Immortal Heaven Punk

Li Qi was completely baffled.

A world that encourages competition and slaughter, and places combat power at the top of its hierarchy, has actually become stagnant and isolated. In order to sever ties with the outside world, it has even wiped out everything within six billion light-years, creating a massive extraterrestrial void to prevent anyone from finding the Immortal Heaven.

Shouldn't we be rushing out and sweeping across the world? This is First Rank World, after all.

Contradictory, so contradictory.

With insufficient information and limited contact with only this small part of the mortal realm, we cannot truly grasp the full picture of the celestial realm. We should proceed into the city first, where we might be able to obtain more clues.

After obtaining clues in the city, they went to the True World and eventually made contact with the celestial beings who were at the highest level.

Li Qi has already made the arrangements.

So he said to Ju Ye, "The scenery outside the city is pretty much the same, nothing special. Let's go into the city and take a look."

"This..." Ju Ye hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Yes, please follow me, sir."

Li Qi knew why he hesitated: the expenses required for the two of them to enter the city would be enough to bankrupt him.

But Li Qi didn't say anything; he figured they'd go into the city first and talk about it later.

In the end, Ju Ye resigned herself to her fate, paid the money, and received a token representing her qualification to enter the city. Each of them received a token, and she led Li Qi into Bailu City.

"My lord... I've never been to this city before, so I'm afraid I can't be your guide," Ju Ye said before entering.

"It's alright, it's good to take a look together. Just introduce me to some local products, you should recognize them, right?" Li Qi said.

"I do know quite a few, but I'm afraid I can't afford them," Ju Ye said with a wry smile, making preparations for Li Qi in advance.

"Just look, there's no need to buy." Li Qi smiled and walked forward with Ju Ye.

Upon entering Bailu City, one can immediately sense a tremendous difference.

The city was clean and tidy, exuding an air of sophistication, with many well-dressed people riding magnificent mythical beasts. Every intersection had clear signs and elegant decorations, and even the air carried a faint scent of perfume. Armed guards patrolled the streets, maintaining the city's safety at all times.

Here, the number of Law Treasure has greatly increased. Of course, it can't compare to Human Path city, but it has its own unique charm.

However... Li Qi noticed that beneath this beautiful facade lay a large number of homeless people, many of whom were hidden in street corners and even deeper alleys.

Yes, they must have gotten into trouble outside and used all their savings to come here to hide from their enemies.

But the prices here are extremely high, and they simply don't have enough money to live on, so they can only wander here and dare not go out.

This situation obviously gave rise to a large number of 'servants'. Li Qi could see that almost every one of the big shots who were truly capable of living here was surrounded by a large number of servants.

After all, even those at the ninth rank don't actually Grain Avoidance; they still need to eat, otherwise they would starve to death.

Those cultivators who are weak in combat, have just broken through, or are hiding from enemies and cannot afford to spend more money, such as those at the ninth rank or those who are not even at the rank, have no other way to survive but to serve as lackeys for powerful figures.

That way, I can still make a living.

Li Qi nodded slightly. This did indeed match his impression and explained why the city didn't expel these people.

This is for the sake of a sense of superiority.

A sense of superiority comes from comparison.

If everyone in the city is a big shot, then it's as if no one else is a big shot, and the overall experience will be very poor.

Therefore, the Bailu City cleverly exploited this point, extorting all the money from those who came to seek refuge, and then letting them in, making them a source of superiority for the big shots. He could even exploit their labor, forcing them to provide cheap manpower and services for the big shots, thus forming the upper and lower classes of the city.

While observing these sights, Li Qi continued his tour of Bailu City, which spanned two thousand miles.

This tour lasted for three whole days. For three days, Li Qi walked around the city without sleep or rest.

He went to the upper echelons of the city, to the places frequented by important figures.

This place is truly clean and tidy, and even slaves appear respectable.

Here are brothels and entertainment venues, where highly skilled performers sing, dance, and play musical instruments at a very good level, pleasing the nobles.

There were also luxurious restaurants serving all kinds of delicacies, but Li Qi didn't have enough time, so he only looked around and didn't go in to taste them.

There are also various Law Treasure, clothing, and even some rare and precious items, which are also quite good.

