Chapter 1290
[Immortal Realm Chapter] True Spirit Green Bird, Penglai Immortal Sect
Lin Shan quickly became friends with the young masters of the Chu family, and together they set off for Yunbian City, a nearby gathering place for cultivators. As for how to get there, he didn't know either, and relied entirely on them to lead the way.
Along the way, this group of people kept glancing at the Zouwu Venerable, constantly praising his mount:
"Brother Zhong, you were riding so fast just now. We only saw a flash of light as you sped by, like a shooting star. We were so envious. We wonder where such a fine steed can be found?"
"Oh, you mean this?"
Lin Shan replied nonchalantly.
"Pick it up."
Found it?
The group stared wide-eyed, unable to understand where they could find such a horse. Although the South China Sea was considered a remote and uncivilized place, cultivators had quickly hunted down any magical beasts on the grasslands, which was why the spiritual herbs were growing wildly and unruly.
Could it be that there are still unexplored plots of land?
So one by one they took turns trying to get information out of him, hoping to find out the address so they could go back and see if they could catch something good.
Lin Shan naturally spouted nonsense, describing things in a serious manner, and gave them a few general directions to fool them.
However, when the conversation turned to the true spirit, the other party clearly knew quite a lot:
"The true spirit that descended to earth this time from the Cloud Wind Immortal Realm is said to be a roc, which is a legendary divine creature from the Western Wilderness, and a high-ranking existence in the True Spirit Register!"
"It is said that the name of this true spirit existed in ancient times and has continued to this day. It is unknown which generation of true spirit it is now."
The Classic of Mountains and Seas says: There is a blue bird with a yellow body, red feet, and six heads, named the Green Bird. It dwells in the Great Wu Mountain, in the middle of the Golden Mountain in the southwestern wilderness.
"The Great Wilderness of the Southwest of the Immortal Realm is so far away from our Southeast Cloud Wilderness that we may never see it in this lifetime!"
"Our elders specially prepared offerings for this trip, hoping to offer our sincerity upon seeing the spirit. Regardless of whether we receive its favor, we hope to at least share in its auspiciousness."
At this point, Chu Feng's eyes narrowed, and he turned around to glare at the Chu family member. Realizing he had let something slip, the member quickly stopped.
Clearly, the matter of tributes was of great importance. There is a saying that one should not flaunt one's wealth when traveling. Even if one is having a pleasant conversation with Lin Shan, one should not casually talk about family matters.
After all, you can know a person's face but not their heart. What if the other party gets malicious intent after hearing this?
Lin Shan listened with great interest and grew increasingly excited for the meeting.
In the mortal realm, he often saw ancient books describing how the true spirits of the immortal realm were. If a demon beast had even the slightest connection to the bloodline of a true spirit, it would be the hope for the future of the entire demon race!
The reason why the Yuanlu Demon King was so powerful back then was because he possessed the bloodline of the True Spirit Yuanhu, which allowed him to suppress the Kuihu Demon King!
As for the Zouwu Venerable under his command, it is said that he also has a tiny bit of true spiritual bloodline, but it is unknown whether this is true or not.
"Puff puff~ Huff huff~"
Despite being a mount, the Zouwu Venerable had been listening to their conversation. If Lin Shan hadn't insisted on traveling with these little devils, it would have loved to gallop away to pay homage to the true spirit!
"Young master, why waste words with them? They're too slow! That's a real spirit! Let's go ahead, or we'll miss it forever."
"What's the rush?"
Lin Shan remained unhurried, observing the creature's impatient manner, and began to doubt whether it truly possessed a spiritual bloodline. Could it have been boasting in the Devouring Star Mountains?
When the topic of offerings came up, he subtly inquired about the types of offerings that the true spirits of the celestial realm preferred.
To everyone's surprise, Chu Feng and the others gave very vague answers:
It depends on the person!
Some spirits like gold and silver jewelry, some like flowers and plants, some are particularly fond of beautiful stones, and some even like to collect human magical artifacts and magical weapons.
