Chapter 595 - 591: Imperial Capital

Chapter 595: Chapter 591: Imperial Capital

"Imperial Capital."

Fang Han gazed at the two words, silent for a moment before he finally spoke slowly, a hint of unconcealable awe in his voice:

"So this is the Imperial Capital..."

Back in Qingyang County, he had thought the Commandery City was grand and impressive, but standing before the Imperial Capital now, he finally understood what a true megacity was.

Compared to the Imperial Capital, Qingyang Commandery City was like a small hill before a towering mountain.

Luo Yuntian also lifted the curtain on the other side of the carriage. As he gazed at the colossal city that stretched between heaven and earth, an undeniable shock rippled through his usually calm eyes.

He hailed from a Middle-tier Influence and had seen his fair share of large cities, but the sheer scale of the Imperial Capital still sent a jolt through his heart.

The Qingxuan Sect Steward turned around. Seeing the expressions on their faces, a smile touched his weather-beaten features.

"The first time I came to the Imperial Capital with the Sect Leader, I was just like you two True Inheritors—so stunned by its size I couldn’t speak for a long time."

He paused, gently shaking the reins, and the White Tiger continued forward.

"The Imperial Capital is the heart of the Great Chu Dynasty, a gathering place for all the talent under the heavens. A city of this magnitude is only fitting."

The White Tiger followed the main road toward the city gate. As they drew closer, the details of the city wall became increasingly clear.

On the wall’s surface, every giant stone was polished perfectly smooth. The gaps between them were filled with some kind of dark metal, making it look exceptionally sturdy.

Atop the wall, crenellations were spaced every few dozen feet, where armored soldiers stood holding halberds, their sharp gazes sweeping over the pedestrians below.

As they merged with the flow of people approaching the gate, Fang Han noticed an extremely high proportion of Martial Artists among those entering and leaving the city.

There were burly men carrying massive, broad-bladed sabers on their backs; youths in tight-fitting clothes with longswords at their waists; elderly men in Daoist robes holding horsetail whisks; and solemn-faced women clad in light armor.

Many people even used Demons as mounts.

A Fire-Scaled Horse, entirely crimson, snorted as it carried a red-robed elder unhurriedly through the gate.

A Cyan Wolf the size of a calf carried a black-clothed youth on its back. The youth’s expression was indifferent, his eyes sweeping over the surrounding pedestrians with a touch of arrogance.

There was also a huge carriage pulled by two Armored Rhinoceroses. The carriage was forged entirely from metal, gleaming with a cold, dark luster under the sun as it slowly passed through the gate.

Among these Demons, the White Tiger’s size was still considered massive, but it was no longer one of a kind.

The surrounding pedestrians merely gave it a casual glance before looking away, not sparing it a second look.

Fang Han and Luo Yuntian exchanged a look, and both could see the same sentiment in each other’s eyes.

In Qingyang County, and even in the several surrounding counties, a White Tiger mount was an extremely eye-catching sight.

But here in the Imperial Capital, it was just a somewhat rare Demon.

The White Tiger followed the flow of people, slowly passing through the city gate.

The armored guards on duty at the gate just glanced at the carriage and waved them through without even asking a question.

Evidently, so many Martial Artists and Demons entered and exited the Imperial Capital daily that the city guards were long accustomed to it.

Passing through the gate’s archway, the light suddenly brightened.

The streets of the Imperial Capital were astonishingly wide.

The bluestone-paved road was as smooth as a mirror, wide enough for ten carriages to travel side-by-side without feeling crowded.

On both sides of the street stood a forest of towering buildings.

Three, four, and even five-story structures were everywhere, adorned with vermilion railings, green tiles, upturned eaves, and intricately carved beams and painted rafters.

All sorts of shops were packed tightly together, their signs hanging high. There were shops selling Weapons, Elixirs, and Spiritual Materials, as well as restaurants, teahouses, silk boutiques, and jewelry stores...

The cries of vendors, the sound of laughter and conversation, the haggling of customers, and the clatter of carts and horses all wove together into a bustling urban symphony.

Fang Han looked out the carriage window at both sides of the street, his gaze sweeping over the various shops.

