Chapter 398: Barren State, Yunyue City
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
The Barren State was boundless. In the north was the Demon City that was at the border of the Demon World. The Demon God race and Taixuan Mountain loomed there. White Cloud City guarded the west, pressing down on the boundless land. There was also Inferno City near Fire Mountain that occupied a lot of land.
The south had an endless snowy terrain. There was a temple there with two gusts of power. The snow area and Fire Mountain formed a strange territory. The center was the renowned Alchemy City. Of course, Zhongzhou City was still the richest. This place loomed over the center of the Barren State. Strong cultivators were everywhere there.
Yunyue City in the east of the Barren State wasn’t the main city there, but it had an ancient history and was magnificent.
Right now, a Black Wind Eagle flew in the sky above Yunyue City. Its eyes were very sharp. It was an eagle, but when it flew, it felt like a roc. It was that fast. There were four youths on its back. The one at the front was handsome and he looked forward. Beside him was a muscular youth. He was resting with his eyes closed. The one-armed handsome youth behind them had two ancient swords crossed behind his back. There was also a veiled girl. She had long silver hair that fell down like a waterfall. Her eyes shone with silver light, beautiful yet demonic. They were cold.
This was Ye Futian’s group, coming to the Barren State from the Eastern Barren Territory. They paused at times along the way. Mooncloud City was one of the bigger cities. Its liveliness was comparable to the Qin Imperial City in the center of the Eastern Barren Territory.
“That should be Crescent Lake.” Loulan Xue stood up. Wind blew against her as she pointed at a crescent moon-shaped lake. She held a map that she’d bartered for after entering the city.
“It should be White Jade Tower before Crescent Lake.” Looking forward from the lake, one could make out a palace-shaped building. The Black Wind Eagle sped up and it became clearer.
It was a palace-shaped inn—one of the three biggest inns in Yunyue City. It was entirely white and seemed to be made from jade, hence the name. It was as magnificent as a royal palace.
As they got closer, the Black Wind Eagle rushed downward and landed on the steps of White Jade Tower. Ye Futian felt Spiritual Qi hit him. This meant that White Jade Tower was made from spiritual stone. It contained a matrix inside. Living in it, they would feel powerful Spiritual Qi. It was beneficial to cultivation.
Looking up, Ye Futian walked up the steps and stopped outside the main hall. Loulan Xue and Yu Sheng held the spiritual stone and walked in. They were going to spend a few days here, so they chose somewhere like White Jade Tower. It would be easier to get information. They also needed a map of the Barren State. They couldn’t get it in a smaller place.
Many people walked up and down the steps.
“Sir, are you a foreigner?” a thin youth in a blue robe asked Ye Futian.
“Yes.” Ye Futian smiled and nodded.
“I am Yang Ting,” the other greeted.
“Ye Futian.”
“Brother Ye, are you here for the battle between the four clans?” Yang Ting asked.
“No.” Ye Futian shook his head. He’d just arrived and didn’t know anything about the four clans.
“Most people who come to Yunyue City are here for that reason. I misunderstood.” Yang Ting put his hands together in apology.
“No problem. I just arrived and am new to Yunyue City. Please help me in the future,” Ye Futian said politely.
“You flatter me. We can help each other,” Yang Ting said, smiling.
“Brother, it’s done,” a voice said. A pretty figure walked out. She had a ponytail and looked young, clean, and pure.
“This is my sister, Yang Yi,” Yang Ting introduced. “This is Brother Ye.”
Ye Futian and Yang Yi nodded at each other. Yang Yi stared at Ye Futian with her pure eyes, thinking that Ye Futian was really attractive.
As Ye Futian matured, his temperament kept changing. His features became more handsome too. He was very attractive now.
“What are you looking at me for?” Ye Futian asked, smiling gently.
Yang Yi realized that she’d spaced out. Blushing, she averted her eyes quickly.
“Brother Ye is handsome, but you don’t have to do that,” Yang Ting also joked.
Yang Yi kicked him and whined, “What are you saying? I’m just curious.”
At this time, the ground below them shook. Ye Futian looked and saw a figure land on the white jade steps. The person was tall and extremely burly. His upper body was bare. The silver armor only covered his most important part. His eyes were like bronze bells, filled with authority as he scanned them. He climbed the steps and walked through Ye Futian’s group.
“What beast is that?” Yang Yi was looking up. She saw a fiery-red knight with a mount come. The beast was a dark bird.
The knight was a woman clad in fiery-red clothing. Her curvy body formed a beautiful picture with a different kind of attractiveness. The woman’s manliness was beautiful and cold.
“Blue Phoenix,” Yang Ting said.
