Great Tang Domain, Chang'an, the capital.
At the Plane Portal south of the city, light flickered as a sturdy man in black strode through.
"Hello... anyone here?" the man called in a deep voice.
"Coming!... Who are you? State your name!"
The two Evolvers guarding the portal ran out of a nearby building, still pulling up their trousers.
The man took out a jade token. "My name is Qiu Zhenli. A man named Xin Feng gave me this. He said it was a token of recognition here."
"Looks like it really is one of the tokens for Spirit Realm natives..."
After inspecting it, one of the guards wrote down Qiu Zhenli's name. "All right, it's genuine. You're a member of Great Tang Domain now. Here to join His Highness Li Feng? Then you'll need to know how to get by around here. Heh, the consultation fee is only two hundred Spirit Crystals."
Qiu Zhenli did not take offense. He tossed over a small cloth pouch and said with interest, "Let's hear it, then."
"Well, look at you. A big spender."
The guards perked up. After splitting the two hundred Spirit Crystals between them, they told Qiu Zhenli all about the "rules for getting by" in Great Tang Domain.
Qiu Zhenli listened quietly. Between the two guards' accounts, he gradually pieced together the state of Great Tang Domain, good and bad alike. Xin Feng had told him none of this. Two hundred Spirit Crystals seemed a bargain.
"The emperor is the most powerful person in the domain... The national preceptor has his trust, and Spirit Crystals or contributions to the domain can open doors through him... Offering rare treasures to the emperor can earn an official appointment... And money greases the wheels at every office?"
A faint smile crossed Qiu Zhenli's