https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-226-Sage-of-Fragrance-Three-Fragrances-and-Four-Flavors/12920573/
Chapter 225: A Different Cultivation World
Chapter 225: A Different Cultivation World
"Did you give it?"
"Yeah."
"Did you take it?"
"I did!"
"Good, go to the back. After we enter the city, keep everyone in check and don't cause any trouble."
After the incident with Qu Lingjun and Su Xiaolin, Luo Chen also started paying attention to this aspect.
Although Huo Hu and his group ambushed them, it had little to do with the previous conflict.
But many things are often like a drop of water, accumulating bit by bit.
Luo Chen didn't like doing things that would get him in trouble.
Especially when it came to trivial matters.
Sima Huiwang obediently went to the back.
After she left, Luo Chen walked to the drawbridge and looked at the old man in a snow-white robe drinking tea.
"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Xu."
Xu Jingnian used to be loud and carefree.
But that was because he relied on his status as an Ice Fortress disciple.
Now, with Luo Chen, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, speaking to him politely, he naturally didn't dare to be arrogant anymore.
Moreover, he had already taken the other party's Spirit Stone...
"It's not a trouble. Senior doesn't need to be so polite, just call me Da Nian or Old Xu."
"Okay, then I'll call you Old Xu!"
Xu Xiaoliu, standing respectfully beside him, witnessed this scene and felt it was quite unbelievable.
This Luo Chen, who spoke with such kindness and eloquence, was completely different from the one who had mocked Fellow Daoist Lu Rong at the dockyard.
His senior uncle's cultivation base was not even as high as Lu Rong's.
Xu Jingnian looked up and stared at Luo Chen.
After carefully examining him, he nodded slightly.
"Go ahead, Xiaoliu will be your guide for the time being. If you encounter small troubles, just mention my name. For big troubles... I believe Senior wouldn't do such things."
"Thank you! Let's have tea together sometime."
After saying this, Luo Chen crossed the drawbridge and headed towards the massive city gate.
However, a barely audible mutter from behind almost ruined his well-maintained composure.
"If it's not tea from Peach Mountain, I won't drink it."
Luo Chen glanced at Xu Jingnian out of the corner of his eye, deep in thought.
It was said that in the coming years, it would be Ice Fortress's turn to guard Heavenly Wave Immortal City. No wonder a mere Qi Condensation Stage disciple dared to act so arrogantly.
Indeed, with such a background, one's words carried more weight.
Ice Fortress?
...
Is this Heavenly Wave Immortal City?
As far as the eye could see, people bustled about, shoulder to shoulder.
The city was filled with clamor and chatter, with people speaking in various accents from different regions.
Luo Chen only listened for a moment and noticed that the cultivators from Da He Fang had a rougher accent.
The street was incredibly wide, resembling a plaza at first glance.
However, the diverse architectural styles on both sides clearly indicated that it was a grand avenue.
It was wide enough to accommodate dozens of horses galloping simultaneously! There were thousands of cultivators walking along the street.
And this was just the first street upon entering the city.
From the faint fluctuations of spiritual power emanating from their bodies, most of them were Qi Condensation Stage cultivators, and many were at the later stages.
Among them were also Foundation Establishment Cultivators entering and exiting the buildings.
"Everyone, listen to me!"
Xu Xiaoliu stood at the front and waved his hand.
The crowd didn't pay much attention and continued to look around.
However, after a glance from Luo Chen, the previously noisy Luo Tianhui cultivators quieted down.
Xu Xiaoliu heaved a sigh of relief; being a guide for so many people was quite stressful!
"When you first arrive in Heavenly Wave City, there are a few things you must keep in mind!"
"First, try not to use the Spirit Eye Technique to spy on other cultivators in the city."
Seeing someone's confusion, he carefully explained.
"There are too many cultivators, and they all have different temperaments. This kind of unwarranted spying is very rude unless you're sure you won't be noticed. Directly using the Spirit Eye Technique to check others' cultivation levels is impolite."
