According to what they said, the ruler of the Ancient City of Jingjue was known as the Queen of Jingjue. At the very start of the Wanjie Fusion, the Ancient City of Jingjue descended from the sky and landed in an oasis. The people residing in this city were known as the Ghost Cavern Tribe—a minority group, yet still a branch of the human race. In the old days, the queen of the Jingjue Kingdom was likewise called the Queen of Jingjue.
After her arrival, the Queen of Jingjue, known for her decisive and firm rule, issued a village-building decree and first established Jingjue Village, basing it upon the ancient city itself. She essentially treated the Ancient City of Jingjue as a naturally fortified village.
Thanks to this foundation, the village's development progressed rapidly.
Moreover, it was said that the Queen of Jingjue was born with an awakened Life Aperture Divine Ability. Relying on her capabilities, she forcefully resisted the invasion of ferocious beasts and monsters. As a result, large numbers of humans who had also arrived in the area began naturally gathering around the Ancient City of Jingjue.
Eventually, Jingjue Village grew quickly into Jingjue Town, and more recently, it had even ascended to become Jingjue City. Its swift rise was inextricably tied to the Queen of Jingjue's leadership.
However, it was also said that the Queen of Jingjue had a bizarre and changeable temperament—on a bad day, she might kill for amusement. Because of this, many both feared and revered her.
"The Queen of Jingjue... the Ancient City of Jingjue... This is that legendary minority kingdom. Supposedly it was once a small state among the Hundred Kingdoms of the Western Regions. There was even a TV series based on the legend of the Queen of Jingjue. And now, she's not only still alive, but has rebuilt the city from scratch? Fascinating. I must meet her in person."Yi Tianxing pondered silently after hearing the story, his interest in the Queen of Jingjue growing intense.
Anyone capable of founding Jingjue Village and raising it step by step into a fully-fledged city couldn't possibly be an ordinary person. Moreover, the ancient Jingjue Kingdom was historically recorded.
In the Book of Han: Records of the Western Regions, the ancient city was referred to as the Kingdom of Jingjue:
"The Kingdom of Jingjue ruled from the City of Jingjue. There were 480 households, 3,360 people, and 500 soldiers. There was a Captain of Jingjue, Left and Right Generals, and one Interpreter Chief."
In Xuanzang's Great Tang Records on the Western Regions, it recorded:
"Heading east into the desert for over 200 li, one arrives at Nirang City, about 3 to 4 li in circumference, situated in the midst of a large marsh. The marshland is hot and humid, making travel difficult. Reeds and ruins abound, with no clear paths—only a narrow route through the city allows passage. Thus, all travelers must pass through this city."
Whether or not a "Queen of Jingjue" truly existed—that was another matter entirely.
"Right, where are we headed now? Where's the gathering point? Is it on the oasis?"Yi Tianxing asked aloud.
"Not an oasis—still in the desert. It's an inn."Li Xue replied.
"An inn? In the middle of the desert?"Yi Tianxing frowned. There was something strangely familiar about the idea of an inn in the desert.
Crossing over several sand dunes, they finally saw a large inn emerge in the distance.
"It really is an inn."Seeing the building confirmed Yi Tianxing's suspicions. But as he looked at it, he felt a deep, inexplicable sense of familiarity—he was sure he had seen it before.
Whoosh!!
A gust of wind swept past, blowing up the banner hanging in front of the inn.
On it, a bold inscription was written: Dragon Gate!
The characters were clearly visible.
"Dragon Gate Inn!!"Even someone as composed as Yi Tianxing couldn't help exclaiming in shock. A look of surprise crossed his face.
Back when he had traveled to the Immortal Tomb, he had encountered the Dragon Gate Inn and even had dealings with its proprietress, Golden Jade. But when he later tried to revisit the place, it had inexplicably vanished—no matter how hard he searched, he couldn't find it. It left no trace behind. It hadn't been destroyed; it was as if it had never existed in the first place.
The whole situation had been extremely strange.
After a thorough investigation that turned up nothing, he had put the matter aside—until now.
Who would have thought he would encounter the Dragon Gate Inn again during his journey in the Immortal Realm? This time, the exterior looked almost exactly the same, except it was noticeably larger.
