Chapter 1300
[Immortal Realm Chapter] The Judge of the Heavenly Court, Enemies Arrive
When questioned, Lin Shan answered without hesitation.
"Xiong Er, late stage of Nascent Soul, six hundred years old, has no Dharma name, and fellow Daoists all call me Master Xiong Shan."
This time, he didn't shift the blame to his third brother. Instead, he used someone else to continue the disguise. He was used to Xiong Er's disguise, so he just used it again.
His appearance and cultivation level also changed slightly. The Void Realm was a bit too conspicuous, while the Nascent Soul Realm was not impressive enough. Taking a middle ground would be about right.
Upon hearing this, the old man guarding the mountain gate exclaimed, "A Nascent Soul stage cultivator?"
Immediately, they stood at attention, their backs and pens straightening, clearly demonstrating that only those of high moral character could command respect, and their tone involuntarily softened.
"Senior, do you really want me to fill the position of the Bear Mountain Hermit?"
The other party clearly didn't believe it, thinking the name sounded a bit like a bandit's. "Are you sure you want to go in with that name?"
"I never change my name or surname. What's wrong with being called the Bear Mountain Hermit? What a nice nickname!"
Lin Shan looked displeased and told him to just fill it out truthfully.
The other party had no choice but to write it down, and then routinely inquired about the reason for the visit and the date of departure.
Fearing he might not understand, I even gave him a special explanation.
"Senior, this is an order from above, we absolutely must have it."
Lin Shan didn't make things difficult for him and roughly timed it.
"Hmm, let's go in and trade some mountain products. Let's set the date for ten years for now!"
The other party immediately understood upon hearing this.
Bandits, mountain goods? Could it be smuggled goods?
They're heading into the city to deal with the stolen goods on the black market, then trying to avoid their enemies and lay low. The pretty boy look is probably a disguise; it's too obvious!
The old man boasted that he had been working in the mountain gate registration office for decades, receiving thousands of people every day. He had seen countless people and could tell anything from them. He believed that the person in front of him was most likely a cultivator undergoing tribulation.
I secretly kept it in mind, but pretended not to know and recorded it.
Finally, I quietly asked him if he needed to provide proof of assets.
"Senior, in our Thirty-Three Market Districts, many high-end venues require verification of funds for entry. If you later wish to enter auction houses, trade fairs, or the underground black market... cough cough, you know what I mean..."
It's best to do it here in advance; it will save you a lot of trouble later.
Lin Shan nodded in agreement, his anticipation for the high-end venues inside growing stronger, hoping they might contain something he desperately needed.
The other party took out a box containing seven colored plaques: red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple. They picked out a blue jade plaque.
“Cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage can freely enter and exit trade fairs at level six and below. Those at level seven and above, comparable to Void Realm experts, will require additional verification. Let’s see if you need it?”
Lin Shan's heart stirred.
Disguising himself as a Nascent Soul cultivator was to avoid Elder Huang's subsequent open and covert attacks, but that didn't mean his spending had to be downgraded; he still needed to maintain a trading level that matched the Void Transformation stage.
After thinking for a moment, he took out the Mysterious Heavenly Treasure Star-Probing Needle, placed it on the table, and asked the other party.
Is this okay?
Unexpectedly, the old man was also an appraiser. Upon seeing this, he pulled out a magnifying glass from somewhere and began to examine the needle from all angles.
Lin Shan couldn't help but think of his old profession.
An appraiser? I could do that too!
With the enhanced panel, I should theoretically be the number one appraiser in the cultivation world. In the immortal realm, wouldn't everyone have to step aside when it comes to appraisal?
So while waiting, I casually chatted with the other person.
"Does your profession of appraiser have different levels?"
The old man's brows were furrowed, and his hand holding the magnifying glass was trembling. He was clearly having some difficulty appraising the Xuan Tian Secret Treasure, but he still answered questions while appraising it:
"Some of our seniors are at levels one through seven, capable of appraising treasures of various levels. We have all been sent out to receive professional training in the Cloud Wind Immortal Realm, ensuring that your treasures will never be neglected!"
He thought Lin Shan doubted his ability to tell the difference, so he made sure to reassure him that although he was just a gatekeeper, his appraisal skills were genuine.
But to my surprise, Lin Shan continued chatting on and on.
"Oh, how much do appraisers earn?"
"Cough cough. It's alright, it depends on where you are. If it's a place like a trade fair where there's money to be made, you can earn commission based on the number of pieces you collect. But for us gatekeepers, it's a fixed salary."
Are there any additional benefits or perks?
"Um, I don't think so."
"No food or lodging included? What about you renting cave dwellings and taking pills?"
"You'll have to pay for it yourself! These days, every inch of land in the market is precious, and it's so crowded you can't even squeeze in. Who's going to provide you with food and lodging?"
"In your line of work, is there much room for advancement in the future?"
