Chapter 625: Shen Zongzhu, the Unemployed Wanderer

Chapter 625: Shen Zongzhu, the Unemployed Wanderer

In the southern region of the continent, there lies Jianyang Prefecture.

This place is not particularly bustling, but it is the first city of considerable scale that one encounters on the road from Hongze to the Heavenly Dynasty's capital.

Along the way, Ziyang had sought out numerous connections, and his travel pass was stamped with countless seals, ensuring a safe arrival.

If it weren't for the connections left by the Eastern Dragon King, they might have been detained by the Earth God as soon as they entered the jurisdiction of the Heavenly Dynasty, and their backgrounds would have been thoroughly investigated.

For others, this would not be a cause for concern, as they could confidently state their intentions without fear.

However, at this moment, Ziyang still prefers to downplay their origins from Hongze, hoping to avoid any potential complications.

"We've arrived."

Ziyang lifted the curtain of the carriage and bowed to the short horse, expressing gratitude for its accompaniment throughout the journey.

Then, turning his head, he looked at the youth who was feigning sleep with closed eyes.

Shen Yi slowly opened his eyes, his gaze carrying a hint of coldness.

The short horse had been casually swishing its tail, but the moment it met this gaze, it instantly stopped its movement. Its eyes scanned Ziyang and Shen Yi, eventually settling on the ink-clad figure.

The previously gentle and restrained youth, upon reaching Jianyang Prefecture, exuded a chilling killing intent.

It was hard not to suspect that he might have come to cause trouble.

Fortunately, Shen Yi quickly realized this and swiftly composed himself.

The short horse remained silent for a moment before resuming its tail-swishing.

Regardless of their intentions, given their strength, it would be difficult for them to cause any significant disturbance in Jianyang.

As the two disembarked from the carriage, the short horse leisurely pulled the cart along the same path they had come, heading back the way they came.

"What happened?"

Ziyang looked on in confusion, and the white-bearded dragon was highly sensitive to emotional changes. He, too, had noticed Shen Yi's unusual behavior.

"It's nothing."

Shen Yi exhaled lightly and rubbed his temples with a slight headache.

The situation was more complicated than he had anticipated.

He had heard of the connections between the Celestial Court and the Heavenly Dynasty, but he hadn't expected them to be so closely linked. In other words, mortals could ascend to the heavens at any time, and immortals could descend at will.

Zi Ling, holding the immortal order, went to the Imperial Stable Office to claim a horse, most likely intending to descend to the mortal realm.

Shen Yi was unclear about her purpose, and he always assumed the worst-case scenario. If that woman was heading to Hongze, it would be a significant issue.

Therefore, his first reaction was to test the waters.

He wondered if he could resolve the matter directly, even if it meant sacrificing his immortal status.

Using the position of Stable Superintendent to eliminate potential future troubles for Hongze was undoubtedly a worthwhile trade.

So, Shen Yi directly utilized the White Rhino Seal, seemingly to confine Zi Ling and send her to the stables. However, during this process, if Zi Ling gave him an opportunity, he would not hesitate to take her life.

But here, he encountered two problems.

Firstly, Zi Ling's reaction was impeccable, leaving no room for criticism.

Secondly...

Whether it was an illusion or not, Shen Yi felt that the White Rhino Seal couldn't suppress the white-bearded dragon.

Zi Ling's initial reaction was not fear but anger. Facing the mighty power of a true immortal, she didn't feel her life and death were controlled; she only felt humiliated.

Shen Yi had only cultivated for a few years, making it difficult to imagine the magnitude of change that ten thousand years could bring.

Zi Ling had been in the Celestial Court for a full ten thousand years.

Perhaps, she had surpassed the countless lives of Hongze, reaching a level even Shen Yi couldn't catch up to.

"Let's enter the city first. I've already made the necessary arrangements."

Ziyang handed the travel pass to the gatekeeper, who was an ordinary mortal. Facing a Heaven Realm great demon, the gatekeeper showed no unusual emotions. He carefully inspected the travel pass and then stepped aside to let them pass.

Seeing this, Shen Yi raised his eyebrows.

He initially thought it was because the gatekeeper relied on the backing of the Heavenly Dynasty. But upon entering this majestic city, what he saw made his heart stir.

The long street was bustling with people coming and going, similar to the former Great Qian. Most of the passersby were ordinary mortals.

Occasionally, cultivators passed by, but the pedestrians were accustomed to it, showing no fear in their gazes, at most a hint of envy. Even a child was playing on the street, bumping into the white-clad cultivator's leg.

The cultivator merely smiled and helped the child up, exchanging a few words with the child's parent before leaving.

"..."

Shen Yi remained silent for a long time, finally understanding the Eastern Dragon King's dissatisfaction with Hongze's current state.

After witnessing the situation in the Heavenly Dynasty, returning to Hongze would indeed make him feel out of place.

"In a land shrouded by imperial aura, mortals live for five hundred years."

Ziyang raised his palm, shaking his head with a hint of emotion: "Living for a long time and experiencing much, one naturally loses the innate fear of cultivators."

Hearing this, Shen Yi quietly looked at the roadside.

