Translator: CinderTL
Phoenix Feather City sprawled across a vast expanse, its streets crisscrossing in a complex grid lined with shops and bustling with cultivators.
Perhaps due to its proximity to the Rotting Miasma Ridge, and the fear of demon beasts and poisonous insects spilling from within, Phoenix Feather City was fortified by towering walls pierced by eight imposing gates.
Cultivators entering or exiting the city were required to pass through these gates, forbidden from scaling the walls at will.
Under Jin Xiuqi's guidance, the group arrived at the eastern gate.
A long queue snaked outside the gate.
Those entering the city needed to present specially issued identity tokens. Those without tokens were required to pay one low-grade spirit stone.
However, this rule applied only to low-level cultivators; those at the nascent soul stage or higher could enter and exit freely.
Song Wen shook his head slightly at this sight.
As expected, he thought, whether in the Lower Realm or the mystic realm, the exploitation of lower-level cultivators remains the same.
The five travelers passed through the mile-long gate tunnel and entered the city.
Standing on the crowded street, Jin Xiuqi said, "Since you two are new to this place, I must fulfill my duty as host. Please do me the honor of being guests at my Jin Family estate."
During their journey, Song Wen and Ye Bing had learned from Jin Xiuqi that the Jin Family dominated Phoenix Feather City, boasting several Void Refinement Stage cultivators within their ranks.
The two had no intention of stepping foot into the Jin Family estate.
Ye Bing immediately declined, "Thank you for your kind offer, Fellow Daoist Jin. However, we have urgent matters to attend to and cannot impose on you at this time. We will certainly visit when we have more leisure."
Jin Xiuqi didn't press the matter. Instead, he led them to the Jin Family Inn and arranged for them to stay in a high-class courtyard suite.
"This inn belongs to the Jin Family. Please make yourselves comfortable here. I've been traveling for years and haven't returned home. To reassure my elders, I must first report my safe return. I'll visit you again in a few days, and then I'll personally show you around Phoenix Feather City."
Ye Bing replied, "Fellow Daoist Jin, your concern for your elders is truly admirable. Arranging this courtyard suite for us is already an overwhelming kindness. We couldn't possibly trouble you further."
Jin Xiuqi seemed to ignore Ye Bing's polite refusal, his smile unwavering.
"Fellow Daoist Ye, you're being too formal. This is a trivial matter, not worth mentioning."
With a final bow to Song Wen and Ye Bing, Jin Xiuqi departed with his two attendants.
After they had left, Song Wen activated the Ten Directions Illusionary Domain Formation within the courtyard and asked,
"Fellow Daoist Ye Bing, how do you plan to reach Cloudveil City?"
According to Jin Xiuqi, Phoenix Feather City and Cloudveil City were extremely distant. Even a divine transformation stage cultivator flying at full speed would take a year or two to reach the destination.
Moreover, the journey would pass through numerous perilous regions:
Spiritual Qi-depleted deserts, demon beast-infested mountain ranges, and vast lakes shrouded in treacherous mists...
These areas posed significant threats even to divine transformation stage cultivators.
Naturally, one could choose to bypass these dangerous zones, but doing so would extend the journey by more than tenfold.
Ye Bing replied, "Jin Xiuqi mentioned that the Jin Family sends a large flying ship to Cloudveil City annually. I plan to travel on that ship."
Song Wen nodded. "Taking the Jin Family's ship is indeed a good option. However, before we commit, we should verify the truth of Jin Xiuqi's claims."
"Naturally," Ye Bing agreed.
Song Wen then deactivated the formation, and the two left the Jin Family Inn.
As dusk fell, they returned to the inn's courtyard.
Having visited separate shops, they had each purchased maps and intelligence about the Qicang Domain.
The maps they obtained were extremely rudimentary.
The area surrounding Phoenix Feather City was depicted in relatively detailed maps, but the further one ventured from the city, the more simplified the maps became. For Cloudveil City, only its approximate location was marked.
Nevertheless, this was enough to confirm the truth of Jin Xiuqi's claims.
After a brief discussion, the pair decided to travel to Cloudveil City aboard the Jin Family's Giant Flying Ship.
However, the ship wouldn't depart for another six months, leaving them with an extended stay in Phoenix Feather City.
Late that night, Song Wen suddenly stepped out of the courtyard.
His movement naturally alerted Ye Bing, who was in the adjacent room.
"Gou Jun, where are you going?"
Song Wen replied, "While buying maps this afternoon, I learned about a ghost market outside Phoenix Feather City. I thought I'd take a look."
Ye Bing didn't give it much thought, assuming Song Wen intended to sell the treasures they had obtained from Wei Qian and Xiao Ying at the ghost market.
"The ghost market is a chaotic place. You've only arrived here today, yet you dare to venture into it? You certainly have courage."
Song Wen retorted, "The ghost market is still a place of business. What danger could there be? Immortal Maiden, you worry too much."
With that, Song Wen stepped out of the courtyard gate and left the inn.
Cultivator cities had no curfew.
However, the streets were nearly deserted at night.
Song Wen walked through the streets and left Phoenix Feather City.
He traversed the desolate mountains and wilderness outside the city, circling and weaving through the terrain to ensure no one was following him. Finally, at the foot of a towering peak, he disguised himself as a middle-aged cultivator in the early stage of the nascent soul realm.
Then, he returned to Phoenix Feather City.
Upon re-entering the city, Song Wen found a relatively inexpensive cultivator's inn and rented a small courtyard.
Jin Xiuqi would inevitably seek out Ye Bing again, and Song Wen, fearing potential trouble, decided to avoid the situation entirely.
As for Ye Bing, she could handle any problems herself; she certainly didn't need Song Wen's concern.
The next morning, Song Wen received a message from Ye Bing.
[Gou Jun, why haven't you returned? Has something happened to you?]
Song Wen replied, [I have some minor matters to attend to that will delay me for a few days. I won't be returning to the Jin Family Inn for now. Thank you for your concern, Immortal Maiden.]
Ye Bing's tone suddenly turned indignant.
[I see you're just afraid Jin Xiuqi will cause trouble, so you're deliberately avoiding him. And here I was, worrying about your safety.]
Song Wen replied, [Immortal Maiden, you misunderstand me. In my opinion, Jin Xiuqi doesn't seem like a treacherous person. Moreover, his feelings for you are genuine. Why not consider giving him a chance? It might lead to a blissful union.]
Ye Bing scoffed, [If fellow daoist believes Jin Xiuqi to be of such noble character, why do you avoid him like the plague yourself?]
Song Wen didn't reply, and Ye Bing sent no further messages.
Song Wen rented the Ten Directions Illusionary Domain Formation and set it up in the courtyard.
He then entered the house, closed the doors and windows, released the Shadow King Gu and three Shadow Gu, and retrieved a several-zhang-long centipede corpse—one of Xiao Ying's Three-Headed Fifth-Tier Gu Insects.
The centipede's body contained the unique spiritual essence of Gu Insects, making it excellent sustenance for the four Gu.
Upon seeing the corpse, the four Gu immediately scrambled for it.
However, the Shadow King Gu, being the strongest, pounced on the corpse first.
Its body suddenly expanded to the size of a millstone, baring its fangs as it glared at the other three Gu.
The three Shadow Gu froze in place, their wings fluttering nervously as they eyed the Shadow King Gu with a mix of fear and resentment.
Seeing the Shadow Gu's hesitation, the Shadow King Gu shrank back to the size of a sesame seed and burrowed into the corpse.
Song Wen shook his head helplessly and retrieved another fourth-tier Gu Insect corpse, tossing it to the three third-tier Gu.
(End of the Chapter)
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