Chapter 99: A Feather Cannot Be Added, a Fly Cannot Land

Chapter 99: Chapter 99: A Feather Cannot Be Added, a Fly Cannot Land

A few miles from the gates of Celestial State Prefecture City, the merchant caravan halted at a fork in the road. After a brief discussion, Chen Yue and his three companions decided that although they hadn’t interacted with the caravan along the way, they ultimately owed their safe arrival to them. It was only right to go and express their gratitude.

The four of them drove their carriage forward, pulling up beside the caravan, which had stopped to rest.

Hearing the sound, Qiu Jin turned around. Seeing it was Chen Yue’s group, a warm smile spread across his face; the wariness and coldness he had shown at the very beginning were long gone.

Chen Yue stepped forward and clasped his hands in salute to Qiu Jin. "We apologize for any trouble along the way. Now that we’ve finally reached Celestial State Prefecture, we’ve come to express our thanks."

Qiu Jin returned the salute and smiled. "You’re too kind, Young Hero. It was no trouble at all. A safe and uneventful journey is the best one could hope for."

He spoke with sincerity. Throughout the ten-plus days they had traveled together, Chen Yue’s group had kept to themselves and done nothing suspicious, proving they were not troublemakers.

One could say that a faint bond of goodwill had formed between the two parties.

However, Qiu Jin knew in his heart that even if time were to turn back and he had to choose again, he would still refuse to let strangers of unknown origin join his caravan.

Caution was the number one rule for a merchant to stay alive, especially in these turbulent times.

This was a point they both understood tacitly, without needing to be said.

The two parties exchanged a few more pleasantries before clasping hands and parting ways.

The caravan slowly started moving, heading toward a separate route designated for large merchant groups. Meanwhile, Chen Yue and his companions drove their carriage into the stream of people and vehicles flowing toward the main city gate.

Watching the caravan recede into the distance, Shen Dujiang turned back to Chen Yue and said, "Chen Yue, now that we’ve reached Celestial State Prefecture, what’s our plan? Should we find a place to stay right away, or should we gather some information first?"

Hu Shaoyu also slowed the carriage, and Lin Quan poked his head out from the cabin. All three of them fixed their gazes on Chen Yue.

In this great State Capital, a melting pot of all kinds of people, Chen Yue’s strength was their greatest support and backbone. Naturally, they hoped to continue following him and find a stable future.

Chen Yue pondered for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the towering city walls that grew ever closer, and slowly said:

"Let’s not rush to make long-term plans. First, we’ll find an inn to settle into, get cleaned up, and rest.

Then, Boss Shen, Hu, you two can go and inquire about the current lay of the land in Celestial State Prefecture, find out where we can rent a house, and see if there are any suitable factions we could join.

As newcomers without any connections, everything will be inconvenient. If we can find a reliable faction for protection, it will be much easier to settle down, make a living, and acquire resources."

Hearing this, Hu Shaoyu nodded repeatedly, a look of deep agreement on his face:

"Chen, you’ve thought of everything. In a prosperous place like Celestial State Prefecture, the factions are deeply entrenched and complex. The waters here run much, much deeper than in Youlin County.

Every trade has its backer. Without connections, even trying to rent a shop to run a small business could get you eaten alive. We should find a patron first. Even if we have to pay a regular fee, it will save us countless troubles."

Shen Dujiang also nodded in agreement. "That’s right. As newcomers, we must first understand the rules before we can think about growing."

With the plan settled, the carriage finally moved with the flow of traffic, slowly arriving before the tall gates of Celestial State Prefecture.

Only by looking up at it from up close could one truly feel the grandeur and magnificence of this massive State Capital city.

The city walls were built from enormous, grayish-blue stone blocks, fitted together seamlessly. Weathered by the ages, their surface had taken on a dark, somber hue, which only made them seem more imposing and indestructible.

The gate tunnel was deep and wide enough for several carriages to pass through side-by-side. Above it, the two words "Celestial State" were engraved in ancient seal script, their powerful strokes radiating a subtle air of majesty.

