Chapter 113: A Dazzling Array

Upon arriving at Huanglong Spiritual City, Xu Xuan finally grasped the insignificance and ignorance of his sixteen past years. Perhaps only now did he truly come into contact with the vast and magnificent world of cultivation.

“Heh, it seems you have stepped into the genuine realm of cultivation,” remarked his lingering spirit from a past life, quickly analyzing the scale of the city. “Beneath this spiritual city lies a spiritual vein stretching twenty miles, capable of sustaining an area with a radius of two hundred miles. Even the outer limits of this city rival the spiritual energy environment of the inner gates of Star Feather Mountain.”

“A spiritual vein spanning twenty miles?” Xu Xuan muttered to himself in astonishment. He knew that the spiritual vein dominating Pinghua Town was merely a miniature one, less than a mile in scale, supporting at most a ten-mile radius for residents.

Of course, the grade of a spiritual vein, a vital resource in the cultivation world, is not measured solely by size. Yet Huanglong City’s vein, in both scale and quality, far surpasses Pinghua Town’s and even overshadows Star Feather Mountain.

A prime spiritual vein can nurture a multitude of lifeforms; thus, the cultivation prosperity of Huanglong City eclipses nearby villages and towns.

“I once heard from an elder brother in my sect that over ninety percent of powerful cultivators within three thousand miles gather here in Huanglong Spiritual City. I was skeptical then, but now I see it’s no exaggeration,” Xu Xuan breathed deeply, overwhelmed with emotion.

Huanglong City was the focal point where a dozen small towns and numerous sects and clans within a three-thousand-mile radius intersected and extended their influence.

At this moment, the intangible spiritual pressure emanating from the vast city grew stronger and clearer. This oppressive force was a grand momentum, amalgamated from the city itself, its spiritual vein, protective formations, and countless cultivators.

Soon, Xu Xuan merged into the crowd before the city gates. Most of those coming and going were Qi Refining Immortals or at least mortal cultivators above the fifth or sixth level of Body Refinement.

The city gates soared twenty to thirty meters high, and near the entrance sat twenty Qi Refining Immortals on guard, none below the third level of Qi Refinement.

A Qi Refining Immortal youth, at the fifth level, was riding a flying artifact, attempting to cross the city gate.

“Pang!” As soon as he brushed against the yellow-glowing boundary light surrounding Huanglong City, a flash of light surged through him, and he trembled violently, falling from midair in a pitiful heap, dazed and disoriented.

This scene drew hearty laughter from the law enforcement Immortals stationed at the gate.

“Where did this bumpkin come from? If you haven’t reached the Spirit Refining stage, it’s better to obediently pay your spiritual stones here,” one of the law enforcers scolded coldly, disdain flashing in his eyes.

Xu Xuan looked ahead and saw that all cultivators entering the city received a small token from the law enforcers before passing through.

When it was his turn, Xu Xuan approached a long iron table where two law enforcers—a man and a woman dressed in official robes—sat.

“How many days will you stay in Huanglong City? Which sect or clan do you come from?” the male enforcer asked indifferently.

“One day. Wind Feather Sect,” Xu Xuan replied succinctly.

“Please pay ten substandard spiritual stones,” the female enforcer said with a gentle smile, producing a token.

Ten substandard spiritual stones?

Xu Xuan was stunned. That was a hefty sum—equivalent to a common mortal’s annual income.

The male enforcer impatiently explained, “To reside in Huanglong City, one must pay one substandard spiritual stone daily. This token itself requires ten stones as collateral. Unless you are a city resident, no stones are needed.”

Xu Xuan understood, took out ten substandard stones from his storage pouch, received the token, and entered the city.

The small token in his hand felt neither like jade nor wood but bore a peculiar binding. Xu Xuan vaguely sensed a strange pulse within it, subtly resonating with the immense city’s aura enveloping Huanglong City.

He guessed that if an outsider’s stay exceeded the stones paid for, this resonance would alert the law enforcers, who would then expel the trespasser.

Upon entering Huanglong Spiritual City, Xu Xuan saw a broad bluestone avenue ten yards wide, flanked by rows of spiritual towers and pavilions. Most buildings were constructed from materials unique to the cultivation world—hard and imbued with spiritual properties.

Along the street stood many shops and towers: treasure stores, scroll pavilions, tool shops, spirit material stores, and spirit beast shops, each marked by signs glowing with spiritual light. Occasionally, beams of treasure light streaked through the sky, and flying spirit beasts roared and screeched overhead.

In addition, some cultivators set up street stalls, displaying scattered treasures, materials, jade slips, and more, freely trading with others according to their needs.

Walking amid the bustling crowd under the twilight glow, Xu Xuan’s eyes were dazzled. Just these shops numbered no less than a hundred, covering myriad aspects of the cultivation world, each with untold knowledge behind it.

Just as he was feeling overwhelmed and somewhat lost, a youth with delicate features approached him with a bright and eager expression.

“Esteemed Immortal, is this your first time in Huanglong City? I am a local resident and can guide you according to your needs, introducing the major shops in the city…” he said earnestly.