Overall, while life in Bailu City was somewhat expensive for the upper class, the quality of life was absolutely guaranteed, making it well worth the price.

Because Li Qi had already learned that most of the mortal realm in the Immortal Heaven was desolate wilderness, and there were very few such bustling urban areas.

Maintaining a city requires extremely high costs and a large number of skilled individuals to maintain order; otherwise, it is easy to attract the attention of covetous bandits.

This is a huge piece of meat, and naturally many people will be eyeing it covetously. It can only be said that the Bailu City is extremely strong, so strong that ordinary opponents dare not covet it, which is why Bailu City can maintain its existence.

After examining the upper level, Li Qi went to observe the lower level.

The lower level was just as Li Qi had imagined.

This place is basically a slum.

No longer glamorous, the slum is now broken, fragmented, and chaotic, with its winding alleyways filled with disarray.

This place is teeming with outlaws, and if they aren't, they're not far off.

The rules of Bailu City forbid murders, but the area is not strictly controlled, so anyone is willing to risk their life for their next meal.

Life here, well... it's quite exciting. It's impossible for anyone living here to be bored, but it's likely to be short-lived, and very few people can live here for long.

They either died from oppression, couldn't bear it any longer and fled the city, or climbed the social ladder and became servants or henchmen of powerful figures outside.

There are many reasons why they have fallen to this state. They may have been defeated by their enemies, run out of ideas, or been swindled out of all their money. But no matter what, they are now penniless.

There are almost no ways to survive here, so people here will do anything to stay alive.

Stealing, robbing, cheating—anything is acceptable, even risking one's life for others.

When Li Qi was traveling here, he was robbed, but he easily slapped the Li Qi away. Ju Ye was shocked again, and Li Qi gained a certain degree of prestige, making some villains dare not approach him casually.

After all, information is bound to be readily available in such a place.

In addition, Li Qi also discovered that some big shots frequented the lower district. They didn't come in person, but Li Qi witnessed many of their lackeys coming here to recruit a group of low-life thugs or suicide assassins who valued money over their lives.

However, this place is not without order. In fact, gangs and sects rule this area, and there are powerful figures among them, but these powerful figures do not usually live here.

These powerful figures rule the lower districts, but they themselves live in the glamorous upper districts.

After touring the upper and lower levels, Li Qi finally understood what kind of place this so-called Bailu City really was.

This is fucking...

A fantasy/cyberpunk fantasy?

The upper and lower classes are clearly divided, with the upper class controlling everything. On the surface, they appear powerful and elegant, living a life of luxury and sunshine, and even having the opportunity to achieve immortality.

The lower class exists purely as appendages of the upper class. They are not even 'oppressed' because the upper class has no need for them at all. Powerful cultivators can easily sweep them out, since their only use to the big shots is to run errands or to gain a sense of superiority from them.

The upper and lower classes were unequal from the very beginning. This inequality was not caused by oppression and exploitation, but by the vast difference in power between the two sides.

For cultivators, equality is only based on power and productivity. The eighth rank is superior to the ninth rank and no rank in every way. The gap is enormous. Those below can only become vassals and have to actively curry favor with them. Otherwise, they will be kicked out and left with nothing but tears.

This isn't about the difference between bosses and employees. If all the employees resign at the same time, the boss will be left heartbroken, because the boss actually depends on the employees to keep the company afloat.

This is the difference between the small fish and shrimp around a dragon. A dragon can survive without fish and shrimp, but fish and shrimp would die without a dragon.

So even though the dragons often ate some, and occasionally accidentally killed a few groups, they dared not have any objections. They still had to rush up in groups, wishing they could get as close as possible.

This is a completely different dependency relationship.

Thinking this, Li Qi suddenly noticed that the Ju Ye next to him seemed a little wilted.

Huh? What's going on?

However, Li Qi glanced at it and immediately understood.

He hadn't slept or eaten for three days, and had been accompanying Li Qi around everywhere. He was exhausted.

Oh, having just broken through to the ninth rank, without Grain Avoidance or even the Daoist ninth-rank Golden Core cultivation method, it's natural that it won't last long.

