# Chapter 178: Heavenly Moon Pavilion
The snow eagle flew over towering mountains covered with trees. After flying for who knows how long, Zhang Ruochen, standing on the eagle's back, finally saw the Heavenly Demon Martial City situated beside a vast green lake.
The Heavenly Demon Martial City was built magnificently and grandly, with city walls constructed from five-meter-square boulders. Arrow towers and formation towers were installed on the walls.
If barbarian beasts from the Heavenly Demon Ridge came to attack the city, they only needed to activate the city-protecting grand formation to ensure the safety of Heavenly Demon Martial City.
Walking into Heavenly Demon Martial City, one could see martial artists dressed in vastly different attire everywhere. They came from various commandery states, traveling from all directions to adventure in the Heavenly Demon Ridge, bringing the treasures they obtained from their adventures to Heavenly Demon Martial City to sell, exchanging them for resources needed for cultivation.
A thirty-something demon wolf half-human, covered in wolf fur, chest exposed, carrying a huge battle axe, riding a second-rank barbarian beast, a Silver Dragon Lion, swaggered along the wide street.
Behind that demon wolf half-human followed more than ten martial artist servants at the Yellow Extreme Realm, their eyes filled with reverence as they obediently followed behind, heading into the distance.
Two twin girls with identical faces, carrying war swords on their backs, wearing the robes of Cloud Terrace Sect disciples with a white cloud embroidered on their collars, walked through the city gate.
They led two colorful barbarian birds, seemingly inner sect disciples of Cloud Terrace Sect, attracting many martial artists to watch.
Everyone was very respectful toward the Cloud Terrace Sect disciples, making way for them.
On both sides of the street, many stalls were set up. The stall owners were shouting vigorously, promoting their goods.
"Freshly dug spiritual medicine from Broken Moon Peak, only five hundred silver coins per plant."
"Heavenly Remnant Sword, fourth-rank True Martial Treasure, with fifteen inscription patterns carved into the sword, worth thirty-five thousand silver coins. Young hero, take a look! Even if you don't need it for yourself, you can buy it as a gift for your girlfriend." A fifty-something thin man held the white war sword in his hand, staring at Zhang Ruochen with a very expectant look.
Zhang Ruochen smiled and shook his head, leading the snow eagle, bringing Zi Qian and Xiao Hei, heading toward the direction of the Martial Market Arena.
That thin man sighed in disappointment and continued shouting by the street.
"Senior Brother!"
"Ninth Brother!"
Two voices came from behind Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen turned around and saw Liu Chengfeng and Zhang Shaochu walking quickly from afar.
They had also come to Heavenly Demon Martial City.
Seeing that it was really Zhang Ruochen, Liu Chengfeng and Zhang Shaochu both showed delighted expressions, quickening their pace.
"Senior Brother, weren't you in seclusion cultivating, breaking through to the Earth Extreme Realm? How did you come to Heavenly Demon Martial City? If I hadn't seen Senior Sister Zi with you too, I would have thought my eyes were playing tricks on me." Liu Chengfeng said with a smile.
Liu Chengfeng's martial arts cultivation had improved tremendously, now reaching the Mysterious Extreme Realm Later Stage.
Zhang Shaochu's cultivation had also reached the Mysterious Extreme Realm Great Extreme Position. He smiled, "I said it must be Ninth Brother. How could I be mistaken?"
Zhang Ruochen smiled, "What brings you two to Heavenly Demon Martial City?"
Liu Chengfeng said, "Fourth Prince and I came to Heavenly Demon Martial City to buy some pills, and also to visit Father. Senior Brother, thank you for saving my father's life. Father has been praising you nonstop, telling me to follow your example."
Liu Chengfeng's father was Liu Chuanshen, the former Martial Market Bank master of Yunwu Commandery.
Zhang Ruochen said, "It was just a small favor."
Liu Chengfeng's expression shifted, and he asked, "Senior Brother, Senior Sister Zi, are you going to the Martial Market Arena?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "Junior Sister Zi wants to go to the Martial Market Arena to compete for the Mysterious Ranking. I'm just accompanying her for a walk. I might also buy some cultivation resources to take back."
