'Alright, back to cultivation. In about four more months, the young generation competition should start. Elder Jiang mentioned that even a Golden Core Formation cultivator will participate. Even if I can't reach that realm in time, I should advance as much as possible,' Feng Fan thought as he prepared to dive back into his training.
Just as he settled into his meditation posture, a knock echoed at his door.
"Feng Fan, since you've stopped cultivating, come out. I have something that might interest you."
The voice was unmistakable—it was Elder Duan, his master.
Feng Fan stood up and walked to the door, opening it to find Elder Duan smiling at him.
"Master, don't you think it's shameless to peek into your disciple's quarters like that?" Feng Fan asked, raising an eyebrow.
Elder Duan brushed off the comment without a hint of guilt, continuing as though nothing had happened. "I have some important matters to attend to in the capital, and I thought you might want to tag along and see the outside world. Interested?"
At the mention of the capital, Feng Fan's eyes lit up with excitement. 'The capital should have plenty of rich friends for me to befriend, right?'
But his excitement was short-lived. Remembering Elder Jiang's strict orders, he gave a wry smile.
"Master, I'd love to go, but Elder Jiang specifically told me not to leave the sect or cause any trouble. That's why I've been quietly cultivating here for the past four months…"
Elder Duan laughed heartily. "Boy, what did you do to make even the usually good-tempered Elder Jiang ground you?"
Feng Fan gave a wry smile. "Nothing! Elder Jiang is bullying me because he thinks I'm too handsome!"
Elder Duan paused, studying Feng Fan's face seriously. 'Is this considered handsome?'
Feng Fan caught the thought and rolled his eyes. 'Elder Duan clearly doesn't have good taste.'
"Alright, whatever. I'm taking you with me. What kind of trouble could you possibly cause by my side?" Elder Duan said, not realizing how soon he'd regret those words.
"Alright, Master, I'm ready to set off," said Feng Fan.
Elder Duan nodded and enveloped both of them in his spiritual qi, quickly departing from the White Crow Sect.
In about half an hour, they arrived at a grand city.
Feng Fan was utterly mesmerized by the city's size.
'Oh my god. This city must span hundreds of kilometers, right?' He thought, trying to see the city's edge, but it was impossible!
Compared to cities like Cloudveil or Blueriver, which had a more traditional Chinese style, the capital had a distinctly modern, Earth-like feel.
Many tall buildings were visible. Feng Fan wasn't sure what they were made of, but it certainly wasn't wood or cement.
Elder Duan continued flying over the city until they reached a massive castle at the center of the capital. It was the emperor's castle.
Surrounding the emperor's castle were several noble manors, stretching over dozens of kilometers.
These manors felt like a world apart from the rest of the city. Their architecture was distinct, embracing tradition, yet unlike anything else around.
The mansions were made of wood, though not the kind found in most places. Feng Fan could sense a powerful spiritual qi radiating from them.
Elder Duan stopped in front of one of them, then looked at the guards stationed at the main gate and said, "Tell your master Duan Ping from the White Crow Sect has arrived."
One of the guards nodded and quickly went inside a guardhouse.
'It seems he's activating a communication array. Interesting, it's my first time seeing one,' thought Feng Fan, observing the distinctive spiritual qi movement inside the guardhouse.
Feng Fan turned to Elder Duan and asked, "Master, who are we visiting? It looks like a noble house."
Elder Duan nodded without turning his head. "One of the emperor's wives lives here. She was married to him in an arranged marriage many years ago, and she happens to be a close friend of mine."
"If she's his wife, shouldn't she be living with him? Even if it was an arranged marriage, the emperor must have many wives. He can't be so heartless as to treat one of them badly, right?"
Elder Duan gave him a stern look. "Brat, be careful with what you say in the capital, and don't ask more than you should."
Feng Fan rolled his eyes. 'Whatever.'
The guard soon returned and addressed Elder Duan. "Mr. Duan, the lady is expecting you. You may enter."
Elder Duan enveloped Feng Fan with his spiritual qi, and they quickly arrived at the manor's door, which was located two kilometers beyond the main gate.
By the door, a young woman dressed in a maid's uniform waited with a polite smile.
"Mr. Duan, the lady is expecting you in her room. Let me guide you there," she said.
Elder Duan nodded, and they followed the maid through the mansion's corridors.
Feng Fan looked around with interest and analyzed the place.
'There are so many arrays spread across this manor. If I tried the same thing I did in Cloudveil City, it would be like signing my death sentence!' Feng Fan thought as he continued walking.
Not only would he be unable to break through so many protective arrays quickly enough, but there were also Spirit Severing realm cultivators inside the mansion, who could easily locate him with their spiritual sense through the fog.
'It seems invading a noble house is off-limits. Too bad!' Feng Fan thought with a grin.
Elder Duan, noticing Feng Fan grinning for no apparent reason, furrowed his brows. 'What is this brat thinking?'
The maid stopped in front of a door and gave a slight bow to Elder Duan.
"The lady is inside. You may enter."
Elder Duan pushed the door open and entered, with Feng Fan following closely behind.
Inside, two beautiful young women were seated across from each other, playing chess.
If this were Earth, Feng Fan would assume they were sisters with only a small age gap. However, he knew that at least one of them was an old hag, likely a few hundred years old!
Feng Fan didn't recognize either of the two women, but one of them recognized him.
She was the lady who had sat on the third floor of the Crimson Moon Banquet Hall, watching the fight between Feng Fan and the Blue Dragon Sect disciples.