Immortality begins with equipping a worn-out talisman pen.

Chapter 68 Encounter in the Immortal City

The crimson-gold light tore through the sky, and in just a moment, the world returned to calm.

It was as if the suffocating pressure from just moments ago had never existed.

Li Mufeng remained in a daze for a long time.

He looked down at his palms and found them covered in cold sweat.

Just now, he didn't even see the figure of that Golden Core cultivator clearly. He only saw a streak of crimson-gold light streak across the sky, traversing hundreds of miles of mountains and rivers, and disappearing into the distance.

"This is the Golden Core True Person—"

"6

Li Mufeng's heart remained unsettled for a long time.

Foundation Establishment cultivators still need to fly using escape light, but Golden Core cultivators can already tear through the void and travel thousands of miles in an instant.

The difference between the two is truly like heaven and earth.

The other independent cultivators who were visiting the Heavenly Immortal City for the first time were equally shocked, whispering amongst themselves.

However, this is clearly not the first time such a scene has occurred.

Soon, the crowd regained order and continued walking towards the city gate.

Li Mufeng also composed himself and followed the group slowly forward.

The closer he got to the city gate, the more alarmed he became.

With just a sweep of his divine sense, he found as many as seven or eight Foundation Establishment cultivators passing by.

Li Mufeng couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

In Blackstone City, every Foundation Establishment cultivator is a powerful figure who rarely appears, usually residing within their family as an ancestor who guards the clan's destiny.

But when they arrived at Tianque Immortal City, they came and went as if they were just passersby. Is this the true foundation of the number one independent cultivator immortal city in Yue Kingdom?

Upon arriving at the city gate, a gatekeeper merely glanced at him and casually remarked, "The entrance fee is two spirit stones."

Li Mufeng took out a spirit stone and handed it over.

The other party didn't even ask for my name or background, just briefly registered my cultivation level, and then waved his hand.

"Go in."

Li Mufeng was slightly taken aback.

The expected strict inspection did not occur. Looking around, many cultivators were wearing bamboo hats, masks, or even completely shrouded in black robes. As long as they paid the entrance fee, they were all allowed to pass.

Clearly, this immortal city, established by independent cultivators, is much freer than those under the rule of sects.

However, freedom does not mean chaos.

Inside and outside the city gates, squads of law enforcement cultivators clad in crimson-gold robes patrolled continuously, their ranks orderly and their aura chilling.

Occasionally, when cultivators cause a commotion by cutting in line or arguing, the law enforcement cultivators arrive instantly and quell the situation with just a few words.

The fact that cultivators from all over the world can follow the rules so well ultimately comes down to strength.

With a Golden Core cultivator in charge, it would be enough to suppress an entire city.

Upon entering the Celestial City, Li Mufeng did not rush to find a place to stay. Instead, he walked slowly, comparing the information he had gathered along the way with the scene before him.

The Celestial City was built upon a third-order spiritual vein, and the entire city is divided into three levels.

At the very center stands a towering, cloud-piercing peak called Tianque Mountain.

Legend has it that the immortal peak was not naturally formed, but was forcibly moved here hundreds of years ago by the Heavenly Immortal after he formed his core, using immense supernatural powers, and placed in the eye of the spiritual vein.

The mountaintop is shrouded in clouds all year round, with a misty, ethereal atmosphere, resembling a fairyland.

Around the Immortal Peak, hundreds of floating immortal islands of varying sizes are suspended in the air.

Those islands are all nurtured by third-order spiritual veins. They are the cultivation caves of True Person Tianque and his disciples, as well as the places where various sects stay when they come to visit. If they are willing to spend spirit stones, they will also rent them out to rogue cultivators. Many Foundation Establishment cultivators live there.

That is the true core of the Celestial City.

Further out is the inner city.

The inner city is surrounded by a complete second-tier spiritual vein, with crisscrossing streets, towering buildings, and a variety of shops including alchemy workshops, weapon workshops, talisman towers, auction houses, and inns.

The cultivators coming and going were almost all in the late stage of Qi Refining, and occasionally you could see Foundation Establishment cultivators traveling by flying artifacts.

Most of the independent cultivators who come seeking opportunities also choose to settle in the inner city.

