My Martial Arts Level Never Drops

Chapter 265: Chapter 144: Tributor

At this thought, he clutched the Profound Iron Token and his Identity, bowing. ”Thank you, Tributor Yun...”

’This young man is actually a Divine Domain existence... and he doesn’t look much older than I am.’

This was the first Divine Domain existence Qin Fang had ever seen, so it was only natural he’d take notice.

”Go on.”

Tributor Yun waved his hand dismissively and turned back around, closing his eyes once more.

Qin Fang gave the fishing rod beside him a strange look.

’Is this guy actually fishing or just pretending?’

After bowing, the Black Armored Soldier gestured for Qin Fang to follow him, and they once again headed for the shore.

”You may enter the city, but you heard Tributor Yun. You must stay at the Post House and are forbidden from entering the Inner City. Lanyang City isn’t like other places; its rules are extremely strict. If you cause trouble here, you’ll be killed without question, even as a Huajin Martial Artist. Don’t throw your life away.”

Once they had walked some distance away, the Black Armored Soldier spoke to Qin Fang with a serious expression.

Qin Fang bowed. ”Thank you for the warning, General.”

The soldier stiffened at the word ”General,” waving his hands frantically. ”I’m no General, don’t get me in trouble... I’m just an ordinary Squad Leader in the Black Armor Army. Come with me. I’ll have someone escort you into the city.”

As they spoke, they reached the boarding dock. The soldier glanced around and shouted, ”Zhang Cheng!”

A Black Armored Soldier on duty at the inspection point turned his head at the sound of his name and hurried over.

”Captain.”

”Yes. This is Qin Fang. He’s here for the Martial Arts Examination. Tributor Yun has granted him entry. Escort him to the Post House in the city and get him settled.”

The Black Armored Soldier, Zhang Cheng, promptly acknowledged the order. ”Yes, sir!”

He then turned to Qin Fang. ”Please, follow me.”

His tone was quite respectful—he had even used the word ”please.”

He had been nearby just now and had clearly heard that Qin Fang was a Huajin Martial Artist.

”Much appreciated.”

”Not at all. This way, please.”

Qin Fang followed Zhang Cheng onto a large boat.

The boat had no cabins, only a wide deck already crowded with people waiting for departure.

Zhang Cheng led Qin Fang across the deck to the bow. A few Black Armored Soldiers were stationed there, and the other passengers kept their distance, leaving the area relatively empty.

The soldiers at the bow were chatting amongst themselves. They turned instinctively at the sound of footsteps and saw Zhang Cheng approaching with Qin Fang.

Seeing the confusion in their eyes, Zhang Cheng announced, ”By order of Captain Liu, I am to escort this young master into the city.”

Understanding dawned on the soldiers. They nodded, glanced at Qin Fang, but asked no further questions.

Zhang Cheng then turned to Qin Fang. ”Young Master Qin, the boat will be departing shortly. We’ll be in the city soon.”

”I’m in no hurry. Thank you.”

’It’s been a long time since anyone called me ’Young Master,’’ Qin Fang thought, feeling a bit out of place, but he simply nodded calmly.

From his vantage point, he could see the shore, where Black Armored Soldiers meticulously inspected the Identity tokens, travel permits, and other documents of each person in line. A chill went down his spine.

’This Prefecture City... their security is truly strict.’

But still.

’Strength... strength really is the only pass that matters in this world!’

’If I wasn’t a Huajin Martial Artist, these Black Armored Soldiers would have already seized me and interrogated me thoroughly about my background.’

’The result? I’d probably be sent back to Jingping for forced labor... or even all the way back to True Martial for it!’

But just because he was Huajin and had stated his intention to take the Martial Arts Examination...

...not only had the Black Armored Soldiers given him no trouble, but even the great Tributor Yun hadn’t made things difficult.

He hadn’t been pressed about his origins—just a few simple questions, and then he was granted entry.

Staring out at the vast and majestic Great Cloud Marsh, Qin Fang’s eyes glinted with emotion.

An indescribable feeling washed over him.

The wait wasn’t long. Once there were about two hundred people on deck, the hull gave a slight shudder and began its journey toward the giant city on the opposite shore of the marsh.

Qin Fang stood at the bow, his eyes shining as he took in the bustling scene on the Great Cloud Marsh. Countless vessels crisscrossed the waters, painting a picture of peace and prosperity.

