“Is this Dantian City?” Han Li stood on a hillside, gazing at the massive city walls several miles away, murmuring softly.
“How about it? Junior Brother Han, have you ever seen such a grand stone city? This is the result of several expansions by the Nine Nations Alliance. While it may not claim to be the number one city in the South Sky, it certainly ranks among the top five. And the entire city is built from giant stones—absolutely unique.” Lü Luo, standing beside Han Li, also sighed with admiration.
Hearing this, Han Li smiled faintly. When it came to colossal cities, none in the South Sky could compare to the Heavenly Star City of the Chaotic Star Sea. That was the true behemoth. Though Dantian before him spanned over a hundred miles, it was nothing compared to Heavenly Star City.
While Han Li remained indifferent, Mu Peiling, standing close to him on the other side, wore an expression of astonishment. The sight of the stone city had clearly left her deeply impressed.
“Still, having to walk all the way here once we got near Dantian City is quite frustrating!” Lü Luo shook his head, voicing his dissatisfaction.
Han Li pursed his lips before replying, “The Nine Nations Alliance had no choice. With so many high-level cultivators gathering here, if everyone flew in and out, they wouldn’t be able to manage the city. Fortunately, these restrictions are merely superficial for Nascent Soul cultivators like us. If we truly wished to take flight, could such barriers really stop us?”
“I didn’t expect you to take it so lightly. Well, let’s go. Perhaps entering the city early will yield some rewards.” Ever since the recent spiritual battle with Marquis Nanlong, this Senior Brother Lü had grown much warmer and friendlier toward Han Li.
With Han Li nodding in agreement, the three descended the hillside and strode confidently toward the distant city gate.
Due to their proximity to Dantian City, cultivators from all directions were converging on foot, creating a lively atmosphere.
Not wanting to cause a stir, Han Li and Lü Luo had already concealed their cultivation levels, appearing no different from Mu Peiling—mere Foundation Establishment cultivators. Thus, they easily blended into the crowd and passed through the towering city gate, which stood over a hundred feet tall.
At the gate, though there were law-enforcing cultivators from the Nine Nations Alliance on guard, none detected anything unusual about Han Li and his companions.
Upon entering Dantian City, rows of neatly arranged stone houses came into view. Between them, streets of varying widths, paved with blue stone, crisscrossed like a spider’s web, bustling with people coming and going.
“Let’s secure our accommodations first. But there’s no need to squeeze into some inn with the others. There’s a special VIP pavilion here that offers free lodging for Nascent Soul cultivators. We can head straight there.” Lü Luo, having visited Dantian City once before, spoke with the confidence of an old hand.
Naturally, Han Li had no objections and followed the middle-aged Lü, bringing Mu Peiling along.
Lü Luo led the two toward a corner of the massive city. After traversing numerous streets, they arrived before a white light barrier. Behind it stood numerous serene and elegant pavilions, each uniquely designed and exquisitely crafted.
Other cultivators passing by outside the barrier cast glances filled with awe and envy at the pavilions but dared not linger, quickly moving on.
“This is the place. Only cultivators at the Nascent Soul level or above can open this barrier,” Lü Luo said, pointing. He then pressed a single hand against the barrier, a flash of blue light emanating from his palm.
With a *zila*, the white barrier parted, creating a large opening. Without hesitation, Lü Luo slipped inside, and the barrier instantly resealed with astonishing speed.
After a brief pause, Han Li said nothing more. He opened his mouth, and a ball of azure light shot forth. The white barrier shimmered with green light before splitting open a ten-foot-wide gap. With one arm around Mu Peiling’s slender waist, Han Li stepped through the barrier, enveloped in her delicate fragrance.
Mu Peiling leaned slightly against Han Li, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush, her heart fluttering with an indescribable feeling.
Seeing how effortlessly Han Li breached the barrier, Lü Luo’s eyes flickered with surprise before quickly returning to normal.
“Any Nascent Soul cultivator can choose one of these pavilions and bring their disciples along. However, if a pavilion’s barrier is already glowing, it means it’s occupied, and you’ll need to pick another. Though not all Nascent Soul cultivators prefer staying here—some old eccentrics would rather lodge outside the city or in inns.” Lü Luo gestured toward the pavilions as he spoke, smiling.
