Unsheathed

Chen Ping'an and his companions entered the capital of the Azure Phoenix Nation without a problem.

Following their trip to Old Dragon City, this was the second city that flourished with an air of prosperity.

In the end, Chen Ping'an still decided to give Zhu Lian some gold and silver, allowing him to buy those novels and paintings that Shi Rou detested with all her heart.

Meanwhile, Chen Ping'an also found a time-honored shop where he bought some exquisite Xuan paper that cost one copper coin each[1].

Before entering the capital of the Azure Phoenix Nation, Chen Ping'an had found a secluded area to move everything from his bamboo bookcase into his minimization treasure.

During their stay in the Hundred Flower Garden, Cui Dongshan had revealed to Chen Ping'an the secrets behind this grand debate between Buddhism and Daoism. One of the places that he mentioned was the White Cloud Daoist Temple, a temple in the Azure Phoenix Nation that was relatively unknown. Thus, Chen Ping'an had purposely taken a detour and avoided walking past this temple.

He had a nagging feeling that he had already used up all of his good fortune in the Lion Garden, so he definitely couldn't be too conspicuous right now and openly swagger into the view of the Cloud Forest Jiang Clan and the Imperial Tang Clan of the Azure Phoenix Nation.

While devouring food in a restaurant on a busy street, he heard the other customers from the city chatting about the grand debate between Buddhism and Daoism that was already nearing its conclusion but still yet to actually finish. Everyone was filled with spirit and vigor as they excitedly discussed this event. Regardless of whether they supported Buddhism or Daoism, everyone was filled with unconcealable pride as citizens of the Azure Phoenix Nation. In reality, this was also a manifestation of a nation's power and fortune.

Chen Ping'an had witnessed this phenomenon in a few other places as well. For example, among the scouts of the Great Li Empire during that blizzard on the border, among the commoners in the capital of the Great Sui Nation, on that young girl in the horse-drawn carriage in Old Dragon City, and in Stalactite Mountain.

Several of the neighboring tables were discussing a mysterious event that had just occurred in the capital but was already widely known among everyone.

Chen Ping'an quietly listened to their discussions. Upon seeing Chen Ping'an listen so intently, Pei Qian slowed down her ravenous destruction of the delicious roast chicken and also pricked her ears up to listen.