Without much delay, Eva quickly made her way towards the living quarters where she and Alaric stayed for the past week, eager to tell him about what had just happened. She had a sack slung over her shoulder, walking briskly east from where she had just experienced the attempted mugging.

The path toward the inn gradually transformed into a lively, bustling thoroughfare. Bright lanterns hung from posts and doorways, casting a warm golden glow that washed away the shadows clinging to Eva from her recent ordeal. The air buzzed with laughter and animated conversation, an almost festive contrast to the danger she had just escaped.

As Eva moved along, she noticed a new wave of vendors emerging from the side alleys and quiet doorways. Some carefully unrolled patched, colorful sheets onto the dry cobblestones, meticulously arranging trinkets, handmade jewelry, fragrant foods, and curious oddities for sale. Unlike the organized stalls of the daytime market, these sellers seemed more improvised and transient, with unfamiliar faces.

Eva realized that the day workers stepped aside to allow these nighttime vendors their chance, creating an unspoken rhythm within the city. It was a way for everyone to earn a living, one group retreating as another took their place, ensuring that the streets never truly slept.

Without stopping any further, she made her way towards a massive inn, New Dawn Inn, writtten boldly on a bright jade plaque. The inn sat along one of the city’s quieter streets, its warm light spilling onto polished stone roads that seemed to glow faintly beneath the evening sky. At first glance, it appeared much like any other establishment found throughout the world.

Its exterior was built from dark timber and pale stone, with curved tiled roofs and elegantly carved support beams. Yet subtle details revealed the city’s unique character. Crystal lanterns hung beneath the eaves, their gentle light adjusting naturally as darkness deepened. No servants moved from lamp to lamp with a lighting pole. The lanterns simply awakened one after another, casting a steady golden glow across the street.

The common room bustled with life, but lacked the usual chaos found in most inns. As she went in, she could hear lively conversations from every corner of the room. The air smelled of roasted meat, fresh bread, medicinal tea, and expensive wine. Hidden ventilation formations quietly carried any unwanted smell away before it could accumulate. Most patrons never noticed the arrays concealed within decorative carvings along the walls. People only noticed that the air always felt fresh, even as the establishment grew crowded.

She could still remember Alaric spending several hours carefully studying the ventilation systems and the hidden formations before he moved on to other things.

Cultivators, merchants, scholars, artificers, and travelers occupied tables throughout the room, most here for the selection. Some discussed techniques while others negotiated business contracts worth fortunes. A group of young cultivators excitedly compared recent battles, while several older, more experienced men discussed strategy for the upcoming selection, even though they did not know what it might entail. The inn seemed to attract every kind of resident the city had to offer.

It is expected, though, that this is one of the free inns for participants in the city, so it will be crowded with them. The only semblance of peace was held together by a handful of stronger, older-looking cultivators, who would rather not disrupt the peaceful atmosphere here. Eva noticed, after all, she was one of the few who kept others in check.

The furnishings reflected the city’s philosophy. Nothing was extravagant, yet everything was refined. The wooden tables remained scratch-free despite years of use. Chairs were surprisingly comfortable. Drinks arrived at the perfect temperature. Even the floorboards produced almost no sound beneath passing footsteps. Each improvement was small. Individually insignificant. Together, they created an atmosphere of effortless comfort that visitors rarely appreciated until they left.

’I should help them later, but first, I need to see Al.’ She thought after a brief pause, before moving forward. Over the past week, she had thought of ways to compensate for the stay in the inn. Alaric, who heard her thoughts, suggested she help with chores; sometimes he even assists in the kitchen. Taking things from strangers for free just wasn’t her way of doing things.

Near the rear of the inn stood a large crystal display embedded within a polished stone wall. Information flowed across its surface in shifting runes, displaying announcements, trade opportunities, transportation schedules, and public notices from across the city. Travelers occasionally gathered before it to read the latest updates before returning to their meals.

