Chapter 35: Wanzhong Mountains Range, Good at Raising Pigs

Chapter 35: Chapter 35: Wanzhong Mountains Range, Good at Raising Pigs

The airship gradually stabilized. The burly man on the mast went into the cabin, and the people on deck began to converse in low voices.

Li Changsheng didn’t know anyone, so he walked to the railing alone to admire the magnificent landscape.

The ship looked clumsy, but its speed was anything but slow. The landscape below flashed by like a slideshow.

Among the crowd on deck, an elderly man with the air of an immortal sage moved between the small groups.

As he spoke with them, some were extremely wary of him, others were curious, and still others were pleased.

Only when the old man finished with the last group did a satisfied smile appear on his face.

The old man then turned his gaze to the few solo Cultivators.

These lone Cultivators, in contrast, were quite enthusiastic. They seemed to strike some sort of deal with the old man, and they all chatted happily.

Li Changsheng was the last Cultivator he approached.

A medicinal fragrance wafted over as the old man approached, meeting Li Changsheng’s questioning gaze.

The old man stated directly, "My name is Changxing. I’m an Alchemy Master."

Upon hearing this, Li Changsheng’s expression shifted slightly, and he looked at the man with a strange glint in his eyes.

He might not have known the details about Alchemy Masters before, but after reading the records of the Cyan Yang Sect, he now understood what they were.

Alchemy Masters could combine various Spirit Plants, extract their essences, and refine them into pills with all sorts of different effects.

The unranked Blood Pill he had taken before, and the Low-Grade Spirit Gathering Pill from the sect’s resources, were all products of Alchemy Masters.

Furthermore, to become an Alchemy Master, one had to possess a dual Fire and Wood attribute Spirit Vein and invest a massive amount of Spirit Plants in training.

Unsure of the man’s intentions, Li Changsheng asked, "What do you mean by this, Chang the Pill Master?"

Changxing stroked his beard and smiled. "I’m heading to Miscellaneous Peak to collect Spirit Plants and practice my Alchemy."

"Young friend, if you happen to find any Spirit Plants in the mountains, you can sell them to me or exchange them for cultivation pills."

As if sensing his hesitation, Changxing added, "It’s not just you. I’ve told the other fellow daoists as well. Don’t worry, I guarantee the price I offer won’t leave you at a disadvantage."

Li Changsheng’s interest was piqued. He asked uncertainly, "I wouldn’t mind selling to you if I find any, but... what about the sect?"

Changxing smiled and shook his head. "The sect won’t care about the piddling amount you all might find."

"If you find any Spirit Plants, you can go to Chang’s Pill Pavilion in No. 8 Alley on D Street. I guarantee the price will be higher than the market rate."

After saying his piece, he didn’t linger. He found an empty spot, took out a book, and started reading.

Li Changsheng turned back around, his gaze heavy as he stared out from the ship.

「Time passed quickly.」

As the evening glow painted the sky, a black line stretching beyond the horizon came into view.

As the large ship drew closer, they realized it wasn’t a black line at all, but a vast, endless range of forested mountains.

Even before they drew near, Li Changsheng could feel an oppressive aura.

The mountains thrusting up from the earth were like primordial beasts, silently waiting for their prey to walk right into their grasp.

And this was the Wanzhong Mountains Range.

After entering the range, the great ship flew for another hundred *li* before a mountain peak shrouded in thick white mist appeared before them.

The ship didn’t slow, plunging straight into the white mist.

All Li Changsheng could see was a vast expanse of white; he couldn’t tell up from down or left from right.

A shimmering light flashed across the ship’s surface as if it had pierced through some kind of barrier, and then their vision suddenly cleared.

Before them was a mountain that looked as if it had been sheared in half, with a sprawling complex of buildings situated on its flattened peak.

One side of the mountain was terraced into plots of Spirit Fields.

On the other side, the light of restrictive arrays flickered, and the faint roars of beasts could be heard.

The buildings of the Marketplace on the summit were neatly arranged. A tall tower stood at the center, from which the area was divided into four quadrants. Each quadrant, in turn, was divided into nine streets.

