Entering the Mortal World, Qingji Relay Stations, and the Seven Spirits Sect's Gates (Please keep reading and spare some recommendation votes!)

Sunlight shone on the mountain mists, and maples blazed autumn red.

Ao Ding left Qianling Mountain and headed straight for a nearby great city of mortals.

According to the Myriad Aspects of Mountains and Rivers Map, Xiling City had stood for a thousand years and served as the ancient capital of three dynasties, steeped in culture.

Ao Ding walked into a bustling restaurant and immediately called over a waiter to order.

"Bring me one of every specialty you have."

"Every one? Sir, we have quite a few specialties..."

"That's fine. One of each."

After descending the mountain, Ao Ding showed a rare flash of youthful spirit. He casually tossed out a gold ingot and declared grandly, "This young master can afford it!"

He had spent three years cultivating in seclusion on the mountain, abstaining from ordinary food. To ensure the successful refinement of his immortal qi, he had eaten nothing else, enduring those dry, tasteless golden buds for three whole years until his mouth felt utterly starved of flavor.

Now that he had come down the mountain, he could finally feast to his heart's content.

Inside the Primordial Truth Mirror, a yellow-robed boy hugged a thick tome and reminded him quietly, "Their Golden-Cut Sophora Cloud Noodles, Mountain Bamboo Shoot Spring Soup, and Jade-Offering Qiong Lotus are all good. Diners rate them highly. But some also say their Crystal Aspic and Lambskin Flower Shreds are terrible. And-after eating here, you can visit Lotus Melody Studio, main self. They have two excellent vegetarian dishes, and this afternoon you can also go..."

Ao Ding had entered all the constantly updated information from the Myriad Aspects of Mountains and Rivers Map into the Primordial Truth Mirror. His divided spirit dutifully mapped out a sightseeing and dining itinerary for his trip down the mountain.

"Once today's sightseeing is over, we can head to the Seven Spirits Sect tomorrow."

Returning home in silken glory naturally called for a little showing off. Besides, Ao Ding wanted to let Auntie Wang and the others know he was safe.

A red-robed boy sprang out. "Another whole day of sightseeing? What's there to see? Finish this feast and go straight to the Seven Spirits Sect! If you don't show off properly, flaunt your strength and slap some faces, and beat up those bastards in the outer sect, you'll be doing a disservice to the years you spent there!"

The yellow-robed boy rolled his eyes and mercilessly punched the red-robed boy, who looked exactly like him.

"What was wrong with those years?" the yellow-robed boy said. "Our main self didn't suffer any mistreatment then-"

He might have faced some harassment before cultivating the Northern Yin Dharma, but afterward-hadn't Ao Ding single-handedly beaten up the entire outer sect?

Ao Ding said nothing. He watched the show and listened to the two little fellows bickering as he ate the dishes the waiter brought out one after another.

After three years without food, his mouth had grown so starved of flavor that even the slightest taste of salt or sweetness moved him deeply.

"Main self, I've planned the route to the True Persons' immortal abodes." In the Cloudsea Space, while the red- and yellow-robed boys argued, a blue-robed boy spread out a map and was about to explain it to him. Suddenly, the two boys wrestling beside him nearly knocked him over.

Ao Ding lightly tapped the invisible Primordial Truth Mirror on his eye frame with his left hand. The Dharma Artifact trembled gently, and the Cloudsea Space flipped over and over, flinging the two boys somewhere unknown.

Ao Ding continued looking at the blue-robed boy.

The boy spread out the map and explained slowly, "True Person Sun left you five letters of recommendation: three letters to open the doors of True Persons' immortal abodes, and two introductions to orthodox Daoist sects. Of course-you have no interest in those last two letters."

After cultivating with Sun Chen, Ao Ding's sights had risen too.

If he sought another teacher, he would certainly look for someone at the True Person level. Finding a True Person to help him would be better than approaching those two sects.

"Of the three True Persons, True Person Yin Qiuzi resides in the Heavenly Prison in central Liyun Continent. But he is upright and unbending, and may be difficult to approach. Even with the groundwork True Person Sun previously laid for us, he should be our last choice."

The blue-robed boy was, after all, Ao Ding's divided spirit, and his words matched Ao Ding's wishes very well.

That was exactly what Ao Ding thought.

"Of the remaining two, True Person Cang Xuanzi has always loved wine. If we find fine wine to win his favor, we should get twice the results for half the effort. Originally, True Person Sun established a connection with the Lin Household for you, so you could later seek out the Wine Immortal and ask for spirit wine. But you are quite wealthy now, so simply buying some would be fine too."

