427: Great Yan Dynasty, Flame City

The enormous Teleportation Formation was situated in the center of the plaza, constructed from countless profound runes and rare Materials.

It emitted intense spatial fluctuations.

Ten people had already gathered beside the Formation, and with the five people, including Yao Delong, who were arriving from different directions,

They exactly made up the fifteen individuals required for activation.

Yao Delong calmly swept his gaze over the crowd.

Just as he expected, those who could afford fifty Mid-Grade Spirit Stones to use the inter-Dynasty Teleportation Formation were certainly not ordinary.

Most were Cultivators of the Golden Core Realm, their aura either sharp, steady, or sinister.

They were clearly the cream of the crop among Loose Cultivators, or Elders and elite Disciples from small to medium-sized Sects within the Ba Xia Dynasty.

Two or three among them even had obscured auras, faintly reaching the Late Golden Core Stage.

Only a handful of two or three were scions of aristocratic families, dressed luxuriously and surrounded by guards, their cultivation mostly ranging from the Late Foundation Establishment Stage to the False Core Realm.

The cultivation he currently displayed was Early Golden Core Stage, neither high nor low in the crowd, making him completely inconspicuous.

He restrained his aura, like a drop of water merging into the sea, and stood quietly at the edge of the crowd.

The Steward in charge of the Teleportation Formation saw that everyone had arrived and announced loudly:

"Esteemed Immortals, everyone is present! Please enter the Formation quickly! The transmission is about to start!"

The fifteen people filed into the massive, light-shimmering Teleportation Formation.

Yao Delong stood in one corner of the Formation, sensing the powerful spatial force emanating from the runes beneath his feet.

Buzz—!

The Steward activated the core of the Formation. Dazzling white light instantly erupted, engulfing everyone's vision!

A powerful tearing force acted upon their bodies, as if trying to drag them into the endless Void Realm turbulence.

Yao Delong felt the scene before his eyes instantly twist and shatter, transforming into a bizarre passage of flowing light.

His body seemed to lose weight, yet simultaneously felt squeezed by an invisible immense force.

This spatial transmission dizziness caused even him, with his Nascent Soul Great Perfection cultivation and powerful Physical Body, to feel a slight discomfort.

After roughly several breaths, the dazzling white light suddenly vanished, and the feeling of solid ground returned.

At the same time, a completely different air, bearing a dry, scorching heat, rushed toward him!

The scene before his eyes suddenly cleared.

He was no longer in the desolate border plaza of Bali City, but inside a massive city with a distinct style.

The Teleportation Formation beneath his feet was equally huge, but the surrounding buildings were mostly constructed from reddish-brown rock, exhibiting a rugged and bold style.

The air was filled with a faint smell of sulfur and an omnipresent sense of dryness and heat.

The sky itself seemed higher and further away, tinged with a reddish-bronze hue.

"Jinyan City..."

Yao Delong muttered inwardly. This was the destination of the Teleportation Formation, an important town within the Great Yan Dynasty.

Just as he adapted to the foreign environment and prepared to leave the Teleportation Plaza,

A squad of City Guards, dressed in crimson leather armor and exuding a formidable aura, walked over.

The young Captain leading them sharply scanned the fifteen people who had just been teleported, his voice booming:

"Esteemed Immortals, routine inspection! Please present your identity credentials or Sect token and state your purpose!"

Everyone cooperated readily.

Those who could use the inter-Dynasty Teleportation Formation usually had identities that could withstand scrutiny.

Yao Delong calmly handed over the Yin Yang Sect jade token he had prepared long ago.

The City Guards Captain took it and scanned it with a specialized bronze mirror Magical Artifact.

After confirming the jade token's aura was correct and free of Devilish Qi contamination, he nodded and handed the token back.

"A Yin Yang Sect Disciple? What brings you to our Great Yan Dynasty?" the Captain asked routinely.

"Traveling, looking for some fire-attribute Spiritual Materials." Yao Delong was concise and his tone was flat.

The Captain didn't ask further, waving his hand: "Alright, you're cleared. Follow the rules in Jinyan City, and don't cause trouble."

