A wide road, stretching out between the mountains, heading into the distance. There was a lot of traffic on the road, but the teams seemed to have a tacit understanding with each other, and they were all separated by a distance.

Li Ding sat in the carriage and glanced back at the mountains behind him, the undulating mountain beams seemed to symbolize his previous bumpy experience, which made him feel an inexplicable emotion in his heart.

Ahead, there is a plain as far as the eye can see, and after passing a few villages, the outline of a large city in the distance gradually becomes clear.

As far as the eye can see, the whole city is shrouded in the golden glow of the setting sun, like a city made of gold, dazzling and reverie.

But soon, the color of the setting sun gradually turned dark red, and not only the city, but also half of the world was covered with a layer of blood.

That was the Nanming King City, but before Li Ding could see the appearance of the city clearly, the night followed, as if it was about to swallow everything and drag it into darkness.

Originally, Li Ding could stay for another night in the back of the three bends, but Li Ding insisted on hurrying, and the shopkeeper Zhang and Wang Lei had to agree, but fortunately, after speeding up, finally at the dark time, their carriage arrived at the city gate.

The tall gates, the thick walls, the majestic soldiers, the lively crowds, and the impenetrable torches and lanterns that have long been raised inside and outside the city make the city look like a city that never sleeps.

This is the first impression that Nanming Wangcheng gave to Li Ding.

And when Li Ding looked up and saw the huge Nanming character on the city tower that was more than ten zhang high, under the light of the fire, he suddenly had a strange feeling in his heart, as if he had been here once upon a time.

However, Li Ding soon discovered that this emotion came from Yi Zhenglin's memory, and the huge word Nanming was like a key, which opened the content of this memory about Wang Cheng and flashed in his mind.

After several twists and turns, I finally came here. Li Ding's heart was excited, but it was also heavy.

When entering the city, there were checkpoints at both ends of the passage of the city gate that was several feet long, and Li Ding's carriage was also stopped by the soldiers guarding and asked for inspection. And the soldiers let them in.

At this time, Li Ding deeply felt the reason why Liu Li wanted him to go with the shopkeeper Zhang, and indeed there was a sleek shopkeeper Zhang by his side along the way, which saved him a lot of trouble.

It's just that Li Ding didn't understand one thing, and when he entered the city, he couldn't help but ask Shopkeeper Zhang: "It seems that compared to Yulong Pass, Shopkeeper Zhang's relationship with the officers and soldiers of Wangcheng is much deeper?"

Shopkeeper Zhang smiled and said: "Lei Gongzi said that I laughed, I have lived in Wangcheng for decades, so I am naturally familiar with it." And Yulong Pass is the territory of the avant-garde, and it will only take me a year to serve as the treasurer of Yulong Pass. Naturally, he is not too familiar with most officers and soldiers. Let alone...... Lei Gongzi didn't know that the avant-garde general Wang Yue was an old lady Ji Kun's person, and he had some festivals with our Lingcao Hall, so it was normal not to see me. ”

"That'...... Why was the person named Liu Ke ...... to you again when you were in Yulong Pass?" Li Ding said suspiciously.

Shopkeeper Zhang smiled bitterly, and was about to speak, when Wang Lei, who was driving in front, hurriedly said: "I said Brother Lei, it's been two days." Are you still struggling with this? Let me tell you, that brother named Liu Ke used to be the apprentice of the shopkeeper. It's a pity that the wood attribute vitality is inferior, and after more than ten years of study, I can't refine the elixir, and I can't become a pharmacist after all, so ......"

"So I recommended him to the army. Shopkeeper Zhang continued: "I just didn't expect to see him for a few years, but he who is only a mid-grade fire attribute vitality has also advanced to the Imperial Spirit Realm, so he must have suffered a lot." ”

Shopkeeper Zhang said. There was a trace of sadness on his face, and he didn't know whether he was sighing for Liu Ke or sad for his own fate.

Seeing this, Li Ding said: "Is Shopkeeper Zhang thinking about the Alchemist Conference?"

"Yes, I'm nearly sixty years old. As for my strength, I have long been self-aware, and my goal in this life is to advance to the third grade, because only the advanced third grade can be regarded as a real Dan master, and only then can I occupy a place among the alchemists. The Alchemist Conference is held every five years, and it is held by the Seven Kingdoms in turn, and I have participated in it six times, and I have almost traveled through the Seven Kingdoms, if I can't succeed this time, I am afraid that this life will be hopeless. Shopkeeper Zhang sighed.

Li Ding was stunned, he didn't expect that Shopkeeper Zhang was so old, and he really couldn't see it from his appearance. Thinking that Shopkeeper Zhang must have worked hard to advance to the third grade in his life, but it was difficult to go further when he was stuck there, which couldn't help but remind him of Huayang, Huayang was also stuck in the fifth grade because of his strength, and it was difficult to advance, so it can be said that both of them have the same knot.

And when he thought of Huayang, Li Ding also remembered the one-year appointment with Huayang and Hua Rong, he had promised to advance to the Tongyuan Realm within a year, but now he had entered the Ningyuan Realm, this big surprise he couldn't wait to share with these close people.

Of course, there are also Yu Lao, as well as Lin Xiao, Qi Zheng, Chen Yu and others who have gotten along with each other in the medicine hall in the past, and I don't know if these people are okay after the accident in Jinguangmen, and whether they will all come to the Alchemist Conference.

It was precisely because of the incident in Jinguangmen that Li Ding was trapped in the Jinguang Illusion, and things would have developed to this point. However, a whole year has passed since the incident, and perhaps with Jin Guangmen's strength and background, the matter should have been resolved, but he doesn't know what the result is.

