and had no one to serve me upon waking... I picked them up randomly on the road. They are of little use; please don't mind them."
She said this with complete naturalness.
Her tone carried a hint of condescending weariness, as if even explaining such a thing was already giving plenty of Face.
Juechen Yao Emperor's submissive laughter came from outside.
"I see... However, since Senior has just awakened, you truly should have some capable servants... Once we reach Wangchuan, I will personally select a group of pure-blooded Yao Race elites to serve as your guards. With Senior's noble status, it would be a slight to carry only such riffraff."
After saying that.
Juechen Yao Emperor gave a soft shout to the exotic beasts, and the speed slowed slightly.
Inside the carriage.
Wang Ziyu sat expressionless.
But his heart was filled with a mix of emotions.
"..."
You're damn well addicted to acting.
Picked up randomly? Of little use?
He, a dignified True Disciple of the Xuanzhen Grotto-Heaven, had become a piece of trash follower picked up by the roadside in this girl's mouth.
The key was...
...the arrogance and indifference in her tone when she said those things didn't seem like acting at all.
It was clearly her nature.
Wang Ziyu silently tucked his hands back into his sleeves, fingers interlaced, teeth clenched.
Forget it.
Things had come to this; there was no point in saying more.
Currently being swept along by these Yao Emperors into the deep mountains and Great Marshes, he couldn't leave even if he wanted to.
He could only take it one step at a time.
He just hoped this girl knew what she was doing.
And didn't actually start believing she was some reclusive Yao Emperor.
The chariot continued to speed through the sea of clouds.
After an unknown amount of time.
The speed suddenly slowed again.
Juechen Yao Emperor's voice came from ahead, his tone more solemn.
"Senior."
Jiang Yuechu slightly lifted her eyelids.
"Mm."
Juechen Yao Emperor said, "Another hundred miles ahead is Wangchuan."
He paused, seemingly weighing his words.
"However... this Junior has something to say, though I don't know if I should."
Jiang Yuechu's voice was indifferent: "Speak."
"Wangchuan is the territory guarded by my adoptive father. The Yao Race forces entrenched there are complex, far from comparable to those wild Yao raised outside Region City."
Juechen Yao Emperor lowered his voice, his tone becoming cautious.
"My adoptive father's cultivation is unfathomable. Even within the Xirang Lineage, he is considered one of the top figures."
"When Senior arrives, if my adoptive father greets you personally, then all will be well."
"However..."
He changed the subject.
"There are also several Confidant Great Yao under my adoptive father in Wangchuan. They have foul tempers and, priding themselves on their high cultivation, have always been arrogant."
"I fear those stupid creatures might not know what's good for them and offend Senior."
"If such a thing truly happens, I hope Senior will, for the sake of my humble Face, allow me to inform my adoptive father first before making a decision."
These words were very carefully chosen.
On the surface, he was giving Jiang Yuechu a heads-up.
In reality...
...this Deer Demon was reminding Jiang Yuechu that Wangchuan was not Region City; once there, she had better restrain herself."
Wang Ziyu's heart sank as he listened.
But Jiang Yuechu's reaction left him speechless.
"How many eons have I lived? Do I need you to teach me such things?"
There was a moment of silence outside the carriage.
Then came Juechen Yao Emperor's response with a sheepish laugh.
"Senior is right. This Junior was too talkative."
"But rest assured, Senior. I have been in Wangchuan for many years and know all the ropes."
"With me to handle the arrangements for you, I certainly won't let Senior suffer the slightest neglect."
With that...
...the exotic beasts neighed, and the chariot accelerated once more.
The sea of clouds surged.
In the distance, a massive mountain ridge spanning the horizon was slowly emerging from the thick mist.