Tianbei City was more prosperous than Xiao Fan had imagined.
Towering city walls stretched across the mountains of the Northern Region. Carriages and horses flowed endlessly through the gates, with mercenaries, merchant caravans, Alchemists, and sect disciples coming and going without pause. Occasionally, flying magical beasts swept low overhead, their massive wings casting shadows before vanishing into the city's distant lights.
This place was different from the Black-Corner Region.
The danger in the Black-Corner Region was a blade, blood, and naked greed laid bare upon the table.
The danger in Tianbei City hid behind smiles, tea cups, every family token, and every seemingly casual probe.
By the time Xiao Fan and the others entered the city, they had already changed their appearances.
Xiao Fan had used Soul Force to subtly alter his bone structure, then concealed the lingering injuries on his shoulder beneath a green robe. He suppressed his aura to the level expected of a Tier 6 Alchemist. Xiao Yi Xian wore a plain white cloak, her silver hair tucked beneath its hood, revealing only half her pale chin and cool lips. Qing Lin quietly followed at the side, the Cold Jade Bell at her waist hidden beneath her sash, while a thin veil concealed much of the unusual gleam in her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils.
As for Zi Yan...
Xiao Fan looked at the little girl beside him, who was hugging a bag of medicinal Sugar Pills and glancing everywhere with darting eyes. He fell silent for a moment.
"Can you act a little more like an attendant?"
Zi Yan bit down on a Sugar Pill, her cheeks puffed out.
"How do I not look like one?"
Xiao Fan lowered his gaze to the huge bag of clearly expensive high-grade medicinal Sugar Pills in her arms.
Zi