The next day, after packing his belongings and paying respects at his parents' graves, Zhou Changqing set off toward the east.
Deep in the forest, Zhou Changqing's figure darted between the massive trees, a black-clad blur that seemed to glint under the sunlight.
He was currently located in the middle section of the upper half of the Magical Beast Mountain Range. Reaching his final destination would take a considerable amount of time. Because of this, he had no intention of making the journey on foot. Instead, he planned to travel to Black Rock City, which was not far from the mountain range's edge, and charter a flying magical beast.
After several days of travel, Zhou Changqing finally made it out of the Magical Beast Mountain Range without any major incidents. He entered the nearest town, rested for a while, and then hired the fastest local carriage available—one pulled by a Wind-Horned Horse—to take him to Black Rock City.
Black Rock City was situated to the east of the central, upper part of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, so the distance was not too great. Even so, it took the Wind-Horned Horse, a Tier 1 magical beast renowned for its speed and endurance, nearly a full day to arrive.
As one of the foremost cities in the Jia Ma Empire, Black Rock City was on a completely different level than Wu Tan City. It was not only far more prosperous, but the overall strength of its local factions was also a tier higher. Black Rock City boasted an imperial-sanctioned civilian flying transport fleet and an Alchemist's Guild that was home to two 4th-tier Alchemists.
Upon entering Black Rock City, however, Zhou Changqing was in no mood to sightsee. He went directly to the flying transport depot and boarded a beast heading for the city nearest his destination.
Eight days later, a colossal bird-like magical beast soared through the sky, descending toward a large city nestled in the distance.
The great city was built amidst a cluster of mountains. Though encircled by the range, it was connected to the outside world by official roads on all four sides. Numerous smaller paths branched off from these main arteries, creating a network that led in every direction. The landscape was a picturesque scene of green mountains and clear waters, with rivers and streams crisscrossing the area.
On the back of the giant flying magical beast were several houses, each partitioned into multiple guest rooms. Inside one such room, Zhou Changqing opened a window and gazed down at the approaching city. He rubbed his temples and murmured, "Reservoir City. I've finally made it."
To save time, Zhou Changqing had opted for a more expensive magical beast instead of a common flying bird. The journey hadn't been a direct flight either; he had to make one transfer, which was why the trip had taken a full eight days. The two flights had cost him nearly two hundred gold coins. Flying magical beasts were truly a luxury not meant for the common person. Without the savings of at least a mid-level Dou Zhe, one could only look on in envy.
Of course, while it was expensive, the speed was undeniable. A journey that would have taken him two months on foot was compressed into just eight days. The experience itself, however, was less than pleasant. The ride was incredibly turbulent and far from smooth. It was only thanks to his decent cultivation that he could endure it. A Dou Zhe or even a Dou Shi would have likely spent the entire eight days vomiting.
About fifteen minutes later, the flying magical beast landed steadily in the city's central square.
After disembarking, Zhou Changqing didn't rush into his tasks. He first found a grand restaurant and treated himself to a hearty meal. Afterward, he checked into a rather luxurious inn, fell onto the bed, and immediately went to sleep. He hadn't gotten a single good night's rest during the eight-day journey, and the constant shaking had left him exhausted.
"I need to reach the Dou Wang realm as soon as possible. Traveling like this is just too inconvenient," he thought to himself as he lay on the plush, soft bed, having already declined the inn's offer of 'relaxation services'. Soon, the sound of steady breathing filled the room.
The next morning, Zhou Changqing left the inn and began to procure supplies.
The Miteer Family's business network was truly vast, with a presence even here on the eastern border of the empire. This saved Zhou Changqing a great deal of trouble. Using the VIP card he had received from Ya Fei, he went on a shopping spree at the local auction house.
Reservoir City was a major city on the eastern frontier of the Jia Ma Empire. Although it couldn't compare to Black Rock City, it was on par with, if not slightly superior to, Wu Tan City. The city held a special status in the eastern region due to its unique location. It was situated in the only mountainous area on the eastern border, adjacent to the arid western desert.
This specific geography created a true tropical mountain forest climate. As a result, it rained for nearly nine months out of the year. This astonishing amount of rainfall made the region one of the most important water sources in the east, which was how Reservoir City earned its name.
Furthermore, the area was incredibly rich in mineral resources, boasting numerous metal ore veins. Several of these were famous throughout the entire Jia Ma Empire. After reviewing the geographical features and city details of the empire, Zhou Changqing had chosen this place for its dual benefits: his metal crafting and his lightning-based cultivation.
Frequent rain and a wide variety of metal ores—was there any place better suited for him? He doubted he could find another location within the Jia Ma Empire that could compare.
Over the next few days, Zhou Changqing explored nearly the entire city, spending half his savings on supplies. His storage ring, which had the capacity of an eighty-square-meter room, was now packed to the brim.
With his preparations complete, Zhou Changqing did not remain in Reservoir City. Instead, he left the city and headed into the surrounding mountains. About twenty miles away, he found the tallest peak and chose it as his new base of operations. The commotion from drawing down lightning was too great and too startling to be done in the city. He also needed a quiet place to refine the lightning and temper his body.
He expertly excavated a cave at the foot of the mountain to serve as his living quarters. Then, he went to the summit and began setting up a device to attract lightning.
Once everything was ready, Zhou Changqing looked up at the region's rare, clear blue sky and said with anticipation, "I hope this place doesn't disappoint me. I really don't want to move again."
Two more days passed.
In the morning, the sky turned a foreboding black. Lightning flashed within the dense clouds, followed by rumbling peals of thunder. It felt as though a storm was about to break.
Noticing the change in the weather, Zhou Changqing had already made his way to the mountaintop, his eyes fixed on the oppressive, dark clouds that seemed to threaten the very city below.
"I came to the right place!" A hint of joy colored his expression as he hurriedly prepared to welcome the heavenly thunder. He hadn't expected a thunderstorm to arrive after only two days. His long journey to the region with the most frequent lightning storms had not been in vain.
Before long, large raindrops began to fall, soaking the earth. Accompanied by a deafening roar, a brilliant white bolt of lightning tore through the sky, striking the iron rod on the peak with perfect accuracy!
A familiar sensation washed over him, and Zhou Changqing immediately entered his body-tempering state.
BOOM!
BOOM!
Five months later.
Rain poured from the heavens in a torrential downpour. Lightning streaked across the sky, intermittently illuminating the dark world below.
In the distant mountain forest, a caravan slowly made its way along a muddy path, heading in the direction of Reservoir City. The group was not small, consisting of about forty to fifty people, and advanced in a three-part formation.
The vanguard was made up of a dozen or so men in rain cloaks and wide-brimmed hats, tasked with clearing the path. In the middle section was a large, iron prison cart. Inside, more than a dozen female, humanoid creatures were caged.