Immortality and Cultivation: Starting with Improving Spiritual Root Aptitude

After the ancestral worship ceremony was concluded, Wu Fan lingered for a few more days, settling all the trivial matters before solemnly bidding farewell to his second uncle, Wu Yuanshan.

After bidding farewell to his second uncle, he determined his direction, took off in his boat, and sped towards Zhongtianxu City.

After more than a month of living in the open and enduring wind and rain, the desolate, rolling mountains finally came into view.

Wu Fan took out the map he had purchased from Falling Star Valley and compared it with the map. According to the markings on the map, this place was only a few thousand miles away from Zhongtian Ruins City.

At his current speed, even if he slows down, he will surely arrive in a few days.

At this moment, Zhao Fu beneath him was already exhausted, his tiger claws were weak, and he was panting heavily, occasionally rubbing his big head against Wu Fan's arm and acting coquettishly.

Wu Fan gently stroked its fluffy head and casually tossed it a pill to restore its strength and a large piece of beast meat.

Zhao Fu immediately perked up and began to wolf down his food, no longer letting out aggrieved growls.

For more than a month, the man and the tiger have been almost constantly on the move.

Only once, when Wu Fan's magical power was exhausted and Zhao Fu was also completely worn out, did they sit in meditation and rest for a night in the desolate mountains.

During the rest of the days, Wu Fan would either urge the Wind-Riding Boat to travel or ride the Zhao Fu, taking every opportunity to recuperate and recover along the way.

Even with Wu Fan's solid foundation and Zhao Fu's strong physique, this non-stop travel left him exhausted.

Fortunately, the journey was smooth and peaceful, and they did not encounter any monsters blocking the way or villains robbing them.

For the remainder of the journey, Wu Fan no longer rushed things, instead steer the Wind-Riding Boat in a steady and effortless manner, conserving his magical energy and rejuvenating his spirit.

After flying for several more days, a dark brown megacity standing amidst desolate mountains finally came into view.

What he had once seen as majestic and magnificent mountains and deserts now appeared as low mounds in the face of this giant city.

Zhongtianxu City covers an area of ​​several hundred miles. In addition to the main vein, which is occupied by a third-grade high-quality spiritual vein, there are also several second-grade and first-grade spiritual veins intersecting within the city.

The entire city was also shrouded in a thin layer of red mist, which, in contrast to the desolate and barren surroundings, gave it a majestic and imposing aura, like a formidable fortress in the end times.

The crimson mist did not appear to be anything ordinary; it was formed from the fire elemental energy emanating from the third-tier city-protecting array.

What appears to be a thin mist is actually incredibly hot, and can transform into a sky full of fire spells the instant the formation is activated, blasting away any invading enemies.

This grand formation, which covers the entire city, is no less powerful or energy-consuming than the protective formations of some sects.

Although ordinary Golden Core families also have third-order grand formations, they are mostly used to protect the core of their clan's territory as a last resort for survival.

Even with only basic protection activated, the daily consumption of spirit stones for a large array like Zhongtianxu City, which protects the entire city, is an astonishing figure.

The magnificent scene before him filled Wu Fan with awe.

In terms of overall scale, this place may not surpass Falling Star Valley, but the desolation and ruggedness unique to this majestic Gobi city are unmatched by the picturesque landscape of Falling Star Valley.

The closer you get to the city, the more cultivators come and go in the air.

Wu Fan glanced at it and felt a chill run down his spine.

The cultivators here are at least in the mid-to-late stage of Qi Refining, and there isn't even a single one in the early stage of Qi Refining. Occasionally, one can catch a glimpse of a Foundation Establishment cultivator with a deep and condensed aura.

Most of these cultivators had sharp eyes and wary expressions, and a few even had a hint of murderous aura about them. They were clearly ruthless characters who had been honed in countless battles and dangerous situations.

"As expected, the people of Zhongtianxu City are fierce and ruthless. Only in this chaotic and uneasy place where the four sects meet can such decisive and ruthless cultivators be raised."

Wu Fan thought to himself.

Before long, they had arrived at a place several miles away from Zhongtianxu City.

Wu Fan immediately put away the Wind-Riding Boat and landed on foot.

