Chapter 84 - Master, Is That a Brothel?
Guo Fan looked at the tall and great city wall.
Night's Fall Sword City derived its name from one of the Myriad Sword Formations capable of challenging warriors in the Physical Integration Period. Additionally, the city's wall was uniquely fashioned like a sharp sword. When observed from a distance, it resonated with the sword Qi concealed in the sheaths of the vigilant city guards, creating an imposing spectacle that extended into the heavens.
Gazing from a distance, it seemed as if countless swords were directed towards the sky, leaving onlookers astounded and effectively achieving their goal of intimidating lesser opponents.
Guo Fan produced an Azure Yang Sword, classified as a blue-grade weapon, from his sleeve. He intended to blend in with the crowd, masquerading as a newcomer attending the Tide-watching Sword-listening Conference.
Although the Flying Star Sword was essentially in disrepair, its unique materials allowed it to harness starlight, providing Guo Fan with a plausible pretext to seek assistance in its restoration from the City Lord Mansion.
This new weapon, like the paper puppet he had previously used, was acquired from the Crocodile Demon Lagoon.
Thanks to Gu Min's assurance, Guo Fan obtained a portion of the Crocodile Demon Lagoon through the underground passage at Frost River Manor.
The remaining three-quarters were divided, with Gu Chao and Gu Yaling each receiving a share.
Gu Chao, despite his youthful appearance, now served as Guo Fan's apprentice, and as such, his possessions were entrusted to Guo Fan.
Guo Fan would have received all of Gu Yaling's possessions had he not declined her offer, but she insisted on selecting some items to present to him, wearing a joyful expression.
Despite this, she meticulously chose a few items to gift to Guo Fan, clearly delighted.
Guo Fan's way of reciprocating involved offering her cultivation techniques, defensive spells, assurances, and a tender kiss.
In any case, Guo Fan had emptied the entirety of Frost River Manor's hidden treasures.
“This time, it wasn't solely my player's intuition at play. Luck and a bit of cunning played a significant role,” Guo Fan admitted.
Guo Fan thought in his heart.
Nonetheless, the Tide-watching Sword-listening Conference also doubled as an exemplary instance dungeon…
The Tidal View represented the Heavenly River's majestic sight, originating from the Ice-Crowned Heights in the southwest of the Middle Continent and flowing into the Heavenly River in the southeast of the Springly Forest.
Every decade, usually in May or June, an enormous tidal wave surged from the Springly Forest, colliding with the melting ice and snow of the Ice-Crowned Heights, creating a breathtaking spectacle.
Sword Pavilion's “Listening to the Sword” event featured the melodious chimes of newly forged swords, occurring every ten years. It served as a means to assess both the quality of Sword Pavilion's new blades and the skill of the swordsmiths.
However, there was yet another significant event on the horizon: the “Ming Sword Conference” for the next generation of Immortal Dao practitioners.
Sword Pavilion extended an invitation to all cultivators under the age of 20 to partake in this competition. The victor would earn the privilege of claiming one of their newly crafted swords.
This is a PVP instance dungeon for a player.
Although he wasn't particularly interested in the loot and rewards from this instance dungeon, he saw an opportunity to search for the remaining three essential items needed to hatch the Black-Eyed Wonder Beast.
With his sword at his side and accompanied by the perpetually suspicious Gu Chao and a cat perched on his shoulder, Guo Fan headed towards the city gate.
He patiently queued up and presented the counterfeit talisman he had crafted at Frost River Manor.
Employing Soul jewels as the talisman's core signified an Immortal Cultivator's identity. The sectless cultivator named Xia Shui was inscribed on it.
Gu Chao's was a mortal's wooden talisman.
The guard inspected it and collected a Soul jewel as an entrance fee before waving them through.
Inside, Guo Fan retrieved a city map from the notice board nearby.
While the entrance fee for a city of Night's Fall Sword City's caliber was undeniably steep, it served the purpose of setting a high bar and preventing an excessive influx of cultivators, which could jeopardize the city's security.
It was just like the limited flow of the scenic area.