"Especially, some powerful or mysterious individuals have secret techniques to prevent detection. It's fine if they only block perception, but if they have counterattacking abilities, the consequences are unimaginable!"
Upon hearing these words, Luo Chen deeply agreed.
After cultivating the Spirit Concealment Technique, his perception had become even sharper.
If someone tried to observe him, as long as their cultivation base wasn't significantly higher, he could react.
Most of his followers were Loose Cultivators from the market towns, and they were used to being arrogant in smaller places.
Now that they were in a big city, it was better to be more well-behaved.
Otherwise, they might end up in a situation like, "What are you looking at?"
"What are you looking at?"
"I'll cut you!"
Such situations were best avoided.
Xu Xiaoliu's reminder was timely and appropriate.
"Second, fighting is strictly prohibited in the city! If discovered, the law enforcement team won't hesitate; minor offenses result in imprisonment in the Ethereal Water Prison, while severe cases lead to immediate execution."
"If there are conflicts, try to resolve them peacefully. If that's impossible, go to the Debate Platform and sign a life-and-death agreement!"
Debate Platform?
The prohibition on fighting was something everyone could accept.
Most market towns and immortal cities had similar rules.
What piqued their interest was that Heavenly Wave Immortal City also had a Debate Platform.
Seeing someone's curiosity, Xu Xiaoliu explained further.
"Our Heavenly Wave's Debate Platform is not comparable to those in smaller places. It has been established for three hundred years, and every year, numerous geniuses emerge from it."
"Let's not beat around the bush, let's talk about the batch from ten years ago!"
"What were the top ten back then?"
"First in Foundation Establishment was Lin Qingxuan. A Golden Core Dao Seed of Jade Cauldron Sword Sect, he dominated ten great immortal cities and challenged dozens of peers, truly unmatched in battle prowess."
"Next, the second in Foundation Establishment was Ice Soul Fairy. A Golden Core Dao Seed of Ice Fortress..."
"Tao Wan, a descendant of Qingdan Valley, reached the ninth layer of Foundation Establishment. With her profound cultivation, she wielded the Cloud Sleeve Technique with grace and power, an unparalleled dominance."
"Each one of them was a resounding genius, towering and talented. In the future, they'll be the big shots ruling their territories!"
Someone shouted.
"Why are they all disciples of major sects?"
Xu Xiaoliu chuckled, "There are Loose Cultivators too, like Chu Kui..."
"Alright, that's enough rambling."
Luo Chen gave Xu Xiaoliu a cold look.
Xu Xiaoliu shrank his neck, and before he knew it, he had started chatting away.
The crowd gradually moved forward along the wide street.
Xu Xiaoliu continued, "Thirdly, everyone should remember this. Heavenly Wave Immortal City has air restrictions, not just for flying vessels and magical tools, but even using the Wind Control Array is prohibited."
Someone asked curiously, "With such a vast area, how can we possibly tour the entire Heavenly Wave Immortal City?"
Hearing this question, Xu Xiaoliu chuckled.
"It's simple, look behind you."
Everyone turned to look.
A pitch-black beast head was approaching with a loud rumble.
"A monster beast?"
"No!"
As Luo Chen looked at the approaching object, his eyes narrowed, feeling an overwhelming sense of strangeness.
"Is that... a public bus?"
Just as his sense of disharmony peaked.
The ten-zhang-long beast vehicle pulled up at the city gate.
A beautiful female cultivator poked her head out.
"Get on, get on!"
"This trip is to Huaqing Palace, and it'll take about an hour. Hurry up, everyone!"
Before she could finish.
The cultivators waiting at the entrance scrambled to get on.
There were quite a few people, and everyone was pushing to get inside.
This provoked the female cultivator to curse.
"One spirit stone per person, no fare dodging!"
"If I catch anyone, the Law Enforcement Team will deal with you!"
