Family Rise: Beginning with Grandfather.

Chapter 892 Composite Array, Second-Order Puppet

Where the clouds surged, a magnificent city floated above the clouds, appearing and disappearing in the golden sunlight and crimson mist. This was the White Cloud Immortal City, which commanded respect throughout the Cloud Soaring Mountains.

As the jade-green cloud boat passed through layers of clouds and mist, the outline of the immortal city gradually emerged from the rolling clouds and appeared before Yang Zhengshan's eyes.

The city wall, which is thirty feet high, is like a silver dragon coiled above the clouds. The wall is like a group of white clouds of different shapes that have been frozen. Some are like galloping horses, and some are like roc spreading their wings. Under the sunlight, it reflects a rainbow of colors.

Every eight zhang (approximately 33 meters) on the city wall, there is an octagonal watchtower, with transparent spheres the size of washbasins embedded on the top of each tower, radiating a soft glow.

"Those are the Brightness-Breaking Pearls, each one a low-grade magic treasure. There are a total of three hundred and sixty of them embedded in the walls of the entire White Cloud Immortal City!"

"As the name suggests, the Evil-Breaking Pearl can dispel evil energy and prevent it from invading the city. In addition, the Evil-Breaking Pearl can also provide illumination. At night, the three hundred and sixty Evil-Breaking Pearls will illuminate the entire White Cloud Immortal City as if it were daytime!"

On the jade-green cloud boat, Yunxiao described the architecture of Baiyun Immortal City to Yang Zhengshan.

“Look at that city wall. It is said that a third-order mid-grade array, the Heaven and Earth Myriad Clouds Thunder Extermination Array, is set up on this city wall. This array borrows the power of the stars in the sky above and is connected to the spiritual energy of the earth’s veins below. It is surrounded by myriad clouds in the middle and can command thunder.” Yunxiao’s face was full of admiration.

Yang Zhengshan also showed a shocked expression. It borrowed the power of the stars in the sky and connected with the spiritual energy of the earth's veins. This was a composite formation of the heavenly and earthly formations.

Battle formations can be divided into heavenly formations, earthly formations, military formations, weapon formations, etc.

Military formations are formations composed of people. Such formations are very common, and there are many kinds in the land of spiritual origin.

The weapon array is the most common type of array. An array can be set up with just an array plate and a few array flags.

Earth formations typically possess protective arrays, based on earth veins, spiritual veins, fire veins, water veins, etc., and utilize the power of the terrain to set up large-scale formations.

For example, the protective arrays of the Lingxiu Three Sects and Qingli Immortal City are all earth arrays.

The Heavenly Array refers to the array formations arranged by borrowing the great power of the Heavenly Dao, such as the Zhou Tian Stars, the Nine Heavens Thunder Punishment, the Five Sacred Mountains Suppressing the Heaven, and the Primordial Eight Trigrams.

Of course, both the Heavenly Array and the Earthly Array actually include artifact arrays, either using magic treasures and spiritual artifacts as the array base, or constructing some special buildings as array nodes, etc.

For example, the ancient remnant array is a typical earth array, which connects the earth veins, spiritual veins and water veins within the array, and then uses mountains as the base to set up a protective array that covers a hundred miles.

Such a grand formation can remain intact for ten thousand years, and it prevents cultivators above the Foundation Establishment stage from entering it, which shows how terrifying it is.

The protective array of Baiyun Immortal City is probably inferior to the ancient remnant array. Although it possesses some of the power of a heavenly array, this kind of mixed array is likely not as good as a simple earth array like the ancient remnant array.

"See that building? That's the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion!" Yunxiao said softly, pointing to a pavilion over thirty feet tall in the city.

Yang Zhengshan nodded slightly. Sure enough, the Tianji Pavilion was the tallest building in Baiyun Immortal City, much taller than other pavilions, and even taller than the city wall.

However, Yang Zhengshan only glanced at it before looking down.

"This mountain probably wasn't originally here!"