The city's protective array includes a no-fly zone, and he didn't want to be careless and get shot down by it. If he were to fall in such a sorry state and become a laughingstock, that would be a small matter; losing his life would be a real injustice.

He used a wind-controlling technique on his feet and moved quickly, soon arriving at the city gate.

The ancient city wall, tens of meters high, stands majestically, simple and imposing, with faint traces of time and battles visible on its bricks.

The sounds of magical artifacts cutting through the air were incessant. Flying boats, spirit swords, and spirit birds shuttled back and forth, creating a dazzling spectacle of immortals. Wu Fan couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the sight.

At the city gate, cultivators came and went in a constant stream, creating a bustling atmosphere.

Wu Fan concealed his aura and slowly walked with the flow of people to the side hall next to the city gate.

To enter the city, one must first register their identity and pay an entry fee; this is the rule of Zhongtianxu City.

He waited in line for a short while, and soon it was his turn.

The person in charge of registration was a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator with an expressionless face. He didn't even raise his eyelids and spoke indifferently:

"Name, origin, purpose of entering the city."

"Willow mats, a wandering cultivator, entering the city to purchase."

Wu Fan spoke calmly, neither humble nor arrogant.

He did not reveal his true identity or background.

Although this place is far from Falling Star Valley and I have no enemies, it is always better to be safe than sorry when traveling. The more I conceal my identity, the safer I will be.

Moreover, he was just an insignificant outer disciple of Falling Star Valley. Falling Star Valley was a Nascent Soul sect with a great reputation in the Chu Kingdom, but the more prestigious it was, the more likely his identity would attract unwanted attention.

If people were to find out about his sect affiliation, it's hard to guarantee that no one would secretly spy on him, which could cause unnecessary trouble.

It's better to avoid trouble than to get involved. Pretending to be a hermit monk will save me some problems.

Upon hearing this, the registered cultivator flicked his fingertips, made a few strokes on a crimson jade tablet, and then injected a stream of spiritual energy into it.

Then, he pointed to the text on the sign next to the table and said in his usual calm tone:

"The entrance fee is one low-grade spirit stone, which allows you to stay for one month. If you wish to continue staying in the city after one month, you need to go to the guard post in the city to pay the extension fee. Keep this token safe and return it when you leave the city. If it is lost, you will need to apply for a replacement."

Wu Fan did as instructed, taking out a low-grade spirit stone from his storage bag and handing it to the registering cultivator in front of him.

Then, as soon as his hands touched the red jade pendant, he could feel a faint fluctuation of spiritual energy. It was probably used to identify someone and prevent outsiders from forging it.

After putting the jade token into his storage bag, Wu Fan followed the crowd through the extremely heavy city gate, where a completely different world came into view.

He finally entered the legendary city of Zhongtianxu, a place rumored to be both chaotic and full of opportunities.

As soon as Wu Fan entered the city, the noise was even more intense than outside.

The streets were very wide, enough to allow several horse-drawn carriages to pass side by side without causing congestion.

The shops on both sides were numerous and varied, offering a dazzling array of elixirs, magical artifacts, talismans, and materials from demonic beasts.

This is only the outer city of this giant city, and its layout and scale are several times larger than those of Falling Star Valley Market.

Wu Fan sighed inwardly, "As expected, it is a holy land in the hearts of rogue cultivators."

He stood there for a moment, but didn't rush to start browsing the shops.

Having just arrived, he knew nothing about the city, and wandering around aimlessly would be a waste of time and not worth the effort.

His gaze swept across the street corner and he soon spotted a young man dressed in a light blue shirt, who was probably a hyacinth, a creature unique to Zhongtianxu City.

(Hyacinth: Specializes in guiding visiting cultivators, introducing them to the city, and charging a small amount of spirit stones as payment.)

Wu Fan gently beckoned to him, and the young man immediately stepped forward, his face showing a clever expression that made him instantly likable. He spoke respectfully but without obsequiousness:

"Brother, you seem to be a cultivator from out of town. Do you need me to show you the way? I know all the reputable and powerful shops in the city very well, and I can also recommend safe and secure accommodations for you. The prices are fair, only fifty spirit pearls a day."