Lǐ Wǎnqíng, standing nearby, had been watching the two of them without speaking. Hearing their conversation, her eyes widened in surprise. "You're not from the Divine Prison Continent?"
Dōngfāng Yǔ chuckled and scratched his head. "We're from the Shenlong Continent. We were being pursued and ended up here. We didn't expect this complication."
Gǔ Xuánqīng frowned, his expression grave. "What do we do now? Is there any way to use the Sword Cauldron early? If we go back sooner, we won't have to cause trouble in this unfamiliar place."
Dōngfāng Yǔ pondered for a moment, then shook his head helplessly. "There's no way. We were actually quite lucky this time. If the Sword Cauldron had sent us into a spatial turbulence, we'd both be dead!"
Gǔ Xuánqīng sighed with a wry smile. "Then we'll just have to settle here for now! Miss Lǐ, could you tell us about the Divine Prison Continent?"
Lǐ Wǎnqíng quickly replied, "I can, but we need to leave here first. Those people in black you just killed were disciples of the Immeasurable Sect! People from the Immeasurable Sect might pursue us soon!"
Upon hearing this, Gǔ Xuánqīng and Dōngfāng Yǔ immediately became alert and said in unison, "Then let's hurry!"
The three of them unleashed their Movement Techniques, flying like three black lightning bolts towards Zhao Family Town. Their figures flashed through the mountains and forests, stirring up a gust of wind.
Half an hour later, two figures in black with strong Spiritual Power auras arrived at the scene. The taller person in black had a grim expression, like the sky before a storm. "What happened? We were just pursuing a little girl in the Golden Core Realm! How could they all be killed?" His voice was low and angry, as if suppressing endless rage.
The shorter person in black stepped forward to examine the scene. "There should have been two helpers! One used a sword, the other a spear. They seem to be Golden Core Realm experts too!"
The taller person in black was furious and roared, "Daring to oppose my Immeasurable Sect is simply courting death. Order someone to thoroughly investigate the backgrounds of those three, bring them to me alive or dead!" His voice echoed through the forest, startling a flock of birds.
The shorter person in black responded, "Yes, Pavilion Master. Your subordinate will handle it immediately!" Then, the two figures transformed into two black shadows and vanished from the spot.
An hour later, the three arrived outside a moderately sized town. The town was surrounded by tall walls, and three large characters – "Zhao Family Town" – were carved above the wide, five-meter gate. The heavy doors and mottled walls showcased the town's ancient and weathered appearance.
The two followed Lǐ Wǎnqíng into the town. The streets were narrow, lined with shops on either side. People came and went, their calls and laughter intermingling, creating a lively scene. However, the three were unaware that they had already been marked as targets by the Immeasurable Sect, and a crisis was quietly approaching.
Lǐ Wǎnqíng led them to the foot of a mountain at the eastern edge of the town, a secluded area with only about a dozen households. Lǐ Wǎnqíng brought them to a tranquil courtyard with a two-story building, filled with various flowers and plants.
After they sat down, Lǐ Wǎnqíng slowly began, "This is my home. Although it's a bit small, the environment is very good! If you have nowhere to go, you can stay here for now! The Divine Prison Continent has a complex web of powers. The Immeasurable Sect is the strongest sect in this vicinity. They usually bully the surrounding smaller sects and mortals with their martial might. I come from a small family in Li Family Town, a thousand miles from here. I happened to obtain a treasure, and the Immeasurable Sect targeted me. They sent people to kill everyone in my family, and they haven't stopped pursuing me for months. This time, I owe my life to the rescue by you two Young Heroes..." As she spoke, Lǐ Wǎnqíng stood up and bowed to them.
"Miss Lǐ, there's no need to be so polite! We two have only just arrived here. Without your help, we really wouldn't know where to stay. This is fate!" Gǔ Xuánqīng quickly stepped forward to help Lǐ Wǎnqíng up. Dōngfāng Yǔ, with a sunny smile on his face, added, "No need to be polite; this is just something this Young Hero often does!"
Gǔ Xuánqīng shot Dōngfāng Yǔ a look and said, "You, go to the side!" Then he turned to Lǐ Wǎnqíng and asked with some confusion, "Miss Lǐ, since you are being pursued by the Immeasurable Sect, why are you still in their territory?"
Lǐ Wǎnqíng pondered for a moment and replied, "The most dangerous place is often the safest. After two more months, when the fuss dies down, I will leave here!"
Gǔ Xuánqīng asked, "Where do you plan to go, Miss Lǐ? Is there anything my brother and I can help with?" At this point, Dōngfāng Yǔ chimed in again, "If you need any help, please don't hesitate to tell this Young Hero!"
Lǐ Wǎnqíng smiled and said, "I don't need any help. I had planned to leave here long ago anyway. In three months, the Heavenly Sword Academy's entrance examination will begin. I plan to try for it. If I can enter the academy and achieve something in the future, I can avenge my clan!"
Gǔ Xuánqīng nodded. "That's a good choice! By the way, Miss Lǐ, could you tell me about the Divine Prison Continent? We've just arrived here and really don't know anything about it!"
Lǐ Wǎnqíng pursed her lips into a smile, her voice clear and pleasant like a warbler's song. "Of course! The Divine Prison Continent, as Young Hero Dōngfāng mentioned, is where some extremely wicked individuals were sent! But that was a long time ago! No one is sent here anymore! The Divine Prison Continent has five major powers, each in the east, west, south, north, and central regions. We are currently in the territory of the Immeasurable Sect in the Eastern Region. The Western Region is home to the Yaoyou Sect. The Southern Region has the Luosha Sect. The Northern Region is where the Ice Lotus Sect resides. The Central Region is dominated by the most powerful Heavenly Sword Academy, whose students are spread throughout the entire Divine Prison Continent! These are the five major powers of the Divine Prison Continent, along with countless other large and small families and sects! The Spiritual Qi here is very thin! If you want to cultivate faster, you must go to Ghost Gate Pass, at the junction of the Central and Eastern Regions. That is where countless strong individuals begin their journey, and also where many meet their end! The Spiritual Qi there is a hundred times denser than here, but it is extremely dangerous, with countless monsters that never stop appearing before you. A slight carelessness could cost you your life!"
Dōngfāng Yǔ listened, his blood boiling, and rubbed his fists together. "Ghost Gate Pass? It sounds exciting. Maybe there are some peerless treasures waiting for us to discover!"
Gǔ Xuánqīng glared at him. "Don't just think about treasures. According to Miss Lǐ, it's full of danger; we should be cautious."
Lǐ Wǎnqíng looked at their amusing exchange and couldn't help but smile. "If you two don't mind, you can rest at my home and make plans tomorrow." Dōngfāng Yǔ was about to agree, but Gǔ Xuánqīng spoke first, "We'll trouble you, Miss. However, as newcomers, we don't want to cause you too much inconvenience."
Lǐ Wǎnqíng waved her hand. "It's no trouble at all. I live alone, and it's usually quite lonely. Having more guests would make it more lively."