Chapter 533: Wild Frontier Anecdotes

The streets on both sides of the outer edge of Yuanhuang were muddy, lined mostly with low houses of black tiles and green bricks. In front of most doors were long wooden counters displaying various goods and merchandise, most of which were mundane items not worth a second glance.

The closer one got to the inner city, the wider and more orderly the roads became, and the buildings on either side grew taller and more magnificent. However, compared to other continents in the Northern Frost Immortal Domain, the architectural style here was markedly different.

Here, houses rarely had circular columns, the flying eaves lacked the common auspicious beast carvings, and the walls were devoid of brick engravings. The overall style was simpler and rougher, lacking in delicate craftsmanship.

The decorations on the streets and the goods for sale all, without exception, showcased the differences between this place and other continents.

Although the sky was gradually darkening, there were still many pedestrians on the streets. After some observation, Han Li noticed that non-human races, which were uncommon elsewhere in the Northern Frost Immortal Domain, were quite numerous here. Before he had even walked a few hundred zhang, he had already encountered several non-humans with strange clothing and peculiar appearances.

However, thinking that this was a border region of the Northern Frost Immortal Domain, Han Li no longer found it strange.

"Uncle, it smells so good..." Jin Tong had just finished eating the sugar-coated hawthorn stick when his little nose twitched and he called out.

As soon as she finished speaking, she had already darted out and arrived beside a stall on the street.

"Hey there, miss, want a couple of skewers?" asked a burly man with dark skin standing behind the stall, smiling.

Han Li followed and saw a huge copper pot beside the stall, filled with boiling oil. On the table next to it was a large pile of freshly fried food, black and unappealing, yet emitting a tempting aroma.

After looking for a moment, Han Li frowned.

On display were jointed limbs as thick as an adult's arm, giant pincers the size of a table, and eyeballs from some unknown exotic beast, all fried to a crispy golden brown.

"You want to eat this?" Han Li asked.

"Mm, I'll take it all! Uncle, the bill!" Jin Tong, already salivating, waved her little hand and said.

As her voice fell, all the strange food on the table had already been stowed away into her storage bracelet.

Han Li smiled helplessly at this, settled the bill with the delighted man, and continued toward the inner city with Jin Tong, who wore a look of utter satisfaction.

The farther inward they went, the more crowded the streets became, with a cacophony of hawking voices in various accents and dialects, interspersed with shouts and quarrels. The coarse language was quite different from what Han Li had been used to in his previous haunts.

In many alleys and lanes, there were brothels and entertainment houses, with gaudily dressed beauties standing at the doors or on the upper floors, some leaning against the railings and calling out softly, others waving fans or sleeves, gently enticing customers.

The outer city had more mortals, and though there were also cultivators, most were of low cultivation. Having failed to glean any useful information along the way, Han Li simply rose into the air on the wind, grabbed Jin Tong, and headed straight for the inner city.

Flying high above, looking down at the scattered lights stretching for a thousand miles below, Han Li suddenly raised an eyebrow and murmured to himself, "I never expected Yuanhuang City to be such a complex grand formation... Using the Great Wall as the formation's pivot and these eighteen main streets as its feet, the larger the city, the more stable the formation. No wonder there are no city walls—truly ingenious..."

"Uncle, what's so ingenious?" Jin Tong asked, munching noisily on a golden-fried giant claw.

"Just eat your food..." Han Li said with a smile.

Compared to the outer city, the architecture in the inner city was much more refined, with carved beams and painted rafters adorned with many decorative motifs, though all the carvings were of strange and ferocious beasts, most of which Han Li had never seen.

The taverns and shops along the streets had become three-story pavilions, interspersed with inns set deep in courtyards.

What surprised Han Li most was that almost every few streets, at the liveliest spots, there stood a huge circular building.

These buildings typically had only four gates, one on each side, and their walls were covered with reinforcing runes. From within, thunderous cheers would occasionally erupt.

"Uncle, it sounds lively in there. Let's go take a look!" Jin Tong said, tempted by the noise.

"They're just gambling arenas, like when common folk catch stray dogs or chickens and make them fight while the onlookers place bets on the outcome," Han Li said, shaking his head.

"Oh." Upon hearing this explanation, Jin Tong lost all interest.

"We've been traveling nonstop these past days. Let's rest here in the city tonight. Tomorrow we'll consider leaving the city and heading for the wild borderlands," Han Li said, looking up at the starry night sky.

"Whatever you decide, Uncle. I'm full and a bit sleepy, so I'm going to sleep for a while," Jin Tong said, having no objection.

With that, she shrank her body, turning into a golden beetle a few inches in size, and clasped onto Han Li's finger, transforming into a gold ring.

