A caravan traveled slowly along the broad imperial road. The man leading it was named Zheng Dahe, around forty years old, with a resolute face and short hair that gave him a brisk, capable air.
After the caravan crossed another mountain ridge, Zheng Dahe signaled for it to stop, pointed ahead, and announced loudly.
"Everyone, the Heavenly Evolution Upper Sect lies just ahead."
Many people lifted their carriage curtains and stepped out, including a man and a woman.
The man had slightly dark skin and an honest, simple appearance. The woman's looks were ordinary, save for a pair of exceptionally bright, large eyes.
They were none other than Zhou Muyun and Miao Yue'er, disguised under the aliases Niu Yun and Tian Yue.
They had followed the mountain roads out of Skycloud Prefecture, evaded the investigation, and then slipped into this caravan.
The caravan happened to be bound for the Heavenly Evolution Upper Sect. Traveling with it saved time and provided excellent cover.
Although they had already confirmed that the Ninth Princess had neither sent pursuers nor issued a warrant for them, caution was always wise when traveling away from home.
The two gazed into the distance.
At the end of the horizon, a magnificent, immense city crouched upon the earth, backed by an unbroken mountain range wreathed in mist.
Its towering walls dwarfed those of any prefectural or county city they had ever seen. Like a man-made mountain range of black and white, they stood between heaven and earth.
The walls extended to either side beyond the limits of sight, seemingly merging with the distant mountains. The entire city appeared to have no boundaries.
They could faintly make out exquisitely beautiful pavilions and towers soaring into the clouds.
From this alone, they could imagine how vast its interior must be,