Cultivating Immortality Through a Hundred Lifetimes: I Possess the Heavenly Book of Merit

Unlike the bustling, crowded scene on the lower three floors, this place was quiet to the point of solemnity.

Yu Yan looked around and saw that there were few pedestrians on the wide street.

Occasionally, one or two cultivators would pass by, but they would all keep their heads down, walk hurriedly, and look straight ahead without ever glancing to the left or right.

There were shops on both sides of the street, but there were no hawkers or customers haggling at the entrances of those shops.

The vendors sat cross-legged at the entrance of their shops, with several jade boxes or storage bags in front of them, each with a small label indicating the name and price of the item.

When customers approached, they would only glance at the items silently. If they liked something, they would take out spirit stones, place them on the tray beside them, pick up their items, and leave. There was no verbal exchange between them from beginning to end.

Yu Yan's gaze fell on a medicine shop.

A young cultivator dressed in a blue robe stood in front of the stall, staring at a bottle of pills in front of him for a long time.

The stall owner was an elderly man with white hair and beard, who was resting with his eyes closed, as if he were asleep.

The young cultivator hesitated for a moment, then took out a spirit stone from his pocket, gently placed it on the tray, picked up the pill, and turned to leave.

It wasn't until he had walked more than ten steps away that the old man opened his eyes, expressionlessly put the spirit stone into his sleeve, and then closed his eyes again.

Throughout the entire process, there was almost no verbal communication.

Yu Yan watched this scene, his eyes twitching slightly.

He recalled the market on the lower three levels, the vendors shouting their wares, the customers arguing heatedly over a few spirit stones, and the constant sounds of bargaining...

Compared to this place, it's like two completely different worlds.

"Brother Zhou," Yu Yan lowered his voice as if adapting to local customs, "has it always been this quiet here?"

Zhou Yan turned and glanced at him, lowering his voice as well: "It's not about being quiet, it's about following the rules."

"rule?"

"Yes." Zhou Yan slowed his pace and walked alongside Yu Yan. "Do you see that palace?"

He raised his hand and pointed into the distance.

Yu Yan looked in the direction he was pointing.

The first thing that catches the eye is the magnificent white jade palace.

It gleamed with a warm light in the sunlight, and the golden glazed tiles on the roof shone brightly.

But upon closer inspection, the palace is not just a single building.

It rises abruptly from the ground, extending upwards layer by layer, and actually runs through the entire upper three floors.

The fourth layer is the base, which is magnificent and grand.

The fifth level is the main body of the palace, with carved beams and painted rafters.

The sixth level is the top, reaching straight into the clouds.

"That's the City Lord's Mansion." Zhou Yan's voice carried a hint of awe.

"Starting from the fourth floor, it rises all the way to the sixth floor, running through the entire upper three floors. Master Yunmeng lives on the top floor, where it is said there is an independent spiritual realm that no outsider has ever set foot in."

Yu Yan looked up at the palace that pierced the clouds, his heart trembling slightly.

A building that runs through three layers of the celestial city.

What a scale, what a bold move!

"However," Zhou Yan withdrew his gaze,

"The Lin family is the actual controller of this fourth floor."

As he spoke, he gestured in another direction with his chin: "See that over there?"

Yu Yan looked in the direction he indicated.

Far to the side and rear of the city lord's mansion, away from the bustling city, you can see a separate group of buildings.

It was a courtyard, layered and arranged in a pleasing, staggered fashion. The courtyard was surrounded by lush bamboo, its shadows partially obscuring the buildings within. A bluestone path stretched out from the main street, winding its way into the depths of the bamboo grove.

Looking into the distance, one can barely make out a stone tablet standing at the entrance of the bamboo forest.

The stone tablet is not tall, only about the height of a person, and is carved entirely from bluestone. Four characters are inscribed on it:

"A small courtyard in the woods".

His handwriting is slender and vigorous, exuding a scholarly air.

Yu Yan looked at the stone tablet, raising his eyebrows slightly.

A small courtyard in the woods?

The name sounds like a secluded retreat.

"Brother Zhou," Yu Yan said slowly, "this small courtyard in the woods...could it be the Lin family's gate?"

Zhou Yan chuckled and patted him on the shoulder:

"No, no, the Lin family's gate is much more impressive than this."

"That was my employer's residence."

"And your employer..." Yu Yan carefully chose his words, "is quite low-key."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yan revealed a meaningful smile.

"Low-key?" He repeated the word, then shook his head. "Old Yu, you're half right."

"half?"

"Yes." Zhou Yan pointed to the bamboo grove. "On the surface, they do seem unassuming. But if you think they're being unassuming, you're sorely mistaken."

He paused, then lowered his voice even further:

"The Lin family patriarch was a Confucian and valued rules and regulations highly. After being subdued by Master Yunmeng, he stayed by his side and helped manage various affairs."

"Later, when Master Yunmeng established this immortal city, the Lin family patriarch contributed greatly and can be considered one of the founders. In return, Master Yunmeng entrusted the management of this fourth level to the Lin family."

"From a Confucian family?" Yu Yan seemed to be thinking.

"Yes." Zhou Yan nodded.

"What does Confucianism emphasize? Etiquette, rules, and a strict hierarchy. The Lin family patriarch brought this system to the family, and the entire fourth floor they managed became like this."

He gestured with his chin in all directions:

"See that? You can't make loud noises on the street, vendors can't shout to sell their goods, those with high cultivation can use telepathy, and those with low cultivation can only communicate with customers through eye contact. If both parties make eye contact with each other in a single glance, the deal might be done."

Yu Yan shook his head as he recalled what he had just witnessed.

Can a transaction be completed through eye contact?

If this were placed on the lower three floors, I'm afraid it wouldn't sell a single item in three days.

"Rules are a good thing," Yu Yan leaned closer to Zhou Yan and said softly, "but this is going too far."

"Who says otherwise?" Zhou Yan pursed his lips. "But you can only say this to me, don't say it outside. The fourth floor is full of Lin family spies, if they hear us, we'll be in big trouble."

Yu Yan nodded, indicating that he understood.

The two walked along the bluestone path into the depths of the bamboo forest.

The path beneath our feet was paved with blue flagstones, the surface of which was worn smooth and gleamed with a faint light.

The bamboo on both sides is very tall, blocking out the sun. Sunlight filters through the gaps in the bamboo leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground. A faint fragrance of bamboo permeates the air, clear and lingering.

Walking on such a road, one's steps will unconsciously become lighter, and one's breathing will unconsciously slow down.

After walking for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the bamboo grove suddenly became sparse.

A courtyard came into view.

The courtyard is not large, covering only a dozen acres. The courtyard wall is made of blue bricks and is not high, only a little over a meter tall, and the top of the wall is covered with vines.

Through the courtyard wall, you can see the buildings inside—a few tiled houses, a small building, a pond, and a few old trees.

Ordinary, nothing special.

If Yu Yan hadn't known that this was Lin family territory, he would have thought it was some rogue cultivator's secluded cultivation place.

The courtyard gate consisted of two old wooden doors, the paint peeling off and revealing the natural wood beneath. A plaque hung above the gate, bearing four characters:

"A small courtyard in the woods".

The words are exactly the same as those on the stone tablet at the entrance of the bamboo forest.

Zhou Yan stopped in front of the courtyard gate, straightened his robes, and then raised his hand to gently knock on the door.

dong dong dong.