The sun rose and set again.A light rain began to fall from the sky, sparse and misty.
A figure dressed in a black robe emerged from the dense forest, emanating a sharp, menacing aura.
"I've finally made it out. This forest really was full of dangers. Without sufficient strength, I wouldn't have even gotten through it — I would've died halfway. Fortunately, I advanced my cultivation to the seventh level of the Divine Sea Realm and forged the Hongmeng Heavenly Emperor Tower. If my cultivation had been any lower, I wouldn't have been able to command the tower at all."
Yi Tianxing raised his eyes to the sky, letting out a long, silent breath of relief.
Forests were always places filled with hidden, unknown dangers. No one could predict what kind of terrifying beasts or monsters lurked within.
Earlier, he had fought fiercely against a swarm of demonic bees. Those bees had turned out to be perfect opponents for honing his sword techniques. During the battle, his mastery of basic swordsmanship had advanced dramatically — his movements, speed, and precision all improving at an astonishing pace. In the end, it became a contest of how to kill a demonic bee with the least amount of force, in the shortest possible time.
The battle against the demonic bees lasted for over an hour.
The assaults he endured were even fiercer than expected. Even though his body was protected by battle armor, the attacks of the bees drained his true qi rapidly. The energy stored within the Life Aperture of the Mystic Armor was quickly depleted, forcing him to draw more true qi from his Divine Sea. Swinging his sword continuously further accelerated the consumption of his energy.
Had he not broken through to the seventh level of the Divine Sea Realm — allowing his "wellspring" to automatically absorb the world's energies and replenish his qi — he would have long since run dry and faced grave peril.
At last, the demonic bees, sensing danger, scattered and fled.
From the battle, Yi Tianxing also harvested a batch of top-grade honey. The honey was a brilliant gold, radiating rich spiritual energy. It wasn't ordinary honey but true spirit honey. He hadn't had the chance to examine it carefully yet — he simply stored it inside the Hongmeng Heavenly Emperor Tower for safekeeping.
Afterward, he continued hacking his way through the underbrush.
The dangers he encountered were countless:Poisonous snakes that shot out unexpectedly, toxic vines erupting from the ground, bizarre poisonous insects that struck without warning and could easily infiltrate a body to wreak havoc.
Yet these were manageable compared to the true threats.
At one point, Yi Tianxing faced a terrifying demonic tiger — a Two-Headed Demon Tiger. One head breathed flames, the other exhaled frost. It was a pinnacle first-tier beast, just a hair away from breaking through to the second tier.
Their battle had been fierce. Relying on his physical strength, cultivation, and brilliant spear technique — the Shattered Jade Spear Intent — Yi Tianxing fought the beast to a standstill, even gaining the upper hand.
But just when he was about to win, the demon tiger suddenly underwent a breakthrough mid-battle, stepping into the second-tier realm. Its strength soared.
Without hesitation, Yi Tianxing summoned the Hongmeng Heavenly Emperor Tower, suppressing the beast completely and smashing it into bloody pulp. Otherwise, the outcome could have been disastrous.
Such life-and-death encounters had happened more than once.
Step by step, he had finally made his way through the deadly forest.
As he emerged, the view ahead opened up.
"Hmm? There's actually an inn here."
Yi Tianxing's eyes sharpened as he scanned the surroundings, surprise flashing across his face.He had expected this area to be barren, devoid of human presence — yet, inexplicably, there stood an inn.
Night had already fallen. Two red lanterns hung at the entrance, their glow vivid against the darkness.
A solitary inn standing out in the wilds — no matter the era — was a shocking and unsettling sight.Especially now, during the chaotic, terrifying times following the fusion of the myriad worlds and the rebirth of the Eternal Continent, when human settlements were constantly attacked by beasts and monsters.
For an inn to survive out here, and for so long without being destroyed, indicated hidden depths and formidable power.This was definitely no ordinary inn.
"Interesting... An inn that can survive out here is worth investigating."
Yi Tianxing took a deep breath, curiosity lighting his face.
Without hesitation, he strode toward the inn.
The surroundings were eerily silent, casting a suffocating sense of oppression.
Yet oddly enough, no beasts or monsters were in sight.
A large area of wilderness completely free of monstrous threats could only mean two things:Either the environment here was unsuitable for survival, or something even more terrifying was deterring them.
Yi Tianxing wasn't surprised.
An inn surviving in the wild had to be protected by extraordinary means.The connection between the inn and this anomaly was obvious.
Drawing closer, he followed the glow of the lanterns. Not that he needed them — even without light, his eyes could easily pierce through the darkness.
In front of the inn, a plaque stood tall, with the two red lanterns hanging from either side, acting as a beacon for wayfarers.
When Yi Tianxing read the name on the plaque, his whole body stiffened in shock.
Dragon Gate Inn!
The simple four characters burned into his eyes, striking his heart with far greater impact than he expected.
Although he had sensed the inn was unusual, he hadn't imagined it would be this inn.
The legendary Dragon Gate Inn — immortalized in movies and stories — was etched deep into the memories of countless people.It was a legend among inns, famous throughout history.
And now, somehow, it stood here before him.
"This isn't just an ordinary inn... It's a treasure — a building-type artifact, like a magical treasure!A special existence born from the fusion of countless thoughts and the world's energies," Yi Tianxing thought as he swept his gaze over the inn.
He could clearly sense the extraordinary aura radiating from it.
A building become an artifact — and a legendary one at that.The Dragon Gate Inn was famed as a "black inn," notorious for its dangers and mysteries.
Who knew if this one shared the same dark reputation?
From the plaque, Yi Tianxing could feel invisible ripples spreading outward, enveloping the surrounding area in a subtle rhythm.
He passed through the archway and approached the inn.
The entrance was wide open, but from outside, he could see nothing moving within — only empty tables and chairs.
It appeared abandoned, eerily deserted.
"Could it be truly empty? An unclaimed treasure?"
A thought flickered through Yi Tianxing's mind as he stood at the threshold.
Without further hesitation, he stepped inside.
"Ha! Another newcomer!"
Laughter burst out the moment he crossed the threshold.
"I bet he thought the place was empty and almost scared himself to death, just like the rest of us. When I first stepped in, I almost fainted from fright!"
The scene inside had completely changed.
Far from being deserted, the inn was bustling.
Groups of three or five, some sitting alone — people filled the place, drinking and eating heartily.
Some of them exuded unmistakable killing intent — veterans of bloodshed, whether from hunting beasts or killing men, it was impossible to tell.
After the initial laughter, the crowd quickly fell silent, their eyes turning to Yi Tianxing, as if expecting something.
Priests, beggars, swordsmen, assassins... all kinds of people were gathered here.It felt like a miniature version of the chaotic jianghu world.
"Their eyes... It's like they're waiting for something."
Yi Tianxing instinctively tensed, sensing something unusual.
"Welcome, sir, welcome to Dragon Gate Inn!"A cheerful waiter rushed over, grinning from ear to ear."Here you can rest safely — we have rooms upstairs, fine food and wine downstairs. You must be tired and hungry after your long journey! Our inn boasts top-notch chefs and delicacies. What might you need, sir?"
Yi Tianxing nodded calmly and asked,"Oh? What signature dishes do you offer?"
As he spoke, he casually glanced around — then looked toward the second floor.
There, leaning casually against a pillar, was a stunning, enchanting figure.
Even from the back, her beauty was breathtaking, igniting a fire in the heart.
Even Yi Tianxing, usually stoic, felt a momentary stir in his heart.
"A woman like this, with such a soul-stirring figure... Who is she?"
A question naturally surfaced in Yi Tianxing's mind.