"A place for pleasure?"
Cheng Xinzhan looked somewhat puzzled.
Sun Miaoshu smiled. "Not everyone in the world is an ascetic with a pure heart and few desires."
She paused, then added, "Often, not even one cultivator in ten thousand manages to ascend. Most people would rather not die of old age in a cave."
She pointed toward the great city among the clouds. "So cultivators want pleasure too. But the great cities of the mortal world are too heavily entangled in worldly karma for them to dare enter, while the famous mountains and great rivers are occupied by the various traditions. Their only choice is to build cities in the sky."
He Jiyuan found this hard to believe. "A bunch of pleasure-seekers could build a gigantic city among the clouds like this?"
Sun Miaoshu smiled again. "Only rich people would pursue pleasure at any cost, and only rich people can get mighty figures from all quarters to accomplish their aims. Never underestimate wealth and merchants. They were the ones who built the White Jade Capital."
As they spoke, they reached the enormous city entrance. Many others were flying in from every direction as well.
"Is it always this busy?"
He Jiyuan asked.
"No, there are more people because the New Year is almost here."
"Huh? They celebrate the New Year here too?"
"Heh, apart from Dao scions, didn't everyone come from the mortal world? Taking a break and enjoying yourself at New Year is a deeply rooted habit. Doesn't your Yingyuan Prefecture take time off during the first month too?"
He Jiyuan smiled and agreed.
"Doesn't entering the city cost anything?"
The immense gateway had neither gates nor guards, and everyone simply walked inside.
There was only an enormous peacock statue atop the gatehouse; a person stood no higher than