In just a few years, the situation in Western Tang had taken a sharp turn for the worse, now a utterly chaotic mess. Natural and man-made disasters plagued every prefecture, and rebellions erupted everywhere, leaving the people destitute. Yet, amidst this chaos, only the capital, Luoyang, remained thriving, showing no sign of decline.
On this day, a young Taoist priest in a green Taoist robe appeared at the southwest gate of the capital Luoyang City, looking exhausted.
He looked up at the towering city wall, a sense of awe welling up in his heart. Standing over ten feet tall, the tower looked magnificent. However, a closer look revealed scars of fire, swords, and arrows. These mottled marks bore witness to the vicissitudes of time and the ravages of war. Despite this, the tower remained standing, as if to testify to its former glory.
Since the middle of the Former Tang Dynasty, Luoyang has been revered as the Divine Capital, a title that continues to this day. Today, the city has weathered hundreds of years of ups and downs, witnessing the passing of countless dynasties.
The southwest gate has two doorways, one for entering and the other for exiting. Even though there are many pedestrians and carriages at this moment, it does not affect the orderly flow.
Su Rui entered the city with the crowd and immediately felt like he was at the center of the world. The city's buildings were stacked one after another, their heights staggered and arranged in a well-arranged pattern. Most featured red walls, green tiles, glazed roofs, and overhanging eaves. Some houses were only two or three stories high, while others reached seven or eight. The most conspicuous tower in the distance was probably thirty or forty stories high.
The sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, everything is so beautiful.
Wandering along this ancient yet vibrant street, Su Rui felt as if he were in a dreamlike world. He saw all kinds of people, some busy shuttling among the crowds, while others leisurely enjoyed this rare quiet time.
As Su Rui continued walking, the shops lining the street gradually came into view. These shops offered a wide variety of goods, from fabrics and various grains to daily necessities. Each shop had its own unique characteristics, attracting the attention of passersby. Su Rui observed these shops with great interest, taking in their unique charm.
A few steps further, we reached an intersection. The intersection was filled with a variety of small stalls, selling fruits and vegetables, handicrafts, and even books and stationery. The stall owners enthusiastically solicited customers, their faces beaming with smiles. Su Rui, caught up in the lively atmosphere, couldn't help but smile too.
At this moment, a tempting aroma filled his nose. Su Rui followed the scent and saw steam rising from a bun shop. The freshly baked buns exuded an alluring aroma that made his mouth water.
Su Rui couldn't help but walk over to the stall and buy two to try. The buns had thin wrappers and generous fillings, a delicious blend of unidentified wild vegetables and tender, juicy pork. Su Rui continued walking down the street while eating his buns.
As Su Rui walked, he suddenly spotted several fortune-telling stalls on a stone arch bridge near the river. These stalls looked quite mysterious, attracting many curious passersby to stop and watch. Intrigued by these mysteries, Su Rui chose one and walked over.
When Su Rui arrived at the fortune-telling stall, he found it rather deserted. However, the nun in hemp clothes who was running the stall didn't seem to mind, sitting there leisurely and contentedly, as if she were on vacation rather than fortune-telling.
Su Rui sat down on the small bench in front of the fortune-telling stall. The hemp-clothed Taoist nun glanced at him and saw that Su Rui was wearing a Taoist robe, and it was a very orthodox Taoist robe. She said in a somewhat unpleasant tone, "My fellow Taoist, why are you joining me here?"
Su Rui didn't take it seriously, just smiled faintly and said, "I'm here to tell your fortune."
The Taoist nun in hemp clothes rolled her eyes and said unhappily, "You are a cultivator, what kind of fate do you have!"
Su Rui shook his head, smiled slightly and said, "I'll give you the money." As he spoke, he took out a silver ingot from his pocket and placed it on the table.
The nun's eyes lit up, and she immediately put on a smile: "Oh, it turns out you're an honored guest! Please take a seat, please take a seat!"
Su Rui smiled and sat on the small stool. Then he looked at the Taoist nun in hemp clothes and said softly, "What I want to calculate is very simple. I just want to know how many people from the Naked Sect have come to Shenjing now?"
When she heard the words "Naked Sect," Nun Hemp's face changed slightly, but she quickly concealed her emotion and regained her composure. She stared at Su Rui, a hint of vigilance in her eyes, and asked, "Why did you suddenly mention the Naked Sect? Do you have a grudge against us?"
Su Rui shook his head slightly in denial, explaining, "It's not really a grudge. After all, your Saint Ye Qiuyu and I are old acquaintances. Actually, I'm just curious about the current situation in Shenjing. How many forces have infiltrated it, and where are they from? What are their intentions?"
The Taoist nun in hemp clothes replied rudely: "I don't even know who you are, so why should I tell you these things?"
Su Rui raised the corner of his mouth and said with a faint smile: "Because I am stronger than you, is this a reason for you to tell me the truth?"
After he finished speaking, he released a small amount of Nascent Soul aura. He could tell that the hemp-clothed Taoist nun had only reached the Dancheng stage of cultivation, and her aura was weak. It was likely that the Golden Core she had cultivated was of low quality, at best, mid-to-low grade. For such an opponent, Nascent Soul strength was enough to intimidate her.
Sure enough, when she felt Su Rui's powerful aura, the Taoist nun in hemp clothes' face immediately turned gloomy.
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