Yunxiao also looked down at the majestic mountain. Baiyun Immortal City was very large, more than eighty miles long from east to west and more than sixty miles wide from north to south. Such a large city was actually located on a mountain peak. One could imagine how big the mountain peak below the city must be.

The key point is that this mountain is also very high, capable of lifting Baiyun Immortal City above the clouds, and its height is at least over a thousand feet.

“Yes, although True Monarch Baiyun is only two thousand years old, Baiyun Immortal City has existed for nearly ten thousand years. It is said that ten thousand years ago, a powerful being moved more than a dozen mountains from the surrounding area and built them into the Baiyun Mountain we see today,” Yunxiao said.

Upon hearing this, Yang Zhengshan couldn't help but gasp.

Moving mountains is not actually a particularly special ability.

Some Foundation Establishment cultivators can move a small hill using magic.

However, the mountain-moving ability of Foundation Establishment cultivators is completely different from the White Cloud Mountain before them.

Moreover, the Baiyun Mountain in front of us is not something that can be moved simply by moving the mountain itself; it also requires clearing the earth's veins, connecting the spiritual veins, and there are even fire veins within the mountain.

This is no longer a simple matter of magic, but a true supernatural power.

As the jade-green cloud boat approached the city wall of the immortal city, just as Yang Zhengshan was feeling shocked, a voice suddenly came.

"Where did this country bumpkin come from? They're all dumbfounded, haha~~"

Behind them, a cultivator dressed in white robes rode in on his sword, making no attempt to hide his sneer.

Yang Zhengshan looked in the direction of the voice and saw a young Foundation Establishment cultivator. He did not refute it.

Calling him a rural miscellaneous cultivator wouldn't be wrong. Compared to Baiyun Immortal City, the Da'an Dynasty and the vast sea area couldn't even be considered rural; they were practically a desert for immortal cultivators.

As for others' ridicule, Yang Zhengshan has lived for over a hundred years and traveled all over the country. How could he not even have the ability to maintain his composure?

Too lazy to deal with this inexplicable guy, Yang Zhengshan landed on the hillside outside the city wall as instructed by Yunxiao.

Standing close to the city wall and looking at it again is even more awe-inspiring.

Afterwards, Yunxiao led Yang Zhengshan to the city gate and waited in line to enter the city.

"Flying and fighting are prohibited within the city. The city's guards will not hesitate to kill anyone who is found flying or fighting, even if they are disciples of a True Lord!" Yunxiao said.

"Are the rules really that strict?" Yang Zhengshan raised an eyebrow and asked.

“Yes, the White Cloud Guards are not cultivators, but puppets. They only follow the rules! Look, those are the White Cloud Guards!” Yunxiao said, pointing to the two statues standing in front of the city gate.

Yang Zhengshan looked over and immediately felt an inexplicable threat emanating from the two statues.

Second-tier puppet!
And it might even be a second-tier high-grade puppet!
Yang Zhengshan felt a chill run down his spine. He could see the whole picture from just a glimpse of it. These two puppets alone were enough to demonstrate how profound the foundation of Baiyun Immortal City was.

Perhaps the puppet has many flaws, but a second-tier puppet also possesses power similar to that of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

The third-tier protective array and the second-tier puppets reveal the power and luxury of White Cloud Immortal City.

"Let's go!"

Yunxiao paid two hundred low-grade spirit stones in exchange for two tokens.

"Two hundred spirit stones?"

“Yes, you need to pay ten spirit stones to stay in the city for a day!” Yunxiao said.

"Everyone has to pay?"

"Of course, everyone in the city without an identity must pay!"

"Then how can one obtain an identity from White Cloud Immortal City?"

"It's very simple. Just pay 10,000 low-grade spirit stones in one lump sum and buy a property in the city!" Yunxiao said with a smile.

