191: First visit to Dongzhou! Su Qingyu

Three days later.

Eastern Province.

Lin Haoran was still somewhat dazed as the flying ship slowly descended on the pier of Linhai City, located at the westernmost tip of the Eastern Province continent.

"Is this Eastern Province? The architecture is indeed quite different."

"What are you spacing out for? Let's go." Lin Xuan patted his shoulder.

This time, the two of them planned to experience Eastern Province from the perspective of ordinary Cultivators.

Therefore, after taking the super long-distance teleportation array from Central Province to Eastern Province, they chose to travel by Spirit Ship to experience the feeling of ordinary Cultivators.

Lin Haoran took a deep breath and followed Lin Xuan off the flying ship.

The Spiritual Qi that assailed him made him feel refreshed all over—the concentration of Spiritual Qi here was no less than that of Central Province!

No wonder Eastern Province could nurture so many powerful Holy Lands, great sects, and Imperial Families.

The pier was bustling with people coming and going, and various flying ships were moored on the huge floating platform.

In the distance, Linhai City's buildings were built against the mountains, layer upon layer, reaching straight into the clouds.

The most striking feature was the towering white giant tower in the city center, whose top shimmered with colorful light, clearly visible even in broad daylight.

"That's the landmark of Linhai City—the Seaview Tower. It's said that from the top of the tower, you can overlook the entire East Sea." Lin Haoran's gaze was fixed on the distance, recalling some local introductions he had read earlier.

Lin Xuan nodded, about to speak, when he was suddenly interrupted by a commotion.

Several Cultivators dressed in green robes stopped the crowd leaving the pier, checking everyone's transit tokens.

"Newcomers?" A middle-aged Cultivator with a goatee stopped them, sizing up their plain attire, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes. "From Central Province?"

Lin Xuan slowly said, "Precisely..."

"Alright, alright," the goatee impatiently waved his hand, interrupting them, "Fifty Low-Grade Spirit Stones per person for the entry fee."

"Huh? What did you say!" Lin Haoran was about to erupt.

"Less nonsense!" The goatee's Face darkened, "If you don't pay, get back to your Central Province!"

Several green-robed Cultivators surrounded them, their hands already on the Magical Artifacts at their waists.

"Sirs, Eastern Province indeed has this rule." A clear female voice suddenly interjected.

Lin Xuan turned and saw a young lady in a light green silk dress smiling at them.

She was about seventeen or eighteen, with skin like snow and features as beautiful as a painting, a slender silver longsword hanging at her waist.

The young lady stepped forward, took out a brocade pouch embroidered with cloud patterns from her sleeve, and poured out a small pile of Spirit Stones: "Here are one hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones; I'll pay your entry fees for you."

Upon seeing the young lady, the goatee's expression changed slightly. After taking the Spirit Stones, he actually bowed respectfully: "So it's Young Miss Su's friends, my apologies."

The young lady waved her hand, signaling Lin Xuan and the other to follow.

Only after walking a certain distance did she chuckle, "Don't thank me, those Spirit Stones are fake."

"......" Lin Xuan and the other were naturally wary of strangers.

The young lady slyly blinked, "They were conjured with an illusion, and they'll disappear in an hour. That group is the local ruffians of Linhai City, specializing in extorting foreign Cultivators, especially ordinary Cultivators like you from Central Province."

In the young lady's eyes, those who would take these Spirit Ships would certainly not be from the major powers of Central Province.

From what she usually saw, ninety-nine percent of them were ordinary Cultivators who couldn't make a living in Central Province.

Lin Xuan also noticed a string of crystal-clear beads on the young lady's wrist, with a wisp of mist flowing within each bead—a characteristic of high-grade illusion Magical Artifacts.

"I am Su Qingyu, a native of Linhai City." The young lady introduced herself generously, "How should I address the two of you?"

"Lin Xuan." "Lin Haoran."

After exchanging names, Su Qingyu enthusiastically offered to be their guide.

Lin Xuan cautiously declined, but Lin Haoran was attracted by the young lady's unrestrained temperament, and coupled with her earlier "assistance," he agreed.

The three walked along the wide bluestone street towards the city.

Turning a corner, the area ahead suddenly opened up. In the center of a huge square, dozens of radiating Magic Treasures floated, surrounded by Cultivators.

Some were shouting bids, others were whispering, and the scene was lively.

"Linhai Auction House," Su Qingyu explained, "It opens precisely at noon every day. There are many good things, but even more fakes."

...

The three walked around, enjoying the local customs and traditions of Eastern Province.

