Chapter 1816 — Chapter 1816 City of Radiance

"When we first discovered the Hidden Domain, we thought this city was all it had to offer," Hong Ling explained as they walked through the streets of the City of Radiance. "Because of the size of this city, it took us several years to search through it thoroughly. Unfortunately, we didn't find many treasures here."

Her tone carried a hint of frustration, clearly recalling the disappointment of their fruitless efforts.

"While most Hidden Domains are treasure troves, offering priceless artifacts or cultivation techniques, that's not always the case," she continued. "Some Hidden Domains turn out to be completely barren, with nothing of value to offer. For a while, we thought this was one of those."

As they continued their walk through the city, Yuan and his group noticed other visitors rifling through the empty stores like desperate bandits.

Some tore apart shelves and counters in search of hidden compartments, while others pried at walls and floors, hoping to uncover secret caches. The scene was chaotic, filled with muttered curses and the occasional exclamation of frustration as their efforts turned up nothing.

It was clear that, despite the city's emptiness, the visitors weren't ready to give up on the possibility of hidden treasures lurking within its abandoned structures.

"Are you okay with them tearing up this place like that?" Feng Yuxiang asked, raising an eyebrow as she glanced at the chaotic scene around them.

Hong Ling smiled faintly and replied, "As long as they don't alter the structure of the city or cause any major damage, it's fine. Besides, entering the Hidden Domain isn't free. The Heavenly Beast Sect collects fees for access for those without a slot, so it's not like we aren't benefiting from their desperation."

Hong Ling didn't bother stating the obvious—that the Heavenly Beast Sect had already scoured every inch of this city with meticulous care. They had left no stone unturned, no hidden compartment unchecked.

As they ventured deeper into the city, Yuan's sense of nostalgia grew increasingly profound. Every detail—the architecture, the layout of the streets, and even the faint traces of energy lingering in the air—stirred something deep within him.

'That noodle store belonged to Granny Mai,' Yuan thought, his gaze lingering on a small, dirty, and rundown store nestled between two much larger and more luxurious establishments.

A faint smile touched his lips as memories stirred within him. 'She would always give me a free meal whenever I visited… even when I insisted on paying.'

A few blocks down, Yuan's gaze landed on an old smithy, its structure dusty and abandoned.

'Uncle Dong…' Yuan thought, a wave of nostalgia washing over him. The memory of the reliable blacksmith surfaced clearly in his mind. Uncle Dong had always been there to help, fixing Tian Yang's swords whenever they became too worn or damaged from rigorous use.

Eventually, Yuan and his group reached the outer area of the city, where the shops and bustling streets gave way to rows of residential buildings.

The houses varied in size and design, but most shared an elegant simplicity, showcasing the same ancient craftsmanship as the rest of the city. However, like the rest of the city, these homes were eerily empty, their windows dark and lifeless, as though the residents had vanished without a trace.

"This is the residential area. There's not much to see here," Hong Ling said, her tone casual as she began to turn, clearly intending to lead them elsewhere.

"Wait," Yuan interjected, his voice calm but firm. "There's a place I want to visit."

"Huh? Sure," Hong Ling replied, nodding despite the puzzled expression on her face. She followed Yuan, clearly curious about what he was looking for.

Without another word, Yuan stepped forward and began leading the group deeper into the residential area. His movements were confident, as if he knew exactly where he was going.

Seeing this, Hong Ling wondered inwardly, 'This should be his first time here, but why does it feel like he's very familiar with this place, almost as if he'd lived here for his entire life?'

After walking several blocks in silence, Yuan came to a halt in front of an unassuming building.

It was modest in design, blending seamlessly with the other residential structures around it. The building's weathered exterior showed signs of age, but there was an undeniable warmth to its simplicity. Yuan stood still for a moment, gazing at it with a mix of nostalgia and melancholy, as though memories from long ago were flooding back to him.

"This is the place you want to visit?" Hong Ling asked.

He nodded and said, "I'm going to check it out."

"Can we come with you?" Hong Ling continued.

"Sure."

They stepped inside the building shortly after, immediately noticing how tight and compact the interior was.

The small space felt even more cramped with the entire group inside. There was little to no furnishing, only a few bare, dusty shelves and an empty table in the corner. A thick layer of dust coated every surface, and cobwebs hung in the corners.

Yuan didn't say a word or take any specific action as he stood inside the building. He simply looked around, his gaze wandering slowly across the small, dusty space.

There was a certain reverence in his expression, as though he were marveling at something unseen to the others. "Alright, I am done," he said a few minutes later.

"Huh? That's it? You made it seem like you were looking for something," Hong Ling remarked with a dumbfounded expression on her face.

"It's a misunderstanding," he said, offering no explanation.

"Alright, let's head to the Immortal Monastery now, shall we?" he continued.

"Sure…" Hong Ling nodded in a dazed manner.

"Young Master, what were you searching for?" Ji Ran asked curiously.

"I wanted to check if this city is real or just a replica of the City of Radiance," he revealed.

"A replica…? This place looks real to me," Ji Ran remarked.

"That's what I thought at first, too. Unfortunately, that isn't the case."

"What…?" Ji Ran swallowed nervously after hearing this.