When the caravan arrived at the city gate, Ling Tian got down from the carriage and realized how big the city was. The city walls were ridiculously high, and at the gate there was a somewhat long queue designated for paying entrance fees.
Ling Tian asked Qi Ji with surprise: "Why are there entrance fees in Linhua City when there aren't any in Qing He City?"
When Qi Ji heard Ling Tian's words, he answered immediately as if he expected him to ask: "Young Master Ling might not know this since it's his first time coming to Linhua City. Because of its strategic location, where the Tian Long mountain range lies behind it and the Tu Long River that runs through the entire kingdom flows in front of it."
Ling Tian was surprised by the contrast between the river's name and the mountain range's name, but this didn't answer his question, so he urged Qi Ji to continue and said: "I don't understand what this has to do with imposing entrance fees for the city."
After hearing Ling Tian's words, Qi Ji continued his explanation saying: "Well, in the mountain range there are spiritual beasts that cultivators can hunt and sell. This is what attracted many cultivators here, so the city lord can impose entrance fees because he knows people will definitely come to the city."
When Ling Tian heard that, he immediately understood what Qi Ji meant: "Yes, the lord of Linhua City can do that, but if old Dong Li did this, no one would enter the city and it would become deserted." Ling Tian thought this while smiling because Dong Li couldn't achieve such benefits.
Qi Ji also said after seeing Ling Tian lost in thought: "Of course, there are some people who come for the city's beauty, but they are much fewer."
When Ling Tian heard Qi Ji's words, he regained his awareness and said to Qi Ji: "Thank you, Caravan Leader Qi, for your explanation. I understand now."
Qi Ji didn't say anything, just nodded to Ling Tian then went and lined up in the queue.
Ling Tian, Shi Rui, Su Han, and also the middle-aged man with scars on his face followed him and stood in line.
After some time, suddenly Shi Rui said with a smile to Ling Tian: "Hey Ling Tian, you said before that you prefer boredom to being roasted under the sun. Now what do you think about feeling bored while being roasted?" After finishing her words, she laughed a little, but her laughter was full of mockery.
Even Su Han smiled slightly at her words.
Ling Tian knew she was mocking his previous words, because after becoming a cultivator he realized that the qi in his meridians protected him from heat and cold automatically. So as long as he had a little qi in his dantian, it was enough to protect him from cold and heat. Of course, if the temperature exceeded the limit, even qi wouldn't be sufficient.
Ling Tian turned to her and said with slight anger: "How was I supposed to know you were a cultivator at that time!"
"Well, don't be angry, I was just joking with you to pass the time." She said this in a gentle voice, but her smile full of mockery betrayed what she was thinking.
Ling Tian ignored her because he was embarrassed and knew that the more they discussed this, the more embarrassed he would become.
Finally, after some time, Ling Tian's turn came.
The guard didn't raise his head and said calmly: "Name and cultivation."
Ling Tian answered: "Ling Tian, my cultivation is at the first level of Qi Condensation."
The guard answered calmly: "Alright Ling Tian, entrance fee is one spiritual stone."
Ling Tian expected this price, so he immediately took out a spiritual stone and gave it to the guard.
After receiving the spiritual stone, the guard handed over a piece of wood with his name and cultivation stage written on it, and behind it was a seal.
After taking the piece of wood, the guard told him: "This piece is valid for one month."
After the guard said that, he shouted: "Next!"
And Ling Tian finally entered the city smoothly.
When Ling Tian entered, he saw many people coming and going.
Stall owners were shouting about their goods, while others were just waiting.
Among these stalls were vendors sitting on the ground not speaking, just displaying their goods and waiting for someone interested to buy their merchandise.
Behind them were numerous shops selling various things.
If you raised your head, you would glimpse a palace at the end of the city, elevated slightly above ground level.
If you looked west, you would see a six-story pagoda in red color, and in the northwest you would see another six-story pagoda but in light golden color.
