Jiang Yun had heard Jiang Shuanglan mention Yan Capital several times.
There were quite a few cultivators in Yan Kingdom, so naturally there were places for cultivators to trade. Yan Capital had a street filled with an abundant variety of cultivation resources for sale.
Backed by Yan Kingdom's six great Heavenly Caves, it was also the largest gathering place for independent cultivators in the kingdom.
The Eastern Wilderness, as its name suggested, lay in the east. Vast and boundless, it was renowned for its many Great Wildernesses, which was where its name came from.
The Great Wildernesses contained boundless lands, majestic mountains and rivers, and dense primeval forests. For hundreds of thousands of miles, there was not a trace of human habitation, and few people ventured within.
Many cultivators entered the Great Wildernesses with hope in their hearts.
Exploring the wilderness meant facing countless unknown dangers, but the Great Wildernesses also held inexhaustible rare treasures.
There were always lucky people who made their fortunes there, even finding rare Divine Materials and strange treasures.
Those items could be bought at high prices by certain Ancient Era aristocratic families and holy lands. In exchange, one could obtain precious cultivation resources, scriptures, and secret arts, paving a smooth road ahead.
Countless independent cultivators dreamed of becoming the next lucky one.
Though Yan Kingdom was small, it possessed the Desolate Forbidden Land and thus had some renown.
After leaving the Great Wildernesses, some independent cultivators would sell all manner of genuine and counterfeit treasures here.
Jiang Yun also wanted to take a look. Perhaps he could find some rare materials for refining Golden Cores.
Yan Capital had every kind of seed for common spirit herbs needed to establish a medicinal field.
When he voiced the idea, Jiang Shuanglan was interested as well, while Little Dingdang enthusiastically supported it with both hands raised.
Even Xia Weier, who had been timidly tidying the courtyard nearby, looked up.
When she accidentally met Jiang Yun's gaze, she immediately blushed like a startled fawn and lowered her head to her chest again.
Seeing how eagerly they all anticipated it, Jiang Yun simply formed a group with the three women and headed for Yan Capital.
Jade Cauldron Paradise was only a little over four hundred li from Yan Capital, not far for cultivators.
Yan Capital had a long history. Dynasties had risen and fallen upon this land, and most had chosen to establish their capitals here. Since ancient times, it had been the center of this region.
The ancient city walls bore the marks of time's vicissitudes.
Yan Capital was exceptionally bustling, its streets packed with a constant flow of people.
Jiang Yun had spent every day facing an empty valley. Returning so suddenly to such a lively and prosperous city felt both familiar and strange to him.
"Golden-thread honey dates! Big and sweet!"
"Crispy chicken wings! If they're not delicious, you don't pay!"
"Zhang's soup dumplings! Thin wrappers, generous filling, rich broth, and wonderful flavor! Come try them!"
"Candied hawthorn! Just one copper coin per skewer!"
The three women before him also gazed at the worldly bustle with a hint of longing.
Jiang Yun could not help sighing.
"Cultivation, cultivation... Isn't cultivation meant to give us more time to enjoy this worldly life? Yet many cultivators gradually drift farther and farther away from it."
Perhaps only when everything had settled down in the future would he have more time to experience such things.
Jiang Yun then led the three women through all sorts of snack stalls until they ate to their hearts' content.
Just as Jiang Yun was about to leave for the area where cultivators gathered, he was stopped by a little girl.
"Big sister... I'm hungry. Please buy me a steamed bun to eat. Please... Nannan is really, really hungry."
A childish and pitiful voice sounded out. A child was gently tugging at Xia Weier's skirt.
They looked down to see a filthy little girl blinking her large eyes and looking up at them pitifully.
She appeared to be only three or four years old. Her clothes were ragged, and it was unknown how long it had been since she had changed them. Her face was covered in grime, but her eyes were exceptionally clear.
The moment Jiang Yun saw the little girl, his entire body shook. Yan Capital... Nannan.
