Demon Sword Sect’s Undercover
Chapter 708 - 708 707 Heading North Seeking Guaranteed Monthly Tickets

708: Chapter 707: Heading North [Seeking Guaranteed Monthly Tickets] 708: Chapter 707: Heading North [Seeking Guaranteed Monthly Tickets] A carriage raced across the beautiful fields of the Southeast, following the main road, blending into the stream of busy commercial vehicles, entirely unremarkable.

They began their journey in the most ordinary way, resting, eating, and stopping just like any ordinary person would; all according to the arrangements made by the coachman, who didn’t even know they were cultivators.

Of course, calling him uncle was incorrect; given their nearly one hundred years of age, the coachman should have called them grandpa and grandma.

Because they needed to find places for meals and lodging, and to travel on roads convenient for carriages and horses, their pace was slow; they did not cover more than two hundred miles in a day, and whenever they reached a larger city, they would change horses and even the coachman, lingering there to explore for a few days, making their journey even more leisurely.

Hou Niao initially did it to take care of his wife’s feelings, since despite being together for decades, they had spent less than a year in each other’s company, which was rather excessive; but when he really settled down and stopped being restless as he was at the beginning, he slowly started to see the benefits of traveling this way.

It was time to take a break.

Ever since he entered the path of cultivation, he had been like a tireless donkey ceaselessly toiling, continuously pushing himself to become stronger, never stopping.

The so-called rests were, in fact, just a buildup of strength for the next challenge.

The pace was too fast, the string too tightly wound; this was not a healthy rhythm for cultivation.

So, after the initial discomfort, he slowly adapted and gradually immersed himself in it, living like an utterly ordinary mortal, finding his own mortal pleasures.

As the wheels rolled on, rivers became fewer, hills undulated unpredictably, and the terrain began to flatten, signaling that they were entering the Northern Territory, crossing half of it, and eventually reaching the vast mountains of Yao Guang at the border of the Northern Territory and the Northeast.

“Is this, already the Northern Territory?” Bai Qingqian lifted the curtain, looking out at the lush greenery, “It still looks hilly, just with smaller undulations?”

Hou Niao smiled, “This is Shangyu Country, anciently known as Yunling, a small country at the border of the Southeast and the Northern Territory.

The south is mountainous, while the north is grassland, and the reigning Daoist lineage here is the famously illustrious Heavenly Heart Pavilion of the Jinxiu Continent.”

Bai Qingqian exclaimed, “Ah, I know now, the position of the Constellation True Inheritor of the continent is determined by this Heavenly Heart Pavilion, right?

It’s incredible that they can decide such matters for the Great Dao Sects without being influenced.”

Hou Niao shared his knowledge, “Not entirely.

In reality, the Constellation True Inheritor is judged by both the Heavenly Heart Pavilion and the Taihao Sect.

However, the Pavilion takes the lead, with Taihao supplementing.

The Heavenly Heart Pavilion does this to demonstrate fairness, unwilling to make unilateral decisions, so they recruited the Taihao Sect, which does not cause trouble in Jianghu and has the Daoist lineage of Divination and Star Reading as a supervisor.

Of course, you can also consider it to be the Pavilion’s ranking.

Well, this Shangyu Heavenly Heart Pavilion is not just known for that; despite the small size of this country, it holds several continental records.

For example, in terms of the continent’s geography, it is the central point of the continental terrain; it also possesses the richest collection of books among all Daoist lineages, is the place where the Wood Element Power is most abundant, and is the most renowned country for its flowers.

Historically, the Jinxiu Continent’s strange stones and orchids originated from here and spread across the entire Jinxiu Continent…

It is also the only Daoist lineage on the continent that, despite having an ancestor who achieved the Nascent Transformation, doesn’t have any True Disciples and doesn’t participate in the competition for the Spiritual Green of Outer Space.”

Bai Qingqian’s mouth fell open in surprise, but upon seeing Hou Niao looking over, she immediately covered her mouth and pinched him,

“It’s all your fault, lately I feel like my mouth has gotten bigger…”

Hou Niao shrugged, “An illusion, an illusion.”

“The Heavenly Heart Pavilion does have a rather unique stance, then is it aligned with the Daoist Sect?”

“No, like Chu Sect, it maintains its own traditions.

Chu Sect relies on its own strength, and as for what Shangyu relies on, I’m not sure.

Each Daoist lineage on the Jinxiu Continent has its own way of survival, and it’s not appropriate to scrutinize them in detail.

Once its reputation was established, no one dared to provoke it.

The benefits are not significant, yet the trouble it could cause is considerable.”

“What do you mean by ‘the benefits are not significant’?”

“Shangyu doesn’t have cultivation mines, and its population isn’t large, so the benefits are not significant.

But it’s said that the Nascent Transformation ancestor of Shangyu is very impressive, ranking among the top tiers of the entire continent.

A thousand years ago, other Daoist Sects wanted to seize it, but the aftermath of a gambling fight with a Master from Shangyu led to the destruction of their nation…”

Bai Qingqian unconsciously gaped, “That formidable?

Then why does the Daoist Lineage of Shangyu stay isolated here, not seeking further development?”

“Because they always have only one Nascent Transformation ancestor.

There has never been a second one; when one passes away, another replaces them, equally formidable.

Of course, these are all legends.

Over the past few centuries, as the borders of the continent have gradually stabilized, nobody has challenged them anymore; it’s not worth it.”

“Such a strange Daoist lineage, such a peculiar country…

But since there are so many ‘bests’ of the continent here, can we stay a little longer?”

“Of course, you can stay as long as you want.

I’ll be with you.”

The two of them made a straightforward decision regarding their itinerary.

Hou Niao tapped on the carriage window and asked the coachman, “Uncle Zhang, what’s the most famous place in Shangyu?”

The coachman laughed heartily, “You don’t need to ask.

Whether it’s cultural history, architectural environment, or flowers and greenery, Shangyu isn’t too big.

We’re heading to Sui Mo City, the City of Flowers in Shangyu.

It’s a historical city with thousands of years of history, renowned throughout the continent…”

The carriage wound its way through the hilly mountain roads, surrounded by colorful and competing flowers on both sides—yet these were just the most ordinary flora.

“Look, that’s the Remarkable Stone Orchid!” the coachman called out, pointing to a clump of orchids growing in a crevice.

“Isn’t that the national flower, the Continental Orchid?

How come it just grows casually by the roadside?” Bai Qingqian was greatly surprised.

“In Shangyu, that’s how it is!

It represents tenacity, bravery, and indomitability.

It grows in mundane environments, without needing careful cultivation.

All it needs is a ray of sunshine and a rock to flourish robustly, just like us ordinary mortals!” Uncle Coachman said proudly.

Hou Niao gestured with his hand, and a solitary rock flew into his palm.

Both of them looked closely.

Bai Qingqian’s mouth fell open again,

“Master Hou, look, it’s really growing out of the rock…”

There is no question that the Remarkable Stone Orchid is the national flower of Shangyu Country.

However, whether it is the Continental Orchid is debatable, since many countries have their own national flowers, such as peonies, crabapples, jasmines, plum blossoms, and so on.

Thousands of years ago, the Remarkable Stone Orchid was highly esteemed in the Jinxiu Continent, but as time passed, more showy and flamboyant flowers gained the affection of people from different regions, leading the Remarkable Stone Orchid to gradually recede from the historical stage.

It’s quite normal, though.

Even though it’s unique, there are many other varieties of flowers that are more exquisite and beautiful when it comes to the inherent nature of flowers.

People always prioritize appearances over inner qualities—it’s a human flaw.