Cultivation begins in Qingfeng Market.

Upon entering the city, a bustling and prosperous atmosphere immediately greets you.

The streets were bustling with pedestrians, mostly Qi Refining cultivators, but Foundation Establishment cultivators were also quite common.

Because the immortal city is protected by a powerful array that prevents people from flying, everyone obediently walks on the streets.

Based on the information he had gathered along the way, Lin Zhao made a silent estimate.

At this moment, more than seventy Core Formation cultivators and tens of thousands Foundation Establishment cultivators have arrived in the Immortal City.

The number of Qi Refining cultivators has long exceeded one million.

This hasn't officially started yet.

The number of people will increase as the major auction approaches.

"Disperse," Lin Zhao said to everyone. "Go about your own business, and send a message if you need anything."

The crowd dispersed in response.

Yan Chiheng cupped his hands in greeting: "I'm going to the teleportation array to go back to Qinglan Immortal City."

Lin Zhao nodded.

Yan Chiheng's Daoist partner and his twin children are all in Qinglan Immortal City.

Judging from the timeline, the child is already over ten years old and has long since begun practicing cultivation.

Although he couldn't rob in Dingfeng Plain over the years, he had accumulated a lot of resources by escorting caravans, which he was now sending back.

Yan Lie led Luo Yu over: "Let's go to the Yan family. We need to let those old folks there meet Luo Yu."

Lin Zhao glanced at Luo Yu.

Yan Lie had previously mentioned to Lin Zhao that Luo Yu's plan for the Hundred Beast Spirit Body was almost complete, but it still needed to be reviewed by the elders in his family.

He also took the opportunity to make some extra money—with his earning speed as a second-tier high-grade alchemist, he could support Luo Yu in completing his high-grade Dao Foundation and Spiritual Body, but cultivation after Foundation Establishment would be somewhat difficult.

Bringing the family along makes things much easier.

Luo Yu didn't have any particular plans; he just wanted to come and see the Immortal City.

He An also chimed in, "I'll just stick with Luo Yu."

This young man didn't have any ulterior motives; it was purely arranged by Old He—to get closer to Luo Yu and the others.

Lin Zhao understood Old He's intentions perfectly.

"Go ahead," Lin Zhao waved.

As the crowd dispersed, Lin Zhao stood alone on the street, gazing at the enormous city.

Then he remembered something.

He has no place to stay in the Immortal City for the time being.

Previously, when I was a Sky Patrolman.

Now that I've quit my job, I can't exactly sleep on the streets.

Looking for a place?

Just then, a sound transmission talisman flew in front of him.

Lin Zhao took it, scanned it with his divine sense, and the corners of his mouth curved into a smile.

Zhou Jun.

He was the captain of the Sky Patrol Guard before, a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, and a core member of the Zhou family.

The Zhou family is a Core Formation family in the Immortal City, a local power with abundant resources.

The message talisman said that upon hearing that Lin Zhao was coming, a separate courtyard had been specially prepared in the inner city for Lin Zhao's use.

Lin Zhao put away the communication talisman and walked towards the inner city.

His current treatment is probably comparable to that of a normal Core Formation cultivator.

The reputation earned in the battle against the Core Formation cultivator was indeed useful.

---

Inner city, separate courtyard.

The courtyard was small but exquisite. It had three courtyards and three entrances, including a quiet room, an alchemy room, and a small garden. Several spiritual herbs grew in the garden, emitting a faint fragrance.

Zhou Jun was already waiting at the gate of the courtyard.

Upon seeing Lin Zhao, he greeted him with a smile: "Brother Lin, it's been a long time."

Lin Zhao cupped his hands in greeting: "Brother Zhou, you're too kind. This courtyard..."

"Don't refuse." Zhou Jun waved his hand. "What is your status now? Staying in my courtyard is giving me face."

Lin Zhao smiled and did not refuse again.

The two walked into the courtyard and sat down at the stone table in the garden.

Zhou Jun poured him a cup of tea; the tea had a refreshing aroma and was a second-tier spiritual tea.

"The big auction isn't starting for another six months," Zhou Jun said. "Just settle in and let me know if you need anything."