"Yes, this is definitely the Dragon Gate Inn. Around here, it's the most famous inn within a thousand-mile radius. It's also a temporary gathering spot. People trade here, exchange information—it's lively and safe. The inn takes a cut, of course, but in exchange, there's security. No fighting is allowed inside. Many cultivators like to set up shop here."Zhang Feng explained with a smile. The Dragon Gate Inn held a special place in the hearts of many.
"Most importantly, the innkeeper is a remarkable woman. Her figure is so seductive she could topple a kingdom—utterly bewitching. But her face... her face alone is enough to scare children into tears. It's a real shame."Zhang Shan spoke, admiration gleaming in his eyes.
"Hmph, perverts."Li Xue's face darkened instantly. Talking about other women in front of her? They clearly had no regard for her presence.
Yi Tianxing's eyes flickered with intrigue. In his heart, he suspected this inn really was the very same Dragon Gate Inn from before.
To confirm it, he would need to step inside.
Before long, they reached the front of the inn.
The massive banner of "Dragon Gate" fluttered in the wind.
Two red lanterns hung by the door—unlit for now, but they would become beacons in the darkness once night fell.
As they approached, a plaque could be seen hanging above the entrance: Dragon Gate Inn!!
Yi Tianxing entered together with Zhang Feng and the others.
"Welcome, honored guests! Welcome to the Dragon Gate Inn! You can rest easy here—rooms are available upstairs. Hungry? We have meat and wine. You look dusty from the road—you must be exhausted and starving. Worry not—our chefs are first-class. All dishes and drinks are top-tier. What can I get for you?"A bright-eyed young man dressed like a waiter came forward cheerfully.
He was clearly experienced in hospitality, his manner warm and confident.
"It is the same Dragon Gate Inn."The moment Yi Tianxing saw the waiter, his mind was made up. He recognized him—this was the same young man he'd met back during the Immortal Tomb expedition. His memory could not be wrong.
"Interesting... how did the Dragon Gate Inn move from near Xuanhuang City to the middle of the desert? This inn... it must be some kind of treasure, maybe even a type of artifact disguised as an inn."The thought flashed through Yi Tianxing's mind.
"Hey, haven't we met before?"The waiter blinked in surprise as he got a closer look at Yi Tianxing.
"I remember you! You're Lord Yi Tianxing of Xuanhuang City! What are you doing here in the Golden Sand Desert?"Clearly, the young man had a good memory too. As soon as he recognized Yi Tianxing, he recalled everything. Especially those Eternal Coins Yi Tianxing had given them—those coins had made quite a splash. The Dragon Gate Inn still used Eternal Coins as its primary currency.
"Didn't expect you to remember me," Yi Tianxing replied with a slight smile.
"Of course I remember! Wait right here, I'll go call the boss!"The young man beamed and turned toward the stairs, shouting loudly:"Boss! We've got money—I mean, Eternal Coins—no, wait, it's Mister Yi!"
His shrill voice echoed through the inn.
Since it was daytime, not many people were around—most were out hunting or on missions. The few cultivators present looked up in surprise.
All eyes turned toward Yi Tianxing.
"Who is this guy, that the waiter's making such a fuss—and calling out the boss lady?"
"Never seen him before. He must be new. But how does he know the boss? Could they be old friends?"
"Wait, did he say Eternal Coins? Those are the Dragon Gate Inn's currency. Everything is measured in Eternal Coins. I've seen one—absolutely stunning, all gold and shimmering. Just holding one makes you love it."
"That's not all. Rumor has it that Eternal Coins can be absorbed and refined—they contain pure energy, on par with high-grade pills. Maybe not as fast for boosting cultivation, but the best part is, they don't leave behind pill toxins or impurities. That alone makes them a treasure. The Inn rarely trades in them openly—normally, they're just used as internal currency for accounting."
When the Dragon Gate Inn acquired the Eternal Coins from Yi Tianxing, the quantity wasn't small. But there weren't nearly enough to sustain open trade. So, they became more of a symbolic currency unit—rarely circulated, but valuable.
"Mister Yi, please come upstairs. The boss is waiting. I'll prepare a private VIP room for you."The young man—Wang Xiao'er—smiled broadly, oozing hospitality.
"These three are my friends. Arrange a table for them, on my tab."Yi Tianxing nodded, then turned to Zhang Feng and the others."Order whatever you like. This meal is my treat, to thank you for bringing me here."