Chapter 111 - 106: Changle Square
Nearing the city gate, Lü Zhong made an excuse to get off the vehicle.
He walked to the gate alone and saw a long line had already formed. After asking around, he learned that to enter Yongling City, one not only had to pay an entry fee of ten talismanic coins per person but also undergo an inspection by the Law Enforcement Team.
The line was split into two queues: one for mortals and one for cultivators. The mortal queue was a long, slow-crawling line of vehicles of all sizes; at that pace, he feared it would take a couple of ancient hours just to get inside. The cultivator queue, however, was different. Not only was it significantly shorter, but more cultivators from the Law Enforcement Team were assigned to it. He estimated it would take just a few minutes to enter the city.
After paying the entry fee, Lü Zhong joined the queue.
Before long, it was his turn.
The one conducting the inspection was a Horse-faced Cultivator. A faint Spiritual Light constantly flickered in his eyes, a clear sign he was using a Qi Observation Skill. The so-called inspection was simply an examination of the auras of cultivators entering the city.
"Fellow Daoist, please circulate your Cultivation Technique for inspection."
When he saw Lü Zhong’s approximate cultivation level, the Horse-faced Cultivator’s tone immediately softened. It wasn’t as stiff as it had been with the previous few Early-stage Qi Refining cultivators; his words now carried a great deal more courtesy.
"Mm, pure Immortal Spiritual Power. You may enter, Fellow Daoist."
Lü Zhong nodded, stopped circulating his technique, and walked forward into the pitch-black tunnel of the city gate.
The inside of the gate tunnel was pitch-black. Fortunately, two rows of glowing stones served as guides, preventing people from losing their way.
The moment he stepped inside, he felt a sharp, needle-like pain on the top of his head as a wave of inexplicable fear washed over him. He instinctively cast a Malice Detection spell but received no feedback.
Just then, Lü Zhong looked up and saw points of starlight dotting the space above him.
Using his powerful cultivator’s night vision, he made out the true nature of these points of light. They were giant arrows, each one covered in Array engravings. From the fluctuations of Spiritual Qi they emitted, he could sense that the power of each arrow was likely equivalent to that of a Magical Artifact.
’If so many of these giant arrows were fired at once, I’m afraid even a Late-stage Qi Refining cultivator would die on the spot.’
Sensing a hidden gaze fall upon him, Lü Zhong quickly lowered his head, not daring to look again, lest the hidden observer get the wrong idea. He quickened his pace and hurried out of the gate tunnel.
The moment he stepped out, the concentration of Spiritual Qi rose sharply.
The glow of dazzling lights cast a brilliant splash of color across his face.
The cries of vendors and the sounds of haggling, mixed with the rumbling wheels of Beast Vehicles, wove together into a symphony that filled Lü Zhong’s ears. Yongling City, it seemed, only grew more vibrant after nightfall.
The street stretched straight into the distance, past countless multicolored, glowing signs, toward the central district of Yongling City, which was lit as bright as day. Streaks of Escape Light occasionally zipped across the sky above it, every detail proclaiming the district’s extraordinary nature.
After gazing for a few more moments, Lü Zhong pulled his eyes away, deciding to find a place to rest first.
’It’s almost midnight. If I don’t find a place to stay soon, I’ll really have to sleep on the street.’
’As for renting a place, that can wait until tomorrow after I’ve had a chance to ask around.’
As he walked along the bustling street, perhaps because he was wearing a Dharma Robe, many beautiful Female Cultivators standing in the mouths of roadside alleys cast flirtatious glances his way.
"Come on over, sweetie. I only charge... Five Spirit Stones for a night, you know!"
The voices of these courtesans were so sweet and seductive that just hearing them was enough to make one’s knees weak.
Lü Zhong sucked in a sharp breath. ’These courtesans in Yongling City must be from the Joyful Union Sect, right?’ he thought. ’If I get tangled up with them, I’m afraid they’ll suck me dry to the bone before I can escape.’
’Nope, not messing with them! Definitely not!’
He quickened his pace, lest he fall for the tricks of these "Witches."
But who would have thought he’d escape the wolf’s den only to enter the tiger’s lair.
Ahead were more than a dozen eateries of various sizes, the aroma of Spiritual Food wafting through the air. The scent of one dish after another stirred his cravings, and in the end, he had to spend a full eleven Spirit Stones to "suppress" them. Only then did he manage to pass perilously through that treacherous area.
After walking for quite a while longer, Lü Zhong finally found a suitable destination.
’Dengling Inn. Sounds nice.’
He stepped inside, and a pretty female clerk immediately approached him, beaming. "Looking for lodging, Fellow Daoist? We have one superior room available. It comes equipped with a Spirit Gathering Array and is currently on a twenty percent discount for just Three Spirit Stones a night. Shall I get you checked in?"
’A Spirit Gathering Array? This inn is pretty high-class.’
Lü Zhong was curious about the effects of a Spirit Gathering Array, but on second thought, since he was only staying for one night, there seemed to be no need for such an expensive room. He shook his head and said, "That won’t be necessary. A regular room will be fine."
’Even though I don’t know the cost of living in Yongling City, it’s obvious that life in a big city like this isn’t easy.’
’Considering how many Spirit Stones I’ll need in the future, I should save every one I can right now.’
"Alright, a regular room it is..." The clerk, having failed her upsell, kept the smile on her face, though it had become noticeably more forced and professional. "A regular room is one Spirit Stone per night. How long will you be staying, Fellow Daoist?"
"Just one night," Lü Zhong said, handing over a Spirit Stone.
A moment later, he received a square Token with a number on it.
"Six-oh-seven..."
Following the signs, Lü Zhong quickly found his room. He channeled a stream of Spiritual Power into the Token in his hand, and the door immediately responded, opening after a wave of Spiritual Light washed over it.
Once inside, he found that, just as he had expected, the walls, door, and windows were all designed to block the Qi Observation Skill.
’Staying in a place like this, it seems my privacy will be well-protected.’