Why doesn't Han Li care about Tian Tian City's size?

He has already seen Heaven Star City in the Chaotic Star Sea, which dwarfs anything in Tian Nan. His indifference demonstrates his growing perspective and detachment from lower-realm awe.

Is the exchange meeting safe?

Hosted by Heavenly Crystal True Man, a neutral figure, and all participants wear masks. Still, in the Dark Forest, safety is a relative concept—trust is not assumed, but enforced by reputation and mutual deterrence.

Why does Fire Dragon Boy invite Han Li so readily?

He recognizes Han Li's newly revealed Nascent Soul power and wants to build a connection. In the Mortal Stream, an invitation is never purely social—it's a loan that may be called in later.

The City of Stone and the Fire-Boy's Invitation

1,593 words

"So this is Tian Tian City?" Han Li stood on a slope, gazing at the colossal city walls a few li away, his voice low.

"What do you think, Junior Han? Have you never seen a stone city this size? The Nine Nations Alliance has expanded it several times to reach this scale. I wouldn't dare call it the number one city in the Tian Nan region, but it can definitely rank in the top five. And the entire city is built from massive stone blocks—absolutely unique." Lu Luo stood beside Han Li, speaking with equal wonder.

Han Li offered a faint smile.

When it came to great cities, no city in Tian Nan could compare to Heaven Star City of the Chaotic Star Sea. That was a true colossus.

The Tian Tian before him, though spanning over a hundred li, was nothing next to it.

Han Li was unimpressed, but Mu Peiling, standing close on his other side, wore a look of astonishment.

The stone city before her clearly struck the woman with great force.

"Still, having to walk once we got within a hundred li of Tian Tian City is a bit irritating," Lu Luo added with a shake of his head and some dissatisfaction.

Han Li pressed his lips together before replying, "The Nine Nations Alliance had no other choice. With so many high-level cultivators arriving, if everyone flew in and out from the sky, they wouldn't be able to manage the city at all. Still, for us Nascent Soul cultivators, this restriction is just a formality. If we truly wanted to take to the air, how could such a restriction hold us?"

"I didn't expect you to take it so lightly, Junior Brother. Well, let's go. The sooner we get in, the sooner we might find something worthwhile." Ever since their divine-sense duel with Nan Long Hou not long ago, Senior Brother Lu had grown noticeably warmer and friendlier toward Han Li.

Han Li nodded with a smile, and the three of them descended the slope, strolling openly toward the distant city gate.

Because they were near Tian Tian City, cultivators were streaming in from all directions on foot, giving the place a lively air.

Han Li and Lu Luo didn't want to draw attention, so they had already concealed their cultivation levels, appearing as Foundation Establishment cultivators like Mu Peiling.

Thus, they easily mingled with the other cultivators and entered through the gate, which stood about ten zhang high.

At the gate, a few Nine Nations Alliance enforcement cultivators stood guard, but they noticed nothing unusual about Han Li's group.

Once inside Tian Tian City, rows upon rows of stone houses met their eyes, neatly arranged.

Between these stone houses, wide and narrow bluestone streets wove together like a spider's web. Quite a few people were coming and going.

"Let's settle on lodging first. No need to squeeze into an inn. There's a VIP pavilion here that serves Nascent Soul cultivators for free. We'll go straight there." Lu Luo had visited Tian Tian City once before and spoke with some familiarity.

Han Li naturally had no objections. He led Mu Peiling and followed the middle-aged Lu.

Lu Luo led them toward a corner of the great city.

After a short while, they passed through many streets and arrived before a white light barrier.

Behind the barrier stood numerous serene, elegant pavilions of various styles, exquisitely crafted.

Other cultivators passing by outside the barrier looked toward the pavilions with awe and envy, but they didn't dare linger and quickly moved on.

"This is the place. Only cultivators above Nascent Soul can open this barrier." Lu Luo pointed, then placed a hand on the light barrier, blue light flickering on his palm.

With a ripping sound, Lu Luo's spiritually charged hand split the white barrier open with a large gash.

A silhouette flashed, and he slipped through without ceremony.

The light barrier instantly sealed itself, faster than thought.

Han Li hesitated for a moment, then said nothing. Opening his mouth, a ball of azure light shot out.

Azure light flashed on the barrier, and a gap the size of a zhang tore open.

Han Li wrapped an arm around Mu Peiling's slender waist, and amid a faint fragrance, he carried her through the barrier.

Mu Peiling leaned half in his embrace, her cheeks flushing slightly, a strange feeling stirring in her heart.

