Pingjiang

Biodata

Geography

Pingjiang is built beside the Pingjiang River, from which the city takes its name. The river’s urban stretch is broad, deep, and comparatively calm, with bridges, cargo traffic, and sightseeing vessels along its banks. Farther east, the river opens toward the coastline and sea, where water-attributed spiritual energy becomes markedly denser. 12 65 66

• Jiangbei Forest Park lies within the city and contains a lakeside wooded area. It was the site of a demonic-cultivator formation and mass-casualty incident involving missing students. 1 5
• Maple Leaf Residential Area contains Jiang Ran’s government-subsidized apartment. 6
• The city has broad roads and routine traffic from transportation artifacts. 5

Cultivation Society

Cultivation is embedded in Pingjiang’s education, employment, medicine, and commerce. Taxi drivers, factory workers, and restaurant chefs are all expected to possess cultivation-related abilities, including relevant spells. 1

Pingjiang cultivators generally follow the Qi Refinement Path: refining environmental spiritual qi, establishing a Dao foundation, condensing a Golden Core, and ultimately pursuing ascension. This differs from the Grand Ruins Realm’s Qi-Consumption Path. 4

• Spirit roots can be purchased and transplanted through local hospitals; subsidized recipients may receive Low-Grade Spirit Root transplants without charge. 7
• Cultivation resources, including Spirit Stones, medicine, spell licenses, artifacts, and spirit roots, are commercially available to those who can afford them. 6 19 44
• Pingjiang’s educational cultivation ceiling for college entrance examination candidates is Qi Refinement Level Three, known alongside Levels One and Two as the Seedling Stage. 25

Institutions and Facilities

Public Security

Pingjiang’s reputation for safety is challenged by repeated demonic-cultivator incidents.

• A major case at Jiangbei Forest Park involved demonic cultivators, stolen spiritual goods, and fifty-two missing high school students. The Immortal Police Bureau deployed more than a dozen Golden Core experts to investigate. 5
• Jiang Ran, the only known survivor to reappear from the incident, was repeatedly examined for demonic-qi infection and mental corruption before being cleared. 5 14
• A later attack on Jiang Ran prompted the Pingjiang Police Bureau to enter Level Three Alert against further demonic-cultivator infiltration. 33
• Despite its modern security apparatus, Pingjiang is not completely safe; Jiang Ran concludes that police protection alone cannot guarantee his survival. 33 34

Economy and Commerce

Pingjiang has a monetized cultivation economy in which cultivation resources are traded through stores, hospitals, rental services, and virtual markets.

• Vermilion Dense Iron from the Grand Ruins Realm can be sold in Pingjiang without being uniquely identifiable, allowing Jiang Ran to convert mined ore into Tianlu Coins. 15
• Spirit-water products are openly sold by Spirit-Source Grade and can be used to gather or refine water-attributed True Qi. 25
• External spirit roots can be rented by the hour; a Water-Attribute Superior Spirit Root rental enabled Jiang Ran to reach Qi Refinement Level Two in under thirty minutes. 28
• The Virtual Spirit Realm’s Ten Thousand Arts Trading Center sells cultivation techniques as licensed usage rights, while outright ownership costs far more. 44

Known Residents and Associates

• Jiang Ran — Pingjiang No. 1 High School student and resident of Maple Leaf Residential Area; previously lived on government assistance after his parents’ deaths. 5 6
• Tao Dapeng — Jiang Ran’s close friend and fellow Pingjiang No. 1 High School student. 6 7
• Su Xue — Golden Core cultivator and officer associated with the Pingjiang police; later tutors Jiang Ran in Ancient Language. 55 68
• Yang Ping — Deputy Director of the Pingjiang City Immortal Police Bureau’s Third Branch during Jiang Ran’s initial interrogation. 5
• Wang Jingyan — Owner of Sunny Club. 65
• Zhang Jingjing — Pingjiang No. 1 High School student and one of the school’s strongest spellcasting competitors. 29 48

Story Role / Major Events

• Jiang Ran awakens in Jiangbei Forest Park amid corpses and an active formation, then escapes through the Heavenly Unity Jade Pendant. 1
• After returning from the Grand Ruins Realm, Jiang Ran is detained and questioned by the Immortal Police Bureau because he is listed among the fifty-two missing students. 5
• Pingjiang becomes Jiang Ran’s principal market for converting Grand Ruins ore into money, equipment, medicine, and cultivation resources. 14 15 19
• Jiang Ran uses the city’s school cultivation rooms and rented spirit roots to break through to Qi Refinement Level Two. 27 28
• Following a second demonic-cultivator attack, the police award Jiang Ran 2.4 million yuan for the apprehension of two wanted Foundation Establishment Late Stage demonic cultivators. 33
• Jiang Ran undergoes a Mid-Grade Water Spirit Root transplant at Pingjiang First People’s Hospital, accelerating both his Qi Refinement and Qi-Nourishment cultivation. 35 38
• He later completes Qi Assimilation in a private chamber at Ivy Self-Cultivation Hall, gaining a water affinity on the Qi-Consumption Path. 71 72