"It's hard to say. The profession of appraiser relies heavily on talent. Those without a discerning eye can only drift along and wait to die, while those with the best eyesight are said to be able to climb all the way up. There is even a special department in the Heavenly Court called the Heavenly Appraisal Bureau!"
"The Observatory of Astronomy? What's its background? Tell me about it."
"The Observatory of Celestial Appraisals is responsible for all matters of appraisal for the imperial court, from the inspection of equipment in the celestial army camps to the regular maintenance of important celestial artifacts. It is said that the current emperor and empress, who rule from behind the curtain, change their jewels and celestial artifacts every day, and all of these are handled by the Observatory of Celestial Appraisals!"
"Wow, the Celestial Observation Division is really powerful!"
"It's not"
Hmm? No, that's not right.
The old man suddenly realized, "Why are you, an outsider, asking about this?" He then remembered his job.
Moreover, he was so busy chatting with him that he couldn't appraise the item in his hand for a long time. The cultivators in line behind him couldn't wait any longer and started complaining and shouting for him to hurry up.
What are you dawdling for?
"Can't you see it's already dark!"
"We're still waiting to find a place to stay; if it gets any later, we won't have anywhere to stay."
"Isn't it that your personal review process takes so long?"
"Shut up!"
Lin Shan suddenly shouted, startling everyone behind him.
The law enforcement team next to them was also startled, thinking that something was about to go wrong, and they all passively took out their magic weapons and stood ready.
However, there was no trouble. Everyone wanted to step forward and argue, but after the person revealed his late-stage Nascent Soul cultivation, they all swallowed their words.
There's no way around it; that's just how realistic the cultivation world is. The higher your cultivation, the stronger your fist. When you meet someone, you have to call them "senior," and no one dares to be impolite.
Lin Shan turned his head and continued the previous topic with a friendly expression.
"Where were we? The Observatory of Astronomy, right? What kind of officials are in there? Be specific!"
The old man on duty smiled wryly to himself, "Why do you, an outsider, keep asking about this?"
Do you perhaps want to become an official there?
"Uh, I don't know the specifics very well. I only know that the most powerful person in the Observation Bureau is the Director, who is known as the number one appraiser in the immortal realm. His name is said to be Ding Zhen. It is said that he can determine the authenticity of anything with just one glance, hence the saying 'Ding Zhen at one glance'." Appraised as genuine, Ding Zhen at one glance?
Where did this idiom come from?
Lin Shan thought that this phrase was circulated throughout the myriad realms, and he couldn't help but feel envious. If one day he could sit in the position of the Director of the Heavenly Court's Observation Department, would the phrase "Lin Shan at a Glance" also circulate throughout the world?
When he wanted to ask further questions:
"If one wants to enter officialdom, could one start by buying an official position?"
"Alright, senior, I have completed my appraisal. This should be a seventh-tier Xuan Tian treasure. Verification successful. I will now register it on the purple jade tablet!"
The old man didn't dare to talk too much nonsense with him. After the identification was completed, he quickly registered the information, gave him the identity jade pendant, and told him to go into the mountains as soon as possible.
"This"
Lin Shan was still enjoying himself when the conversation was abruptly interrupted.
However, seeing the entire line of cultivators behind him staring at him with resentful eyes, looking like a wronged wife who dared not speak out, he knew he couldn't stay any longer and could only sigh and go into the mountain gate first.
After he left, the old man on duty added a line of small print to the copy, explaining that it was for filing with higher-ups.
"Suspected of robbing cultivators, dealing in stolen goods, possessing a profound and secret treasure, and very interested in gathering information about appraisers."
Lin Shan entered the mountain gate and touched the jade pendant on his hand, which served as his identity token.
Originally, the Nascent Soul stage corresponds to the blue token, but after his financial verification proved his wealth, he was issued a purple token, which is only available to cultivators in the Void Transformation stage.
To some extent, they can also receive some of the benefits of the Void Transformation stage.
The Luoxia Mountain Range is located in the heavenly cloud land, with Qiyun Ridge as the main peak. Once you enter the mountain gate, you will see signs indicating the routes to various towns and cities, as well as the characteristics of each town and city.
He glanced around and decided to go to Market No. 3 first. It was right next to the mountaintop and had a cluster of cave dwellings close to the spiritual veins. The abundant spiritual energy made it suitable for seclusion and recuperation. He decided to rent a cave dwelling as a place to stay.
We climbed the mountain along secluded paths and steps.
Looking out at the brightly lit markets on both sides, the streets were packed with people, and the shouts and calls of vendors could be heard from afar. One couldn't help but marvel at how much more humane the markets of the celestial realm were than those of the mortal world.
In comparison, the lower realm, being closer to mortals, feels more aloof, while the celestial realm, though separated from mortals, possesses its own unique charm.
This is the mortal world built by cultivators themselves!