As for the east, you would see a nine-story pagoda in purple color. It was the only one in the eastern direction, as if no one dared to approach that pagoda.
Ling Tian was surprised by the pagodas and palace in the city and realized that Qing He City looked like a small village compared to Linhua City.
When Qi Ji saw everyone was here, he said: "Well, now that we've arrived at Linhua City, Miss Shi and Master Su will follow me to Jin Sheng Pavilion, but I don't know if the young master wants to do that." Qi Ji said to Ling Tian. As for the middle-aged man, he left as soon as he entered the city.
Ling Tian thought a little then said: "Do you know any inn near the western gate?"
Ling Tian wanted an inn near the western gate because he guessed that Jin Sheng Pavilion was located in the western direction, and it was also the closest, along with the eastern gate, to the Tian Long mountain range.
Qi Ji nodded and said: "Of course, I know one near the western gate."
After hearing Qi Ji's answer, Ling Tian said: "Then I'll follow Caravan Leader Qi."
After hearing Ling Tian's answer, Qi Ji began moving toward the western direction along with his caravan members, Shi Rui, Su Han, and of course Ling Tian.
While following Qi Ji, Ling Tian realized he had a good reputation in the city, as many people recognized him and waved to him. Of course, Qi Ji waved back to them.
But while they were walking, they saw a crowd of people gathering around three people, which made them stop to satisfy their curiosity.
Ling Tian approached to know what was happening and saw a handsome young man with long black hair wearing a green robe with a hand fan he was waving with a smile on his face. In front of him was an old man with a thick beard and torn white clothes, his facial expressions very ugly. Behind him was a small girl with shoulder-length hair, but her face seemed full of worry for the old man.
Ling Tian wanted to know what was going on, so he asked one of the people who was standing about what was happening. The person told him that the girl was running and stumbled while carrying food and almost dirtied the young man's robe, who unfortunately for the girl was the city lord's son.
"I'm sorry, Young Master Li, my granddaughter really didn't mean to dirty your robe intentionally." The old man said in a terrified voice.
Li Shang smiled and said: "I know, so I won't punish her, but I will punish you for not teaching your granddaughter not to run in the street. Guards, take him and give him ten lashes."
When Ling Tian heard this, he was shocked. To punish an old man with ten lashes just because his granddaughter almost spilled food on you—what cruelty! But what surprised Ling Tian more was that no one objected or said anything.
But Ling Tian quickly realized the reason: who would try to defend an old man and face the anger of the city lord's son? Of course, no one unless their background was bigger than Li Shang's.
Ling Tian sighed at this realization and thought: "It seems that even if you want to be kind, it requires sufficient strength to do so." But this increased his determination to become stronger.
But suddenly someone came to his mind who might have a bigger background. He turned to Shi Rui, and as he expected, she looked like she was preparing to move with anger in her eyes.
But Ling Tian stopped her saying: "Stop, what are you planning to do?"
Shi Rui was surprised by Ling Tian's words and answered questioningly: "Of course, save the old man."
Ling Tian sighed a little then said: "As much as this saddens me, it's better if you don't interfere."
Shi Rui was shocked by Ling Tian's words and said: "And why is it better not to interfere?"
Ling Tian answered calmly: "Because if you want to help, you must annihilate Li Shang's family, otherwise you'll make things harder for the old man and his granddaughter."
This time Shi Rui remained silent as if waiting for Ling Tian to complete his words.
Ling Tian responded to her looks and answered sadly: "I know your background is bigger than Li Shang's and you're not afraid of his revenge, but think about it: if you interfere and he can't take revenge on you, on whom will he pour his wrath?"
When Shi Rui heard Ling Tian's words, her eyes began to light up, then she looked at Ling Tian and said: "Thank you, you've broadened my horizons."
Even Su Han thanked Ling Tian and said: "Thank you."
