I want to tread the heavens

The hard bed in room number seven was uncomfortable to sleep on. The noise outside the window didn't subside until late at night. Just as dawn was breaking, all sorts of sounds, like awakened beasts, crept in through the cracks in the doors and windows. I barely slept a wink, half out of vigilance, and half because my mind was constantly calculating the remaining eight spirit crystals and the path ahead.

He got up, fetched some water, and quickly washed himself. The cool water splashed on his face, relieving some of his fatigue. Fa Cai had been lying inside the door, its ears pressed against the door panel, keeping watch all night. Seeing Ling Xiao get up, it finally got up, shook its fur, and walked to a broken earthenware basin in the corner (kindly provided by the old shopkeeper) to lick some water.

"Today, I need to figure out this city better." He changed into a newly bought gray-brown short-sleeved shirt, tied his leggings, and put on leather boots. Although the material was rough, at least it was clean and tidy, making him less conspicuous on the street. He rewrapped the broken sword with cloth and carried it on his back, concealed the jade pendant close to his body, and divided the remaining spirit crystals into two places—five hidden in a close-fitting pocket and three in an easily accessible outer pocket. After thinking for a moment, he also put the Dew-Gathering Grass in a jade box and carried it with him, just in case.

"Fa Cai, you stay inside. Don't go out. If anyone comes, don't make a sound, hide under the bed." He pressed Fa Cai's head down. The city is not like the wilderness; taking a conspicuous wolf around to gather information would attract too much attention.

Fa Cai let out a dissatisfied whimper, its silver eyes full of reluctance, but it understood Ling Xiao's meaning. In the end, it nudged Ling Xiao's hand with its nose, as if agreeing. "Come back quickly... it's stuffy here."

Leaving the "Homecoming Inn," Falling Star City was shrouded in a thin mist in the early morning. The hustle and bustle was less unrestrained than yesterday, replaced by a busy vitality. Breakfast stalls steamed, selling various noodles and porridges, all at exorbitant prices. He glanced at them but couldn't bring himself to buy anything. Following the map he had studied yesterday, he headed towards "West Street," the area he remembered as being deeper into the market town and marked on the map, where teahouses and taverns were concentrated.

Along the way, he deliberately slowed his pace, listening intently to catch any passing words. "...Yesterday, a new batch of 'Eastern Sea Mermaid Silk' arrived at 'Yuelaiju.' The color, wow, Madam Wang immediately ordered three bolts..."

"I heard the Blackwater Gang and the Iron Fist Society are at odds again over two berths at the South City Wharf. They even got into a bloodbath last night in Old Cat Alley..." "Damn it, the 'Peace Money' has gone up again this month. Are they trying to kill us all?" "Brother, have you heard? The 'Treasure Pavilion' is having a small auction early next month. Apparently, some pretty good magical artifacts will be leaked..."

Most of the conversations were about mundane local affairs, gang disputes, and business news, which did little to help him understand the deeper forces at play in the city.

Walking along West Street, the scene changed again. The buildings here were noticeably taller and more elegant, though not as grand as the shops on the main street, they were still clean and tidy. The air was filled with the aroma of tea and wine, and the faint sound of a storyteller's gavel. It was still early, but some teahouses were already open, and waiters were sweeping the entrances with large brooms.

I chose a two-story teahouse that seemed to have a moderate number of customers, a slightly worn sign that read "Qingyuan Teahouse". In places like this, the prices wouldn't be too outrageous, and all sorts of people would gather, making it a good place to gather information.

He went inside. In the lobby on the first floor, there were about a dozen square tables, and half of them were already occupied. There was a middle-aged man in a long robe who looked like an accountant, drinking tea and watching the street scene alone; there were weary travelers talking quietly around the tables; and there were also several men in short clothes, with bulging temples and carrying weapons, talking and laughing loudly, clearly martial arts practitioners with some cultivation.

A quick-witted waiter approached: "Sir, is there one of you? The private rooms upstairs are quiet, while the main hall downstairs is lively."

