Chapter 1702: Aurora Imperial City

Now, several years had passed since the five-hundred-year agreement.

Yet, there was still no news from Li'er, Lü'er, or Bai Guang.

Thus, during these years, Ye Yuan could not focus on cultivation, waiting day after day for news of them.

However, as time went on, Ye Yuan grew increasingly restless and anxious.

In fact, decades ago, Jiang Yutang had invited Ye Yuan to the imperial capital, but because of the five-hundred-year agreement, Ye Yuan naturally declined.

Now, he was even less inclined to go.

Jiang Yutang glanced at Ye Yuan and said, “Don’t worry. Your wife and the others are blessed by heaven; they will turn misfortune into good fortune!”

Ye Yuan smiled bitterly. “Brother Jiang, even you don’t believe that, do you?”

Jiang Yutang felt a bit embarrassed and smiled sheepishly.

The Tongtian Realm was vast, and danger lurked everywhere. The few of them were not strong, and anything could happen out there.

When Li'er and the others left, Ye Yuan’s greatest fear was exactly this situation, yet it had still come to pass.

The reason he had set the five-hundred-year agreement was to prevent them from wandering too far.

Now, it seemed things had not gone as he wished!

Seeing Ye Yuan’s distress, Jiang Yutang advised, “Don’t blame yourself too much. To put it a bit arrogantly, if you want to blame someone, blame yourself for being too outstanding! Being by your side requires enduring a lot of pressure!”

Ye Yuan looked at Jiang Yutang and couldn’t help rolling his eyes.

However, Jiang Yutang spoke sincerely, not flattering him.

Even though it sounded a bit like flattery.

Over the years, Jiang Yutang had become close friends with Ye Yuan and naturally knew how astonishing Ye Yuan’s talent was.

With such an exceptional genius, ordinary people around him had to bear immense pressure.

And that was precisely the reason Li'er and the others had left.

Jiang Yutang added, “Look on the bright side. Think about it—they are out training. Maybe they’ve had some adventures or been delayed by something.”

Ye Yuan thought for a moment and nodded. “I can only think that way.”

Jiang Yutang asked, “What do you plan to do next?”

Ye Yuan said, “In a few more years, if there’s still no news of them, I plan to go to Aurora Imperial City!”

Jiang Yutang’s expression changed, and he exclaimed, “Aurora Imperial City! That’s the Jian family’s territory!”

In the Tongtian Realm, there were countless imperial cities. A secluded one like Tianying was utterly obscure.

But some imperial cities were thunderously famous, known to everyone in the entire Tongtian Realm.

Aurora Imperial City was one of them.

Its fame naturally came from being one of the Jian family’s territories.

The descendants of Profound Mechanism Heavenly Emperor were scattered throughout the Tongtian Realm, but some gathering places were the Jian family’s private domains.

Ye Yuan nodded. “Exactly! The Jian family’s art of observing qi is unparalleled in the world. I want to ask for their help. At the very least, I need to confirm Li'er and the others’ safety.”

Jiang Yutang’s face changed. “The Jian family members are all extremely arrogant. You’re only at the first level of Divine Lord. No one there will know you; who would give you face?”

Ye Yuan said, “During my last travels, I made an acquaintance from the Jian family. I’ll see if he can help. In any case, without news of them, I can’t even continue my cultivation.”

Jiang Yutang was deeply shocked. He hadn’t expected Ye Yuan to have made an acquaintance from the Jian family!

After all, because the Jian family members all mastered the art of observing qi, they only befriended people with great potential.

Ordinary people could hardly catch their eye.

Even though Jiang Yutang was a Heavenly God, if the Jian family saw he had little potential, they wouldn’t even bother to look at him.

But thinking about it, Jiang Yutang felt relieved.

Given Ye Yuan’s talent, it was only natural that the Jian family would think highly of him.

If he knew that Jian Zhentao had gone blind just from glancing at Ye Yuan, he didn’t know what he would think.

Jiang Yutang nodded. “That’s good. Aurora Imperial City is powerful. If you can befriend a Jian family member, it will benefit you immensely!”

Ye Yuan suddenly produced a large jar and said, “Brother Jiang, after I leave, I entrust the affairs of Tianying to you. Here is a jar of Hundred Flowers Celestial Wine; take it and savor it slowly.”

Jiang Yutang’s gaze sharpened, and he glared at Ye Yuan angrily. “You little rascal, you always plead poverty with me, but you’ve been hoarding so much!”

Ye Yuan laughed. “I brewed three jars in total; this is the last one. You know the spiritual herbs needed for Hundred Flowers Celestial Wine. Once it’s gone, who knows how many years it will be before you can drink it again!”

Hearing this, Jiang Yutang’s expression softened, and he sneered, “You little rascal, are you trying to bribe me with this jar of wine?”

Ye Yuan said with a grin, “So, will you accept the bribe?”

Jiang Yutang suddenly grinned, grabbed the jar, and laughed heartily. “Of course I accept! Whoever doesn’t drink such delicious wine is a fool! Go on your way. Even if you didn’t ask, would I just sit back and ignore matters in Lingnan? But with Tianying Imperial City’s current strength, there’s no need for me to intervene.”

Ye Yuan smiled. “This is my base. How can I leave with peace of mind without making proper arrangements?”

As the inspector of the ten cities in Lingnan, Jiang Yutang wielded immense power.

He could decide life and death at his whim.

But Jiang Yutang was not the type to act recklessly; otherwise, the ten cities of Lingnan would never know peace.

If Jiang Yutang wished, he could even fabricate pretexts to depose a city lord.

Thus, with Jiang Yutang around, Ye Yuan felt reassured.

As long as Jiang Yutang was willing to look after things, Tianying would have no worries.

…

“So this is Aurora Imperial City? Truly magnificent!”

More than ten years later, Ye Yuan finally stood outside the gates of Aurora Imperial City.

After waiting nearly another ten years in Tianying, Ye Yuan could wait no longer.

So he left Long Zhan to guard Tianying and brought Ning Tianping to Aurora Imperial City.

Aurora Imperial City lived up to its name; above the city, colorful clouds swirled like ribbons, a truly spectacular sight.

Both being imperial cities, Tianying compared to Aurora was like a remote backwater.

Of course, that was indeed the case.

Aurora Imperial City belonged to the domain of Huanzhen Heavenly Emperor, not the same heavenly emperor as Tianying.

The lands under Huanzhen Heavenly Emperor were clearly much richer in spiritual energy.

Compared to Tianying Imperial City, the spiritual energy in Aurora Imperial City was several times more abundant!

In contrast, Tianying truly was a remote backwater.

“Truly worthy of being the Jian family’s city. Such an aura could probably only be created by the Jian family,” Ning Tianping remarked with emotion.

Ye Yuan nodded. “The art of observing qi is indeed miraculous and unparalleled!”

Ning Tianping asked, “Sir, where should we look for Elder Jian?”

Ye Yuan said, “Last time, he mentioned a place called Profound Mechanism Pavilion. I’m completely unfamiliar with this place. Let’s enter the city first and see the situation.”

With that, the two paid the entry fee and entered Aurora Imperial City.