286: On the Tianjiao Tower, the first signs of impending storms were heard.

Inside the Qiantian Divine Capital.

Completely different from the solemn and majestic atmosphere outside the city, the interior was a scene of extreme prosperity and bustle.

The streets, wide enough to accommodate a hundred beast carriages side by side, were paved with an unknown type of azure jade stone, and crowded with people shoulder to shoulder.

On both sides of the street were magnificent buildings and ornate structures with carved beams and painted pillars; every building looked like a fine work of art, with Spiritual Light flowing over them, clearly indicating they were protected by extraordinary Formations.

In the sky, Cultivators riding exotic beasts or magnificent flying carriages occasionally whistled past. Most of them were richly dressed and possessed powerful auras, clearly being direct descendants of major Noble Families.

Shen Yuanmo slowly walked along the street, his Divine Sense, comparable to the Nascent Soul Initial Stage, silently spread out, instantly taking in the sights of the surrounding hundreds of miles.

Soon, in the most prosperous central area of the Divine Capital, he found a ninety-nine-story pagoda that pierced the clouds and stood out from the crowd.

The entire pagoda was forged from a rare Star Essence Gold, shimmering with brilliant starlight under the sun. The tower body was inscribed with dense Spirit Gathering Runes, wildly absorbing the Spiritual Qi between heaven and earth.

At the top of the pagoda, on a plaque carved from ancient divine wood, three large characters were written in a flourishing script.

Tianjiao Tower!

This was the most famous gathering place for Cultivators in the entire Divine Capital, and even the entire Great Qian Immortal Dynasty.

It is said that this tower was personally overseen and constructed by the Imperial Family of the Immortal Dynasty specifically to host the Prodigies and Prodigies from all directions who came to the Divine Capital to participate in the "Heaven-Reaching Secret Realm."

Those who could stay in this tower were all young talents famous throughout their respective regions.

Shen Yuanmo did not hesitate and walked straight toward the Tianjiao Tower.

As soon as he stepped into the main hall, an aura of extreme luxury rushed toward him.

The floor was paved with Ten-Thousand-Year Warm Jade, the walls were inlaid with fist-sized Luminous Pearls, and the pillars of the hall were carved from a single piece of Thousand-Year Lightning Wood, flashing with electric light and emitting a powerful masculine Qi that suppressed evil and drove out demons.

Inside the main hall, many young Cultivators sat in small groups. Each of them had a powerful aura and an arrogant expression, clearly indicating they were not ordinary people.

A waiter wearing a uniform robe, whose cultivation level was surprisingly at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage, showed a faint, almost imperceptible trace of surprise when he saw Shen Yuanmo enter.

Because Shen Yuanmo looked too ordinary.

He wore ordinary azure cloth clothes, and there was not the slightest fluctuation of magical power on his body, making him look like a Mortal who had wandered in by mistake.

But since he was a waiter at the Tianjiao Tower, he was experienced and knowledgeable, knowing that some people liked to pretend to be a pig to eat the tiger, so his professional smile did not change.

"Young Master, are you here to stay or to dine?"

Shen Yuanmo scanned the main hall, then spoke calmly, "The best room."

As soon as he said this, the waiter's smile froze slightly.

Several young Cultivators who were sipping tea nearby also simultaneously cast mocking glances at him.

"The best room? Kid, do you even know where this is?"

"Heh heh, another country bumpkin from the countryside, thinking that having a few Spirit Stones means he can act like a big shot in the Divine Capital?"

A trace of contempt flashed in the waiter's eyes, but he maintained his professionalism and patiently explained, "Young Master, the higher you go in our Tianjiao Tower, the richer the Spiritual Qi becomes, and the higher the price."

"The best room is the 'Star Gazing Pavilion' located on the ninety-ninth floor. it forms its own small world, where the concentration of Spiritual Qi is comparable to a Fifth-rank Spiritual Vein, and you can overlook half the Divine Capital's night view."

Speaking up to this point, he changed his tone, carrying a hint of imperceptible arrogance.

"However, the price for the Star Gazing Pavilion is one thousand Top-Grade Spirit Stones per day."

One day, one thousand Top-Grade Spirit Stones!

As soon as this figure was stated, a collective gasp echoed throughout the main hall.

What kind of concept was one thousand Top-Grade Spirit Stones?

That was enough to buy all the assets of a Sixth-rank Noble Family in Southern Xinjiang!

Even the direct descendants from Fourth-rank or Fifth-rank Noble Families in Central State absolutely could not afford such a luxurious room.

After the waiter finished speaking, he watched Shen Yuanmo with composure, already prepared to enjoy the expression of shock, awkwardness, and shame on the other party's face upon hearing this astronomical figure.

However, he was disappointed.

There was not the slightest ripple of emotion on Shen Yuanmo's face.

He didn't even frown. He simply took out an ordinary-looking gray Storage Pouch from his bosom and gently tossed it onto the counter in front of him.

"Dong."

The Storage Pouch was not large, but when it landed on the jade counter, it made a dull sound.

