In the frigid lands, after my exile, I began to slay demons and monsters.

Chapter 220 Entering the Flame Capital

As Tianji and his party approached the city gate, three people disembarked from the carriage.

All three were wearing loose robes made of thick, breathable linen fabric, which effectively blocked strong ultraviolet rays while allowing for ventilation and heat dissipation.

His brown robe blended seamlessly into the desert landscape, a wide belt cinched at his waist, with daggers dangling from his left side. A long, breathable, and lightweight headscarf covered his head, one end of which hung down to cover his mouth and nose.

The first man pulled down the headscarf covering his mouth and nose, revealing bronze skin and deep brown eyes. He bowed to Tianji and said, "Fu Wenyuan of the Fu family welcomes Lord Tianji. We have prepared a carriage for you to help alleviate the heat. Please move to another carriage. Wenyuan will escort you to your accommodations."

Tianji tilted his head slightly, "No need, you just lead the way."

Fu Wenyuan didn't say anything more, and directly mounted the horse that had been led over from the side, leading the group into the city.

After entering the city gate, it was a completely different world from outside the city. There was a cool breeze here, a refreshing breeze that was so pleasant it was invigorating.

“As the prefectural capital of Yanzhou, Yandu has a unique defensive formation that not only blocks the invasion of demons but also makes the climate within the city pleasant.” Sui Lanting noticed Ning Xiaoxi’s doubts and walked alongside her.

The streets here are crisscrossed, and the stone slabs are slightly roughened by the wind and sand. On both sides of the streets are rows of closely packed houses, mostly built with local sand, gravel, and clay. Their designs are simple yet practical, and the thick walls can withstand the daytime heat while keeping the interior warm at night. Even with the protection of magical formations, the people here still retain their simple traditions.

The men's clothing here is all very similar, but the women's clothing is quite unusual.

The women's clothing, while still practical, also possessed a touch of refinement and femininity. They wore long robes, but the styles were more fitted, with exquisite patterns embroidered on the collars and cuffs. Unique designs, such as desert flowers and birds, were outlined with colorful silk threads, adding a splash of color to the otherwise simple attire.

The women's headscarves were also unique, with more vibrant colors, mostly red and blue, and some were even inlaid with small beads or sequins, shimmering with a charming light under the sun.

At this moment, the women walking on the street wore a thin veil over their long robes, which fluttered in the wind, showing off their graceful figures.

Her graceful figure and exotic charm made Ning Xiaoxi's eyes almost pop out.

"Hehe, shouldn't Xiaoxi's eyes be on those strong men? Why are you staring at the girls so intently?"

Ning Xiaoxi glanced around, "No man can compare to a lady. Look at her beautiful features, her graceful figure, her captivating charm. Those stinky men can't even come close!"

Upon hearing Ning Xiaoxi's words, Tianji's face darkened, and he secretly resolved to never let her get close to Qingli again.

Fu Wenyuan, who was leading the way, suppressed a laugh, thinking that he would have his sister visit this Ning official when they got back!

The city was now bustling with people. Celestial Masters in various costumes could be seen coming and going, as well as Heavenly Fiends or Earthly Fiends officials in ordinary clothes. When Ning Xiaoxi arrived at the inn where she was staying, she felt that she had encountered more officials on her journey than she had seen in the past few months combined.

"The Western Trial is not only a grand event for Yandu, but also for the Celestial Masters Pavilion. There are very few activities for Celestial Masters now, so no matter what, the Western Trial absolutely cannot have any accidents." Sui Lanting's voice grew softer and softer, "so as not to give the Wang Ting an excuse."

Ning Xiaoxi also saw some discontent on the faces of the other three subordinates, but it was not obvious. Had the Wang court's fear of the Celestial Master Pavilion reached this point?

The Flame Capital Inn is the largest inn in the city, and it's where the chief examiners of each Western Trial stay. To the left and right of the Flame Capital Inn are two other inns of similar size, only much more luxuriously decorated.

Ning Xiaoxi observed that the Yandu Inn consistently adhered to a practical style, with thick walls, small windows, and virtually no special decorations.

The inns on the left and right were different. Although they weren't ornately decorated, they still had wooden beams and distinct window frames. The walls weren't made of rammed earth, but rather a combination of stone and earth. In the corners hung flowers and plants to repel mosquitoes and insects, along with various wind chimes that occasionally rang out with a clear, pleasant sound, giving people a sense of tranquility.

"The Flame Capital Inn is run by our Celestial Master Pavilion. The Zuo Yan Inn on the left is run by City Lord Chu Yannan, and the You Yan Inn on the right is run by King Kai of Yanzhou."

Oh ho, this is interesting, it's very similar to Youzhou! One city, three forces, standing in a tripartite balance.

The Flame Capital Inn has three floors. Tianji was placed on the second floor of the main building, Ning Xiaoxi and Sui Lanting were on the left, and the other three were on the right. The group occupied three rooms.

Ning Xiaoxi didn't want to go back to her room, so she followed Tianji into his room. Sui Lanting tried to reach out to pull her in, but he didn't have time.

"My lord, there are still three days before the trial begins. What are your plans?"

Tianji sat down and poured himself a glass of water. "As long as you don't leave the city, you're free to do as you please."

Ning Xiaoxi's eyes lit up. "Thank you, sir!"

After saying that, he quickly greeted Sui Lanting at the door and ran out.

“My lord!” Sui Lanting stood at the door, looking at the heavenly secrets.

"It's alright, let her go. She's the type who can't stay still." Tianji waved his hand.

Ning Xiaoxi stepped out of the inn, looked around, and strolled onto the street with the flow of people.

The air here is not stuffy; a gentle breeze blows, and fragrances permeate the air. It's not just the sweet aroma of food, but also the complex fragrance of spices, as well as the scents of flowers and fruits. All these aromas blend together, arousing people's desire to buy.

[Tuanzi, do you like the taste here?]

Too many desires can impair one's mental state.

[If I have no desires or wants, what am I living for?]

Jiuyu leaned against the edge of his small nest, holding a cup filled with the sap of the Three Mulberry Tree. "Desire is what matters," he thought, "whether human, demon, or monster, all are prisoners of desire."

Since you dislike socializing, why force yourself? Let's just focus on eliminating the evil.

Although I often feel awkward around people, no one in this world can live in isolation; we all have to return to the mortal realm.

Ning Xiaoxi picked up a bunch of grapes from a nearby stall, casually handed the vendor some money, plucked a grape and put it in her mouth—it was sweet!

I have a feeling that something is going to happen during this trial.

[What could possibly happen according to the established practices of the Celestial Masters Pavilion? Besides, with so many Celestial Masters here, even a great demon lord would have to be cautious; how could he dare to cause trouble here?]

[Demons dare not, but where are the people? Although Di Fei is a member of the Fu family, what did he bring that would provoke such a strong reaction that someone would want to kill him?]

Would the human race really go to such lengths without any moral boundaries?