235: Chapter 234 Divine City Sightings 235: Chapter 234 Divine City Sightings This time, the disciples of the Quanzhen Sect suffered significant losses in the Southwest debate.
Thirty-five disciples came in total, nine died in battle, and a dozen others were seriously injured to varying degrees, fully reflecting the style of the Demon Sect; of course, the Wu Sect didn’t fare much better.
It was like wielding a double-edged sword, cutting others as well as injuring oneself.
There weren’t many who could still move around freely, but this group was lucky, achieving impressive results, with Luo Linwang only slightly wounded.
The three of them had captured two flags, with Luo Linwang also eliminating three Wu Sect disciples.
Their genuine strength was indisputable, and they were the most outstanding group among the five true inheritors of the Jade Capital.
They decided to explore Divine City, a favorite pastime of cultivators.
On this continent, demons roamed freely, and it was common for ordinary people to never leave their hometowns in their lifetimes.
Even for cultivators, those who could not fly until reaching the Tongtian Realm had very limited traveled areas.
This was an opportunity because the wealth of Divine City was unmatched in the Southwest; its cultivation markets were massive, which was also a reason why the Wu Sect was greedily eager to conquer it.
The three left Anhe Palace and set off towards Divine City; they had no need to worry about safety, as this was, after all, Anhe territory.
Although they had offended the Wu Sect, such rivalries were normal in the Daoist Sect.
Retaliatory actions afterwards would be despicable, and even if the Wu Sect wanted to act, they would surely wait until after this period and choose a more suitable location.
It was autumn, and along the journey of dozens of miles, everywhere was bustling with activity.
Rao Zongzhi and Luo Linwang were chatting away, while Hou Niao remained relatively silent.
They thought it was because Hou Niao was still worried about being punished, not realizing his mind had long since flown to the main branch of the Anhe Daoist Sect in Divine City.
Rao Zongzhi kept teasing him, “Junior Brother Hou, don’t look so sullen all the time.
I’ve heard from a few friends that the Divine City market also sells plenty of Sword Grinding Stones, but they don’t call them by that name; they’re all classified as materials.
There’s a vast variety, so you might broaden your horizons.
Who knows, you might even find something you like.”
Hou Niao wanted to say that what he lacked wasn’t Sword Grinding Stones, but Spirit Stones.
However, as his friendship with Rao Zongzhi was superficial, and he wasn’t one to ask for resources, even though he knew that if he asked, Rao Zongzhi would surely not refuse.
Once the three arrived in Divine City, even though they were cultivators who had seen a bit of the world, they were still astounded by the grandeur of such a big city and marveled internally at Anhe’s wealth, which was truly hidden amongst its people.
Both the architectural layout and the people’s demeanor exuded a vast, majestic air.
Regrettably, the Anhe Daoist Sect lacked ambition.
It was inconceivable that they would hand over such a land to others, and it was perplexing what were these Daoists thinking?
After finding an inn, they went straight to the city’s cultivation market, only to discover that Divine City’s cultivation market was not simply a street but a whole city district.
Luo Linwang and Hou Niao were dumbstruck, and even the usually confident Rao Zongzhi lost his pride.
Calling them three country bumpkins wasn’t at all unjustified.
After exchanging glances, they decided to split up decisively.
Women might enjoy shopping together, but men could not do the same—having several men together critiquing goods would be a disaster.
Each sought their own interests, with preferences unconstrained by others’ opinions—that was their style.
With his friends gone, Hou Niao stood in the vast market area with not an ounce of interest in browsing.
With no Spirit Stones in his pocket and no desires in his heart, that was his true portrayal at the moment.
Quanzhen Sword Cultivators typically had fewer worldly needs, which was a universally acknowledged truth in the Cultivation World.
Yet Hou Niao was an anomaly among the Quanzhen disciples.
Accustomed to hard times and having been penalized with fines, wealth had eluded him, and he had slowly become devoid of desires.
He found a small tavern, sat down by the window, and watched the hustle and bustle on the street, with people worrying about their livelihoods.
