Chapter 318: 圣城

Ye Fan flew north for over ten days, traversing countless mountains and rivers and untold thousands of miles, until he finally neared the Holy City of the Northern Region.

The Holy City was the absolute center of the Northern Region. On this vast, red land, it was as renowned as the Primordial Ancient Mine, revered as a sacred place by the local inhabitants.

Late autumn had arrived, and the weather was already quite cool. On the bare tree branches, a few tenacious leaves still clung on.

The oasis where the Holy City stood was incredibly vast, spanning tens of thousands of square miles. It was home to numerous settlements, making the Holy State the most peaceful compared to other regions. Even the most audacious bandits wouldn't dare raid this oasis, as major powers from all corners had forces stationed here.

The north wind rustled, breaking the dry grass, signaling that the snowy season was not far off. Many of the travelers encountered on the road were already dressed in animal hides.

The main road leading to the Holy City was wide enough for over a dozen carriages to travel abreast. Besides local residents, cultivators could occasionally be seen flying through the sky.

At this point, Ye Fan was less than six hundred *li* from the Holy City. Towering mountains and jagged cliffs rose majestically on both sides of the road, as if this bluestone thoroughfare had been carved through them by splitting peaks and cutting ravines.

When he was less than two hundred *li* from the Holy City, the number of travelers on the road noticeably increased. Many were cultivators, riding exotic beasts that galloped like wind and lightning.

Suddenly, a sound like muffled thunder approached, as dozens of riders charged forth like a surging tide.

These individuals were undeniably arrogant. They rode their beasts just a few meters above the ground, effectively flying along the main road.

The beasts roared, and a strong gust of wind swept past, tousling the hair of many on the road, who glared in indignation.

One could clearly see dragon-horse hooves and qilin-leopard claws stepping through the air just meters above their heads—a blatant sign of disrespect towards the travelers below.

The people in mid-air spurred their beasts forward, showing no regard for the feelings of those on the road. They sped towards the Holy City and vanished in a flash.

Ordinary individuals would never dare act this way, as the vast majority of those traveling to the Holy City were cultivators, and such behavior could easily cause offense.

"Are they disciples of some ancient aristocratic family? How incredibly arrogant, riding as if they're trampling over our heads!" someone on the main road complained.

"Forget it, keep your voice down," someone advised. "If they hear you and come back looking for trouble, it'll be a disaster."

"I think they might be from the Golden Family of the Northern Plains," another person speculated. "Perhaps it wasn't intentional; they might have an urgent matter."

"A descendant of a Golden Family elder offended a young lord from the Heavenly Demon Palace, and they fought a battle, with both sides suffering losses. They're likely rushing because of that incident."

Even before truly entering the Holy City, Ye Fan could sense that it was a place where influential figures converged.

This city attracted powerful figures from all corners: the imperial family from Central State, the Golden Family from the Northern Plains, powerful cultivators from Joy Ridge, and even those from the Holy Lands of the Eastern Wasteland.

Soon after, Ye Fan finally drew near the Northern Region's foremost city.

It was a true pure land. Outside the Holy City, a lush green expanse stretched for a hundred and fifty *li* in every direction, where the seasons seemed to have no effect.

Despite being late autumn, everything here was verdant. There was no hint of cold; instead, warm breezes caressed the face, the vegetation was lush, and spiritual springs gurgled forth, as if it were perpetual spring.

The spiritual energy was incredibly dense, many times richer than anywhere else. Ancient trees, hundreds of meters tall, stretched skyward like small mountains, their branches reaching for the heavens. Old vines, thick as coiled dragons, covered the cliff faces.

"It's already late autumn, so why is everything still so vibrant?" someone, echoing Ye Fan's own thoughts, asked a passerby on the road.

"The Holy City has existed since ancient times," someone replied, "and it influences the surrounding environment." Moments later, Ye Fan finally beheld the legendary Holy City, and he was profoundly awestruck.

The ancient city was immensely majestic. Its walls, continuous and winding like a sprawling ancient dragon, appeared to be cast from molten bronze, shimmering with a metallic luster.

The magnificent gate tower, a hundred meters tall, was grand and imposing. From afar, the vast ancient city exuded a suffocating sense of grandeur and pressure.

"This is the true heart of the Northern Region..." From ancient times to the present, countless legends surrounded the Holy City. Consulting various ancient texts, one would be astonished to discover just how incredibly old it truly was.

Its origins were impossible to trace; as far back as written records went, the city had never changed its location. No one knew its true age.

It was also known as the Divine City. Legend had it that countless ages ago, it floated in the sky, only descending to the earth during the Ancient Era.

This ancient city was many times larger than the capitals of great nations, incredibly majestic and grand. If one walked through it like a mortal, without flying, it would take a full day to cross.

The city's interior was exceptionally prosperous. Palaces lined the wide ancient streets, and establishments like gem-gambling houses, immortal's pavilions, pleasure palaces, Holy Lord's towers, and Demon King's chambers offered every conceivable luxury. Mortals and cultivators mingled freely here.

With constant throngs of people, half of whom were cultivators, no one dared to act recklessly in such a place. One wrong step might mean accidentally bumping into a descendant of an ancient aristocratic family.

Or, even worse, one might step directly on the foot of a Grand Elder from a Holy Land. Such incidents were not improbable, as many such powerful figures frequented the Holy City.

Ye Fan found his eyes couldn't take it all in. The ancient city was immense, with an intricate and mysterious layout. He suspected some of its palaces and towers were as ancient as the city itself.

Along the bustling main streets, vast palace complexes, with intricately carved beams and painted pillars, reminiscent of imperial residences, frequently appeared.

