Yang Shili continued, "The reason Guansheng City is called Guansheng City is because there is a Guansheng Cliff within it. This was once a sacred land, the ruins of the Guansheng Academy."
"Guansheng Cliff, Guansheng Academy?"
"Indeed. Guansheng Academy was once a powerful sacred land that renowned throughout the East Lin Region and even the entire Wuzhou Continent. The academy encompassed all knowledge and promoted various martial arts. Its experts, skilled in diverse martial arts, were as numerous as stars, leaving behind a vast amount of martial arts inheritance on Guansheng Cliff."
As he spoke, Yang Shili sighed with emotion, "But times change, and even sacred lands cannot be eternal. Guansheng Academy ultimately could not keep pace with the times. To put it nicely, they were too scholarly; to put it bluntly, they were too pedantic. Under internal strife and external threats, they vanished into the sands of time. Almost all of Guansheng Academy's martial skills, weapons, elixirs, and treasures were plundered, leaving behind only an empty Guansheng Cliff and a forest of stone tablets that recorded some of the inheritance."
"However, even a forest of stone tablets recording partial inheritance is still an incredibly precious cultivation opportunity for those below the Manifestation Realm, especially for martial artists in the Core Formation and Golden Core realms."
"Over time, a sizable and prosperous martial arts city formed around Guansheng Cliff."
After listening to Yang Shili's detailed explanation, Ling Fan nodded. The ruins of a sacred land indeed held immense value, offering endless benefits to martial artists below the Manifestation Realm, naturally making it highly sought after.
He pondered for a moment and asked, "This Guansheng Cliff isn't open year-round, is it? Is it currently within its opening window?"
Han Hai replied, "Brother Ling, your guess is correct. Guansheng Cliff is normally inaccessible. Only at this time of year is there an opportunity to enter and observe cultivation."
Hama, stealing a moment from his meal, swallowed a large mouthful of meat and asked, "Is there a specific reason for this period? Why can one only enter at this time, and not others? Is it covered by a grand formation, or some kind of restriction? Or perhaps Guansheng Cliff is controlled by a major power that only opens it at specific times?"
Han Hai shook his head, "None of the above."
Hama looked puzzled, "If it's none of the above, then what's the reason?"
Yang Shili chuckled, "It's because of a horse!"
"Few people know the origin of this horse. Ten years ago, this horse suddenly descended upon Guansheng City and forcefully occupied Guansheng Cliff, driving out all the powerful individuals. No one could resist it! Once, a peak Golden Core realm expert from the East Lin Region's Martial Lord rankings tried to drive the horse away, but he was kicked into severe injury and eventually died in despair! Since then, no one has dared to provoke it."
"Damn, what kind of horse is so formidable that so many experts in the East Lin Region couldn't deal with it! And it even kicked a peak Golden Core expert to death."
Hama exclaimed in surprise.
Yang Shili shook his head, "That's not something we can know. We only know that this horse's bloodline is exceptionally powerful. It is an extremely rare mutated great demon, with a single azure-gold horn on its head, covered in azure dragon scales, possessing wings on its back, and its four hooves treading on snow. Its demonic might shakes the heavens, and no one can match it."
"Holy cow, amazing! This is the model for us demons! Even I, Mo, am filled with admiration. When can I be this awesome!"
Hama suddenly felt a sense of reverence for the horse.
"This is a Bolong Steed."
At this moment, Ling Fan, who had been silent, spoke.
"Bolong Steed?"
Upon hearing the name, the others, including Hama, stared at Ling Fan with bewildered expressions.
"The Bolong Steed is a type of Celestial Horse, exceptionally combative and ferocious, and the most untamable. Pure-blooded Bolong Steeds can contend with dragons and phoenixes, feeding on dragon flesh. However, such Bolong Steeds are extremely rare. They were once purged by the combined forces of the great dragon clans in the Celestial Dragon Realm, almost to the point of extinction. It's unexpected that Bolong Steeds still exist in this Jiuhua Realm; it's truly a rare occurrence."
"Holy cow! Can contend with dragons and phoenixes! Is this horse's bloodline really that powerful? Doesn't that make it a divine beast?"
Hama's eyes widened in astonishment.
He considered his own bloodline to be quite extraordinary. As a Toad of Demonic Devouring, upon reaching adulthood, it automatically advanced to the Golden Core realm as a Demon Venerable, with the potential to break through to the Manifestation Realm and become a Sacred Toad. However, to take another step and become a Demon Emperor was as difficult as reaching the heavens.
But according to Ling Fan, a pure-blooded Bolong Steed could contend with dragons and phoenixes and feed on dragon flesh. This was incredibly powerful, implying that this horse's bloodline potential far exceeded the Golden Core realm, and even the Manifestation Realm. In the future, it could at least become a Demon Emperor, or even a more powerful existence!
Not only Hama, but Han Hai and Yang Shili were also filled with shock.
At the same time, Han Hai asked in surprise, "Brother Ling, no one in the vast East Lin Region can speak of this horse's origin, yet how do you know such secrets!"
Ling Fan smiled faintly, offering no explanation.
Hama chimed in, "What's the fuss about? There's nothing you can't think of that Brother Ling doesn't know, and nothing you can't do that Brother Ling can't achieve."
"Right, since Guansheng Cliff is occupied by such a ferocious horse, who can get in then?"
Hama inquired.
Yang Shili explained, "Brother Hama, you might not know, but this horse is not only fierce and fond of fighting, but also..."
At this point, Yang Shili and Han Hai exchanged a knowing smile, sharing a look that conveyed a "men understand" sentiment, and continued, "Also, this horse has extremely strong needs in that regard. Every year around this time, it enters estrus and leaves Guansheng Cliff to sow its seeds everywhere. Therefore, only at this time can one enter Guansheng Cliff for cultivation."
"My goodness, this fellow is also a stud! I wonder how many mares it has harmed in the East Lin Region over the years. Truly a beast! Poor me, Mo, has been trapped in Wangyue Valley for so many years without finding a single female golden toad to pass on my excellent bloodline. Alas!"
Hama sighed mournfully.
Seeing this, everyone was taken aback, unsure how to respond.
Ling Fan remarked, "I've actually developed a bit of interest in this Guansheng Cliff and this Bolong Steed."
"I, Mo, also wish to meet this Brother Horse," Hama agreed.
Han Hai and the others exchanged glances, their faces lighting up with joy. As rogue cultivators, their forces were inherently weak. If Hama, a quasi-Golden Core great demon, joined them, their team's strength would surge.
"This is perfect. Brother Ling, Brother Hama, let's travel together."
Han Hai and Yang Shili extended a warm invitation.
Hama, having taken a liking to Han Hai's barbecue skills and lamenting the thought of not being able to eat such delicious grilled meat in the future, readily agreed. Ling Fan also raised no objections.
After eating their fill, the group, along with a toad, set off towards Guansheng City.
After several days of travel, covering thousands of miles, a sizable martial arts city appeared in their sight.
In the center of this grand city stood a perilous lone peak, which was Guansheng City itself, and the ruins of Guansheng Academy, Guansheng Cliff.