Exploring Immortality Cultivation-Chapter 916 - 2: Strange Phenomena Witnessed Overseas
[Alliance Hierarch Bonus Update 1/5]
Within the Phoenix Tomb, at the time of an unknown question and answer session, a small skiff gently collided with Spirit Phoenix Island, making a dull 'thud' sound.
The most malevolent biological weapon in Shenzhou's history had thus reached the pristine Ancient Method Immortal Sect.
Wang Qi, going by the alias "Xia Li," jumped off the skiff, shielding his eyes with his hand as he gazed into the distance against the sunlight: "So this is the location of the Ancient Method Immortal Sect, what a sight of an Immortal... well... Immortal... scenery..."
Wang Qi couldn't finish his sentence.
The island was indeed large enough, with a straight coastline, and no sense of curvature. Looking to the horizon didn't reveal the other side. It seemed capable of supporting a population of several million.
However... however...
The things on this island were really quite unsightly.
On this island, it's either sparse vegetation or low shacks. These shacks were built with adobe bricks, a few with red bricks, generally not tall, only reaching Wang Qi's shoulder, but these shacks were arranged densely packed. In many places, clothes could only be dried on top of the shacks.
Upon closer inspection, those clothes were merely the coarsest brown linen.
Neither washed nor dyed.
Years ago, the residents of Shenzhou Continent had stopped wearing clothing made from such material.
Then, Wang Qi's nose faintly caught a strange odor.
He could immediately guess what that smell was.
Does anyone think the Ancient Method Immortal Dao would construct a perfect drainage system for such a residential area?
No sewer, and when people need to relieve themselves, if they can't do it at home, they may not have time to reach a toilet or the seaside…
Wang Qi shook his head.
Those shacks, fields, the drying flax, made this good little island resemble a ragged cloth covered with countless patches of different colors.
Where were the promised rosy clouds, radiant spirit lights, dancing Immortal birds, and auspicious beasts? 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞
This is... the living conditions here in the remote mountain villages of Shenzhou, at most?
"This is merely where the mortals live. Let's go, to our Immortal Sect, 'Junior Brother Xia'."
Lian Xinjie cast a deep glance at Wang Qi, seemingly a silent warning not to ask more or show too much curiosity. Wang Qi turned to help Mi off the boat. Senior Sister Mi's current body was just an ordinary child, with only a trace of mana at the Qi Cultivation Stage, unable to fly independently.
Wang Qi carried Mi, and with Lian Xingling and Lian Xinjie, they used their Escape Light to sweep over the island, which looked worse than a slum.
Yet, with Wang Qi's strong dynamic vision, he could perceive many things.
Firstly, the streets here—if the paths between those shacks could be called 'streets'—appeared very dirty. Many people labored in the fields. However, the crops looked quite pitiable, and in Wang Qi's opinion, all these farmlands were 'poor harvests.'
A group of women was digging for shells and collecting seaweed during the low tide along the coast. However, probably due to years of harvesting, the shells and seaweed here were not plentiful.
The few trees were at the south of the island. In those woods, many people were climbing trees, seemingly collecting something. Among them, Wang Qi noticed someone secretly gnawing at the tree bark. But that person gnawing the bark was soon held down and beaten.
In the southwest of the island, there was a small fishing port. There were a few fishing boats, but not many. One fishing boat seemed to have just returned, surrounded by a group of old, weak, women, and children. The crew of those fishing boats were distributing the caught sea fish. Regardless of gender or age, everyone who received the fish immediately ate it raw and bloody.
Just as he had expected, all the people here were gaunt, with little flesh on their bones.
"Do you raise mortals to inherit the sect?" Wang Qi couldn't help but ask, "Do you really think talents could arise this way?"
Talents in cultivation, at the very least, must be healthy and have abundant vital energy. Only with a strong physical constitution can the soul be powerful, and the meridians strong.
If they can't fill their bellies, even the best talent cannot be realized.
Lian Xingling glanced at Wang Qi, while Lian Xinjie quietly explained: "The Emperor's benevolence has long proclaimed the spell for Qi Cultivation eight hundred years ago, allowing these mortals to learn on their own. Here, everyone has a merit to train. If talented, they can naturally till more land and fish at sea; they won't lack food and clothing. Additionally, they can use True Qi to heat food, consuming warm meals without need for firewood. Those who eat raw meat and drink blood are the ones with poor talent and diligence."
The ring where Zhen Chan resided had long been placed by Wang Qi into a specially made sword box, stored in a custom storage bag, unable to sense the outside world, only communicating with Wang Qi through a unique secret technique, observing the outside world through Wang Qi's eyes. He snorted: "In just over two thousand years, this place at most produces a few Nascent Soul cultivators of humble origin. Above Divine Separation, most are residues from an earlier time. They surely don't rely on these mortals to inherit the sect, just for appearances."
"Even if they refine a Spirit Body, they won't be as well-fed and clothed as non-cultivators in Shenzhou," Wang Qi suppressed his amazement, gazing at the shanty towns below, muttering: "Livestock."
These people, they are living like livestock.
Oh, no. Even on the Shenzhou Continent, livestock can eat and drink well. Except for not having to suffer the knife's edge, these people's living conditions are even worse than livestock.
Soon, Wang Qi followed the Lian siblings to a pit entrance. There was a spirit prohibition guarding the entrance. Lian Xinjie looked at the spirit prohibition, filled with emotions.
Behind this spirit prohibition lies one of the three entrances leading underground to Spirit Phoenix Island, where the true location of the Ancient Method Immortal Sect lies.
When he last left, he was a genius of the Ancient Method eager to make his mark here. Returning now, he had become an undercover agent under the control of the Modern Cultivators.
Life's encounters are really hard to explain.
No matter how emotional he was, he didn't dare show the slightest bit here. The reputation of the Holy Emperor Venerable was too overwhelming. After witnessing Mei Gemu's miraculous three steps Foundation Establishment and instantaneous Core Formation, the siblings dared not show any negligence towards the term "Banished Immortal".
In an instant, he unlocked the spirit prohibition and brought Wang Qi inside.
"Junior Brother Xia, it's your first time here, make sure to remember the spell I just used," Lian Xinjie said calmly.
Wang Qi nodded, not speaking.
"Silent", was part of "Xia Li"'s character setup. After all, the more you talk, the more likely you are to make mistakes.
Lian Xinjie and Lian Xingling led Wang Qi down the passageway.
To Wang Qi, it seemed they walked down several tens of feet. Then, his view suddenly opened up.
The first thing that caught his eye was the magnificent golden city at the center of the underground city. A building every five steps, a pavilion every ten, with towering eaves intertwining, like an imperial city, it seemed to exude a celestial grandeur that was indescribable.
"Like a nouveau riche..." Zhen Chan snorted softly. He was very familiar with this style.
During the journey here, Wang Qi had done his homework, so he naturally knew what this place was.
The Forbidden City Phoenix Tomb, the current sect location of the Emperor's Extreme Split Sky Dao.
"The ultimate goal this time is there, right..."
Wang Qi lowered his eyelids, hiding the sharpness in his eyes.
The Forbidden City, the Phoenix Tomb of the Emperor's Extreme Split Sky Dao, was at the highest point of this underground Immortal City. The tallest pavilion there reached straight up to the dome, above which, whether by some glowing stones or minerals, was as bright as daylight. From afar, the Phoenix Tomb of this underground city seemed to have a sky-reaching momentum.
Around the Phoenix Tomb were other sects.
This underground city didn't look very large, yet it was divided by over a dozen buildings of different styles into distinct areas, like a bunch of different developers gathering together to build small districts, giving off a somewhat disjointed feeling.
This underground Immortal Sect has been filled by more than a dozen sects, and if one were to fly with Escape Light, they could easily stray into another sect's territory. If by mistake they intrude into a forbidden area of another sect, it wouldn't be unjust if they were to die as a result. Fortunately, there is a not too wide or narrow road between the sects for people to walk on. It's about wide enough for two carriages to run side by side—approximately the width of a one-way street on Earth. There are very few people walking on these roads.
Wang Qi was leading Mi, and along with the Lian siblings, they headed towards Luochen Sword Palace.
But as they walked, Wang Qi felt something was amiss.
Along the way, it seemed that there were always people peering maliciously at Lian Xingling and Lian Xinjie, and even other Golden Core Stage individuals were pointing at them behind their backs.
—What's going on? Aren't they both formidable Golden Core Stage cultivators? How could any Tom, Dick, or Harry dare to show them an attitude?
Soon, he got his answer.
"Yo! Isn't this Brother Lian Xinjie? You actually dare to come back?"
Wang Qi looked in the direction of the voice, only to see a group approaching, surrounding a young man in luxurious clothing as if he were the center of attention.
Zhen Chan, unable to extend his Spiritual Sense, relied on Wang Qi's senses to find some clues from the youth's actions: "This guy is a disciple of the Heavenly Book Tower."
Frowning, Lian Xinjie shouted, "Jia Chenglie, what do you mean by this?"
This Jia Chenglie was also a Golden Core Cultivator, one of the brightest disciples of the Heavenly Book Tower. The Heavenly Book Tower was a lackey of the Emperor's Extreme Split Sky Dao, while Luochen Sword Palace, suffering from the Emperor's Extreme Split Sky Dao's oppression, didn't share a harmonious relationship with them. Lian Xinjie and Jia Chenglie had clashed several times in the past.
"What do I mean?" Jia Chenglie took out a folding fan, shook it, and smiled slightly, "Wouldn't you both know what that old dog Lian Yichen did? That old dog betrayed our Righteous Law Immortal Path not long ago. Brother Lian, you tell me, coming back isn't just the audacity of a reckless dog, what else could it be?"
"You… how insolent!" Lian Xingling turned livid, drawing the sword she carried, pointing it at him, shouting, "Take back what you just said immediately, or I'll make you pay!"
