Evening fell. The setting sun was like blood, dyeing the clouds at the sky's edge a magnificent deep purple. At the end of the public road, a massive inn built against the mountains and beside the water appeared before Tang Xiaoqi and Zhao Tiezhu.
This inn was extremely large. Rather than an inn, it was more like a small castle. Tall walls were built with hard blue-gang stones, with faint rune flows visible above, clearly set with defensive formations. The main gate was wide open. Above the doorframe hung a huge plaque weathered by wind and sun, with four bold characters written in dragon-fly style: Wanderer's Inn.
Before the inn's gate, traffic was endless. Various mounts and carriages were packed tightly. There were handsome spirit horses, ferocious demon beasts, splendid carriages, simple donkey carts. Those entering and exiting were from all walks of life, a mixture of diverse types. There were sect disciples in gorgeous Taoist robes with calm auras; mercenary rogue cultivatorscovered in killing aura with fierce eyes; mysterious loners veiled; even someenchanting female cultivators in revealing attire; plus some non-human races, such as rock-skin hill giant descendants seven or eight feet tall, and elegant wood spirit clan with pointed ears.
A hubbub of voices. Various accents, languages, conversations, shouts, quarrels mixed together, forming a unique,worldly atmosphere bustling noise. The air was filled with wine fumes, meat fragrance, sweat, perfume smells, and various impure spiritual energy fluctuations, constituting a vivid and chaotic mortal world scene.
"So... so many people." Zhao Tiezhu had never seen such a scene. His eyes went wide. Heunconsciously tightened his worn clothing, looking somewhat timid. He felt anyone here seemed not weaker than him.
Tang Xiaoqi's expression was calm. He had long used spiritual sense to scan. Though the inn was complex, the strongest were only a few Golden Core late-stage cultivators presiding, no threat to him. He pulled his cloak's brim lower and said to Zhao Tiezhu: "We will rest here tonight."
"Okay." Zhao Tiezhu quickly nodded. Like a loyal guard, he squeezed through the crowd first, opening a path for Xiao Qi. His tall stature and enormous strength easily carved a passage through the stream of people.
Inside the inn's gate was another world. A huge hall several zhang high presented itself. It could easily hold a thousand people. In the hall's center was a large sky well, above which hung countless moonlight stones emitting soft light, making the entire hall bright as day. All around were layered corridors and private rooms. The hubbub came from those places.
The hall was filled with rough, thick wooden tables and chairs, almost all full. Cultivators gathered in groups of three to five, laughing loudly, playing drinking games, or softly exchanging intelligence. The air smelled of strong wine and roasted meat's charred fragrance. Serving girls nimblyweaving through in the crowd serving wine and food.
"Two customers, eating or lodging?" A clever server approached. Though his cultivation was only Qi Refining, his eyes were sharp, clearly accustomed to various people.
"Lodging, two superior rooms." Tang Xiaoqi was brief, his voice somewhat low through the cloak.
"Got it. Two superior rooms." The server loudly called, then showed a difficult expression: "However, honored guest, with so many people heading to Tian Shu City lately, we only have one remaining superior room in a quiet courtyard. The price is." He rubbed his fingers.
"Fine." Xiao Qi directly tossed over a small pouch of medium-grade spirit stones. This expense was nothing to him.
The server received the spirit stones, spiritual sense scanning. His face immediately bloomed into a big smile, his attitude even more respectful: "Honored guest, this way please. Courtyard Jia-san. Guaranteed quiet."
Under the server's guidance, the two passed through the bustling hall into the back courtyard. The back courtyard was indeed much quieter, divided into independent courtyards. Courtyard Jia-san, though not large, had pavilions and terraces complete, plus a small spiritual energy gathering formation. Spiritual energy inside was several times richer than outside.
After settling in, Xiao Qi said to Zhao Tiezhu: "Let us go to the hall to eat and listen for news."
"Good." Zhao Tiezhu's stomach had been rumbling from the fragrance outside. Upon hearing this, he immediately nodded.
The two returned to the hall, sitting at a relatively quiet corner. Ordering several signature dishes and a pot of locallyunique to Blazing Knife-Style liquor, they seemingly casually ate and drank, but both ears were pricked, capturing useful information amidst the noisy surroundings.
As expected, over eighty percent of the topics in the entire hall centered on Tian Shu City and the Asking the Way of All Things Assembly.
"Dammit, the Tian Shu City entry fee went up again. Now it is five hundred superior spirit stones. They are robbing people."
