After half a day of traveling through winding forest paths and avoiding any more troublemakers, Su Yang finally stood at the edge of a vast road carved into the base of a rocky hill. Ahead of him, nestled between two large cliffs, stood towering stone walls engraved with ancient runes. Massive bronze gates stood open, guarded by armored cultivators whose auras radiated strength.
Above the gates, three golden characters shimmered with spiritual energy:
Lu City
Su Yang narrowed his eyes.
"So this is Lu City… A mid-sized cultivation hub, but from the defenses alone, it's clear they're cautious. The runes etched on the walls are definitely spirit-gathering formations, maybe even barrier formations."
He calmly walked toward the gate. Max followed beside him, tail relaxed, ears flicking as he observed everything like a soldier entering a battlefield.
As Su Yang neared the entrance, one of the guards raised a hand.
"Stop. Show your identity token."
Su Yang reached into his storage ring and pulled out a temporary city token he had received from a traveling merchant he helped earlier.
The guard inspected it and nodded. "You may enter. But be warned—beasts inside the city must be kept under control. If your spirit beast causes trouble, you'll be held responsible."
Su Yang smiled politely. "Understood."
The guard's gaze lingered on Max. "That dog… He's not ordinary. Watch yourself."
Su Yang gave a slight nod and continued walking.
As he passed through the massive gates, a new world opened before him. Wide streets paved with polished stone stretched across districts filled with lively voices, the scent of food, and the glitter of precious treasures.
Buildings rose in elegant tiers, adorned with wooden tiles and spiritual talismans that hummed faintly in the air. Cultivators of all kinds—young and old, armored and robed—moved through the streets. Spirit beasts with thick fur or glowing feathers were being led on chains or followed their masters loyally.
Max trotted closely beside him, silent but alert.
"Lu City is much larger than I thought," Su Yang muttered under his breath. "This isn't a place for ordinary cultivators. You can feel the pressure in the air."
He could already sense dozens of cultivators far stronger than himself moving through the crowds—Qi Refinement Realm, Meridian Opening Realm, and even a few that he couldn't fully gauge. That meant they were in the Foundation Establishment Realm or higher.
"Carelessness will get me killed here," Su Yang thought. "Time to act low-profile."
He turned toward a narrow side street and walked toward the Outer Market District—a place where rogue cultivators, herbalists, alchemists, and mercenaries gathered. It wasn't the safest part of Lu City, but it was the most accessible place to sell pills, learn rumors, and earn spirit stones without drawing too much attention.
As he walked, he passed a young girl selling talismans, a hunched old man roasting spirit chicken over green flames, and a group of mercenaries boasting about a recent beast hunt.
Su Yang absorbed every detail silently, his sharp eyes analyzing movement and Qi.
He stopped in front of a small herb shop where a faint medicinal fragrance lingered in the air. An old sign read:
> Three Leaves Hall – Pills, Herbs, and Spirit Contracts
"I can start here," Su Yang thought. "Maybe sell a few of my basic pills and gather information."
Before stepping in, he glanced at Max and whispered, "Stay close to me, and don't use your abilities unless I say so."
Max barked softly and wagged his tail.
As Su Yang stepped inside, a small bell above the door rang, and a hunched shopkeeper with thick glasses looked up.
"Looking to buy or sell, young man?" the old man asked.
Su Yang smiled. "A bit of both."
He took out a few Yellow-level mid-tier skin tempering Pills, placing them on the counter. "These are freshly refined. I'd like to sell and also ask a few things… if you're open to conversation."
The shopkeeper's expression changed slightly as he examined the pills.
"These are… not bad. Purity is decent, color even, and the medicinal balance is solid. You made these yourself?"
Su Yang nodded.
The old man chuckled. "Alright, I'll buy them. 1000 Gold coin each. That's generous for a newcomer."
Su Yang accepted the deal, sliding the pills over. "I also wanted to ask about something."
"Oh?" the shopkeeper leaned in.
"I'm looking for body cultivation techniques… particularly ones involving fire or ice elements."
The man's eyes narrowed. "Dangerous knowledge to be asking for, boy. Body cultivation is rare, and elemental techniques tied to it are almost always monopolized by sects."
Su Yang expected that. "Then can you tell me… where I might earn a place in a sect? Or at least where such manuals are found?"
The shopkeeper stroked his beard thoughtfully. "You're in luck. In two days, Lu City will hold a public Sect Exchange Trial—a kind of open recruitment. All major sects send scouts. Young cultivators display their talents, and if you stand out… you might be accepted into one
of the city's sects."
Su Yang's eyes sharpened.
"A trial… then that's my chance."