Who could remember that his initial wish was to find a place to live peacefully for three hundred years? If he had crossed over to a place in the Heavenly Dynasty instead of Baiyun County, his wish would have been fulfilled without any effort.

The two of them stopped for a moment, and they saw a bare-shouldered mendicant monk gently knock on a door by the roadside. He humbly clasped his hands together, said a few kind words, and only then did the old woman hand over a bag of steamed buns.

Shen Yi's eyelids twitched.

If the scene earlier could be accepted quickly due to his past life's experience, he truly couldn't understand why a great cultivator, who could make him sense danger, would beg for food on the roadside.

At such a realm, did they still need to eat?

"He's not begging for steamed buns, but for imperial aura," Zi Yang explained softly.

The mendicant monk swallowed the steamed buns contentedly, chewing each bite and swallowing the faint yellow mist that clung to them.

After finishing his meal, he tidied his appearance, bowed again at the tightly shut door, and then turned to leave.

"Phew."

Shen Yi suddenly had a better impression of this so-called Divine Kingdom.

If he could find a position in such a world after resolving his troubles, it might not be so bad.

With this thought, he followed Zi Yang toward the outskirts of the city.

...

At a small temple in the outskirts.

Two brightly dressed old apprentices moved a broken wooden table outside the temple door, and a group of people lined up obediently.

Ordinary people only needed a travel permit to enter the city, but cultivators...

To be honest, Shen Yi felt that having some cultivation in the Divine Kingdom was a bit of a discriminated matter.

These two old apprentices seemed eager to investigate their ancestors for eighteen generations. If there was any stain, they would cast a scrutinizing glance.

From the Soul Transformation Realm to the White Jade Capital, none received any good looks from the two.

"If you report yourself voluntarily, you might fill a vacancy. If you conceal your cultivation and enter the city, and the Earth God catches you, it won't be easy to explain..."

"The Immortal Court and the imperial court jointly govern Shenzhou. Registering with the Earth God first, he will help recommend you to the Prefect of Jianyang."

Zi Yang explained in a low voice. He knew that the sudden transition from the Lord of Hongze to an outsider cultivator queuing up outside an Earth God temple was hard to describe.

But since they were outside, Shen Yi, as the Sect Master, could only endure it for now.

"Dao Realm?"

The two old apprentices finally lifted their heads, looking at the black-robed youth with a serious expression, and then at the jade slip on the table: "Nanyang Sect?"

"A small place, not very famous," Shen Yi was not bothered by the formalities.

"Then you are a Loose Immortal. Your talent is good, and your cultivation deep; it's indeed fitting that you come to the mortal world." The two old apprentices smiled and said earnestly, "Do you know how to bring clouds and rain?"

After achieving the Dao Merger Realm, one was no longer a cultivator but a Loose Immortal, with the right to enjoy the incense offerings of the Divine Kingdom.

"..."

Shen Yi fell silent. If he had to say, he did know, but he brought dark clouds and foul winds.

Clearly, these two old men weren't looking for a disaster-bringer.

He could only shake his head lightly.

The old apprentice was not disappointed and continued, "What about dispelling disasters and praying for blessings?"

Shen Yi shook his head again.

"Helping childbirth and teaching children?"

The two old apprentices' faces changed slightly. Jianyang was a small place, and it was rare to have someone of great use come here. How could this person not know anything?

After Shen Yi shook his head for the third time, the two sighed: "How did your sect teach you? You have such deep cultivation but don't learn any skills to support yourself. What can you do to establish a temple and receive the incense offerings of the mortal world?"

"Don't worry, my brother is most skilled in slaying demons and monsters," Zi Yang leaned in to explain, but was interrupted before he could finish.

"Are you a White Dragon? Can you bring clouds and rain?"

"I can, a little," Zi Yang nodded in surprise.

"Good, good, good." One of the apprentices took out a jade disc and placed it in Zi Yang's palm: "Report to the prefecture office within three days, serve as a Rain Summoner, and contribute to the Divine Kingdom. Your future is boundless."

The other apprentice then looked at Shen Yi and explained helplessly, "In the Divine Kingdom, where are there any demons to cause trouble? Even if a few escape, it's not something a Loose Immortalone can handle. I advise you to quickly learn a skill to earn your living, or focus on cultivation. Don't get involved in mortal affairs. Once you complete your training, you can come down the mountain to gain experience."

Eating... the skill of eating.

Shen Yi lowered his eyes, feeling a sudden sense of loss.

Qinghua was a Heavenly Official in the heavens, with attendants of the Eighth Rank, while he was being looked down upon in the mortal world.

"Ah."

The old apprentice gave him a comforting glance.

Loose Immortals from small sects were the most awkward.

If they were disciples of major sects, they would hide in the mountains, free from mortal affairs, focusing on cultivation to achieve the Dao Fruit.

If their lineage was unbroken, they could inform their ancestors in the heavens and directly become Heavenly Officials.

The young man in front of them, compared to themselves, definitely had profound cultivation, but in the Divine Kingdom... there was really no place for him to use his skills.

