Schemes

They entered Tiaomu City, but Chen Ping'an was in no hurry to explore with Pei Qian and Zhou Mili. He first drew a yellow-paper Yang Qi Lantern Talisman from his sleeve, then formed a sword gesture with two fingers and lightly traced around the talisman. All the while, he watched its burning rate intently, counting silently. Only when the talisman had slowly burned away did he tell Pei Qian, "The Spiritual Energy here is as abundant as it is over the sea outside the ferry, but the River of Time seems to flow a little more slowly than in the outside world. Let's try not to linger here. We'll leave within a month."

Pei Qian nodded, understanding at once. The vast city beneath their feet was probably a fragment of a mountain-and-river secret realm, something like a Minor Cave Heaven, refined by a master. Like Madam Qing Zhong's Lu Shui Keng, it had already become a world unto itself.

Chen Ping'an released the lingering energy from his sword gesture, testing the waters. Sword Qi spilled out for a dozen or so yards before he immediately drew it back, allowing it to spread no farther.

Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy was thin inside Tiaomu City. It was no suitable place to cultivate qi. Of course, there was still the possibility of something like Wan Yao Sect or the Three Mountains Blessed Land: someone, or some place, might have swallowed half of it like a whale, perhaps seized even more of its Spiritual Energy and fortune, leaving this world like a sea emptying into the abyss.

Pei Qian watched the crowds on the street, then raised her gaze to look farther away. The pavilions and towers grew clearer the farther away they were. It defied all reason, as though anyone who cared