Chapter 402 - 381: No Fighting and Killing in Guangling City

In Guangling City, an enormous Big White Goose raised its neck, suddenly struck by a profound sense of crisis.

It opened its beak and let out a series of honks. "HONK HONK HONK!" Then, with a mighty flap of its wings, it sent the majestic white horse’s mane fluttering.

The Big White Goose honked triumphantly. Then, without waiting for Yun Chong to lead the way, it spread its wings and soared into the skies above Guangling City once more.

"HONK HONK HONK!"

"HONK HONK HONK!"

Overjoyed and carefree, the Big White Goose paid the Flying Stream Treasure Vehicle no mind, simply carrying Song Ciwan and flying straight toward the iconic mountain range to the city’s northeast.

Song Ciwan could only call out helplessly, "Big White Goose!"

She then sent a telepathic apology to Yun Chong and the others, who had been left far behind. "Chief Historian Yun, my sincerest apologies. My goose... well, he has quite the temper. He can’t stand to see me riding in a carriage pulled by other Spirit Beasts. I’m afraid it’s my fault for spoiling the little fellow."

The end of her message, tinged with a wry smile, trailed off and faded from their ears.

Yun Chong and her followers stood with their mouths agape, utterly dumbfounded for a moment.

A moment later, Yun Chong snapped out of it and quickly shouted, "Quick, quickly! We have to catch up to Fairy Song! She hasn’t received her special flight token yet. If some fool challenges her for flying in the city, what are we going to do?"

As she spoke, she abandoned the Flying Stream Treasure Vehicle. A Long Silk ribbon unfurled from her body, and she immediately flew on it, chasing in the direction Song Ciwan had disappeared.

She could fly, but the followers she left behind dared not. They could only resort to other methods to travel quickly on the ground.

However, along the way, the scenario Yun Chong had envisioned—of Song Ciwan being challenged by some reckless fool—never came to pass.

A Day Traveling God on patrol in the city called out to Song Ciwan from afar, "Might you be the tenth-ranked on the Celestial Pride List, Fairy Song?"

The Day Traveling God was immense, just like the Night Wanderer Song Ciwan had once seen in Pinglan City, standing a full twenty feet tall. His voice was sonorous, and his brocade-robed form was semi-transparent under the sun, a strange and eye-catching sight.

Normally, the Day Traveling God was all but invisible while patrolling the city. His sudden appearance immediately drew attention from all quarters.

The Big White Goose raised its head and cried out, "HONK HONK HONK!"

Song Ciwan gently stroked the goose’s back and replied with a smile, "I am she. But I am unworthy of the title ’Fairy Song.’"

The Day Traveling God laughed, and his voice boomed like a great bell across the city sky. "My lord asked me to convey his greetings to Fairy Song. When you have a moment, you are welcome to visit the City God Temple."

Song Ciwan immediately replied, "An invitation from a senior is an honor. I will certainly visit when the time is right."

The Big White Goose let out a "HONK HONK." After Song Ciwan finished speaking, the Day Traveling God replied, "Excellent, excellent! HA HA HA!"

His bell-like voice was like the beating of war drums, sending sound waves rolling through the air.

The Big White Goose flapped its wings, riding the very sound waves to glide forward.

A white goose soared on beating wings over Guangling City.

From that moment on, there was no one in the city who didn’t know a Celestial Pride had arrived.

On the streets and in the houses, in public and in private, murmurs of discussion arose. "Song Celestial Pride has entered the city?"

"The tenth on the Celestial Pride List, Song Zhao, is actually a woman."

"This tenth-ranked Celestial Pride certainly makes a grand entrance!"

"I wonder how she compares to the one from our city?"

"Tch, there’s no comparison. One is ranked tenth, the other is forty-third. If you insist on comparing them, isn’t that just... just asking for..."

"Shh!"

Someone cut the person next to them off.

’Asking for... asking for what? You can’t say what they’re asking for!’

