At noon on the sixth day, the carriage slowly entered Fasinuo City, the capital of Fasinuo Province.
As soon as they approached the towering city walls, the clamor poured through the gaps in the carriage curtains like a rising tide. Lin Yan lifted a corner of the curtain and looked outside. The dark blue-green walls, more than a hundred feet tall, bore the marks of passing years. At the gates, guards in gleaming silver armor stood alert with spears in hand, their sharp eyes scanning the endless stream of people, horses, and carriages. Compared with Nuoding City, not only were there more guards here, but the faint fluctuations of soul power they gave off were clearly a notch stronger.
After paying the entry tax, the carriage followed the crowd into the city. The view before him suddenly opened up. Even though he had prepared himself, Lin Yan was still slightly moved by the prosperity of this provincial capital.
The straight, broad main road could accommodate eight carriages abreast. Smooth blue-gray flagstones paved its surface, polished until they reflected people's images. Shops lined both sides of the street, banners fluttering above them. Their wares ranged from everyday necessities to soul tools flashing with multicolored light, precious medicinal herbs giving off unusual fragrances, and weapons and armor gleaming coldly. Everything imaginable was there, a dazzling array. The towering buildings came in varied styles, some Gothic with pointed roofs, others Baroque with domes, displaying the city's breadth of spirit, like a sea embracing a hundred rivers.
More importantly, among the pedestrians rubbing shoulders in the streets, the proportion of soul masters was astonishingly high. Almost every few steps, he could sense fluctuations of soul power of varying strength. There were young soul masters in matching uniforms, clearly students from some academy; travel-worn teams of soul masters wearing adventurer badges; and lavishly dressed noble youths surrounded by attendants. An atmosphere of restlessness intertwined with anticipation filled the air.
It looks like they were all drawn here by the Heaven Dou auction, Lin Yan realized. Such a grand event had attracted not only the local powerful figures, but probably factions and crowds from neighboring provinces and even farther afield, making the already prosperous Fasinuo City even more crowded and extraordinarily lively.
Following Lin Yan's instructions, the driver stopped outside the Clear Spring Inn, an establishment in the city with a good reputation and peaceful surroundings. After settling his luggage and resting briefly, Lin Yan saw that there were still several hours until the evening auction and decided to take a stroll. He wanted to experience the atmosphere of this great city firsthand and see whether he might come across anything interesting.
Strolling along the bustling streets, Lin Yan studied the shops on either side and the passing pedestrians with interest. Vendors' cries in various accents, the sounds of bargaining, and the neighs of soul beast mounts mingled together, forming a vivid portrait of city life.
Just as he was immersed in this prosperous scene, a rough voice tinged with pleasant surprise came from behind him to one side:
"Lin Shuo? Is that you?"
Lin Yan turned at the voice and saw three young people in Soto Academy uniforms standing not far away before a stall selling soul beast materials. The tall, resolute-faced young man at their head was none other than Lei En, whom he had once worked with in the Soul Hunting Forest. Beside him stood Su Yun, Ling Ren, and the Control System soul master Ji Qiu.
"Lei En? Su Yun, Ji Qiu, Ling Ren? What a coincidence. I didn't expect to run into you here." A smile appeared on Lin Yan's face as he approached. Meeting old acquaintances, especially in an unfamiliar great city like this, was always a pleasant thing.
"Haha, it really is you!" Lei En laughed as he stepped forward and clapped Lin Yan firmly on the shoulder. "Your back looked familiar just now, but I didn't expect it to really be you! What brings you to Fasinuo City?"
"I came to see the auction and broaden my horizons," Lin Yan answered with a smile, his gaze sweeping over the four of them. "Are you here for that too?"
"That's right," Su Yun replied with a smile, her voice gentle. "The academy gave us a few places so we could come and see whether there were any suitable cultivation resources."
Ling Ren added, "An auction in Fasinuo City is bound to have good things."
Lei En enthusiastically draped an arm around Lin Yan's shoulders. "Running into each other like this must be fate! Come on, let's not stand around here. I know a good tavern nearby. Let's have a drink and talk! I still haven't had the chance to properly thank you for what happened in the Star Dou Great Forest last time."
Such warm hospitality was hard to refuse, and Lin Yan happened to want more information about the auction and intermediate and advanced soul master academies, so he readily agreed.
The four of them arrived at a tavern called the Oak Barrel. Although its decor was not luxurious, it had a pleasant atmosphere, its wooden structure lending it a rustic warmth. They found a relatively quiet corner, sat down, and ordered some of the house's signature ale and food.
After a few cups of rich ale, the atmosphere grew even warmer. Lei En once again solemnly thanked Lin Yan for his help last time, while Su Yun, Ji Qiu, and Ling Ren also raised their cups in acknowledgment. As they chatted, the conversation naturally turned to their recent circumstances and plans for the future.
"Time flies," Lei En said with a sigh. "In a few more months, we'll be graduating from Soto Academy. It's time to think about entering an advanced soul master academy to continue our studies."
Su Yun nodded, anticipation in her eyes. "Whether it's teachers, resources, or the cultivation environment, intermediate academies simply can't compare with advanced soul master academies. Only there can we go further."
Lei En looked at Lin Yan and asked curiously, "Lin Shuo, did you pass your family's trial?"
Lin Yan nodded. "I passed!"
"Then what are your plans after that?"
"After I passed the family trial, my family told me to arrange my own future path. I'm planning to find a soul master academy and enroll!"
"You're going to an academy too?" Lei En's voice rose a little at this. "Why don't you enter Spirit Hall Academy with us?"
Su Yun also said gently, "Yes, why not go to Spirit Hall Academy with us when the time comes?"
Lin Yan wanted to enter Spirit Hall Academy as well. After all, with Spirit Hall backing it, the academy surely had the best materials and resources. But for now, Lin Yan did not want to expose certain things about himself, so entering an intermediate soul master academy and climbing upward step by step better suited his temperament.
Moreover, entering Spirit Hall Academy and then becoming caught in the whirlpool between Tang San and Spirit Hall would be no different from drawing fire onto himself.
He lifted his cup and sipped the fragrant ale, savoring the sweetness that followed its slight bitterness as he gradually reached a decision.
"You have a point." Lin Yan raised his head, a sharp gleam flashing through his eyes. "But I have my own plans. Once I've thought it through, I'll come find you."
"Yeah, that's true. You should decide for yourself!" Lei En raised his cup. "Come on, let's put everything else aside for now and drink. Cheers!"
"Cheers!" Su Yun and the others raised their cups with smiles as well.
Five cups gently met in the air with a clear clink.
They talked about much more, sharing insights into cultivation and their expectations for that evening's auction. Time flew by amid their pleasant conversation.
Outside the window, the sky gradually darkened, and Fasinuo City's splendid lights began to glow. Rather than thinning, the crowds in the streets grew denser, many of them heading toward the city center-where the Heaven Dou Auction House stood.
"It's almost time," Ai Wen reminded them, glancing at the soul-powered clock in the tavern.
"Let's go." Lei En stood and stretched his limbs. "Time to head to the auction."
The five settled their bill and left the Oak Barrel, merging into the stream of people heading toward the auction house. Beneath the night sky, Fasinuo City glittered with lights and rang with a boiling clamor of voices. At its center, the magnificent circular building-the Fasinuo Auction House-had thrown open its doors to welcome guests from every direction.
Following the crowd, Lin Yan and his companions had their invitations checked, passed through a heavily guarded passage, and finally stepped inside the auction venue.