Lord Fifth had told Xu Qing some things about the county capital. However, after all, it wasn't as intuitive as what the Sword Holders in the county knew.
Through Chen Tinghao's description, Xu Qing gained a deeper understanding of the forces in the county capital.
For example, there were many forces who established their branches in the county capital like the Eight Sects Alliance.
These sects were overlords in their respective provinces but here, they had no choice but to lower their heads.
This was because above them were the three major sects.
These three major sects could be said to be the three strongest sects in the entire Fenghai County. That was why they could build their main sects in the county capital.
"There are many disciples from the three major sects in the Sword Holding Palace, so to a certain extent, the three major sects are almost one with the Sword Holding Palace. They fully support any decision of the Sword Holding Palace. This is also the survival way of our three major sects in Fenghai County."
"The two of us are disciples of the Primordial Lightning Lineage." Chen Tinghao smiled.
Under his explanation, Xu Qing also understood the foundation of the Yao Residence. As a powerful aristocratic family, it could be said that they were an absolute influential class.
"Although Heavenly Marquis Yao died back then, the foundation he laid still exists. Even though the Yao family has been expelled from the Grand Imperial Capital Region, it is still a towering tree in Fenghai County that is on par with the three great sects."
"However, compared to the entire county, the three major sects and the Yao family can only be considered the fourth tier."
"There are two great nonhuman races above the three sects. They are in the third tier."
Chen Tinghao had a straightforward personality, especially when he was talking to Xu Qing and the captain, who were also Sword Holders. It was as though the moment he knew that they were Sword Holders, he instinctively let down his guard against the two of them.
This was completely different from when Xu Qing was in the sect.
"The two great nonhuman races are the Holy Demon Race and the Quasi-Immortal Race!"
At the mention of the two nonhuman races, Chen Tinghao's expression turned a little gloomy.
Xu Qing and the captain's gazes also narrowed slightly. Lord Fifth clearly knew something about them. However, to the other disciples of the Eight Sects Alliance, this information was something they didn't know in the past.
"After the two fellow Daoists go to the county capital, you must be careful of these two races." Sun Liying who was sitting beside Chen Tingmao played with her hair and spoke softly.
"Among them, the members of the Holy Demon Race were born with two faces, one at the front and other at the back. They look strange but at the same time, their schemes go deep."
"As for the Quasi-Immortal Race, they are similar to the human race but are extremely arrogant. Their characteristic is that their hair and brows are white. Even their pupils are the same. They have terrifying combat strength."
Xu Qing nodded and remembered the characteristics of these two races. Chen Tinghao sighed.
"These two great nonhuman races are the strongest races in Fenghai County other than our human race. Under the balance and compromise of the county governor, we are barely able to coexist peacefully, but the conflict is gradually increasing."
"However, the situation is still manageable for now. After all, the Holy Wave Race in the Holy Wave Large Region where our Fenghai County is located is covetous of the only place in its territory that isn't under their control."
"There are internal and external troubles!" The captain suddenly spoke.
"That's right, internal troubles and external troubles." Chen Tinghao punched his leg.
"In the capital, the two great nonhuman races are filled with ambition. Outside the capital, the Holy Wave Race's intention to annex it has never been extinguished. If it wasn't for the fact that the afterglow of the human race is still there, Fenghai County would have been devoured long ago."
"Our human race only has one region and seven counties. We can't lose any more territory."
Xu Qing fell silent. He had heard of and felt the afterglow of the human race before.
"Let's not talk about these. When you reach the county capital, you can experience it yourself."
"Let's continue the talk about the forces in the county capital. In the county capital, there are three palaces that belong to the second tier. They are the Sword Holding Palace, the Observance Palace, and the Law Palace!"
"Our Sword Holding Palace controls everything related to battles; battle with foreign races and arresting criminals."
"As for the Observance Palace, it is in charge of rites, etiquette, education, announcing the emperor's imperial decree, and inspection. It also has the responsibility of recording the history of our human race."
"As for the Law Palace, they are in charge of the trial and the rules of law. They have their own law-enforcement cultivators. They have the right to monitor everything related to the rules."
"The human race has the Upper Mystic Five Ministries and the Lower Mystic Nine Ministries. However, Fenghai County has its county system, so it has only been equipped with the three ministries for many years. These three palaces are all from the Upper Mystic Ministries."
Xu Qing knew that the status of the Sword Holding Palace was definitely extremely high in the county. When he heard that the Sword Holding Palace belonged to the second tier, it matched his judgment. As for the first tier above the three palaces, he could guess who it was.
"The first tier is the county governor!" Chen Tinghao's expression was solemn.
"It's rumored in the external world that the county governor is indecisive and has an overly soft personality. He often compromises. However, in reality… in the hearts of us Sword Holders, other than the Palace Master, the person we respect the most is the county governor."
"For the past 800 years, the county governor has guarded Fenghai County. Although he didn't make any contribution to the expansion of the territory, he has balanced the situation inside and outside and is conscientious. As a result, Fenghai County is still in the hands of our human race. The 13 provinces of Fenghai County are still intact, unlike the other six counties that are gradually losing their territories."
Chen Tinghao took a deep breath and looked at Xu Qing and the captain.
"In the past 800 years, the county governor has encountered a total of 47 assassinations…"
When Xu Qing heard this, his expression changed. The captain also took a deep breath.
Chen Tinghao sighed softly and didn't continue talking about the county governor. Instead, he told Xu Qing and the captain about the many customs in the county. Just like that, time flowed by and a month and a half passed.
