The trio moved through the streets, escorted by the guards, while discreetly observing their surroundings.
Wide stone streets, tall buildings, a few mansions… and a strange absence of any use of spiritual energy.
["Where are the formations of this place? Why does it look like a mortal city?"]
Rihai frowned as she noticed that unusual scene. Even weak Qi Refining cities were usually packed with formations, but everything here looked so… ordinary.
Cang Song hesitated for a moment before giving his opinion.
["Maybe this small world isn't just restricting spells, but all cultivation arts."]
As soon as his words fell, the two felt a chill run through their bodies. Unconsciously, their gazes turned toward Aotian, who didn't seem surprised.
["Tian'er, you knew?"]
Rihai asked, surprised.
Having all cultivation arts restricted along with spells meant that the people of this small world could only use spiritual energy in a crude manner.
Although normal cultivation apparently shouldn't have been affected—given that the people walking the streets and looking at them with admiration were not of low realm—the situation was still extreme.
Aotian nodded subtly, keeping his gaze calmly forward.
His voice, however, reached the minds of the two.
["Yes, that's really the case. The formations of this small world restrict the use of cultivation inheritances from the outside, with the only exception being those that originate from here."]
["In the end, everyone can only use spiritual energy in a crude way to avoid interference from the formations. More advanced applications end up being just a waste of energy. Although we can still transmit voice, fly, and do other things that don't require advanced applications, everything else is prohibited."]
Aotian explained, observing the people passing through the streets. They wore relatively simple clothes and glanced at them with fear and admiration.
News of the dragon seeds' arrival in the city had already spread faster than one could imagine.
The city, despite being large, probably didn't house more than a million people, and from what Aotian could tell, most of them were cultivators. It was rare to see someone on the street without at least a minimum of spiritual energy.
Rihai and Cang Song remained silent for a moment, staring at the scene before them, a portrait of the desolation of cultivation arts. To them, the people of that small world were like cavemen who had discovered fire but only used it to keep warm, while they, coming from outside, were like people from a steam-age civilization who knew the miracles that heat could create.
["Is cultivation still possible?"]
Rihai asked, frowning slightly, her blue eyes thoughtful.
["As you yourself saw in the people around us, of course it's possible. Cultivation, despite being an advanced manipulation of spiritual energy, is more a system of energy attraction than emission, which doesn't trigger the world's restrictions. Just like Qi concealment techniques, which also aren't restricted."]
Aotian shrugged, offering a simple explanation, which made the two of them nod.
"Esteemed guests, this way, please," the sudden call from the leader of the guards made them set the matter aside for now.
Following the direction he indicated, the three saw a golden and luxurious carriage. Two pure white steeds, with small wings just above their hooves, were harnessed in front as pullers.
The animals snorted through their noses and stamped their front hooves on the ground with pride, exuding the powerful auras of fifth-tier beasts, making Cang Song secretly take a deep breath.
Aotian showed no great reaction, merely nodding lightly in response as he directly led his two companions toward the carriage, while the leader of the guards and another guard took their places as drivers.
Soon, with a light snap of the reins, the carriage suddenly surged forward. The horses began galloping through the air, carrying everyone into the sky and, at high speed, heading toward the center of the city.
Inside the carriage, Aotian observed the interior and, with his mastery in forging, quickly noticed that the materials composing it were of extremely high quality. Some were even Formation-Tier, yet no advanced techniques had been applied to them.
Despite the refined craftsmanship, the forging lacked spirituality, relying solely on the materials themselves and failing to enhance them or achieve a perfect connection—something that would have granted the piece even greater power. This was clearly a consequence of the inheritance restrictions imposed upon that small world.
The carriage moved swiftly as the three silently observed through the window.
They didn't know what awaited them at the city lord's mansion, but one thing was certain—they might not leave as easily as they entered.
Soon, the carriage approached the largest mansion visible from above.
Despite the impossibility of using cultivation arts, the mansion was far from rustic. In fact, if one disregarded the absence of spiritual energy vibrating in formations, it wouldn't be much different from the residence of a wealthy cultivator.
There were long ornamental gardens, tall walls, beautiful and exquisite patterns on the walls, as well as fountains and small waterfalls.
The carriage entered through the garden, and the horses set their hooves on the ground, followed by the wheels of the carriage, as they continued toward the grand entrance of the mansion without flying any further.
And as soon as they arrived, the beasts slowed their run to a steady pace, until they gradually stopped in front of the building's entrance.
The leader of the guards quickly jumped down from the driver's seat and hurried to open the carriage door politely.
Aotian was the first to step down. As soon as he did, he briefly analyzed the surroundings with his sharp eyes, seeing nothing more than another group of guards lined up, waiting respectfully on the entrance staircase.
Seeing no threat, he turned around and extended his hand toward the carriage door.
Rihai's delicate hand stretched out, and she held her husband's as she descended with a faint smile. Of course, she didn't need the help, but she appreciated the gesture.