He couldn’t help but feel that he was still fortunate.
For most cultivators, their cultivation journey can’t be separated from the investment of various resources; growth in cultivation requires Elixirs, setting up Cave Mansions necessitates Arrays, and combat and demonstration require Spiritual Tool Talismans.
Cultivators work hard to earn resources, then without hesitation invest them back into themselves, lingering in all sorts of markets for the slightest margin.
He had miraculously skipped all these?
But he didn’t know how long his own marvel could last.
After reaching Tongxuan, the absorption of spiritual essence would leap qualitatively, and it might not be something that Double Dantian could solve.
Actually, he didn’t even need to wait for Tongxuan.
Even at his current Bridge Connection Realm, he felt that his cultivation wasn’t growing any longer.
He had forced himself into a situation with no precedent to follow, with a Double Dantian, where one Dantian was still growing, and an oddly functioning Purple Mansion…
Innovation meant formidable combat power, but it also signified an even more unpredictable future, where one wrong step could lead to lifelong regret.
All things are prepared for my body, yet while my body is poor, the Dao remains rich.
Observing time, I see the logic in things; reverence brings me close to the divine truth.
A clear heart amidst the starry night, and dissecting emotions in the vibrancy of spring.
I pity those who have lost their way, as they could have been agents of peace.
Lost in his wild thoughts, he downed a pot of aged wine, bringing his mind back to the present, pondering how to inquire about the incident involving Chong Ling Daoist.
Honestly, with his current status, it was difficult to access such information; a realm not yet reached is like a mountain range in-between, with Tongxuan being a chasm that separates one from Mortal Cultivation.
Without stepping through this door, he’d always be an outsider, as no Upper Cultivator would discuss these deep-seated secrets of the affluent with an insignificant cultivator, instead becoming suspicious of his motives.
In Anhe Daoist Sect, besides Chong Ling Daoist, he knew no one.
Well, perhaps there was one more, but far away in Liuyang.
He had come with full confidence, but once in Divine City, he felt utterly lost—an outcome of overestimating himself.
“Innkeeper, another pot of Huadiao wine.”
Before long, a delicate jade hand gently placed the wine pot in front of him, accompanied by a charming face with brows like fine art—it was no other than Dong Fangfei.
They had agreed to meet in Divine City, but he didn’t expect the woman’s network to be so efficient.
Sitting down gracefully, Dong Fangfei’s smile was blooming like flowers, “Brother Hou, your single fight to fame has now become a legend in the Cultivation circles within Divine City.
Your feat of defeating a hundred with your sword, invincible under the heavens, has turned you into the idol of countless young disciples of Anhe Daoist Sect.
I, however, have become merely a backdrop to your story.”
Hou Niao remained composed, “Don’t try to deceive me with these empty words.
Without reaching Tongtian, it’s all child’s play; fading into obscurity, what will be left after a month?
If you ask around the streets for Hou Niao then, who will remember?
Just like Fairy Dong, don’t you also disregard it?”
Dong Fangfei smiled sweetly, pouring him wine with natural ease and generous gesture, “I disregard it simply because I am not a disciple of Wu Sect; those true disciples from Wu Sect probably can’t forget you for a while.
A month might be too long, but after three months, it will dissipate like smoke.”
Hou Niao gave a wry smile, “A distinguished disciple from Southeast Daoist Sect traveling such a long distance to come here, why the trouble?”
Dong Fangfei also poured herself a cup, “Wu Sect made a generous offer, why wouldn’t I come?
And don’t look at me with that kind of gaze.
All Daoist Sects belong to the same family, yet a family can still fight.
Without interests, what cooperation is there to speak of?
Just as Brother said, battles below Tongxuan in the eyes of the truly mighty are like children playing house—they aren’t taken seriously and prove nothing.
That’s why the real high disciples of Southeast Daoist Sect wouldn’t come here to suffer needlessly.
Isn’t that just foolish?
Only those of us whose Cultivation is barely making ends meet would go through hardships for the sake of resources.”