«You have discovered Phoenix City»
When Yuan and the others approached the city, they immediately noticed the massive line stretching for at least a mile long from the city entrance.
"What in heaven's name? Why is the queue so long?" Yuan stared at the line with wide eyes.
"It's only natural this place is so busy. Phoenix City is one of the most popular areas within the Eastern Continent due to its rich environment and abundance of treasures, so powerful Cultivators and rich merchants from all over the world come here to do business," Xiao Hua explained to him.
"Anyway, let's get in line first. Over a dozen people had entered the line by the time you finished speaking!" Yuan said as he walked to the back of the line.
After standing in line for half an hour, it was finally their turn to enter the city.
"Place your hands on this ball," said one of the guards once Yuan approached them.
Yuan placed his hands on the crystal ball, and once the guards confirmed that he was not a criminal, they said, "Entrance fee for Phoenix City is one gold coin."
"The three of us are together," Yuan said as he handed them 3 pieces of gold coins.
"Here are your guest permits. Due to the immense population and not wanting to overpopulate the city, you are only allowed to stay in Phoenix City for three days. If you are caught past your date, you'll be fined 100,000 gold coins. If you wish to stay longer, you must visit the Administration Hall, and you can extend your time for a price."
"I understand, " Yuan had to agree to such rules before they were finally allowed inside.
"Wow, this place is far more popular than I'd thought if they need to make such rules fearing for overpopulation…" Yuan said once they were inside.
"Most popular cities that focus on business are like this," Xiao Hua said.
"Well, three days is more than enough, as we'll be leaving immediately after we obtain a Spirit Fruit. Anyway, where do we go now?" Yuan asked her.
However, Xiao Hua shook her head and said, "Xiao Hua has never been here before— she has only heard of the Golden Phoenix Bazaar being here."
"Then I guess we'll have to ask around," Yuan said.
After spending a few minutes speaking to the pedestrians, Yuan got a good idea of the direction and began making his way towards the Golden Phoenix Bazaar with the other two girls.
"This place is really meant for business only. No matter where we go, the streets are filled with nothing but shops." Yu Rou said as they walked, enjoying the scenery. "Do people even live in this city? Because I haven't seen any houses yet."
"Only the wealthiest of people would live in a place like Phoenix City, and they are all within the center of the city. Do you see those tall buildings in the distance? They are houses." Xiao Hua said as she pointed in that direction.
"What?! Those pagodas are actually homes?! That's like living in Cultivators' Haven, which has 21 floors!" Yu Rou exclaimed.
After walking for many minutes, they reached this extremely wide street with a beautiful 'Golden Phoenix Bazaar' kite flying in the sky.
"Wow, so this is the Golden Phoenix Bazaar… But why does it appear so empty compared to the other streets?" Yuan raised his eyebrows.
Xiao Hua shrugged.
"I guess it doesn't really matter why there are so few people here. Anyway, we should just look at every store until we find one that's selling Spirit Fruits, right?" Yuan said.
"Un." They nodded.
However, right as Yuan prepared to enter the street, they were immediately stopped by the guards standing not too far away.
"Wait a second. Do you have permission to enter this area?" The guards asked them.
"Permission? We need permission to enter the Golden Phoenix Bazaar?" Yuan asked them with a surprised look, as this is his first time hearing this.
"Naturally. The Golden Phoenix Bazaar is not your ordinary place where one can enter normally, and only those with a permit are allowed to do business here."
"Then where do we get a permit? I'd like to buy something in there." Yuan asked them.
"This must be your first time here. Even getting the permit to enter this place is not that simple. First and foremost, you must donate a generous amount of money to the city lord before you can even be considered for the permit." The guard said to him.
"Money…?" Yuan immediately began sweating. "How much are we talking about?"
"Most people donate at least 10,000,000 gold coins," said the guard.
"10,000,000 gold coins?!" Yuan's jaw dropped to the ground.
If one must pay 10,000,000 to use the Golden Phoenix Bazaar, they might as well go somewhere else! At least they would still have 10,000,000 gold coins to spend by doing so!
"What's so special about the Golden Phoenix Bazaar, anyway? Requiring 10,000,000 coins for a permit to shop at a place is simply outrageous if you ask me. Nobody in their right mind would pay so much money for that." Yu Rou shook her head, unable to comprehend the reason behind this system.