Finally, a head of white hair discreetly emerged from the carriage.
After seeing that everything was relatively safe, Cang Song carefully stepped down and quickly followed behind the couple, who were already heading toward the mansion's doors, now opened to receive them.
As soon as they passed the bowing guards and entered, they saw several maids kneeling humbly, forming a path for them to pass through the entrance.
Aotian didn't try to raise them, knowing it would be useless, and simply quickened his pace to pass by them, which would reduce the time they had to remain in that humble position.
He didn't like people humiliating themselves like that before him, unless they were his hated enemies.
With Aotian speeding up, almost taking the lead of the group, the leader of the guards wore a surprised expression, only able to helplessly accelerate his own pace to guide the guest without being overtaken, which would create an awkward situation.
["Maids… a rare sight in the homes of powerful cultivators."]
Rihai commented as they passed through the corridors of the estate and saw servants cleaning paintings, furniture, and other objects. Whenever the trio passed by, they immediately stopped what they were doing to bow before them.
["Without formations for automatic cleaning, if they want to avoid the mansion's owners having to spend spiritual energy cleaning the house every day, the only option left is to hire servants for this kind of work."]
["But since these maids aren't mortals and can use spiritual energy, the work must be countless times easier than it would be for mortals. And these maids are not weak at all, with the weakest being at the early Nascent Soul stage."]
Aotian shared his thoughts as they walked.
Soon, they came upon another set of doors. The leader of the guards hurried his steps, gave two light knocks to notify the people inside, and then turned to Aotian, Rihai, and Cang Song.
"The city lord has already been informed of the arrival of the most distinguished guests and awaits you together with his companion," the guard explained softly, with a serious and humble look, before gently opening the doors.
As soon as they opened, Aotian and the others immediately saw a middle-aged man, with brown hair and eyebrows, seated on a sturdy and luxurious chair in front of a tea table.
Hui Lang was to the side, in another chair, sipping from his cup with a calm expression. Even so, they noticed that he seemed slightly relieved upon seeing them, which discreetly raised a few doubts in the minds of the three.
The middle-aged man sprang to his feet energetically, revealing that he wasn't of great height, since he didn't actually seem any taller than when he was seated.
He smiled cheerfully at them, opening his arms in a welcoming gesture.
"Haha! What a great day, fellow Daoists, your presence illuminates my humble abode." He laughed enthusiastically before extending his hand, pointing toward other seats already prepared around them. "Please, please, take a seat, my lords and lady dragon seeds!" the city lord offered kindly and attentively.
The three exchanged quick glances among themselves, as well as with Hui Lang, before calmly nodding to the city lord and sitting down, without showing any sense of strangeness.
Since they were not yet fully aware of what Hui Lang had said, and since he also did not speak up, they remained silent. Strangely, this didn't irritate the man at all, seeming instead like an attitude he had expected.
And since they didn't speak, the city lord spoke for them, smiling as he personally served them tea.
"Well, I must admit that it's a relief to see you arrive. When I received the letter, a month ago, from Dragon Peak, I, Leung Tinhou, was truly euphoric."
He spoke animatedly, slowly tilting the teapot and filling Cang Song's cup first.
"Who would have thought that my Lunar Water City would one day receive such important people. At first, I planned to hold a spectacular ceremony, involving the entire city to welcome you. Unfortunately, as the letter expressed the need for secrecy, I could only inform a few guard leaders about your arrivals, for fear of offending you if you had to waste time dealing with them."
Leung Tinhou sighed, shaking his head helplessly, before continuing.
"But when fellow Daoist Hui arrived alone, I feared I had offended you, since the letter also specified that four envoys would arrive, especially after that brat Lung Sheng caused trouble."
"Fortunately, it was only my anxiety, and fellow Daoist Hui Lang said he wasn't offended, and the fellow Daoists arrived shortly after, which allowed me to set my heart at ease," he explained with a relieved sigh, his smile widening.
But soon, Leung Tinhou seemed to think of something and hurriedly waved his hands in panic, justifying himself.
"Of course, I'm not saying that the fellow Daoists are late. On the contrary, you arrived earlier than I expected. I thought you would only arrive in the afternoon, but once again I was enlightened by the punctuality of the legendary dragon seeds."
After finishing his justifications and flattery, having already served a cup of tea to everyone, he also sat down.
Holding his own cup, Leung Tinhou took a satisfied sip, then smiled cheerfully as he raised his head to look at them.
However, as soon as he did, he froze upon noticing four pairs of eyes staring at him strangely.
Sweating a little, nervous and surprised, he tried to put on a disarming smile.
"I… I didn't misunderstand anything, did I?" he asked hesitantly, with a worried expression.
The four suddenly turned serious, as if they had rehearsed beforehand, and shook their heads in unison, answering at the same time:
"Absolutely nothing wrong."