Chapter Forty-Nine: The City Where Heaven Fell

In the simple, old-fashioned side room, Shi Yan’s expression was somewhat dazed. He stood by the window in a trance for a long while before he finally closed it slowly.

Returning to his seat, Shi Yan seemed dispirited, no longer making advances toward the girl in his arms and only drinking silently.

"Young Master Yan, was that the Beiming family's group just now?" asked Karl, a Shi family warrior in the room, offhandedly.

"Yes," Shi Yan replied, continuing to drink in silence.

Han Zhong stood at the window, frowning as he watched Shi Yan. His gaze was peculiar; after hesitating, he asked, "Yan, that woman on the warhorse just now—do you know her?"

Shi Yan nodded and drained his cup. "Yes, I do know her. We came out of the Dark Forest together. You know, during that time, the demon beasts were rampant. One person's strength is limited; I had to find someone to travel with."

Han Zhong, experienced as he was, saw Shi Yan’s lack of enthusiasm and, noticing his shifting gaze, guessed there was something between Shi Yan and Diyalan.

He moved closer and waved his hand, telling the girls around, "You all may leave. We have something to discuss."

The enchanting girls, understanding, smiled sweetly, stood up, and soon left the room.

Once only the Shi family warriors remained, Han Zhong spoke: "Yan, I don’t know that woman’s background, but it seems Beiming Ce is interested in her. If she herself is willing to be with Beiming Ce, you shouldn’t dwell on it."

"Yes, there are so many women in the world. There’s no need to make an enemy of Beiming Ce over one. The Beiming family is the most domineering house in our Merchant Alliance. Their power is immense. And that boy Beiming Ce is Beiming Shang’s treasured son. To provoke him would be unwise," Karl also advised sincerely.

Karl was the leader of this group of warriors, at the Second Heaven of Innate Realm. He had taken a liking to Shi Yan, which is why he offered his advice.

"Old Han, those two old men—what’s their story?" Shi Yan didn’t answer but turned to Han Zhong.

"Yin Kui and Jiu Shan are senior and junior brothers, both at the First Heaven of Nirvana Realm. No one knows where they come from. They used to serve the Beiming family’s patriarch, Beiming Shang. After Beiming Ce was born, possessing two martial souls and advancing quickly, Beiming Shang feared something might happen to him during his growth and assigned Yin Kui and Jiu Shan to protect him," Han Zhong explained.

First Heaven of Nirvana! Shi Yan felt a chill in his heart.

The Shi family’s patriarch, Shi Jian, was only at the Third Heaven of Nirvana Realm.

In the vast Merchant Alliance with millions of people and countless martial artists, those who truly reached the Nirvana Realm were rare—one could count them on two hands.

Two Nirvana experts doing nothing but guarding Beiming Ce—it was clear how favored he was.

"In our Merchant Alliance, the Beiming family’s strength surpasses any two other families combined. They have an abundance of masters among their retainers, and the family’s own disciples emerge one after another. Beiming Shang himself is at the Heaven Realm. There’s no good outcome in provoking the Beiming family," Han Zhong reiterated, afraid Shi Yan would act rashly.

"I understand," Shi Yan nodded after a moment’s silence, his expression returning to normal. He smiled, "Don’t worry, Old Han. I know what should and shouldn’t be done, and when to be patient."

"Good, as long as you understand," Han Zhong breathed a sigh of relief. "Shall I bring the girls back in?"

"No need, I’m not in the mood. Let’s just drink."

"Alright, let’s drink then. Cheers!"

...

The Merchant Alliance was a unique place—a nation jointly managed by noble families, martial artists, mercenaries, merchants, and various grassroots groups.

There was no official army, no governmental ranks, and no formal bureaucracy here.

The Alliance was home to many prominent families, hundreds of large and small mercenary groups, thousands of merchants, wandering martial artists, and civilians weary of war...

The Merchant Alliance never involved itself in the wars between the Blaze Empire and the Divine Blessing Empire. Compared to those two, it was much more peaceful.

However, whenever an outside nation tried to cause trouble within the Alliance, all its factions would unite to resist.

In its history, both the Blaze Empire and the Divine Blessing Empire had coveted the Alliance’s wealth and sent troops to invade, but without exception, they were crushed by the coalition of great families and mercenary bands.

This peculiar nation was usually decentralized, even lacking a central authority, but at the first sign of a common enemy, it became instantly united.

Because of its powerful noble houses, hundreds of fierce mercenary groups, and wealthy merchants, once these forces joined hands, their combined might was terrifying—even the Divine Blessing and Blaze Empires could only yield before them.

Were it not for the Alliance only uniting against external threats, their collective power could easily crush either empire.