Han Li smiled helplessly and walked toward the center of the city.

The closer he got to the city center, the sparser the buildings along the streets became.

Han Li understood in his heart that this was not because the inner city was less prosperous, but because the buildings in the core area of the inner city were constructed according to the layout of that enormous formation, so they could not be altered at will, and naturally there was no crowding or expansion.

Arriving at a street intersection, Han Li saw a tall vermilion gate tower standing within an alley. On the pillars were carved dragons coiling and phoenixes soaring, surrounded by clusters of flowers, and in the center were written three large characters: "Yanmiao Garden."

A blue light flickered in Han Li's eyes, and through the gate tower he saw that the area behind the street was abundant with heaven and earth vital energy, far surpassing the surrounding areas, so he stepped toward the gate tower.

As he neared the entrance, he noticed a black wooden sign standing beside it, on which was written a line of text:

"This garden only receives cultivators above the Deity Transformation stage."

He shook his head with a smile and stepped inside.

As soon as he entered the gate tower, the light suddenly brightened. Han Li squinted slightly and saw a tall, elegant female cultivator in palace attire gracefully approaching him.

"A distinguished guest arrives, and I failed to welcome you from afar," the female cultivator said, bowing slightly to him.

Her words and demeanor were quite respectful, leaving nothing to be faulted, but her smile was too standardized, as if it were a habitual posture formed over a long time, giving a somewhat distant feeling.

"Are there any vacant guest rooms?" Han Li asked, glancing around.

"There is still a courtyard guest room in the B-class garden, in a fairly quiet location..." the palace-attired female cultivator replied.

"Are the guest rooms graded? Is there still a guest courtyard in the A-class garden?" Han Li raised an eyebrow and asked.

"You must be new to Yuanhuang City, honored guest. All immortal inns in this city have an unwritten rule: guest rooms are divided into four grades: A, B, C, and D. Grade A is only open to cultivators above the True Immortal level, so... given your cultivation level at the Great Vehicle stage, a B-class room is most suitable." The female cultivator bowed slightly with an apologetic expression.

"I see. No matter, lead the way," Han Li said with a smile.

He had little concern about lodging, as he only planned to stay temporarily for one night.

The female cultivator hesitated briefly before speaking: "Honored guest, would you not ask about the price?"

"Arrange a table of wine and food to be sent over; I'll settle the bill when I leave tomorrow," Han Li said calmly.

"Very well. Please follow me, honored guest," the female cultivator said with another bow.

With that, she led Han Li out of the back hall and along a winding corridor toward the rear courtyard.

"Since you are new here, honored guest, why not stay a few more days in Yuanhuang City? There are some places worth visiting in the city; it would be a pity if you did not tour them," the female cultivator said, walking half a step ahead of Han Li.

"Then I'll trouble you to explain," Han Li said casually.

"The earliest founding date of Yuanhuang City is unknown. Historically, it has been destroyed many times in wars between cultivators and wild beasts. The current city was rebuilt after the last war, with the support of the major top-level sects of the Northern Cold Immortal Domain," the female cultivator said as she slowly led the way.

"Have wild beasts attacked Yuanhuang City many times?" Han Li asked, intrigued.

"Yes. It is said that led by some primeval true spirits, they actively attacked Yuanhuang City. However, it has been too many years since the last large-scale war; many people have probably forgotten," the female cultivator nodded.

"So, is Yuanhuang City jointly governed by the major sects?" Han Li suddenly thought of something and asked.

"Not exactly. Yuanhuang City's location is too special. Its current administrator is the City Lord's Mansion, which is not constrained by the major sects. However, it maintains good relations with all the sects and has always remained stable and self-sufficient," the female cultivator explained.

"What about the Immortal Palace? Does it not have supervisory responsibility here?" Han Li asked further.

"The Northern Cold Immortal Palace would like to intervene, but on one hand, the major sects forbid it, and on the other, the Yuanhuang City Lord is a Golden Immortal at the peak stage, so they have the desire but lack the power. However..." The female cultivator hesitated here.

"However what?" Han Li already guessed what she wanted to say but still asked.

"It's not a secret that cannot be told... The sudden upheaval at the Candle Dragon Sect may cause changes in the situation of the Northern Cold Immortal Domain, and Yuanhuang City may not be spared from the repercussions," the female cultivator said with some worry, slowing her pace.

Upon hearing this, Han Li felt somewhat relieved.

From this, it seemed that the upheaval at the Minghan Immortal Palace had not yet spread widely across the Northern Cold Immortal Domain; at least no news had reached Yuanhuang City.