Qi Ji heard Ling Tian's words and nodded his head saying: "The young master is truly wise."
Qi Ji's group left the crowd and continued their way.
As for the old man, he was lashed ten times. His screams were very loud and blood flowed heavily from his back. People thought he would surely die after a while.
His granddaughter was crying beside him. The crowd dispersed slowly, and when no one was left, the girl stopped crying and said: "How was my performance, grandpa?"
The old man answered with his back completely healed: "Not bad, but did you see? I won the bet. No one came to help us, so you must remember that the cultivation world is a desolate world. Without strength, you will definitely be devoured, so come back with me so we can start your training."
His granddaughter answered stubbornly: "Don't pretend to be stupid, grandpa. I felt the girl who was about to help us if not for that bastard who stopped her—I would have won the bet."
When the old man remembered Ling Tian's words, he said with a light laugh: "Don't underestimate him, he might surpass you. Thanks to his words, I feel enlightenment approaching me. I'm sure someone with such mentality won't stay in the Eastern Continent for long."
The girl was shocked by the old man's words and said: "Do you really feel enlightenment thanks to his words? Then why don't you take him as your disciple, grandpa?"
The old man sighed and said: "It's not that I don't want to, but he possesses five spiritual roots with perfect compatibility. This type of person prefers to find their own path by themselves."
The girl was shocked and said: "Perfect compatibility? Didn't the Founder have the same spiritual roots?"
"Yes, that's why I say it's better to leave him alone to grow, because this is one of the Founder's teachings." The old man said while lost in thought, then raised his head and said: "Well, I lost the bet. It's time to return."
The old man waved his hand and disappeared with his granddaughter from the city, or the kingdom, or perhaps further away.
Of course, Ling Tian didn't know he had almost been taken as a disciple by an old monster, and continued walking until they reached the golden pagoda.
Qi Ji said with a smile: "This is Jin Sheng Pavilion, please come in."
As soon as Ling Tian entered, he saw many shelves with different contents; some contained herbs, others pills, and there were also weapons, and of course techniques though few in number, but they were decent.
At the back of the hall, there was someone about twenty years old sitting lazily, but as soon as he saw Qi Ji, he woke up and stood to greet him saying: "Welcome, Leader Qi."
Qi Ji nodded to him and said sadly: "Are sales still bad, Du Shao?"
Du Shao nodded sadly, then turned and said: "Miss Shi, can you wait a little in the guest room while I inform my brother about everything that happened?"
Shi Rui nodded and said: "No problem."
After seeing her agreement, he turned to Du Shao and said: "Du Shao, take them to the guest room."
Du Shao took the guests to the guest room, and Qi Ji went upstairs to explain everything to his older brother.
Qi Hongli was a middle-aged man with black hair and an ordinary face with a scar on his forehead. He had a muscular and somewhat bulky build, wearing a yellow robe exactly like his younger brother.
Qi Hongli was sitting listening to his younger brother Qi Ji's words along with the pavilion's elders.
Qi Ji said after finishing his words to his older brother: "So what do you think? What does Shi Rui want from you, older brother?"
But before Qi Hongli could answer, one of the quick-tempered elders said: "I don't care what she wants, but why did you give that child Ling Tian a golden card? Do you see that he deserves a fifty percent discount for trying to escape and leaving you behind?"
Qi Ji wanted to explain, but Qi Hongli answered him: "No, actually he's the most important one among them. It's obvious that Shi Rui and them have a big background and won't care about that, but Ling Tian has no background and will appreciate it. With his intelligence, even if he doesn't become a strong person, at least he'll become someone useful to us."
Then he turned to his younger brother and said: "Well done, brother. Someone with Ling Tian's intelligence will benefit us greatly in the future."
When the elder heard Qi Hongli's words, he realized his mistake and fell silent.
Qi Hongli said: "Now, as for why Shi Rui wants to meet me, we'll discover that of course after I meet her."