Of everyone in the Shrouding the Heavens World, the person Jiang Yun remembered most deeply was undoubtedly Xiao Nannan.
That little girl's tragic experiences had made him, a grown man, cry more than three times.
With Jiang Yun staring at her, Xiao Nannan became a little frightened. Looking as though she feared being scolded, she timidly lowered her head even further and no longer dared to speak.
"Would you like big sister to buy you something to eat?"
Xia Weier's voice sounded. She crouched down and gently stroked Xiao Nannan's lowered head, showing not the slightest trace of disgust.
Looking at Xiao Nannan, Xia Weier seemed to see herself from more than ten years ago.
Jiang Shuanglan noticed Jiang Yun's unusual reaction and asked softly in confusion,
"What happened just now? Is there something wrong with this little girl?"
"Nothing. She just brought back some unpleasant memories."
Jiang Yun's expression returned to normal, but as he looked at Xiao Nannan, he had not expected to encounter her here.
He took Xiao Nannan to have a sumptuous lunch.
During the meal, Xia Weier learned of Xiao Nannan's pitiful background. She had no relatives at all.
Moreover, she often forgot things that had happened before. Xia Weier found it heartbreaking; Xiao Nannan's life was even more miserable than hers had been.
All three women sympathized with her deeply. Seeing that Jiang Yun also seemed to sympathize with Xiao Nannan, Xia Weier began to entertain another thought.
After taking Xiao Nannan out for a meal, Xia Weier looked pleadingly at Jiang Yun and said,
"Can we bring Xiao Nannan back with us? I'll watch over her. She won't disturb you."
Jiang Yun had already entertained that thought, but before he could say it, Xia Weier spoke first.
"Of course. I had the same thought. Let's bring Xiao Nannan back. The valley will be livelier with her there."
Setting aside Xiao Nannan's pitiful origins, she was the Dao Fruit of a Great Emperor. The higher one's cultivation, the more awe one felt toward her. Having her there would also be a protective talisman.
"Senior Brother Jiang Yun, you're such a good person."
Xia Weier gathered her courage to praise Jiang Yun, then lowered her flushed face.
Jiang Yun did not know whether to laugh or cry. Those words sounded so familiar.
He crouched down and gently asked Xiao Nannan, "Nannan, would you like to live with big brother and these big sisters?"
"Really, big brother? Nannan is very well-behaved. I can wash clothes, sweep the floor, and learn anything."
The little girl looked nervous. Hope appeared in her eyes as she spoke softly.
"Of course you can. From now on, you'll stay with us. We'll take care of you like a little princess."
Jiang Yun gently patted Xiao Nannan's head.
"That's wonderful! I can be a big sister from now on!"
Before Xiao Nannan could speak, Little Dingdang's cheer rang out beside her.
They then took Xiao Nannan to buy several sets of pretty clothes. The three women carefully cleaned and dressed her up.
In an instant, Xiao Nannan became as beautiful as a little princess—soft, pink, and adorable, like an elf an Immortal had left behind in the Human World.
Xiao Nannan was very innocent. During the time that followed, she seemed to forget all her earlier unhappiness, and her little face was filled with laughter and smiles.
The process of taking Xiao Nannan in went smoothly. While wandering the world, Xiao Nannan had been adopted several times before.
But because she never grew up, people regarded her as a monster and abandoned Xiao Nannan again, leaving her to drift through the mortal world.
After dressing Xiao Nannan up, Jiang Yun and the others headed to the cultivators' district. Perhaps because they had encountered Xiao Nannan, Jiang Yun's luck was exceptionally good.
Using up all his Source Stones and several dozen bottles of Hundred-Grass Liquid, he purchased several batches of spirit herbs and precious materials that could be used to refine One-Turn Golden Cores.
Only one rare spirit herb, the Blood Origin Fruit, could not be found. He would have to rely on luck.
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