Just then, the yellow-robed boy crawled out from the depths of the clouds, looking thoroughly bedraggled.

"No, no-when you give wine, what you're giving is sincerity. How can bought wine show sincerity? Given True Person Cang Xuanzi's usual preferences, we should ask the Lin Household to brew some for us. Even if the quality is slightly inferior, it will be enough as long as the thought is there."

"Pah-I say we should go straight to Longyin High Person." The red-robed boy reappeared as well. "This True Person likes studying spells and deducing magical formulas. His temperament suits our main self perfectly."

The blue-robed boy ignored his two companions and continued with his plans.

"We'll designate the Heavenly Prison as our final stop. For now, your first stop should be Longyin High Person. Tomorrow, we'll return to visit the Seven Spirits Sect, then head straight to Longyin High Person's abode. If everything goes smoothly, all the better. If not, we can turn toward True Person Cang Xuanzi's immortal abode. If none of the three True Persons is home, we'll seek out those two Daoist sects."

Sun Chen had said that True Persons were not necessarily home every day. A single journey abroad or a spell of secluded cultivation could last three to five years. If he failed to meet one, he should go to the next.

Surely he couldn't miss all three True Persons?

If that really happened, he would seek out those two sects.

True Persons could roam about, but surely those two sects couldn't move their entire memberships back and forth?

Listening to their discussion, the yellow-robed boy grew anxious and tried to say something more, only for the red-robed boy to cover his mouth and drag him back into the depths of the clouds.

Ao Ding said slowly, "After visiting the Seven Spirits Sect, we might as well stop by the Xuanjia Immortal Tree. Visit the Lin Household, visit the Wang Household-and, most importantly, look at what the Golden Court Sect left behind. Ordering some wine would be fine too."

The blue-robed boy immediately understood his thoughts.

"That Divine Spring and the Dharma Realm incantations left by the Golden Court Sect? Indeed, this Immortal Abode Dharma Realm is worth examining. It might offer some inspiration."

He immediately revised the plan, adding the yellow-robed boy's suggestion to commission some wine.

He redrew the route for Ao Ding's inspection. Ao Ding murmured his assent and lowered his head to continue enjoying the food.

Over the next day, guided by the red-robed boy, Ao Ding thoroughly enjoyed himself around Xiling City. He also bought many gifts... rouge in the eastern market, fine wine in the western market, splendid clothes in the southern market, and tea sold in the northern market... all intended for the people of the Seven Spirits Sect.

Early the next morning, Ao Ding summoned a team of Qingji with the Thousand-Li Marsh Spirit Spell.

They were not the group Ao Ding knew, but another Qingji Lineage.

They had the same yellow skin and yellow hats, but were slightly thinner, with somewhat larger eyes.

Having heard Sun Chen mention that the Qingji Society had helped pay his bill, Ao Ding felt considerable affection for these innocent spirits. Even his voice softened a little. "I'm going to the Seven Spirits Sect. Please show me the way."

"The Seven Spirits Sect... Exalted immortal, that's rather far. It may take two days..."

"Mm, that's fine-I'll pay double."

"No, no, that's not what I meant-" The little Marsh Sprite jumped onto his shoulder and gestured as he explained to Ao Ding, "We have a Transfer Service now. Our team only handles transport within three thousand li of Xiling City. We'll take you to the next relay station, and other Qingji will escort you onward-don't worry, there's no extra charge. You only need to settle the fare once."

"Relay stations?" Ao Ding's gaze shifted. "You've established relay stations throughout Liyun Continent? Do you offer lodging too?"

"No, not that... We just... just found some temporary places to rest... just..." The Marsh Sprite scratched his head. "They're very crude, nowhere near fit for people to stay. They just let us rest our feet a little. Some passengers can also enjoy the shade and take a break. I'll show you in a while."

He invited Ao Ding aboard, and a line of little carts swiftly raced toward the relay station.

Half a day later, the carts stopped before a small clump of low, verdant trees.

An ordinary person standing there could have crushed them with one step.

But under the Qingji's magic, Ao Ding was also a four-inch-tall little man. Looking at the towering trees before him felt rather wondrous.

"This is far too small!" the red-robed boy cried out involuntarily inside the Primordial Truth Mirror. "No matter how the Ruyi Spell changes your size, it doesn't change the fact that this is just a low little tree! How can they have the nerve to call such a tiny place a 'relay station'? How are we supposed to rest here?"

