Chapter 204: The Stellar Sky Foundation (1/2)

The following day, Zhi Qing stood outside of their room, waiting for them to come out. Having finished her daily training, Ming Yue left her quarters with Xiao Yin and Hei Yue.

”Good morning, my master is waiting for you at the Stellar Sky Foundation. Please follow me.”

Zhi Qing led them outside, walking through the capital city of the Dark Water Kingdom, aptly named, ”Dark Water Capital.”

Despite seeing it last night, Ming Yue couldn't help but be amazed by the architecture. It was very different from what she had seen, even more unique than the spires of Heaven's Gate. Everything seemed to be melded with the ground, built inside gigantic trees. These trees were certainly tall, perhaps several meters but it was extremely thick. There were dwellings and businesses in the roots and trunk. The roads were made with the same black stone like the paths of the gates.

The style within Heaven's Gate was beautiful, fluid and glowing. But the Dark Water Capital was something else.

It was as if human creation was perfectly merged with the world.

It was a bustling place, filled with the same things one would find in other cities but mixed with new and interesting things.

Along the way, Zhi Qing would give brief introductions to the many parts of the capital.

”This is our market district, where you may find all sorts of foods and little trinkets.”

What surprised Ming Yue was the popularity of tea and the many strange snacks. She heard the stalls shouting out and presenting their foods: maple candy, fried honeyleaf, marinated crabs, and an assortment cooked meats. Still, she found it familiar with the busy nature.

”Here is our craftman's district, you may find numerous stores catering to the creation of tools and armor.”

Here, it was much more organized with buildings made from stone and wood, unlike before where they were built into the ground and inside trees. It was certainly a dazzling sight, for every storefront had numerous items to show. There were fancy swords and armors, necklaces and rings. More than that, she found that each store showcased enormous ores and gemstones, each one well protected and exuding energy. From lightning ores to flame gems, there was an uncountbale variety.

”We also have districts for residents as well as cultivators, government officials and researchers. Speaking of, the most important district is the research district. That is where the Stellar Sky Foundation is as well as our continuing study of energy.”

As they reached the research district, Ming Yue understood just how important it was to the kingdom. It was by far the largest and most impressive place she had seen. Resembling the market district, the buildings were all built within giant trees. In fact, it seemed that they had been interwoven with the trees, like a massive fortress of stone and earth.

It was on a much larger scale that the market district. The trees were much tall and wider, the color of the leaves were shades of green but they also glowed. Even during the day, you could see the glowing branches and in the night, it was all the more apparent.

Zhi Qing led them inside the giant cluster of towers and trees and within, Ming Yue was not expecting to see that it was all one interconnected place. Everything inside had been hollowed out and filled with numerous rooms and halls.

It was just as busy as the market. All sorts of people dressed in differently colored robes, carrying papers and strange tools. Some gave Ming Yue a glance but most did not seem to care.

Zhi Qing led them away from the busy area, taking them up several flights of stairs to more secluded area.

There, they approached a set of doors with a symbol etched on them. These symbols were the exact same as Elder Shen's sigil and past those gates, was a large room. It was largely empty except for a work table and some simple furniture. It was all set to one side while the rest of the room had nothing within it.

At the end of the room, the wall had been replaced by large windows that carried a view of the capital city. There Grand Researcher Ou stood, looking at the passing scenery.

Zhi Qing walked to her side as her master turned around and smiled.

That was the first time Ming Yue had seen her face and she was taken aback by the sight.

Ou Fenhuang was incredibly old and wrinkled and her skin was paler than that of porcelain. Her hair was the braided and sported a hair brooch shaped like a jasmine flower. Her gray robes covered her body except for her hands and feet. Though Ming Yue could see at the edges of her sleeves, hints of a much larger tattoo.