More discussions and debates faded into the buzzing atmosphere of Guangling City.

At the same time, Song Ciwan received more clusters of ’qi’.

This included more from Tong Qingzhong and the others from the City Patrol Department; she received another three clusters from them.

[Human Desires: Astonishment, caution, and relaxation from a Mid-Stage Qi Cultivation Cultivator. Weight: one jin and two taels. Tradeable.]

[Human Desires: Astonishment, envy, and yearning from an Early-Stage Qi Cultivation Cultivator. Weight: one jin and six taels. Tradeable.]

[Human Desires: Repression, relief, and conflict from an Early-Stage Qi Cultivation Cultivator. Weight: one jin and five taels. Tradeable.]

...

She set aside the delayed ’qi’ for now. The clusters she was receiving in real time were mostly from mortals—too many to count, and not worth dwelling on.

The Big White Goose carried Song Ciwan to Cyan Feather Mountain, stopping at the foot of the sprawling range.

The biggest difference between Cyan Feather Mountain and Wangjiang Mountain, which Song Ciwan had visited before, was that Cyan Feather Mountain was dotted with hot springs.

On this cold winter day, steam from the hot springs wreathed the entire mountain in mist, making this peak within the city look like an Immortal Realm from a distance.

The scattered hot springs inlaid across Cyan Feather Mountain were like misty, glistening gems, adding a touch of beauty to the quiet solitude of Cultivation.

Flowers bloomed in abundance among lush green trees, and many cyan-colored birds with long, trailing tail feathers flew among the peaks.

The crisp, clear songs of the birds echoed through the air, stirring the Big White Goose at the foot of the mountain. It craned its neck, restless and agitated, desperate to fly up and play with the other fowl.

Song Ciwan was warmly received by the administrator of the Cyan Feather Mountain cave mansions.

Cyan Feather Mountain was the property of the Court, so its administrator also held an Official Position. He was a Fifth Grade official known as the Dean of Cyan Feather Mountain.

The Dean’s surname was Liu. This Liu Siye, without even waiting for Yun Chong to arrive, immediately offered to rent a Celestial Level Cave Mansion to Song Ciwan.

The rental price for a Celestial Level Cave Mansion was two hundred Primordial Pearls per day. Liu Siye took the initiative to give Song Ciwan a fifty-percent discount, meaning she could rent it for one hundred Primordial Pearls per day.

This was still an astronomical price. After all, when Cultivators entered seclusion, it was often for months or even years at a time. One hundred Primordial Pearls a day might not sound like much, but that was three thousand a month, and thirty-six thousand a year. How was that not a lot?

For instance, the Demon Cultivator that Song Ciwan had accidentally killed earlier only had a little over thirteen thousand Primordial Pearls on him, not counting his various miscellaneous possessions.

At the original price, that Demon Cultivator could have only afforded to rent a Celestial Level Cave Mansion for a little over two months.

’So poor, just too poor!’

Song Ciwan gathered all her Primordial Pearls and found she had a total of 6,700. She paid three thousand upfront as rent for one month in the Celestial Level Cave Mansion.

Liu Siye accepted the payment with a beaming smile and invited Song Ciwan to ascend the mountain.

By the time Yun Chong finally arrived, Song Ciwan was already at the summit.

It wasn’t that Yun Chong was slow, or even that the Big White Goose was particularly fast. Rather, Song Ciwan had given her mount a little "help" during the flight.

Song Ciwan had deliberately put distance between herself and Yun Chong, precisely so she wouldn’t be caught.

This included the goose’s earlier fit of anger upon seeing the Flying Stream Treasure Vehicle, when it had taken off with Song Ciwan on its own initiative. It might have seemed like the goose was acting on an impulsive whim, but in reality, without Song Ciwan’s tacit approval, how could it possibly have flown away?

Song Ciwan had no intention of using the cave mansions rented by Prince Yun’s Mansion. There was no need to owe them such a favor.