Chapter 71: Wandering Immortal City, The Treasure Pavilion

The White Elephant Daoist had not forgotten that this fellow Daoist Gu was the notorious fiend the Yu family had been searching for. Even the core disciples of the Yu family had fallen to his hand—such audacity was rare indeed. Moreover, the White Elephant Daoist could not gauge Gu’s true depth; it was said that the slain Yu family disciple had already reached the fifth layer of Qi Refinement more than a year ago.

He pondered for a moment, suspecting that Gu Changqing, having left in haste these past two days, must have stirred up trouble again, hence his urgency to depart.

After a brief consideration, he spoke, “Very well. Since you are in such a hurry to reach Lotus Ridge, I shall accompany you. I will also send a flying letter to Daoist Tong, so he may catch up with us later.”

The ferocity on Gu Changqing’s face faded. If not for the lingering aura of ruthlessness about him, one would scarcely recognize the savage demeanor he had just displayed.

Gu Changqing smiled amiably. “Your arrangement is excellent, White Elephant Daoist—this is best!”

“How long will it take if we push hard to reach the Nine Mountains and Twelve Ridges?”

“The route westward, even with the finest horses and traveling day and night, will take five days to reach Wandering Immortal City. From there, Lotus Ridge is not far!”

“Is there any way to go faster?” Gu Changqing asked with a friendly smile, his gaze piercing.

White Elephant Daoist gritted his teeth. “Well, I still have several Wind Walker Talismans. With those, we can halve the time. But once we reach Wandering Immortal City, we must wait there for Daoist Tong.”

“Hahaha, Daoist White Elephant, don’t be so pained about it! At home, one relies on parents; abroad, one relies on friends. For us itinerant cultivators, that’s doubly true. The principle of Lotus Ridge is unity and mutual aid among rogue cultivators. A few talismans are nothing—I’ll repay you double in the future!” Gu Changqing laughed boisterously at his companion’s reluctance.

White Elephant Daoist nearly laughed in exasperation. The way Gu spoke, it sounded as if he were the one from Lotus Ridge, and White Elephant Daoist the outsider.

Yet Gu’s words did make him feel better. Even while cultivating at Lotus Ridge, resources were scarce. In the past year, his travels had earned him barely a hundred spirit stones—a prize fought over by countless itinerant cultivators.

Talismans were costly, especially Wind Walker Talismans, which required six for the journey, each valued at two spirit stones. A tenth of his annual earnings would be spent in one trip—it was no wonder he felt the pain.

Still, this Daoist Gu acted with boldness and ferocity—a hard-edged character indeed. If Gu survived the perilous Nine Mountains and Twelve Ridges, there was no telling when White Elephant Daoist might need his help again—perhaps for a bout of assistance in the future.

Consider it a favor, then.

“Daoist Gu, say no more. Though Wind Walker Talismans are pricey, I can afford them! Just remember, should you ascend the mountain, I was the one who led you there,” White Elephant Daoist replied with a smile.

Within half an hour, Li Youling had been brought to Giant Peak Gate, her belongings packed and ready. Upon seeing Gu Changqing, she beamed. “Young Master!”

Gu Changqing glanced at her. Her movements were quick and steady; she had improved these past days. Yet, compared to him, her progress was negligible.

“She’s here. Daoist White Elephant, let’s depart at once,” Gu Changqing said.

Anyone watching might have mistaken him for the host and White Elephant Daoist for the guest.

White Elephant Daoist nodded. “Let us be off.”

Soon after, two tall, sturdy horses were led out from Giant Peak Gate. They were larger and more robust than ordinary steeds, evidently valuable. Still, they paled in comparison to the one Daoist Xu had ridden previously, whose legs bore scales.

“If not for Daoist Gu’s urgent journey, I could arrange attendants to serve us along the way,” White Elephant Daoist said, shaking his head.

“No need to worry for me, Daoist White Elephant—I have someone to serve me!” Gu Changqing laughed, pulling Li Youling onto his horse.

White Elephant Daoist could only sigh inwardly. This fellow was truly...

The three rode out of the city. Once they were well away from the gates, White Elephant Daoist produced two talismans, infused them with spiritual power, and attached them to the horses. Instantly, the steeds moved with greater agility, as if carried by a gentle breeze, their speed doubled, wind whipping past their faces.

Gu Changqing mused that if these were affixed to his carriage...

They were indeed excellent for travel.