Indeed, a small number of the pavilions already had glowing barriers, indicating they were taken.
“Junior Brother, let’s choose these two adjacent pavilions. It’ll be easier to support each other if needed.” Lü Luo pointed to two pavilions about fifty or sixty feet apart.
“As you suggest, Senior Brother,” Han Li replied after a cursory glance, indifferent to the choice.
Just as Lü Luo was about to say more, the barrier around a nearby pavilion, shimmering with white and yellow light, suddenly parted. Out stepped a diminutive figure, who, upon spotting Han Li and the others, exclaimed in surprise, “Ah, isn’t this Brother Lü? I didn’t expect you to arrive so early!”
Han Li turned to look closely.
The speaker had fair, delicate skin and the appearance of a jade-like child—it was none other than the Fire Dragon Child he had met at the Three Sects’ Holy Land. After speaking, the child’s bright, expressive eyes darted around before settling on Han Li and Mu Peiling, his small face registering astonishment.
With his exceptional memory, the Fire Dragon Child instantly recognized Han Li as one of the disciples from the Sword Trial Assembly over twenty years ago. Though Han Li was now concealing his cultivation with a basic technique, it couldn’t fool someone of the same level. After a moment of shock, the Fire Dragon Child’s expression shifted to one of realization.
“Haha! So it’s Fellow Daoist Lan. We’re hardly early—you’ve beaten us here. By the way, this is our Fallen Cloud Sect’s newly joined Elder Han. Junior Brother Han, I believe you’ve met Fellow Daoist Lan once before, so no need for introductions, right?” Lü Luo, momentarily taken aback, quickly broke into a warm smile, as if they shared a good relationship.
“So Fellow Daoist Han truly is your sect’s new elder. I must have been blind that day,” the Fire Dragon Child said with a wry smile, seemingly unwilling to dwell on the past.
“I’d long heard of the fame of the Sacred Spirit Eye Tree and merely wished to see it for myself. I hope Fellow Daoist Lan won’t hold it against me,” Han Li replied with a smile, offering a brief explanation despite the other’s dismissive tone.
“Now that you’re an elder of the Fallen Cloud Sect, the matter is hardly worth mentioning. However, you’ve arrived at just the right time. I’ve arranged a small exchange gathering with a few fellow Daoists at the Crystal Dragon Pavilion. Why don’t you both join us? You might find something suitable.” The Fire Dragon Child, evidently straightforward by nature, extended the invitation with a wave of his hand.
“An exchange gathering so soon? Tsk tsk, we’ve truly come at the perfect time. Junior Brother Han, gatherings like these among Nascent Soul cultivators are rare. We must attend—otherwise, we might miss out on something valuable.” Lü Luo, delighted by the news, turned to Han Li with a serious expression.
“Then let’s follow Fellow Daoist Lan’s suggestion,” Han Li replied calmly, his expression unchanging.
With that settled, Han Li and Lü Luo first set up barriers around their chosen pavilions before following the Fire Dragon Child out through the white barrier again.
After giving Mu Peiling a few instructions, Han Li left her temporarily in the pavilion.
“The Crystal Dragon Pavilion is run by a close friend of mine in the Nine Nations Alliance. He has extensive connections, spanning both righteous and demonic paths, which is why he was able to organize this exchange. However, to avoid unnecessary trouble, everyone attending must wear a mask to conceal their true identities.” The Fire Dragon Child explained the details of the gathering in his clear, childlike voice.
Lü Luo’s expression shifted slightly, and he asked with some surprise, “Fellow Daoist Lan, are you referring to the Heavenly Crystal Elder? He’s the only one I can think of with such connections. But I recall he dislikes getting involved in such matters. Why would he host an exchange gathering this time?”
“Heh, I didn’t expect you to know of my old friend’s reputation. Indeed, he usually avoids trouble, but lately he’s been in urgent need of several rare items and hasn’t been able to find them. I suspect that’s why he took the initiative this time.” The Fire Dragon Child chuckled.
“I see. That would explain it.” Lü Luo nodded in understanding.
Han Li listened quietly to their conversation, his expression remaining composed.
As they talked, the trio arrived before a pristine white jade pavilion. The three-story structure tapered from bottom to top, and above its entrance hung an ancient silver-edged plaque inscribed with three golden characters: “Crystal Dragon Pavilion.”
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage