Chapter 105: Vast Sea Immortal City

After days of secluded meditation, Qin Ming emerged from his cave dwelling, hands clasped behind his back, feeling relaxed. Outside, the world was a vast expanse of white. The surface of Moon-Gazing Lake was wreathed in thin, rising mist, draped in a hazy veil that lent it an ethereal, immortal quality. With the sky clearing after the snowfall, the island’s main peak presented a breathtaking scene of white snow, frost-covered pines, a sea of clouds, and the rising sun all at once. The winter landscape of Moon-Gazing Island, wrapped in silver, shimmered like a fairyland.

Qin Ming strolled out, checking on his spirit plants along the way. His natal spirit plant, the Longevity Vine, stood like a towering giant amidst the ice and snow, its branches coated in a thick layer of frost. He then continued his descent. No sooner had he deactivated the protective formation than Wu Jiang and Mu Ruyin approached, each cradling an infant. Both of their faces were radiant with joy.

"Fellow Daoist Qin," Wu Jiang beamed as he held his child, "a few days ago, Ruyin gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl! Heh heh!"

"I saw you were in seclusion, so I didn't dare disturb you. But seeing you emerge today, I had to come and share the good news!"

Wu Jiang spoke with a touch of proud, smug satisfaction. Beside him, the sweet-faced Mu Ruyin carried the soft, maternal glow of new motherhood. She stepped forward with a smile and offered a graceful bow to Qin Ming.

Upon hearing the news, Qin Ming remained outwardly calm, though his heart stirred with surprise. *Good heavens, this guy is really something! A single shot and he hits the mark—and with twins, no less?*

Qin Ming took the infant from Wu Jiang's arms and lightly probed its bone structure with his divine sense. The discovery left him even more shocked. "A water-wood dual-attribute spirit root!"

He then took the baby girl from Mu Ruyin and examined her as well. "A wood-fire-earth triple-spirit root, but she possesses a Gui-Water Spirit Physique!"

Qin Ming was speechless for a long moment. How could he encounter such rare odds all at once? One had to understand that a dual-attribute spirit root, even in a major sect, was considered top-tier talent, deserving of priority resources and focused cultivation. The thought brought a pang of bitterness as he remembered his own mediocre four-attribute pseudo-spirit root. *Sigh, the gap is real. It’s depressing to compare oneself to others. But at least I have the Longevity Vine, and my acquired spirit physique is nearing completion.*

Qin Ming was genuinely happy for the couple and immediately took a pair of spirit jade pendants from his storage pouch as a congratulatory gift. The jade possessed properties to calm the mind and soothe the spirit, making it a rare treasure.

"Fellow Daoist Qin, these children were born on Moon-Gazing Island and haven't been named yet," Wu Jiang said expectantly. "Since you are the Island Master, would you mind helping us choose names?"

Qin Ming felt a bead of sweat roll down his forehead; he was truly hopeless at naming things. However, seeing Wu Jiang’s joy, he didn't want to dampen the mood. After some thought, he said with a serious expression, "In that case, let the girl be named Wu Wangyue, and the boy, Wu Wangfeng."

Wu Jiang and Mu Ruyin exchanged a glance, then thanked Qin Ming with delight. "These are wonderful names! And they have deep meaning."

Qin Ming waved his hand, telling them it was unnecessary. Over the past two years, Wu Jiang had been diligent in his farming on the island, showing rapid progress. He could now proficiently cultivate Golden Spirit Rice, and his Spirit Rain Technique had reached the intermediate level—all of which Qin Ming had observed, though he had never offered personal guidance.

After exchanging pleasantries, Qin Ming said, "Fellow Daoist Wu, I need to make a trip to the Canghai Immortal City. I'll have to trouble you to look after the island while I'm away."

Wu Jiang nodded readily. "Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Qin. With me here, everything will be well."

...

A day and a half later, Qin Ming soared through the sky towards the southwest, piloting his spirit-light shuttle at maximum speed. Before long, a massive, imposing city backed by the Beast-Cry Mountain Range loomed larger in his vision.

This was the holy land for rogue cultivators: Canghai Immortal City. Under the glow of the setting sun, the entire city radiated a five-colored haze, brimming with immortal aura. Within the city walls, a no-fly formation was in effect, prohibiting cultivators from taking to the air. The city was built around the third-rank spirit vein of "Canghai Peak," with walls expanding in concentric circles from the center. The core, Canghai Peak, boasted a high-grade third-rank spirit vein environment—a zone exclusive to Golden Core masters.

At the city gates, the flow of cultivators was like a surging tide. In the sky nearby, a kaleidoscope of cultivators could be seen—some piloting magical artifacts, others riding spirit beasts or traveling in ornate carriages—creating a dazzling display of light and the constant sound of wind being split. It was like a magnificent, fantastical world of immortals.

Qin Ming landed at the gate and obediently joined the back of the queue. He looked up at the vast, towering Canghai Peak in the center, an indescribable pressure washing over him. The entire city was shielded by a third-rank forbidden array, shimmering with blue ripples where countless runes flickered and faded. This array, anchored by the high-grade third-rank spirit vein of Canghai Peak, was fused with heaven and earth, forming its own self-contained realm. An array of this scale, capable of protecting an entire city, was the kind of defense only a major sect could possess, holding myriad unfathomable powers. At this level, the Dao of Formations underwent a qualitative leap, though the resources required to sustain it were incomparable to ordinary arrays.

Two sticks of incense later, Qin Ming followed the crowd to the massive, ten-story-high gate. He registered his identity, paid the spirit stone fee, and received an identification badge. Having a clean background—not being a fugitive or a demonic cultivator—he entered without a hitch.

Qin Ming stepped into the outermost district of Canghai Immortal City: the Outer City. Even here, the density of shops and streets made it far more prosperous than the average marketplace. The Outer City possessed a high-grade first-rank spirit vein environment, which was superior to many of the islands in the Spirit-Perch Archipelago. It was populated primarily by low-level rogue cultivators, and dominated by inns, courier stations, and small shops.

Following his map, Qin Ming made his way into the Inner City. Here, the environment enjoyed second-rank spirit veins, ranging from low to high grade depending on the area. This was home to major trading firms, luxury residences, and auction houses. As for the central "Canghai Peak," only a small portion was open to the public.

Walking along the main thoroughfare of the Inner City, Qin Ming navigated several turns until he reached a core district. The second-rank spirit vein here was significantly stronger than that of his own Moon-Gazing Island. Luxurious shops lined the streets one after another.

The Mirror-Snow Pavilion was considered a major power within the city. Gu Qingzhao had mentioned that her shop was located in the Inner City. Following the directions, Qin Ming arrived before a familiar nine-story building, marked by a massive plaque reading "Mirror-Snow Pavilion."

To his surprise, the entrance of the pavilion was decorated with a touch of grandeur today. From a distance, Qin Ming saw an elegant lady in plain clothes stepping out of the shop to greet him personally.

"Welcome to Canghai Immortal City, Fellow Daoist Qin."