“This map hasn't changed… where is my Kang Kang Inn?”
Guo Fan unfolded the map and strolled alongside the road, in search of the advantages offered by the Soul jewels.
Given the substantial fee, he couldn't simply allow entry into the city without providing at least basic accommodations.
After all, there had been instances of aspiring low-level cultivators who went bankrupt just to attend the Tide-watching Sword-listening Conference. They hoped to seize an opportunity but ended up without a place to stay, nearly starving on the streets.
Curiously, Gu Chao approached and inquired, “Master, is that an establishment of a certain nature?”
Guo Fan glanced at the conspicuous flower symbol on the map, indicating an entire alley and a building.
“The Oriental Lychee Tavern, Night's Fall Sword City's most renowned establishment of its kind. Wolfwater is right next to it,” Guo Fan remarked with a wry smile, gently pushing the young one's head back. “Don't ogle the place where you dine, and keep your thoughts to yourself.”
“Oh…” Gu Chao obediently turned his gaze away.
Guo Fan wasn't jesting. Behind the Oriental Lychee Tavern was a shadowy entity in the world of cultivation known as the Soul Haunt Ship, often referred to as the Snowflake Mansion.
Compared to the Snowflake Mansion, it was far more covert and challenging to gain entry. One had to locate a random NPC and engage in communication, then undertake a mission. Only upon completing the mission could one become a part of this organization.
However, such matters were currently of little consequence, so there was no need to concern themselves with them at the moment.
“Let's wait here,” Guo Fan pointed to a particularly secluded spot on the map.
It was an inn named the Secret Jewel Inn.
The game's design was evident.
The first mission players accepted was to locate an inn and receive it from the Lady Boss.
Subsequently, the chain of quests for the Sword Listening Gathering in Night's Fall Sword City would be unlocked.
“Let's go.”
Guo Fan pulled Gu Chao and prepared to leave.
“Crack crack…”
A messy sound of horse hooves could be heard suddenly.
Guo Fan glanced to his side and noticed a procession of individuals approaching from the city gate behind him. Both the Immortal cultivators and the mortals standing nearby quickly made way for them.
Leading the group were not horses, but a pair of peculiar Beasts.
These Beasts sported white fur, possessed striking vertical golden pupils, bore two twisted horns atop their foreheads, and had barbs protruding from the back of their hooves. Their appearance exuded ferocity and dominance, yet they were under restraint from their reins.
The Strange Beasts were tasked with pulling a remarkably opulent horse-drawn carriage of intricate design. The carriage's frame was sizable, crafted from sandalwood adorned with intricate ornamental motifs. The corners were adorned with precious gems, while a delicate, plush blanket adorned the front of the carriage.
The person at the reins was a youthful girl who appeared to be no more than fifteen or sixteen years old. She possessed a captivating, svelte figure and wore a bright smile on her fair countenance. Her eyes seemed to convey a world of emotions.
One of the guards promptly approached and inquired.
“May I inquire if this is the caravan associated with the Profound Yin Family?”
Guo Fan halted in his tracks and gazed at the periphery of the carriage with a bewildered expression. There, he discerned a distinct engraving of half a Yin Yang Fish on the carriage's axle.
Damn! It truly is the Profound Yin Family!
Guo Fan was on the verge of uttering a curse aloud.
Instinctively, he stepped back, pausing briefly to lean against a wall and collect his thoughts.
“Phew… Maintain composure. There's no need to panic prematurely. What if it's not them?”
Guo Fan endeavored to reassure himself.
The young lady steering the carriage retrieved a token and presented it. “We are from the Profound Yin Family, and we have an appointment with the City Lord.”
The guard accepted the token and replied, “Certainly, please follow this way.”
He turned around and rebuked the curious onlookers among the cultivators and mortals. The other guards intuitively cleared a path for their passage.
Guo Fan took a deep breath and blended into the crowd, wanting to leave.
“Cough cough…”
A light cough came from the carriage, followed by a pale and slender hand lifting the curtain.
“Wait.”
The girl's voice was clear and soft, carrying a trace of weakness.
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