Yang Zhengshan clicked his tongue in amazement; this White Cloud Immortal City was truly profit-driven. Passing through the misty city gate, the view suddenly opened up before him. Inside the city were clusters of buildings constructed along the undulating sea of ​​clouds, with green tiles and white walls adorned with glazed eaves, as if the beauty of earthly landscapes had been blended into the heavens.

The main thoroughfare, "Lingxiao Long Street," which is about twenty zhang wide, winds like a dragon. The road surface is paved with translucent green jade bricks. Cultivators travel in twos and threes, either in carriages or riding gentle mythical beasts.

"You can ride mythical beasts within the city, but you need to obtain an identity token for the beast. Hmm, it will only cost three thousand low-grade spirit stones!" Yunxiao said.

As he spoke, he took out a white token, waved it casually, and released a docile cloud-horned deer.

"This is just a Beast Taming Token; three thousand low-grade spirit stones isn't expensive!"

Yang Zhengshan nodded slightly. The Beast Taming Token is a magical artifact that can store exotic beasts. It costs two thousand low-grade spirit stones in Qingli Immortal City.

"Let's go, I'll take you to get an identity token for your beast first. You have a beast, right?" Yunxiao asked Yang Zhengshan.

“Yes!” Yang Zhengshan took out a Beast Taming Token, which he had prepared in advance. Yunxiao had already told him about it before he came.

Flying is not allowed in Baiyun Immortal City. However, Baiyun Immortal City is very large. If you rely solely on walking, it will be very troublesome to travel within the city. Therefore, you need to have exotic beasts to get around.

You can prepare your own mythical beasts, but you need to obtain their identity tokens in White Cloud Immortal City.

Afterwards, Yunxiao took Yang Zhengshan to obtain the identity token for the exotic beast. The exotic beast that Yang Zhengshan carried was not any other exotic beast, but the Cloud Tiger Steed, which was only a first-level Cloud Tiger Steed.

Since flying is not allowed within the city, a beast can be used for transportation; there is no need to use a second-tier beast.

After obtaining the identity token for the exotic beast, Yunxiao and Yang Zhengshan rented a cave dwelling in the city.

The spiritual vein of this White Cloud Immortal City should be a third-grade high-level spiritual vein. The concentration of spiritual energy in the city is extremely high. The cave dwelling they rented, numbered Ding, already has a second-grade low-level spiritual energy concentration.

The cave dwellings in Baiyun Immortal City are also divided into A, B, C, and D. The order of the cave dwellings in Qingli Immortal City is based on that of Baiyun Immortal City.

There are indeed many cultivators in Baiyun Immortal City. According to Yunxiao, Baiyun Immortal City has 300,000 cultivators, of which more than 2,000 are Foundation Establishment cultivators.

More than two thousand Foundation Establishment cultivators—just thinking about it is terrifying.

After the two settled in, Yunxiao took Yang Zhengshan for a tour of the city, to see the tall buildings of Tianji Pavilion, to pay homage to the Daoist temple of Baiyun Zhenjun, and to observe the bases of Yunye Alliance and Qianzhen Alliance.

When they arrived at the Cloud Wild Alliance, it seemed that the Cloud Wild Alliance was holding some kind of celebration, with many Foundation Establishment cultivators coming and going at the Cloud Wild Alliance's residence.

"This is the headquarters of the Yunye Alliance. However, the Yunye Alliance also has another headquarters outside the city, at Yunye Manor, which is three hundred miles north of the city. There are many independent cultivator families there," Yunxiao said.

Looking at the layered buildings of the Yunye Alliance, Yang Zhengshan asked, "Can we join the Yunye Alliance?"

The Cloud Wilderness Alliance is a force of independent cultivators, which includes many immortal cultivation families, aristocratic families, and independent individuals.

“It is possible! However, whether it is your Yang family or my Xuanqing Sect, they are both forces. Even if you can join the Yunye Alliance, it will be difficult to get in touch with the core of the Yunye Alliance in a short period of time!” Yunxiao said.

Yang Zhengshan nodded slightly; he understood what Yunxiao meant.

