Chapter 297 - Counter Essence City

Long Chen had already said what he wanted to say to Ling Xi and Xiaolang. Early the next morning, he did not let them send him off and left Yuqin Palace on his own. Since no one else had arrived, he stood outside for a while until the Heavenly Wolf Gang appeared at the end of the street.

“This brat! Why do we need to go to him? Who does he think he is? Let me show him what we’re made of,” said one of the bald men viciously.

“Don’t be rash! If you want to do something, do it in the Immortal Realm, where there are no witnesses. You may not care about your reputation, but His Highness does. Don’t you dare cause more problems for him,” Yu Tao reprimanded.

When they neared Long Chen, Yu Tao yelled, “You brat! Follow me! We’re going out of the city!”

Is the Counter Essence Realm outside the imperial capital?

Long Chen guessed this from their words. He joined up with the group.

They ignored him, and he ignored them as well.

Walking next to Yu Tao, Yu Chong’s desire to kill Long Chen grew stronger with Long Chen’s nonchalant attitude.

“Brother! Promise me you’ll kill Long Chen in the Immortal Realm!” Yu Chong said in a low voice.

“Why are you so impatient? I spoke to His Highness last night. His plan is first to get to know Ling Xi for a month and see how it goes. If we kill Long Chen now, His Highness is worried that Miss Ling Xi will guess the truth and hate him. That is why it’s best we hold it in. As for whether we kill him or not, we must wait a month,” Yu Tao answered sternly.

“I don’t understand. Did he bring Long Chen from Yuanling City because of Miss Ling Xi? Why didn’t he kill Long Chen before?” Yu Chong asked.

“In the beginning, His Highness took notice of him due to his potential. However, I’m guessing that due to Miss Ling Xi, he knew that Long Chen would never become completely loyal to him. That’s why he decided to give up on Long Chen.”

“Why go through all the trouble? I think he might as well kill Long Chen directly. She’s just a woman! He could just take her if he wanted to, right?” Yu Chong asked.

“Nonsense. He’s a prince, so he has a lot of pride. How could you equate him and us? However, if Miss Ling Xi is stubborn, sooner or later, His Highness will go mad and Long Chen will die. So, what are you worried about?” whispered Yu Tao darkly.

Yu Chong understood now.

They exited the Biyang Imperial Capital. Yu Tao led everyone, including Long Chen, towards the east. Along the way, the Heavenly Wolf Gang stuck together, conversing and joking loudly. They completely forgot about Long Chen, who was happy to ignore them and get some peace.

After walking over twenty kilometers, a lush green forest appeared ahead. Yu Tao walked by Long Chen’s side and talked down to him, “We'll be arriving in Counter Essence City soon. There, I will take you to meet the legendary Lord Sword Devil. Hold your tongue and stay still. Otherwise, don’t blame me if you die.”

“You can’t wait for me to die, can you?” Long Chen asked nonchalantly with a smile.

“What do you mean by that?” Yu Tao asked darkly.

Long Chen shrugged and did not reply, focusing on walking.

“You brat, you’re so smug now. You’re just a village boy and you think you can go against His Highness! You’re going to get yourself killed.” Yu Tao chuckled darkly behind him.

They soon arrived at Counter Essence City. It was completely different from the Biyang Imperial Capital—Counter Essence City was completely black and looked like a fort. It looked evil yet magnificent, with sharp corners and silhouettes that radiated a terrifying aura.

There was only one wall that circled the whole city, but countless houses were densely packed within the wall. Long Chen looked from far away and knew that at least tens of thousands of soldiers were staying there.

“Don’t underestimate the Counter Essence Army! Even a hundred and fifty thousand Biyang Capital city guards are no match for fifty thousand Counter Essence soldiers! The minimum requirement to join the Counter Essence Army is the Earthly Core Realm. There are five main leaders of the Counter Essence Army, plus the lofty Royal Uncle, the Sword Devil. How could the seven commanders of the Imperial Capital Guard compare?”

Long Chen could faintly hear the Heavenly Wolf Gang discussing this topic.

The city guards guarded the outside of the Imperial Capital, while fifty thousand Counter Essence soldiers were based within Counter Essence City. All of them were above the Earthly Core Realm, and there were great experts such as the five leaders and the Sword Devil based here. From this, it was clear that the imperial family was extremely strict in recruiting for the Counter Essence Realm’s guards.

It looks like it’s going to be difficult for me to find the Nine Heavens Immortal Fruit in the Counter Essence Realm.

Long Chen started to have worries about obtaining the fruit.

He soon followed Yu Tao into Counter Essence City. Very strict guards were stationed at the gates. Only Immortal Guards who were able to produce a white identity token would be able to enter. Long Chen should not have been able to enter, but Yu Tao told the guard that Long Chen was a recruit with the Ninth Prince’s recommendation. The guard agreed to let him in, but a small team of Counter Essence soldiers had to personally escort him to the Sword Devil.