But he still didn't raise any objections; clearly, that's just how the world is.

So Li Qi patted him, injecting a bit of life into him and temporarily boosting his spirits, and said, "Let's go, let's find a place to eat, let's go to that restaurant."

Li Qi pointed to a magnificent restaurant in the upper district. It was 600 feet tall and covered an area of four or five miles. Li Qi had observed it before and found that it was filled with all kinds of exotic beasts, beautiful women, and musicians, making it extremely luxurious.

Upon seeing the spot Li Qi pointed to, Ju Ye swallowed hard and said nervously, "Sir... I... I have no money left."

"Alright, it's on me. Let's go." Li Qi smiled and led the way.

At that moment, Ju Ye suddenly felt...

My body seems to be healing.

Although I was still very hungry, I felt more energetic.

Was it that shot just now?

Ju Ye touched her shoulder.

Such a vibrant atmosphere!

He was overjoyed.

Perhaps this is the first step in gaining the other person's trust? Then I might actually survive!

He still thinks he might be discarded after being used, after all... the strong people in this world are indeed not easy to get along with.

Now that the other party is willing to say this, and even willing to heal my wounds, does that mean I can really be their dog?

Ju Ye didn't find anything wrong with it.

To be a dog for a powerful being is the greatest honor, unlike some Wild Dog that run around without knowing who their master is, and can only fight and kill each other for food on the ground.

Dogs with owners never have to worry about food or clothing.

Moreover... the other party also promised to save his senior sister, so maybe the other party will really keep his promise?

Right?

Ju Ye thought this, she looked up and saw that Li Qi had already walked far away.

He quickly caught up with Li Qi.

Meanwhile, Li Qi entered the restaurant.

"Bring me one of each of your signature dishes, the ones you can really show off," Li Qi said as he walked in, found a table, and sat down.

The waiter was slightly surprised, because it was rare for someone to order food like that.

As a waiter here, he wasn't foolish enough to ask questions like "Can you afford it?" or "Can you finish it?" Everyone who came here was a big shot, and he couldn't see through the cultivation level of the person in front of him, so he just respectfully bowed his head and said, "In that case, the tables in the hall are probably not big enough. Please come to the rooftop room, sir."

"Okay, lead the way." Li Qi nodded, not refusing.

A waiter led the way, and Li Qi and his entourage boarded a large blue-green bird. On the bird's back was a pavilion, which served as the elevator.

The large bird slowly took off and, following the updraft, flew steadily all the way to the top of the restaurant.

Ju Ye were trembling with fear.

He had never been to a place like this before, and he had just discovered that the bird that was taking the elevator... had the same cultivation level as him. If it were outside, it would definitely be a ferocious beast that ruled over a region.

But here, it can only serve as an elevator for people.

Li Qi didn't think much of it. To be honest, he focused most of his energy on deducing the social structure of the Immortal Heaven and didn't care much about these trivial matters in the outside world.

This is the mindset of a high-level cultivator. Li Qi rarely pays attention to things outside himself now, after all, he has seen a lot of them. Most mortals are pretty much the same.

In Li Qi's eyes, the things they cared about and pursued seemed too insignificant, making it difficult for them to have a common language.

Human Path may care about the demands of ordinary people, as long as they meet the standards of Human Path, but Li Qi is used to going it alone, and the Shaman Path is not Dao Lineage that will save the common people everywhere.

Once on the rooftop, Li Qi sat down.

Immediately afterwards, a large amount of food was delivered.

Li Qi ordered many dishes.

Exotic beast meat, rare fish feast, never-before-seen plants, spiritual herbs, spices with special flavors, different fermentation methods, and all sorts of cooking techniques were laid out, totaling more than four hundred dishes.

As a foodie, Li Qi actually quite enjoys eating, but these are only ninth-grade, so he only tried them. To be honest, for the eighth and ninth grade level, they are quite good. Many of the spirit beasts are ones that Li Qi has never eaten before, and the taste is very exotic to Li Qi.

Meanwhile, Kikuchi was enjoying his meal immensely, while Li Qi only tasted a bite of each dish, leaving the rest for himself.

But...

Li Qi suddenly noticed that someone was staring at him.