Cliff City was bustling during the day, and in recent times, it had been even more so.
Due to the turmoil in Sky Rift Valley, a significant number of villagers from the outskirts had flocked into the city. This influx increased the population by more than twenty percent. However, thanks to effective subsequent defenses, the situation within the city remained stable, making the marketplace appear even more prosperous.
Yu Ci leaned against the railing and gazed into the distance. Under the rare warmth of the winter sun, the city streets were teeming with people, weaving through both the old and new districts. The shadow of the mountain wall cut diagonally across the landscape, creating a clear contrast between light and dark. At this moment, the distinct changes in lighting seemed more vivid than the indistinct murmurs of the crowd.
He was currently on the top floor of Heavenly Wings Pavilion in Cliff City.
Heavenly Wings Pavilion was located at the edge of the city's new district, backed against a pavilioning cliff. Though called a "pavilion," it was, in reality, a platform extending out from a thousand-foot precipice. On either side were curved, suspended walkways that connected to the main building of the pavilion. This central structure, though only four stories tall, was perched two hundred feet above the ground, leaning against the cliffs and merging with the clouds. The design was unique, offering a panoramic view of Cliff City from above, making it a breathtaking sight.
The entire layout of Heavenly Wings Pavilion resembled a mighty eagle with its head raised and wings spread wide. The two suspended walkways formed the wings, while the main building represented the head and neck. With clouds and mist swirling around it, the pavilion truly evoked the image of an eagle soaring through the skies.
Suspended in midair, Heavenly Wings Pavilion was the largest construction project in Cliff City in over a century. It even carried a bit of history—legend had it that before the Thousand Spirit Gate was driven out of Cliff City, they had specifically built this structure in the highlands of the new district to rival Sun Light Sect’s Dan Cliff Estate. Its height was deliberately made half a foot taller than the tallest building on Dan Cliff, symbolizing their intent to "rise above" their rivals.
Ironically, less than a year after its completion, an event took place—Jin Huan issued a challenge to the two great experts of Thousand Spirit Gate, Shi Song and Hu Dan. After that decisive battle, Thousand Spirit Gate withdrew from Cliff City and its surrounding territories, retreating to remote regions where they struggled to maintain their presence. Heavenly Wings Pavilion thus fell into the hands of Sun Light Sect, where it remained to this day.
In eight days, the Treasure Exchange Banquet would be held on the top floor of this pavilion.
At this moment, however, the vast top floor was empty, save for Yu Ci. Surrounding him was the lush greenery of the Cloud Bamboo Garden, where emerald bamboos were planted in clusters across the observation platform, forming a natural screen while adding a vibrant, lively touch to the place.
Dragon Fish soared and darted through the small bamboo grove, occasionally leaping beyond the railing, adding splashes of motion to the misty heights of the pavilion.
Just as Xie Yan had arranged, Yu Ci truly had no specific duties before the Treasure Exchange Banquet. Each day, he merely used his spirit control techniques to nurture the Dragon Fish with his own vital energy. Gradually, the little creature's scales became sleek and lustrous, its spirit brimming with vigor. It had grown so attached to him that it refused to leave, long forgetting that this very man was the reason it had lost its freedom. No matter how much he tried, he couldn't drive it away.
Watching the lively creature glide effortlessly through the void, Yu Ci felt a hint of envy. His thoughts drifted back to Xie Yan’s remark two days ago:
"Did he ever tell you about his ‘Dao’? Of course not, because he already abandoned his own Dao. That fool—even if you handed him a golden bone and jade scroll, how could you be sure he’d grasp the opportunity?"
Even after two days, Yu Ci could still recall Xie Yan’s expression—one of deep frustration, as if lamenting wasted potential.
"The Dao of the Dragon Fish actually reflects the core philosophy of the Practical Hall—to gather and utilize all beneficial techniques of the world, striving for rapid ascension and achieving true immortality. However, in the hands of a certain someone, it was twisted into a path of selective acceptance—embracing what benefits oneself and discarding what does not. Though extreme and ruthless, it is still a viable path. Compared to that person, he is far inferior—far, far inferior!"
Who was this "certain someone"? Yu Ci hadn’t dared to ask.
However, from Xie Yan’s words, he had grasped some insight—these vague, abstract notions of "Dao" were difficult to understand. But if he thought of them instead as "ideologies," they became much clearer.
His Yin Spirit lacked precisely this kind of foundation, which was why it had yet to take shape. But could a Dao—an ideology—be something that could simply be "lost"?
Shaking his head, Yu Ci shifted his gaze back to the Dragon Fish. Even Xie Yan acknowledged the "Dao of the Dragon Fish" as something worth studying. But after observing the little creature for days, Yu Ci hadn’t sensed any profound philosophy of "selective acceptance" from it. Instead, what he had clearly seen was that this thing was an insatiable glutton.
To him, the Dragon Fish seemed to be constantly, relentlessly absorbing life essence and vital Qi from its surroundings, turning everything into nourishment for its own growth. It took in without giving back—like an endless abyss into which one could toss a massive boulder without ever hearing an echo.
Because he had to use his own vital energy to sustain it, Yu Ci’s rapid cultivation progress—originally soaring after he had formed his Yin Spirit—had been dragged to a near standstill.