Of course, most of it was Su Qingyu introducing things to Lin Xuan and the other.

Su Qingyu's graciousness caused Lin Xuan to lower his guard, but Lin Haoran's gaze towards Su Qingyu was a bit off...

Su Qingyu smiled, "There's a 'Drunken Immortal Pavilion' ahead, the environment is nice, my treat."

"That's too much trouble, Young Miss Su just helped us, it should be our treat." Lin Haoran quickly spoke before Lin Xuan.

"That wouldn't be right, after all, you've come a long way and are guests..." Su Qingyu hesitated.

"Let's go, Young Miss Su, just give us a chance to thank you." Lin Haoran seemed unwilling to give up.

Just as the three were about to leave the square, a team of black-clad Cultivators suddenly blocked their path.

The leader was a grim-faced middle-aged man with a blood moon emblem embroidered on his chest.

"People from the Blood Moon Sect..." Su Qingyu whispered a warning, "Don't provoke them."

The grim man's gaze swept over the three of them, finally resting on Lin Xuan and Lin Haoran's Faces: "Where are you from?"

Lin Xuan slowly spoke, "Central Province, what do you want?"

"Central Province?" The man narrowed his eyes, "Do you have proof?"

Lin Xuan saw that the other party was clearly looking for trouble and didn't want to bother with them, but just as he was about to lead Lin Haoran and the other away, the man suddenly attacked.

"No proof, then you're suspicious individuals, seize them!"

The team of black-clad Cultivators instantly moved to apprehend Lin Xuan and the other.

Just as Lin Xuan was about to make a move to eliminate them, in a flash of lightning, Su Qingyu drew her sword, and a silver sword light stretched between Lin Xuan, Lin Haoran, and the man.

"What great prestige the Blood Moon Sect has, committing violence on the streets of Linhai City?"

The man retracted his palm and retreated, his Face gloomy: "Little girl of the Su Family, this has nothing to do with you."

"In Linhai City, it concerns me." Su Qingyu's sword tip trembled slightly, emitting a crisp hum, "If you want to make a move, ask my 'Clear Frost' first."

The Cultivators in the square retreated, some recognizing the identities of both sides, whispering among themselves.

"That's the Young Miss of the Su Family..."

"How dare an elder of the Blood Moon Sect provoke the Su Family in Linhai City?"

"I heard the Blood Moon Sect has been looking for someone recently..."

The man's expression changed, and he finally snorted: "Today, I'll give the Su Family Face." He gave Lin Xuan a deep look, "We'll meet again."

Looking at this group of people, the killing intent in Lin Xuan and Lin Haoran's eyes flashed and disappeared.

"This is troublesome now."

Su Qingyu sheathed her sword, her brows tightly furrowed, "The Blood Moon Sect is one of the three great evil sects in the Taiyuan Region of Eastern Province's Western Domain, specializing in blood Dao Cultivation Techniques. Their actions are ruthless, and they've been looking for someone recently. You two might have been suspected..."

Lin Haoran didn't understand: "We're new here, and we have no enmity with them. Why would they capture us?"

Su Qingyu looked thoughtfully at Lin Xuan and Lin Haoran: "Perhaps they made a mistake?"

"But the Blood Moon Sect is accustomed to acting domineeringly here; even if they suspect, they won't give up easily..."

"Heh, Young Miss Su, rest assured, let him come." Lin Haoran said indifferently.

"Aren't you afraid? That's the Blood Moon Sect. My Su Family is inferior to them, let alone... (you two ordinary Cultivators)" Su Qingyu didn't finish, fearing she would hurt their self-esteem.

"Then Young Miss Su, what is the strength of the Blood Moon Sect?" Lin Xuan asked with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Su Qingyu's expression became extremely serious, "The Blood Moon Sect has a Legacy of tens of thousands of years and three terrifying Saint Realm Old Ancestors... My Su Family only has one, otherwise, we wouldn't tolerate their arrogance in Linhai City... Alas."

Hearing this, Lin Xuan nodded and smiled slightly, "It's fine, Young Miss Su, a mere Blood Moon Sect can't do anything to us..."

"However, if Young Miss Su's Family needs help, you can always come to us, after all, Young Miss Su helped us today..."

"That's right, Young Miss Su, don't be so polite with us."

"Let's leave here first." Su Qingyu vigilantly looked around, clearly not taking Lin Xuan's words to heart. "Drunken Immortal Pavilion has our Family's private room, it's relatively safe."

...

PS: Chapter two, a bit late, still two chapters for today!