Less than a minute after he rang the bell, someone entered the room.
It was not the same attendant who had guided him earlier.
Alex held up the clothes he had chosen. "I'll take these."
"Certainly. That will be twenty-eight silver coins," the man replied.
Alex handed over the payment without hesitation. The attendant neatly folded the robes, wrapped them carefully, and passed the bundle to him.
Just as Alex was about to step out of the shop, he paused.
"Do you know a place where I can stay for the night?" he asked.
The attendant nodded. "Yes. Walk straight down this road. You'll see a banner that reads 'Heaven Palace.' You can't miss it."
"Thank you, brother."
With that, Alex followed the direction he was given. After walking in a straight line for several minutes, a massive building came into view.
It was enormous.
No… calling it enormous felt like an understatement.
The structure stood tall with multiple floors stacked high above the street. Wide balconies lined each level, supported by polished wooden pillars carved with intricate patterns. Large lanterns hung near the entrance, already glowing softly as evening settled in. The banner fluttered proudly above the doorway.
Heaven Palace.
It looked more like a grand inn reserved for nobles than an ordinary resting place.
Alex stepped inside.
The moment he crossed the threshold, conversations quieted.
People were staring at him again.
At first, he assumed it was because he had not changed into his new clothes yet. But after observing their expressions more carefully, he realized that wasn't the reason.
Their gazes felt probing.
Measuring.
As if they were trying to read through him.
'Weird…' he thought.
But just as suddenly as it began, the attention faded. Conversations resumed. The atmosphere returned to normal.
A young woman approached him.
"Are you here to rent a room or to eat?" she asked directly, without circling around the question.
Her straightforwardness did not surprise him.
What did surprise him was something else.
This place was both an inn and a restaurant.
"Both," Alex answered quickly. He had been hungry for quite some time and was not in a position to be picky.
The girl gestured for him to follow.
He walked behind her silently as she led him deeper into the building. The interior was so vast that it took nearly two minutes to reach the reception area.
Behind a large wooden desk sat a man reviewing stacks of papers. He looked up the moment Alex arrived.
First, he glanced at Alex.
Then at the girl beside him.
Their eyes met briefly, and something unspoken seemed to pass between them. A silent understanding.
Then both of them looked at Alex again.
He didn't notice anything unusual in their expressions.
The man stood up slightly and offered a polite smile.
"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Li Wei, and this is my assistant, Mei Lin," he said, gesturing gracefully toward the girl beside him.
"May we know our dear customer's name?" he asked courteously.
"Alex," he replied calmly.
"I see. So, Sir Alex, it appears you are here to rent a room?" the man asked, as if confirming what he already assumed.
"Yes," Alex answered with a simple nod.
After that, Li Wei began asking a series of questions about Alex's preferences.
"Would you prefer a quiet room or one closer to the dining hall? A single bed or a larger chamber? We also have rooms with minor spirit-gathering formations, though those come at a higher price."
Alex considered briefly. He chose a quiet room, somewhere simple but comfortable. He did not need luxury, only a peaceful place to rest.
Once everything was settled, Li Wei mentioned the final amount.
Alex paid without hesitation.
After confirming the payment, Li Wei handed the key to his assistant.
"Ms. Mei Lin will lead you to your room," he said politely.
"Yes, please follow me," Mei Lin added, already turning to walk.
Alex followed her through the spacious corridor.
As they walked, his eyes caught a wide staircase leading upward to the higher floors. The railing was polished smooth, and faint carvings decorated its sides.
"Ms. Mei Lin, what's on the upper floors?" Alex asked casually.
"The same as here," she replied in a calm, steady tone. "Rooms. However, they offer more facilities and are accessible only to influential individuals or those with higher cultivation."
Her expression remained composed, without the slightest change.
"How many floors does this building have?" he asked again.
"There are nine floors in total."
She glanced at him briefly and seemed to notice the curiosity on his face.
"It appears you are new to the city," she said.
"Yes. I arrived today," Alex answered honestly.
"That explains why you are unfamiliar with this place."
She continued walking as she explained.
"As I mentioned, the building has nine floors. The first floor is for commoners and those with low cultivation. As you go higher, access requires either greater influence or stronger cultivation. The top two floors are reserved for individuals with immense authority, such as the king or those of similar standing."
Her tone remained professional throughout.
After a short walk, they stopped in front of a door.
"Sir Alex, this will be your room for the next seven days," she said as she unlocked it with the key Li Wei had given her.
Alex stepped inside and looked around briefly before turning back to her.
"Thank you."
"No worries. If you need anything, please use that talisman to contact us," she said, pointing toward a small object placed neatly on a table inside the room.
'Talisman…' Alex thought.
He had read about them many times in novels. Talismans were special items engraved with mysterious runes and symbols, designed to store spiritual power. Depending on their purpose, they could be used for communication, protection, movement, or even combat.
Using one was simple.
All he had to do was imbue it with a small amount of Qi, and it would activate automatically.
"Alright," Alex replied.
Mei Lin gave a slight nod before stepping out.
Alex closed the door behind him.