Chapter 6: Night Orchid City
Bai Yuexian couldn't suppress a gasp of wonder as the ground fell away beneath them. In his previous life, he had flown in airplanes, but this was an entirely different experience. There was no roaring engine or pressurized cabin just the whisper of wind against the chariot's hull and the gentle hum of spiritual energy sustaining their flight. Through the semi-transparent canopy, he could see the landscape unfolding below them in breathtaking detail.
The Flower Capital City, home of the Bai Clan, revealed its true size from this aerial perspective. It was massive, sprawling across approximately 6,500 to 7,000 square kilometers of land, crisscrossed by wide avenues and dotted with parks and plazas. The various clan compounds were visible as distinct architectural clusters, with the Bai Clan's icy-blue rooftops now shrinking behind them.
"Impressive, isn't it?" Bai Zhenhai commented, noticing Bai Yuexian's fascination. "Flower Capital is one of the five major cities in Azure Vermilion Country."
Bai Yuexian nodded, eyes still drinking in the sights. "And the Jiu Clan compound that's the one with the red and gold roofs to the west?"
"Yes," Bai Chenrui confirmed, his voice carrying a note of distaste. "Our greatest rivals in the capital, with the Ye Clan serving as their dogs."
The mention of the Ye Clan brought a momentary tension to the chariot's atmosphere, but Bai Yuexian deliberately relaxed his expression, not wanting to show how deeply the name affected him.
"There's the Verdant Cauldron Hall," Xueyin pointed out as they passed over a sprawling complex dominated by a massive central structure shaped like a cauldron. "The Alchemist Association's headquarters for our region."
Bai Yuexian recalled from his memories that the Verdant Cauldron Hall was an immensely powerful organization that extended far beyond the borders of Azure Vermilion Country. Even the Qin imperial palace had to show respect to its leaders, who were connected to even larger alchemical societies beyond their borders.
As the day progressed, Bai Yuexian marveled at how vast this world truly was. The memories of the original Bai Yuexian had been primarily confined to his family's affairs and local matters, but seeing the landscape from above gave him a new perspective on the scale of this cultivation world.
They passed over towering mountain ranges where ancient beasts roamed freely, vast forests that pulsed with spiritual energy, and sprawling plains dotted with smaller towns and cultivation sects. Occasionally, they would see other flying vehicles or individual cultivators soaring through the sky under their own power, a reminder of the heights of cultivation he hoped to one day reach.
Xueyin spent much of the journey in quiet meditation, while Bai Zhenhai and Bai Chenrui discussed business matters related to the southern branch. Bai Yuexian took the opportunity to organize his thoughts and strengthen his understanding of this world based on both his inherited memories and what he was now witnessing firsthand.
As night fell, the chariot began its descent toward a city that glowed with countless lights in the darkness below. From the air, Night Orchid City appeared as a blooming flower of illumination against the dark landscape, covering approximately 500 square kilometers smaller than Flower Capital but still impressive in its own right.
"We've arrived," Bai Zhenhai announced as the chariot smoothly approached a large compound near the center of the city, distinguished by buildings with the same icy-blue rooftops as the main family compound, though on a somewhat less grand scale.
In the moonlight, the frost python Fang began to glow with an ethereal luminescence, its scales reflecting the silver light in hypnotic patterns. As they disembarked from the chariot, Bai Yuexian, fascinated by the beautiful creature, instinctively reached out to touch it.
The python regarded him with its heterochromatic eyes one red, one blue but made no move to approach his outstretched hand, instead coiling more tightly around Xueyin's shoulders.
"Little brother," Xueyin said with a hint of amusement, "Fang doesn't listen to anyone but me. If you want a companion, you should find your own perfect spirit beast."
Embarrassed by his impulsive action, Bai Yuexian quickly lowered his hand and nodded. The idea of finding his own spirit beast was appealing, though he knew it would likely require him to reach at least the Essence Purification and Crystallization Realm before most worthy beasts would consider bonding with him.
They were led into the branch family compound by respectful servants. Bai Yuexian noticed immediately that many of the adults working within the compound were at cultivation levels equivalent to or lower than his own a reminder of the privileges he enjoyed as a member of the main family, where even servants often had higher cultivation bases than ordinary people elsewhere.
The grand hall of the branch family was impressively built, echoing the architectural style of the main compound though on a smaller scale. The walls were adorned with paintings depicting ice phoenixes and other sacred beasts associated with the Bai family lineage, and spirit stones embedded in elegant lanterns provided warm illumination.
No sooner had they entered and taken seats around a central table than a man burst into the hall, his expression urgent. "Clan Leaders! Clan Leaders!" he called out, approaching Bai Zhenhai with a hurried bow.
"Speak," Bai Zhenhai commanded, his voice calm but carrying an undertone of concern. "What has happened?"
The man straightened, his hands trembling slightly. "Clan Leader, today two more men were lost while working in the mines. The young miss investigated but found no trace of them. They simply... vanished."
Bai Yuexian's eyes gleamed with interest at this new information. Another disappearance, so soon after their arrival this was no coincidence.
Bai Zhenhai nodded gravely. "Don't worry. As you can see, people from the main family have come to investigate the situation." He gestured toward Bai Yuexian and Xueyin. "Prepare two rooms for our honored guests and inform Bai Youyou that her grandfather has called for her."
The man bowed deeply. "Yes, Clan Leader." He quickly departed to carry out the instructions.
As Bai Yuexian and the others sipped the fragrant tea that had been served, members of the branch family began to gather in the hall, clearly eager to greet the representatives from the main family. Among them, Bai Yuexian noticed three elders who carried themselves with the dignity of experienced cultivators.
