Chapter 32: Arrival at Furnace City

Despite the swiftness of the Flying Cloud Ship, Yue Feng and his companions still required several days to finally reach Furnace City.

As they disembarked, Wang Yu deliberately donned her black robe. There was simply no helping it; beauty, it seemed, could sometimes be a burden she never asked for.

Covering herself thoroughly, she settled onto A-Bao’s back and proceeded out with Yue Feng and the young girl.

‘Having such a comfortable mount is absolutely wonderful,’ she mused, a feeling akin to owning a miniature Ferrari.

Wang Yu then asked, “Are we looking for an inn first?”

Wang Yu explained that while she did possess a residence here, its location was rather inconvenient. It failed to meet certain specific conditions, rendering it inaccessible to her.

However, after a friendly discussion with Xiaoke, these conditions weren’t impossible to fulfill; they merely required some creative thought.

“That was the original plan, but it seems we won’t need to trouble ourselves,” Yue Feng remarked. He had spotted Situ Yan already waiting for them at the exit and strode purposefully towards him.

Situ Yan surveyed Yue Feng from head to toe, then clasped his hands in greeting. “Congratulations, Brother Yue, on breaking through to the Transcendence Realm and officially embarking on the path of cultivation.”

Though reaching the Innate Realm was already extraordinary, far surpassing ordinary mortals, it was widely believed in the Profound Sky Continent that only by attaining the Transcendence Realm—manifesting spiritual energy externally and shaping it—could one truly shed their mortal coil and step onto the path of cultivation.

Yue Feng courteously replied, “Brother Situ, aren’t you close to it yourself? The joy is mutual.”

“Brother Yue is new to this place and unfamiliar with the surroundings. Why don’t I assist you in finding lodging?” Situ Yan offered with a smile. “I guarantee you and your companions will be well taken care of.”

“That would be most appreciated,” Yue Feng said, bowing in thanks.

And so, Yue Feng followed Situ Yan into Furnace City.

***

“It’s so lively!” The young girl and Wang Yu gazed around with curiosity. Furnace City was even more bustling than the previous Royal City; despite its wide roads, the crowds were dense.

“After all, this city gathers people from across the entire continent. Its economy and power far surpass ours. Though it’s only a single city, it is incredibly vast, exceeding the size of ordinary nations,” Yue Feng explained.

He was not like Wang Yu, who delegated everything she could. Prior to this journey, he had thoroughly prepared with Shi Yang.

Yue Feng looked at the two beautiful women, who were staring at him with wide eyes, and chuckled as he elaborated,

“Furnace City is located in the Myriad Flames Zone, where the weather is exceptionally harsh. The sky is perpetually covered by volcanic ash, preventing sunlight from penetrating. The light you see now originates from the surrounding volcanoes.

“Furnace City was constructed a millennium ago by several Celestial Venerables working together. The entire city is enveloped within a massive barrier, shielding it from the intense heat and haze.”

The young girl gazed at Yue Feng with an expression of pure admiration.

However, Wang Yu asked curiously, “Then how do you know so much? Didn’t you grow up with Yue Cai?”

Yue Feng’s lips curved into a smile as he replied, “That’s because I’m not like a certain lazy pig who doesn’t care about anything. I made sure to inquire about all relevant information concerning Furnace City before we arrived.”

Wang Yu glared fiercely at Yue Feng. There was nothing she could do; she had already passed the dangerous initial phase of her transmigration, and under the pampering of Yue Feng and the young girl, her sense of crisis had begun to wane.

In essence, Wang Yu was reverting to her ‘lazy fish’ mode from before her transmigration.

Yue Feng shook his head, deliberately ignoring Wang Yu. She was a little lazy pig who wouldn’t be proactive unless prompted. Still, Yue Feng didn’t mind indulging her.

‘I truly am a good person,’ he thought, starting to pat himself on the back.

On their way to their lodging, Yue Feng noticed something intriguing: Situ Yan had intentionally or unintentionally avoided some of the main thoroughfares, preferring to take a longer route.

