Chapter 83: Mirravele City

Rhain and Seris guided their Ironmane Chargers down the ridge, joining the massive influx of travelers approaching the towering iron gates.

The line moved efficiently, heavily monitored by guards clad in sleek, silver-plated armor.

Rhain’s Spiritual Sense casually swept over them.

’Even the gate guards are at the fourth and fifth levels of the Essence Condensation Realm,’ he noted inwardly.

In Greymist Town, these men would be revered elders commanding absolute respect.

Here, they were merely doormen

"Halt. Entry toll is ten Aetherium Crystals per person. Mounts are free, but you are responsible for any damage they cause," a stern-faced guard declared, extending a gauntleted hand.

Ten Aetherium Crystals was a massive sum for an ordinary cultivator, enough to sustain a mortal family for an entire year.

But Rhain didn’t even blink.

With a casual flick of his wrist, twenty glowing crystals materialized from his spatial ring, and landed neatly into the guard’s palm.

The guard weighed the crystals, gave a curt nod, and stepped aside.

"Welcome to Mirravele City."

Seris, riding beside him, looked a little troubled by the casual expenditure, but Rhain simply offered her a reassuring glance.

"Don’t worry about it," he muttered.

Then, they passed through the massive iron archway.

The moment they crossed the threshold, a wave of noise and incredibly dense essence rushed over their faces.

The streets were lively, paved with stones that stretched wide enough to easily fit ten carriages side-by-side.

Seris looked around, looking flabbergasted.

"This place... it’s so crowded," she murmured, instinctively guiding her Ironmane Charger slightly closer to Rhain’s.

Rhain calmly scanned his surrounding with his dark grey eyes.

It didn’t take long for him to realize the disparity between this behemoth city and the remote Outer Frontier.

Here, Essence Condensation Realm cultivators were as common as cows and sheep.

They walked the streets chatting casually.

The reverence that usually accompanied such a realm simply did not exist here.

As for the Essence Awakening Realm?

They could hardly be found.

The very few Rhain did spot were young, barely in their early teens, yet having Level 7 or Level 8 cultivation bases.

Any single one of them could easily be considered a peerless genius back in the Azure Cloud Sect.

And from time to time, the oppressive, heavy auras of Spirit Manifestation Realm experts drifted past them.

They moved with swagger, effortlessly parting the crowds without needing to speak a single word.

’A larger stage indeed,’ Rhain thought, a faint smirk appearing on his face.

The main streets were lined with towering, multi-story pavilions and bustling shops.

Glancing through the open doors, Rhain saw Common-Grade and Uncommon-Grade artifacts, pills, and martial arts manuals displayed as casually as fresh vegetables. .

As they rode slowly through the bustling commercial plaza, the overlapping conversations of the crowd drifted into Rhain’s sharp ears.

"—did you secure the entrance token? The Mirravele Auction House is hosting it in two days!"

"Of course I did! I heard a top-tier Rare-Grade offensive artifact is going on the block!"

"Fools, that’s just the appetizer. I have it on good authority that the Ashvele Clan and the Solari Clan are both liquidating assets to prepare massive funds for the finale. It’s supposed to be an Epic-Grade treasure."

Rhain pulled the reins slightly, slowing his charger.

’Mirravele Auction House...? An Epic-Grade treasure?’ Rhain narrowed his dark grey eyes.

For him, Epic-Grade resources were not entirely scarce.

He had a few of them sitting quietly in his System Inventory.

But for the major powers of Mirravele City, such a treasure was enough to spark a feud.

"If the Ashvele Clan and the Solari Clan are gathering massive funds for this auction, then their highest-ranking members will definitely be in attendance,’ Rhain thought inwardly.

It was the perfect stage to observe the true power dynamics of the city, gather crucial intelligence on his enemies, and perhaps, even find a plan to deal with them.

However, as interesting as the upcoming auction sounded, Rhain was not someone who acted blindly.

He was currently a stranger in a colossal behemoth of a city.

Before he made any moves against a clan backed by Level 6 Core Formation experts, he needed a solid foothold.

