The third level of the Divine Sea Realm was already within reach.
The Iron-Blooded Fiendish Qi, a military cultivation technique, grew stronger the more soldiers there were and the more bloodshed they experienced. In the early stages, its speed of improvement ranked among the fastest of all cultivation methods. Its lethality was immense; once mastered, even a mere glance could unleash an oppressive aura, instilling fear in others.
As for Bai Lang, although he himself was only at the second level of the Divine Sea Realm, he could still sense an indescribable threat emanating from Feng Yumo.
"Gentlemen from Baiyang Village, please come inside,"Feng Yumo said, leading the way expressionlessly.He was never one for many words.
"Thank you, General Feng,"Bai Lang responded without any slight, his manners impeccable—adhering to the principle that courtesy costs nothing.
As they entered Xuanhuang Town, the first sight to greet them was rows of brilliant Enlightenment Lamps. Under their glow, every inch of the surrounding area was illuminated as brightly as daytime.
"So bright!"
"What kind of lamp is this? It's like daytime in here—everything is so clear, as if under the midday sun."
"I can even see ants crawling on the ground! Xuanhuang Town is incredible. I've been to the capital before, and even there, only noble households hung red lanterns at night, and bustling streets had some light. But even then, it couldn't compare to this at all. This is extraordinary, truly extraordinary!"
"Look at these neatly laid streets and those massive buildings. The giant logs standing whole like that... it's unbelievable!"
As they entered Xuanhuang Town, exclamations of awe erupted from the people of Baiyang Village, each one revealing the deep shock within their hearts.
Back in Baiyang Village, they barely had enough to eat. Hunger was a regular visitor, and shelter was poor. Their defensive structures could only barely fend off beasts. They had never seen such orderly streets or such bright lights before—not even under the old dynasties when peace still reigned.
As for street lamps that shone like little suns—forget about seeing them, they had never even heard of such a thing.
In their eyes, everything here was fresh and marvelous.
"These are Enlightenment Lamps, personally developed by Master Lu, the head of the Engineering Pavilion here in town,"a soldier proudly explained."Just insert a crystal stone and it emits light. Compared to old oil lamps, it's hundreds of times brighter. Thanks to the Enlightenment Lamps, Xuanhuang Town remains bright even at night, and not even ferocious beasts dare to approach easily."
Looking at the villagers acting like bumpkins, the soldiers' sense of pride surged.
They had all arrived on the Eternal Continent at the same time, yet the difference in their circumstances was overwhelming. This sense of superiority made the soldiers feel even more deeply tied to Xuanhuang Town.
"What's that? That tall, colorful tower—it's dazzling, like a divine miracle!"Bai Lang asked in amazement, staring at the building gleaming under the light.
It was a sight he had never seen before: a tower built entirely of glazed glass, a true marvel.
The villagers stood there, mouths agape, hardly daring to believe what they saw.
"That's the Sutra Pavilion, a true sacred relic placed here by our Lord himself,"a soldier said, his voice filled with fervent admiration."It houses countless books, cultivation techniques, martial skills, and magical arts. Everyone in Xuanhuang Town can cultivate. The Lord once said, 'Let everyone become a dragon.' Only if every citizen becomes strong can the town truly be powerful. As long as everyone cultivates, even ordinary folk can hunt monsters."
His gaze toward the Sutra Pavilion was filled with reverence. It was, after all, where his path to strength had begun—a sacred place in every sense.
"You mean... everyone in Xuanhuang Town can cultivate? How is that even possible?"Bai Ping exclaimed, eyes wide with disbelief.
In any normal faction, cultivation techniques and martial skills were guarded secrets, fought over with bloodshed and treachery. Even in Baiyang Village, despite Baiyang's origins from a martial aristocratic family, techniques were only handed down to trusted inner circles.
And yet here, anyone could cultivate. It defied everything they knew.
"If even the common folk are cultivators, then what does that make us?"he muttered, struggling with the thought.
"It's true,"Feng Yumo replied firmly."Our Lord has a vast mind and great ambition. From the founding of the town, the Sutra Pavilion was established, filled with countless precious techniques. Every citizen of Xuanhuang Town can receive one free cultivation method and one martial skill to begin their journey. To acquire more advanced techniques, they must earn merit points. With enough merit points, even the highest-level techniques can be exchanged."
His voice was filled with pride.
"What a remarkable town! No wonder—even when I saw the citizens manning the walls earlier, I could sense a hidden threat from them. I thought it was an illusion. But now I realize... it was real. Everyone here is a cultivator. Unbelievable. Truly someone with a broad and visionary mind to empower his people like this,"Bai Lang thought to himself, deeply shaken, and filled with admiration for the Lord of Xuanhuang Town.
No matter what the true motivations were, the fact that every individual had the chance to grow stronger was groundbreaking and deeply meaningful for humanity as a whole.
Even a single citizen of Xuanhuang Town could rival elite soldiers elsewhere.
"To provide one free cultivation method and martial skill to everyone... such boldness. Aren't you afraid of techniques leaking out?"Bai Ping murmured skeptically.
Feng Yumo merely smiled.
Leakage? They had all sworn heart-devil oaths. A single word couldn't be revealed, written, or spoken about outside the town. Many had tried—and failed. It was simply impossible.
"I really want to take a look inside..."Bai Lang said, his eyes full of longing as he gazed at the Sutra Pavilion.
"The Sutra Pavilion does not turn away outsiders,"Feng Yumo said after a glance at him."But without a Xuanhuang household registration, you can only browse the first floor's general books—not the secret techniques or martial skills."
The Sutra Pavilion recognized only Sky Registration Cards (天籍卡). Without one, you simply couldn't access the real treasures. And under the monitoring of the Star Network, there was no way around it.
"Even just seeing it is worth it,"Bai Lang said happily, his eyes lighting up.
"General, may I ask... how many people currently live in Xuanhuang Town?"Bai Ping asked curiously, seeing the bustling crowd in the square ahead.
"Roughly around fifty thousand,"Feng Yumo answered casually. He had heard this number from the Registration Hall.
"Fifty thousand?!"one of the guards gasped, his jaw dropping.
In ancient dynasties, a town of fifty thousand could be considered a small city already. For a single town to gather such a population was staggering—especially during the chaotic times they lived in.
Beyond ten thousand people, it was a sea of humanity.The scale of Xuanhuang Town must be enormous.
"General Feng, what's that? I see moonlight gathering over an ancient well,"Bai Lang asked again, approaching the square.
Indeed, a mystical force seemed to draw the moonlight into an ancient well, making it glow mysteriously—a sight clearly not of the mundane world.
"That's the Moonlight Well, a sacred relic of our town,"Feng Yumo explained."The well gathers moonlight and produces sacred water that heals wounds, cures illnesses, and strengthens the body. Both soldiers and citizens depend on the Moonlight Well to save lives. It's not something outsiders should casually approach—our citizens revere it greatly."
The Moonlight Well had saved countless lives, and many townsfolk even prayed and worshiped there. Over time, it had become a sacred symbol and an iconic sight at night.
"I see..." Bai Ping murmured, filled with awe.
Ever since entering Xuanhuang Town, the shocks had been nonstop. Everything he saw overturned his previous understanding. Without seeing it firsthand, he would have never believed such a place could exist.