"At least they mean well. Besides, this tree is big enough for some spirits and monsters to rest in." The yellow-robed boy retorted as usual.

A cauliflower-patterned snake dozed lightly in the little tree.

The Marsh Sprite looked somewhat ashamed. "Exalted immortal, this is the place. We planted this tree from a spirit seed. Meditating beneath it can gather spiritual qi and calm the mind. It's just-just a little crude."

The little Qingji's face reddened with anxiety.

After all, only three years had passed since the Qingji Society suddenly began experimenting with reforms in Liyun Continent.

As for exactly how to reform, the Qingji Society had no comprehensive plan, either. They were simply feeling their way forward. Planting shade trees at the nearby relay stations had been this little Qingji's family's own idea, and they had taken the initiative to request spirit seeds to plant.

In three years, the little trees had not had time to grow, and the Marsh Sprites' rudimentary magic made it difficult to create finely crafted wooden houses.

"It's fine, it's fine." Ao Ding smiled calmly and took a few steps forward.

The cauliflower-patterned snake on the branch immediately woke with a start. Frightened, it hurried into a nearby cart and urged its Qingji to drive away at once.

Ao Ding laughed despite himself and shook his head repeatedly.

"Hmph," the red-robed boy snorted. "As well he should! He was cowed by our main self's kingly, tyrannical aura!"

The other two boys said nothing. Somehow, they felt answering him might lower their intelligence.

The Qingji explained quietly to Ao Ding, "Please forgive us, exalted immortal. The Qingji Society's usual customers are the Hundred Families of Spirits and Monsters. They... they rarely meet immortals, so he was a little frightened."

"No matter." Ao Ding naturally would not hold anything against a cauliflower-patterned snake in the Seed Qi Realm.

Even setting aside how an immortal should conduct himself, surely the Northern Yin Ghost Dao couldn't drag someone straight into hell to fry in a cauldron of oil merely for running away?

Studying the green tree, Ao Ding drew out the Xuanjia Spirit Staff and pointed it gently at the tree before him.

"Let myriad timbers follow, gather the void and form a dwelling."

The House-Building Technique activated, and a little wooden house rose both in the treetop and beneath the tree.

Wondrously, these wooden houses did not exist independently, but relied on the little tree, joined to it as one. Even if the houses were damaged, as long as the tree remained, they could recover through its greenwood qi.

The Qingji marveled repeatedly at the sight, welcomed Ao Ding inside to rest, and offered fruit and refreshments.

Once they had rested enough, they set out again.

After changing rides at several relay stations in succession, they returned safely to the Seven Spirits Sect's territory.

"Only now that I've truly returned do I understand what Senior Sun meant when he said, 'Everything for several thousand li around belongs to the Seven Spirits Sect.'"

Seven streams of True Qi were drawn down from the tides of heaven and earth, falling like the seven colors of a rainbow across an area several thousand li wide.

A Dharma Realm?

Similar, but it had not truly formed an enclosed space-time.

He could only say that this land naturally favored Seven Spirits Sect cultivators. Not only did they have an advantage in battle, but they also cultivated faster than other cultivators.

"Methods, companions, wealth, and land-this is the final 'land,' a truly enclosed cultivation ground."

Ao Ding handed the Qingji medicinal pills, then gave him three talismans.

"These are Greenwood House-Building Talismans I inscribed. Later, you can use them beneath spirit trees to create wooden houses at the relay stations elsewhere."

The Qingji thanked him profusely and departed, turning back every few steps.

Looking at the Seven Spirits Sect's mountain gates, Ao Ding considered for a moment. Rather than taking the main entrance, he headed toward the western mountain entrance normally used for trips to and from the kitchen gardens.

The red-robed boy was deeply displeased by this.

"You're returning home in silken glory, so why hide from people? Just march in openly!" Beside him, his two companions each punched him. Even the blue-robed boy could not hold back.

"You're hopelessly stupid! Our main self possesses a True Person's legacy. How could the Seven Spirits Sect not know? If he comes in openly, aren't you afraid of stirring up trouble?"

The western mountain gate was the Kitchen Courtyard's usual entrance. Ao Ding entered along the familiar route and was just about to call out to the old acquaintances he knew when he suddenly heard a harsh shout.

"Ao Ding, you actually came back!"

Immediately afterward, the wind of a punch thundered toward Ao Ding's face.