Xiantian Seventh-Level Martial Artist [Chen Dengming] Lifespan: 82/135 Spiritual Roots: Metal, Wood (Low-grade 87/100) Martial Arts: Chen Family Martial Arts General Outline (Mastered 91/100) Dao Arts: Gu Refining Chapter (Proficient 0/100)
The wind howled past his ears. Chen Dengming feigned calm, not looking at the rapidly shifting scenery below or rashly admiring the graceful figure of the Female Cultivator Luo before him. With his eyes closed and mind focused, he examined the panel, which had undergone a slight change.
Ever since Fairy Lüo had tested his Spiritual Root Potential at the Ascension Convention, the panel had changed along with it. It now displayed his spiritual root attributes, and even showed values that seemed like skill proficiencies.
However, Chen Dengming reasoned that they probably weren't proficiencies, but rather an indication of his affinity for spiritual energy.
From what he could tell, his spiritual root affinity was indeed very high. It was among the highest for low-grade roots, close to mid-grade. Unfortunately, his roots were mutually conflicting—a nightmare wrapped in good fortune.
He could sum it up in one sentence: say his roots were poor, and he had the highest affinity among low-grade Dual Spirit Roots; say they were good, and he had the highest affinity among mutually conflicting Dual Spirit Roots.
Still, perhaps affinity could be raised, like one's skill in martial arts, gradually improving and changing his Spiritual Root Potential. He would have to try and see.
A full day had passed since the Ascension Convention ended.
After leaving Misty Cliff with the five Cultivators that day, he'd felt his vision flash bright, then dark, then bright again. It seemed that in the span of a single instant, he'd arrived in another unfamiliar place.
The bizarre sensation was just like controlling a character in a game and stepping into a teleportation array.
But experiencing it for real had been a unique feeling beyond words.
After traveling from the mortal realm of Nanxun Kingdom to the Cultivation World, Chen Dengming had clearly felt the change in his surroundings. The air he breathed seemed to contain an unusual energy, filling every cell in his body with vitality. His mind grew clear and his vision sharp, while the True Qi within him circulated faster, as though he'd been reborn. Even the Blood Centipede Gu nestled in his ear was excitedly twitching its antennae.
He knew that the energy in the air must be spiritual energy. He'd made the right choice.
Making his way from Nanxun Kingdom to the Cultivation World was like moving to a much larger platform, one rich in resources.
Now he was traveling aboard the Flying Artifact driven by Fairy Lüo, headed straight for the place she'd said would be his new home.
When their group of seven had left Nanxun Kingdom, they'd appeared on a cloud-shrouded platform much like Misty Cliff.
Then the five Cultivators had descended from the platform into a mountain, where they met several other Cultivators who seemed to be guarding a Formation. After what looked like an exchange of duties, the two groups went their separate ways.
The Cultivator surnamed He had taken Nangong Yun away, apparently to bring her into Moon Reflection Sect, where he served.
Chen Dengming had also learned who the other Cultivators belonged to: Hidden World Sect, Spirit Communication Sect, Red Cloud Gate, and Wonderful Sound Sect.
Fairy Lüo was from Wonderful Sound Sect. Judging by the way the other Cultivators treated her, she seemed to have quite the background.
By now, they'd been flying for nearly half a day.
Two great cities built against the mountains had come into view on the horizon, with a chaotic, bustling plain between them.
Chen Dengming had overcome his unease about the great height and had caught his breath. He was slowly getting used to it.
He had to admit that, even though he'd been used to flying on planes in his previous life and had even gone bungee jumping twice, and even though in this life he was an Xiantian Grandmaster with peerless lightness skills, being hundreds of meters in the air with nothing around him but a thin shield of spiritual light was still hard to get used to. Even with his strong nerves, this first experience of flying at such a height had been unnerving.
One slip, and he'd fall to his death, leaving not even a corpse behind.
Fairy Lüo's brows lifted slightly as she turned to look at Chen Dengming, who had his eyes closed behind her. She found him rather amusing, but maintained the dignified, untouchable air of an Immortal Master as she slowed their flight and said coolly,
"We've arrived. You still don't dare look down? When you had the nerve to make demands yesterday, you didn't seem so timid."
Chen Dengming opened his eyes.
Before him was a delicate, breathtakingly beautiful profile, its features fine and slender. A faint fragrance drifted toward him. A few strands of hair fluttered past his eyes, nearly brushing his face and making him itch. Her breath was sweet as an orchid, and he couldn't help feeling his heart stir.
Seeing Fairy Lüo's brows grow sharp, Chen Dengming answered solemnly, "It's simply my first time so high in the sky, and I'm not used to it. I expect I'll gradually adjust if I ever get the chance to use a Flying Artifact like this myself. I'm afraid I've made a fool of myself before you, Immortal Master."
Then he looked down at the two great cities in the distance and, fighting the faint dizziness of looking down from such a height, asked in surprise, "Are you planning to drop me off in one of those cities, Immortal Master?"
Fairy Lüo smiled faintly. "You're a mere mortal, yet you have quite the imagination.