As for the outermost part, it is the outer city, built on a first-grade high-level spiritual vein.

The area is mostly inhabited by cultivators in the early and middle stages of Qi Refining, descendants of immortal cultivation families, and a large number of mortals who dream of achieving immortality.

Compared to the inner city, prices there are cheaper, but the area is also more chaotic.

Li Mufeng silently made his plans.

My purpose in coming here is twofold: first, to establish my foundation; and second, to seek out more equipment to improve my cultivation skills.

As for which district to live in, it's best to find out the local market conditions first before making a decision.

With that in mind, he headed straight for the busiest restaurant in the vicinity.

The restaurant is called Miaoxianju.

Before even stepping through the gate, Li Mufeng was greeted by a rich aroma of meat.

The restaurant was packed with customers, with almost no empty seats, clearly indicating that it is a well-known local establishment.

As soon as he entered, a clever servant greeted him with a beaming smile.

After sensing Li Mufeng's late-stage Qi Refining cultivation, the smile on his face immediately became even warmer.

"Please come upstairs, senior."

"Our shop just hunted an Iron-Horned Azure-Scaled Beast today. It is a first-grade high-quality demon beast. Its essence blood is most suitable for late-stage Qi Refining cultivators to nourish their Qi and blood. In addition, we also have Spirit Lake Silver-Scaled Fish and Fire-Patterned Spirit Mushrooms, which are our shop's signature products."

Li Mufeng nodded.

"One serving for each of you, and a pot of spiritual tea as well."

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"Okay!"

'

Soon, plates of spiritual food were served.

While tasting the food, Li Mufeng discreetly observed his surroundings.

Restaurants are always the places with the best sources of information.

Sure enough, before they had even taken a few bites, they overheard the conversation of the cultivators at the next table.

Did you see that beam of light just now?

'

"Of course I saw it. True Immortal Tianque hasn't shown himself for a long time these past few years. This sudden change of heart suggests there might be some kind of battle at the Golden Core level."

"What exactly happened that made him so desperate that he couldn't help but tear through the void?"

'

A middle-aged monk with a goatee lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "Hehe, you guys don't know this, do you?"

"I happen to have a senior brother in my sect who works in the Enforcement Hall. It is said that the Xuan Yin Sect recently sneaked into the territory of the Qing Xuan Sect and discovered an ancient ruin. The two sides have been fighting for the opportunity for several months."

"6

"I heard that the Xuan Yin Sect was well-prepared and had been planning for decades. This time, they even dispatched several Golden Core cultivators, catching the Qing Xuan Sect off guard. They are now calling for an alliance with the righteous sects."

"The reason why Master Tianque went there in person was most likely because he was invited to sit in and mediate, so as to prevent the Demonic Sect from really taking away the ancient opportunity."

As soon as he finished speaking, a collective gasp filled the restaurant.

Ancient relics that could attract the attention of the Heavenly Immortal from afar—what kind of relics must they be?

Upon hearing this, Li Mufeng secretly rejoiced, thinking that these people were probably referring to the ruins beneath Jinquan Bay.

Luckily, I ran fast enough. Otherwise, if I had been caught in the crossfire, it would have been a battle between Golden Core cultivators. As a mere Qi Refining cultivator, I would have been half-dead if I had been even grazed.

Afterwards, Li Mufeng listened silently in the restaurant for a long time.

The patrons discussed a wide variety of topics, from the major powers in the Immortal City to the prices in the nearby markets, and the recent recruitment of guest advisors and the rental and sale of cave dwellings, all of which gave him a deeper understanding of the Heavenly Immortal City.

Based on the information he had gathered along the way, Li Mufeng quickly made a decision.

With my current cultivation level, living in the inner city is the most suitable option.

It is neither like the core immortal island, where powerful figures gather and easily attract attention, nor like the outer city, where all sorts of people mingle. The safety and spiritual energy there are just right.

After making up his mind, he paid with spirit stones and asked the shop assistant for directions to the brokerage firm.

After noting down the route, he got up and left Miaoxianju.

However, they hadn't gone far from the restaurant when a slightly aged but delighted voice suddenly came from behind them.

"Is this Fellow Daoist Li?"

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