As for the True Spirit Bird, they didn't go into details, probably because they were afraid Lin Shan would turn against them and try to steal the treasure.
"."
Am I that petty?
He, a dignified Void Realm cultivator, wouldn't even look at the possessions of a few Foundation Establishment cultivators, so how could a True Spirit of the Immortal Realm possibly value them?
Don't you guys take yourselves too seriously?
Two days later, a silhouette appeared on the horizon.
From a distance, it resembles a giant beast lying down, majestic and imposing, exuding an ancient and profound aura, its age unknown.
Instead of the walls of mortal cities, there are jade railings that stretch for hundreds of miles, with ancient, evergreen vines entwined around them. The vines are adorned with tiny, star-like glittering stamens that sway in the wind and scatter tiny, flowing lights all over the city.
"Brother Zhong, this is Yunbian City."
As one of the sacred cities of the South China Sea, it is already beginning to show its potential.
Lin Shan looked up and saw that the city gate was unlocked. The two doors, carved from cloud-patterned immortal wood, were half-closed. Ancient immortal seal script was written on them, with vigorous strokes and the charm of the Dao accumulated over the years. They looked quite old.
"Hurry up and go in, it's getting dark. Luckily we're not too late."
The group dismounted, put away their spirit beasts, and slowly entered the city, where they finally got a glimpse of the world of immortals.
The street is paved with whole pieces of warm jade. The jade surface is smooth but not slippery. A misty spiritual energy flows on the paving stones, and you can feel warm even if you walk barefoot.
There was no hustle and bustle of a mortal market on either side, but there was still the lively atmosphere of a cultivator's marketplace. The stalls had their own designated spaces and jade plaques, and the management was quite organized.
He curiously leaned forward to take a look, wondering what kinds of things were sold in the immortal realm.
"Ta-da! Come and see! Freshly dug spirit bamboo shoots, with spirit patterns spanning five hundred years. Perfect for making soup to nourish the body and prolong one's life!"
"Jade for sale! Jade for sale! When traveling in the cultivation world, one always needs to acquire some attire. As the saying goes, clothes make the man and a saddle makes the horse! Wearing a piece of fine jade at your waist is a symbol of status. All the Yunnan rock jade here is genuine, and wearing it for a long time will be beneficial to your cultivation~"
"Fellow Daoists, take a look here! I've recently caught some spirit katydids. Those who like keeping katydids in their yards shouldn't miss this! Also, my spirit cricket is quite good; it's skilled in Mantis Fist and Broken Tooth Leg techniques. Those who love cricket fighting, feel free to come over. I'll quote a price first and then give you an introduction."
"Look at this bonsai of mine. My family has been gardening for generations, and our pruning and shaping skills are unique. Take one home and care for it according to my method, place it at the entrance of your cave, and you will surely have abundant wealth and a bright future."
Huh?
Lin Shan glanced at it briefly and realized that the market in the immortal realm was not quite what he had imagined; it sold mostly entertainment-related items.
Are cultivators in the immortal realm all this free?
Do you still have time to raise crickets, fight crickets, plant flowers, prune trees, and make potted plants?
If this were in the lower realm, everyone would be busy cultivating and surviving, struggling desperately to race against time, defying fate and fighting for a better future. Who would have time for all this nonsense!
In contrast, the abundance of entertainment doesn't necessarily mean the people here are unambitious; rather, it's due to the plentiful resources.
"Grandpa, I want this!"
You can see many cultivators crowding around, and many elderly men with children will buy one or two cans of crickets to take back for their younger relatives to play with.
The key point is that the price isn't cheap!
A single cricket costs 100 spirit stones; that's enough to buy a mid-level magic weapon in the lower realms!
Chu Feng pulled him away from the crowd, and whispered with a smile:
"If Brother Zhong also enjoys cricket fighting, I know a thousand-year-old shop where the crickets are of the proper quality. What good stuff can these small vendors have? Don't be fooled by them."
Lin Shan nodded, merely glancing at it.
He discovered that in addition to entertainment items, there were also some legitimate cultivation resources for sale. Although the styles were different from those in the lower realm, their functions were similar. Most of the items that were brought out for trading were not considered high-class.
