The crowd dispersed, and traffic resumed.
However, it quickly came to a halt again as they reached the inn.
The attendant lifted the curtain of the carriage and announced, "Miss Bai, Young Master Bai, please step out."
As Bai Mengxing disembarked, she gasped in amazement, "Wow! We're staying here?"
The inn was the very tall building they had seen upon entering the city—a seven-story structure, adorned with jade and intricate carvings, exuding an air of unmatched luxury.
Atop the building was a colossal lantern tower, which had just been lit when they arrived. The glowing lights floated and twirled in the air, like a river of stars cascading from the heavens, breathtakingly beautiful.
Bai Mengxing, new to the city and clearly awestruck, was giddy with excitement at staying in such a high-class place.
Bai Siyao lightly knocked on his head. "Do you know who Elder Yi Ming is? Everywhere we've stayed along this journey has been top-notch. Wipe that drool off your face before you embarrass him."
Bai Mengxing hurriedly wiped his mouth, realizing there was no drool, and shouted, "Big Sis, you tricked me again!"
Bai Siyao ignored him and went off to meet Elder Yi Ming.
Bai Siyao was the last to step out of the carriage. When she saw the plaque with the words "Starfall Pavilion" inscribed, she couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia.
Thousands of years had passed, and while many things and people had changed, Starfall Pavilion remained steadfast, unchanged by time.
—Few in the world knew that the Jade Demon Bai Siyao had a permanent room at Starfall Pavilion. Whenever she didn't want to be found, she would retreat here. Even when she was away, messages could be left with the steward, who would deliver them to her.
As Bai Siyao lifted her gaze, she spotted Shang Liancheng at the counter, speaking with the innkeeper.
She couldn't help but smile. What a coincidence! It seemed fate tied them together. Back in the day, when he was down on his luck, she had crossed paths with him, and now, after her rebirth, here they were again.
However, judging by his current success, it wasn't yet time to bring him under her control.
Bai Siyao followed Elder Yi Ming into Starfall Pavilion, quietly blending in.
As they passed, she overheard Shang Liancheng speaking to the innkeeper.
"...Serve them carefully, give them anything they need, but don't overstep your boundaries."
"...Make sure the rooms are arranged properly, no overlaps."
"...Show me the menu. There must be no mistakes."
Bai Siyao frowned slightly. It sounded like an important guest was staying here. Could it be...
She turned her head and, sure enough, saw a luxurious carriage parked in the corner. The majestic Kaimei Beast pulling it lazily flicked its several tiger heads as it was led to the spirit beast stables.
So, even the Young Sect Master of Ling was staying here? Well, that made sense. In Fengwu City, what inn could compare to Starfall Pavilion? Naturally, someone of his stature would only stay at the best.
Meanwhile, Elder Yi Ming's party was quickly accommodated. Upon hearing that the guests were elders from Danxia Palace, the steward was exceptionally attentive, leading them to the floating ladder.
"Honored guests, please. The sixth and seventh floors are Starfall Pavilion's finest rooms, offering the best views and utmost tranquility. I assure you, you'll be pleased."
The floating ladder stopped at the sixth floor, and the steward opened a window, allowing a cool breeze to flow in. The night view of Fengwu City unfolded before them.
Bai Mengxing gasped and casually asked, "Why not the seventh floor? Isn't it higher and better?"
The steward's smile didn't falter. "Young Master, a guest just before you requested the seventh floor. However, the furnishings are the same on the sixth floor, and the floors are separated by formations, so you won't be disturbed."
He pointed to the spiral staircase in the center of the hall. "If you'd like to enjoy the view from the top floor, you can use this to go up."
"Are those lights on the top floor?" one of Elder Yi Ming's younger disciples asked, clearly intrigued. The steward smiled and replied, "Indeed, that's the Starfall Pavilion's signature feature—the Milky Way of a Thousand Lights."
Elder Yi Ming wasn't a picky man. After confirming that the rooms were satisfactory, he settled in.
Bai Siyao and Bai Menglian shared a room, while Bai Mengxing bunked with the other disciples. As they entered, they happened to see several familiar maidservants exiting from the end of the corridor.
"Isn't that Young Master Mo? It seems he's staying here too," Bai Menglian whispered.
Bai Siyao glanced briefly. "More than that, the seventh floor is likely occupied by the Young Sect Master of Ling. No wonder Boss Shang is being so cautious."
Bai Menglian raised her eyebrows, intrigued. "Well, well, what a small world! Think there'll be trouble?"
"There shouldn't be," Bai Siyao calmly extinguished her sister's eagerness to watch a spectacle. "That Young Master Mo wouldn't dare offend the Wuji Sect. Even if he brought out his family's patriarch, he'd still have to bow and scrape before the Young Sect Master of Ling."
Bai Menglian sighed, "Back home, people used to treat us with such respect, calling us 'Miss' and all that. I always thought we had some status. But out here, you see what real prestige looks like."
Bai Siyao smiled faintly, "No matter how prestigious your family is, it's better to rely on your own cultivation. Do you think Elder Yi Ming cares about social niceties? Others still wouldn't dare disrespect him."
Bai Menglian nodded thoughtfully, "You're right. Strength is the real foundation. There's no need for us to compete for show. Once we reach the Nascent Soul or Transformation stages, respect will naturally follow."
The sisters washed up and changed into fresh clothes. Not long after, Bai Mengxing came knocking. "Big Sis, Second Sis, want to head downstairs for dinner?"
Bai Menglian, not having reached the stage of inedia, naturally wanted to eat. Bai Siyao, though no longer needing food, had maintained her mortal habits from her previous life.
—The higher one's cultivation, the more detached they became from worldly desires. Spending days on end in deep meditation could eventually cause mental strain. For this reason, many cultivators, even after reaching inedia, continued to live like mortals. Otherwise, how could the great celestial cities remain so bustling?
It was just after dusk, and Starfall Pavilion was at its liveliest.
Glowing pearls illuminated the building as if it were daylight. People came and went, their laughter filling the air. In the center of the main hall stood a tall platform where musicians and performers entertained the guests with dance and masked theater.
Bai Mengxing's eyes and ears were overwhelmed by the spectacle. He sighed, "Now this is living! What kind of life have I been living until now?"
Bai Menglian snorted, "If not for Elder Yi Ming, do you think you'd even be allowed in here? Check your pockets—can those one hundred spirit stones of yours afford a single banquet or even a tip for one of the songstresses?"
"..." Bai Mengxing wilted, "Big Sis, you always rain on my parade."
"I'm just giving you a reality check," Bai Menglian scoffed. "Without proper cultivation, you wouldn't even qualify to run errands here."
Bai Mengxing glanced around, realizing that even the maids and attendants had higher cultivation than him. He felt crushed. "Ah..."
"Stop whining. Let's go eat," Bai Menglian said, dragging him downstairs.
Bai Siyao followed, laughing as she stepped onto the floating ladder.
The prices at Starfall Pavilion were steep, and to save money, Bai Menglian chose a table in a secluded corner. The view wasn't the best, but at least it was quiet.
As soon as Bai Mengxing sat down, he leaned in with a conspiratorial air. "I've got some news for you—the Young Sect Master of Ling is staying on the seventh floor!"
He beamed with pride, only for Bai Menglian to casually reply, "We already know."
Bai Mengxing was dumbfounded. "How do you know?"
Bai Menglian and Bai Siyao exchanged a knowing smile. "Not telling."
Bai Mengxing refused to give up. "Well, I've got a secret about the Young Sect Master that you definitely don't know!"
Tomorrow. Tomorrow everything will return to normal!