Chapter 199: Chapter 199: Celestial White Jade City

“CLIP-CLOP CLIP-CLOP!”

As the sound of hooves rang out, a train of carriages appeared before a bustling metropolis. Towering walls obscured the splendor within. Outside, an endless stream of pedestrians and carriages formed an orderly queue, the air filled with a boisterous clamor. But what truly captured one’s attention were the three large words carved above the gate. Their calligraphy was masterful, flowing like dragons and snakes, and they held a powerful Realm.

White Jade City.

This was White Jade City, the Capital City of the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty. It was also known as the Celestial White Jade City and hailed as a heaven on earth.

At the city gate, numerous guards controlled the endless flow of people. Each guard’s skin had the color of Brass, a clear sign they were all masters at the External Refining Copper Skin Level. Such individuals would be considered Elite Disciples in the Cyan Yuan Sect, yet here they were, merely guarding a gate.

The carriage carrying Yang Chan and his companions also joined the queue, waiting to enter White Jade City.

White Jade City was much as he had imagined: incredibly prosperous. The tall city walls completely encircled it, making it impossible to see what was inside. Only from the gate could one glimpse the flags flying high within the city, as the air drifted with the scents of wine and rouge.

The scents weren’t particularly strong, but for a master of Yang Chan’s caliber, an Inner Master, they were easy to distinguish.

The aroma of various cooked foods also hung in the air, but it couldn’t mask those two distinct scents.

A fragrant breeze stirred from amidst silks and satins.

Through the city gate, colorful lanterns shone as beautifully as coral, adorning towering rockeries as the sounds of various musical instruments drifted out.

What Yang Chan could see, hear, and smell was merely the tip of the iceberg of White Jade City. To experience more, he would have to go inside.

As the carriage neared White Jade City, the ’Demon Sound Piercing Ears’ from Yan Jinfeng and the others faded away, replaced by the cacophony of pedestrians on the roadside. To Yang Chan, every sound was remarkably clear.

A powerful perception enhanced one’s senses in many ways, one of which was the ability to hear a greater range of sounds. He tried listening closely for a moment and picked up all sorts of trivial chatter and even some boastful claims.

There was also talk about the Twelfth Floor, top courtesans, and other such topics.

“Elder Yan, once we’re in the city, should we go to the Pharmacist Alliance first, or the Cyan Yuan Pavilion?”

Ji Feng had entered the carriage and was asking for instructions. The Cyan Yuan Sect also had properties in White Jade City, with disciples stationed there to oversee them.

This was a common practice for many Sects. They kept a constant watch on the situation in White Jade City so that any major news could be reported back to their respective Sects immediately.

Some of these operations were public, while others were kept secret.

The Cyan Yuan Pavilion that Ji Feng had mentioned was one of the Cyan Yuan Sect’s public establishments in White Jade City. Its purpose was to build connections with the various powers in the capital and, if they came across anyone with exceptional Talent, to recruit them into the Cyan Yuan Sect.

White Jade City was the most populous place in the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty. As such, there were always people there hoping to learn skills and join a Sect. After arriving in White Jade City, if someone displayed promising talent, they would be taken in and trained. If a subsequent background check revealed no issues, they would then be sent back to the Sect’s branches in the various states.

Of course, this didn’t happen often. Most of the time, the Sect would only take on some peripheral Tributors to help them with matters in White Jade City. These relationships were purely transactional; the individuals were used, but never truly trusted.

One reason Ji Feng brought this up was to check on the situation at the Cyan Yuan Pavilion, to make sure the Cyan Yuan Sect’s disciples in White Jade City hadn’t lost control.

After all, those chosen to be at the Tributor Level were at the External Iron Bone Refining level, or even the Inner Refining Grandmaster Level. Their visit was meant to remind these people of their place, a routine that happened every year.

Since their group was traveling to White Jade City together, it was only natural for them to pay a visit and check on things.

“We’ll go to the Pharmacist Alliance first. Once we’ve settled matters there, we’ll go to the Cyan Yuan Pavilion,” Yan Jinfeng stated directly.

In Yan Jinfeng’s opinion, the business at the Pharmacist Alliance was more important than the Cyan Yuan Pavilion.

“Alright, the Pharmacist Alliance it is.”

Ji Feng nodded after hearing this. Yan Jinfeng was in charge of this trip to White Jade City, so they would follow his lead.

The task of visiting the Cyan Yuan Pavilion would naturally have to be postponed.

That’s right, Ji Feng had also been tasked with visiting the Cyan Yuan Pavilion to prevent it from falling into the hands of others. Such a possibility was not out of the question.

After all, the Cyan Yuan Sect was a considerable distance from White Jade City. It had taken them nearly ten days to reach the capital. Even if they had ridden horses instead of taking a carriage, the journey wouldn’t have been much faster. The carriages on the official roads were quite speedy, especially one pulled by three Qing State Horses.

Yang Chan and Xu Gaocen listened to the conversation without speaking. It was useless for them to interject at a time like this, so they simply listened.

The queue of pedestrians moved steadily forward. Eventually, it was the turn of Yang Chan’s group. After the city guards gave them a cursory inspection, they were allowed to pass into White Jade City.

The carriage rolled slowly forward, and the scene before Yang Chan’s eyes grew ever richer. Taverns and restaurants were everywhere, their fragrant aroma of wine wafting through the air.

The surrounding pavilions were all connected, clearly not single structures but entire, massive complexes. From other buildings where the scent of rouge was stronger, several colorfully dressed women beckoned to potential customers.

These sights were all new and fascinating to Yang Chan, who had never witnessed anything like them before.

The situations in Taiyu City and Tan City had been grim; he’d never had a chance to set foot in a brothel.

“White Jade City is the most prosperous city I have ever been to. You’ll find people from every state and region here, even from foreign countries. Most who seek fame will eventually come to White Jade City, because this is where countless masters gather.”

“A large portion of the experts in the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty are right here in White Jade City. If you want to find a powerful master to learn from, you come to White Jade City. And if you want to make a name for yourself, the fastest way is to challenge the established masters.”

Xu Gaocen noticed Yang Chan’s curious gaze and began explaining the situation in White Jade City.

He had spoken very little throughout the journey, largely because Yan Jinfeng had been engaged in a shouting match with someone. It hadn’t been an appropriate time for conversation. Otherwise, when they first left Qing State, he had been happy to chat with Yang Chan and share some of his Insights and experience in alchemy.

Now that they had entered White Jade City, he knew Yan Jinfeng wouldn’t need to argue with anyone for the time being, so he took the opportunity to talk about the city.

White Jade City looked prosperous on the surface, but the reality within was not as simple as it seemed.

“Pharmacist Xu, have you ever seen them fight?” Yang Chan asked. Realizing his question was incomplete, he quickly added, “I mean, the people who want to make a name for themselves fighting the famous masters.”

“Of course I have. Those who have been famous for a long time always have a few hidden trump cards. When challenged by a true expert, they’ll use those hidden techniques to kill their opponent.”

“Of course, some challengers do succeed, and then their names become known throughout the world.”

“People die every day in White Jade City. And the ones who die are the experts,” Xu Gaocen said, his expression complicated.

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