Beyond the windows, the city had begun to settle into the night. Crystal lanterns illuminated the streets in orderly rows, their reflections dancing across water channels that ran alongside the roads. Carriages moved steadily through the district while distant voices drifted between buildings. The city never truly slept, yet neither did it feel restless. It carried the quiet confidence of a place that had spent centuries perfecting itself, where cultivation and innovation existed not as rivals, but as partners.

The inn embodied that philosophy perfectly. It was not the grandest building in the city. It was simply a place where everything worked exactly as it should, and somehow that made it remarkable.

After climbing the polished wooden staircase to the second floor, Eva paused before a door marked with a jade plaque engraved with the number 102 in elegant, flowing script. The soft gleam of the jade caught the ambient light in the hallway, making the numbers stand out clearly. Her own quarters, room 103, were just next door, but anticipation drew her here first; she wanted to speak with Alaric before anything else.

A second later, the door was pulled open from within. Revealing the interior.

The room was modest in size, yet possessed a refinement that immediately distinguished it from the accommodations found in every other city out there. Soft golden light emanated from a crystal lamp mounted near the ceiling, illuminating every corner without becoming harsh or intrusive. The walls were paneled with smooth dark wood polished to a satin sheen, their surfaces decorated only by subtle carvings of clouds and flowing rivers. There were no extravagant ornaments, no displays of wealth meant to impress guests. Everything was just well organized and functional.

This was free accommodation after all. If anyone wants luxury beyond this, they can pay for rooms on higher floors, which are very expensive and offer top-of-the-tier accommodations.

A neatly made bed occupied one side of the room, its mattress noticeably softer than most inns could provide. Clean white sheets covered the bedding, carrying a faint scent of fresh linen and medicinal herbs. Beside it stood a small nightstand crafted from pale wood, along with a comfortable chair positioned next to a writing desk. Several sheets of paper, an inkstone, and a brush had been thoughtfully prepared for guests who wished to write letters or conduct business during their stay.

Sadly, Eva and Alaric had no frame of reference for just how refined these accommodations were, since this was their very first experience staying in an inn. Unlike many of the other participants, who had journeyed through rough villages and endured cramped, noisy, or unclean lodgings on their way to the city, Eva and Alaric had always traveled under their teachers’ careful supervision.

Their mentors ensured they never lacked for comfort or safety, providing them with food, shelter, and guidance throughout their travels. Because of this, the pair recognized the quality of their current room, but found it difficult to fully appreciate the privilege, lacking the memories of hardship that gave these comforts their true value. The novelty of their situation was matched by a sense of detachment, as if they were observers rather than true beneficiaries of the inn’s quiet luxury.

Opposite the bed stood a wardrobe and a compact wash area supplied with fresh water. The water basin remained pleasantly warm despite the absence of a visible heating source, maintained by a small formation discreetly embedded beneath the stone counter. Similar arrays were woven throughout the room, regulating temperature, preventing insects, and subtly purifying the air. Most visitors would never notice their presence. They merely noticed that the room always felt comfortable, especially for those cultivators who are still ignorant about runes, arrays/formations, and other occupations.

This city also serves as a gentle introduction for newcomers unfamiliar with the customs and expectations of a cultivation society. Through subtle guidance woven into daily life, from the organization of public spaces to the amenities provided in inns, residents and visitors alike are gradually exposed to the traditions, disciplines, and social structures that define the world of cultivation. Every aspect of the city, from its architecture to its communal rituals, is carefully designed as part of a larger, purposeful preparation for the upcoming selection. By immersing newcomers in this environment, the city aims to ease their transition and soften the inevitable culture shock, ensuring they are better equipped to adapt and thrive in the challenges that await them.

She noticed Alaric sitting behind his desk, a parchment paper in front of him, his hands dancing atop as his quill wrote down information he needed documenting. His handwriting was like well-crafted calligraphy, but he beat the allegation by how fast those words were printed on the paper.

She waited for a few seconds before he stopped, putting down the quill beside the parchment.

"So how was it?"