Danzhou, Cang Mang City.

There's not much difference between the city of the cultivation realm and that of the mortal world, except that Cang Mang City is extraordinarily large.

If placed in the Yangnao Land, the entire city would be comparable to the size of a county.

Even so, Cang Mang City is just a small city near the Qishan Range in Danzhou.

The Tuoba Clan, which controls the entire Cang Mang City, has several direct lineage members who have joined various Immortal Sects of Qishan. Additionally, it's said that the Tuoba Clan has a Late Stage of Fetal Breathing ancestor whose lifespan is nearing its end, stationed at Cang Mang City.

Cang Mang City, Qingyu Square.

The broad road leads straight to the city gate, bustling with people, and the streets were filled with incessant cries of vendors.

A disheveled figure, filthy and shabby, staggered through the crowd, causing passersby to cover their noses and dodge aside.

This person wore a tattered moon-white long robe, stained with dirt, with a slightly hunched back carrying a book basket.

After a few steps forward, the figure seemed to catch a scent of something, slowly turning his head towards a distant, steaming bun shop.

"Gulp!"

Staring at the steaming buns, Shen Wenyan swallowed a mouthful of saliva and staggered to the front of the bun shop.

"Customer, do you want..."

The bun shop owner, busy with his head down, felt someone approach and initially wanted to greet warmly, but upon seeing Shen Wenyan's beggar-like appearance, waved dismissively in distaste:

"Shoo! Shoo!"

"This is no charity hall!"

A trace of embarrassment flashed across Shen Wenyan's face as he cupped his hands slightly and said, "How much are these buns, shopkeeper?"

"Two Cang Pearls for one, are you buying?"

Faced with the suspicious gaze of the bun shop owner, Shen Wenyan felt a bit awkward.

He didn't even know what Cang Pearls were and naturally couldn't afford to buy any.

"Tch~"

Seeing this, the bun shop owner waved his hand disdainfully and no longer paid attention to him, continuing to attend to the buns in the steamer.

"Shopkeeper, I have some books here. Could I exchange them for two buns?"

Shen Wenyan hurriedly said, fumbling through his book basket for a few booklets.

"A cultivation technique?"

The bun shop owner's attitude immediately softened upon hearing this, smiling as he came forward from behind the steamer.

"Not a cultivation technique, just a couple of ordinary booklets I wrote myself."

Hearing this, the bun shop owner's face instantly hardened, tossing the booklets away with a flick of his hand.

"Too rough even to wipe with, what's the use!?"

"Shoo, shoo, hurry up and leave, don't hold up my business!"

Shen Wenyan's face darkened slightly, and the Literary Qi within him stirred for a moment before he quickly suppressed it.

This is a city in the cultivation realm, acting rashly was unwise.

His eyes turned a little dark as he stooped to the fallen booklets, reaching out to pick them up, only to see a pair of snow-white silver-threaded slippers appear before him.

Immediately, a delicate hand reached out, picking up the fallen booklets.

Shen Wenyan rose.

He saw before him a young woman in a moon-white long dress, holding a long sword, face covered by a white veil, curiously flipping through his booklets.

"Your writing is quite peculiar, unlike the style circulated in Danzhou."

A clear, melodious voice sounded, and the young woman looked at him with curiosity, "Can you tell me what these books are about?"

Shen Wenyan cupped his hands and replied, "Just some mysterious stories."

The young woman's eyes brightened, seemingly very interested.

She glanced at the bun shop beside them, and with a flash of light, she produced three pearl-like items, tossing them onto the counter.

"Give him four buns and a serving of soup."

The bun shop owner seemed to recognize the young woman, showing a respectful but somewhat obsequious hand gesture as he said:

"My lady, this..."

The young woman waved her hand and turned to Shen Wenyan, saying, "I'm treating you to food, in exchange, you can tell me what stories are in these books. Fair trade, right?"

Shen Wenyan quickly cupped his hands, "Thank you, miss."

...

In front of the bustling bun shop, the young woman rested her cheek on her hand, listening intently.

Shen Wenyan wiped his mouth and burped before rising to cup his hands, "Miss, the story is finished."

The young woman snapped back from her daze, carefully observing him, "You're not from Danzhou, are you?"

Shen Wenyan's eyes flitted evasively, and he slightly cupped his hands, saying, "I am indeed from Danzhou; I just grew up in a Barbaric Village, and this is my first time in Cang Mang City."

"Then how did you come by these stories?"

"Such stories, as if personally experienced."

Shen Wenyan cupped his hands again, "I dare not deceive the miss, I've been discontent with mediocrity since childhood, deeply enamored with Seeking Immortality and Inquiry."

"I had once heard the celestial music of Tingqin Peak of Qishan and seen the sunset over Fallen Immortal Lake. After trekking for several years, I finally arrived in Cang Mang City."

The young woman was initially a bit skeptical, but upon hearing "Tingqin Peak" and "Fallen Immortal Lake," two renowned Danzhou spectacles, she thought no more of it.

"I see no spiritual power fluctuations on you, a mere mortal, able to visit Tingqin Peak and Fallen Immortal Lake and survive to reach Cang Mang City, truly strange."

Shen Wenyan gave a self-deprecating smile, "Perhaps I've just been lucky."

The young woman didn't press further, rising to hand back the booklets, "Thank you for your story; it was truly fascinating."

"However, it's time for you to leave."

Shen Wenyan was organizing his booklets and paused upon hearing this.

The young woman smiled lightly, "I forgot to introduce myself, I'm Tang Qingyue, the Patrol Rank Envoy of Qingyu Square in Cang Mang City."

"Recently, with outbreaks of demon troubles, Cang Mang City has imposed a curfew. After sunset, no one is allowed in the streets, or they'll be executed."

"Since you can't even afford a meal, you probably don't have the Cang Pearls to stay in an inn, do you?"

Shen Wenyan froze, and before he could say anything, Tang Qingyue continued, "Let's go, I'll personally escort you out of the city, lest you get caught and implicate me."

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