Lin Zhao nodded: "Thank you, Brother Zhou."

Zhou Jun looked at him and suddenly exclaimed, "Brother Lin, you have truly impressed me."

Back when we were with the Sky Patrol Guard, I knew you were extraordinary. I never imagined that just a few years later, you'd dare to go toe-to-toe with a Core Formation cultivator.

Lin Zhao picked up the teacup and took a small sip.

"Just lucky."

Zhou Jun smiled and said, "You're too modest."

After chatting for a while, Zhou Jun said goodbye and left.

Lin Zhao sat alone in the garden, watching the sunset on the horizon.

He used the teleportation array of the immortal city to arrive at the Ziyang Immortal City, which was ruled by the sect, and then returned to the sect.

Lin Zhao originally planned to visit Master Qianqiu first.

When they arrived at Qianqiu Peak, they happened to run into their fifth senior brother.

The fifth senior brother saw him and was stunned for a moment.

Upon hearing that Lin Zhao had visited Master Qianqiu, he said, "Master went into seclusion a year ago. Your timing is unfortunate."

Lin Zhao stood on the mountain path, looked up at the cloud-shrouded peaks, and nodded.

Let's take care of other things first.

He went to the Qiankun Palace via the teleportation array.

The Qiankun Hall is a place where the sect handles resource exchanges. The magnificent hall is located in the eastern part of the Yun Sect, and a Core Formation Real Person is stationed here year-round.

When Lin Zhao went in, there were people coming and going.

Lin Zhao found the corresponding mission room and handed over the sect token.

The steward, a middle-aged man in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, took the token and casually pressed it onto a jade tablet beside him.

The jade tablet lit up.

The deacon's expression also changed.

He looked up at Lin Zhao, his eyes holding a mixture of scrutiny, politeness, and a hint of something more complex: "So it's Junior Brother Lin. Please wait a moment."

Lin Zhao nodded.

Before long, the steward returned, holding a jade slip in his hand.

"Junior Brother Lin, we have verified your exchange limit."

He handed over the jade slip, saying, "Normally, the exchange limit for a second-tier garrison commander is one hundred high-grade spirit stones, but your reputation within the sect has always been very high."

The steward paused, then became even more polite, "The sect has specially approved an increase in your exchange quota to five hundred."

The steward continued, "Furthermore, regarding Master Qianqiu, when he accepted you as his disciple years ago, given his sect's authority..."

We've added a limit of 1,000 high-grade spirit stones to your account. Combined, you can now exchange for a total of 1,500 high-grade spirit stones.

Lin Zhao was taken aback.

One thousand five hundred.

He looked down at the numbers on the jade slip and remained silent for a while.

His master left this to him a long time ago.

I don't know how long this seclusion will last.

Lin Zhao put the jade slip away without saying anything, only nodding to the steward.

Thank you for your trouble.

- Next is the matter of exchanging spirit stones.

The difference between high-grade and mid-grade spirit stones is not only a matter of a hundred times more spiritual power, but also a completely different level of purity.

It is easier to absorb and more suitable for driving high-level magic arrays and magic treasures.

More importantly, cultivators who can produce a large number of high-grade spirit stones are not lacking in mid-grade spirit stones at all.

If you want to exchange for a high-quality item outside, you'll often have to pay extra—three or four hundred to one is the norm.

Over the years, Lin Zhao has accumulated nearly 100,000 mid-grade spirit stones, which is comparable to the wealth of an ordinary Core Formation cultivator.

If you were to exchange it outside, you could get a maximum of three hundred high-grade spirit stones.

However, through sect channels, the exchange rate is 200 to 1.

Lin Zhao took out 100,000 mid-grade spirit stones.

After the steward finished counting, he handed him five jade boxes.

Each jade box contains one hundred high-grade spirit stones neatly arranged.

A total of five hundred high-grade spirit stones.

The spirit stone is pale gold in color, with a faint spiritual light flowing across its surface. When held in the hand, one can feel the immense spiritual power contained within.

Including the ones he had saved up in bits and pieces, he now has a total of more than 560 high-grade spirit stones.