Chapter 27: Regulations of the Immortal City

Inside the magnificent and mysterious manor, a burly, dignified middle-aged man suddenly swung his palm. A crater was gouged into the thick solid gold chair beside him, revealing the immense power of his strike.

"Second Brother, it seems Jing'er has fallen at this man's hands. What should we do next?" Situ Ming, standing nearby, asked. He had not seen his elder brother this enraged in a long time.

"The hatred of a slain child is a debt that cannot be settled under the same sky. I must kill this man with my own hands, or my heart will never know peace!" Situ Yong said, his eyes bloodshot.

"I will go to Moon-Viewing Immortal City with you, Second Brother!" Situ Ming declared.

Situ Yong shook his head. "There is no need, Third Brother. We have enemies in Moon-Viewing Immortal City as well. Although Liang Province is somewhat barren, its spiritual resources are sufficient for your and Xian'er's cultivation for the time being. My future in Moon-Viewing Immortal City is uncertain; I entrust the heavy responsibility of our family's legacy to you."

"Second Brother..." Situ Ming's voice choked with emotion.

***

As they traveled west toward the Great Liang Kingdom, perhaps because they were getting closer to Moon-Viewing City, legends of immortals in the secular world became increasingly frequent.

There were tales of a scholar traveling to the capital for exams who encountered a fox immortal in a ruined temple along the way, eventually earning official rank and living out his days with the fox.

There were stories of five-colored auspicious clouds appearing above a Taoist temple, where a white-haired Taoist rode a crane into the clouds.

There were accounts of fish spirits causing havoc in rivers and harming fishermen, only to be met by a black-robed immortal who descended on clouds, split the river with a single sword strike, killed the spirit, and departed.

*Spirit stones can actually be brought in?* Lu Xiaotian looked at the spirit stone on the ground in astonishment. During his journey to the Great Liang Kingdom, he practiced various spells while on the road.

On one occasion, while holding a spirit stone and contemplating how to increase the power and attack speed of his spells, his divine sense unconsciously entered the mysterious space within his body. To his surprise, he discovered that the spirit stone had been brought in with it.

Unsure if he could bring things back out, Lu Xiaotian tested it again. The stone was successfully brought out, a discovery that filled him with joy.

*Could this mysterious space be like a storage bag, where anything containing spiritual energy can be brought in and out?*

He proceeded to experiment with Shadow Ants, Purple Spirit Grass, and spirit beast pelts. He discovered that living spirit beasts could not be brought in, but the grass and pelts could.

*It's a pity I don't have any talismans; I could have tested those too.* At the thought of talismans, Lu Xiaotian's eyes lit up.

"Hey, good disciple! Why did you disappear for months without saying a word to me? I haven't absorbed a single drop of spiritual energy these past few months. What are you doing?"

"My strength is limited, and I don't know any spells. Since I can't find enough spiritual resources, I have to rely on my own cultivation. Naturally, there isn't much extra spiritual energy to spare."

Hearing the raspy voice of the black-robed elder, Lu Xiaotian hurriedly moved the Purple Spirit Grass out to avoid revealing his secret.

"What a nuisance. Why don't you just let me out? Keeping me trapped here all day consumes your spiritual energy; it's not cost-effective for you," the black-robed elder complained.

"In your dreams!" Lu Xiaotian replied coldly, ending the conversation.

"Hey! Hey! Don't leave! Talk to me for a bit!" the elder called out several times, but there was no response. Feeling dejected, the black-robed elder drifted away on his own to search for a possible exit.

***

"Waiter, ten pounds of mutton, a pot of wine, and some good feed for my horse."

Lu Xiaotian walked into a tavern and sat at a corner table to place his order. After months of travel, he had finally reached the Great Liang Kingdom. Having traveled for months, sleeping in the open and eating on the road, he was unsure of what lay ahead in Moon-Viewing City and felt the need to reward himself.

"Coming right up, sir! Please wait a moment," the waiter called out, approaching with tea. He added enthusiastically, "Seeing how dusty and travel-worn you look, are you heading to Moon-Viewing Immortal City?"

"How did you know?" Lu Xiaotian's expression froze.

"Don't be nervous, sir. Many people pass through here every year on their way to Moon-Viewing Immortal City—some are secular martial artists, others are cultivators. However, martial artists coming from the east usually travel in large groups to defend against bandits and beasts. A lone traveler like yourself is most likely a cultivator with great skill. Besides, you ordered ten pounds of mutton and a pot of wine; an ordinary mortal wouldn't have such an appetite," the waiter explained.

"There are secular martial artists going to Moon-Viewing Immortal City? Isn't that a place for cultivators? You are quite familiar with the city," Lu Xiaotian said in surprise.

"You jest, sir. I am but a commoner who has never left my county. How could I be familiar with Moon-Viewing City? It's just that I see many travelers, so I know a thing or two. I don't know the exact details of the city, but many secular martial artists do pass through every year; I've heard stories from those who return. There are also many martial artists inside the city who perform menial tasks for the immortals, hoping for guidance, or perhaps they are relatives or family members of immortals. You must understand, the path to immortality is ethereal, and those capable of cultivation are one in ten thousand. Not every family member of an immortal has a connection to the path, so there are occasional ties to the secular world."