Seeing Han Li break through the barrier with such ease, a flicker of surprise crossed Lu Luo's eyes before he regained his usual expression.

"These pavilions are open to any Nascent Soul cultivator who wants to bring along disciples or attendants. If a pavilion's barrier is up, it means someone is already staying there. Then you just pick another. But not all Nascent Soul cultivators choose to come here. Some old monsters prefer staying outside the city or in inns." Lu Luo gestured toward the pavilions with a smile.

Indeed, a few of them already shimmered with protective barrier light.

"Junior Brother, let's take those two adjacent pavilions. That way, if something comes up, we can look out for each other." Lu Luo pointed at two pavilions about fifty or sixty zhang away.

"That works," Han Li replied after a brief glance.

Just as Lu Luo was about to say more, the barrier of a nearby pavilion—shrouded in white and yellow light—suddenly opened, and a short figure emerged.

The man swept his gaze over Han Li's group and said with surprise, "Oh, if it isn't Brother Lu! I didn't expect you to arrive this early either."

Han Li looked closely.

The man was fair-skinned and childlike, looking like a jade boy—it was none other than the Fire Dragon Boy he had met at the Three Sacred Lands. His black-and-white eyes rolled, landing directly on Han Li and Mu Peiling. A flash of astonishment crossed his young face.

With his exceptional memory, Fire Dragon Boy naturally recognized Han Li as one of the disciples from the Sword Trial Assembly over twenty years ago. Now, however, Han Li was only using a basic technique to hide his cultivation, which couldn't fool a cultivator of the same level. After a moment's shock, an expression of understanding appeared.

"Ah, it's Fellow Daoist Lan! We're hardly early. You're the one who beat us here. Allow me to introduce you—this is the new Han Elder of our Falling Cloud Sect. Junior Brother Han, I believe you've met Brother Lan once before, so I don't need to elaborate." Lu Luo was briefly taken aback, then broke into a warm smile, as if he was on good terms with the man.

"So Fellow Daoist Han really is a new elder of your sect. Lan here certainly failed to see that the last time." Fire Dragon Boy spoke with a wry smile, clearly not intending to dwell on the past.

"I merely wished to see the famed Spirit Eye Tree and so I took a look at the Holy Land. I hope Fellow Daoist Lan won't hold it against me," Han Li said with a light laugh, offering a brief explanation.

"Since you're now an elder of Falling Cloud Sect, there's no need to mention that matter. Still, you two are in luck. I was just about to go to a small exchange meeting I arranged with a few acquaintances at the Crystal Dragon Pavilion. Why don't you both come along? Maybe you'll find something useful there." Fire Dragon Boy seemed straightforward by nature and immediately extended an invitation with a wave.

"An exchange meeting so soon? Tsk, tsk. We certainly timed it well. Junior Brother, such exchange meetings among Nascent Soul cultivators are rare. We must go. Otherwise, we might miss something good." Lu Luo was delighted and turned to Han Li with a serious expression.

"Then I'll follow Senior Lan's lead." Han Li's expression remained unchanged as he replied calmly.

With that, the two first set up barriers over their pavilions, then followed Fire Dragon Boy back out through the white barrier.

After giving a few instructions, Han Li left Mu Peiling temporarily inside the pavilion.

"The Crystal Dragon Pavilion is run by a good friend of mine in the Nine Nations Alliance. This friend has a wide network—he knows people from the righteous, demonic, and neutral paths alike, which is why he can host such a meeting. However, to avoid unnecessary trouble, everyone who enters must wear a mask to conceal their true appearance."

In a clear, youthful voice, Fire Dragon Boy explained the details of the exchange meeting.

Lu Luo's heart stirred, and he asked with some surprise, "Could Brother Lan be referring to Heavenly Crystal True Man? He's about the only one with such conditions. But as I recall, True Man Tianjing doesn't like getting involved in these things. What made him host this meeting on his own initiative?"

"Hehe, so Brother Lu knows my old friend's reputation. Yes, while he doesn't care for trouble, he's been urgently needing a few rare items recently and hasn't been able to find them. That's probably why he decided to host this meeting." Fire Dragon Boy chuckled.

"Oh, if that's the case, it's possible." Lu Luo nodded in understanding.

Han Li listened quietly to their conversation, his expression calm throughout.

As they talked, they arrived before a jade-white pavilion.

This pavilion was three stories tall, with floors that grew smaller toward the top. Hanging on the door was an antique plaque with a silver border.

