Leaving the inn, they were immediately met with a cacophony of voices, the crowd surging in one direction.
Zhang Ergou and Liu Yaxuan followed Li Zhan closely, step by step.
There were too many people on the street, so their progress was slow.
After about an hour, the three finally arrived near the plaza Li Zhan had mentioned.
Over the past ten days, Zhang Ergou and Liu Yaxuan had not ventured out.
They had stayed in their inn rooms, meditating and cultivating.
Consequently, the entire city was still unfamiliar to them.
Fortunately, their accommodation was not far from the plaza, and Li Zhan was familiar with the area.
Zhang Ergou and Liu Yaxuan did not spend much time on navigation.
Upon reaching the plaza, they were even more stunned by the crowd before them.
Looking up, the crowd stretched as far as the eye could see.
A vast expanse of figures of all colors.
Only then did Zhang Ergou truly understand the grand occasion of the Tree Eye City's festival that Li Zhan had spoken of.
This was the day before the festival officially began, and there were already so many people.
He wondered how many would come tomorrow. Su Dan Fiction Network.
Zhang Ergou, Liu Yaxuan, and Li Zhan wandered aimlessly.
Or rather, they were pushed forward by the crowd.
Within the throng, Zhang Ergou could feel several faint yet powerful auras.
Clearly, the festival had attracted a considerable number of cultivators.
"Brother Li, will all the cultivators attending the festival come to the plaza tonight?"
Zhang Ergou seemed to recall something.
"Of course not. The disciples of major sects or prominent families will have exclusive seating, unlike us, disciples of obscure families."
"Those swarming the streets now, trying to secure a good spot for tomorrow, are merely from lesser families and sects, or perhaps some rogue cultivators,"
Li Zhan shook his head and explained in a low voice to Zhang Ergou.
Zhang Ergou understood.
Although this place was some distance from the Liuhai Sect and the Misty Sect, as two of the foremost sects on the Yin Province Continent,
they would likely receive an invitation from Tree Eye City.
He wondered who the Misty Sect and the Liuhai Sect would send.
As they walked, stopping and starting, Zhang Ergou gained a better understanding of Tree Eye City through Li Zhan's introductions.
The city was said to have been founded thousands of years ago.
Legend had it that the first City Lord was a powerful cultivator at the Nascent Soul stage.
It was his presence that made Tree Eye City renowned across the entire Yin Province Continent.
Furthermore, Tree Eye City was rumored to possess a secret technique.
It could enable cultivators at the Golden Core peak to break through to the Nascent Soul stage within ten years.
This was one of the reasons why many yearned to visit Tree Eye City.
However, due to the natural formations and the formidable City Lord of Tree Eye City,
any unruly individuals were secretly eliminated.
It was rumored that the current City Lord had only one daughter, and thus, using the Tree Eye City festival as an opportunity, he sought a suitable husband for her.
Moreover, the cultivator who became the City Lord's son-in-law had the chance to receive the blessing of Tree Eye City's secret technique,
allowing them to break through to the Nascent Soul stage within ten years.
This attracted many cultivators.
However, Zhang Ergou showed little reaction upon hearing this news.
Putting aside the fact that he had already reached the Nascent Soul stage, even if he hadn't, he didn't believe the City Lord of Tree Eye City would be so magnanimous.
As the saying goes, one should not harbor ill intentions, but one must guard against them.
A City Lord, Zhang Ergou mused, surely had his own agenda.
And this City Lord, using the breakthrough to Nascent Soul as bait, likely harbored a greater conspiracy.
However, these were merely Zhang Ergou's speculations. The truth of the matter remained to be seen.
The entire night, Zhang Ergou, Liu Yaxuan, and Li Zhan were swept along by the crowd.
Zhang Ergou even considered retreating to the inn to cultivate.
Nothing particularly noteworthy happened that night, but the influx of people continued to grow.
...
As the eastern sky turned to a pale, milky white, a cheer erupted from the plaza.
A figure appeared in the sky above.
"Look quickly, that's Mu Chen, the City Lord of Tree Eye City, though it's likely just a clone of him,"
Li Zhan quickly pulled Zhang Ergou's attention towards the figure.
"Mu Chen?"
Zhang Ergou carefully observed the legendary City Lord who had suddenly appeared.
Mu Chen was clad in a blue robe, appearing as a middle-aged man with a handsome countenance. He clearly must have been a dashing young man in his youth.
However, Zhang Ergou was not focused on his appearance.
It was said that this City Lord possessed a cultivation base at the Out of Body stage.
This was an entire major realm higher than Nascent Soul.
After breaking through to Nascent Soul, Zhang Ergou had thought he had entered the ranks of the elite.
Yet, how long had it been since he came out, and he had already encountered so many formidable beings with unfathomable cultivation.
The cultivation of the City Lord before him was reportedly at the late Out of Body stage,
and possibly even higher.
Only now did Zhang Ergou realize that the vast Yin Province Continent was teeming with hidden talents.
It was far from what he had previously understood.
He had confined his perspective to the small confines of the Misty Sect.
Now, he saw that choosing to venture out for this trial had indeed greatly broadened his horizons.
While Zhang Ergou was observing the City Lord,
Mu Chen swept his gaze over all the cultivators present.
However, as his gaze passed over Zhang Ergou, he paused slightly,
then continued without further notice.
"Distinguished guests, you are all welcome to visit my Tree Eye City."
Mu Chen's voice resonated, and the boisterous scene instantly fell silent.
The cultivators all looked up at the City Lord standing in the sky with expressions of reverence.
As the City Lord, Mu Chen bore more resemblance to a scholar.
Yet, people did not overlook his powerful cultivation due to his appearance.
"Today is a joyous occasion for Tree Eye City. Your presence here is the greatest affirmation of Tree Eye City, for which Mu owes his deepest gratitude."
His words were met with a round of cheers.
Following this, figures from the sky arrived in response, and several more individuals appeared.
"The Sect Master of the Carefree Sect, along with his disciples, has come to congratulate Tree Eye City on its festival."
Immediately, several individuals from the City Lord's mansion of Tree Eye City went out to greet them.
The atmosphere became incredibly lively.
Guests arrived in an endless stream.
Zhang Ergou, participating in such a grand occasion for the first time, was also captivated by the spectacle.
He and Li Zhan found a good vantage point.
and began to watch the processions of various sects coming to offer their congratulations.
Clearly, those welcomed by the City Lord's mansion of Tree Eye City were not minor powers.
These major powers also brought valuable gifts to offer their congratulations.
Zhang Ergou secretly clicked his tongue, truly a good way to make money.
"Elder Li Kongcai of the Liuhai Sect, and Acting Sect Master Yuan Yue, have come to congratulate Tree Eye City on this joyous day."
As Zhang Ergou was watching, a voice reached his ears.
How could it be them?
Zhang Ergou was truly perplexed. These two were truly persistent.
Wherever he went, they seemed to follow.