“Is that it? I never thought I would be able to lay my eyes on such a magnificent city…”

“What do you mean you old crow, our Spirit Spring City is much grander…”

Zhang Jin along with Maling started shouting at each other while standing on the ship’s deck. They were slowly being escorted towards the flying city which not many people in this empire could have the honor to see.

This was also the first time for Zhang Dong to go with the scenic route. It was much slower than going through the various teleportation gates but apparently, the large gates that could bring ships like the Argonaut over were only activated during war times. They were deactivated by default and even if someone captured an outside gate they would not be able to teleport inside.

“Quiet you two, you have been arguing for the entire trip. Aren’t you already old enough to move past your past history? You will live for another five hundred years, learn to get along and yes this is an order from your Patriarch!”

While at first, it was funny to see the two old farts at each other's throats. After seeing it a hundred times it started to grate his ears. His words carried a lot of weight here, even people that were of the older generation had to listen to him. Even his grandfather had to and with everyone from the sect looking he could not act out as he always did.

“Yes, Patriarch.”

Both of them clasped their hands and went on their way. Zhang Jin returned to his two wives that he brought along on the trip while Feng Maling returned to her granddaughter. When he raised his voice the entire place became deathly silent. This was his sect where he ruled supreme and with the exception of some family members, no one dared to go against him.

“Daddy, big bubble!”

“Yes, isn’t it big?”

Zhang Xiu pointed out at the ‘bubble’ which was in actuality a large protective barrier. From this side, it looked like a large soap bubble. There were also others like it surrounding small floating islands that looked like they were ripped out from the mountain ranges below.

First, the land that this Long Clan was occupying was truly lush. The concentration of spiritual energy was even higher here than back at his sect where he found the spirit vein. Large forests with many spirit beasts, fruits, and cultivators of high power. It seemed that reaching the foundation establishment level was even easy for the teenagers here.

This was the real difference between them and the other sects. With all these natural resources even without training their people had a higher floor and also a higher ceiling. Through the years their bodies were absorbing the bountiful Qi that was radiating from everywhere.

Its source was beyond that large wall that reached all up into the heavens. It segregated these lands into three parts but after one of the major sects was eradicated it could split up between the two instead. While the Long Clan had the smallest force they made up with the quality of their cultivators.

Even now he could feel the hundreds of nascent soul masters looking their way. They were everywhere, with this many they would have no problem in wiping out all of the medium-sized sects that mostly had about ten active nascent soul masters each and then s few hidden ones at their main bases.

‘Perhaps if all of the medium-sized sects banded together and made a push they could do something? But the quality also counts…’

The Long Clan clearly focused on pumping their resources towards the nascent soul masters. They were mostly above the early stage as well and had superior technique over the others in the lower regions. When comparing them to the demon-like tribes and the magical knights he could see the Long Clan being able to defend themselves.

‘Even with so many monsters on their side they don’t do anything, unless the enemy arrives at their doorstep they won’t see it as a threat?’

These people had ruled the lands for at least a hundred thousand years. They had clearly grown accustomed to being the best even the Heavenly Crane Sect was not seen as a proper opponent. If they had acted instantly then this war would have probably never happened.

The forces that were coming from outside were beatable by him and he was far from invincible. If the Azure Emperor rallied all of the sects and forced them to defend the bridges victory would have been assured. The invaders had limited space to maneuver and with defenses built up previously, they could just constantly barrage them with spirit bullets.

‘It’s a bit strange, Long Qing knew that this would happen. Did he not think that they could defend the bridges or was there another reason?’

In Zhang Dong’s eyes, the invaders were strong but they were not invincible. With years of preparations on their hands, the Long Clan could have made some preparations. They could have spread a prophecy that would make the other clans set up defenses beforehand but they did not.

‘Could they think the other sects are just too incompetent to do anything? I guess bunkering up in these lands seems like the safest plan if they can’t trust others…’

If he thought about the nature of the cultivators then it made some sense. The Long Clan would need to share their resources to bolster the outside troops and make preparations. Sharing cultivation resources was not something any cultivator would do with outsiders; only their own blood relatives or disciples would gain their trust.

