C748 Not Entering the Martial King Realm Not Entering the Central State

Upon hearing Bing Yue's speculation that the little girl in the black robe was Loong Zhiwu, Woo Zhengyang was taken aback. However, after a moment of surprise, he dismissed the idea. Although Loong Zhiwu was known for her quirky nature, it seemed too coincidental that they would find her so easily. Besides, Woo Zhengyang's anxiety was so apparent that even if Loong Zhiwu were avoiding him, she wouldn't be so carefree as to play tricks on him.

The main reason for his doubt was that the little girl's comments about Loong Zhiwu's identity being entangled with many others seemed genuine. This suggested she knew, or at least was acquainted with, Loong Zhiwu, but she herself was not Loong Zhiwu. Woo Zhengyang shared his thoughts with Bing Yue, who then dismissed her own initial idea. It was just a fleeting thought, and a bit of analysis made it clear that it was unlikely.

The two continued to consider the women Woo Zhengyang had encountered, trying to identify the girl in the black robe. They went through a list, from Loong Zhiwu to Situ Jingxiang and the Black-robed Holy Nun, analyzing and eliminating each possibility. Bing Yue was convinced Woo Zhengyang had forgotten someone, maybe even a few people, but despite racking his brain, he couldn't think of anyone else who fit the bill.

A few days later, Woo Zhengyang and Bing Yue arrived at the western outskirts of Golden Scale City. This area marked the westernmost point of the Golden Scale Domain, directly opposite Hibernation Dragon City, and was also the main route out of the domain.

Over the past few days, Woo Zhengyang and Bing Yue explored Golden Scale City, gaining a wealth of new experiences. Initially, Woo Zhengyang lingered to observe any activity from the Golden Scale Sect or Hee Wanli. Then, the Myriad Connection Association caught his interest, wondering if any news would surface during their gathering. Unfortunately, neither showed any signs of movement, prompting Woo Zhengyang to decide it was time to move on and visit the Limitless Domain.

"What is this..."

Not long after heading west out of Golden Scale City, Woo Zhengyang was taken aback by the scene before him. Streams of lava erupted from the ground, soaring thousands of feet into the sky like massive fireworks, painting the entire landscape in a fiery red hue.

"Isn't it amazing and awe-inspiring? This is the spectacle of our Golden Scale Domain—lava filling the sky."

"The spectacle of the Golden Scale Domain?"

"Yes, whether by coincidence or design, after the Thirty-Six Domains separated from the Central Continent, each domain's border revealed a breathtaking phenomenon. Here in the Golden Scale Domain, it's this skyward lava. The underground lava bursts forth like a fountain due to the fractured earth veins. The unique forces in this area prevent the lava from flowing elsewhere, causing it to return underground and erupt again in an endless cycle."

"The scenery here is quite unique," Woo Zhengyang remarked.

"Unique, yes, but the dangers are unimaginable. It's said that when the Thirty-Six Regions first split from the Central Continent, it was because of these thirty-six wonders that contact between the regions and the Central Continent was almost entirely severed. It wasn't until Qian's firm gradually found a way through these wonders that travel between the Central Continent and the Thirty-Six Regions became possible."

"Qian's firm?"

"Yes, Qian's firm is one of the major powers on the Central Continent. Their business is widespread, much like the Myriad Connection Association. They don't pay much attention to our Golden Scale Domain, but they did establish a branch here. It's a transportation hub that can traverse the void and the wonders of the Thirty-Six Regions."

Not long after, Woo Zhengyang saw the Qian's firm and the transportation hub that Bing Yue had mentioned.

Calling it a firm or a transportation hub doesn't quite capture it; in person, it felt more like a small city, a city belonging solely to Qian's.

The entrance to the firm resembled a unique city gate. Most city gates are square, but this one was round, with no gatehouse or large doors, just a square portal. Overall, it looked like an ancient coin with a round exterior and a square interior.

Inside the firm, there were various smaller businesses lined up, offering daily necessities, weapons, alchemical items, magical artifacts, and martial arts manuals. There were even inns and restaurants.

After exploring these small shops, Woo Zhengyang understood why the entrance resembled an ancient coin with a round exterior and square interior. This coin symbol was the emblem of Qian's firm, and all these small shops displayed the same sign. In other words, these diverse little stores were all part of Qian's enterprise.

One must admit, this colossal entity from the central continent wielded immense power. Woo Zhengyang and Bing Yue had seen quite a bit on their journey, yet these shops still showcased many things they had never encountered before.

"I suddenly feel like visiting the central continent!" Woo Zhengyang remarked to Bing Yue with great emotion after exiting one of the shops.

"Are you drawn by the legendary central continent?"

"Yes! I had only heard of its name before, thinking it was just a larger landmass. But after experiencing the Myriad Connection Association and Qian's firm, I realized I was truly seeing the world through a narrow lens. Not to mention the central continent, the other thirty-five regions must also have their unique wonders, unlike the Golden Scale Domain."

"That's true, but if you want to visit the central continent, it might not be possible right now."

"Why not?"

"After the world fractured into thirty-six regions, some cultivators and sects, like those in the Golden Scale Domain, sought to dominate their territories. However, many still aimed to enter the central continent. Although the thirty-six regions are just fragments of the former land, their combined area is vast, even larger than the current central continent. If everyone were to move there, the cities would undoubtedly be overcrowded."

"Is that really the case? Does this mean people from the Thirty-Six Regions are restricted from entering Central State?"

"That's correct, there are restrictions. Practitioners from the Thirty-Six Regions can't enter Central State unless they've reached the Martial King Stage," Bing Yue said with a light laugh. "So, if you want to visit Central State, you'll need to train until you reach that stage first."

"Only those at the Martial King Stage can enter Central State? That's pretty harsh! Doesn't that mean many people might never get the chance to go there?"

"That's the reality, but it's unavoidable. Initially, no one regulated this, and a flood of practitioners entered Central State. They fought fiercely over resources, creating chaos. So, the major powers in Central State came together to establish entry restrictions. Only those at the Martial King Stage can enter, and this rule has continued to this day."