Swallowed Star 2: Origin Continent-Chapter 276 : Customs of Rainlan City

Chapter 276: Customs of Rainlan City

The residence that Emperor Qing had rented was located in the inner city of Rainlan City. From the outside, it looked rather ordinary, but once inside, the space was magnified ten thousandfold or more.

Luo Feng and the other three entered together.

“I’ll divide the space first,” said Emperor Qing. At the same time, the vast internal space was naturally divided—two small spaces split off in the corners, a central public courtyard was left in the middle, and the remaining area was split into two halves.

“You can decide for yourselves how to build your internal spaces,” Emperor Qing added.

“I’ll take the left one.”

“Then I’ll take the right.” Emperor Ming and Emperor Fu didn’t voice any objections and each chose one of the small corner spaces.

There were no fees, and they were able to follow Emperor Qing and Luo He—this already counted as shelter. What more could they ask for? They were well aware… without Emperor Qing and Luo He, surviving in this city would have been a hundred or even a thousand times more difficult.

“I’ll send you detailed intelligence on Rainlan City. Study it well,” Emperor Qing said, then walked alone toward his designated space.

Emperor Ming, Emperor Fu, and Luo Feng each entered their respective spaces.

“Not a bad place to live.” Emperor Ming felt the speed of energy absorption and remarked, “This absorption rate is about thirty percent of my maximum speed! Not bad at all. My strength has already hit a bottleneck, and my energy needs are low anyway.”

Usually, only during rapid growth stages would one absorb energy at the highest rate. Once reaching the limit, only minimal energy was needed to maintain survival.

…

“Quite a large space,” Luo Feng said, looking around the empty area. With a single thought, energy converged naturally, and various pavilions and halls began to form—wine pavilion, quiet chamber, guest reception hall, and many others.

He then took a step to the highest tower, cheerfully pulled out a pot of wine, drinking while studying the intelligence on Rainlan City.

“Rainlan City is self-governed by cultivators.”

“It is ruled by the Elder Hall, which currently has three Hall Masters and 327 Elders.”

“So long as one reaches the realm of ‘Late-Stage God Emperor Seeker’ or possesses ‘Half-Primordial Level Combat Strength’, they can apply to become an Elder. Once one can activate part of Rainlan City’s defense systems, they can be granted Elder status. Those who can control a high portion may even become a Hall Master.”

Luo Feng examined the information closely.

Every Elder had to contribute to strengthening Rainlan City’s defenses!

“The Elder Hall is truly making sacrifices,” Luo Feng muttered, reading further into the details.

Once someone became a member of the Elder Hall, they had to reside permanently in Rainlan City! Only then could they guarantee the city's defense. They weren’t allowed to leave the city at all.

And yet, all Elder Hall members had the strength to go to the Dark Holy Realm!

Any Half-Primordial powerhouse naturally yearned to break free from the Caged World. The Dark Holy Realm held far more chances for such breakthroughs! Yet these Elder Hall members remained in the Jiugang Holy Realm—many never stepping outside Rainlan City.

“So, those who can become members of the Elder Hall usually have clones. Only one clone stays here. The others have already gone to the Dark Holy Realm,” Luo Feng speculated.

“Having clones also implies something else—the core ruling body of Rainlan City, the Elder Hall, likely consists of cultivators from the Source World.” 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Luo Feng deduced many things.

Among the countless worlds, those without clones—even if powerful—were rarely willing to stay in the Jiugang Holy Realm indefinitely.

“To live in Rainlan City, cultivators must pay 1 Primordial Crystal every Era. And they must also rent a place to stay—the entire city only allows rental,” Luo Feng understood.

These fees formed the official income of Rainlan City.

They had to support a group of law-enforcing cultivators! They had to maintain the city’s protective systems! Only the remainder would be distributed among the three Hall Masters and 327 Elders. The revenue must be high enough to keep these powerhouses leaving their clones here long-term.

“God Emperor-level and below make up the majority in Rainlan City—over several hundred million.”

“There are several million God Emperors.”

Luo Feng studied the intelligence.

Those of the Seeker branch—if they comprehended a complete Origin Path—didn’t find it too difficult to become God Emperors.

But for those relying on bloodlines, though they seemed to grow easily, their growth potential was limited by their bloodline! If the bloodline wasn’t strong enough, they might forever be stuck at the Ultimate Divine King level.

“There’s an intel organization in Rainlan City that sells information on all the God Emperors. This intel costs 10,000 Primordial Crystals?” Luo Feng’s face shifted. He couldn’t afford it.

And the information wouldn’t be complete either.

For instance, Luo Feng had just arrived in Rainlan City. Naturally, there would be no detailed record of him in the outside world.

“Brother Luo He.” Emperor Qing’s voice echoed from afar—he had come to the entrance of Luo Feng’s space.

“Brother Emperor Qing.” Luo Feng immediately opened the entrance.

“The intelligence on all God Emperors in Rainlan City is quite expensive, isn’t it?” Emperor Qing walked over with a smile. “But even at best, it only covers around ninety percent of the God Emperors. There are always some who break through in secret and don’t expose themselves, so it’s hard to know anything about them.”

