Although Lin'an is very close, Lu Hong and his companion didn't go directly. Who knows if Lin'an has open gates, allowing free passage, or if it requires identity verification and restricts access, or perhaps, like the current Tang Shi World, enforces closed management with strict passage prohibitions.
In the first two scenarios, Lu Hong and Tian Shengwu might be able to think of a way, but if the passage is prohibited, they can only rely on gathering usable intelligence in the small towns on the ancient paths.
The two first found a small town, and after paying the town entry fee, they lodged in the largest inn.
The scale of this small town is much larger than Wuzhen, where Lu Hong had previously entered.
While chatting with the inn's waiter, Lu Hong learned that the controller of this small town is a mid-level Earth Realm Heavenly God, and has some connections with the Shadow Demon Race, otherwise, he couldn't have grown so strong.