In his eyes, Qingyang Commandery City had been prosperous, but the difference compared to the Imperial Capital was simply staggering.

The decor of the shops lining the streets alone was on par with the most high-end storefronts in Qingyang Commandery City.

Moreover, what struck him most was the sheer density of powerful individuals.

With the Netherworld Guide active, he could clearly sense that the pedestrians on both sides of the street were teeming with Martial Artists exuding powerful auras.

In just a short while, he had already sensed the auras of at least a dozen First Grade Martial Artists.

These auras were varied—some profound, some sharp, some chilling, some blazing—but without exception, each belonged to an existence capable of dominating an entire county.

Yet here, they seemed utterly ordinary.

"In just this short time, I’ve already sensed over a dozen auras of First Grade Martial Artists. To think First Grade Martial Artists are so common in the Imperial Capital," Fang Han said in a low voice.

Hearing Fang Han’s words, Luo Yuntian’s voice was filled with emotion.

"The Imperial Capital truly is the heart of the Great Chu Dynasty. It’s no wonder the strong gather here."

The Qingxuan Sect Steward controlled the White Tiger, proceeding slowly along the main street at a steady pace, allowing the two to take in the magnificent city.

And so, Fang Han and Luo Yuntian sat in the carriage, observing the colossal, prosperous city teeming with powerful auras through the window.

On the sides of the street, martial performers from the jianghu twirled swords and spears in an open space, drawing waves of applause.

There were vendors with carrying poles, hawking steaming hot buns and pastries along the street, their fragrant aroma filling the air.

There were richly dressed young masters on tall horses, followed by a retinue of servants, parading ostentatiously through the streets.

There were also solitary Martial Artists in tattered cloaks, heads down, hurrying along before disappearing into the depths of an alley.

All walks of life were on full display in this magnificent city.

As Fang Han watched all of this, a strange feeling washed over him.

In that moment, everything about Qingyang County seemed to become distant.

After they had been touring the city for over four hours, the sun gradually began to set.

The Qingxuan Sect Steward stopped the White Tiger in front of a five-story restaurant.

A black sign with golden characters hung above the restaurant’s entrance—"Moon Viewing Tower." The calligraphy was powerful and expertly executed.

Several carriages were parked out front, where two attendants were greeting guests.

"You two True Inheritors, would you like to have a meal before we go register?" the Steward asked, turning back to them.

The prodigies invited to the Martial Arts Assembly could take their invitation letters to the Royal Villa to sign up if they wished to participate.

There, both the participants and their companions would be provided with accommodations.

"Let’s sample the Imperial Capital’s delicacies first, then we can register."

Fang Han and Luo Yuntian looked at each other and nodded.

The three of them dismounted the White Tiger. They had an attendant lead the beast to the rear courtyard to be settled, and after slipping him a small piece of crushed silver as a tip, the attendant’s face broke into a wide grin, and he eagerly led them into the restaurant’s first floor.

The decor on the first floor was extremely refined. The floor was paved with polished marble, and several landscape paintings and works of calligraphy hung on the walls.

The tables and chairs were all made of high-quality mahogany, and exquisite porcelain tea sets were placed on the tables.

A few tables in the main hall were already occupied by guests conversing in low voices, so the atmosphere was not too noisy.

The three found a table by the window, ordered a few of the house specialties, and also asked for a pot of fine wine.

Before long, all the dishes had been served.

Fang Han picked up his chopsticks, took a bite, and couldn’t help but nod slightly.

The restaurant’s chef was indeed skilled. The dishes were perfect in color, aroma, and taste, and the ingredients were substantial.

The three ate slowly, exchanging a few words now and then, enjoying a pleasant meal.

The meal ended up costing over four hundred taels of silver.

Fang Han paid the bill without feeling the pinch.

With his current wealth, a few hundred taels of silver was merely a drop in the bucket.

After their meal, the three left the restaurant and mounted the White Tiger once more.

The Qingxuan Sect Steward had been to the Imperial Capital before and knew the way to the Royal Villa. He urged the tiger to continue along the main street.

After crossing several streets, about half an hour later, the White Tiger came to a stop before a sprawling and imposing architectural complex.