“Even the intelligence sold only includes what can be detected. Many God Emperors have hidden means,” Emperor Qing said. “Still, for now, you can delay buying it. But eventually, you’ll want a copy.”

“Only by purchasing the intelligence will you know how many terrifying figures are hiding in Rainlan City. You’ll know whom not to offend,” Emperor Qing advised.

Luo Feng nodded in understanding.

“This intel is expensive, and it contains a mind-seal technique that prohibits distribution,” Emperor Qing said. “So I can’t share it with you.”

Luo Feng understood as well. Gathering intelligence on so many God Emperors was extremely difficult. If they sold just a few copies and word spread across the city, the organization would be ruined.

“Rainlan City has an abundance of commercial resources,” said Emperor Qing. “Here, everything revolves around Primordial Crystals.”

“I’ll lend you 100,000 Primordial Crystals. Pay me back after we go hunting.” With a wave of his hand, a massive pile of glittering crystals landed beside them.

Luo Feng was genuinely moved by the gesture.

Letting him live in the cave dwelling for free—giving him half the space. In terms of value, half the rent for a thousand Eras alone would be 50,000 Primordial Crystals! It was essentially a gift.

And now this loan! Luo Feng had just arrived in Rainlan City and was truly at his poorest.

“Thank you, Brother Emperor Qing,” Luo Feng said simply.

“When we first came to the Jiugang Holy Realm, it was also the time we needed Primordial Crystals the most. With them, we can buy resources and use those to strengthen ourselves,” Emperor Qing smiled.

“Oh right—when you go out to buy things, remember one thing.” Suddenly, Emperor Qing’s tone turned serious. “Always carry fewer Primordial Crystals. In Rainlan City, so long as there’s enough temptation, murder, robbery, theft—anything can happen. Even if you have life-saving means, if your treasures are stolen, that’s still a huge loss.”

“I understand,” Luo Feng nodded.

Emperor Qing’s intelligence packet had explained this in detail.

Murder and robbery occurred occasionally, but theft and fraud—because they didn’t involve lives—were punished lightly by the authorities, and thus were far more common.

“If a small amount gets stolen, just consider it tuition,” Emperor Qing sighed. “The theft methods in Rainlan City are wildly diverse. You’ll see cultivation techniques you’ve never imagined.”

Luo Feng nodded slightly.

…

After becoming familiar with the intel, Luo Feng left the cave dwelling alone, ready to explore the city of Rainlan, where he’d be rooted for a long time. Following Emperor Qing’s advice, he cautiously brought only 5,000 Primordial Crystals.

“I’ve got all five of my clones—no way I can’t protect this little amount.” Luo Feng was extremely careful. He brought no other treasures; the most valuable thing on him was those 5,000 Primordial Crystals.

When Luo Feng came to the Jiugang Holy Realm, his energy reserves equaled 1,200 times that of a Perfect Divine Body. He’d left very little energy back home on the Origin Continent, but since he was already invincible there, even the clones left behind had sufficient energy.

This 1,200 times energy reserve meant that his five clones together still had 200 times Perfect Divine Body energy, enough to maintain his peak power normally.

“Buzz.”

The moment Luo Feng stepped out of the cave dwelling—

Rainlan City’s multi-colored defense systems blanketed everything. These were all controlled by the three Hall Masters and 327 Elders of the Elder Hall. Invisible fluctuations swept through the city at regular intervals, and one such scan now passed over Luo Feng.

At the city’s core was a massive cave dwelling.

Deep within the cave—

A figure bathed in radiance sat there. His entire body seemed forged from light, his face expressionless.

At the center of his brow was a red rhomboid gem.

Inside the rhomboid gem, immense data was being processed.

The information of countless God Emperors within the city was being gathered.

“New arrival: Luo Feng. Residence: Inner City of Rainlan City, Tianshui District, Cave No. 99179. Strength: Suspected Early-Stage God Emperor. Residing with Emperor Qing. Suspected origin: same Source World.” One of the entries was about Luo Feng.

These pieces of data, as they were gathered, were also being shared with another mysterious existence.

…

Elsewhere in the inner city of Rainlan, a huge cave dwelling was occupied by a massive spherical creature.

The creature’s surface occasionally displayed countless faces—some wailing, some sleeping, some filled with hatred, others laughing maniacally. The sphere’s surface also had numerous holes.

From the dense array of holes, figures were constantly entering and exiting.

“Luo Feng, a new God Emperor? Sharing residence with Emperor Qing, huh? Doesn’t sound like someone poor.”

“Let’s give this newcomer a taste of Rainlan City’s customs.”

“He’s probably the typical Seeker-type. Let him experience the power of another system. Moyada, he’s yours.”

A command was swiftly issued.

Whoosh.

A short figure flew out from the many holes of the spherical creature.

“Newcomer, Early-Stage God Emperor?” The short figure let out a sinister chuckle. The organization had already locked onto Luo Feng. So long as he was in public areas, there was no way for Luo Feng to hide.

Whoosh—the short figure flew straight toward Luo Feng’s location.