"What is this place?" he repeatedly asked passersby.

"That's an inn opened by the Five Elements Palace. It's quite decent."

"A whole palace as an inn... and they call it 'decent'?" Ye Fan was somewhat dumbfounded.

He hadn't walked much further when he encountered another palatial garden, with stunning scenery, majestic towers, and gleaming golden splendor.

"And what is this place?"

"That's a gem-gambling house," someone replied. "As for its size, I'd recommend you check out the gem-gambling houses run by the Holy Lands instead."

a nearby person replied.

"This kind of palatial complex is considered a *small* gem-gambling house..." Ye Fan was truly almost speechless.

Shortly after, he noticed several pavilions suspended in mid-air. They were not haphazardly placed but arranged with regularity and elegance.

"Excuse me, sir, could you tell me what this place is?" Ye Fan had no choice but to ask another person.

"First time in the Holy City, aren't you?" the elderly man by the roadside glanced at him and said, "This is a restaurant, quite a good one."

Ye Fan stroked his chin, truly at a loss for words. Everything here was the epitome of luxury.

The elderly man continued, "If you have enough sources, you can go up for a meal. They have every delicacy imaginable, and young female cultivators serve wine and play the *qin* for guests."

No one flew within the city; even cultivators strictly adhered to the city's rules. On the bustling main streets, people moved shoulder to shoulder in a constant flow.

Ye Fan paused for a moment, then finally arrived at a tranquil place. It was a Taoist temple, not grand or towering, but sprawling across a vast area.

Surrounded by lush ancient trees, the temple was nestled amidst the bustling city, yet it was much quieter than other areas, offering a profound sense of returning to one's true nature.

It was a truly special place, as if the aura of the Great Dao flowed through it. Despite many people entering and exiting, it remained utterly serene.

"Uncle, excuse me, what is this place? And why is there a Taoist temple here?" Ye Fan asked a plump middle-aged man in his forties.

"You're new here, aren't you? I can tell you just arrived in the Holy City..." It was the same line again, one he heard every time he asked for directions.

The somewhat portly middle-aged man chuckled. "This is the gem-gambling house of the Dao One Holy Land. It's quite famous, a really good place. Lately, their Saintess has been making frequent appearances and staying here. If you young men want to catch a glimpse of her beauty, don't miss this opportunity."

"Uncle, why are you smiling like that? It's a bit... lewd."

"Heh heh... you wouldn't know, but it's been quite lively here lately. Eight madmen just popped out of nowhere, claiming they'd win the Dao One Holy Land's Saintess through gem-gambling and take her away."

"Uncle, you're quite the gossip," Ye Fan remarked, glancing at the plump middle-aged man.

"These eight madmen are no ordinary folk," the man continued. "Even a Grand Elder of the Jiang Family couldn't stop them. After they pulled out a red jade token, that old fellow from the Jiang Family just turned around and left."

"What's their background?" Ye Fan asked, intrigued.

"Who knows?" the middle-aged man mumbled. "Come on, let's go inside and take a look." Ye Fan politely declined. The plump man chuckled lewdly, wiggling his large backside as he walked into the Dao One Holy Land's gem-gambling house alone.

"Someone wants to win the Saintess of a Holy Land? Trying to steal my thunder, are they?" Ye Fan muttered to himself. "But then again, it's good. The more people like them, the easier it'll be for me to fish in troubled waters in the Holy City."

Turning a corner, he was surprised to see a large lake ahead. Its waters were a deep sapphire blue, like a gigantic jewel embedded in the earth.

People thronged the lakeside, where willows swayed in the pleasant warm breeze.

On the lake, many ornate floating pavilions were moored, and the melodious sounds of string and wind instruments drifted from them. Ye Fan noticed that most of the people on the shore were young.

As he gazed intently, he was even more surprised: in the depths of the large lake, amidst swirling clouds in the sky, there were many floating grand ships, along with palaces and pavilions.

"What *is* this place?" Ye Fan wondered.

This time, no one told him he was new; instead, he was met with disdain.

"You're already here, yet you're still pretending to be an innocent youth?"

"Brother, I genuinely don't know what this place is. Could you tell me?" Ye Fan asked humbly.

Amidst the flowing crowd and rows of willows by the lake, the man glanced at him. "The famous Miaoyu House of the Holy City, and you don't know it?"

"What is the Miaoyu House? This is my first time in the Holy City," Ye Fan replied.

"Naturally, it's one of the Holy City's Ten Great Pleasure Quarters," the man explained. "Recently, the successor of the Miaoyu House is about to emerge, and I suspect some Holy Sons and heirs from ancient aristocratic families have secretly made their way here. And you, on your first visit to the Holy City, came straight here..."

"I'd certainly be interested in seeing it, but I truly didn't know about it before."

The man gave him another look. "It only gets lively here at night. The place will be brightly lit, the immortal lake sparkling, and jade palaces and towers will appear in the sky, with jade ships traversing it. When the Miaoyu House's most outstanding successor makes her appearance, some Holy Sons and young scions of ancient aristocratic families might secretly visit."

"Is the Miaoyu House that famous?" Ye Fan asked, surprised.

"The Miaoyu House has an ancient heritage and immense power. Its reputation is naturally enormous, hardly weaker than a Holy Land."

The Holy City had Ten Great Pleasure Quarters, and the Miaoyu House, regardless of its foundation and strength, could rank among the top three based solely on its offerings of pleasure.

It was said that many of their past Madams, in their youth, had complicated relationships with various Holy Sons, some of whom later became Holy Lords.