Chapter 193: Dayu Capital, Returns to the Rolling Cloud Tower

Although the City God Temple was built outside the city, it was not far from the capital.

With Chen Shicheng's pace, after less than two minutes of walking, he saw a massive city wall on the distant horizon.

Indeed.

It was on the horizon.

In the Earth Immortal Realm, the walls of ordinary county towns already resemble those of ancient real‑world capitals, but the capital itself was breathtaking—almost as if it touched the heavens and the earth; even thousands of meters away from the wall, it was already shrouded in shadow.

At first glance at the wall, Chen Shicheng thought it was Maria's Wall.

Of course, compared with that wall that could not stop a giant's attack, the capital's wall—cast in metal and etched with intermittently flashing glimmering runes—was as impregnable as a fortress.

Don't even mention a colossal giant; even an Ultraman would end up with a smashed head and blood gushing.

Some locals from the capital hitched a ride in the caravan, and they said the wall was integrated with a formation; when it was built, its defense targeted cultivators at the pinnacle of ascension to the Immortal Realm.

On the day it was completed, there was no celestial phenomenon of golden lotuses raining down, but a cultivator who had ascended to the Immortal Realm and was venerated by the royal family launched the strongest assault; although the wall's formation was not breached, the impact was as shocking as a celestial event.

Amid the bragging of the capital's locals, Chen Shicheng had already arrived beneath the city gate.

He deliberately chose the busiest city gate; although the pace of entering the city was greatly slowed, the heavy traffic made the inspection rather cursory, and he slipped in with ease.

Of course, 'cursory' is relative—the bronze mirror hanging on the gate was the main checkpoint, and any wanted criminal or demonic beast could not evade it.

If not for his ever‑changing disguises, he would likely have been discovered, since he had once been on a wanted list that had not yet been rescinded.

Walking more than a hundred meters through the deep gate and past a massive barbican, Chen Shicheng's view suddenly brightened as he reached a wide bustling avenue.

It was a huge bluestone‑paved street, stretching straight to the farthest point of sight, beyond which his eyes could not discern.

The sun had not yet set, but because of the wall's shadow, lanterns were already lit inside the city.

Moreover, these lanterns were no ordinary items; a single one could illuminate a vast area with a gentle glow, far surpassing modern light pollution without being glaring.

All kinds of shops lined both sides of the street; Chen Shicheng glanced and saw that shops selling cultivator supplies outnumbered ordinary stores, and besides cultivator‑clad customers, many ordinary people came and went purchasing goods.

The nearest shop was an Elixir vendor, where a blue‑clad attendant shouted at the entrance, "Today's special: Healing Elixir that cures all ailments; get it quickly if you wish to buy."

Chen Shicheng peered inside through the doorway; the shop's interior was grand and aesthetically arranged, with countless vials neatly placed on shelves, each indicating the Elixir's purpose.

Directly opposite the doorway stood a counter overseen by cultivators, displaying a soft jade vial labeled "Bone‑cleansing Elixir," which could increase the spiritual Attribute of cultivators below the Golden Core Stage; more than a dozen people were standing at the counter, continuously bidding.

Pedestrians who entered the city together with Chen Shicheng would vigorously inhale two breaths of the drifting medicinal fragrance when passing the Elixir shop, as if it could prolong their lives.

Chen Shicheng, of course, did not join the crowd, since he would probably never need to purchase an Attribute‑enhancing Elixir in his lifetime.

Nevertheless, it must be said that this truly is the capital of the Earth Immortal Realm; Attribute‑enhancing Elixirs outside would cause frantic competition, yet here they are openly auctioned, even ordinary people can bid. It makes sense, though, since this is the heart of the Dayu Dynasty, arguably the most prosperous place in the Earth Immortal Realm—without some cultural foundation one could not survive here.

Walking further down the street, one could see other cultivator shops selling artifact‑grade weapons, artifact‑grade attire, talismans, and skill jade tablets—truly everything one could imagine.

If it were before, Chen Shicheng would indeed like to leisurely explore this city that epitomizes the pinnacle of cultivation civilization, but the current situation does not permit it.

As the formation‑breaking time approached, some players had already infiltrated the capital and were being pursued by righteous cultivators.

Not far ahead at a street corner, a patrol squad of righteous cultivators weaved through the crowd, heading straight toward him.

Chen Shicheng quickly turned to a nearby stall, lowered his head to pick a clay figurine; he was currently concealed by ever‑changing disguises, his clothes ordinary, making him inconspicuous in the bustling surroundings.

The cultivator patrol indeed did not notice him, passing by without a glance and sprinting toward another alley, presumably chasing an unlucky player who had been discovered.

Chen Shicheng had no intention of breaking the encirclement; after the cultivators ran off, he mentally selected a familiar spot and, guided by his compass, headed east of the city.

After a dozen minutes, a massive complex appeared before him, with a huge plaque hanging over the main gate, carved with three large characters.

"Rolling Cloud Tower!"

Indeed.

After arriving in the capital, Chen Shicheng chose his familiar foothold: a nationwide chain of large brothels.

Of course he was not some mind‑less fool; upon reaching the bustling area, he was eager to enjoy a gentle paradise.

Rather, before seeking a foothold, he used his compass to pinpoint the location of the formation's core; coincidentally, the altar that served as the core lay not far from Rolling Cloud Tower.

This is not a modern metropolis; all the buildings are sky‑piercing skyscrapers.

This is the capital of a feudal dynasty; even in the cultivation world, it follows certain unique regulations, such as prohibitions on exceeding building height limits.

Thus most houses are one‑ or two‑story small structures; occasional four‑ or five‑story buildings are as rare as a crane among chickens, and Rolling Cloud Tower is a special case among them.

The formation's core altar that spans the nation is an even rarer exception, its height surpassing Rolling Cloud Tower by a great margin.

Moreover, the distance between them is not far, so under these circumstances, Rolling Cloud Tower is the best place to observe the altar.

Visiting a brothel, Chen Shicheng was not a professional, but he had some experience; after tossing a gold coin, he was quickly treated as a VIP and escorted by a young attendant to the topmost suite.

Upon entering, he dismissed the maids inside, stood at the window, and had an unobstructed view of the nearby altar.

(End of chapter)