‘That’s probably it… wish these idiots learned to get along with each other…’

“Xiu, Jun stop running around.”

Liena called out which forced the kids that were running around to quickly return to their mother’s side. While to the young ones this was an interesting adventure where they could see many wondrous things, everyone else was on edge.

The Long Clan was the strongest family in the entire empire. They could not offend anyone but they could also not tarnish their own good name. It would be a balancing act for anyone that wasn’t directly related to him. People bumping their heads was not something he would like to see, even though he was the emperor’s brother he had no pull in the city.

Sometimes people would approach his people out of bad faith to make them look bad. If it was not directly related to him it would be unwise to act out. While he didn’t follow the usual cultivator decorum others did. It would look bad if he had to baby the members and resolve each little fight.

‘Hope those guys aren’t feeling too vindictive after the last time…’

While thinking of a certain trio it was finally time to dock. The protective barrier started opening and their ship just had enough space to squeeze through. While they flew in, the ships that escorted them remained outside and would wait there until they returned. Not even a second passed and the large hole had closed itself behind them.

‘The defenses seem capable.’

Zhang Dong did not have the chance to observe the flying city fortress from this vantage point but from up here it looked like something out of a fantasy book. Vast amounts of green, springs filled with spirit water, and various oriental-styled buildings and some that he did not recognize.

This whole place had levels to itself with many smaller floating islands spinning around the main city like moons. While the city was stationary it seemed to be able to move by itself. It was something that supposedly survived the previous war; it could either move itself to evade being invaded or had vast amounts of defensive capabilities.

The floating islands that surrounded them weren’t all. Many cannons that were the size of the Argonaut's main cannon were everywhere. If the Long Clan so wished they could probably atomize this whole ship without even firing off all those cannons. Even he couldn’t see himself being able to deflect all of them at once.

“Welcome uncle…”

After they arrived they were told to halt in advance. Soon a woman’s voice entered his ear that sounded familiar. When he looked at this person that was floating in the air he recognized her as Long Yanyu, the Emperor’s only daughter. The beauty drew in curious gazes, one of them being Zhang Jin that looked to be up to no good.

‘That’s the Emperor’s daughter, don’t even think about it…’

Zhang Jin twitched after receiving the secret message that only they could hear. Even he was not dumb enough to get involved with the Emperor’s daughter. His life would be forfeit if he was caught going after her.

“Well isn’t it my cute little niece?”

The girl’s bright smile turned into a frown for but a moment after she was referred to so closely by Zhang Dong. For some reason, he felt compelled to tease these young masters that were brought up with a golden spoon.

“Please don’t joke around uncle, my father and mother are awaiting you, they wish to see your side of the family but I’m afraid that every one that isn’t related to the long clan will have to remain here…”

“I see…”

Zhang Dong turned to some of the elders that had come on this trip. They had hoped to be at least let into the city to examine it but it seemed they would have to remain on the ship instead. This didn’t mean that he could wedge some of them in there, he was the Golden Dragon and his name was spreading through the lands.

“I do need a few servants, my disciples are like my own children so they will obviously be allowed to come in, right? Then there are a few people from my lovely wife's side, I’m sure my brother won’t mind.”

He shrugged while handpicking some people and beckoning them over towards his direction. Normally if he followed Long Yanyu’s words only he, his kids, his wife, and perhaps Zhang Jin being his grandfather would be allowed to come in.

The group was now closer to twenty people and while Long Yanyu didn’t seem happy about it she could not talk back to her uncle. After the face slapping, he delivered to the three children of the Emperor they were certainly unwilling to go against him. The oldest brother was even taking some lessons in swordplay and changed his tune afterward.

“This should be enough, shall we go then…”

“Very well then but some of them will have to remain outside the Palace.”

“That’s fine with me, I’m sure they will be glad to see the sights the city has to offer.”

Soon the group of cultivators was flying up into the sky. While this was just a family get-together he was here for a different reason.

‘Bob, make sure to scan for anything that could be a holy relic.’

‘Affirmative’