Taking off into the sky, Lu Feng marveled at the bustling city below. Cultivators on swords whizzed past him as he hovered in place, admiring the vast expanse of Brightmoon City.
The numerous gates and the constant movement of people and goods reminded him of the rush hour traffic back on Earth, stirring long-forgotten memories.
After soaking in the magnificent sight, Lu Feng descended to the ground, unfamiliar with the city's layout.
As he scanned the surroundings for a city guard to ask for directions, a large plaque mounted on a nearby pole caught his attention.
Surprised, Lu Feng clicked his tongue. 'Damn, they even have a map with prominent places...'
Stepping onto the sidewalk, Lu Feng studied the map, determined to memorize it.
'They even have zoning,' Lu Feng chuckled, his lips curling up.
The residential areas of the outer and inner city occupied a significant portion, with the central business zone nestled in between them.
The inner city boasted clan and sect estates along with premium businesses. At its heart lay the Holy Divine Palace and the City Lord's mansion, both marked with golden letters on the map to signify their importance.
Other notable locations included the outer and inner arenas.
'Although the information is basic, it's enough for newcomers to navigate the city...'
Beep. The familiar sound interrupted Lu Feng's thoughts.
'System'
New Information Deduced:
Spirit Stones, Spirit Crystals, Origin Stones, and Origin Crystals form the basis of Currency.
1000 Spirit Stones = 1 Spirit Crystal.
1000 Spirit Crystals = 1 Origin Stone.
1000 Origin Stones = 1 Origin Crystal.
Mortal world currency includes Gold, Silver and Copper coins of various weights or prescribed denominations. The exchange rate is highly dependent on the region.
The inventory on your person is 137,642 Spirit Crystals and 2 Origin Crystals; Totaling to 2,137,642 Spirit Crystals.
'Hmm, not bad for an upstart young master,' Lu Feng nodded in satisfaction.
'I should explore the business district before settling in for the day,' Lu Feng decided to explore the city now that he's familiar with the layout. He jumped on his sword and took off.
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
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After several hours of exploration, Lu Feng decided it was time to settle in for the day. He made his way toward the "Golden Inn," reputedly the best hotel in Brightmoon City according to the peanut gallery.
Initially skeptical of the lavish praise he had heard, Lu Feng began to suspect the promoters might have been paid actors. However, upon arriving at the location of the inn, he was thoroughly convinced. The Ten-Storey building, complete with a koi pond and meticulously manicured landscaping, along with the high-end clientele milling about, confirmed the inn's legitimacy.
Stepping inside, Lu Feng's attention was immediately drawn not to the opulent interior design, or the abundance of precious metals used for decoration, but rather to the dense Qi energy permeating the atmosphere, which was more than twice as potent as that outside.
Lu Feng raised his eyebrows as he pondered, 'What a luxurious display of wealth... To maintain such a huge Qi gathering formation— It's quite wasteful... I wonder who the owner is?'
"Welcome, sir, how can I be of assistance?" a pleasant voice interrupted Lu Feng's contemplation.
A beautiful young woman dressed in a red cheongsam stood before him with a welcoming smile.
"I'm new to Brightmoon City, and I've heard all day about Golden Inn being the best hotel in the city," Lu Feng replied with a smile as he surveyed the hall. "It certainly seems to live up to its reputation. I would like to book a room, please."
"Thank you for the acknowledgment, young master. I hope you don't mind my form of address. Please follow me," the young woman said as she led Lu Feng to one of the several tables on one side of the hall.
Soon, a maid brought a tea set and, after filling a cup and setting it down for Lu Feng, she left after a quick bow.
Without any hesitation, Lu Feng picked up the teacup and, after smelling its aroma, drank the tea in one large swig.
"Not bad," Lu Feng said with a smile, nodding his head.
"The young master seems to be a refined and well-to-do gentleman, so I would recommend nothing but the best for the young master..." The young woman paused, seemingly waiting for a reply.
"Lu Feng."
"Nothing but the best for young master Lu. Our highest-class room comes with a host of services. We could help you procure things, sell or auction items on your behalf. In fact, we could assist you with most anything. Of course, some services do have an additional cost.
"The best rooms also have a higher density of Qi energy than what you can sense here. You could also hire personal security, all of whom are trustworthy and have a proven track record."
Lu Feng chuckled, 'Not a bad sales pitch...'
"Sure. I would be staying for a month."
The smile on the young woman's face grew brighter as she replied, "Our highest-class room costs 60 Spirit Crystals a day. For a full month, it would be 1800 Spirit Crystals.
"Golden Inn requires guests to pay in advance; I hope the young master isn't inconvenienced."
"Of course not," Lu Feng replied.
With an approving nod, the young woman retrieved a jade box and placed it on the table.
'Guess this is the equivalent of a cash register in this world.' Lu Feng chuckled to himself.
As Lu Feng deposited the money, the jade box began to glow with a white light.
"Thank you for your patronage, young master Lu. Here's the token for the room. Our highest-class rooms have top-notch security. All of them have anti-eavesdropping, sound isolation, and a Sovereign-class protective array.
"Please step into the array in the center of the hall and activate the token— You will be transported to your room.
"If young master Lu requires anything, please feel free to call for me at the reception— My name is Xinyue."
Lu Feng rose from his chair with a polite nod. "Nice to meet you, Miss Xinyue. I will look for you if I require any help. Farewell."
Walking into the array at the hall's center, where people kept appearing and disappearing, Lu Feng vanished from sight with the token in hand, heading towards his room.
Behind the young woman who had just assisted Lu Feng, a burly man appeared out of thin air. His voice was hoarse as he inquired, "Young Miss, why have you come down to host a guest? Is it someone important?"
Without turning to face him, she replied, "I sensed his bloodline— He's from Baihu Clan. That should warrant me coming down, don't you think?"
The burly man nodded in understanding.
"Alright, let's go," the young woman said, and they both vanished from the hall.
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