Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

The Celestial River Immortal City we are heading to is not under the jurisdiction of the One Palace Four Sects, but rather a force located slightly to the south of the Ten Thousand Laws Palace.

Unlike the One Sect Five Families in Cangyun State, the Celestial Origin State, besides sects and families, also has many factions and commerce associations, such as the Spirit Beast Mountain that previously contended with the Beast Taming Liu Family of Cangyun State.

These are also considered embryonic forms of sects, but they all have traces of great sects of the present era behind them.

As for the commerce associations, they stem from the influence and infiltration of the Outer States.

Moreover, the influence of the commerce associations here is different in meaning from those previously stationed in the Golden Splendor Immortal City of Cangyun State. The commerce associations in the Cangyun State Immortal City were merely stationed there for business, whereas here, the commerce associations truly own their Spirit Vein Dao Fields and have their own bases.

The major family of the Celestial River Immortal City is said to be the remnants of a declining commerce association in the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain from the west, which came here to establish themselves.

This Si Shui Commerce Association is said to have a profound relationship with the Ten Thousand Laws Palace; it once forged a good relationship during the Nascent Soul True Monarch’s formation of a Nascent Soul, hence receiving favor from the Ten Thousand Laws Palace, allowing them to purchase a Tier Three Spirit Vein several hundred years ago and make a comeback.

Due to some customs and concepts from the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain, along with privileges from the Ten Thousand Laws Palace, it gradually became a relatively neutral and free power and trade Immortal City in the Celestial Cyan Domain.

Three months later, a place with towering cliffs rose, as if the earth’s crust was uplifted, over a hundred zhang tall, stretching a thousand zhang on both sides.

Above it, vast river waters cascaded down, forming a great waterfall a thousand zhang wide and a hundred zhang high, resembling a Celestial River from afar.

Beneath the waterfall is a plain, which is the Spirit Vein Dao Field of the Si Shui Commerce Association, also known as the trading place Tianhe Immortal City.

The Celestial River Immortal City has neither tall walls nor requires identity registration or the payment of Spirit Stones, and there are no complicated rules.

In the distance, silhouettes of people flying back and forth can be seen ceaselessly.

”Qin Chuan, familiarize yourself well with this place this time. Once the Biyun Sect loosens its grip, our family can come here for trade. However, you don’t need to get involved in commerce; you only need to understand the social dynamics here and manage the connections in the Immortal City,” Qin Henian reminded again in front of the Celestial River Immortal City.

Qin Chuan, venturing out of Cangyun State for the first time, though the sights along the way were strange yet bearable, couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed at this moment, gazing at the majestic Celestial River and the cultivators going in and out, as well as the extremely prosperous Immortal City below.

It was truly shocking.

Yan Qingwan, in particular, had already operated the Clear Heart Concentration Method to calm herself.

The exceptional magical artifacts rarely seen in Cangyun State, she had seen at least dozens of them, and they were just being flown around so openly.

There were even genuine magical treasures’ pressure occasionally sweeping past.

Li Ji’an was relatively calm. Although it was his first time witnessing, having been influenced by online novels before crossing over, he already understood that a place like Cangyun State was merely a novice phase.

Not to mention the current scene, he wasn’t surprised by situations where Golden Core True Men were everywhere and Nascent Soul and Divinity Transformations were as common as dogs.

Of course, from his current understanding of the Great Marsh Cultivation Realm, such circumstances were unlikely.

After all, in the present Post-Ancient Era, the Nascent Soul True Monarch is the pinnacle of the entire Great Marsh Cultivation Realm, and it’s uncertain whether there are any Divinity Transformation Celestial Monarchs.

”Xiaoli, Xiaoyan, the Cultivation Realm is vast and boundless, the entire Great Marsh Cultivation Realm stretches millions of li across and contains over a hundred domains, with several large Cultivation Domains within it. Middle and large Cultivation Domains like our Celestial Cyan Domain are just ordinary.

Each mountain being higher than the other is normal, don’t let it affect you.

Moreover, every Cultivation Domain has its own circumstances, and one cannot generalize, nor is there any right or wrong, only pros and cons,” Qin Henian reminded them in a rare senior tone, sensing Yan Qingwan’s state.

”Thank you, Master Qin, for your guidance.” Li Ji’an and Yan Qingwan bowed deeply.

Qin Henian nodded: ”Sometimes I don’t wish for the cultivators in the state to see the outside world, for no matter how prosperous, it doesn’t belong to ordinary people. Sometimes knowing too much only brings pain.”

Li Ji’an understood his meaning. In any world, there is undoubtedly a pyramid structure, even more so in the Cultivation Realm; the higher the realm, the fewer people can advance, and most are destined to be the expendable bottom of the pyramid.

However, there are differences even at the bottom of the pyramid; in regions with a larger base, the number of people in the middle of the pyramid is relatively greater.

Soon, Qin Henian led the three directly into the Celestial River Immortal City and landed in a courtyard in the Inner City.

”Fellow Daoist Kong, I, Qin, come to visit.” Qin Henian stood outside the courtyard, clasping his hands towards the interior.