"Downstairs, find a spot on the side," Ling Xiao said.

"Alright, this way please." The waiter led him to a small square table in the corner, wiped the table, and said, "What would you like to drink? We have regular 'Azure Mist Tea,' one spirit crystal per pot, all you can eat. For something better, we have 'Cloud Peak Emerald' and 'Pre-Rain Maojian,' but the price is..."

"One pot of Green Mist Tea. And a couple of inexpensive snacks, please." Ling Xiao interrupted him, taking out two low-grade spirit crystals and placing them on the table. "Alright! One pot of Green Mist Tea and two snacks!" The waiter took the money and went off to pay.

Leaning against the wall, he could see most of the hall. He picked up the rough porcelain teapot that the waiter quickly brought over and poured himself a cup. The tea was cloudy, with a slightly astringent taste, and almost no spiritual energy, but it was enough to quench his thirst and refresh him. The snacks were two small pieces of hard rice cake mixed with powdered sugar, which he slowly broke apart and ate.

His main attention was focused on listening to the conversations around him. He deliberately concealed his breathing, making himself appear as an ordinary, somewhat tired young traveler. Soon, the conversation of a few martial arts cultivators at the next table caught his attention. They were speaking loudly, seemingly having just returned from an escort mission and were boasting.

"...I'm not bragging, but with the terrain of 'Howling Wind Gorge,' if I hadn't been quick-witted and cleaved that 'Ironback Wolf' that tried to ambush us in two, Manager Wang's entire load would have been gone!" "Come on, Lao Zhang, everyone knows you and Zhao Laosan worked together to kill that wolf. But seriously, this trip went smoothly thanks to those 'Lightness Talismans' and 'Armor Talismans' I bought at 'Treasure Pavilion' before we set off. They were expensive, but they were really useful!"

"That's right, items from 'Wanbaoge' are expensive for a reason. Who's behind them? They can even talk to the City Lord's Mansion! I heard they're one of the sponsors of this 'Ascension Ceremony,' and the prizes they're offering are extraordinary!"

"Have you heard about the 'Ascension Ceremony'? The Heavenly Sword Sect has sent Elder Cheng, the 'Sword Breaker,' to oversee things at the Falling Star City branch! He's a top expert in the Golden Core stage! He's notoriously hot-tempered, but also fiercely protective of his own. If someone were to take a liking to him and accept him as a disciple..."

"Dream on! The Heavenly Sword Sect isn't a place you can just walk into. They only take in the top sword cultivators! If you ask me, the Profound Purity Sect isn't bad either. Their methods are orthodox, and their alchemy and talisman-making are unparalleled. If you go in, at least you won't have to worry about cultivation resources. As for the Hundred Refinement Valley... hehe, it's all about blacksmithing and weapon forging. It's perfect for a musclehead like you, Old Liu."

"Get lost! What's wrong with Hundred Refinement Valley? Forging a top-quality magic weapon is better than anything else! I heard they've set up a temporary 'Spirit Testing Platform' in their villa, offering free testing of weapon-forging talent and fire spirit root aptitude to eligible people. It's not a loss to give it a try." "Come on, at our age, our bone age is way over. Only young people sent by big families and small sects, and people like us... rogue cultivators who have struggled their way out from the shadows and hit the jackpot, are hoping for this once-every-three-years opportunity."

"So what if you're a rogue cultivator? Thirty years ago, Elder Liu, the now-renowned 'Flowing Cloud Sword' of the 'Heavenly Sword Sect,' also came from a small town in the borderlands. Didn't he still become a Golden Core cultivator?" "How can that be compared? He's a genius who only appears once in a century! As for us, if we can take this opportunity to see if we can be noticed by some small sect, or get a proper job in a workshop or guard unit under the 'Hundred Cities Alliance,' we'll be lucky..."