‘It seems the trouble is more significant than I imagined,’ Yue Feng mused inwardly.

Just as Wang Yu began to grow impatient, Situ Yan finally stopped before a residence. It was a rather secluded, yet spacious, grand house.

Situ Yan clasped his hands and said, “This place is a bit remote; I hope Brother Yue doesn’t mind.”

“Not at all, not at all. To find such comfortable lodging just before the Myriad Flames Feast, I never even imagined it possible,” Yue Feng replied courteously, returning the gesture.

“Then, Brother Yue, I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave. When the Myriad Flames Feast arrives, I trust Brother Yue will look out for me,” Situ Yan said with a smile.

Yue Feng also smiled. “It is only right.”

Situ Yan turned and departed, leaving Yue Feng and his companions in front of the residence.

Upon entering, Yue Feng and the others discovered that this small courtyard house was much better than they had anticipated. It could easily be considered five-star accommodation.

“That Situ Yan is a good person,” Wang Yu remarked, “even if he does bring us trouble.”

“He’s very good at winning people over, truly deserving of his family background,” Yue Feng stretched. “I’m almost moved. Come on, let’s settle in, then we can explore Furnace City and get familiar with the environment.”

Situ Yan had clearly sent people to prepare the place in advance. Yue Feng and his group merely placed their luggage before heading towards the central district of Furnace City.

***

Meanwhile, Situ Yan calmly walked towards the Situ family compound. Gazing at the towering gates, he stepped inside without hesitation.

“Oh, Third Brother is back. What a coincidence! I heard you returned and was just about to go meet you,” a frivolous voice suddenly drifted over.

Situ Yan turned to see a lavishly dressed man surrounded by a retinue of servants. His expression remained unchanged. “It’s Second Brother. How could I, a dying man, trouble Second Brother to meet me?”

The frivolous young man was Situ Yan’s second elder brother, Situ Yan. He possessed little talent, spending his days in revelry and acting arrogantly.

Fortunately, the Situ family maintained strict discipline, preventing him from committing any truly egregious acts thus far.

Situ Yan snapped his fan shut, his expression turning unpleasant.

“You still know you’re a dying man? Father and the others have always thought so highly of you, and this is how you repay them? To make a life-and-death pact with the Sacred Land’s chief disciple—it’s astounding you even conceived of it. While you’ve risen to true disciple status through Father’s indulgence, it seems you’ve lost sight of yourself.”

Situ Yan stared gloomily at his younger brother. His words seemed less like chastisement for Situ Yan’s mistake and more like an outpouring of his own resentment.

In Situ Yan’s eyes, his younger brother’s achievements were solely due to their family’s favoritism, dismissing him as having no cultivation talent.

Despite never lacking for food, drink, or entertainment, Situ Yan remained intensely jealous of his brother.

In summary, Situ Yan had always harbored the thought, ‘I could do that too,’ and constantly sought ways to ostracize Situ Yan.

“Whether I’ve lost sight of myself or not, I understand perfectly well,” Situ Yan said calmly, looking at his second brother. Situ Yan flinched slightly under his gaze. “It’s you, Second Brother, who seems to have no self-awareness.”

With that, Situ Yan walked towards the main hall, ignoring the ashen-faced Situ Yan behind him.

Anger could no longer describe Situ Yan’s current state of mind. He wanted to kill. That look in his brother’s eyes was neither contempt nor pity, but an endless indifference. From the very beginning, Situ Yan had never been taken seriously.

Situ Yan had initially believed that this ‘mistake’—as he saw it—would allow him to thoroughly suppress his younger brother and gain his family’s attention.

But he was wrong. He felt as though he was merely a barking dog in their eyes. It had always been this way, and now, even with his brother essentially a dead man, they still looked down on him.

Situ Yan gasped for breath. “Just you wait, all of you. If you’re heartless, don’t blame me for being unjust.”

Not everyone in the world can truly understand themselves, regardless of their family background or upbringing. Some people recognize their errors after hitting a wall, while others stubbornly insist on blaming their mistakes on others.

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