He needed a pair of eyes and ears that actually belonged to this city.

Rhain turned his gaze toward Seris, who was still looking around the bustling plaza with wide, marveling purple eyes.

"Seris," Rhain called out softly.

She immediately snapped out of her daze and looked at him. "Yes, Rhain."

"We are making a stop first," Rhain said, his tone steady and calm. "We need to find a place called the Gilded Sparrow teahouse."

"Okay." Seris nodded.

Rhain gently flicked the reins, and his Ironmane Charger resumed its steady pace.

According to the instructions Fenwick Luo had provided back in Greymist Town, the Gilded Sparrow was located in the eastern commercial district of the city.

It was a hub where information flowed as freely as water, managed by an old associate named Declan Rowe.

With the jade fox token resting safely in his spatial ring, Rhain was confident this contact would provide the leverage he needed.

As they navigated through the labyrinth of towering pavilions and crowded streets, the sheer scale of Mirravele City became even more apparent.

They passed by massive merchant guilds, luxurious inns, and grand arenas.

Despite the overwhelming environment, Rhain’s demeanor remained composed.

After nearly an hour of riding through the sprawling metropolis, the chaotic noise of the main plaza began to gradually fade.

They entered a slightly more refined, high-end district.

Up ahead, nestled between a massive pill pavilion and a luxurious silk boutique, stood an elegant, two story building.

Hanging above the wide open doors was a beautifully carved picture of a bird.

A Copper Sparrow with golden lantern in its beak.

Rhain pulled the reins of his Ironmane Charger, bringing it to a halt.

His eyes slowly swept over the figures moving in and out of the teahouse.

All of them were draped in luxurious silk robes.

"Essence Condensation Realm...’

"And even a few at the Spirit Manifestation Realm.’

He was slightly bewildered by the sight.

When Fenwick Luo had handed him that jade fox token back in Greymist Town, Rhain had naturally assumed this Declan Rowe was just another shady underworld broker.

The type who ran a modest tavern in some forgotten alleyway.

"I didn’t expect Fenwick’s old associate to be this influential.’

Rhain let out a quiet sigh.

"Well, if he has this much reach, then he’ll be a lot more useful than I thought.’

"Let’s head inside," Rhain said quietly.

Both of them dismounted, and handed the reins over to a waiting attendant at the door—a servant who possessed an aura that would rival a sect elder back in Greymist Town—and stepped through the wide threshold.

The moment Rhain entered the building, he felt a quiet elegance in the atmosphere.

The interior was nothing short of extravagant.

The floors were crafted from polished jade-wood, reflecting the warm, golden light of the floating essence lanterns above.

The scent of spiritual tea and expensive incense drifted through the air, designed to calm the mind.

It all felt arranged. Too neat.

Rhain’s gaze navigated the luxurious room before locking onto the front desk, a counter carved from a single piece of dark wood.

She wore a tailored chenogasm of deep crimson, embroidered with subtle golden vines that curled along her cuffs and hem.

Her hair was elegantly pinned up, framing a face that bore the serene, professional expression of someone who had dealt with eccentric, dangerous people a thousand times before.

She was quite beautiful.

The sort of beauty that easily commanded the attention of the room.

Her aura was also astonishingly at the fifth level of Essence Condensation Realm.

Rhain approached the desk, with Seris trailing closely behind him.

The receptionist blinked, her composure flawless.

In an instant, a polite, welcoming smile stretched across her face.

"Welcome to the Gilded Sparrow, esteemed guests," she greeted, her voice soft and melodious. "Are you looking for a private pavilion, or perhaps to partake in our exclusive spirit tea tasting?"

Rhain didn’t bother matching her overly formal tone.

"Neither," Rhain replied flatly.

"I’m here to find someone."

"Oh?" The receptionist’s smile didn’t falter, though her eyes sharpened just a fraction. "And who might the esteemed guests be looking for?"

"Declan Rowe."

The smile on receptionist’s face froze for a second, and then she spoke with a harsh tone, "Sir, are you here to look for trouble?"