280 Chapter 279: Tianqing Mountain Range
In the vast sky, a huge gryphon flapped its wings, and a faint light shield emanated from its body, resisting the oncoming gusts of wind.
Xiao Ming stood on the back of the gryphon with his hands behind his back, his gaze slowly retracting from the direction of the Inner Academy that had disappeared from his sight, with a hint of sadness in his expression.
However, this emotion was quickly dispelled.
"Xiao Ming, where are we headed next?"
Zi Yan didn't seem to have any sadness on her face, and her little face was full of excitement.
"You're always so full of energy," said Xiao Ming, chuckling as he ruffled her hair
"We're headed to Horizon City in the Tianqing Mountain Range. From there, we'll use a spatial wormhole to travel to Central Plains."
"Spatial wormhole?" The three women were a bit confused when they heard this name for the first time.
"A spatial wormhole is a connection between two spatial points created by a Dou Venerate powerhouse using spatial power. If we travel through the spatial wormhole from the Black-Corner Region to the Central Plains, it will only take us a month to arrive."
"That a Dou Venerate powerhouse can wield such power is truly terrifying." Xiao Yi Xian said in a low voice.
Hearing this, Xiao Ming smiled and said, "Dou Venerate is not a difficult feat for you three. Alright, let's sit down and rest. There is still a long way to go, and we need to build up our strength."
With that, Xiao Ming sat down and began to meditate, the girls following suit. The gryphon continued its flight, carving a path through the endless expanse of sky.
...
Horizon City was located in the Tianqing Mountain Range, thousands of miles away from the Black-Corner Region. As the only city within a thousand miles with a spatial wormhole leading to the Central Plains, Horizon City was also one of the most prosperous cities in the area.
To travel from the Black-Corner Region to Horizon City at the speed of a gryphon beast would take almost half a month. During this half-month journey, Xiao Ming's realm broke through to two-star Dou Ancestor, and Xiao Yi Xian's strength reached the four-star Dou Ancestor.
On the gryphon, Zi Yan was playing with the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python when she suddenly stopped moving and pointed to the distant spot where a range of mountains suddenly protruded from the ground, exclaiming, "Xiao Ming, have we arrived?!"
Coming out of their meditation, Xiao Ming and Xiao Yi Xian slowly opened their eyes and looked towards the distance.
"Well, judging from the scale, we should have arrived. Let's have the gryphon accelerate," said Xiao Ming.
...
The gryphon soared across a vast plain and entered a range of mountains. Soon, wide and well-traveled roads appeared within the mountains, leading in all directions. Many figures could be seen coming and going, and even from a distance, the faint sounds of chatter could be heard emanating from the ground below.
In the sky above the mountains, Xiao Ming and his companions were not alone in the air. Shortly after they entered the mountainous region, they heard the sound of rushing winds in the distance. Soon after, they saw various strange flying beasts flapping their wings as they flew towards the mountains. As these beasts passed close to Xiao Ming and his companions, they could clearly make out the figures of people perched atop them.
"No wonder it's the most prosperous city within a thousand miles," said Xiao Ming with a sigh as he watched the flying beasts and people coming and going.
Then he lightly tapped the gryphon with his feet, and it let out a loud eagle cry before flapping its huge wings and flying rapidly into the depths of the mountains.
After flying for about ten minutes, a huge city silhouette appeared vaguely hidden in the lush mountain peaks. As Xiao Ming observed the city, suddenly a thin man in purple clothes stood in front of the gryphon, forcing it to stop.
Xiao Ming frowned as he sensed the powerful aura of the purple-clothed man.
'Someone really came to court death,' he thought.
The purple-clothed man looked at the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python in Zi Yan's hand, feeling the trembling of its bloodline, and a hint of excitement flashed in his eyes. He then looked at the three beautiful women of different styles beside Xiao Ming, his eyes revealing a lustful and wicked look. Finally, his gaze full of envy and hatred fell on Xiao Ming's face.
"Pretty boy, if you don't want to die, get the hell out of here! I'll take all the beauties around you!"
It had to be said that Xiao Ming's group looked very deceptive in terms of age. If one did not investigate them carefully, many people would mistake them for an ordinary young master and ladies out for fun.
Especially Xiao Ming and his companions, who were handsome and beautiful, were very much in line with the image of young masters and ladies from noble families.
Hearing the words of the man in purple, Xiao Ming looked at him calmly with a gaze as if he were looking at a dead man. Perhaps it was due to his rebirth, but Xiao Ming's emotions were extremely calm on normal days, and he did not pay too much attention to others' offenses toward him. But if anyone dared to have designs on those close to him, he would make sure the other person knew how to write the word "death" properly.
Seeing that Xiao Ming dared not obey his words and instead looked at him disrespectfully, the man in purple became enraged.
"I tried to spare your life, but since you don't cherish it, then go to hell!" With a roar, a purple serpent over 20 meters long appeared in front of Xiao Ming and the girls.
"Go, tear that stinky brat to pieces!" Upon receiving the order, the purple serpent swung its tail and opened its bloody mouth to swallow Xiao Ming.
'I didn't expect it to be a seventh-rank Purple Soul Flame Serpent.' Looking at the purple serpent shadow, Xiao Ming's face remained unchanged.
He slightly stepped on his right foot, and invisible space ripples scattered outward.
Bang!
The purple serpent exploded directly in the air, like a gorgeous firework.
The man in purple saw the situation and his pupils shrank. He had been too distracted looking at the beauties and only now realized that Xiao Ming's strength was extraordinary. Quickly forming hand seals with both hands, he tried to retaliate.
"Brat, what's the use of having some strength? Today, this grandpa-"
Before the purple figure could finish his sentence, a loud noise rang out. Xiao Ming's shadow kicked him into the air, leaving Xiao Ming's afterimage in his original spot.
Bang!
After flying ten or thirteen meters, the purple figure was kicked back.
Bang!
Flying another ten meters, the figure was kicked back again.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
In this space of ten to thirteen meters, Xiao Ming seemed to be playing a one-man game, passing the hapless purple figure back and forth like a soccer ball.
Xiao Ming's speed was so fast that even his afterimage left behind at the handoff point could not dissipate in time, giving people the impression that he had used a clone.
Bang!
With a final kick to the man's forehead, he was sent flying to the bottom of the Tianqing Mountain Range, completely unconscious.
Xiao Ming caught him with one hand, stopping his falling body.
After examining the man to confirm his unconscious state, Xiao Ming slowly flew back onto the gryphon.
