Great Tang's western border, Shanzhou.
"Young Song, this is Shanzhou City. When we come from Western Xia, we usually stop here first."
Song Yan and Xia Bo Paili walked slowly along the bustling street, with Void Aspect following behind Song Yan.
"Before the branch chief arranged identities for us, my sister and I lived here for a while."
Little Song was less familiar with this territory. He walked a little more slowly, occasionally looking around.
Shanzhou's Spiritual Qi was very dry. A light breeze brushed Song Yan's face, utterly unlike the relatively moist, mild climate of the Jiangnan Circuit in Wushang Prefecture.
Still, this was within Great Tang's borders, and Shanzhou's appearance was not so different from Lingzhou or Wuzhou, where Wushang lay.
Song Yan lowered his head to examine the other map in his hands. They had bought it in passing while crossing the Market Ward after teleporting here.
This map could not compare to the one the Wushang Prefecture steward had given him. It only showed the terrain and landforms around Shanzhou.
Even so, it did not mark the location of Luohou Abyss.
Xia Bo Paili thought nothing of it. Although he had never heard of Luohou Abyss either, he confidently told Song Yan to follow him.
"Fellow Daoist Gan Shen, where are we going now?"
"Look." Xia Bo Paili pointed ahead.
Song Yan raised his head and saw it.
A vast open-air square stood a short distance ahead of them. Heads thronged the square, and waves of noise washed toward them. Its bustle actually rivaled the Myriad Treasures Thoroughfare in Wushang Prefecture.
Yet the bustle here carried a rugged, foreign flavor.
With just a casual glance, Song Yan could see many people whose clothing and appearance differed greatly from Tang Court cultivators.
Some wore Great Tang fighting