By evening, even with the Wind Walker Talismans, the two horses were near exhaustion. The three found lodging in a town, and Gu Changqing took the opportunity to inquire about talismans and magical implements with White Elephant Daoist.

As for Wandering Immortal City, Gu had already learned from White Elephant Daoist—it was the only city near the Nine Mountains and Twelve Ridges, a place under the weakest administrative control of the Great Ye Dynasty. The city was mostly populated by mortals, but many cultivators passed through. The marketplace where cultivators exchanged resources was located in the central city.

“Cultivation is hard,” White Elephant Daoist sighed. “You need magic, wealth, companionship, and land—not one can be lacking.”

White Elephant Daoist continued, “Talismans vary in quality. Take the Demon-Banishing Thunder Talisman, for example—its effects depend greatly on its grade. Low-grade versions are equivalent to the strike of a cultivator at the third layer of Qi Refinement; high-grade ones can match the ninth layer!”

As White Elephant Daoist explained, Gu Changqing gained a rudimentary understanding of talismans. Low-grade talismans were relatively affordable, but high-grade ones cost several times, even ten times more. For instance, ordinary Wind Walker Talismans cost one spirit stone for two; the ones White Elephant Daoist used cost two spirit stones each. High-grade Wind Walker Talismans required more than ten spirit stones apiece.

Defensive talismans such as the Azure Wood Mystic Light Talisman and Golden Light Protection Talisman, or offensive talismans like the Geng Metal Sword Light Curse and Demon-Banishing Thunder Talisman, were even more expensive. Low, medium, and high grades of defensive talismans corresponded to blocking the strikes of a cultivator at the third, sixth, and ninth layers, respectively. A low-grade talisman cost one spirit stone, while a high-grade one could cost sixty or seventy spirit stones and were rarely available—after all, they were life-saving items.

Then there were magical implements, also divided into high, medium, and low grades. Depending on their efficacy and power, the cheapest cost less than a hundred spirit stones, while the most expensive went for thousands—these were only for Qi Refinement cultivators.

Gu Changqing calculated his assets: one spirit crystal (equivalent to ten spirit stones), plus nineteen spirit stones, totaling twenty-nine. He also possessed a saber left by Yu Xuan Zheng, a Tinging Sword left by Daoist Xu, a Daoist Demon Hammer, a dozen or so bottles of pills, and a medicinal herb.

That was the entirety of the possessions left behind by the two—impoverished, really, with a lifetime’s savings so meager.

He himself had barely spent any time in this world, yet his assets matched those two combined. No wonder they were failures; their lives amounted to nothing.

For the next two days, the trio pressed onward, and Gu Changqing grew increasingly irritable—traveling on horseback day after day.

Luckily, on the third evening, they finally glimpsed the towering city walls in the distance.

Both Gu Changqing and White Elephant Daoist breathed a sigh of relief, and Li Youling was all the more elated.

“There ahead is Wandering Immortal City! This journey has exhausted me—I’ll need a few days to recover,” said White Elephant Daoist, pointing ahead as their horses stood by the roadside.

Bathed in the evening glow, the silhouette of Wandering Immortal City was backed by a range of mountains.

The three rode into the city, and from afar saw someone descending atop a flying crane. Gu Changqing discerned that it was not a real crane but a paper one.

“Flying magical implements can be bought in the marketplace, but they’re costly—at least several thousand spirit stones. That paper crane is somewhat cheaper, but still over a thousand spirit stones. It’s not fast and requires spirit stones to operate,” White Elephant Daoist said, with a hint of envy.

Gu Changqing grinned widely, delighted. Arriving here felt like stumbling upon a treasure trove—this was where he belonged.

Ah, he could smell the scent of freedom.

As for spirit stones, he never needed to worry about such things!

Gu Changqing entered Wandering Immortal City, curiosity mirrored in Li Youling’s gaze as she looked left and right.

Li Youling had never heard of such a city in the southern province, and the architecture everywhere was strange—mushroom-like structures mixed with ordinary buildings, creating a chaotic atmosphere.

“There are people here from everywhere, and many are even wild folks from the mountains!” White Elephant Daoist’s voice was subdued, but Gu Changqing could detect a tone of disdain.

“Cultivators are concentrated in the central city, where food, lodging, and everything else are purchased with spirit stones. The food isn’t what you find outside; it’s spiritual rice and beast meat, full of spiritual energy. Even the guest rooms have spirit-gathering arrays, and every room is protected by a formation.”