The terrain of the Merchant Alliance was special: to the south lay the Dark Forest, the north was bordered by the Deathly Marsh, the west by the misty peaks of the Cloud Mountains, and the east by the boundless Endless Sea.

Whether the Deathly Marsh, the Cloud Mountains, or the islands of the Endless Sea, each harbored rich deposits of ores, spiritual herbs, metals, and countless other resources. The Alliance, centered among them and focused on trade, naturally thrived.

Yet, alongside these riches came great dangers: miasmas, demon beasts, poisonous vapors, savage alien tribes, and rare natural disasters...

Because of this, those venturing into such regions needed formidable strength. Thus, the Alliance was never short of mercenary groups and martial artists.

There were nineteen cities in total, but the largest and most important was Heavenfall City.

Heavenfall City lay at the Alliance’s center, surrounded by eighteen smaller cities. Its territory was almost equal to the combined area of eight of those cities, and its population was several times larger.

Thus, Heavenfall City was considered the heart of the Merchant Alliance, and all the major families made it the focus of their clan activities.

The Shi family was no exception. Though they had industries and estates in all the main cities, their true foundation lay in Heavenfall City.

Their estate occupied nearly a hundred acres in the city’s north, with thousands of buildings, artificial hills, gardens, lakes, and streams. The main Shi family members lived in the quiet rear courtyard, centered around an artificial lake and surrounded by pavilions, with training grounds, gravity chambers, and halls for arduous cultivation behind them...

The Shi family’s direct line was small, but with collateral branches and retainers, they numbered over a hundred. Including servants and guards, nearly a thousand people resided there daily.

Every morning, whether main family, retainers, or warriors, all would train hard in the various martial arenas and halls.

On this day, as the rooster crowed at dawn and the sky brightened, many had already begun stretching and tempering themselves in the training grounds.

Shi Jian emerged from the Rock Pavilion and called for Yang Hai at his building, then together they headed for the family’s main gate.

On the way, warriors bowed respectfully to Shi Jian, who responded with a cool nod, never slowing his pace for anyone.

Not long after Shi Jian and Yang Hai reached the gate, Han Feng appeared silently behind them, standing wordlessly at Shi Jian’s side, eyes narrowed as he gazed down the corridor outside the gate.

"According to Han Zhong’s message, they should have arrived last night. Since they didn’t, they must be coming back today," Shi Jian muttered with a frown. "I waited until dawn last night to see if that boy really advanced to the Third Heaven of Innate Realm, but the rascal never showed up..."

"Perhaps something delayed them on the road," Yang Hai cursed Shi Yan’s lack of manners inwardly but still offered an excuse aloud.

"Madman, is there any chance Han Zhong’s news could be wrong?" Shi Jian turned, looking at Han Feng in puzzlement. "There are precedents of martial souls awakening in youth, so that I don’t doubt. But for that boy not to have trained in the martial way at all before seventeen, then suddenly reach the Third Heaven of Innate Realm—isn’t that too incredible? I’ve thought about it for several nights and still can’t understand. What do you think?"

Han Feng curled his lips and squinted. "Han Zhong is reckless, but on important matters, he’s usually reliable. I don’t think he’d dare lie about this. Though I can’t explain it either, since he says so, it’s probably true."

"I hope he’s right. That boy has let me down for seventeen years—let’s hope he doesn’t disappoint again this time."

After training and breakfast, many Shi family warriors, hearing that the patriarch was waiting at the main gate for someone, gathered curiously, whispering among themselves.

None knew who was coming; many speculated it must be someone important from the Beiming or Zuo families for Shi Jian to be waiting in person.

But after a long wait, no one arrived. Some grew impatient, cursing whoever it was for making the patriarch wait so long.

As the sun climbed higher and their guest still had not appeared, Shi Jian grew worried. "It’s been so long—could something have happened?"

Yang Hai shook his head with a wry smile, indicating he didn’t know either, though he sighed inwardly.

In the past, though Shi Jian occasionally mentioned Shi Yan, he never seemed to care much—just asked in passing. Even when Shi Yan disappeared in the Dark Forest, it was only because Yang Hai reminded him that he remembered.

But now, hearing Shi Yan had reached the Third Heaven of Innate Realm, Shi Jian had been inquiring about him daily and had even come early to wait at the gate...

Shi Jian’s change in attitude was so drastic that Yang Hai found it hard to adjust.

Eventually, as the sun rose high and noon approached, the massive form of the Earth Dragon finally appeared slowly along the corridor.

Two people walked ahead of the Earth Dragon, laughing and chatting leisurely—Shi Yan and Han Zhong.

...

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