The main gate was painted with vermilion lacquer and adorned with neat rows of door studs. Above it hung a massive plaque inscribed with two large words—

"Royal Villa."

Four armored guards stood on each side of the gate. Their auras were profound; all of them possessed a Middle Third Grade Cultivation.

Many young Martial Artists were already at the gate. Some arrived in carriages, others on foot. After presenting some kind of letter, they were respectfully led inside.

Fang Han and Luo Yuntian leaped off the White Tiger, each taking out their gilt-edged invitation letter, and walked toward the gate.

A middle-aged man who looked like a Steward approached them. His eyes swept over the invitation letters in their hands, and his face immediately broke into a smile.

"Young masters, are you here for the Martial Arts Assembly?"

"We are."

Fang Han handed over his invitation.

The Steward took it and carefully inspected the gilt pattern on the cover and the text on the inner page. After confirming it was authentic, he returned the invitation with both hands, his smile growing even more respectful.

"This way, young masters."

He first led the three of them to the beast stables to settle the White Tiger Demon, then guided them through the main gate and into the villa.

Inside the villa were pavilions, small bridges over flowing water, and a tranquil, elegant landscape—a world apart from the clamor outside.

They passed through a corridor and arrived at a hall.

The hall’s furnishings were simple yet elegant. A censer on a desk burned with sandalwood, its blue smoke curling gracefully into the air.

A middle-aged man in a gray-blue robe was sitting behind the desk. Seeing the Steward lead people in, he put down his book and looked up.

The Steward stepped forward and whispered a few words. The middle-aged man’s gaze then fell upon Fang Han and Luo Yuntian, and he gave a slight nod.

"Young masters, please give me your invitations for verification and registration."

Fang Han and Luo Yuntian each handed over their invitations.

The middle-aged man took them, opened them, glanced at the contents, and then picked up a brush to make a few notes in a register.

He looked up, his gaze first landing on Fang Han.

"Young Master Fang Han, first on the Qingyang County Celestial Pride List."

His voice was steady and business-like, but a subtle, appraising glint flashed in his eyes.

To be ranked first on a county’s Celestial Pride List—even if it was an ordinary county and not one of the Central Thirty-Six Counties—meant that this person at least possessed the strength of someone in the top 300 of the overall list.

Among the geniuses from the various counties, this was already considered first-rate talent.

He then looked at Luo Yuntian.

"Young Master Luo Yuntian, sixth on the Qingyang County Celestial Pride List."

Luo Yuntian nodded slightly.

After finishing his notes, the middle-aged man set down his brush and retrieved three Jade Tokens from under the desk, handing one each to Fang Han, Luo Yuntian, and the Qingxuan Sect Steward.

"These are your access Jade Tokens for your stay at the villa. Please keep them safe."

He paused, his gaze lingering on Fang Han for an extra moment, and explained:

"During the Martial Arts Assembly, the Royal Villa provides free room and board for the prodigies from every county. However, the accommodations differ based on your ranking on the Celestial Pride List."

"As the first on the Qingyang County Celestial Pride List, Young Master Fang, the villa has arranged for you a private courtyard with its own Cultivation Field."

He then looked at Luo Yuntian.

"Young Master Luo, as sixth on the Qingyang County Celestial Pride List, has been assigned a suite with a reception hall."

Finally, he looked at the Qingxuan Sect Steward.

"Accompanying personnel are assigned a standard single room."

Fang Han accepted the Jade Token. It was warm and smooth to the touch, with a slight weight to it.

’A private courtyard with a Cultivation Field... that will be convenient for my Cultivation.’

Luo Yuntian also took his Jade Token, his expression calm, showing no sign of displeasure.

Knowing Fang Han’s strength, he wasn’t the least bit jealous of his treatment.

The Qingxuan Sect Steward accepted his Jade Token and gave his thanks, showing no dissatisfaction either.

He was just an accompanying Steward. To have a free single room in the Imperial Capital, where every inch of land was worth gold, was already excellent treatment.

The middle-aged man summoned three servants and instructed them:

"Take these three to their accommodations."

The three servants acknowledged with a bow and led the way.

Fang Han and his companions followed the servants down a corridor, heading deeper into the villa.