Yet after days of feeding it, he had established a faint connection with the Dragon Fish, much like refining a magical artifact. Within certain limits, he could issue simple commands to it. The creature didn’t always obey, but the influence was noticeable. This was one of the effects of the "spirit control technique" Xie Yan had taught him, though in practical terms, it was of little use.
In eight days, the Dragon Fish would belong to Heart's Desire Pavilion.
Just then, someone ascended the staircase.
Their cautious steps barely made a sound against the thick carpet.
Yu Ci turned around and saw Geng Fu, the steward of Sun Light Sect responsible for managing the Sky Wing Pavilion. It was rare for someone weighing over two hundred catties to walk so quietly.
Stewards like Geng Fu were abundant in Sun Light Sect, numbering in the dozens or even hundreds. They were responsible for managing various industries in Cliff City, akin to shopkeepers. They possessed little to no cultivation and were more like ordinary people—marrying, having children, and making a living in the city.
Because of this, Geng Fu held no particular grudge against the sect’s so-called "great enemy." Instead, his personality was smooth and affable, always greeting others with a smile. The sect had chosen him for this role precisely because he was well-suited for it. Over the past two days, as Yu Ci lingered at the Sky Wing Pavilion, Geng Fu had practically become his personal attendant, diligently running errands for him.
"Immortal Yu, here is the list you requested."
Geng Fu maintained his ever-humble smile as he handed over the list of cultivators who had recently entered the city, along with their basic information. This list had been compiled under the pretext of gathering attendees for the upcoming Treasure Exchange Banquet, with the details eventually reaching Yu Ci.
Yu Ci had previously held a mistaken impression that Cliff City was an "isolated island" caught between the Broken Boundary Mountain Range and Sky Rift Valley—a nearly self-contained city-state. However, he now understood that, from the perspective of cultivators in this world, vast mountain ranges stretching for thousands of miles were hardly an obstacle. Especially when there was excitement to be had, treasures to be seen, and bargains to be made, figures from all over the land would gather.
The list confirmed this: within the past month, the number of Divine Connectivity cultivators in Cliff City had increased by thirty to forty. Most of them had come specifically for the Treasure Exchange Banquet, while the rest, upon hearing about it, decided to stay and join in on the excitement.
From a security standpoint, Yu Ci did not welcome such individuals. Their presence strained the already limited defenses of Cliff City, and the influx of people of unknown origins meant that some might have their eyes on the valuable goods carried by the Heart's Desire Pavilion caravan, looking for an opportunity to make a move.
Yu Ci had not given much thought to this at first, but yesterday, news arrived that the Heart's Desire Pavilion caravan had been attacked by a group of bandits. These attackers were exceptionally strong, leaving many in the caravan severely injured—though, fortunately, the treasures they were transporting remained intact.
Cultivation world… bandits!
Yu Ci realized he had to once again lower his expectations of the cultivation world. It seemed no different from the mundane world he had wandered for twelve years.
Sighing at the thought, he carefully examined the list. Sun Light Sect had done a thorough job—each name was accompanied by a concise description, allowing him to get a rough understanding of the newcomers. Of course, such detail was likely because this list was ultimately meant for Xie Yan—Yu Ci had only made the request, and Xie Yan had not objected.
As he was reading, a sudden shout interrupted him.
A loud voice rang out from below, as if someone had spotted the Dragon Fish soaring through the air and cried out in astonishment.
Before the words had fully settled, a figure leaped over the third-floor railing and shot upward.
Yu Ci frowned. The outer perimeter of the fourth floor suddenly lit up with a glowing barrier. This was a restriction placed during the pavilion’s construction to distinguish the top floor from the lower three, adding a sense of prestige. However, this barrier was largely symbolic—it was meant to deter gentlemen, not villains.
The intruder let out a carefree laugh, effortlessly breaking through the outer screen and vaulting over the top-floor railing, landing inside Cloud Bamboo Garden.
Startled, the Dragon Fish darted into the shadows of the bamboo screen and hid.
The man who had just leaped up carried himself with a casual air, showing no awareness that he had trespassed uninvited. Taking in the exquisite scenery of Cloud Bamboo Garden, he clicked his tongue in admiration. "No wonder this place is locked up tight—it's quite the retreat… Hey, that Dragon Fish yours? Name your price, let’s make a deal!"
His gaze finally settled on Yu Ci. At that moment, Yu Ci was still reclining lazily against the railing, his expression unchanged. Seeing the stranger's appearance, demeanor, and foreign attire, he glanced at the list for confirmation.
The intruder froze for a moment. "You know me?"
Yu Ci smiled faintly but did not respond.
Just then, a voice called out from the staircase. "Old Sha, barging in unannounced isn’t exactly the way to be a guest."
As he spoke, another uninvited guest pushed aside the bamboo screen and walked in leisurely.
This newcomer was of medium build, with fair skin and a perpetual smile that made it hard to dislike him. What stood out the most was his attire—a black robe—and the large, plump Persian cat cradled in his arms. The cat’s pure white fur contrasted sharply with his dark clothing, making for a striking image.
Upon seeing this figure, Yu Ci didn’t even need to check the list. The name at the very top had already left a deep impression on him.
The large cat in the newcomer’s arms let out a soft mew before yawning. Its eyes, narrowed to slits, glowed with an odd light—one golden, one blue.
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