Shopkeeper Zhang's mood at this time, Li Ding can be said to empathize, and can't help but say: "Shopkeeper Zhang doesn't need to think too much, presumably you have studied the Danfang thoroughly, I think you will be able to succeed in one fell swoop this time and advance to the third grade." ”

"This is thanks to Lei Gongzi's guidance, I hope to borrow Lei Gongzi's good words. Shopkeeper Zhang finally smiled.

While the two were talking, the carriage suddenly stopped, and Wang Lei's voice sounded: "Shopkeeper Zhang, I'm home." ”

"When you get home, isn't it an inn?" Li Ding was puzzled for a while, and the shopkeeper Zhang smiled: "It's my house, and Lei Gongzi will spend the night in the cold house tonight." ”

Li Ding didn't expect that Zhang's shopkeeper's home would be in Nanming Wangcheng, but it was said to be a cold house, but Li Ding was also taken aback when he got out of the car, because just looking at the two red lacquered gates, he could guess that the mansion inside was by no means ordinary.

As Wang Lei knocked on the door knocker a few times, it didn't take long for a young man with a lantern to push open the door and poke his head out to take a look, and found that it was the shopkeeper, and immediately opened the door with a smile and said, "It's uncle, why did you arrive so late." ”

Shopkeeper Zhang did not answer, but turned around and led Li Ding and Wang Lei into the gate, passed through a small courtyard, and after passing through two more gates, entered a huge courtyard.

Under the light of the house's lantern, Li Ding could probably see that there was a wide aisle between the left and right houses, and there were flower beds on both sides, leading to a gorgeous and tall house, and even at night, he could feel a sense of wealth.

In front of the tall house there was a cloister that was connected to the wings on both sides, and there was a lantern in it, and there was a door on the far right, and it seemed that there was a courtyard behind it.

Li Ding followed the shopkeeper Zhang and was just about to enter the big house, when several people walked out of the door on the far right.

"Why did you arrive at this time? Oh, there's a guest...... Without prior notice, I will ask my subordinates to prepare. A richly dressed middle-aged woman walked up to the front of her, followed by two girls with lanterns.

"Madam, they are not outsiders, Wang Lei's brother is a frequent visitor. The shopkeeper said to the woman with a smile.

As soon as he heard this, Wang Lei smiled honestly and said, "Mrs. Zhang, I'm here to beg for wine again." ”

"How many times have I said it, call sister-in-law, as long as you come, I'm afraid you won't be able to drink this wine. Mrs. Zhang smiled, looked at Li Ding and asked, "......Who is this little brother?"

"This is Lei Gongzi, but a distinguished guest, you hurry up and order to prepare some good wine and food, and after eating, let Lei Gongzi and them rest early. Shopkeeper Zhang introduced.

Hearing the words of the shopkeeper Zhang, the woman's eyes flashed and she immediately saluted Li Ding, Li Ding hurriedly bowed and called Mrs. Zhang, who knew that Mrs. Zhang smiled and said: "The head of the house has already said it, they are not outsiders, you also call me sister-in-law, Mrs. and Mrs. are more outside." ”

Li Ding was stunned in his heart, if according to her age, Mrs. Zhang is definitely an elder, and this sister-in-law is really a little unspeakable. But just as he hesitated, Mrs. Zhang had already turned around with the girl and walked into the corridor leading to the side room.

The shopkeeper Zhang immediately led Li Ding into the house and sat down, and soon a family member brought tea.

Li Ding secretly observed, this house is obviously a main hall for guests, and the interior decoration is chic and luxurious. With such a large mansion and a family serving before and after, it seems that the shopkeeper's family background must be very solid.

Suddenly, Li Ding noticed that there was a shrine against the wall in the middle of the living room, on which was a statue of a god, and looking at the hair of the god that rose like a flame, Li Ding knew that it was the statue of the fire spirit god Yanying.

Seeing Li Ding looking at the statue, Shopkeeper Zhang smiled awkwardly: "The current way of the world has long been to respect the strong and not respect the gods, and there are fewer and fewer people who respect the eight great spirit gods, even if it is the medicine ancestor who is respected by the alchemist, but the statue of this medicine ancestor is handed down from the ancestors, and the family will worship it regularly." ”

According to legend, the fire spirit god Yanying passed on the art of alchemy in the Nine Desolations, and was respected as the ancestor of medicine by the alchemist.

However, Li Ding heard of the shopkeeper's statement for the first time. Respect for the strong or not for the gods, it seems that these ancient spirit gods have disappeared for too long, compared with the real world's powerhouses, the statues of dead gods gradually lost their influence, and the awe of the world naturally turned.

"That's just as well. Li Ding nodded, but he had his own thoughts in his heart. Because according to what he knew, it was still a mystery whether those spirits had really disappeared.

"Oh, don't talk about these useless things, in order to concentrate on catching the car, I've been thirsty all day, hurry up and get some thirst quenching, shopkeeper Zhang." Wang Lei said suddenly.

"I knew that this tea couldn't be on your brother's mouth, wait a little longer, and the wine and food should be coming soon. The shopkeeper Zhang said with a smile, and said to the family next to him who was serving tea: "You go and urge, and by the way, ask the lady to take out two jars of good wine from the cellar." ”

"Alas. The housekeeper agreed, and immediately ran out of the door, not wanting a person to suddenly rush outside the door, and the two happened to collide together, only to hear an ouch, and both fell to the ground.

"What's the matter in a panic?" shopkeeper Zhang's face sank and he said angrily.

"Uncle, you're really back, go and take a look, the second master only has one breath left to beat him. A person got up on the ground and said to the shopkeeper in a panic.

(To be continued.) )