"I see." Lu Xiaotian nodded. The waiter was right. If he hadn't been abducted by the black-robed elder, he would likely still be a laborer at the Thunder Blade Sect. His family were simple farmers, not even martial artists.

The waiter continued, "You don't look like someone who has been to Immortal Fate City. About twenty miles to the northwest, I heard there is an immortal who loves wine and sells maps to Moon-Viewing Immortal City. If you are interested, you might want to check it out."

"Thank you for the tip," Lu Xiaotian said with a cupped fist.

"It's nothing, it's nothing. You are too polite."

***

Having eaten his fill, Lu Xiaotian mounted his horse and headed in the direction indicated by the waiter. After riding nearly twenty miles without seeing a single soul, he almost thought he had taken the wrong path or that the waiter had lied. But on second thought, why would a commoner lie to him for no reason?

*Burp—*

Just as Lu Xiaotian was hesitating, the sound of a burp drifted from the tall grass dozens of yards away. He looked toward the sound and saw a stout, round man, looking much like a Maitreya Buddha, crawling out of the knee-deep grass. A large black gourd hung from his waist, and his small, round eyes gave his plump face a look of shrewdness.

"Oh? Qi Refinement Level Two. Young brother, by the look of you, you're heading to Moon-Viewing Immortal City, aren't you?"

The fat man waddled out of the grass.

"Indeed, I am. Do you have something to say?" The waiter had been right; the man's spiritual pressure was stronger than his own, likely at least the third level of Qi Refinement. To think he was sleeping in the grass, smelling of wine.

"I wouldn't dare call it 'advice.' My name is Zhu Yinhua. My aptitude is limited; after decades of cultivation, I have only reached the third level of Qi Refinement. Unlike you, young brother, who is so young yet already nearly equal to me. Your future is limitless; becoming a Foundation Establishment powerhouse is surely within your reach. Is this your first time coming to Moon-Viewing City from the secular kingdoms?" Zhu Yinhua asked with a smiling compliment.

"That is correct," Lu Xiaotian nodded.

"Wonderful! I have been waiting for a fated person like you!" Zhu Yinhua slapped his thigh and said with a serious expression, "I feel my own aptitude is shallow and that I am not destined for the Great Path. After much painful reflection, I decided to contribute my meager strength to the prosperity of the cultivation world by guiding those like you who have never been to Moon-Viewing Immortal City."

"Then I thank you, Brother Zhu. May I ask which way the Immortal City lies?" Lu Xiaotian asked, automatically filtering out the man's preceding nonsense.

"A good question! Look, what is this?"

Zhu Yinhua pulled several scrolls and a booklet from his storage bag, introducing them with practiced ease. "See this? As the saying goes, every nation has its laws and every family its rules. Moon-Viewing Immortal City is the largest gathering place for rogue cultivators. To manage tens of thousands of rogue cultivators, there is naturally a set of rules for the city. If you violate them, the punishment ranges from flogging to the destruction of your cultivation, or even being executed on the spot by the city's law enforcement. Therefore, you must commit these Moon-Viewing City regulations to heart to avoid trouble!"

Hearing the gravity in Zhu Yinhua's voice, Lu Xiaotian nodded repeatedly, then asked, "And what are these scrolls?"

"Excellent question! These scrolls are even more important. The city rules are something you just need to memorize to avoid breaking them—that is relatively easy. But these scrolls are vital. Why has Moon-Viewing Immortal City become a gathering place for rogue cultivators? It is because of the countless spiritual herbs, spirit stones, and demon beasts within the Moon-Viewing Mountain Range. However, the mountains are fraught with danger, especially for low-level Qi Refinement cultivators like us. Knowing which places to go and which to avoid is crucial. One wrong move, and you could meet a powerful demon beast and lose your life. If you wish to obtain spiritual resources while ensuring your own safety, this topographical map of the Moon-Viewing Mountain Range is indispensable."

"This 'Immortal City Regulations' costs only one low-grade spirit stone. As for the map scrolls, the price is three low-grade spirit stones, though I will accept equivalent spiritual herbs or spirit beast pelts," Zhu Yinhua said, looking at Lu Xiaotian expectantly.

Lu Xiaotian hesitated. Remembering that the Purple Spirit Grass was useful to him, he pulled a demon tiger pelt from his storage bag. "Will this pelt suffice?"

"This tiger pelt is fairly intact, but you haven't processed it. The spiritual energy has leaked significantly, so its value isn't high. I can barely offer one low-grade spirit stone for it. Do you have any other spiritual resources?" Zhu Yinhua asked.

"No more," Lu Xiaotian replied. Seeing the glint in Zhu Yinhua's eyes, he sensed the man was somewhat cunning. Although he wanted the regulations and the map, he intended to test the fat man first.