Chang'an's Prosperity

On the third day, Chu Zhe, the elder, and a group of disciples returned to their base.

Bai Yujun noticed that seven senior disciples were carried back with severe injuries. The elder at the base had torn clothes and looked quite disheveled. Chu Zhe was in better condition. It seemed that Great Demon was very powerful; not many demons could cause the senior disciple leading the team to suffer losses. After returning, he remained silent, not mentioning whether they had eliminated the Great Demon.

After a day of rest, they set off for Chang'an on the fourth day.

Several days later, Chang'an.

The ancient capital of Chang'an was the pride of every Tang Dynasty citizen. The official roads were bustling with pedestrians, and merchant caravans passed in an orderly fashion. Among the crowds were merchants with blonde hair and blue eyes from beyond the domain. The sound of camel bells could be heard in the distance, truly a sight of people from all nations in Chang'an.

Following the crowd into the tall city gates, they were met with a scene of overwhelming prosperity.

A gentle breeze blew, causing the banners hanging at the shop entrances to flutter. A fine mist descended, wetting the old houses and blue tiles. Pedestrians bustled by with cheerful laughter.

The three of them and the snake walked briskly. Bai Yujun and Xu Ling wore veils to avoid trouble.

At noon, they arrived at the base.

Chang'an was too vast, so the Chunyang base couldn't be located outside the city. The imperial family had specifically gifted a sprawling villa to Chunyang as their base. Like other city bases, the front hall served as a place for incense offerings and prayers, while the rear housed the residences of Chunyang disciples. As a renowned Taoist temple in Chang'an, it had countless believers and a flourishing incense trade. Next to the temple stood a thousand-year-old ancient tree, further enhancing its rustic and profound atmosphere.

The Emperor's birthday was still a few days away, and Chu Zhe was very busy. Upon arriving in Chang'an, various matters awaited his attention. Bai Yujun and the other two went out to explore on their own.

Honestly, Chang'an was incredibly fun.

There were countless delicious foods. Xu Ling, with both hands full of pastries, stuffed them into her mouth. The mountain food was usually bland, so upon encountering such delicacies, she naturally indulged. Yang Mu still maintained his icy demeanor, but he carried a wine gourd and took occasional sips, appearing like a drunkard.

There were Northern barbarians dressed in leather and animal fur, Western women wearing veils and short shirts that exposed their navies, bald men covered in tattoos and wearing earrings, and people from overseas with blonde hair and blue eyes. It could be said that people from all countries in the world could be found in this city.

By the roadside, a foreigner wearing a large hat sat cross-legged, playing a tune. In front of him was a small bamboo basket, and as the music changed, a small snake emerged from the basket, writhing to the melody.

As they walked, Xu Ling and Yang Mu realized Bai Yujun had fallen behind.

Then, they found Bai Yujun in front of the snake charmer's stall...

For some reason, upon seeing the snake charmer, Bai Yujun couldn't stop herself from standing still and reflexively swaying. She felt a bit dizzy, her movements and rhythm eerily similar to the snake in the basket.

The snake charmer, sweating profusely while playing his flute, dared not stop abruptly. It was as if he had seen a ghost in broad daylight. Heaven knew if the snake demon would become enraged and devour him once it sobered up.

Passersby mistook the snake charmer for hiring dancers to add to the entertainment of his snake charming.

Yes, the snake charmer understood he had encountered a snake demon the moment Bai Yujun stood in front of him and began to sway.

Sweating profusely, the snake charmer finally finished his tune, grabbed his small snake, and fled without a trace.

Bai Yujun scratched her head, unsure why she had stopped there.

Approaching the entrance of a restaurant, they smelled the enticing aroma of food. The two of them and the snake didn't hesitate, rushing inside and ordering a large table full of dishes, which they began to devour ravenously. The two direct disciples of Chunyang were actually quite wealthy. They had abundant cultivation resources and considerable worldly wealth but didn't know how to exchange it. Having descended the mountain for so many days, they gradually adapted to the mortal world and realized how rich they were. Anything that felt good was ordered to the table, with Bai Yujun responsible for eating heartily and taking advantage of the situation.