He strolled up the mountain and found Market No. 3 in the darkness. It was much quieter there, as it was mainly a residential area where many cultivators were in seclusion year-round.
After swiping his identity jade token to enter the door, he looked at each shop along the street, starting with a pawnshop.
Let's exchange for spirit stones first!
In the world of cultivation, you can't get anywhere without money.
After turning a few corners, I saw a pawnshop called "Old Zhang's Pawnshop". The storefront was grand and dignified, and the decoration style was luxurious. It was clearly a well-known brand, unlike those small workshops.
"Sir, are you a little short on cash? Come and have a look at Old Zhang's Pawnshop, we'll definitely give you a satisfactory price!"
The doorman, with his sharp eyes, saw him stop and look at his shop, and knew that work was coming, so he hurried down to greet him.
Lin Shan then followed him into the main hall.
The interior was indeed magnificent and grand, with various magical treasures and spiritual materials displayed on rows of shelves.
He glanced around casually and knew he had come to the right place.
He was quickly led to the counter, where a middle-aged man wearing a small round hat came and sat down opposite him with an abacus.
"Please have a seat, sir. I'll go pour you some tea!"
The servant ran off to do some work.
The middle-aged man looked rather handsome, and he was also sizing up Lin Shan. His attitude changed subtly after he saw the purple jade pendant at Lin Shan's waist.
"Fellow Daoist, are you in need of working capital? We operate on the principle of integrity. You can rest assured to bring out whatever you want; the price will definitely be fair."
Lin Shan did not believe it completely, but instead took out something to test it.
The other person took it, glanced at it a couple of times, then pulled out a magnifying glass from somewhere and started fiddling with it.
Well, yet another appraiser?
The appraiser profession is very popular in the immortal realm!
His mind started to wander. He thought he could open a pawnshop, where he could make money, collect antiques, and perhaps even gather antique charm. What a business!
However, to get into this business, you need a lot of capital investment in the early stages, as well as publicity, promotion, and a good reputation. As a newcomer, he probably can't compete with the local pawnshops in the immortal realm.
The other party quickly identified it as a fifth-grade spiritual herb.
Seeing this, Lin Shan took out another piece of fifth-grade ore, some unused innate spiritual treasures, and various bottles and jars.
The other party's appraisal was very quick, demonstrating solid basic skills, and was no less capable than the old man at the mountain gate. In no time, they had appraised a large number of items.
The next step is to set a price.
Surprisingly, the price offered by the other party was not only reasonable, but also far exceeded Lin Shan's expectations, and was even a bit high!
It's probably because of his purple jade pendant that they're trying to curry favor and give him face.
In the end, both parties were happy and the pawning ended amicably.
Lin Shan simply threw the things away and left, cashing them out and leaving without bothering to redeem them later. He ended up with over a thousand fifth-grade super-quality spirit stones!
These are enough to meet daily needs. They can't be exchanged for anything more valuable; at that level, you still have to barter.
"Take care, sir! If you need money, remember to come here!"
With a slight wave of his hand, Lin Shan walked out the door.
Then I walked along the street, choosing the environment I liked, and finally found a group of cave dwellings in the inner circle of the market, with the four characters "Immortal's Villa" hanging at the entrance.
The interior decoration style is quite retro. Each cave is more than ten feet apart. The courtyard is large with many arched gates. Various flowers and plants adorn the outside, and there are also mythical beasts leisurely grazing, giving it a pastoral feel.
At the entrance, several cave dwelling agents were leading a few cultivators around inside, introducing them to the advantages of the immortal's villa.
He followed them inside and visited several of them, finding that the layouts were all quite similar, with a full range of facilities and a very good concentration of spiritual energy. There were separate herb gardens in the courtyards, and underground fire could be used to refine pills without any problems. The soundproofing and protection of the arrays were also quite meticulous.
In the end, the decision was made on the spot: to rent a cave dwelling for ten years!
Because he seemed quite generous, the host here also provided him with alchemy and weapon-refining facilities for free rental, with compensation required for any damage.
After everything was settled, the night passed quietly.
Lin Shan had only recently ascended to immortality and hadn't had time to take care of himself yet. It was time to consolidate his cultivation, so he first entered the secret chamber to meditate, and hung a sign outside to refuse all visitors.
The next day, a streak of light returned to Luoxia Mountain.
The guards at the mountain gate saw the newcomers and let them pass without asking any questions, making the people in line extremely envious. They knew that this was a privileged class, a high-ranking person below the immortal level, and only a Void Realm expert could receive such treatment!
After entering, the person went directly to Ward No. 1 and easily found the Law Enforcement Hall, which is the main hall of Qiyun Ridge and is specifically established to maintain the security of the thirty-three wards.
"Please inform Elder Huang of Yunbian City that he has arrived and request that your Enforcement Elder, Brother Chuyun, grant me an audience!" (End of Chapter)