The shortcut Jinyue mentioned earlier was taking the celestial ship.
This wasn't really a secret; it was more like taking advantage of Chen Jianxin and the other newcomers' lack of experience.
Since ancient times, the Central Plains dynasties have had a tradition of grand infrastructure projects.
Ancient dynasties liked to build canals and great walls. With the recent resurgence of spiritual energy, cultivation has become increasingly common on this continent. The Great Dragon Dynasty has also kept up with the times by pooling resources to build giant celestial ships capable of carrying thousands of travelers.
Now, although celestial ship stations aren't widespread, they've at least connected the major sects and regional capitals to the celestial ship network. However, due to slow information spread, many ordinary civilians who don't practice cultivation are still unaware of this.