"Five hundred? Do you have the Invitation to the Way? Without it, adding another thousand superior spirit stones might not guarantee entry qualification."
"I heard even some old monsters who had been reclusive for years sent their disciples out this time. The Hidden Dragon List will probably see a major reshuffle."
"Not just reshuffling. I think there will be a revolution. Did you know the Ghost Prince from Shadowmire Sea also appeared? They say he cultivates ancient ghost Dao, can control thousands of yin souls, eerie and unpredictable."
"And the Saintess from Star Pavilion, they say she bears the Stellar Dao Body, can invokecelestial stellar power, battle prowess unmatched."
"Hmph, in my view, the strongest is still that Ninth Prince of Central Zhou Imperial Dynasty. Bearing the Purple Polaris Imperial Qi, a natural ruler. They say he once punched through a same-level flood dragon to death."
Various true and false pieces of news streamed in like snowflakes. Thunderous names, breathtaking battle records, werediscussed with relish by the crowd. Zhao Tiezhu listened, eyes wide, forgetting to drink his Blazing Knife-Style. He felt these rumored geniuses were like stars in the sky, unreachable.
Tang Xiaoqi listened silently, cross-referencing this information with what he already knew. The Central Plains truly hid dragons and tigers. These mentioned geniuses were probably none easy. He felt even more anticipation for the upcoming assembly.
Besides Tian Shu City news, there were also rumors about fortunes elsewhere.
"Did you hear? The northern Meteor Mountain Range is stirring. They say an ancient Star Palace ruin is about to appear. There might be stellar inheritance directly pointing to the Dao."
"Star Palace is nothing. In the southern Myriad Poison Marsh depths, lately there were ten thousand rays of light. A World-Purifying White Lotus is rumored to be gestating. Countless alchemists and medical experts are rushing there."
"The Golden Sand Ancient City in the western desert appeared again. This time the commotion seems bigger. They say Buddhist light was seen."
"The Eastern Sea is not peaceful either. They say a deep-sea secret realm opened. Ancient dragon clan's treasures were discovered."
These rumors about secret realms, ruins, rare treasures similarly attracted massive cultivators seeking fortune. The entire cultivation world seemed unusually active because of the Tian Shu City assembly. Various fortunes sprouted like bamboo shoots after rain.
Just then, the conversation of severalfierce-looking mercenaries at the next table, their bodies carrying dense blood smell, caught his attention.
"Is the intel reliable? Did Black Wind Sha really fall at Ghost-Rejecting Gully."
"Absolutely true. Annihilated to the last man. They say it was a blue-robed young man who struck. He used only one move."
"A blue-robed young man? What is his background? Black Wind Sha boss was Golden Core middle stage, with over a dozen Foundation Establishment veterans."
"Not clear. That person wore a cloak, could not see his face. But his strength is absolutely terrifying. Probably some core disciple from a major force out for tempering, or one of those solitary killing stars on the Hidden Dragon List."
"Dammit, the roads are not peaceful lately. More and more experts. We better be careful too. Do notbump into iron boards."
Tang Xiaoqi's heart stirred. The Ghost-Rejecting Gully they mentioned was precisely the place he had passed through a few days ago. Those unwise robbers were indeed handled by him. He did not expect news to spread so fast.
Hecalmly drank a sip of wine. It seemed that though he kept a low profile, some deeds would inevitably circulate. In thismixed bag Wanderer's Inn, information transmission speed exceeded imagination.
Night deepened. The hall's hustle showed no sign of weakening. More news circulated amid wine and cups. More schemes hatched in shadows.
Tang Xiaoqi set down his wine cup, saying to Zhao Tiezhu still listening to stories with pricked ears: "Let us go rest. We have road to cover tomorrow."
Only then did Zhao Tiezhu come back to his senses, quickly nodding: "Okay."
The two rose, leaving the bustling hall, returning to the quiet courtyard.
Standing in the courtyard, looking up, beyond the inn's defensive light screen was the Central Plains' especially bright and dazzling night sky. Beneath the starlight were countless cultivators bustling for fortune, dreams, or survival.
This Wanderer's Inn was like a miniature cultivation world, full of opportunities, also full of dangers.
Tang Xiaoqi knew the road ahead would only be more exciting, and more perilous. But his heart was fearless, only a soaring battle spirit burning.
Tian Shu City, geniuses from all sides, ancient secret realms. Here I come.