After this loud shout, the cultivators trying to squeeze onto the bus calmed down a bit.
Soon, the bus was filled with several dozen people, leaving more than half the seats empty.
Seemingly aware that someone was watching her, the female cultivator turned around, her eyes lighting up.
"Do you want to get on? With a little squeeze, you can all fit!"
She was looking at Luo Chen's group.
Luo Chen furrowed his brows. Although there seemed to be many empty seats, there were over a hundred people from Luo Tianhui alone on their side.
The Li Family also had sixty-plus members.
The Nan Gong Family had the fewest, but still a dozen or so.
"Can we all fit?"
Xu Xiaoliu quickly replied, "Yes, we can fit. The Black Python Vehicle is a beast puppet with excellent flexibility, capable of accommodating several times its own body size in passengers."
Beast puppet? Luo Chen's heart stirred, remembering the small pangolin in his storage bag and the giant bear puppet in Gu Caiyi's hands.
They were all beast puppets!
He never imagined this thing could develop to such an extent that even public transportation would appear.
"How far is it to our destination?" Luo Chen asked.
Xu Xiaoliu thought for a moment, "It's about a three-hour walk. I originally wanted to take you all on a tour of Heavenly Wave Immortal City. If you're in a hurry, you can take this bus. Get off midway, and it's just half a tea session's walk from there."
"Alright, let's get on!"
Luo Chen didn't hesitate and made the decision.
He could see the eager and curious eyes of many Luo Tianhui cultivators.
After some quick communication, the Li Family and Nan Gong Family cultivators also decided to take the beast vehicle.
There were just too many people.
The longer they delayed on the road, the more trouble they might encounter.
Once on the bus, there weren't as many issues.
It was just the price!
When Sima Huiniang handed over more than a hundred spirit stones, her face turned a little pale.
"What's wrong?"
Luo Chen, sitting with Li Yixuan at the back and studying the Black Python Vehicle, noticed her troubled expression.
Sima Huiniang forced a smile.
"President, we're spending spirit stones too quickly!"
Luo Chen was taken aback, then couldn't help but laugh.
Even Li Yixuan and Sima Huiniang beside him struggled to hold back their laughter.
They had to pay spirit stones for docking, then another sum to enter the city, and now more for the bus ride.
Although it wasn't a large amount, just a few dozen or a hundred spirit stones, it was the frequency that was overwhelming!
Luo Chen shook his head, "You should've realized this earlier."
Sima Huiniang and Li Yixuan looked at each other, unsure when they should have realized this.
Luo Chen spoke solemnly, "Do you remember my conversation with Fellow Daoist Lu Rong at the dockyard?"
Sima Huiniang recalled.
Soon, she understood.
Li Yixuan beside her also had a sudden realization.
Looking at Luo Chen's confident gaze, they couldn't help but sigh inwardly, realizing that Luo Chen was the kind of person who could see ten steps ahead with just one step.
Even before entering the city, with just a simple conversation, he had already grasped the general situation of Heavenly Wave Immortal City.
It was no longer the rough business model of Da He Fang.
And it has been refined to a very precise degree.
For vessel cleaning, it's categorized by quality, level of dirtiness, and size.
For repairs, they calculate the spirit stones down to the smallest detail.
Even for docking, they consider the number of days, months, late fees, compensation, and so on.
And all of this is just for a single mode of transportation.
But not everyone has a flying vessel.
So, judging the whole by a small sample, one can see the bigger picture.
If we zoom out, the business in Heavenly Wave Immortal City for common and frequent transactions is likely to be even more terrifying!
The ban on fighting not only protects businesses but also provides income for the Debate Platform.
The flight restriction also creates a market for these beast puppet vehicles.
What about other aspects?
One spirit stone only allows you to stay in the city for one day, and you have to leave at night.
Otherwise, if caught by the law enforcement team, you'll be fined to work in the mines for a month.