The boat moved swiftly. Deep in its belly, a large crew was rowing the oars—a detail that couldn’t escape the senses of a Huajin Martial Artist like Qin Fang.

They moved quickly, soon reaching the heart of the marsh.

Just then, a loud SPLASH echoed from the distance. Qin Fang looked over instinctively and saw someone on a nearby boat hoisting a huge fish out of the water with a fishing rod.

The boat was magnificent, and on its deck stood several lavishly dressed young men and women. One of the young men held the fishing rod, from which a fish over a meter long had been pulled from the marsh.

The massive fish thrashed and struggled, but neither the rod nor the line broke. The young man holding the rod did so effortlessly with one hand, a wide, triumphant smile on his face.

The other young men and women around him gasped and laughed in delight.

The scene was one of perfect tranquility.

Their own boat soon crossed the marsh and docked. Qin Fang followed Zhang Cheng off the vessel.

There was another inspection point here. Soldiers were re-checking the Identity tokens and other documents of the disembarking passengers.

With Zhang Cheng leading, however, Qin Fang was spared this procedure. He did notice, though, that when Zhang Cheng explained he was a Huajin Martial Artist here for the Martial Arts Examination, many of the soldiers and fellow passengers shot him looks of surprise and awe.

’I’m used to keeping a low profile,’ Qin Fang thought. ’This is a little uncomfortable.’

With Zhang Cheng as his guide, Qin Fang left the docks without any hassle, bypassing the queues, and finally arrived before the gate of the majestic, ancient city.

Up close, he realized the city was even more imposing than it had appeared from afar. The gate alone was at least forty or fifty meters high, its vermilion-lacquered wood studded with massive bronze bolts.

A large crowd of commoners was gathered at the gate, waiting to enter, each of them subject to the same strict inspections.

Qin Fang, however, didn’t have to wait in line. Zhang Cheng led him straight to the front.

After Zhang Cheng explained the situation to the Black Armored Soldier on guard, the soldier turned to Qin Fang and asked calmly, ”Where is your Temporary Passage Token?”

Qin Fang handed over the Profound Iron Token that Tributor Yun had given him.

Qin Fang had already examined the Profound Iron Token on the way over.

’AUTHORIZED FOR PASSAGE IN THE OUTER CITY.’

’BEARER: QIN FANG.’

’CULTIVATION: MORTAL MARTIAL ARTS, HUAJIN.’

’ISSUED: 29th Year, Guangwu Era of Dayu. AUTHORITY: Sacrificial Hall. AUTHORIZER: Yun Guanyu, Heavenly Gang of the Celestial Martial Hall.’

The Black Armored Soldier took it, glanced at it, then pressed it against a copper mirror set flush into the wall beside the gate.

A green light flared from the surface of the copper mirror. The Black Armored Soldier nodded, removed the token, and returned it to Qin Fang, saying flatly, ”You may enter. Remember, you are forbidden from the Inner City.”

Qin Fang stared at the copper mirror in astonishment, looking all around it, but he couldn’t discern its secrets.

Still, he knew in his heart that this was undoubtedly another Extraordinary artifact.

Shaken, he let out a soft breath and nodded.

He took back his token and followed Zhang Cheng through the gates.

Qin Fang was just about to lift his head to get a proper look inside the massive city when a blinding red light suddenly flashed behind him.

Then, a deep, wrathful voice roared, ”A vile heretic dares to enter Lanyang City?! You’re courting death!”

Both Qin Fang and Zhang Cheng froze, turning around instinctively. They saw that the Black Armored Soldiers at the gate had already surrounded a plainly dressed, middle-aged man.

Only then did Qin Fang notice that the ground they had just crossed to enter the city was covered in strange, intricate symbols.

And right now, those symbols were glowing with a sinister scarlet light.

The middle-aged man, bathed in the red glow, had a look of utter panic and terror on his face. ”I... I’m not a heretic!” he cried out again and again.

*(Author’s Note: I went back to my hometown today to visit the memorial hall for a deceased elder in my family, which is why this update is so late...*

*I can only release two Chapters today because I have to go back early tomorrow morning. The main funeral is the day after tomorrow, and I (Huoguo) really can’t get away. For the next four days—today, tomorrow, the day after, and the day after that—I’ll probably only be able to write about 10,000 characters per day. My apologies. Once we’ve laid our elder to rest, I’ll get back to my 20k-a-day schedule. Please bear with me.)*