Zhang Shaochu showed a disappointed expression, "Ninth Brother, with your strength, if you competed for the Mysterious Ranking, you could definitely enter the top two hundred. It's a pity you're not going to compete!"
"With Senior Brother's strength, even competing for the top ten of the Mysterious Ranking would be easy." Liu Chengfeng laughed.
Of course, Liu Chengfeng didn't really believe Zhang Ruochen could enter the top ten of the Mysterious Ranking. He said this to flatter Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen was now the number one person of the Western Courtyard. As long as Liu Chengfeng clung to Zhang Ruochen's tree, he could do whatever he wanted in the Western Courtyard in the future.
Liu Chengfeng continued, "Since Senior Brother and Senior Sister Zi have come to Heavenly Demon Martial City, you must eat at Heavenly Moon Pavilion. Today, I'm treating!"
Zhang Shaochu's eyes showed a hint of amusement, "The food at Heavenly Moon Pavilion is frighteningly expensive. I heard that eating one meal there is enough to bankrupt a Mysterious Extreme Realm Initial Stage martial artist. Young Master Liu, it seems you're really splurging today."
"To treat Senior Brother and Senior Sister Zi to a meal, no matter how much money I spend, it's worth it." Liu Chengfeng laughed.
For martial artists, they only needed to take blood pills to maintain their body's consumption; they didn't need to eat ordinary food.
But the food sold at Heavenly Moon Pavilion was not ordinary.
Every ingredient was priceless and greatly beneficial to martial artists, something you couldn't eat anywhere else. The environment at Heavenly Moon Pavilion was also unparalleled, with quiet gardens, magnificent palaces, and flying pavilions.
Many martial artists, just to satisfy their cravings, would spend a fortune without hesitation, just to eat a good meal and drink a good wine at Heavenly Moon Pavilion.
As Zhang Shaochu said, eating one meal at Heavenly Moon Pavilion was enough to bankrupt an ordinary martial artist. Therefore, most martial artists who could eat at Heavenly Moon Pavilion were either powerful martial artists or talented disciples with influential backgrounds.
"Heavenly Moon Pavilion is not just a restaurant for eating; it's also one of the twelve sixth-rate forces in the Heavenly Demon Ridge. The owner of Heavenly Moon Pavilion is quite a capable person, having recruited many powerful martial artists, including even martial arts legends at the Heavenly Extreme Realm working for Heavenly Moon Pavilion."
Liu Chengfeng introduced the background of Heavenly Moon Pavilion to Zhang Ruochen while inviting him inside.
"For a mere restaurant to become a sixth-rate force, it's truly remarkable. I wonder what kind of person the owner of Heavenly Moon Pavilion really is?" Zhang Ruochen thought to himself.
To be called a sixth-rate force in the martial arts world, Heavenly Moon Pavilion must be able to contend with lower commandery states like Yunwu Commandery. It was definitely a very powerful organization.
"Manager, is there still a spot in the Near Heaven Pavilion?" Liu Chengfeng asked.
The manager of Heavenly Moon Pavilion glanced at Liu Chengfeng, saw the robe of an outer disciple of the Martial Market Academy, and smiled, "There's one table left, but... to eat at the Near Heaven Pavilion, you need to pay four thousand silver coins first."
"Understood!"
Liu Chengfeng was clearly not a first-timer at Heavenly Moon Pavilion. He immediately took out four spirit crystals and handed them to the manager.
The manager put away the four spirit crystals and instructed a martial artist in armor, "Move the young heroes' mounts to the Barbarian Beast Palace and take good care of them."
Then, the manager handed four silver tokens to Liu Chengfeng, saying, "With these tokens, you can take the Yellow-grade Flying Boat of Heavenly Moon Pavilion to the Near Heaven Pavilion."
The Near Heaven Pavilion was a dining pavilion built by Heavenly Moon Pavilion, suspended in the sky above Heavenly Demon Martial City, four hundred meters above the ground. One had to take a flying boat to reach the Near Heaven Pavilion.