Upon it were written three golden characters: "Crystal Dragon Pavilion."

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Reading Guide Decoding

Tian Tian City Arrival: Nascent Soul Politics and a Masked Exchange

Cultural / Xianxia Notes

The "VIP pavilion" system is a classic xianxia institution: instead of diplomatic guests or hotel staff, cultivators on the verge of transcendence are granted free, isolated housing that doubles as a status marker and a security buffer. The white barrier is not just a courtesy; it is a spiritual-level lock that publicly announces the occupant's power tier. Anyone below Nascent Soul cannot even enter the courtyard without being crushed by the pressure differential—a subtle but brutal form of class segregation.

The "exchange meeting" (交换会) is a staple of cultivation fiction. Unlike auction houses or market stalls, these are invitation-only gatherings where cultivators trade directly, often in masks, to avoid future grudges or assassination. The fact that Fire Dragon Boy trusts Heavenly Crystal True Man to host such an event signals that the latter commands enough neutral authority to enforce peace—rare in a world where "no witnesses" is the standard policy.

Gateway Exchange Meeting (交换会)

An invitation-only, often masked trade meeting where Nascent Soul cultivators exchange treasures directly.

Chapter Overview

Han Li finally lays eyes on Tian Tian City, one of the great fortresses of the Nine Nations Alliance—and finds himself positively underwhelmed. For a man who has seen Heaven Star City, mortal stone walls just don't cut it. But the city isn't the real draw here. After settling into the exclusive VIP pavilions reserved for Nascent Soul monsters, a familiar face emerges: the Fire Dragon Boy, that childlike elder from the Three Sacred Lands. And he's got an invitation that perks even Lu Luo's ears: a small, private exchange meeting for Nascent Soul cultivators at the Crystal Dragon Pavilion. No masks required, no rules except bring your treasures and your wits. But in the Dark Forest, every invitation carries a hidden price tag.

Key Plot Points

The trio enters Tian Tian City on foot due to a fly-ban restriction, which Han Li dismisses as a mere formality for Nascent Soul cultivators.
They bypass common inns and head for the exclusive guest pavilions behind a white barrier that only Nascent Soul cultivators can open.
Han Li demonstrates casual mastery of the barrier's breach, earning another silent measure from Lu Luo.
Fire Dragon Boy appears from a neighboring pavilion and immediately recognizes Han Li from the Sword Trial Assembly twenty years prior.
Lu Luo and Fire Dragon Boy exchange pleasantries; the latter reveals he is hosting a small exchange meeting at the Crystal Dragon Pavilion and invites both.
Han Li and Lu Luo agree to attend; Han Li leaves Mu Peiling in the pavilion with brief instructions.
Fire Dragon Boy preps them: wear a mask, expect a mixed crowd of righteous, demonic, and neutral cultivators—all courtesy of Heavenly Crystal True Man.
Han Li remains silent and observant, cataloging every detail as a tactical data point.

Reading Guide

Get ready, fellow Daoists—we're at the mid-stage threshold where the plot shifts from hard-scrabble survival to the high-stakes social chess of Nascent Soul politics. Han Li's cold dismissal of Tian Tian City isn't arrogance; it's a symptom of his quiet growth. He has outgrown the stage where mere geography impresses. Now, the real battlefield is social: who invites whom, who masks their intent behind a smile, and what hidden ledger is waiting behind an open palm. Fire Dragon Boy's invitation is a classic "you scratch my back, I scratch yours" opening—but in the Mortal Stream, the scratch can turn into a stab at any moment. Pay attention to Han Li's silence and his calculation of every word. The real chapter is between the lines.

Quick Q&A

Lore recap (TL;DR) drawn from this chapter's Cultural / Xianxia Notes — same text as the FAQ structured data on this page.

Why doesn't Han Li care about Tian Tian City's size?: He has already seen Heaven Star City in the Chaotic Star Sea, which dwarfs anything in Tian Nan. His indifference demonstrates his growing perspective and detachment from lower-realm awe.
Is the exchange meeting safe?: Hosted by Heavenly Crystal True Man, a neutral figure, and all participants wear masks. Still, in the Dark Forest, safety is a relative concept—trust is not assumed, but enforced by reputation and mutual deterrence.
Why does Fire Dragon Boy invite Han Li so readily?: He recognizes Han Li's newly revealed Nascent Soul power and wants to build a connection. In the Mortal Stream, an invitation is never purely social—it's a loan that may be called in later.