Told You I Can Turn Back Time
Chapter 127 Qingtian City

Chapter 127: Chapter 127 Qingtian City

The city where the Taiching Sect was located was called Qingtian City, situated in the central plains of Lingxi Province.

Because it was located on a major trade route and home to the Taiching Sect, Qingtian City had been the most prosperous city in the entire Lingxi Province for a long time.

Ever since arriving on these plains, Lin Xing could feel that the towns and county cities along the way were much busier and the population denser, and even the bandits seemed to be fewer.

Compared to the regions he had passed through before, Lin Xing could clearly feel that the Taiching Sect indeed brought peace to the area.

At this moment, Lin Xing had already put on a human skin mask, changing into another unfamiliar face.

He and Bai Yiyi were slowly driving towards Qingtian City in a carriage not far away.

Lin Xing looked somewhat regretfully at Master Bai sitting next to him.

Two days ago, under his insistence, they had finally bought a horse in a town they passed through.

And now, it was not Master Bai who was driving the horse, but Master Bai’s disciple, Zhao Wanxi.

After all, Master Bai had said a lot of things like, "You might as well kill me than let me pull a cart in the Taiching Sect" and "If you dare mention this in the Taiching Sect, don’t blame me for turning my face and disowning you."

Thus, Lin Xing had no choice but to give up the original high-speed mode of travel, watching as the speed of the carriage suddenly dropped.

At this moment, from afar, Lin Xing saw a huge archway with the words "Taiching" written on it, seemingly signifying that they had entered the territory of the Taiching Sect.

As they got closer to Qingtian City, Lin Xing could see from afar those majestic city walls and the towering huge tower standing in the center of the city.

It could be said that of all the cities Lin Xing had seen in Mirror World on his journey, Qingtian City was definitely the most enormous and most magnificent.

Even without truly entering the inner city, just passing by the towns and streets on the outskirts, Lin Xing saw continuous caravans and shops bustling with activity.

The Puppet Girl remarked at his side, "It’s been a long time since I returned, and the outside of Qingtian City is busier than before."

Zhao Wanxi looked at the many martial artists on the road, some carrying weapons and some wearing armor, and expressed her surprise, "There are so many martial arts practitioners here."

Bai Yiyi said with slight pride, "The Taiching Sect is the Taishan Beidou among the nine major sects, one of the Martial Arts Sacred Lands in the north. Every year, countless martial artists with dreams come here to study."

"From now on, just follow me closely, as this is my territory..."

Listening to Bai Yiyi’s stories, Zhao Wanxi couldn’t help but feel a wave of anticipation.

When the carriage was still a few kilometers away from the city walls, Lin Xing noticed that the shops on both sides of the road were increasing, with huge signs almost hanging in the middle of the road.

"Daqing Martial Arts Academy."

"Qingtian Martial Arts Hall."

"Taiqing Martial Arts Association."

Bai Yiyi looked at the plethora of martial arts schools, puzzled, "Why are there so many martial arts academies?"

It seemed that hearing the Puppet Girl’s astonishment, a man suddenly spoke up nearby, "Miss, you may not know this."

"Since ten years ago when the Sect Leader of the Taiching Sect wished to revive the martial arts of Lingxi Province, there has been a booming development. Nowadays, there are over a hundred martial arts academies both inside and outside Qingtian City."

Bai Yiyi exclaimed, "Can there be so many students?"

The roadside man chuckled, "How could there not be? The Taiching Sect recruits disciples, only the finest are personally enlightened by the high-ranking masters within the sect.

"But most of us aren’t so fortunate and have to attend the annual martial arts examination. Only those who pass can be admitted."

"Every year, too many people fail the martial arts exams and want to stay here waiting to retest next year. With each passing year, more and more gather, and gradually other businesses crop up, like martial arts schools opening up to help people prepare for the exams."

"Martial arts schools are becoming numerous, and martial arts are increasingly flourishing. More people are coming here to study, and even if they don’t get into the Taiqing Sect, studying for a few years at these schools will still make them masters in their own right."

After he had finished, the man amiably said, "Are you all here in Qingtian City to study as well? I must tell you, the martial arts schools in this city are a mixed bag, but our Daqing Martial Arts Academy is the genuine direct transmission of the Taiqing Sect..."

Having sent off the man promoting his martial arts school, Bai Yiyi incredulously said, "The Taiqing Sect has actually become like this."

She had myriad thoughts and couldn’t quite tell whether this change was good or bad.

At that moment, Lin Xing noticed many people holding signs standing by the roadside.

"Enter Zhongwu Gate and improve your metal and spirit with our copper skin and iron bone training!"

"Your enemies have already come to train, why haven’t you?"

"One-on-one martial arts instruction from Inner Sect Disciples of Taiching Sect."

Seeing those slogans on the signs, Lin Xing thought to himself, "This style... it kind of gives me a modern-day vibe."

Seeing Lin Xing’s carriage, a group of people immediately surged over, pulling them to introduce their own martial arts schools.

After finally entering the city and heading towards the inn, Lin Xing saw five or six martial arts contests along the way.

Once at the inn, overcome by curiosity, Bai Yiyi couldn’t help but inquire from the waiter about the current state of the Taiching Sect.

With that, she discovered many things were different from her memory.

The Puppet Girl, with a calm voice but loudly bursting into the room, holding several papers said to Lin Xing, "Lin Xing, I know how you can learn the ’Yuhua Reincarnation Chapter’ of the Taiching Sect!"

"It turns out the Taiching Sect has now also opened an Outer Gate. The Outer Gate doesn’t restrict background, qualifications, or age; as long as you pay the enrollment fee of one hundred taels, you can join!"

Bai Yiyi excitedly said, "After joining the Outer Gate, you become a Ninth Grade Martial Artist of the Taiching Sect. Then, if you introduce five more people to the Outer Gate within a month and pass the internal assessment, you can be promoted to an Eighth Grade Martial Artist, and I can even get a share of the registration fee."

"After becoming an Eighth Grade Martial Artist, introduce ten more people within a month, pass the internal assessment, and you can be promoted to a Seventh Grade Martial Artist..."

The Puppet Girl detailed how to become a First-class Martial Artist, "...as long as you train three Second Grade Martial Artists and pass the assessment by the elders, you can be promoted to a First-class Martial Artist."

An excited Bai Yiyi said, "After becoming a First-class Martial Artist, you can meet the Sect Leader and become a Direct Disciple of the leader of the Taiching Sect."

Lin Xing, feeling more dubious as he listened, then asked, "Where did you hear all this?"

Bai Yiyi replied, "The waiter... as it turns out, he’s an Outer Gate Disciple of the Taiching Sect. We’re practically from the same sect."

Lin Xing thought for a moment and said, "I feel this might be a scam, or maybe to become a First-class Martial Artist, one needs to invest a massive amount of time, effort, or a great deal of money, and it may still not be successful."

A shocked Bai Yiyi said, "Don’t talk nonsense! How could the Taiching Sect possibly scam people?"

"Let me calculate..."

After Lin Xing’s repeated explanations, Bai Yiyi struggled to say, "How could that possibly be... How could the Taiching Sect possibly..."

Looking at a disheartened Bai Yiyi, Lin Xing said, "The changes in Taiching Sect started about ten years ago, right? That was exactly when the ’gate’ was first documented to have opened."

"The way the Taiching Sect has become might be closely related to the Sect Hierarch of Xingxiao Sect."

Lin Xing continued, "I’ve also inquired a bit about the Taiching Sect. Apparently, you only need to pay five silver taels for a tour of the Taiching Sect."

"Anyway, let’s go in and take a look tomorrow."