Caught between a rock and a hard place, he was stuck in the middle.

When it came to truly decisive actions, the opponent was not a True Immortal, and their realm was too low.

Doing things that benefited the common people, this person couldn’t lower themselves to do it. The old immortals had seen too many similar situations and found it hard to persuade him.

After all, Loose Immortals were still labeled with the word 'Immortal,' and they had a bit of pride, which was quite normal.

At this moment, a figure hurried over.

"Little monk has important matters to attend to, please forgive me."

The bare-shouldered ascetic monk pushed through the crowd, bowed to everyone, and then took out a Buddhist token, gently placing it on the table: "Little monk wishes to meet the Earth God of Jianyang Prefecture. Please inform the two immortals."

The two elder boys merely glanced at the token before hurriedly standing up from behind the broken wooden table, completely ignoring Shen Yi, and respectfully bowed: "It turns out it's a Wanderer. We apologize for not welcoming you sooner. Please follow us."

Watching the ascetic monk being led directly into the Earth God Temple, the rest of the people seemed to find it normal and did not show any objections.

"……"

Zi Yang tugged at Shen Yi's sleeve and whispered: "I misjudged earlier. This person has a significant background. Though not an immortal or an official of the Divine Kingdom, he is a Wanderer."

"What is a Wanderer?" Shen Yi glanced sideways.

"It’s a cultivation realm, unique to the Bodhimanda Sect, one of the Three Teachings." Zi Yang looked toward the temple and gestured with his fingers: "Bodhimanda Sect disciples who earn the title of Wanderer are at least comparable to a Seventh Rank Celestial Official, possibly even a Sixth Rank. However, considering his age, he’s likely still new."

"A Wanderer travels the world, subduing demons with their physical body, saving all sentient beings, and is also seeking a master. Once their trials are complete, they have the opportunity to be accepted by a respected Bodhimanda Sect elder, becoming a seated Wanderer and attaining the position of an Arhat, with status and strength not inferior to a Fifth Rank Celestial Official."

Zi Yang’s face was filled with envy as he sighed: "Unfortunately, this Wanderer clearly has urgent matters. Otherwise, if you had befriended him, it would have been a good connection to the Three Teachings."

Shen Yi, however, was lost in thought. He was thinking more practically.

Even a Wanderer, equivalent to a Seventh Rank Celestial Official, had to beg for food on the road… wouldn’t he be even worse off?

Could it be that he really needed to learn how to assist in childbirth?

Relying on helping others give birth to deal with the Purplemane White Dragon in the sky?

"Relax, there are many Divine Kingdom prefectures. Just because Jianyang doesn’t lack people doesn’t mean others don’t. If all else fails, we can still seek a path among the various Immortal Sects."

The newly appointed Rain Summoner held a jade disc in one hand and comforted the suddenly unemployed Shen Zongzhu.

"Thank you."

Shen Yi was merely surprised. Coupled with the experience of being treated like a Celestial Official during the Golden Body ceremony, he felt a bit uncomfortable, but he wasn’t too disheartened.

After all, even Dao Realm cultivators in the Immortal court were often pushed around.

Since he had already registered, he turned to leave.

Suddenly, the Earth God Temple door was slowly pushed open.

The ascetic monk, dressed in tattered clothes, stepped out and clasped his hands: "Which immortal friend, little monk greets you."

"I heard from your companion that you are very skilled at slaying demons. Is that true?"

"……"

Under everyone’s gaze, Shen Yi slowly stopped, turned around, and after a moment’s contemplation, nodded slightly: "It’s okay."

After all, he hadn’t really done much else these past few years.

But if he remembered correctly, the immortal child mentioned that there were no demons or evil spirits daring enough to cause trouble within the Divine Kingdom?

Hearing this, the tattered old man’s expression changed.

As the Earth God of Jianyang Prefecture, even though he was only equivalent to a Heaven Realm cultivator, even a free-roaming True Immortal would need to report to the Earth God temple.

He had seen countless capable people.

It was the first time he had seen someone boast about their demon-splaying skills in front of a Wanderer. Did this person not understand what a Wanderer did?

"Since that’s the case, little monk has a humble request."

The young ascetic monk looked ashamed: "I am on my first trial outside the mountain, and truly lack experience. If the immortal friend can accompany me, that would be best, but little monk has no external possessions to offer…"

Before he finished, everyone, including Zi Yang, was visibly moved.

A Wanderer having no external wealth was normal. If he couldn’t offer material rewards, the only thing left was sentiment.

Sentiment from a disciple of the Bodhimanda Sect, one of the Three Teachings!

Zi Yang tightly gripped Shen Yi’s sleeve, wishing he could answer for him.

But after a moment’s thought, Shen Yi slightly raised his eyes: "Without external possessions, what about the Wanderer’s path…"

At this, Zi Yang’s eyelids twitched.

Why hadn’t he noticed before that Sect Master Shen had such a thick skin, directly asking for the unique skills of the Bodhimanda Sect.

What he didn’t expect was that the ascetic monk actually slapped his forehead, smiling broadly: "Ah, little monk never thought of that. It seems this can also serve as a reward!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end