As the little boat flew onward, the two of them became increasingly impressed by the city's prosperity. It clearly far surpassed the cities of the Liang Kingdom where Li Xiaoya and the others came from. This city was a perfect marriage of cultivators' immortal arts and mortal architecture. Yet its surface splendor could not conceal its darker side. In its shadowy corners, there were still beggars whose rags barely covered them, prostitutes selling their bodies to survive, and thugs who bullied customers and lorded over the markets...
The two of them also realized that the boat this cultivator piloted was evidently a special Dharma Artifact, one that seemed able to ignore the flight-prohibition restriction. However, its flying speed was limited, and it apparently could not fly higher than the city walls.
Only after flying for more than a quarter of an hour did the little boat leave the bustling streets. As soon as they emerged, the view opened up before them, and a rush of moist air struck their faces. A vast ring-shaped lake appeared ahead, its waters several dozen zhang wide.
The lake was so clear that they could see straight to the bottom, which was covered in fist-sized pebbles. All kinds of fish swam through the water, making a lovely sight. Yet Li Xiaoya noticed that, despite all this, there was not a single boat on the lake.
In the middle of the lake lay a large island several li across. More than a dozen towering buildings stood upon it, and the entire island seemed to be enclosed within a layer of restrictions.
With a whoosh, the little boat carrying Li Xiaoya and Dong Santong stopped in the air above the lakeshore. Hesitation appeared on the face of the cultivator piloting it. He glanced back at the two