Ling Xiao listened silently, his fingers unconsciously stroking the rough porcelain teacup. The words—Wanbao Pavilion, City Lord's Mansion, the three major sects (Heavenly Sword Sect, Profound Purity Sect, and Hundred Refinement Valley), Ascension Conference, secluded courtyard, Spirit Testing Platform, opportunities for rogue cultivators…—gradually connected. At that moment, two men dressed in respectable long robes, resembling small merchants, were also conversing in hushed tones, their voices filled with worry. "…This year's 'city tax' has increased by another half-percent. If this continues, this shop really won't be able to stay open."

"Sigh, who can argue with that? The City Lord's Mansion has to maintain the array of such a large city, and it also has to support the city patrol guards and those powerful retainers. The expenses are huge. I heard that the 'Black Swamp' in the north has been quite turbulent recently, and a lot of manpower from the city patrol guards have been transferred there. The security in the city has deteriorated a bit."

"That's right. Yesterday, Doctor Sun from Huichuntang said that the Alchemist Association is also collecting some detoxifying and soul-soothing medicinal herbs, and the price is quite high. It's probably related to what's happening in the north."

"These are big matters we can't handle. By the way, did you hear from the people at the 'Heavenly Mystery Pavilion'? It seems they've added a 'Heart-Testing' stage to the preliminary rounds of this year's 'Ascension Tournament.' Apparently, it's a formation provided by the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, specifically designed to test one's character and aptitude, preventing those with demonic paths or wicked intentions from infiltrating." "The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion? Aren't they usually just selling information and doing mysterious deductions? How did they get involved?" "Who knows? Anyway, the waters in Falling Star City are getting deeper and deeper..."

City tax, city lord's mansion, city patrol guards, offerings, black swamp, alchemist association, heavenly secrets pavilion, questioning heart pass... more fragments of information flooded into my mind.

The highest authority in Falling Star City is the City Lord's Mansion, which controls military force and taxation. The Myriad Treasures Pavilion appears to be a wealthy commercial tycoon with close ties to the City Lord's Mansion. The Alchemist Association and the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion are highly professional organizations with considerable influence. The villas of the three major sects outside the city serve as their local representatives and are the main organizers of the "Ascension Conference." The "Ascension Conference" is not only a means for the three major sects to select disciples, but it also seems to affect the nerves of various forces within the city, and may even be related to the unusual activities in the "Black Swamp" to the north.

As for himself… a penniless, unknown rogue cultivator with only early Foundation Establishment cultivation. Wanting to obtain cultivation resources, repair the starship, and find clues about his parents and the Starfall Clan, the "Ascension Conference" seems to be the only possible way for him to break through his current social class. The prerequisite is that he must first qualify to participate, and… stand out among countless competitors.

He finished the last sip of bitter tea, wrapped the remaining half of the rice cake in oiled paper, and tucked it into his pocket. Two spirit crystals for this information—it was worth it.

He rose and left the teahouse, rejoining the flow of people on West Street. Sunlight dispersed the morning mist, falling on the bluestone slabs and also on his slightly thin but straight back. His goal was gradually becoming clearer.

First, he needs to learn more about the specific requirements, procedures, and time limits for registering for the "Ascension Conference".

Secondly, he needed to obtain some spirit crystals as soon as possible to maintain his basic living and see if he could purchase something to improve his strength—even if it was just a low-level talisman or a pill to heal his injuries.

Finally, he had to find a way to demonstrate enough "value" to attract attention without revealing the Starfall inheritance and his special bloodline to get rich.

He touched the six spirit crystals he had left (two of which he'd spent at the teahouse), his gaze sweeping over the shop signs on both sides of the street, some gleaming, some ordinary. The road ahead was still long. But at least he knew which direction to take, and he had taken the first step.

He raised his head, gazing towards the center of Falling Star City, where the pavilions were taller and the spiritual energy seemed more concentrated. The villas of the three major sects, as well as the mysterious "Heavenly Mystery Pavilion," should all be in that direction. He'd go check out... the vicinity of the Heavenly Sword Sect's villa first. Since he'd decided to lean towards the path of sword cultivation, he needed to see what kind of place it was.