He winked at Gu Changqing, “And the maidens of the Show Pavilion are skilled in dual cultivation techniques!”

Gu Changqing was instantly intrigued.

“The outer city is inhabited by ordinary folk, who use mortal gold and silver—though spirit stones are accepted, too.”

“What are your plans, Daoist Gu?”

“Of course, I’m going to the central city!” Gu Changqing grinned. “It’s a rare opportunity—perfect for making connections with fellow cultivators.”

“In that case, I’ll visit two old friends. Once you’re settled, send me a flying letter and I’ll find you.”

“I plan to wander the city for a few days first—once I’m ready, I’ll contact you,” Gu Changqing said.

He intended to head to the Qingjiang battlefield next, though he wasn’t sure what arrangements awaited him. He’d look for an opportunity to return later.

“Very well,” White Elephant Daoist nodded, handing Gu Changqing a flying letter. When Gu infused it with spiritual energy, the letter would fly to White Elephant Daoist automatically.

The two parted ways, and Gu Changqing and Li Youling rode through the city, observing their surroundings as they made their way to the central city.

Wandering Immortal City was vast; the outer city was filled with ordinary people—nearly a million of them. The central city occupied an even larger area, its high walls visible from afar.

Upon entering the inner city and registering, they received two tokens. Many cultivators entered with their concubines or servants, so the tokens were marked as master and subordinate.

Within the inner city, ordinary people either served cultivators or performed menial tasks. Li Youling carried a subordinate’s token.

Unlike the chaos outside, the central city featured bridges over flowing water, pavilions and towers, exotic flowers and rare plants everywhere.

“Young Master, it’s beautiful here!” Li Youling exclaimed, skipping as she admired the surroundings.

“It’s indeed quite good,” Gu Changqing agreed, though the scenery mattered little to him—what mattered was forging connections with fellow cultivators.

Perhaps because the central city was so large, the number of cultivators seemed sparse—only small groups here and there.

The streets were lined with leafy courtyards, and the sounds of music, laughter, and conversation drifted from within.

After a short ride, they found an inn called Jade Tower, whose courtyard walls and street-facing five-story building were covered in jade.

“This is the place!” Gu Changqing favored such grand, upscale establishments. He dismounted and strode inside.

“A top room!” he demanded.

“Ten spirit stones per day,” the innkeeper, himself a cultivator, sized Gu Changqing up coolly. Gu wore ordinary clothes, his cultivation seemed unremarkable, and his attendant was merely a common martial artist.

Gu Changqing kept his composure and tossed over ten spirit stones. One must never lose face, after all; and earning money wasn’t hard!

“Room number five, ‘Yu’ character.”

Led by the attendant, he entered a spacious room of fifty or sixty square meters, furnished entirely with wood carved and imbued with spiritual energy. The floor was covered with a massive tiger skin, the original beast must have been at least ten meters long.

“Sir, cultivating here for a day is worth three days elsewhere!

“Also, keep this talisman for entering and exiting. Without it, even a ninth layer Qi Refinement cultivator couldn’t break in. You can shut yourself away to cultivate in peace!” the attendant explained.

Gu Changqing tossed him a spirit stone. “Where can I buy or sell magical implements and talismans?”

The attendant, himself only at the first layer of Qi Refinement, saw Gu’s generosity and thought—this guest may look ordinary, but appearances can be deceiving.

He never imagined Gu’s total assets amounted to just a little over twenty spirit stones; he was simply used to spending freely.

Once the attendant left, Gu Changqing felt the room’s spiritual energy—indeed, it was dense, though he found it of little use.

“Young Master, it’s so expensive here!” Li Youling finally spoke, having remained silent until now.

Though not a cultivator, she’d gleaned from White Elephant Daoist’s words that cultivation was no easy path.

To ordinary folk, cultivators were akin to immortals, but in truth, even ordinary cultivators struggled. The difficulty simply lay elsewhere.

“Is expense the point? It’s about identity!” Gu Changqing scoffed.

“Come, let’s visit Treasure Pavilion!”

There were several places in the city to buy and sell magical implements and talismans, but Treasure Pavilion was closest.

After a short walk, they came upon an elegant, imposing building, its sign bearing the words “Treasure Pavilion.”

Inside, displays and shelves held magical implements radiating spiritual light—evidently rare treasures, meant to impress.

For most cultivators, the rows of shelving at the side were the true attraction.

These two chapters cover more than seven thousand words—time to write another.

(End of chapter.)