Martial Suppression Prefecture City

A distant mountain could wear down a horse.

The prefecture city was already in sight.

Yet Mo Chen and the others still walked for another hour before reaching the city gates.

Looking up at the four enormous arched gateways set into the towering, imposing walls, the disciples all burst into excited shouts.

"Wow! It's so magnificent!"

"So this is the prefecture city?"

"Martial Suppression Prefecture City, Martial Suppression Academy, here I come!"

At the sight of the gates, all the martial hall disciples shouted excitedly, drawing smiles from many passersby.

Four black-armored soldiers stood on each side of the gate, sweeping cold, stern gazes over every pedestrian and carriage entering or leaving.

Through the gateway, they could see a broad road stretching straight into the city.

The road was packed with pedestrians and speeding carriages. It was wide enough for more than a dozen horse-drawn carriages to pass side by side.

By then, the sun had already set.

Darkness fell.

Bright lanterns were hung from the many ancient buildings throughout the city.

West Gate Street in the Martial Suppression Prefecture City blazed with lights, crowded with people, and alive with noise.

"Buns! Fresh, steaming buns!"

"Rooms! Rooms! Finest guest rooms available!"

"Flower girls and wine! Miss Cuiyu is this way! Come this way for flower wine!"

"Clang, clang, clang, clang..."

The sound of a gong rang out.

A burly, bearded man beat a bronze gong and roared, "Forming a party! We're heading into the Cloudmist Mountain Range tomorrow morning to gather herbs! A Condensing Astra Realm Great Perfection expert is leading us! We need three more people—Condensing Astra Realm martial artists or above!"

Another young man with a longbow slung across his back shouted, "Hunting in the depths of the Cloudmist Mountain Range, seeking spirit beast inner cores! Need one Condensing Astra Realm martial artist!"

On the other side of the street, a middle-aged man waved a banner bearing six large characters—Buying Pills at High Prices!

Mo Chen followed Tantai Xiasang and Su Jinse into the city.

The bustling sight within left him wide-eyed.

There were actually so many Condensing Astra Realm experts in this city.

Moreover, first-rank weapons were everywhere, making Mo Chen sigh repeatedly. "A prefecture city really is something. Experts are everywhere, and weapons can be found all over the place..."

Compared to the prefecture city, Yunyi County was truly nothing more than a remote mountain village.

Having lived in Yunyi County, he felt like a country bumpkin visiting a grand estate. His eyes could hardly take it all in.

"Mo Chen, what do you think? Isn't it spectacular?"

Su Jinse asked with a smile.

Mo Chen glanced at her, nodded, and sighed. "It's incredibly spectacular! This is the first time I've ever seen such a prosperous and lively ancient city!"

He had seen massive modern cities back on Earth.

Yet compared to this utterly breathtaking metropolis built entirely in an ancient style,

even modern cities seemed less awe-inspiring.

"Building a city like this must have been incredibly difficult, right?"

Mo Chen thought of the Great Wall he had seen in his previous life. It was said to have been built entirely by human labor, and countless people had likely died in the process.

"Constructing Martial Suppression Prefecture City was indeed extremely difficult."

Su Jinse turned to glance at Mo Chen and explained, "However, such a magnificent city was not built overnight. It evolved over hundreds and thousands of years."

"The city reached its peak three hundred years ago, when the ruler of Great Mystic resided in Martial Suppression Prefecture."

"At that time, with a single command from Senior Qin Min, countless martial artists joined in building the city. That was how the Martial Suppression Prefecture City of today came to be."

Mo Chen nodded in understanding. "I see."

Su Jinse smiled faintly. "Martial Suppression Prefecture City has a permanent population of as many as three million. Every three years, the Martial Suppression Academy martial examination draws over two million people from across the prefecture to watch the excitement and do business."

"So the crowds you see now aren't this large every year."

Mo Chen listened patiently, while the many martial hall disciples behind him also pricked up their ears to hear Su Jinse's explanation.

Dressed in a long skirt, her long hair flowing behind her, Tantai Xiasang walked at the front like a peerless figure standing alone, a fifth-rank Heavenly Mystic Dragon Scale Spear strapped across her back.

Mo Chen kept looking over the shops on both sides.

All kinds of shops sold all kinds of goods.

Although night had fallen,

people still constantly entered and exited the shops, trading goods.

In the distance, tall buildings stood in clusters beneath shining lights.

Women waving red silk ribbons also solicited customers along the streets, making the scene exceptionally lively.

"A thousand night-market lamps illuminate emerald clouds, red-sleeved ladies fill the lofty towers."

"As dusk falls by the water gate, tea merchants bustle; through the night at the bridge market, wine drinkers roam."

Moved by the sight, Mo Chen recited an ancient poem describing the nighttime scenery of Yangzhou during the late Tang Dynasty.

"Excellent poem!"