After confirming their identities, they all registered.

Long Chen felt dejected in the face of such a strict system.

Looking towards the inside of the city, he could see that Counter Essence City was built surrounding a giant lake. The lake was clean and transparent, its surface like a tranquil mirror. It was only when people entered that faint ripples would appear, though they too vanished immediately.

All Counter Essence soldiers in the city wore black armor; even their heads were covered by thick and heavy helmets. Only the Immortal Guards wore all sorts of clothing.

The people who entered the lake did not wear black armor, so Long Chen assumed that they were Immortal Guards. This meant that the entrance to the Immortal Realm was likely inside the lake.

“This is Sorrow Moon Lake. The entrance to the Counter Essence Realm is within the lake. I’m so jealous that you get to become an Immortal Guard and enter the Counter Essence Realm,” a black-armored Counter Essence soldier said to Long Chen.

Despite the fact that they had entered as a group, he could tell that the Heavenly Wolf Gang and Long Chen were not together.

“How many years have you been here?” The soldier looked like a teenager and seemed to be the same age as Long Chen.

“Three years. My childhood dream was to be an Immortal Guard, but due to my lack of talent, I’m only at the mid Heavenly Core realm right now. That is why I can only be a Counter Essence soldier. But this job has its advantages, like the fact that it’s not all that dangerous. No one has dared to attack Counter Essence City so far to conquer the Counter Essence Realm. You, on the other hand, will face threats from immortal beasts in the Immortal Realm, plus manipulation and betrayal from your own people. I think you need to be careful.”

As he spoke, the black-armored teenager glanced at the hostile-looking Heavenly Wolf Gang and continued, “I know these people. They used to be bandits, and they have taken many lives. It was only after they pledged their loyalty to the Ninth Prince that they reined in their violence. But it’s difficult to change old habits ...”

“Thank you!” Long Chen nodded after listening to his advice. He could tell that the young man was a kind person. It was rare to meet such someone so genuine.

“I’m talking too much. Hehe, we’re approaching Lord Sword Devil’s palace soon. Then again, I’ve never seen him with my own eyes during my three years here. You’re lucky to be able to see his face the day you arrive.”

Sword Devil?

Long Chen had some inkling about this person. Before Xiaolang turned into the Sun Devouring Wolf, Long Chen had asked who his enemies were. The name ‘Sword Devil’ was part of the list as one of the main culprits.

“Lord Sword Devil is the incumbent Sword Emperor’s younger brother. He is at the Ninth River Stage, making him one of the top three cultivators in the entire Cangyang Kingdom. With him guarding Counter Essence City, the city is bound to win all battles. The two brothers are the pillars of the Cangyang Kingdom; I’ve worshiped them since I was young!” gushed the black-armored teenager.

The teenager clearly had not had someone to talk to in a long time, because just a short chat was enough to launch him off on a tangent. The Heavenly Wolf Gang had not told Long Chen anything about the rules of the Counter Essence Realm, so Long Chen could only probe him for more information.

Soon, they finally arrived at the Sword Devil’s palace.

Although he was known as the Sword Devil and a great master, he lived a simple life.

A simple black tower appeared in front of them. The steel tower was old, but it radiated a sharpness that could not be concealed. Long Chen even felt stinging pain prickle his skin from the sharp aura.

This is just where he lives, and it already radiates such a sharp sword Qi. If this person is called the Sword Devil, he is likely a formidable figure. Great masters should deserve my respect, but you’re Xiaolang’s enemy, so this is different ...

After escorting Long Chen here, the teenager had no choice but to excuse himself.

Today was the beginning of a new month, so there were many other new Immortal Guard recruits who had gathered over the past month. Many were already waiting outside the gates.

“Stay here. When everyone has arrived, every one of you will have to pass an inspection conducted by Lord Sword Devil himself!” Yu Tao warned Long Chen softly. Yu Tao dared not act recklessly while standing in front of the Sword Devil’s palace.

Long Chen looked up. In front of him was an iron door that was shut tight.

How grand.

He truly felt how powerful the imperial family was after arriving in Counter Essence City. This was only a corner of the imperial family’s power, but it was already terrifying.

Long Chen had a lot of patience. Time passed and the morning hours ticked by. At noon, the door finally opened to reveal cold darkness within.

A gust of wind blew from inside. Since Long Chen was standing at the very front and was hit by the gust first, he quickly activated his Qi to withstand it.

After the gust of wind passed, he realized that the wind had made dozens of tiny cuts on his clothing.

This was merely a natural gust of wind caused by the presence of the sword master inside, which had naturally flowed out after the door was opened.

Long Chen was privately startled.

“New recruits of the Immortal Guard, step inside.”