”Fellow Daoist Qin is a long-distance guest, if I failed to greet you at a distance, I hope for your forgiveness.” A humble voice sounded from the courtyard, soon followed by the door opening, and a tall, courteous middle-aged scholar in plain clothes saluted Qin Henian.

Li Ji’an and the three followed behind Qin Henian, hastily bowing ninety degrees first.

On the way, Qin Henian had already told them that this True Man Kong was a fellow Daoist he had befriended in the Celestial Origin Province and had discussed transactions with the Qin Family when the Biyun Sect was excavating relics.

True Man Kong is from a Fake Pill Clan native to the Celestial Origin Province. Its main line is not far from here, close to the central Ten Thousand Laws Palace direction.

It is said that the Kong Family’s ancestor compiled a biography for a True Monarch of the Ten Thousand Laws Palace, who was delighted and bestowed the Kong Family’s ancestor with a reward.

However, although its main line has a Lower Grade Third Tier Spirit Vein Dao Field, the section of Spirit Vein appears damaged, covering a very small range, even inferior to Yan Family’s Second Tier Spirit Vein.

And being close to the Ten Thousand Laws Palace, they have almost no mineral resources, medicinal fields, or other industries left to them in the surrounding area.

Furthermore, their clansmen did not inherit any of the Hundred Skills of Cultivation, and though they have a cultivation Dao Field, they lack cultivation resources.

Simply relying on the Spirit Vein’s Spiritual Qi for cultivation, even Fake Pill True Men might become extinct, so they have always engaged in middleman businesses.

Previously, taking advantage of the gap during Biyun Sect’s excavation of relics, he went to the Qin Family to bring Qin Family’s Spiritual Bamboo, Spirit Medicine, and mineral products here for resale, earning the difference.

Additionally, Qin Henian emphasized to them that True Man Kong highly values propriety.

”Junior greets True Man Kong!”

”The three young friends are exempt from courtesy.” True Man Kong seemed not to have the airs of a Fake Pill True Man.

Afterwards, True Man Kong welcomed the four into the residence.

The Kong Family members queued to salute, serve tea, host a welcoming banquet... after a series of events, it was not until the evening that they finally talked about the main business.

”I beg Master Qin’s forgiveness, this time perhaps because the Holy Palace is currently entangled with the northern Demon Dao, having no leisure to pay attention, causing this Celestial River Grand Assembly to be even grander, with many influential figures already arriving, and sect members from Dao Source State in the northeast direction too.

Therefore, the matter of introducing the chairman of the Si Shui Commerce Association to Master Qin that I promised earlier is likely to be unfulfilled.”

Qin Henian looked slightly disappointed. This time he came not only to prepare the Core Formation resources for Qin Chuan but also to connect with the Si Shui Commerce Association, so that once the Biyun Sect completely accepted losing control over Cangyun State, the Qin Family’s industries could be exported to the Celestial Origin Province.

”True Man Kong, my Qin Family’s industry is humble and indeed cannot compare to those large forces, but I still ask for your help to give it some more thought.” As Qin Henian spoke, he handed over a Storage Pouch.

True Man Kong pushed the Storage Pouch away with a smile, refusing: ”Master Qin misunderstood, my Kong Family has a family rule, that a gentleman loves wealth and acquires it properly. If I can introduce Master Qin, then I would be worthy; now, however, it is somewhat difficult.”

Qin Henian smiled heartily but directly stuffed the Storage Pouch into the other’s hands: ”Haha, I have always said that regardless of success or not, as long as True Man Kong tries, it is right and proper, please do accept it.

This matter, I will think of other ways; if it truly cannot be done, then it is simply not destined.”

”This...” True Man Kong felt a bit ashamed.

”Brother Kong, if you continue to be polite, it means you are not prepared to acknowledge me as a friend.” Qin Henian said with a stern expression.

”Ah, it is indeed embarrassing.” True Man Kong shook his head with a bitter smile, finally accepting the Spirit Stones.

But ultimately, he still gritted his teeth and said: ”To be honest, with Brother Qin’s family industry, I had full confidence, but unfortunately... the Fu Family from the Guan Mountain Bamboo Sea somehow learned of Master Qin’s intention to venture into this place and had placed a word with the commerce association ahead of time.”

”The Fu Family from the Guan Mountain Bamboo Sea!” Qin Henian slightly frowned.

The Fu Family is a vassal family of the Fiery Sun Sect. Although their family only has an Upper Grade Second Tier Spirit Vein Ancestral Land, with the Fiery Sun Sect backing them, they are quite powerful.

The relationship between sects and families in the Celestial Origin Province is unlike the rigid structure in Cangyun State. Given that Celestial Origin Province has many sects, and there is competition among them, being able to gather more subordinates, vassals, and even black and white gloves is added competitiveness.

Thus, the Fu Family’s actions outside always bear the banner of the Fiery Sun Sect.

Moreover, the Fiery Sun Sect currently has a True Pill Elder with the surname Fu.

And twenty years ago, the Fiery Sun Sect’s first True Inheritor, Fu Hanxing, was a descendant of the Fu Family.