The three male cultivators in fiery orange robes seemed to burn with power, as if their existence was fire and strength. They all had short orange or red hair and appeared to be in their thirties, although their true age was much higher.
They were discussing something with the guild members, who paused their conversation to nod respectfully at the Grandmaster who had entered. The orange-robed cultivators nodded as well, to which the Grandmaster returned the greeting.
The group returned to their discussions, which John overheard some of it. It was pertaining to the security surrounding the Yang-Dao Sect, and the findings the Guild had regarding any movements in the shadows, from the Phantom of Death guild or others.
John followed the Grandmaster and Zuri through the next set of doors, finding himself standing in a large room. The room had pills, weapons, scrolls, jade pieces, and more on display, and was bustling with activity. John looked about with a curious expression, not expecting to find himself in what appeared to be a shop of some sorts.
"This building acts as a front for our Guild, allowing us to enter Yang-Dao City through the formation network below unnoticed," Zuri whispered to him as they walked through the busy shop towards its front entrance.
John nodded thankfully as he stepped through the entrance of the shop, stepping onto a wide street several hundred yards wide, a street buzzing with so much chaotic energy that it almost felt like a battlefield. Thousands of cultivators moved in both directions, while a loud cacophony of discussion flowed through the air.
Hundreds of shops were immediately visible, with most of them having bright, eye-catching formation signs out front, indicating what they were selling. Pills, weapons, battle arts, cultivation arts, herbs, maps, flying ships, and more. Everything one could want was apparently available to obtain here.
The street seemed to be tilted, as if it was built on a gradual slope. John looked down the street, noticing it stretched downwards for dozens of miles, as if the city had been built on a large, slightly sloping mountain. More buildings than he could count came into view, each grander than the last. The style of the buildings seemed to be passionate and vibrant, as if they were inspired by fires and flames. Instead of the rigid, angular designs he was used to seeing, the buildings were unique in their design, the exterior bending and flowing like flames.
Looking at the city, it was as if millions of multi-colored flames dotted the landscape, like an ocean of fire. Even from his limited viewing angle, it was no doubt the largest city he had ever been in, and also one of the grandest.
He then turned his gaze up the sloping street, towards the top of the massive mountain the city was no doubt built upon. The city stretched gradually upwards for another fifty miles, with the designs of the buildings becoming grander and more exotic.
Most eye-catching of all was what he could barely make out at the very top of the city, seemingly at the peak of the gradually sloping mountain. At the very top was a massive dome that surrounded whatever existed at the top of the mountain; a dome made of powerful pure-yang flames.
The dome blazed with an awe-inspiring power, surprising John that it didn't incinerate the city from its mere existence.
Zuri smiled at John's stupefied expression, then patted him on the shoulder.
"Welcome to Yang-Dao City, the home of the Yang-Dao Sect."
"Amazing, isn't it?" Zuri asked.
John silently nodded his head, still taking in the awe-inspiring views.
"I reacted the same as you when I first came here," Zuri said. "The city is incredible, perhaps the most eye-catching on the entire continent. Only the Mage-Dao Sect can hold a candle in my opinion."
John silently nodded again. He couldn't attest to the Mage Dao Sect, but definitely agreed that the city was incredible.
"I have matters to attend to, so you can guide him from here," the Grandmaster said to Zuri.
Zuri nodded, then bowed her head slightly in respect as the Grandmaster stepped into the street and moved with the crowd, disappearing a moment later.
John watched the Grandmaster leave, then took in a long, deep breath. The Qi in the air seemed to be blazing with powerful yang energy, making him feel a fiery, energetic power wash through him with each breath.
"Don't absorb too much Qi too quickly," Zuri said. "The Qi here is thick with Yang energy, and absorbing too much directly can cause your body to heat up to a point that it destroys itself. Only those who cultivate Yang energy, like the Yang-Dao Sect can directly absorb the Qi here without caution. The rest of us need to focus on neutralizing the Yang energy in the Qi before absorbing it."
"I'll be fine," John said, smiling with satisfaction. His body, a lightning attribute body, was one of the most yang-attributed bodies in existence. Breathing the Qi here felt not only refreshing, but invigorating. It was like each breath instilled him with fiery energy, making him want to battle to expend it.
"Ah, that's right. You cultivate the Lightning Dao," Zuri said, remembering John's talents. "I guess you'll feel right at home then."
John nodded his head as he took another deep breath while activating his cultivation technique, pulling the nearby Qi into his body without concern. A small tempest of rushing Qi flowed into him, startling the passersby by the sudden change. They looked at John with confusion, then shock, as they noticed him pull in so much of the Qi at once.
"You can cultivate later," Zuri said, then grabbed John's arm to pull him into the crowd. John begrudgingly undid his cultivation technique and let Zuri drag him into the busy street, moving upwards towards the dome of fire in the far distance.
As they moved through the busy street, John listened to the various conversations of those around him. While the conversations ranged from selling wares to current news, everything was related to one topic; the upcoming Three Dao Tournament.
