They arrived at the city gates around noon, the crescent sun hanging high above. No guards stood watch; the tall brown gates, adorned with strange insignias, swung open wide—an indication of the Realm's confidence. To outsiders, the city might seem complacent, but in truth, they trusted their defenses implicitly. Only fools or those courting death would dare cause trouble.
Long Xiao scanned the entrance with his Divine Eye. His sealed aura still allowed him to sense Qi currents more sharply than mortals. It revealed a series of hidden formations at the entrance that suppressed any threats before they could breach the city.
Upon entering, Long Xiao's senses were immediately assaulted by a medley of strange, exotic scents.
Lei had already shifted into his human form a few moments earlier. Being the loyal companion he was, Lei abandoned Long Xiao as soon as they entered the city, darting eagerly from stall to stall, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Hey! Where do you think you're going?!" Long Xiao called after him, his jaw tightening.
"See you later, Master!" Lei replied telepathically, seamlessly blending into his human guise.
Realizing that he had attracted quite the attention, Long Xiao restrained his anger, smoothing down his robe.
"I've sealed my celestial form, so why are the mortals still staring? Is my beauty that blinding?" he muttered smugly.
Long Xiao wandered alone for a while, observing his surroundings because, clearly, Lei had decided that he wouldn't accompany him.
"Unfaithful bird! I've been too lenient with him." He muttered.
The city was buzzing like a busy bee. Cultivators strutted through the streets like peacocks in silk robes, flexing spiritual pressure just to make their sleeves ripple dramatically. He then saw a small crowd. At the centre was a grey-coloured demon. The grey demon, with thin, black horns curling from his head, long white hair flowing freely, and strange markings etched across his bare chest, balanced effortlessly on a single bamboo stick. His deep, dark eyes scanned the crowd—cultivators and divine beasts alike, including humanoid rabbits and dogs—while he recited stories with captivating flair. His voice carried a strange resonance, as if each word tugged at the listeners' souls.
Long Xiao did not stop to listen, but he was clearly fascinated.
"The Mortal Realm is quite interesting." He thought, walking past the crowd.
The grey-coloured demon's dark eyes darted to Long Xiao's back for a moment before continuing with his recitation.
Ahead, a group of rogue alchemists could be seen arguing over the correct way to ferment dragon liver. One of them had a cauldron floating above his head while the other held the liver. It was leaking, and its contents burned the unfortunate carrier. He screamed, but no one paid him any attention. The argument continued.
A group of humanoid bulls and foxes had gathered around to watch their friends play Go in front of a stall called Win A Go Game And Earn 500 Spiritual Stones. As the game neared its end, one could see that the red fox clearly had the upper hand. The fox grinned ear to ear as the bull's breath grew heavier from frustration. At first, Long Xiao didn't think it was authentic until he saw a glowing pouch materialize out of thin air in front of the red fox after he won, with the words 'Congratulations, player' written on it.
Long Xiao halted abruptly. Even the Heavenly Realm didn't indulge in bets this reckless. These mortals were more daring and resourceful than he'd expected. Now he had a new idea of where to earn some spiritual stones if needed.
As he continued exploring the city, he came across a stall selling Divine Treasures.
"Divine Treasures? Are they even genuine?" Long Xiao wondered silently.
A young girl approached the stall, eyeing a white tiger claw necklace. "How much for this?" she asked.
The clerk sneered. "Five hundred spirit stones. Kid, can you even pay for that?"
She smiled sweetly, producing a bloodstained storage pouch. The clerk's expression shifted instantly—from disdain to flattery.
"Here you go!" he said, handing her the necklace. The girl fastened it around her neck, then dropped the pouch on the counter and skipped away, vanishing into the crowd.
Long Xiao watched, bewildered. Even the children here seemed loaded. His heart quickened.
"The dice wasn't wrong about coming here first. This place truly lives up to its reputation."
Another stall offered various Formations with a side of guaranteed enlightenment or mild hallucinations.
The air here hummed with unstable Qi, like someone forgot to turn off the spiritual fan.
Long Xiao decided to explore Xundu City first. It seemed interesting enough, and more importantly, an excellent place to lay low.
Blend in. Observe. Study the mortal way of life.
And, naturally, judge them silently—or openly.
Depending on the situation.