As the desert gradually became sparse, a green land was slowly reflected in the eyes of everyone in the flying ship.
The ground was covered in plains and there weren't many mountain ranges. Moreover, the anomalous substances here were also thin. The spiritual energy here was clearly much denser than in the other areas.
Even the sky was clearer and brighter.
Xu Qing stood at the bow of the ship and looked at all of this. A sense of transparency rose as he saw the many cities on the ground.
In a place directly below the ship, he could see the people there. They had smiles on their faces and they looked full of hope.
This was rare in the other provinces where the mortals would have to struggle to survive.
"We're here." Chen Tinghao smiled.
"Here, we can use the teleportation array of any place to head outside the county capital. There's a public teleportation point not far ahead. We can go there."
Chen Tinghao pointed into the distance. Xu Qing looked over and his eyes suddenly gleamed with a sharp light.
The captain raised his brows, and the other disciples in the surroundings also revealed solemn expressions.
In the direction Chen Tinghao was pointing at, a gray cloud suddenly appeared in the sky. The range of these clouds was extremely large, almost enough to cover a city.
At that moment, the gray cloud was moving rapidly. One could vaguely see a large bird in the clouds.
This large bird looked extremely strange. It had three heads and each of them looked sinister and savage.
Its stomach was very large and its wings were very small. The fur on its body gave off a chaotic feeling but there were astonishing divinity fluctuations being emitted by it.
Its claws seemed to be holding something that couldn't be seen clearly.
At that moment, it was approaching the flying ship. Wherever it passed, it would stir up a storm, transforming into a tornado that connected heaven and earth. Its aura was powerful and vast.
"It's Senior Qingqin!" Chen Tinghao was stunned.
"Senior Qingqin is a friend of the previous county governor. 800 years ago, when the previous county governor returned to the Imperial City, he invited him. However, he didn't go over but lived in Fenghai County and would fly out occasionally. He is a prehistoric mutant and his bloodline can be traced back to the ancient sovereign's era. It's said that his ancestor once followed the ancient sovereign."
The instant Chen Tinghao finished speaking, a mournful cry rang out from the person in the bird's claws.
"Save me, save me. I'm a Sword Holder. I got 600-foot-long light during the heart inquisition!"
The voice was tragic and filled with intense fear. Xu Qing felt that it was a little familiar, while the captain's eyes revealed a strange glint.
"Isn't this Ning Yan? Why is he being treated as food?"
Xu Qing naturally saw him as well. He chose to ignore Ning Yan, who had attacked him before. However, when Chen Tinghao heard Ning Yan's words, he hurriedly rose into the air and cupped his fists and bowed to the large bird as he spoke loudly.
"Sir Qingqin, please calm down. Can you wait for me to investigate if this person is really a member of my Sword Holder? If so, please be magnanimous…"
Xu Qing looked at Chen Tinghao strangely. It was the same for the captain. He then looked at Xu Qing.
'He doesn't know him, but wants to help just because the other said 'Sword Holder'?' The captain didn't say this but Xu Qing had already understood the meaning of his gaze. Hence, he fell into deep thought.
"You guys will be the same in the future." Sun Liying seemed to have guessed what Xu Qing and the captain were thinking and spoke softly. After that, she rose into the air and stood beside Chen Tinghao, also greeting the large bird.
The captain immediately became vigilant. He felt that perhaps the other Sword Holders were like this. However, if he encountered danger and reported ten feet of light, no one might come to save him. Hence, he didn't speak much on the way, afraid that others would ask about the length of his light.
At that moment, Purple Mystic Fairy also walked out of the cabin and stood beside Xu Qing, staring at the sky warily.
In the sky, as Chen Tinghao's Dao companion greeted, the large bird circled in the air. Its three heads and six eyes swept across the flying ship, as though it was confirming something.
After that, it released its claws.
Ning Yan let out a blood-curdling cry as his body fell. Chen Tinghao immediately caught him. When he brought him back to the flying ship, the large bird in the sky let out an unpleasant caw. After that, it spread its small wings and flapped them as it carried the gray cloud away.
"Why do I feel like it glanced at me just now?" The captain was surprised.
Wu Jianwu also nodded rapidly at the side. A hint of trance appeared in his eyes as he thought to himself.
"I feel that it's looking at me. Could it be that… it sensed the aura of the Ancient Sovereign Mystic Nether from me?"
Xu Qing was also pondering.
At that moment, Chen Tinghao grabbed Ning Yan tightly and was about to ask about his identity. Ning Yan, who was still in a state of shock, immediately saw the captain and Xu Qing.
His eyes instantly widened and his body trembled. He struggled again, as though he didn't want to step on the ship.
Chen Tinghao was a little surprised and looked at Xu Qing and the captain.
"You guys know each other?"
"I do. This little fellow is a Quasi-Sword Holder from our Yinghuang Province." The captain smiled and emphasized the word 'quasi'.
Chen Tinghao smiled and let go, tossing Ning Yan onto the ship.
Xu Qing coldly glanced at Ning Yan.
Ning Yan trembled even more. He also felt grief and indignation in his heart. It wasn't easy for him to reach this place, but as soon as he arrived, that large bird grabbed at him for no reason.
Now that he was out of danger, he actually encountered Xu Qing, who would seek revenge for the smallest grievance.
Just as he was feeling incomparably nervous, he saw Purple Mystic Fairy and his eyes instantly revealed an intense glint. He suddenly ran over and knelt down with a plop, speaking loudly.
"Ancestor, I've finally found you."
