The Huli Capital City was enormous.
Its outer walls stretched across the horizon, enclosing a vast urban expanse nearly one hundred fifty kiloters wide.
Massive gates stood open as countless cultivators and travelers entered and exited.
Inside the walls, the city extended outward into countless districts filled with towering buildings, markets, gardens, and administrative halls.
Architecturally, the city resembled many other immortal world capitals.
Elegant stone structures.
Pagoda towers.
Wide avenues.
Flowing waterways.
Yet one major difference stood out imdiately.
The people.
Everywhere Lin Mu looked, he saw fluffy ears and swaying tails.
Foxkin.
White foxes.
Red foxes.
Silver foxes.
Golden foxes.
Dozens of variations moved through the streets.
Mixed among them were humans and other beastkin as well.
But the foxkin population clearly dominated the city.
ng Bai blinked in amazent.
"There are fox ears everywhere."
Cattaleya laughed.
"Well... it is their world."
The carriage slowly entered the bustling capital.
And as Lin Mu watched the lively city pass by outside the window, he knew their arrival had likely already begun stirring waves within the kingdom's administration.
The approach to the Huli Capital City was smooth and orderly.
Lin Mu had quietly expected so form of grand spectacle once they arrived. After all, Miyeon had already inford the royal administration of their identities. In many cultivation worlds, news like that would trigger parades, elaborate ceremonies, and excessive displays of hospitality.
Thankfully, that did not happen.
There was no parade.
No marching bands.
No crowds cheering from the streets.
Instead, the welco was dignified and controlled.
As their carriage entered the main avenue leading deeper into the capital, rows of armored guards appeared along both sides of the street. The soldiers stood in disciplined lines, their spears upright and their armor gleaming faintly in the sunlight.
They did not shout or chant.
They simply stood at attention.
Their presence ford a secure corridor through the busy city streets,
allowing the carriage to travel without interruption.
The citizens who noticed the formation quickly stepped aside, whispering
among themselves as the convoy passed.
ng Bai looked out the window curiously.
"That's still quite a reception," he said quietly.
Daoist Chu nodded.
"Yes, but it is restrained."
Cattaleya leaned lazily against her seat.
"At least they didn't make us sit through so ridiculous ceremony."
Lin Mu agreed silently.
This level of reception was far more comfortable.
The escort continued guiding them through the capital's grand avenues until
the cityscape began to change.
The buildings grew larger.
The streets beca quieter.
The density of guards increased.
Soon, an enormous structure ca into view ahead.
The Royal Palace.
Even Lin Mu could not help but study it carefully.
The palace complex was imnse. It stretched across nearly ten kiloters of land, forming what looked less like a single building and more like an entire
district dedicated to royal administration.
Multiple palace structures stood within the compound, each connected by covered corridors, bridges, and walkways.
The architecture blended natural beauty with elegant design.
Artificial lakes reflected the sky like mirrors. Small streams flowed through
carefully sculpted gardens. Decorative hills and stone landscapes created the
illusion of miniature mountains and valleys.
Everywhere Lin Mu looked, statues of foxkin could be seen.
So were carved in dignified poses.
Others depicted foxkin warriors or historical figures.
There were even statues showing fox beasts standing beside human cultivators,
likely representing the ancient origins of the foxkin bloodline.
The carriage rolled through the massive palace gates and continued along the
inner road.
Finally, it stopped in front of a large stone structure.
The Entry Hall.
Several rows of guards stood there already, their armor more elaborate than the city soldiers outside.
Alongside them stood a group of officials dressed in elegant ceremonial robes.
It was imdiately clear that this was the official welcoming party. And judging
by the scale of the palace, there were likely many more waiting deeper inside.
CREAK
The carriage doors opened.
Lin Mu and the others stepped out.
The officials imdiately straightened.
Miyeon discreetly elbowed her brother. Huli Zu flinched slightly before
rembering his responsibility.
He cleared his throat and stepped forward, his voice carrying across the
courtyard.
"These honored guests are Lin Mu and Cattaleya, participants of the Martial Fist
King Tournant."
He paused briefly before adding with emphasis.
"Lin Mu is the tournant's top champion, and Lady Cattaleya placed second."
A ripple passed through the assembled officials.
Many of them had already received the reports from Miyeon, but hearing the
announcent directly still carried weight.
Imdiately, the officials bowed respectfully.
Leading them was an elderly foxkin man.
His fur was pale silver, and his face carried deep wrinkles that spoke of long
experience. Despite his aged appearance, Lin Mu could clearly sense his
cultivation.
Fifth Tribulation Stage of the Immortal Realm.
The man stepped forward with a calm smile and cupped his fists politely.
"I am the Royal Steward of the Huli Kingdom."
"On behalf of His Majesty, I welco you and your companions to our world."
His tone carried genuine respect.
However, he also added with a slight bow.
"I must apologize for the humble nature of this reception."
"We received news of your arrival quite late and were unable to prepare a
proper ceremony."
Lin Mu shook his head lightly.
"That is perfectly fine. I do not care much for excessive formalities."
Cattaleya nodded in agreent.
"Honestly, this is already more than enough."
The Royal Steward visibly relaxed.
He had clearly expected far more demanding personalities. Many cultivators
who achieved such fa beca arrogant or overbearing. Yet these two behaved far more calmly than anticipated.
"Please," the steward said politely. "Allow to escort you inside."
He gestured toward the palace.
The group began walking.
Huli Zu and Miyeon followed behind them while the guards remained stationed
outside.
They passed through the Entry Hall first.
The interior was vast, with tall columns supporting a high ceiling decorated
with intricate carvings of foxkin history.
Beyond the hall, a long open corridor stretched forward.
The corridor overlooked a magnificent garden. Stone pathways curved through
flowering trees and small ponds reflected the sky.
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