Chapter 1350: Chapter 1339: Gathering Information
Anything related to religion tends to give people a rigid and antiquated impression.
Yet in the Ancient Sky City, where religious culture is so rich, it turns into a paradoxical blend with a touch of openness amidst conservatism.
Ning Fan wasn’t interested in understanding cultural transitions; for him, the openness of Ancient Sky City was more conducive to gathering intelligence.
During the day, the shops lining the street of Red Fragrance Lane were open for business, but Ning Fan was well aware that it was only at night that the area became lively, with characters of all sorts emerging.
On this street, Ning Fan found a hotel.
Due to the attack on the City Lord’s Mansion, the Ancient Sky City had tightened security, requiring travelers to register their stay information.
Though Ning Fan had a pass, he lacked proof of identity in this world, and to avoid exposure, he had to use his presence to pressure people.
Luckily, this tactic proved effective.
When a Peak True Origin aura appeared in the lobby, the front desk didn’t dare ask further questions and even offered a fifty percent discount.
Back in his room, Ning Fan processed the intelligence he just received.
Worried about revealing his intentions, Ning Fan didn’t ask questions, but the front desk lady inadvertently divulged quite a bit while apologizing.
Indeed, Ancient Sky City is a world that venerates martial prowess, especially within the city, where strict laws prohibit violence.
Hence, the townsfolk have developed the habit of inspecting one’s aura to assess others.
Often, without physical confrontation, as long as one reveals their cultivation aura, those with lower cultivation will usually retreat of their own accord.
The higher and more explosive the aura, the more respect it garners from people.
Given the hotel’s size, they still offered apologies once Ning Fan revealed his aura.
This indirectly confirmed a piece of information: even with the shortcuts offered by sacrificial rites, Peak True Origin remains a rare high-level combat force.
Understanding this, Ning Fan couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief; if high-level combatants were as common as dogs, he’d have to be extra cautious.
Actually, the hotel room price, after discount, was one Gold Coin, indicating the exceedingly high prices here, especially considering Asutu’s monthly salary was only thirty Gold Coins.
Furthermore, Ning Fan learned that Red Fragrance Lane is the city’s only entertainment-oriented street.
Thus, the street’s tax rate was unusually high, hence the exorbitant prices.
“Money again!”
A trace of surprise flashed in Ning Fan’s eyes.
The Ancient Sky City deliberately opened such an unusual street, naturally to collect hefty taxes.
The offerings demanded by the Temple are the same. Behind all of this, it’s for financial gain.
“Although money is important, for the Pharaoh, aren’t these things just external possessions?”
Ning Fan grew increasingly puzzled.
If the Pharaoh was hoarding money to exchange for cultivation progress, he could simply impose harsh taxes and levies.
Without external threats, even if a civilian revolt occurred, the Pharaoh could easily suppress it with force.
But that’s not the case; in some respects, Ancient Sky City is akin to an Arcadia.
Aside from those lowborn, everyone else seems to be relatively well-off.
“Does this Gold Coin have some peculiar properties?”
Examining the Gold Coin in his hand, the front depicts an image of the sun shining on a pyramid, while the back shows a mummy holding a scepter.
Ning Fan infused True Qi into it, but found nothing peculiar except the hardness of the Gold Coin.
Ning Fan could be certain, this Gold Coin was definitely not made of Gold.
With his Initial Stage of Aerial Mastery strength, if it were made of Gold, the coin would have deformed long ago.
But now there was no change; the material of the Gold Coin seemed unresponsive to True Qi.
“How strange.”
Unable to make sense of it, Ning Fan temporarily set the issue aside.
“I didn’t expect the old man has already stepped into the Aerial Mastery Peak stage.”
During check-in, the hotel front desk lady inadvertently let slip a piece of information.
That night, the mysterious intruder assaulted the City Lord’s Mansion, injuring several priests.
Because the enemy’s cultivation was so strong, although it’s been a month since then, Ancient Sky City still remains strictly guarded.
In Ancient Sky City, to become a priest, one must meet two criteria: be an ascetic and pass the Temple’s test.
Passing the Temple’s test requires Aerial Mastery stage cultivation.
Since the old man could injure several priests, he must be at the Aerial Mastery Peak stage.
“Why did the old man return without success? Could it be that the City Lord of Ancient Sky City is too powerful, thus deterring him from making a move?”
According to the front desk lady, on the day of the incident, only a few thunderous sounds were heard, followed by news from City Hall that someone had attacked the City Lord’s Mansion at night, injuring three priests, leading to the city’s lockdown.
As for the legendary City Lord, he never revealed himself throughout the ordeal.
“Is the City Lord of Ancient Sky City really that terrifying that the old man doesn’t even dare to act?”
Thinking about this, Ning Fan’s eyes flashed with trepidation.
“Never mind. Tonight, I’ll gather intelligence, and tomorrow, I’ll visit the Temple.”
That evening, Ning Fan arrived at the most ostentatious nightclub.
Two security guards, whose arms were thicker than legs, greeted Ning Fan with smiling faces upon sensing his aura, ushering him inside enthusiastically.
As long as he doesn’t encounter any untouchable forces or provoke the influential families within the city, Ning Fan’s Peak True Origin cultivation allows him to walk with confidence.
In a city where people are incredibly sensitive to auras, such thoughts would hardly surface.
Perhaps following the guard’s instruction, Ning Fan encountered a gracefully charismatic lady upon entering the club.
The lady leaned slightly onto Ning Fan, her breath as fragrant as orchids, and asked, “Sir, may I know your surname?”
“Ning Fan.”
After contemplation, Ning Fan decided to use his real name, hoping it might reach the old man’s ears.
“Ah, Ning Young Master, please come in.”
It’s no different from nightclubs on Earth, except for the exotic flair in the decor.
To Ning Fan’s slight disappointment, there wasn’t a hall here; it was all private booths for individual consumption.
The plan to gather intelligence seems unlikely to materialize.
Entering a booth, Ning Fan lazily lay on the sofa and said, “Bring your club’s most expensive wine, and the prettiest women over.”
“Alright, Ning Young Master, please wait,”
Not daring to hesitate, the lady blushed as she left the premises.
Shortly after, a group of charming women giggled into the booth, chirping sweetly, “Good evening, Ning Young Master.”
“How do you find them, Ning Young Master?” The lady smiled dotingly, “These are the best girls in our club, which one do you fancy?”
A lineup of eight beauties, each with enchanting figures and alluring appearances,
Ning Fan nodded, “Not bad. Keep them all.”
“You want them all, Ning Young Master?”
Noticing the lady’s conflicted expression, Ning Fan smiled playfully, “Are you afraid I can’t afford it?”
Truth be told, Ning Fan didn’t have enough money on him.
Although he didn’t know how high the consumption was here, since a night’s stay at the hotel cost two Gold Coins,
Judging by these prices, Ning Fan’s dozen or so Gold Coins would certainly fall short.
“Look at what you’re saying. How could I underestimate Ning Young Master?”
With the Peak True Origin cultivation, how could he be an ordinary person.
The lady hesitated for a while before gently saying, “You want all the club’s prettiest girls, I fear other patrons might be unhappy.”