Most of the transactions were between cultivators below the Golden Core stage. Occasionally, a Nascent Soul stage cultivator would pass by and ask a few questions, but that was about it.
Those at the Nascent Soul stage and the Void Transformation stage are considered superior beings in the Immortal Realm and would not be reduced to wandering the streets.
One phenomenon is quite obvious here: almost every adult cultivator is at least at the ninth level of Qi Refining, as if there are no bottlenecks in the Qi Refining stage. Anyone can easily reach the pinnacle of cultivation!
Even if one's aptitude and spiritual root are poor, there is still a chance to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, which is something that cultivators in the lower realms can only dream of!
Foundation Establishment cultivators are everywhere, and Golden Core cultivators are also as common as radishes and cabbages, together forming the bottom layer of the cultivation world.
Only the Nascent Soul stage cultivators are a true dividing line, and I've only seen two or three along the way.
But that's normal in the celestial realm.
Lin Shan was not surprised at all; he had only come here to learn about the general situation.
The shops along the street were all luxurious and grand, with upturned eaves covered with glazed tiles. At this moment, the sun was setting, and the afterglow of the sunset cast a dim, colorful halo on the tiles, adding a touch of warmth and elegance.
"Brother Zhong, you've never been here before, so you don't know the customs of us cultivators from the South China Sea. Actually, Yunbian City is at its most prosperous after the city gates are closed at night!"
Chu Feng and the others were clearly regulars, and they introduced him to famous scenic spots along the way.
After all, the Immortal Realm has a long history and profound heritage. Even though this place is just a remote area of the Cloud Wind Immortal Domain, many legendary figures have emerged from here in the past.
To be considered legendary, one must at least be at the level of a true immortal!
The cultural heritage of a celestial city, along with its related attractions, is built upon these stories of extraordinary talents, becoming legends admired by generations.
The seventh young master of the Chu family acted like a tour guide, leading him on a tour of each place along the way.
A small pavilion appeared ahead.
"This pavilion is named Zhiyin Pavilion, which means 'a high mountain and flowing water meet a kindred spirit.' It is the place where the Fairy of Qinse and the Hermit of Longxiao met in their youth through music. Later, the two flew together and ascended to immortality, becoming a true divine couple!"
Upon hearing this, Lin Shan realized it was indeed remarkable; no wonder it would become a timeless tale.
Many monks were also watching, admiring the sights while queuing up to get a pass and then going in for a tour.
When it was his turn, a hand reached out.
"Entrance fee is twenty spirit stones."
Good grief, a shabby pavilion, and they've fenced it off and are charging admission?
He's penniless now, not a single spirit stone in his pocket, and he's truly experienced what it means to be stumped by a penny.
Fortunately, Chu Feng generously paid for him and invited him inside for a look around.
After coming out, Xingjianxian couldn't help but secretly complain:
"It's just a dilapidated pavilion, yet it can keep making money. If that's the case, then the places I left behind for enlightenment back then must have been much more lucrative by now. Wouldn't I have become rich long ago?"
Lin Shan retorted without hesitation.
"Just shut up. You got in without a ticket, you're already being generous by letting you get in for free. What right do you have to criticize me?"
"I'm skipping the ticket, and you're trying to freeload? Do you even have any money in your pocket? You can't even come up with twenty spirit stones, what are you pretending to be, young master!"
The two were used to bickering, and Chu Feng outside was completely unaware of it. He led him across two streets, and ahead was an arched bridge.
Boats come and go on the river below, dividing Yunbian City into two sections.
As night falls, countless Kongming lanterns rise into the sky, while lotus blossoms float on the water.
Standing on the bridge, one can see the brightly lit riverbanks, a ten-mile-long gallery of lights. Graceful women stroll along the streets, while eloquent performers sing from their boats. The rhythmic beat of clappers echoes from the second-floor pavilions, accompanied by uproarious laughter. The dim lights of the willow-lined alleys reflect the alluring fantasies within the windows.