The core of a power is definitely controlled by a few people. The Yang family and the Xuanqing Sect are both powerful forces. If such forces join the Yunye Alliance, they may not necessarily be welcomed by the higher-ups of the Yunye Alliance. They may even be met with hostility from some within the Yunye Alliance.

Because there is also a division of interests within the Yunye Alliance, a new force joining the Yunye Alliance will inevitably have to share in the benefits.

Yang Zhengshan didn't really want to join the Yunye Alliance; he was just curious.

Of course, if he could gain benefits from the Yunye Alliance, he wouldn't mind joining it.

However, he is new here and it is not appropriate for him to end things with a powerful force like the Cloud Wilderness Alliance. It would be better to observe the situation first.

Just as the two were strolling around the city, a streak of light suddenly shot out from outside the immortal city.

The light arrived at the city wall but did not stop. It paused briefly before passing through the protective array on the city wall and flying rapidly towards the White Cloud Dojo in the center of the city.

Baiyun Daocheng is the place where Baiyun Zhenjun cultivates and spreads his teachings, and it is also the administrative body of Baiyun Immortal City.

In front of the temple stands the True Lord's Tower, which is the management center of White Cloud Immortal City, similar to the city lord's mansion of a city or the imperial court of an emperor.

The golden light made no attempt to conceal itself, streaking across the sky above the immortal city at incredible speed before landing in the True Monarch Tower.

Many people noticed the fleeting streak of light and revealed thoughtful expressions.

Yang Zhengshan also noticed the stream of light, and he could see clearly that the person riding it was a female cultivator with a dashing and heroic demeanor, wearing golden spirit armor.

"What's going on? Didn't they say we couldn't fly anymore?" Yang Zhengshan asked.

"Flying is indeed not allowed, but under special circumstances, some people can still fly within the city!" Yunxiao's expression was somewhat solemn.

"What special circumstances?" Yang Zhengshan asked.

Yunxiao shook his head slightly, "I don't know, perhaps we'll find out soon enough!"

"Let's go back first!"

They were newcomers and didn't know much about Baiyun Immortal City. If anything major happened in Baiyun Immortal City, they would find it difficult to cope.

At this point, all they needed to do was stay discreetly in their cave and wait for the news to spread so they could see what had happened.

After returning to their cave, the two were not in a hurry. While keeping an eye on the outside world, they planned to buy those spiritual items.

Yang Zhengshan needs to refine two natal magic treasures: the Divine Wood Cauldron and the Azure Wood Purple Lightning Sword.

The Divine Wood Cauldron is a magical artifact that complements the Azure Wood Longevity Scripture. It is primarily used for defense, nurturing, healing, and assisting in cultivation. To forge the Divine Wood Cauldron, one needs to gather three types of third-tier spiritual wood to create the artifact's embryo, as well as various wood-attribute spiritual materials.

There is no fixed number of specific requirements, but three types of third-tier spirit wood are essential. As for other spirit materials, use whatever you have available, the higher the quality and the greater the quantity.

As for the Azure Wood Purple Lightning Sword, Yang Zhengshan has already prepared the main material, which is Golden Thunder Bamboo, while the auxiliary materials require various lightning-attribute spiritual items and wood-attribute spiritual items.

Yang Zhengshan identified several spiritual materials he wanted to buy, but he also wanted to see if there were any better spiritual materials in Baiyun Immortal City. If so, he wouldn't mind buying more.

For him, second- and third-tier spiritual materials are quite scarce. The Spirit Source Land can only produce a few types of second-tier spiritual materials at present, which is far from meeting his needs.

Therefore, his attitude towards spiritual materials of the second rank and above is that the more the better.

If you can buy them, buy as many as you can.

Anyway, these things don't have an expiration date, so they won't spoil if stored in the warehouse.

Each additional unit of spiritual material stored is equivalent to adding another unit of foundation to the Spiritual Source Land.

All powerful forces and profound foundations are built up over time in this way.

(End of this chapter)