Cultivation Online novel Chapter 1816

"When we first discovered the Hidden Domain, we thought this city was all it had to offer," Hong Ling explained as they walked through the streets of the City of Radiance. "Because of the size of this city, it took us several years to search through it thoroughly. Unfortunately, we didn’t find many treasures here." _{ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com}

Her tone carried a hint of frustration, clearly recalling the disappointment of their fruitless efforts.

"While most Hidden Domains are treasure troves, offering priceless artifacts or cultivation techniques, that’s not always the case," she continued. "Some Hidden Domains turn out to be completely barren, with nothing of value to offer. For a while, we thought this was one of those."

As they continued their walk through the city, Yuan and his group noticed other visitors rifling through the empty stores like desperate bandits.

Some tore apart shelves and counters in search of hidden compartments, while others pried at walls and floors, hoping to uncover secret caches. The scene was chaotic, filled with muttered curses and the occasional exclamation of frustration as their efforts turned up nothing.

It was clear that, despite the city’s emptiness, the visitors weren’t ready to give up on the possibility of hidden treasures lurking within its abandoned structures.

"Are you okay with them tearing up this place like that?" Feng Yuxiang asked, raising an eyebrow as she glanced at the chaotic scene around them.

Hong Ling smiled faintly and replied, "As long as they don’t alter the structure of the city or cause any major damage, it’s fine. Besides, entering the Hidden Domain isn’t free. The Heavenly Beast Sect collects fees for access for those without a slot, so it’s not like we aren’t benefiting from their desperation."

Hong Ling didn’t bother stating the obvious—that the Heavenly Beast Sect had already scoured every inch of this city with meticulous care. They had left no stone unturned, no hidden compartment unchecked.

As they ventured deeper into the city, Yuan’s sense of nostalgia grew increasingly profound. Every detail—the architecture, the layout of the streets, and even the faint traces of energy lingering in the air—stirred something deep within him.

’That noodle store belonged to Granny Mai,’ Yuan thought, his gaze lingering on a small, dirty, and rundown store nestled between two much larger and more luxurious establishments. Stay connected with freewebnovel

A faint smile touched his lips as memories stirred within him. ’She would always give me a free meal whenever I visited… even when I insisted on paying.’

A few blocks down, Yuan’s gaze landed on an old smithy, its structure dusty and abandoned.

’Uncle Dong…’ Yuan thought, a wave of nostalgia washing over him. The memory of the reliable blacksmith surfaced clearly in his mind. Uncle Dong had always been there to help, fixing Tian Yang’s swords whenever they became too worn or damaged from rigorous use.

Eventually, Yuan and his group reached the outer area of the city, where the shops and bustling streets gave way to rows of residential buildings.

The houses varied in size and design, but most shared an elegant simplicity, showcasing the same ancient craftsmanship as the rest of the city. However, like the rest of the city, these homes were eerily empty, their windows dark and lifeless, as though the residents had vanished without a trace.

"This is the residential area. There’s not much to see here," Hong Ling said, her tone casual as she began to turn, clearly intending to lead them elsewhere.

"Wait," Yuan interjected, his voice calm but firm. "There’s a place I want to visit."

"Huh? Sure," Hong Ling replied, nodding despite the puzzled expression on her face. She followed Yuan, clearly curious about what he was looking for.

Without another word, Yuan stepped forward and began leading the group deeper into the residential area. His movements were confident, as if he knew exactly where he was going.