"Those two Cultivation cities belong to the Zhu Family and the Luo Family, two Cultivation Families. Unless you've reached at least Qi Cultivation Fourth Level, you have no right to apply to live there.
"Even if you're strong enough, you still have to pay Spirit Stones or join one of the families before you're allowed to live in the city. You—"
She shot Chen Dengming a sidelong glance, then pointed a slender finger at the chaotic, bustling area between the two Cultivation Families.
"You can only stay there. It's a place where Rogue Cultivators have gathered because of the two Cultivation Families. It's quite lawless. There are Xiantian Martial Artists like you, as well as some low-level Rogue Cultivators.
"I can only bring you this far. Compared with the wilderness, the Rogue Cultivator Zone is still much safer, even if dangers remain. At least it isn't plagued by Demon Beasts."
"The Luo Family. Demon Beasts..."
Chen Dengming made a few connections in his mind, but listened quietly throughout. Even though he found her remark about a "mere mortal" rather grating, as if she were looking down on him, he didn't get angry. She was stating a fact.
Anger without strength was just impotent rage.
Knowing his own limits was what allowed him to stay calm and make the right choices.
"I see."
Chen Dengming nodded slightly and cupped his fists toward Fairy Lüo. "Then please set me down in the Rogue Cultivator Zone over there, Immortal Master. Thank you for guiding me along the Immortal Path. I still don't know your name. May I be so bold as to ask, so that I can repay you for showing me the way in the future?"
Fairy Lüo raised a brow. A smile touched the corner of her lips, beside a beauty mark. "This was a transaction. The art of Gu cultivation you gave me is already payment."
Perhaps she felt she'd been too harsh just then. As she formed a hand seal and lowered the Escape Light, her tone softened. "Besides, bringing you here was a small favor. It's nothing.
"Your art of Gu cultivation, on the other hand, is worth at least five or six Mid-grade Spirit Stones. In some black markets, it could fetch more than ten Spirit Stones. So I intend to give you a little compensation."
As she spoke, they swiftly landed on the ground below. A Waist Token flew out of Fairy Lüo's Storage Bag and sailed toward Chen Dengming.
Chen Dengming was about to refuse, but when he met Fairy Lüo's gaze, it was as though her eyes conveyed a message straight into his heart, leaving him no room to decline.
He understood at once. She didn't want to owe him even this small thing, and had no desire to have anything more to do with a "mere mortal" like him. He had no choice but to accept the token.
"This is a token of the Luo Family. If you get into trouble in the Retailer District, you can use it to settle things. But remember, it's an ordinary Waist Token. It won't help if you get into serious trouble or run afoul of desperate outlaws."
Fairy Lüo smiled faintly. Her words were mild, but she still gave off the aloof, distant air of an Immortal Master.
"Thank you, Immortal Master. I understand."
Chen Dengming cupped his fists once more, then tactfully gathered his strength and leaped down from her lotus-leaf-shaped Flying Artifact.
By the time he landed in a cloud of dust, Fairy Lüo had already flown away on her Escape Light. Her graceful silhouette was flawless, leaving behind only a faint drifting fragrance.
From beginning to end, she never told Chen Dengming her name.
Perhaps she knew that he had no hope of cultivating immortality and wouldn't live much longer.
Or perhaps she felt there was no need to tell a mere mortal her name.
Either way, it revealed the brutal gap between immortals and mortals, and the harsh reality of it.
Chen Dengming remained calm, unmoved by her attitude.
He knew that the moment he set foot on this land of the Cultivation World, he had stepped into a new life and a new arena.
All he had to do was start practicing the Cultivation technique he'd traded for with the old Daoist. Then he could extend his lifespan. The longer he lived, the farther he could travel along the Immortal Path.
Chen Dengming took a deep breath, glanced at the disorderly rows of houses nearby, and tapped his right ear.
"Buzz—"
The Blood Centipede Gu stirred in his ear, waking from its dormant state.
Chen Dengming gathered his strength, launched into motion, and quickly approached the bustling Retailer District.
But before long, he frowned and swiftly dodged the area ahead, taking a detour.
Almost as soon as he'd gone around it, several fireballs shot through the air. The air grew scorching hot as they slammed into a Cultivator surrounded by a Golden Light Spirit Shield, exploding with a thunderous boom.
The Cultivator shouted after Chen Dengming, "Fellow Daoist, save me! I'll reward you handsomely!"
"Damn it!"
Chen Dengming's face darkened as he hurried away even faster.
A Cultivator who'd activated a Fireball Talisman glanced from afar at the direction Chen Dengming had gone. After sensing him carefully, he suddenly relaxed and cursed under his breath.
"So he's just an Xiantian mortal. Nearly scared the life out of me."
Then he grinned wickedly and activated his talisman again, attacking the Cultivator ahead.
Several hundred zhang away, Chen Dengming slipped behind a hill and held his breath, quietly watching the two Cultivators fight.
"The threat I sense from their auras doesn't seem as strong as Fairy Lüo and the others, but they're considerably stronger than Nangong Shuo. They should be low-level Cultivators who've entered the Qi Refining Stage. Still, their fighting methods are rather limited..."
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