Applause suddenly sounded beside him.

Mo Chen turned and saw a refined man in white robes walking toward them slowly.

The man looked to be around twenty years old. A curved saber hung at his waist, and he smiled as he praised, "Who would have thought that Junior Sister Tantai would bring back such a great poet after visiting a remote little county!"

Mo Chen looked curiously at the newcomer.

Tantai Xiasang and Su Jinse, however, changed expressions, their faces turning cold.

"Move aside!"

The refined man in white smiled slightly and winked at Tantai Xiasang. "Junior Sister Tantai, there's no need to put on such a cold face just because you saw me, is there?"

Tantai Xiasang drew the Heavenly Mystic Dragon Scale Spear and aimed its tip at the refined man's throat. She said coldly, "I'll count to three. If you do not leave, we fight to the death!"

"Haha..." The refined man in white laughed aloud. Completely unafraid, he reached out and pushed Tantai Xiasang's spear tip aside.

"Junior Sister Tantai, you're still as straightforward as ever. I like that!"

"I won't disturb Junior Sister's refined enjoyment of poetry today. We can meet again another day."

After saying this, he turned to Mo Chen and gave him a smiling wink.

"This junior brother's poetic talent is very much to my liking. I hope we will have a chance to drink tea and discuss poetry together."

Mo Chen merely forced a smile and did not respond.

Tantai Xiasang's spear was the only response the refined young man received.

"Haha... Junior Sister Tantai, I'll be leaving first. Once you return to the academy, we can meet again and have a proper chat."

With a burst of laughter left behind, the refined young man in white disappeared into the crowd in an instant.

"Who was he?" Mo Chen could not help asking curiously.

Tantai Xiasang was too angry to speak.

Su Jinse answered for her. "He is Liu Jun, the biological grandson of the Grand Elder of the Martial Suppression Academy's Council of Elders, and one of the men pursuing Senior Sister."

"Oh?" Mo Chen looked at Tantai Xiasang in surprise. He truly had not expected that man to be one of her pursuers.

"Why does he call Senior Sister his junior sister?"

Su Jinse said helplessly, "Because he entered the academy before Senior Sister did, and he is also extremely powerful. He was even the previous Chief Senior Brother of Martial Suppression Academy!"

Mo Chen raised his brows. "The previous Chief Senior Brother?"

Su Jinse nodded. "Martial Suppression Academy has a Chief Disciple position. That position does not depend on seniority, only strength!"

"Anyone powerful enough may challenge for the Chief Disciple position. If they succeed, they not only gain the Chief title, but also enjoy the academy benefits granted to the Chief Disciple."

"That Liu Jun held the Chief Disciple position for eight consecutive years. But in order to pursue Senior Sister, he deliberately lost to her in the Chief challenge half a year ago. You should understand what happened after that."

Mo Chen nodded in realization. "So that's how it is..."

"Hey, young heroes! Looking for rooms?"

Just then,

a waiter from a nearby inn enthusiastically came over.

"How much per day?" Mo Chen asked.

The waiter answered happily, "A Heaven-grade room is ten taels of silver per night, an Earth-grade room is five taels per night, and a Human-grade room is one tael per night. A four-person room costs one string of cash per night!"

The martial hall disciples all cried out in shock, their expressions changing.

"My god! It's that expensive?"

They had all come from small county towns.

They had not brought much money with them to begin with.

Yet they had only just entered the city and already could not afford an inn.

"It really is too expensive!"

The corner of Mo Chen's mouth twitched as he instinctively checked his wealth.

When he saw that he had only three strings of copper coins left, his face turned green.

"Three strings of copper coins only let me stay in a four-person room for three days?"

No!

Absolutely not!

How could the dignified Great Mystic Woodcutter stay in a four-person room?

If he stayed anywhere, it had to be a five-person room!

Or even a ten-person room!

"Damn it, I'm way too poor!"

Thus, Mo Chen searched through the jade articles and jewelry in his inventory, deciding to find an opportunity to sell them all.

Hearing the disciples' cries, Su Jinse shook her head.

"The prices are indeed not low. I suggest that you rent a house together and make do for a while. After the martial examination is over, you can simply return the house."

The disciples of Martial Suppression Academy did not need to stay outside.

They had their own accommodations within the academy.

"Mo Chen, come with me. I'll arrange a place for you to stay!"

Suddenly, Tantai Xiasang turned around with her spear on her back and spoke calmly to Mo Chen.

Mo Chen froze slightly.

Behind him, wolf howls erupted everywhere.

At that moment, the many martial hall disciples stared at Mo Chen as though they wanted to skin him alive.

Damn it!

Senior Sister was treating Mo Chen, a mere menial, far too well, wasn't she?

Why wasn't that person me?!

All the martial hall disciples glared at Mo Chen with bloodshot eyes filled with hostility, gritting their teeth in hatred.