The food in this era was unlike that on Earth, which was full of additives, artificial flavors, and meat raised with medicine. It was truly green and pollution-free, relying entirely on the chef's magical hands to transform ingredients into delicious dishes.

The waiter responsible for serving the food saw Bai Yujun's expression change.

Such a fine young lady, yet she was a big eater. The braised pork knuckle was gone in the blink of an eye, leaving not even the bones. Was this even human?

After eating and drinking their fill, the three young people sat crookedly in their chairs. Xu Ling held her stomach with a satisfied expression. Yang Mu, besides his eternally icy face, also possessed the ability to drink a thousand cups without getting drunk. Bai Yujun, completely losing her composure, lay back in her chair, using a fish bone to pick her teeth.

Her full set of white teeth had grown after her Form Transformation. Before that, she only had two sharp fangs and didn't need to pick them.

"What should we do this afternoon?" Xu Ling asked lazily.

"It's rumored that Chang'an has many storytellers. Why don't we listen to stories this afternoon?"

Bai Yujun wanted to listen to stories and also help digest her food with tea.

"Okay, let's go listen to stories."

The two of them and the snake left the restaurant, asked for directions, and headed straight for a teahouse. To facilitate their stroll, Bai Yujun and Xu Ling changed into scholar's robes, carrying folding fans. They swayed them without any particular grace, yet it possessed a unique charm, giving Yang Mu a headache...

The afternoon was leisurely. They drank tea, listened to stories, and occasionally rewarded the storytellers with a few copper coins.

Evening.

Amidst the starry sky of Chang'an, the Danfeng Tower echoed with music and laughter.

Flutes and drums sounded in harmony, and the doors were brightly lit. Those who had not experienced the grandeur of the night in the world's largest city could never comprehend its impact. Tourists swarmed, shoulder to shoulder. Chang'an truly lived up to its reputation as the center of the world.

Painted boats dotted the lake. Courtesans competed in beauty and performed songs and dances. Bai Yujun sighed, remarking that Chang'an's nights were as lively as the Hundred Thousand Mountains. One side was filled with pleasure and revelry, the other with fierce battles, but neither slept.

They had originally planned to visit a brothel, and Xu Ling was eager, but in the end, Yang Mu couldn't stand the two eccentric individuals and resolutely decided they should return to the base to rest.

The night passed without incident.

In the early morning, a group of people in luxurious and vibrant attire entered the Chunyang base.

It wasn't until those people spoke that Bai Yujun remembered their identity: palace attendants. The supervisor was a eunuch, leading a group of eunuchs and palace maids to the Chunyang Palace base to instruct those attending the Emperor's birthday banquet on etiquette. Although cultivators didn't need to adhere to worldly customs, the Emperor did. Even if they didn't need to kneel, they still had to perform a polite bow to show respect.

Chu Zhe, along with Yang Mu and two elders, would be entering the palace for the birthday celebration. Xu Ling and Bai Yujun would not enter the main hall.

There was no alternative. Female cultivators, with their grace and allure, could easily make the self-important powerful officials and noble families lose control. Although they were not afraid of them, there was no need to invite trouble. It wasn't the first time such a thing had happened. Once, a young female cultivator caught the eye of a minister's son, and after much trouble, not only did people die, but the relationship between the court and the sect also became strained.

In the room, Bai Yujun began researching how to deal with Magic Treasures like the Demon Binding Net.

Yang Mu had explained such spells. The simplest method was to use one's own Magic Treasure to forcefully break it. Another method involved interference. For a Magic Treasure to accurately ensnare an opponent, it required remote control, which couldn't be interrupted by spiritual power or mental control. The countermeasure was to cast a spell to sever the opponent's mental control and use one's own spiritual power to interfere with the Magic Treasure's spiritual power operation.

Furthermore, it would test one's reaction time and agility. Magic Treasures were not terrifying; even divine artifacts couldn't claim to be omnipotent, let alone tools refined by cultivators.

Bai Yujun diligently studied spells for her survival.

In the courtyard, Yang Mu's veins throbbed as he suppressed the urge to draw his sword and kill the eunuch. Explaining etiquette was one thing, but what was the meaning of groping around?