Looking down, he could see that the streets were crowded and bustling with activity.

The large ship landed in front of the tall tower at the center of the Marketplace.

Just as everyone was curiously looking at the surrounding buildings, the cabin door opened, and three people with varying expressions walked out.

Li Changsheng turned his head, and the moment he got a clear look at them, his pupils constricted and he quickly lowered his head.

Aside from the burly man in the lead, the other two were, to his surprise, Jin Fang and Tan Hu. Judging by their expressions, they were in a terrible mood.

’Aren’t they from the Beast Soul and Blood Fusion lineages? Why are they at Miscellaneous Peak?’ Li Changsheng wondered, shocked.

The burly man in the lead glanced at the crowd and barked, "Get off the ship."

"Yes, Martial Uncle."

Everyone bowed respectfully and jumped off the ship. Li Changsheng, hidden in the crowd, disembarked with them.

After they had all disembarked, the burly man turned to the other two and said with a smile, "After you, fellow daoists."

Jin Fang and Tan Hu exchanged a look, and each let out a cold snort.

Jin Fang cupped his fists. "I must trouble Fellow Daoist Shen to arrange an introduction to Elder Lan. I would be eternally grateful."

Tan Hu bowed. "Please, Steward Shen Tu, help me with an introduction as well. I will be sure to reward you handsomely."

Shen Tu shook his head, a troubled look on his face. "Fellow daoists, you may not be aware, but Elder Lan entered seclusion two months ago. Even I cannot see him."

Jin Fang quickly pressed, "What about Elder Qing or Elder Mi? Are they available?"

Shen Tu shook his head again. "Both of those Elders have gone into the mountains to seek fortuitous encounters. They aren’t here either..."

Jin Fang opened his mouth, but then closed it and sighed, saying no more.

Tan Hu’s expression returned to a calm mask, making it impossible to know what he was thinking.

Shen Tu said with a strained smile, "If you please, fellow daoists. Someone will be there to receive you after you disembark."

Hmph!

Tan Hu shot Jin Fang a cold snort, then leaped off the ship.

Jin Fang gave Shen Tu a final cupped-fist salute before he, too, jumped off.

’Heh. Infighting between two lineages, and they want to drag the Miscellaneous Cultivation Lineage into the mire...’

After the two had gone, a cold smirk touched Shen Tu’s lips. He piloted the large ship toward another section of the complex.

The ship’s purpose wasn’t merely to transport a few dozen outer sect disciples; its primary mission was to ferry resources acquired by the Miscellaneous Cultivation Lineage from the Wanzhong Mountains Range.

After the large ship departed,

Jin Fang and Tan Hu were led into the tall tower by a stern-faced young man.

The crowd’s attention shifted to the middle-aged man who had been standing behind the youth.

The middle-aged man waved his hand, and two outer disciples emerged from the tower carrying a table, chairs, a brush, ink, paper, and an inkstone.

"My name is Jiaoyang, and I’m in charge of your assignments."

"Alright, form a line and come forward one by one to register."

After a brief murmur, the crowd formed an orderly line and began to register.

Jiaoyang’s questions were simple: just name, cultivation level, and proficient Magic.

Based on their answers, he divided them into three groups of varying sizes.

Before long, it was nearly Li Changsheng’s turn.

The person in front of him was Chang the Pill Master.

Before Jiaoyang could ask, Chang the Pill Master stepped forward, exchanged a few quiet words with him, and handed him a wooden box.

Whatever Chang the Pill Master had given him, it was enough for Jiaoyang to place him in a group all by himself.

Jiaoyang’s expression brightened considerably, likely because of what Chang the Pill Master had given him.

"Name."

"Li Changsheng."

"Cultivation level."

"Second-level Qi Cultivation."

"Hm?" The middle-aged man looked up, a flash of surprise in his eyes. He continued, "What are your skills?"

Li Changsheng paused for a moment before replying, "I’m skilled at raising pigs."

The middle-aged man gave him a strange look. "Raising pigs?"

Li Changsheng nodded earnestly. "Yes, Lord Jiao."

Jiaoyang nodded, lifting his brush toward the register on the table.