How can one stay longer?
Stay at an inn!
Stay in a cave mansion!
These all require a large amount of spirit stones!
In general, through the vessel docking yard, the leader has gained a glimpse of the city's operations.
In a place like this, strength is still the absolute leading force, but that refers to the top-tier strength.
On the contrary, the importance of individual wealth has increased.
Due to the development of commerce, various rare resources have become more accessible.
Even a Qi Condensation Cultivator at the ninth level, who seemed to have some skills in Da He Fang, has become commonplace.
Even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator can't dominate a region.
Moreover, due to its geographical advantages, Heavenly Wave Immortal City naturally attracts powerful cultivators from the surrounding areas within a radius of ten thousand miles.
Personal strength becomes less important unless it surpasses the Golden Core stage.
Everyone is strong.
On the contrary!
Due to the joint establishment of the seven sects and the rotating leadership of the Ice Fortress, a stable environment has been formed.
This is why Heavenly Wave Immortal City has various large and small forces standing side by side, yet intertwined and entangled.
Of course, the real situation may not be so simple.
It can't be fully explained in a few words.
Seeing one leaf falling knows the coming of autumn, but it only reveals a small part of the world.
To survive in Heavenly Wave Immortal City, one must continue to explore and gradually become familiar with it.
"We've arrived!"
"The next stop is Yuelu Street. If you want to find accommodation or work, please get off here."
As the "ticket seller" announced, the loose cultivators on the beast vehicle began to get off one by one.
Xu Xiaoliu stood at the door, waving to everyone.
"We'll get off here too, everyone."
"Senior, this way!"
Luo Chen nodded and stepped off the vehicle.
The Black Python Vehicle was enclosed, and he couldn't see the outside scenery during the journey.
As soon as he got off, a loud commotion hit him.
There was a strange smell in the air, a mixture of human, various monster beasts, mineral, and medicinal odors.
Many people subconsciously scrunched their noses.
Someone complained, "Sixth, did you take the wrong route? Why did you bring us to such a place?"
Sixth quickly waved his hands.
"Trust me, the accommodation on Yuelu Street is the cheapest in Heavenly Wave Immortal City."
"We're just staying temporarily, so there's no need to spend over ten spirit stones on those luxurious inns."
As he explained and introduced the area, the large group slowly moved deeper into the alleyways.
Unlike Li Yixuan and Nan Gong Jin, Luo Chen didn't follow closely behind his family members.
Sima Huiwang would handle these trivial matters for Luo Tianhui.
His gaze wandered among the shops along the street.
"Talisman Skin Shop, Talisman Ink Shop, and even a shop making talisman writing brushes... There are hardly any complete talisman seal shops, it's more like a gathering place for raw materials."
"No wonder the smell of monster beasts and minerals is so strong."
"Most of the shops on the main street are grand and luxurious."
"These small shops can only hide in the alleys of the backstreets."
He remembered a shop with a sign advertising apprentice recruitment.
Luo Chen's impression of Heavenly Wave Immortal City deepened.
In the cultivation world, it's often said that the law, wealth, and land are interconnected.
But here, it seems like wealth, land, and law are interconnected, with wealth taking the lead!
"If that's the case, Luo Tianhui might not be able to survive by taking a comprehensive development approach."
"It's best to return to the original specialized and precise model."
He quickly thought about the plan for Luo Tianhui.
But what Luo Chen was most concerned about was something else.
As Xu Xiaoliu was settling the cultivators with Sima Huiwang and others, he suddenly turned around.
Then, he ran back to Luo Chen.
"Senior, what do you need me for?"
Luo Chen looked at him; indeed, he hadn't played any tricks during the journey.
It seemed that the few hundred spirit stones given to Xu Jingnian were effective.
At least, Xu Xiaoliu was dedicated to his tasks.
Luo Chen said indifferently, "Do you know where to rent a cave mansion in the city?"
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