Atop the gatehouse, numerous watchtowers stood tall, and banners fluttered in the wind. Armored soldiers, halberds in hand, stood guard, their gazes as sharp as lightning as they looked down upon the endless stream of people below.

And this grandeur was not merely in its form, but in its very presence.

A vast and majestic, intangible aura—a mixture of the Dynasty’s law and the weight of countless ages—enveloped the entire city as if it were a physical presence.

Chen Yue, having begun to condense his Power of Heart and Spirit, was particularly sensitive to this kind of presence.

Standing beneath the city wall, he felt as insignificant as a drop in the ocean. The formless pressure caused his Qi and Blood Circulation to stagnate ever so slightly. It also felt as if he were standing beside a great furnace, making it difficult for any ordinary sinister or cold energies to approach.

’Malevolent spirits and Ghostly Objects like the ones that appeared in Youlin County probably couldn’t even get close to these walls before being scattered by this brilliant, overwhelming presence,’ Chen Yue thought to himself.

They queued up for the inspection to enter the city. The line was long but orderly, and while the guards’ checks were strict, they weren’t trying to make things difficult.

When it was their turn, a guard gave a simple check of the travel permits Shen Dujiang had prepared and glanced over the carriage.

Just as Chen Yue thought they would pass without issue, the Little Pill Furnace, which he kept close to his body, suddenly trembled almost imperceptibly, as if it had been scanned by some invisible force.

In the next instant, Chen Yue keenly sensed that an old soldier at the gate, who had been standing with his eyes half-closed, suddenly lifted his gaze and shot a glance sharp as lightning in his direction.

But the old soldier didn’t stop them, merely shaking his head slightly at the young guard beside him.

’Did he sense the Pill Furnace’s cold, sinister aura?’ Chen Yue’s heart stirred, but his expression remained impassive.

It seemed the gate inspection at Celestial State Prefecture could detect hidden, extraordinary items. The guard hadn’t made a fuss, perhaps because Chen Yue himself carried no malevolent aura, and the Pill Furnace’s refinement by his Qi Blood was nearly complete.

The four of them passed the inspection smoothly, and the carriage drove into the deep, magnificent gate tunnel.

After passing through the gate, the bustling prosperity of Celestial State Prefecture unfolded before them like a painted scroll, far surpassing any of the small towns they had passed through before.

A wide, flat, bluestone main street, broad enough for several carriages to travel side-by-side, stretched straight ahead as far as the eye could see.

The street was lined with shops and multi-story buildings.

Silk shops, restaurants, teahouses, silversmiths, apothecaries, martial arts halls, and carriage services—every kind of business imaginable was present, and on a scale and with a grandeur far exceeding anything they had seen before.

The streets were crowded with pedestrians rubbing shoulders: nobles in fine silks, laborers in simple tunics and straw sandals, Martial Artists carrying sabers and swords, and scholars waving fans.

The clamor of voices, the rumble of carriages, and the shouts of street vendors merged into a torrent of sound, filled with a raw, vibrant energy and the unmistakable atmosphere of a metropolis.

The air was a complex and lively mix of smells: food, spices, cosmetics, and the faint fragrance of flowers drifting from an unknown source.

Hu Shaoyu, driving with practiced ease, steered the carriage off the main road. After navigating a web of crisscrossing side streets for a while, he finally stopped on a relatively quiet lane that still had plenty of inns and taverns, choosing one called Yuelai Inn.

The inn was not cheap; a single ordinary room for one day cost almost twice as much as a comparable inn in Youlin County.

As he paid, Hu Shaoyu explained to a slightly frowning Lin Quan:

"Master Lin, this is the normal market price. It’s not easy to make a living in Celestial State Prefecture. Other inns are about the same price, and those in better locations are even more expensive. Since we’re new here, let’s settle in for now. It won’t be too late to look for suitable long-term lodging once we get the lay of the land."

After stowing their luggage and stabling the horses, the four of them did not rest immediately.