The woman’s Blue Phoenix landed. She also walked past Ye Futian without even looking. However, her Blue Phoenix glanced at the Black Wind Eagle and cawed.
The Black Wind Eagle had been silent. After the Blue Phoenix cawed, its eyes sharpened instantly. It shot a gaze at the phoenix. One could see darkness flowing through its eyes.
The Blue Phoenix wouldn’t stop. The knight frowned and glared at it, wondering why it was bullying an eagle. After glancing at the Black Wind Eagle, the Blue Phoenix entered the hall with the knight. The Black Wind Eagle glanced at it arrogantly and closed its eyes to rest.
At this time, Yu Sheng and Loulan Xue walked over. “Brother Yang,” Ye Futian said, “I’m ready.”
The Yang siblings looked at Yu Sheng and Loulan Xue. This group all had great temperaments. Loulan Xue had her face veiled, but judging from her body, she wouldn’t be ugly.
“Come, let’s go together,” Yang Ting said, smiling. Ye Futian nodded. The two walked to the side and climbed the steps. They found their own floor and courtyard. Coincidentally, they were neighbors.
After entering the courtyard, they found that the entrance was in the backyard. After a hallway was the front courtyard. They could see Crescent Lake and the people arriving at the inn.
“The Eastern Barren Territory should be in that direction,” Ye Futian murmured, looking into the distance. Now, he had already stepped foot inside the Barren State. He was extremely far away from the Eastern Barren Territory. It would take months to cross that distance. Now, he would truly be in the outside world, far from his home.
Loulan Xue stood beside him and said softly, “I asked around in the hall earlier. The map isn’t easy to get. The Barren State is too big. Even many people in this city haven’t gone out of the eastern region, let alone the entire Barren State.”
Ye Futian nodded lightly. “You’ve worked hard. Our future is unknown. I hope you won’t regret this.” He’d warned Loulan Xue, but she had insisted on coming.
“This is my duty as a servant,” Loulan Xue replied softly. “As for regret, this is my own decision.” . com
“Is Brother Ye here?” a voice came from the other courtyard.
“Yes, Brother Yang. Come over,” Ye Futian said.
“Okay.” A laugh sounded and then two figures came from the sky.
“The view is quite nice here,” Yang Ting said, laughing. “But it’s truly expensive.”
“Brother Yang, I have a question to ask. I came here to challenge myself and I wish to travel the entire Barren State. Is there anywhere I can get a basic map?” Ye Futian asked.
“The entire Barren State?” Yang Ting’s eyes flashed in shock. It wasn’t realistic to travel the entire Barren State at Ye Futian’s age unless he improved his cultivation as he traveled. Many people did this though, so he didn’t find it too strange.
“Yes.” Ye Futian nodded.
“This type of map is rarely used. I don’t know where to find it, but the top four forces of Yunyue City will have them,” Yang Ting said.
“Which four forces? How are their abilities?” Ye Futian asked.
“Yunyue City has the Feng Family, Wang Family, Thunder Clan, and Yunyue Merchant Union,” Yang Ting said. “They form the uppermost level in Yunyue City. All have people in the Noble Plane.”
Ye Futian nodded. This was only Yunyue City. How powerful would the main cities be?
“Brother Yang, are you from this city?” Ye Futian asked.
“Yes.”
“Then why are you living here?” Ye Futian was curious.
“Brother Ye, how about we get a drink? We can chat while walking,” Yang Ting said.
“Okay.” Ye Futian nodded. The group left the courtyard and walked towards the wine house at the top level.
“The top four forces control most of the resources in the city. They hold a battle at the end of every year to decide the distribution of the resources. To be fair, they don’t use the Noble Plane. Thus, all those who fight are in the Arcana Plane. Because there are injuries and casualties and the forces use it to attract more talents, it became a custom. Every year, this event is when they choose talents to fight for them. Those who perform well can join them.
“The White Jade Tower belongs to the Yunyue Merchant Union. Every year, they would invite others here. That’s why I asked if Brother Ye came for that reason.”
As Yang Ting explained, they arrived at the open-ceiling wine house. Many people were there; it was very busy.
“So you wish to join the Yunyue Merchant Union?” Ye Futian asked.
“They are a force in the chamber of commerce. They have the most resources and are the most generous,” Yang Ting said, eyes sparkling.
Ye Futian nodded. After coming to the Barren State, he discovered that they would often use cultivation resources. For example, spiritual stones were common here and used as currency.
“Brother Ye, are you interested?” Yang Ting asked after they found somewhere to sit.
“No.” Ye Futian shook his head, laughing. He’d come to the Barren State to cultivate. He wasn’t going to join a force!