Chapter 218: Great Artisan City
The Sea Cloud region was in the extreme East of the Cangxing world.
It bordered five other regions. The Gu region, the Great Artisan region, the Puppet region, the Divine Fist region, and the Beast region.
From the Sea Cloud region, crossing the Gu region was the shortest route to the Ice Palace region.
However, the Gu region was an evil faction.
The gu worms raised in the Gu region were extraordinarily dangerous, and no one dared to disdain them. Even nascent soul realm powerhouses didn’t dare to step into the Gu region without a compelling reason.
After considering their options, Jiang Yue and Yu Nianzhen decided to pass through the Great Artisan region.
This route was the second shortest, and as a bonus, the Great Artisan region was a neutral faction.
Since it relied on foreign trade, it had fewer travel restrictions than other territories.
As long as one did not commit unforgivable crimes in the region, they were free to do whatever.
Three months after leaving the East River village, Yu Niazhen and Jiang Yue arrived in the Great Artisan region.
"I can’t believe it took three months." Jiang Yue said and sighed.
Although they travelled leisurely, the bullock’s speed was fast.
However, even at that speed, it still took three months.
"It’s good that we have senior Niu." Yu Nianzhen said.
"You are right." Jiang Yue agreed.
Without the bullock, they would have needed at least six months to travel to the Great Artisan city.
"Let’s enter the city and find a place to stay." Yu Nianzhen said.
"Okay. I want to stay awhile to visit the shops."
As the name suggested, the Great Artisan region was full of artisans.
Not only were there weapon refiners, but also alchemists, formation masters, talisman masters, and other experts.
"We have already sold everything that should be sold. It’s not a bad idea to buy things here." Yu Nianzhen agreed.
"Temporary stay or permanent residence?" A guard asked, interrupting their conversation.
"Temporary stay." Jiang Yue answered.
"How long will you stay?"
"One month."
"A one-month permit is ten thousand spirit stones."
Yu Nianzhen paid twenty thousand spirit stones and received two permits.
After receiving the permits, the two entered the city and began searching for an inn.
"The city is quite crowded." Jiang Yue observed as they walked.
"Most are foreign cultivators." Yu Nianzhen said.
His hearing was extraordinary, and he occasionally caught snippets of conversation.
From these snippets, he knew that most of the foreigners were also passing through on their way to the Ice Palace region.
"The Great Artisan region is just south of the Ice Palace region. It makes sense for many cultivators to pass through."
"Let’s eat before we find a place to stay." Yu Nianzhen said and frowned.
With so many cultivators in the city, it was easy for problems to arise.
Although he didn’t know if they would encounter a problem, it was best to prepare.
Yu Nianzhen planned to do this by gathering information to understand the current atmosphere in the city.
"I was just about to suggest that. There is a restaurant over there."
Jiang Yue said and pointed at a three-storey building.
Without delay, the two walked towards the building and soon arrived at the door.
"Do the two guests prefer a private box or sit in the public hall?" A waiter asked.
"The public hall." Jiang Yue answered.
Although they had spirit stones for a private box, their goal was information.
If they entered a private box, they couldn’t eavesdrop on other people’s conversations.
"Two guests, please follow me." The waiter spoke and walked toward the stairs leading to the second floor.
As they walked, Jiang Yue and Yu Nianzhen looked around.
The first floor had an area of about three hundred square metres. Tables were placed one metre apart, and all were already full.
"The restaurant seems popular." Jiang Yue muttered.
His voice was low enough not to disturb the guests but high enough to reach the waiter’s ears.
As expected, the waiter immediately took over the conversation.
"Our restaurant is the most popular in the Great Artisan city. Are the two guests new to our city?"
"We have just arrived."
"Is that so? If there is something the two guests want to know, I am at your service."
"We are grateful." Jiang Yue said and smiled.
After taking their seats, they ordered six signature dishes and a pot of fruit winner.
While waiting for their order, they cautiously extended their divine senses and eavesdropped on the surrounding tables.
"I can’t count the number of famous cultivators who have come to our city." A man said.
His voice was filled with awe, and his eyes were shining from excitement.
"The Ice Palace originally invited a lot of famous cultivators to attend the palace master’s birthday and the martial meeting. After news of the Nine Treasures secret realm, more cultivators are heading there."
"The BlueStar Treasure Pavilion has also confirmed it will hold a big auction."
"Many of those heading to the Ice Palace region won’t return for the time being. They plan to wait for the Nine Treasures secret realm to open."
"The Ice Palace region will be lively for the next few years."
"I want to go to join the excitement."
"What are you? Can you afford to join with your origin forging realm cultivation?"
"It’s okay not to join. I can still watch."
"The Cangxing ranking is also about to begin. It will be interesting if title duels happen in the Ice Palace region."
"I also want to watch a duel."
Yu Nianzhen listened to these but wasn’t too interested.
He already knew what they were talking about, so he shifted his attention to another table.
"You wouldn’t have missed the excitement if you had listened to me." A young man said and sneered at his companion.
"I heard the flower house had a new girl, and I wanted to see her first. Who would have thought I would miss such a big thing?" The companion said and looked a little depressed.
Although he had seen the new girl, she wasn’t worth missing such a big fight.
"The monks of the Thunder God temple can’t tolerate cultivators from the Ghost Valley. They fought as soon as they saw each other."
"Did the cultivators from the Ghost Valley really escape?"
"They were outnumbered. However, I don’t think this matter is over."
"You are right."
"I heard the young master of the Ghost Valley doesn’t like to lose face. If he is here, he will never let the matter go."
Yu Nianzhen and Jiang Yue looked at each other and sighed.
As expected, the Great Artisan city was a powder keg waiting to blow.
If someone stepped on the wrong toes, they would get embroiled in a lot of trouble.
At this time, a line of servers delivered their food and placed it on the table.
"Two guests, please enjoy your meal."
"Thank you."
After the waiter left, the two began to eat but didn’t stop eavesdropping.
However, almost everyone was talking about the Ice Palace region or the fight between the Thunder God Temple monks and Ghost Valley cultivators.
Just when the two thought nothing more was happening in the Great Artisan city, an excited voice reached their ears.
"I just passed by the city gate and didn’t expect to see a famous person."
"The city is full of famous cultivators. What kind of famous person can make you so excited?"
"It’s the young sect master of the Divine Fist sect." The person informed.
"How can the young sect master of the Divine Fist sect be here?" Someone asked.
Although there were many famous cultivators in the Great Artisan city, most were casual cultivators.
This was because regional rulers had flying artefacts and didn’t need to slowly travel across other regions.
When the time was almost up, they would send their people using the artefacts and arrive just in time for the event.
"How can I know such a thing?" The person said and frowned.
He only saw the young sect master and didn’t think about why he didn’t wait for the flying boat of the Divine Fist sect.
"It doesn’t matter why he is here. I want to know if he is as strong as the rumours say."
"I was far from him, but I felt his qi presence. It’s terrifying."
"I heard he will also be fighting for the Ice Fairy."
"He is less than five hundred and has cultivated to the fifth level of the origin tempering realm. He is a good match for the Ice Fairy."
"If he marries the Ice Fairy, it will be a big slap to the face of the Sea Cloud sect."
"Back then, the Divine Fist sect proposed marriage to ancestor Yang but the Sea Cloud sect refused. It will be embarrassing if the Divine Fist sect steals ancestor Yang’s fiancee."
"Why are you calling him ancestor? He is no longer an ancestor."
"You are right. He is a waste now."
At that, the group laughed, and Yu Nianzhen clenched his hands.
His demeanour turned cold, and a sharp murderous intent flashed in his eyes.