Most of the others passed smoothly as well. Just as Yao Delong had expected,

Demonic Cultivators rarely used official Teleportation Formations so openly; the risk was too great, and stealth was their preferred method.

Leaving the Teleportation Plaza, Yao Delong immediately blended into the city's flow of people.

His goal was clear: he headed straight for the city's largest commercial district.

Being unfamiliar with the place, a detailed map was the first priority.

The bustle of Jinyan City far surpassed that of Bali City, with shops lining both sides of the street.

Most items sold were various fire-attribute Ore, Yao Beast Materials, drought-resistant Spiritual Plants, and Magical Robes and Magical Artifacts designed to withstand the intense heat.

The air was permeated with the metallic smell of Ore, the musky odor of Yao Beasts, and the strange fragrances of various Spiritual Materials.

Yao Delong's gaze swept around, and he suddenly stopped in front of a grand three-story pavilion.

The pavilion had a foundation of crimson crystal, pillars of white jade, and flying eaves supported by dougong brackets.

A massive plaque hung above the doorway,

On which were inscribed three large characters written in soaring Dragon and Phoenix script, imbued with dao rhyme—White Cloud Merchant Guild!

"White Cloud Merchant Guild? It actually has a branch here too..."

Yao Delong’s heart stirred slightly. This Merchant Guild’s reach truly extended everywhere.

At the entrance, two welcoming Female Cultivators, dressed in elegant white skirts and possessing attractive appearances,

Recognized Yao Delong's Early Golden Core Stage cultivation at a glance, and immediately broke into warm and respectful smiles:

"Welcome, Immortal Elder, to the White Cloud Merchant Guild! Please come inside!"

Yao Delong nodded slightly and stepped into the hall. The interior space of the hall was vast.

The decor was luxurious yet tasteful, and various spiritual lights and treasures shimmered in the counters, with an endless stream of Cultivators coming and going.

A middle-aged Steward, dressed in a brocade robe, sporting a goatee, and possessing sharp eyes, quickly stepped forward to greet him with a beaming smile:

"Fellow Daoist, you look unfamiliar. Is this your first visit to our Jinyan City branch?

May I ask what you require? Medicinal Pills, Magic Treasures, Talismans, Spiritual Materials—our Guild has everything, and quality is guaranteed!"

Yao Delong got straight to the point, his voice calm: "Give me a map of the Great Yan Dynasty and the Demon Skeleton Mountain Range. The more detailed, the better."

"A map?" A sharp gleam flashed in the Steward's eyes, and he immediately responded,

"Please wait a moment, Fellow Daoist!"

He quickly turned and walked behind a counter, retrieved a scroll made of some tough beast hide, and presented it with both hands.

"Fellow Daoist, please see. This is our Guild's latest and most detailed map covering the entire Great Yan Dynasty and the core region of the Demon Skeleton Mountain Range.

Topography, city distribution, known dangerous areas, Spiritual Vein paths, and specialty markings are all included!

It is the painstaking work of our senior 'Vein Seekers' and is absolutely worth the price!"

Yao Delong took the scroll; it felt slightly heavy and cool to the touch.

He unrolled a corner and swept it with his Divine Thought. Sure enough, the information was extremely detailed,

Even marking some small mineral veins and the known ranges of powerful Yao Beast lairs.

Although the core region of the Demon Skeleton Mountain Range was still shrouded in large areas of mist, the periphery and known paths were depicted very clearly.

"Not bad." Yao Delong nodded, closing the scroll. "How many Spirit Stones?"

"Ten Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, please." The Steward's smile remained unchanged.

Yao Delong didn't waste words, directly taking out ten Mid-Grade Spirit Stones and handing them over.

The Steward's smile widened, and he thanked him repeatedly.

Having obtained the map, Yao Delong did not linger. He turned and left the Merchant Guild, heading directly out of Jinyan City's East Gate.

Outside the city, the heat wave was even more intense. The reddish earth looked as if it had been baked, and the air carried distorted ripples.

Yao Delong summoned a common-quality Azure Steel Flying Sword, suitable for his Early Golden Core Stage identity,

Transforming into a streak of azure light, he sped off toward the Demon Skeleton Mountain Range marked on the map.