The Yellow-grade Flying Boat that carried passengers flew in midair, only about ten meters long. It was a seventh-rank True Martial Treasure, controlled by a martial artist at the Earth Extreme Realm.
"Just spending four thousand silver coins gets us a ride from an Earth Extreme Realm martial artist. What a deal!" Zhang Shaochu said excitedly.
Zhang Ruochen stood on the Yellow-grade Flying Boat, looking toward the Near Heaven Pavilion suspended in the sky above.
It was a three-story glazed pavilion, with a huge formation a hundred meters in diameter at its base, holding the pavilion in midair.
Looking from afar, the Near Heaven Pavilion was shrouded in mist, with white cranes flying around, like a platform where immortals lived.
Faintly, one could hear the sounds of string and wind instruments coming from the Near Heaven Pavilion, very pleasant, like celestial music drifting down from the nine heavens.
One had to admit the strength of Heavenly Moon Pavilion's power. Just that Near Heaven Pavilion alone was a ninth-rank True Martial Treasure, capable of carrying hundreds of people flying through the sky and earth.
The Yellow-grade Flying Boat stopped below the stone steps of the first floor of the Near Heaven Pavilion.
Liu Chengfeng, Zhang Ruochen, Zi Qian, and Zhang Shaochu got off the flying boat and climbed the stone steps.
A beautiful girl in palace attire came out to welcome them, leading them into the Near Heaven Pavilion and bringing them to an empty table. She said apologetically, "Young heroes, the second and third floors of the Near Heaven Pavilion are fully occupied. You can only dine on the first floor. Of course, the prices on the first floor are half of those on the second floor."
Clearly, the higher one sat, the higher their status and the more they spent.
Zhang Ruochen didn't mind, directly finding a seat by the window and sitting down, beginning to observe the environment of the Near Heaven Pavilion.
On the first floor, there were about twenty or so martial artists, mostly young people, some dressed lavishly, others in uniform martial robes. Everyone looked spirited, all martial arts experts, with none having a cultivation below the Mysterious Extreme Realm.
In the center of the first floor, eight beautiful girls in colorful flowing robes were gracefully dancing. Their faces were lovely, their figures perfect, their skin snow-white, like celestial beauties.
Liu Chengfeng saw Zhang Ruochen staring at the eight dancing beauties, leaned closer to Zhang Ruochen, and whispered with a smile, "They are called 'companion servers,' all virgins, gathered by Heavenly Moon Pavilion's martial arts experts from major cities across thirty-six commandery states. The Near Heaven Pavilion changes eight different beauties every day, available for martial artists as 'companion servers.'"
Zhang Shaochu asked curiously, "What are 'companion servers'?"
"Hehe! Companion servers mean companion for the night! What, Fourth Prince, are you tempted?" Liu Chengfeng laughed.
Each of the eight dancing beauties was a first-class beauty, carefully selected by Heavenly Moon Pavilion and sent to Heavenly Demon Martial City. Zhang Shaochu was naturally very tempted, almost drooling.
Liu Chengfeng knew that flattering Zhang Shaochu was the same as flattering Zhang Ruochen, so he continued, "Soon, the Near Heaven Pavilion will auction the first-night prices of the eight companion servers. As long as you offer a high enough price, you might be able to buy one. Of course, their first nights are sky-high prices. Without several hundred thousand silver coins, you can't get one."
Zhang Shaochu's enthusiasm immediately faded when he heard the price Liu Chengfeng mentioned. "That's too expensive!"
Suddenly, Zhang Shaochu's gaze turned toward Zhang Ruochen, looking pitiful. "Ninth Brother, you have to help your fourth brother. Your fourth brother doesn't even have a prince consort yet. Can you bear to see your fourth brother die alone?"
At this moment, Zhang Ruochen seemed not to hear Zhang Shaochu's words, staring in another direction, seeing two familiar figures.
In the distance, Lin Chenyu and Lin Ningshan were sitting together with four outer disciples of Cloud Terrace Sect, drinking wine, chatting and laughing, discussing several major events that had happened recently.