Heaven Refining physique

There were two reasons why everyone was thoroughly shocked right now. First was the fact that he was Jiang Hao, and he was roaming quite freely in the Human Kingdom, when the information from the central sects stated that he was in the Forbidden Zone.

Second, he was about 25 years old. A 25-year-old cultivator who was strong enough to erase the entire Yan Clan like it was nothing—not to mention, the Yan Clan ancestor was a Void Reversion realm cultivator.

Too terrifying. They had never heard of something like this before, and now, forget about hearing—they had seen it with their own eyes.

Now there was innate fear in everyone's heart. What if he decided to kill all of them to silence them from revealing the fact that they had seen him?

Although they all feared him, no one moved and waited for Jiang Hao and whoever this woman was to finish their meal. Running was impossible from him anyway. In fact, they might die faster that way.

Also, their third young miss had personally come to serve the food, and right now she didn't seem to be moving from the table.

...

Jiang Hao didn't care for their thoughts about him, nor did he care for the woman who had served the food and was looking at him intently. He enjoyed the food, and he had to say it tasted delicious, even though the beast meat used was of low cultivation—probably a grade 4 one.

He ate his share and wore his mask back, waiting for Senior Yao to finish.

"Se-senior, do you need something else?" The woman standing beside them asked. She really hadn't moved away till now.

"No need, here." He tossed a bag full of spirit stones for the meal.

He had saved them not because he wanted to—just because he was angry at the Yan Clan. So, they shouldn't really feel like they owed him something.

When the woman caught the bag, she was stunned before immediately placing it back on the table.

"Senior, you saving us is the greatest grace you have shown to us. Please do not pay us for the meal and undermine our efforts to repay you in some way."

Jiang Hao shook his head. If she didn't want it, he wouldn't force it. He took back the spirit stones, and at that moment, Yao Ying was done with her meal.

Jiang Hao stood up, and Yao Ying followed. They left the inn.

Finally, the people inside looked at each other and sighed.

"I will go and inform the ancestor about it immediately. We should keep this matter a secret... and all of you should take heavenly oaths to not speak of it."

Others nodded. The situation was a little tricky for them... If they released the news, they might be making enemies of both sides. Jiang Hao might eradicate them for exposing him, while those from the Central Region might think they were related to him.

In that case, they might be captured to be used as hostages or killed on the spot without any explanation.

...

Jiang Hao and Yao Ying had already crossed a few mortal kingdoms. They had walked and teleported, and now they were almost at the edge of the Eastern Continent.

Right now, Jiang Hao and Yao Ying were standing atop a mountain, and from here a vast, beautiful stretch of water was visible—it was none other than the sea which divided the Eastern Continent from the Central Region.

There were three massive boats anchored at the end of the route they were walking. Visiting the Central Region was not allowed unless one had a specific reason, else one would not get permission.

The Central Region protected the area around the coast with many high-ranked cultivators. They were very serious about this matter, as they didn't want people to keep coming and creating sects in the Central Region.

There were four entry points into the Central Region, one from each region. These were special routes which were safe as per the agreement with the beasts.

If you entered from any other place, then it would be a forbidden zone, and your life would be dependent on the mercy of the beasts—which they do not show. This is the reason all cultivators always go through these entry points, and it is the duty of Central Region cultivators to guard them.

The sea route along which these boats would travel was also protected. If anyone went through another area to cross... then again, they would be at the mercy of the beasts residing in the sea, and the vast sea contained even more dangerous beasts than the land itself.

All in all, this was the only viable route to visit the Central Region, and mortals weren't even allowed to board these boats. So, all mortals in any region of the world were bound to that region—that region was their entire world.

Jiang Hao and Yao Ying came to the location. There were already many people waiting here. The price for riding a boat was 1,000 spirit stones, and it wasn't something anyone could easily afford.

Most people were waiting here for the time when the boats were about to leave. At that time, the prices would be decreased to fill the boat completely—at that time, the price would be only 500 spirit stones.

"Today's crowd is too much. I have a feeling that we won't get a chance to board the boat unless we buy the 1,000 spirit stone ticket," one of the old men spoke. He was in the Nascent Soul realm.

"True... looks like we have to give up on 500 spirit stones... Darn it, let's go and buy one or we won't even get that." His companion was old too, and he was also in the Nascent Soul realm.

Jiang Hao had decided to go through the boat as well. He could easily cross by flying, as the boats were taken by those who were afraid to cross alone. Although these sea routes were considered safe, it was because the boats contained strong cultivators to protect them, as low-level beasts around Void Reversion realm still attacked humans.

The agreement was just a mutual understanding—not a complete oath binding—and mainly higher-grade beasts followed it, not the lower ones.

These boats left together every week. If they missed these ones, then they would have to wait another week for other boats to arrive.

"Senior, I will go and bring a ticket," Jiang Hao said and left.

The line for buying tickets was neither too long nor too short. Most people were still waiting for some time to see if they could get the tickets for cheaper or not. They could even try next week too—500 spirit stones for a week wasn't a bad option.