Martial Universe: The Eyes That Determine the Fate

Chapter 35 Flame City

The mountain path wound its way through lush forests. Li Yi walked slowly ahead, with Zi Yue following closely behind.

As they made their way to Yan City, the mountain roads stretched endlessly, and the days passed leisurely. A fierce competitive spirit lingered in Zi Yue's heart. Her previous defeat, coupled with her growing curiosity about Li Yi, made her unable to contain herself and she repeatedly suggested a sparring match.

Without exception, they were crushed every time.

In the following days, whenever Ziyue found an opening, she couldn't help but challenge others to a duel. Each time, she would go all out, using her talisman master skills in turn, with various moves emerging one after another.

But every time, the ending is exactly the same.

Li Yi never used overly complicated moves. Sometimes he would simply move to the side, sometimes he would just raise his hand to block, and sometimes he would not even exert his full strength. He could easily break through all her attacks by relying solely on his physical senses and inexplicable agility.

Every exchange ended in an instant; Zi Yue couldn't even last several rounds, always being swiftly and decisively defeated.

After several rounds, Ziyue's initial resentment and stubbornness gradually turned into helplessness, and finally she got used to it.

I can no longer muster even the slightest competitive spirit.

She gradually realized the huge gap between the two of them. Her proud talisman skills were like child's play in front of Li Yi, and were not worth mentioning at all.

This confirms Li Yi's earlier statement that it was "just children playing house."

Despite losing several times in the competition, she was not annoyed. Instead, her admiration for him grew stronger. The feelings that had quietly blossomed between them deepened and intensified as they spent time together on their journey.

Along the way, Zi Yue no longer focused on the competition. In her spare time, she would take the initiative to talk to Li Yi about the customs and culture of the cultivation world, the division of various forces, and the structure of the major sects and families in Yan City.

She was naturally aloof and proud, but when she was with Li Yi, she gradually became more talkative, and her eyes and brows softened, losing their usual distance.

Li Yi mostly listened quietly, occasionally offering a simple response. Though he didn't say much, he didn't object to her accompanying him.

The two of them walked one after the other towards Yan City.

Traveling by day and resting by night, three days passed quietly.

On the afternoon of the third day, the two finally saw the city walls of Yan City.

Yancheng is the closest city to Qingyang Town, and Li Yi, having gotten lost, spent several days before finally arriving.

On the main road leading to Yan City, the bustling crowds and noise slightly stirred Li Yi's originally calm mind.

The two walked at a leisurely pace through the crowd and finally arrived outside Yan City. When they saw the magnificent city wall that was nearly a hundred feet high, Li Yi couldn't help but gasp in amazement.

"Compared to this place, Qingyang Town can be considered shabby." Li Yi looked up at the towering city walls, his tone unusually tinged with emotion.

Zi Yue stood beside him and glanced at him when she heard this. She had grown up in Yan City and had never thought that this city wall was anything special.

"You—have never seen such a high city wall before?" Zi Yue asked curiously when she saw Li Yi's expression.

"good."

Zi Yue wanted to laugh, but she held it in.

She couldn't imagine anything else, but she could picture a boy standing by a low wall, gazing into the distance, unaware that there were even higher walls beyond the mountains.

The city gate was bustling with people. Several soldiers guarding the city stood on both sides of the gate, checking the identity of each person entering the city and collecting an entry fee.

Zi Yue stared at him for a while, then turned and walked towards the city gate. After taking two steps, she turned back and saw Li Yi still standing there. She said coldly, "Go."

Li Yi nodded and followed Zi Yue toward the city gate.

She walked to the city gate, and when the soldiers guarding the city saw her, their expressions changed, and they quickly bowed their heads in salute.

"Miss Purple Moon!"

"Um.

""

The soldiers quickly made way, and Ziyue walked straight in. No one asked her for money, no one stopped her, and no one even dared to look at her twice.

Li Yi followed behind her, walking through the passage cleared by the soldiers.

"He is my friend," Ziyue said.

Upon hearing this, the soldier immediately bowed and nodded, not daring to show the slightest negligence. He quickly cupped his hands in greeting to Li Yi, not daring to mention even a word about the city entrance fee.

To be called a friend by Miss Ziyue herself, one must be of extraordinary status. How could she dare to be questioned and charged like an ordinary person entering the city?

Li Yi remained calm and did not take such courtesy to heart. He lightly lifted his foot and calmly stepped into the gate of Yan City.

After passing through a somewhat dimly lit city gate tunnel, a deafening clamor suddenly surged in like a tidal wave, leaving the unprepared Li Yi somewhat bewildered.

Looking at the dense crowds on the street and then at the many magnificent buildings in the city, Li Yi was once again amazed.

The wide streets crisscross, all paved with huge bluestone slabs. On both sides, there are many buildings with upturned eaves. One building after another rises from the ground. Taverns, medicine shops, weapon workshops and talisman workshops are lined up one after another, with signs hanging high and a bustling atmosphere.

Zi Yue slowed her pace, deliberately waiting for Li Yi to reach her side. Her cool gaze swept over the bustling street scene, and she spoke calmly, "Yan City is much more complicated than you imagine. Various forces are intertwined within the city, and undercurrents are surging. Although you are powerful, I still advise you not to get into conflicts with others casually, so as not to provoke unnecessary trouble."

Having grown up in Yan City, she was already well-versed in the rules and customs of the place, and subconsciously gave her a few more words of advice.

Li Yi slowly scanned his surroundings, his double pupils slightly narrowed, secretly sensing the scattered Yuan energy fluctuations throughout the city. The Earthly Yuan Realm cultivators that could be seen everywhere on the streets were indeed far superior to those in a small town like Qingyang Town in terms of cultivation foundation.

The two walked into the city.

Li Yi stopped outside a particularly grand and imposing pavilion.

"The Building of Curious Things"

When Zi Yue saw Li Yi suddenly stop and his gaze fall on the ancient and magnificent Qiwu Building, she frowned slightly and also stopped.

She looked up at the three large, ancient-looking characters on the plaque above the pavilion, and her cool voice rang out at the right moment: "The Treasure Pavilion is one of the top treasure shops in Yan City, selling all kinds of things. It's a very complex place, full of all sorts of people."

Li Yi stood at the gate, hesitated for a moment, and then went inside.

Zi Yue watched as Li Yi strode straight into the building. After hesitating for a moment, she followed him.

As soon as Li Yi stepped through the gate, a vast hall appeared before him, filled with numerous counters displaying a dazzling array of items.

Elixirs, pills, weapons, demon crystals, martial arts —

Looking around, all sorts of items filled the view, and judging from their quality, it was clear that these were not ordinary things.

"Hey buddy, what would you like to order?"

As Li Yi stared at the numerous items in the counter, a young servant in blue robes walked over with a smile and pulled out a black longsword from the counter.

"Look, this is a black iron sword, forged from black iron through a hundred refinements. It's so sharp it can cut through a hair with a single blow. Moreover, this weapon has been engraved with runes and infused with elemental power by a master. It can pierce even the hardest armor. If you wield it, young man, you will be even more powerful."

Li Yi glanced at the black iron sword and saw a crooked rune engraved on it, its faint luster shimmering.

Li Yi shook his head; he wasn't particularly interested in this thing.

Seeing this, the servant had no choice but to reluctantly put away the iron sword. Just as he was about to introduce other things, he saw Ziyue walk in.