"That's where you're wrong, young lady. Although it may be expensive, it is very well worth it, as the people you can find in this place are mostly renowned experts with immense backing or status in this world, and most people come here mainly to make connections with these individuals— shopping is only secondary." The guard explained to them the true purpose of the Golden Phoenix Bazaar.
"I see… that makes more sense…" Yu Rou nodded.
"What about the Spirit Fruit? Since we cannot enter this place without spending an extra 10,000,000 gold coins, we'll have to look elsewhere for them," Yuan sighed.
"Spirit Fruits? If you are looking for Spirit Fruits, then you can only find them inside the Golden Phoenix Bazaar," one of the guards said after hearing Yuan's words.
"How convenient…" Yuan sighed again.
"If you really want to enter the Golden Phoenix Bazaar, there are methods that don't require payments or permits, though." One of the guards suddenly said.
"What are those methods?" Yuan immediately asked.
"It's quite simple, actually."
The guards exchanged glances with each other before speaking—
"You just need a recommendation from a Spirit Grandmaster Cultivator!"
"If you reach the Spirit Grandmaster realm, you will be allowed to enter the Golden Phoenix Bazaar without any limitations!"
"Hahaha!"
The guards burst out laughing afterward, thinking that it was more realistic to pay 10,000,000 gold coins than to find someone at the Spirit Grandmaster realm.
"Spirit Grandmaster? Why didn't you say so? We have one right here." Yuan said with a relieved smile on his face.
"What did you just say? That there's a Spirit Grandmaster amongst you? Who? You? Hahaha!" The guards didn't take Yuan seriously and began laughing even louder.
"Well, she's not exactly a Spirit Grandmaster— she's a Spirit King," Yuan said as he pointed at Xiao Hua.
"Spirit King?! HAHAHAHAHA!" The guards laughed so hard after hearing his words that they'd begun rolling on the floor dying from laughter.
Yuan looked at the guards with a dumbfounded expression on his face. Why are they laughing so hard? What's so funny?
"If… If this little girl is a Cultivator with a Spirit Grandmaster cultivation base, much less Spirit King, I will run an entire lap around the Golden Phoenix Bazaar while naked!" One of the guards suddenly said.
"Only the Golden Phoenix Bazaar? I am willing to run around the entire city naked if she's really a Spirit King! Hahaha!"
"..."
Yu Rou and Yuan looked at each other with raised eyebrows.
"What are you two laughing at while on duty? I have been in a bad mood lately so I can use a few laughs! Go ahead, tell me what's so funny!"
A clear but irritated feminine voice suddenly resounded, and when the guards heard this female's voice, they immediately stopped laughing and turned around with fearful expressions on her faces, looking as though they were staring at death.
Yuan and Yu Rou also turned to look at the person who'd just spoken, and a very beautiful woman in her late twenties wearing red robes with a golden phoenix pattern could be seen walking in their direction.
"M-Madam Feng!" The guards immediately kowtowed on the ground with their back soaked in cold sweats. "W-We were wrong for laughing while on duty! Please have mercy!"
However, the woman being addressed as Madam Feng coldly snorted, "Did you not hear me? I want to know what's so funny that it made you laugh like maniacs!"
"W-Well… it's like this…"
The guards proceeded to explain the situation to Madam Feng.
A few moments later, Madam Feng turned her focus from the guards to Yuan and the two girls beside him.
"So you think it's funny to joke about being a Spirit King, huh?" Madam Feng narrowed her eyes at them and suddenly—
Boom!
The cultivation base of a Spirit Grandmaster suddenly erupted from Madam Feng's body, filling the area with a suffocating pressure, causing Yuan and Yu Rou to begin choking as though they were having trouble breathing.
"Do you still think it's funny to—"
However, before Madam Feng could even finish her sentence, Xiao Hua shouted in a cute but angry voice, "How dare you hurt Brother Yuan!"
Boom!
An immense pressure that far exceeded Madam Feng's pressure suddenly appeared to cancel out Madam Feng's pressure, before forcing Madam Feng onto her knees.
"T-This is?!" Madam Feng lifted her head with much effort to look at Xiao Hua, her gaze filled with shock and fear.
"A Spirit King!"