After more than ten days of rough travel, constantly on edge, their Heart Spirits had remained tense, even though there had been no major incidents other than the night with the Red and White Fiends.

Now, finally stepping into the safe and prosperous State Capital and finding themselves in a bustling inn, a powerful sense of relief washed over them.

The four of them specially ordered a table of hearty, if not extravagant, food from the inn, along with a pot of local rice wine.

As the steaming dishes arrived and they began to eat and drink, even Chen Yue’s perpetually calm Heart Spirit felt a long-lost sense of peace and relaxation.

The warm food filled their stomachs, chasing away the chill and fatigue of the wilderness.

Lin Quan, in particular, relaxed completely. A genuine smile, unseen for days, appeared on his face. He even had a couple of extra drinks and became more talkative.

For an Alchemy Master like him with no Martial Arts, the past ten-plus days of travel had been an immense ordeal, both physically and mentally. Now that he had finally reached the safety of Celestial State Prefecture and could catch his breath, his heart was filled with relief.

After the meal, Shen Dujiang and Hu Shaoyu rested for a short while before heading out together as planned to gather information about Celestial State Prefecture. Chen Yue and the slightly tipsy Lin Quan returned to their respective rooms.

He closed the door, shutting out the noise from outside.

Chen Yue did not lie down immediately. Instead, he sat cross-legged on the bed and habitually sank his Heart Spirit, turning his focus inward to inspect his body.

Despite more than ten days of continuous travel, his Cultivation had not been interrupted for a single day.

His Cultivation level had risen rapidly under the combined effects of the Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill and the Dan Yang Pill, and the experience bar for the Bone Forging realm was steadily advancing.

What caught Chen Yue’s attention even more, however, were his three nascent Talents.

[Talent: Immune to Hundred Poisons (87/100)]. In another thirteen days, it would be fully formed.

At that time, his resistance to poisons would greatly increase, and ordinary toxins would be unable to harm him in the slightest.

[Talent: Copper Skin Iron Bones (158/221)]. Tempered daily by both a Bone-Enhancing Pill and a Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill, the formation of this Talent was already more than halfway complete.

In about another month, it should be fully formed.

Compared to a "soft" ability like Immune to Hundred Poisons, which was geared toward special situations, the complete formation of the Copper Skin Iron Bones Talent would bring about a massive, all-around transformation of his power.

Stronger defense, more formidable strength, and tougher sinews and bones—the boost to his combat effectiveness would be immediate and obvious.

[Talent: Strengthening and Healing (63/265)]. This Talent still required a lot more experience.

It was still a long way from being fully formed, but its effects of stabilizing his Origin and accelerating recovery were already beginning to manifest slightly.

Furthermore, the growth limit of this Talent also benefited from the Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill.

For every Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill he consumed, the maximum experience required for Strengthening and Healing would decrease by 1 point, just like the Copper Skin Iron Bones Talent.

In terms of Cultivation Techniques, his Great Vajra Palm had advanced from Minor Success to the Great Success realm (2373/6019). His Palm Force had grown heavier and more profound, and a hint of fluidity was starting to emerge from within its ferocity.

The Heart Nourishing Technique had also progressed from Minor Success to Great Success (1485/6000), significantly strengthening his Power of Heart and Spirit and sharpening his perception.

Now, his Heart Spirit could automatically capture and distinguish many subtle disturbances and changes in aura without him needing to consciously focus on sensing them. This almost instinctual early warning system was especially crucial in complex environments.

He was developing a sensitivity so acute that it felt as if not a feather could be added to his body, nor a fly could land on him, without his knowing.

Then there was the exceptionally perilous Celestial Demon Dissolution. Through Chen Yue’s cautious study, it too had quietly reached Minor Success (535/3356).

This meant that if he ever faced a truly desperate situation with no other way out, this Secret Technique could already unleash a portion of its power. Although the price was still terrifying, he at least had the capital for a life-or-death struggle.

Of course, unless it was a matter of life and death, Chen Yue would never dare to use it lightly.