“Guide me?” Xu Xuan looked at the youth with interest and said casually, “There’s no such thing as a free meal in this world, right?”

The youth’s eyes lit up instantly. “You may call me Xiao Fei. The guiding fee is a minimum of ten spirit yuan coins, but if you find my service satisfying, you may give a tip. I guarantee your satisfaction.”

“Alright, Xiao Fei. Here is a spiritual stone. If you can make this trip worthwhile, I will reward you accordingly,” Xu Xuan smiled slightly and handed over a substandard spiritual stone.

“May I ask your honorable surname?” Xiao Fei asked with a hint of joy as he accepted the stone, his demeanor becoming more respectful.

“My surname is Xu.”

“Very well, Immortal Xu, please tell me what you need, and I will guide you,” Xiao Fei bowed slightly and raised his hand.

Xu Xuan paused thoughtfully, then smiled. “I need quite a few things, mostly various materials. But first, take me around the city to get acquainted.”

“Certainly,” Xiao Fei replied.

The youth led Xu Xuan along with the crowd into the depths of Huanglong City, giving him a quick tour to understand the city’s layout.

“There are dozens of clans and several sects in Huanglong City. The nominal highest authority is the ‘Lord of the Spiritual City.’ Currently, the two most powerful clans are the Dongfang family and the Zhang family, who stand on equal footing and dominate the city’s governance. The commercial market covers about twenty miles and caters to all groups within the cultivation world. Besides the market center, the city also has academies, the city government office, granaries, core forbidden areas, and other regions controlled by powerful clans—no outsiders are permitted entry there.”

Xu Xuan nodded frequently as the youth spoke; the city’s overall situation matched his expectations.

Compared to Pinghua Town where he had lived, which was merely a microcosm of this place, Huanglong City was vastly larger and had a more complex power distribution.

This was Xu Xuan’s first visit to Huanglong City, and time was limited, so he could only stroll through the commercial market area.

Deeper into the market, the crowd thickened. In addition to numerous shops and towers, small spirit houses and spirit boats floated in midair, emitting a faint glow. Occasionally, cultivators would enter them for transactions.

“Among the market’s larger shops, the top ten are usually backed by major city powers or mysterious origins. These shops sell various items and resources at slightly higher prices but maintain a certain reputation,” Xiao Fei explained, pointing to the floating trading houses overhead.

Just then, a Spirit Refining stage Immortal flew into one of the floating pavilions, vanishing instantly, causing many below to look on with envy and reverence.

After walking for a while, they arrived at a crowded street packed with countless trading stalls stretching to the horizon.

“This is the Free Market. Any cultivator who pays the required spiritual stones can rent an empty stall to sell their goods,” Xiao Fei briefly explained.

“Heh, this is quite interesting,” Xu Xuan said, watching buyers and sellers haggle, argue, and laugh amid the lively bustle.

“Top-quality spiritual grains, plump and smooth in taste, reasonably priced, honest to all ages.”

“Flying artifact, ninety percent new, stable flight, negotiable.”

“Selling a spiritual tower in the city, only one hundred thousand spirit yuan coins.”

The shouts of vendors echoed everywhere.

“Immortal Xu, the goods traded in the Free Market are quite messy and generally low-grade, but their prices are cheaper than those in large shops. If you have a discerning eye, you might find some treasures here. Half a month ago, a Spirit Refining Immortal bought a broken jade for a few thousand spirit yuan coins, only to discover it was a rare Spiritual Communication Jade, which was resold for over ten thousand spiritual stones,” Xiao Fei said excitedly, painting a vivid picture.

Treasure hunting?

Xu Xuan’s interest piqued immediately, though he doubted his own mere fifth-level Qi Refinement cultivation was sharp enough to spot such treasures. Many experienced elder cultivators and even occasional Spirit Refining Immortals came here to hunt for treasures.

Perhaps... the spirit lingering in his mind could try.

“What now?” came the lazy voice of his past-life spirit.

“Heh, this is the Free Market in the city. They say it’s possible to find treasures here,” Xu Xuan replied with some hope.

“Finding treasures here is like looking for a needle in a haystack,” the spirit scoffed.

“True,” Xu Xuan nodded. Luck might be on his side, but it might not.

“However, I can attempt to use a spiritual soul secret technique to sense unknown treasures in this area. But in doing so, my soul energy will greatly deplete, and I will have to rest for at least half a month afterward,” the spirit suddenly added.

“Such a secret technique exists? That’s wonderful!” Xu Xuan said joyfully.

“Hmph, it depends on your luck. If the Free Market is full of junk, even if the technique works, I’ll just be forced to sleep for another half month in vain.”

The spirit dismissed the idea.

Full of junk?

Xu Xuan glanced over the Free Market, where at least a thousand stalls displayed countless dazzling items. If all were junk, who would dare to trade here?

“Try it, then. It’s not easy to come all the way to Huanglong City,” Xu Xuan said eagerly, filled with anticipation.