Though he couldn't precisely gauge their power levels, Bai Yuexian suspected they were all at various stages of the Essence Purification and Crystallization Realm beyond his current capabilities but still within the range his sister could assess with her superior cultivation base.
"The three branch elders," Xueyin whispered to him, confirming his suspicions. "All at mid-to-late stages of Essence Purification. Not weak, but not particularly strong for their ages either."
As the hall filled with branch family members, Bai Yuexian composed himself, straightening his posture and adopting an expression of calm authority. This mission would be his first real test in this new world, and he was determined to make the most of it both to help solve the mystery of the disappearances and to accelerate his own cultivation path.
The mystery of Devil Mountain Valley and the disappearing miners awaited, and Bai Yuexian felt both trepidation and excitement at the challenges ahead. Whatever secrets lay hidden in the southern territory, he would uncover them, proving his worth to his family and, more importantly, to himself.
The grand hall of the Night Orchid City branch compound had fallen into a respectful silence as Bai Yuexian and his sister entered. Their arrival had created quite a stir among the branch family members, who rarely received visitors from the main family in Flower Capital. Many pairs of eyes followed the siblings as they made their way to the seats of honor, some gazes filled with respect, others with barely concealed curiosity.
Bai Yuexian maintained his composure despite the attention, his handsome features set in a calm expression that revealed nothing of his inner thoughts. The memories of the original Bai Yuexian had prepared him somewhat for such scrutiny, but experiencing it firsthand was different. At his side, Bai Xueyin moved with natural grace, her cold beauty drawing admiring glances even from those who clearly feared her power. The frost python, Fang, remained draped around her shoulders, its scales shimmering with ethereal blue light that seemed to pulse in rhythm with its mistress's breathing.
The branch family members bowed deeply as they approached, their eyes flickering between the siblings with undisguised awe. Bai Yuexian understood their reaction. Even in the main family compound, his sister's beauty and power commanded respect. Here, among these lesser cultivators, she must seem almost divine.
"Young Master Yuexian's handsomeness rivals the immortals themselves," one young female disciple whispered to another, her voice carrying farther than she likely intended.
"And Young Mistress Xueyin... I've heard rumors of her beauty, but they didn't do her justice," came the reply. "No wonder they say the Bai family's main bloodline carries celestial heritage."
Bai Zhenhai cleared his throat, silencing the whispers. "The honored representatives from the main family have arrived to investigate the recent disturbances. Show proper respect."
The assembled branch members bowed again in unison, murmuring formal greetings. Bai Yuexian nodded acknowledgment, still adjusting to the deference with which he was treated. In his previous life, he had been an ordinary person. Now, he commanded respect simply by virtue of his bloodline and position.
As the formal greetings concluded, there was a commotion at the entrance to the hall. A young woman hurried in, her rapid steps causing the jade ornaments in her silver hair to sway gently. She froze momentarily upon seeing the gathering, her Azure eyes widening in surprise.
Bai Yuexian couldn't help but stare at the newcomer. She was strikingly beautiful, perhaps sixteen years of age the same as his current body. Her silver hair cascaded down her back in gentle waves, framing a face with delicate features and azure eyes that seemed to shimmer like morning dew. She wore an elegant cyan robe with intricate gold trim, the fabric draped in a way that accentuated her figure without being immodest. The garment consisted of a gold-trimmed top that revealed her midriff, with a flowing cyan shawl draped across her shoulders. The lower portion was a white skirt with golden embroidery, cinched at the waist with a golden belt. Gold bracers adorned her slender arms, and a small gemstone rested on her forehead, secured by a delicate golden ornament.
The attire highlighted her curvaceous figure her full bosom, narrow waist, and rounded hips creating a silhouette that drew appreciative glances from several of the younger male disciples. Yet despite her beauty, what caught Bai Yuexian's attention most was the aura of spiritual energy that emanated from her. Though not as powerful as his sister's overwhelming presence, it was noticeably stronger than his own, indicating a cultivation level higher than his sixth level of the Vital Essence Tempering Realm.
"Youyou," Bai Zhenhai called out, his stern face softening slightly. "Come greet your relatives from the main family."
The young woman quickly composed herself and approached with practiced grace. She bowed formally, first to Bai Xueyin and then to Bai Yuexian.
"This junior Bai Youyou greets young miss Xueyin and young master Yuexian. Please forgive my late arrival." Her voice was melodious, like the gentle tinkling of jade chimes in a spring breeze.
Bai Xueyin nodded in acknowledgment, her expression unchanged, while Bai Yuexian returned the greeting with a polite smile. "Bai Youyou, I'm pleased to meet you."
For a brief moment, Bai Youyou's gaze lingered on him, a flicker of interest passing through her azure eyes before she quickly lowered them in proper deference. The fleeting moment did not escape Bai Xueyin's notice, though she made no comment.
Bai Zhenhai gestured for Youyou to take a seat near them. "My granddaughter has been investigating the disappearances. She can provide you with the details you need."
Once everyone was seated, with Bai Xueyin occupying the central chair usually reserved for the clan leader a mark of respect for her superior cultivation the discussion began in earnest.
"What can you tell us about the strange occurrences at Devil Mountain Valley?" Bai Xueyin asked, her voice cutting through the murmurs like frost through thin ice.
Before Bai Youyou could respond, the Third elder of the branch family stood. He was a man of middle years, with streaks of silver in his dark hair and a cultivation at the peak of the Essence Purification Realm.
"Senior," he said respectfully to Bai Xueyin, acknowledging her higher cultivation base, "if I may?"
Bai Xueyin nodded permission, her expression impassive.