This was a prosperity unlike anything seen in the lower realms, and it seemed that no one was deliberately maintaining order; everyone was living peacefully in a beautiful world.
In contrast, cultivators in the immortal realm seem to be living a more 'life', while cultivators in the lower realms spend their entire lives 'running around'.
Lin Shan's heart was slightly moved at this moment, and he revealed a complicated expression.
Seeing this, Chu Feng misunderstood and thought he was somewhat disappointed.
"Hehe, Brother Zhong comes from the prosperous east, so you must be used to the bright lights and bustling nightlife. But Nankaido has its own unique customs and culture that you can't find anywhere else."
The henchmen beside him laughed and joked:
"In our opinion, Brother Zhong is blaming you for not being hospitable enough. Everyone knows that the Yun girls in our area are gentle and sweet, with a unique charm. Travelers from all over the country always want to stay a night to experience it properly!"
Chu Feng suddenly realized what was happening, and seeing the large "Yunfang" sign on the other side of the river, he slapped his forehead in frustration:
"Brother Zhong, it's my fault. How about we stop shopping for now? I happen to know the madam of that Yunfang brothel."
"No, I just want to browse around!"
Seeing that things were not going well, Lin Shan stopped on the spot and asked him to continue touring the ancient buildings and cultural sites. He said that the most important thing for him to do upon entering the immortal realm was to get familiar with the environment, rather than rushing to brothels. He didn't have the leisure for that.
"Haha, okay, let's cross the bridge then."
Seeing that he had misunderstood, Chu Feng laughed it off and moved on.
The Chu family members all looked dejected. It seemed that these people wanted to patronize a prostitute, but unfortunately, the customers weren't interested. So they had no choice but to follow behind and wander around for the time being. However, their lingering glances when passing by Yunfang betrayed them.
After crossing the bridge, the town became even more lively, with many fighting arenas lined up in a row, and there was even a sign that read:
"If you lose a battle during the Foundation Establishment stage, you will receive 5,000 spirit stones."
Wow, that's quite a boast!
However, looking further down, there was an additional condition: each time someone went up to challenge someone, they had to pay 500 spirit stones. There were plenty of people in the audience who weren't short of money, and many young people were dissatisfied, so they crowded together and waited for the person upstairs to finish fighting.
Lin Shan only glanced at the crowd and knew that none of them were a match for him. Going up there would be pointless, because although the person who set up the challenge was only at the Foundation Establishment stage, his body tempering had already reached the Golden Core stage, but outsiders couldn't tell.
Chu Feng led him to yet another ancient site, this time which turned out to be a heavenly palace in the clouds!
"Brother Zhong, this is different from the ordinary tourist attractions I took you to before. Five immortals have emerged from this place in the past 100,000 years, including one Supreme Immortal!"
As they spoke, the group walked to the palace gate, where a large crowd of tourists were coming and going, hoping to learn about the immortals' past deeds and gain some insight.
"Tickets cost 200 spirit stones. If a guided tour is required, it costs 500 spirit stones per person, limited to two hours."
The guards at the gate stopped them, and to their surprise, the guards were dressed in golden armor, which Lin Shan had seen just a few days ago.
Golden Palace Guards?!
"If you only buy a ticket, you don't need a guide. I know this very well, so let me give you the explanation."
Chu Feng paid for Lin Shan's explanation again, but he noticed Lin Shan's confusion and decided to save money where possible.
"This is the Golden Palace Ascension Platform of Cloud Edge City, a tourist attraction jointly developed and operated with the Penglai Immortal Sect of the Eastern Immortal Realm. Although the Penglai Immortal Sect is not located here, several of its founders ascended to immortality here!"
Penglai Immortal Sect?
Upon hearing the name, Lin Shan's mind went blank, and he had a vague premonition that it might be...
"The Golden Palace Ascension Platform of Cloud Edge City is said to encompass over a hundred lower realms, collectively known as the Lost World Cluster. Among them, one particular lower realm is renowned for its exceptional talent, earning it the title of the cradle of the Penglai Immortal Sect." (End of Chapter)