Grand and Imposing, Arriving at Heaven Dou City!

The setting sun slowly descended from the vast sky. Beneath its fading glow, the carriage sped down the road ahead like lightning.

Although the carriage traveled at an astonishing speed, the driver relied on his superb skill to expertly control the racing vehicle.

The driver gripped the reins tightly, his expression utterly calm, as though no matter how much faster the carriage went, he could handle it with ease.

"Sir, are you satisfied with our speed? We're less than ten li from Heaven Dou City now. It won't be long before we arrive!" the driver called cheerfully into the carriage.

Inside, Lin Xiao gently stroked Black Dragon, who was asleep atop his head. After flying at high intensity day and night, even a body forged from steel could not endure it forever and would grow tired.

Ever since boarding the carriage, Black Dragon had curled up and quietly rested on his head, falling into a deep sleep. Though the road was inevitably uneven and bumpy, it had not affected Black Dragon's sleep in the slightest.

If he listened closely, Lin Xiao could even clearly hear Black Dragon's breathing—a faint snore that continuously echoed beside his ears.

"Not bad. The speed is indeed fast, though this carriage is rather crude. Still, it doesn't matter. As long as you get me to Heaven Dou City before sunset, you will not be shorted a single Gold Soul Coin," Lin Xiao said calmly, his cold face turned toward the ever-changing scenery outside the window.

"Sir, rest assured and leave the rest to me. I'll definitely get you to Heaven Dou City before the sun sets! But you're right, sir."

"Though my carriage is the fastest around here, its overall quality and comfort are nothing special. Once I save enough money, I'll definitely replace it with a more comfortable one," the driver said with a hearty laugh.

The sun gradually sank westward. Just before it set, the driver successfully delivered Lin Xiao to Heaven Dou City's gates. For an experienced driver with fine horses like him, failing to cover those ten li before sunset would have been the greatest insult.

Heaven Dou City's walls stood tall and majestic, carefully built from hard stone blocks. Its gates were unimaginably broad, wide enough for several carriages to pass through side by side without obstruction.

The carriage came to a steady stop not far from the gates. Lin Xiao slowly stepped down, then handed a Gold Soul Coin to the driver with a smile. "You got me to Heaven Dou City before sunset after a journey of five hundred li. This Gold Soul Coin is what you deserve."

The driver carefully accepted the Gold Soul Coin with trembling hands. Holding it in his palms, he stared at Lin Xiao with burning eyes and asked in a slightly shaky voice, "S-Sir, this trip should only cost ten Silver Soul Coins. Are you really giving me a Gold Soul Coin?"

Gold Soul Coins were the highest denomination of currency. A single coin was enough to cover all expenses for an ordinary family of three for half a year!

According to the usual rates, drivers like him could only earn ten Silver Soul Coins for every five hundred li journey. To save up a Gold Soul Coin, they would need to make ten such trips.

When the driver saw Lin Xiao take out a Gold Soul Coin directly, how could someone who knew the market rates possibly remain calm?

Seeing how honest the driver was, Lin Xiao smiled faintly. "This is what you deserve. If I had taken someone else's carriage, I probably wouldn't have reached Heaven Dou City before sunset today."

"Besides, didn't you say you would buy a better carriage once you had money? Consider this Gold Soul Coin the money for your new carriage. Sitting in this one for too long really hurts the backside."

"Thank you, sir!" The driver held the Gold Soul Coin in both hands, his face brimming with gratitude.

Lin Xiao shook his head with a bitter smile. His expression returned to its usual coldness as he turned and left without another word, walking straight toward Heaven Dou City's gates.

Before the towering, majestic gates of Heaven Dou City stood dozens of soldiers clad in sturdy silver armor. They gripped sharp silver spears in their hands, each of them grave and stern as they meticulously inspected the bustling crowd preparing to enter the city.

Lin Xiao stopped, clasped his hands behind his back, and slowly raised his head to look at Heaven Dou City before him. Though his expression remained cold and calm, faint ripples had already stirred in the depths of his heart.

Lin Xiao could not help sighing. "As expected of the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire. Its grandeur is not inferior to Spirit City of our Spirit Hall in the slightest!"

"Heaven Dou City, as the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire, carries a long history. It is also the safest, most prosperous, and wealthiest place in the empire. It is no surprise that it is in no way inferior to Spirit Hall."

The three most prosperous places on Douluo Continent were Heaven Dou City of the Heaven Dou Empire, Star Luo City of the Star Luo Empire, and Spirit City of Spirit Hall!

Compared with the villages Lin Xiao had passed by on the borders of the Heaven Dou Empire, the prosperity of these three places was like the difference between entirely different eras—perhaps even several eras apart. The contrast was exceptionally obvious!

If villagers from those remote border villages suddenly came to Heaven Dou City, they would surely feel as if they had crossed into another age. They might even wonder in confusion whether some unknown reason had brought them into an entirely different world.

The sun finally sank below the horizon. The sky gradually darkened, night began to fall, and darkness slowly shrouded the land.

The soldiers at Heaven Dou City's gates watched the sun disappear completely in the west as night descended. The leading soldier walked before those who had yet to enter the city and shouted at the top of his lungs:

"The sun has set, and the city gates are about to close! Those who have not yet entered Heaven Dou City may make do at an inn outside the city for the night and return tomorrow!"

Those who had failed to enter Heaven Dou City in time were filled with disappointment, but they could only leave helplessly. All the soldiers withdrew into the city, while the enormous gates slowly began to close.