Chapter 265: Meeting An Old Friend In A Distant Land

Translator: Myuu  Editor: Myuu

Yan Liqiang did not travel back to the Imperial Capital on horseback this time. He insisted on leaving behind Snowstorm Cloud at Deer Villa and even decided to not bring Goldie along with him. After changing to a set of fresh casual clothes, he then went to greet the guards and began his journey on foot directly from Deer Villa back to the Imperial Capital.

Could you imagine the fleeting delight of a man who had been carrying a thousand jin of weight every day suddenly going on a journey in a lightweight manner? Yan Liqiang felt as if he were truly treading on air; the ground underneath his feet felt as if they were made of clouds. He even felt like he could go wherever the wind was blowing when a breeze blew by. If there weren’t too many people on the street — some that might be easily startled, he would have attempted to use his Cloud Dragon’s Ten Transformations technique to test how fast he could run.

This improvement within a month was colossal.

However, it was a bit unfortunate that he would still have to wait until he completed the sect mission in the Heavenly Realm before returning to the Divine Sword Sect to be able to learn the follow-up technique of the advancement to Martial Master of the Ten Dragons Ten Elephants Divine Technique. The least amount of time to complete that would take around four or five months. Although it would impossible for Yan Liqiang’s cultivation base to advance into Martial Master during this period of time, he would still be able to strengthen his power and increase the cultivation realm of various techniques using the limited cultivation method. Undoubtedly, the increase of a cultivation realm could increase one’s power, but the power manifestation of the so-called ‘realm’ in the end would still have the attack damage output. On the other hand, Yan Liqiang was able to understand the principle behind defeating ten people with immense power after the short fight he had with Eunuch Liu, which further confirmed that Yan Liqiang had chosen the correct path. As long as he could continue increasing his strength, he would be able to increase the breakthrough, strengthening, and the limits of his damage output as well. His power would also continue to increase. The upgrade of his cultivation base wasn’t the only path he could choose to strengthen himself.

The Imperial Capital remained lively with the bustling crowds. Yan Liqiang had already arrived at the Huaien Square at the Imperial Capital, which was close to the Arena of Life and Death.

This was the location of Liang Yijie and Xu Lang’s appointed match. Meanwhile, the time was set at about ten o’clock in the morning.

When Yan Liqiang arrived, there was already a crowd nearby the Arena of Life and Death. This sensation was as if everyone was waiting for an open-air movie screening to begin. The arena was built ten feet above the ground with the circular bluestone arena seven to eight meters in diameter. This stone area was surrounded by a spacious public square, and the public square was surrounded by the streets. On the sides of the street were tea houses and wine shops.

The windows inside the tea houses and wine shops near the Arena of Life and Death were already filled with people, as if they knew that there would be experts fighting today. Yan Liqiang looked toward the surroundings and noticed that it was densely packed.

Most of the people who had gathered here early were martial cultivators. A majority of them had come from the dojo and gathered together in a mass. Their uniforms were of the same design and color too. Since this type of duel between two experts would be interesting and exciting, this assembly was a rare chance for many martial cultivators to watch, emulate, and learn as there were no cameras in this era.

As Yan Liqiang looked around him, he realized that Liang Yijie hadn’t arrived yet. There were only a few people wearing law enforcement uniforms maintaining order near the entire Arena of Life and Death. They refused to let unrelated individuals get too close to the arena.

Meanwhile, below the Arena of Life and Death, everyone was immersed in the discussion and speculation of victory and defeat of today’s battle. There were even some who had set up a gambling spot in the scene for all to bet their money.

“Liqiang…”

Yan Liqiang heard a familiar voice amidst the noisy surroundings. When he heard this voice, he quickly turned his head around and saw a person in a blue robe standing at the side of the street, waving at him with a smile.

That familiar figure and smile belonged to none other than Lu Peien.

“Sixth Brother!” Like meeting an old friend in a distant land, Yan Liqiang ran over to him without any hesitation and grabbed Lu Peien’s hand with excitement, “Why are you in the Imperial Capital?”

In Yan Liqiang’s eyes, Lu Peien did not change at all. On the other hand, Yan Liqiang seemed to have undergone a drastic change in Lu Peien’s eyes. After a few months of not seeing each other, Yan Liqiang had grown a head taller. His body structure had become stronger and he was more towering than before. The greatest change of all would be Yan Liqiang’s temperament, which had become enigmatic yet astute, bold yet graceful. He had a radiant look in his eyes also. The black pupils in his eyes would flicker like starlight at times, which made him seem valiant and full of vigor.

Upon seeing the change in Yan Liqiang, Lu Peien could only sigh for his family’s Ninth Sister. The two of them were not fated for each other in the end. Yan Liqiang was sincere at that time, but Ninth Sister seemed somewhat hesitant. Her feelings toward Liqiang had been complex all along, and when she missed the chance to be with him, the opportunity never came again. Inevitably, it was a pity for both of them. However, Lu Peien felt a bit relieved about the situation. Even if Yan Liqiang could not become his brother-in-law, he could still be a brother and a friend to him. Liqiang was a person of unwavering loyalty, so he was nothing less than family to him. Presently, in Pingxi Prefecture, Lu Clan in Huanglong County and the Yan Clan in Qinghe County were like families, so nothing really changed.

“I have just arrived here yesterday in the evening…” Lu Peien kept his thoughts to the back of his mind as he studied Yan Liqiang from head to toe. A smile appeared on his face as he said, “After not seeing you for a few months, you have really changed a lot, Liqiang. Seems like your cultivation base has improved splendidly. I can’t even see through you anymore!”

“Sixth Brother, why did you come to the Imperial Capital all of a sudden? Are you on some kind of business?”

“Of course I am. Liqiang, can you guess why I am here…”

As the two of them continued to chat at the side of the street, a crowd could be seen bustling about nearby. In this sort of situation, one could discern the people in the surrounding area with clarity. There was no need to worry about someone hearing their conversation as long as they did not shout or scream at each other.

Yan Liqiang looked at Lu Peien for a few seconds and quickly replied, “Did Brother Lu come here because of the lotus root briquette?”

Even though Yan Liqiang had arrived at the Imperial Capital not too long ago, he realized that during the past few days that a city like the Imperial Capital had a greater market for the lotus root briquette in comparison to Pingxi Prefecture. The Imperial Capital had a large population and wider boundaries too. With the exception of the surrounding villages where they could burn firewood to cook, eight or nine out of ten households in the city would use coal or charcoal for their daily cooking. The sight of black smoke rising from the chimney of every household, including the imperial palace during breakfast and dinner, could very well be described with the word ‘magnificent’. Every time Yan Liqiang entered or left the Imperial Capital, he could see several people pulling black coal carts to sell them in the city, which made it seem like coal industry was huge here.

In this sort of place, there would definitely be a big market for the lotus root briquette.

“Liqiang, you are indeed bright and perceptive to guess it right away. It was the old man’s desire for me to come to the Imperial Capital this time!” Lu Peien replied as he darted his gaze toward the surroundings. He then lowered his voice and said, “The old man wanted me to check on the situation in the capital and see whether we can extend the lotus root briquette business here. If we can take the first opportunity to do so, making profits will be the next thing on our minds. So, the old man wanted to see if it is possible to cleave a path for the Lu Clan in the Imperial Capital…”

Yan Liqiang understood everything immediately. The old man of the Lu Clan was indeed experienced and vicious…

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