"Here is thirty thousand. I'll stay for one month first."

Shen Yuanmo's voice remained calm, as if what he had thrown out were not thirty thousand Top-Grade Spirit Stones—enough to make a Nascent Soul True Lord envious—but thirty thousand worthless pebbles.

The entire main hall instantly fell into a dead silence.

Everyone's eyes were fixed on the inconspicuous Storage Pouch on the counter, filled with horror and disbelief.

Thirty thousand!

Top-Grade Spirit Stones!

What background did this kid actually have?!

That waiter was completely dumbfounded.

He stared blankly at the Storage Pouch, then looked at Shen Yuanmo, his expression shifting from shock to astonishment, and finally transforming into endless panic and humility.

Trembling, he picked up the Storage Pouch and extended his Divine Sense into it.

When he saw the mountainous pile of Top-Grade Spirit Stones, shimmering with brilliant light and emitting pure Spiritual Qi—exactly thirty thousand—

his mind went "buzz" and blank, his legs weakened, and he nearly knelt on the spot!

"Se... Senior!"

His title instantly changed, and his voice trembled violently due to extreme fear.

"This Junior was blind and offended Senior. Please, Senior, forgive me! Forgive me!"

As he spoke, he slapped himself hard across the face with a loud "pa!"

Shen Yuanmo ignored his actions and simply said, "Lead the way."

"Yes! Yes! Senior, please! This Junior will lead the way for you immediately!"

The waiter looked as if he had been granted a general amnesty, scrambling out from behind the counter. His face was plastered with a fawning smile as he personally led the way for Shen Yuanmo, adopting a posture more respectful than he would toward his own father.

Inside the main hall, the young Cultivators who had previously mocked him all lowered their heads now, not daring to even breathe heavily, afraid of being resented by this terrifying existence whose origins were unknown.

They had only one thought in their minds.

This Divine Capital was likely about to welcome a powerful Dragon crossing the river!

Under the waiter's extremely humble guidance, Shen Yuanmo took a specialized Teleportation Formation directly to the ninety-ninth floor penthouse.

Pushing open the large door made of Star Essence Gold, a small world resembling an Immortal Paradise appeared before him.

This place formed its own space, several miles in circumference, featuring pavilions, terraces, small bridges, and flowing water, where immortal cranes and spirit deer roamed leisurely.

What satisfied him most was the Spiritual Qi here.

The dense Spiritual Qi had condensed into visible white mist floating in the air, and its quality was indeed comparable to a complete Fifth-rank Spiritual Vein.

"Senior, this is the Star Gazing Pavilion. If you have any instructions, you can crush this Communication Jade Talisman at any time, and this Junior will be here immediately!"

The waiter respectfully presented a Jade Talisman, then bowed and carefully backed out.

Shen Yuanmo ignored him and walked slowly to the window in the center of the pavilion.

Looking out from here, he could see the churning sea of clouds, the brilliant starry river, and the myriad lights of more than half the Divine Capital.

He poured himself a cup of Immortal Tea brewed with Spiritual Spring Water and took a delicate sip.

The tea fragrance was clear and cool, and the taste was mellow upon entry.

But his mind was no longer focused on the tea.

His Divine Sense, like an invisible spiderweb, silently spread outwards.

It instantly covered the entire Tianjiao Tower.

Inside the tower, the conversations of the so-called Prodigies and Prodigies entered his ears with perfect clarity.

"Did you hear? His Highness the Seventh Prince came out of seclusion a few days ago and sparred with a Great Perfection of Nascent Soul Stage Flood Dragon outside the city, killing it in three moves!"

"Hiss... His Highness the Seventh Prince's 'Nine Dragons Suppressing Heaven Technique' is truly becoming terrifying! It seems the top spot in the Heaven-Reaching Secret Realm this time must belong to him!"

"That's not necessarily true! Ye Wuchen, from the First-rank Sword Marquis Noble Family, is rumored to have mastered the legendary 'Heartless Sword Canon.' Not long ago in the Western Desert, he slaughtered an entire Demonic Path Sect alone with just one sword, and among them were two great Devil Heads in the Late Nascent Soul Stage!"

"And there's Huang Jiutian, the Young Lord of the Heavenly Yao Valley of the Yao Race in the Northern Plains. He possesses the Heavenly Phoenix Bloodline, and it is said that his innate Divine Flame can easily incinerate even Magic Treasures. His combat power is equally unfathomable!"

"Seventh Prince, Ye Wuchen, Huang Jiutian... Sigh, with these three great mountains pressing down on us, we're probably only going to be able to follow behind and get a sip of soup when we go to the Heaven-Reaching Secret Realm this time."

Listening to these discussions, there was no change in Shen Yuanmo's expression.

Seventh Prince? Ye Wuchen? Huang Jiutian?

A battle record against the Great Perfection of Nascent Soul Stage?

In his eyes, these so-called Prodigies and Prodigies were merely slightly older "children."

He raised his teacup, looked at the brilliant starry river outside the window, and a meaningful curve appeared at the corner of his mouth.

The game seemed to be getting interesting.