The Drawback

Hua Yuhe stood in the crowd, with a mixture of anticipation and resistance.

He hoped to be recognized by Hua Chunning, so that he would have a powerful backer and more dignity in the city.

They couldn't forget the difference between legitimate and illegitimate children in their early years, and the difference between immortals and mortals now. Their own family was doing alright now, neither rich nor poor, and they really didn't want to live such a humble and subservient life again.

Upon hearing Hua Chunning's question, Hua Yuhe initially flinched, but then forced herself to stop, looked up, and smiled, "It's me, Chunning... Senior."

Hua Chunning was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and nodded, saying, "It's a rare reunion after so long, cousin. Please wait a moment. I'll pay you a visit after I've finished dealing with everything."

Hua Yuhe had mixed feelings, but under everyone's watchful eyes, she could only nod in agreement. "Okay."

The shopkeeper, Lin Muyang, chuckled, "Manager Hua is my right-hand man in the market. He's decisive and skilled in all matters. I never expected him to be so close to Fellow Daoist Hua."

Hua Yuhe could only force a smile upon hearing this, and naturally wouldn't expose the embarrassment of the shop owner, Lin Muyang, at this moment.

In the mortal world, as a member of the Hua Household and the wife of the city lord, no one dared to look down on her.

In the world of cultivation, one is merely a mortal, and no one cares whether one lives or dies.

Thanks to her shallow connection with Lin Muyang in the Fubo Flood Dragon Mansion, Hua Yuhe was able to get a low-level administrative job in Azure Cloud Market, which was only slightly more respectable than that of the Rogue Cultivator and mortals in the market.

Today I was summoned to welcome the Immortal Master of Supreme Mystery Mountain, but I never expected it to be Hua Chunning.

"The shopkeeper is too kind." Hua Chunning naturally knew that Hua Yuhe hadn't appeared here for no reason, and she didn't care whether Lin Muyang was trying to curry favor or show off. She said softly, "I've long heard of the Azure Cloud Market, and today I'm finally able to see it for myself. Fellow Daoist Lin, please."

Lin Muyang glanced at Hua Yuhe, then turned back and smiled, "I'll guide Fellow Daoist Hua."

Azure Cloud Sect was once Golden Core sect in the Central Continent, possessing considerable historical and cultural heritage.

Although they have fallen on hard times and have moved their entire sect to the Southern Edge Continent to make a living, managing a market town is still a piece of cake.

Hua Chunning could tell from her brief visit that Azure Cloud Sect had indeed put a lot of effort into managing the market as an important industry.

Most of the shops along the way were doing quite well.

There were quite a few Rogue Cultivator monks standing on the street, looking in this direction in small groups, and occasionally whispering among themselves.

However, most of these cultivators appear Manifestation and have low cultivation levels, and their aura is completely different from that of cultivators from the Old Method.

Hua Chunning recalled the rumors that the New Method included a Body Refining technique that allowed even those without Spirit Root to cultivate, so she asked, "Fellow Daoist Lin, are these the Body Refining cultivators of the New Method?"

"Fellow Daoist Hua has keen insight." Lin Muyang nodded slightly and said softly, "Although you can only reach the Qi Refining Third Layer, you are still a cultivator, and your skills will be useful in many situations."

Hua Chunning smiled upon hearing this.

The Azure Cloud Sect treated these New Method Body Refining cultivators as mere leeks and waste materials.

Most of the barn tenant farmers outside the market were of this type.

These people, however, are quite happy with it and can't get enough of it.

It can only be said that there are highly skilled individuals within the Azure Cloud Sect.

Hua Chunning strolled through the market and witnessed many distinctly different aspects of the New Method system.

Seeing that it was getting late, the market owner Lin Muyang led Hua Chunning to a particularly eye-catching palace-like building with flying eaves in the center of the market. It looked ancient and extremely luxurious.

Hua Chunning looked at the striking bright yellow color and the decorations of the sunset, and suddenly had an epiphany.

Even its name is quite unique.

Flying Immortal Pavilion.

In the Southern Edge Continent, probably only the Xue Household Rosy Clouds Resting Mountain would dare to use this name.

"Please, Fellow Daoist Hua," Lin Muyang said with a light laugh. "Fellow Daoist Xue Yong has been waiting for quite some time."

The Xue Household Rosy Clouds Resting Mountain naturally possessed extraordinary dignity and respect, and would never lower themselves to greet Hua Chunning outside the market.

Flying Immortal Pavilion, an elderly cultivator with white hair and beard was waiting with a smile.

Hua Chunning glanced at him and discovered that the old cultivator was only at the Early Qi Refining.

It makes sense when you think about it. For a family as noble as the Xue Household to be sent to the market to manage affairs, they must be Dao Path with no future prospects.

A true seed of spiritual cultivation would never be willing to leave the mountain.

However, since she had received favors from Rosy Clouds Resting Mountain, Hua Chunning performed the proper courtesies. "Hua Chunning of Supreme Mystery Mountain greets Senior Xue."

Xue Yong was self-aware enough to know he had no talent for cultivation; his only source of pride was his surname. He was usually kind to others and treated Lin Muyang as an equal. Now, hearing the True Disciple disciple of Supreme Mystery Mountain respectfully address him as "senior," his smile deepened, "Fellow Daoist Hua, there's no need for that. I'm only a few years older, and my Dao Path is over. I dare not call myself a senior before the True Disciple of the Grand Mysterious Immortal Sect. Let's remain equals."

Hua Chunning did not change her address, and continued to show proper etiquette and respect.

Xue Yong was greatly pleased. Looking at the rosy mark on Hua Chunning's forehead, he felt even closer to her. "I brought a jar of spiritual tea from the mountain. Today, with such distinguished guests, I must have them tasted."

Hua Chunning did not refuse and nodded with a smile.

Behind him, Lin Muyang smiled, but inwardly sighed.

I misjudged it.

I thought Hua Chunning was a true fairy who didn't concern herself with worldly affairs, but I didn't expect her to be so skillful and adept at managing daily affairs.

Now that he's facing two opponents alone, all his previous plans are likely to come to nothing.

As previously agreed, Supreme Mystery Mountain would receive 30% of the profits from Azure Cloud Market.

However, these money-grubbing matters are handled by the lower-level managers.

The three noble and refined cultivators naturally didn't utter a single word, only sipping tea and discussing the Dao.

After some casual conversation, Lin Muyang couldn't help but start a new topic, speaking of the Central Continent: "Fellow Daoists, you may not know this, but unlike the immortal sects that govern the world in the Southern Edge Continent, many immortal dynasties in the Central Continent follow the old system of the [Human Emperor], governing sects and shepherding the people."

Xue Yong, whose lifespan was nearing its end and who hailed from Rosy Clouds Resting Mountain, had no reservations about commenting on the New Method. He took a sip of tea and smiled, saying, "The rule of the immortal sects of the Southern Edge Continent is a tradition from recent times."

"It's really strange that Central Continent is reciting old books from the Middle Ages. Is it just to distance himself from the Old Method?"

"The ancient [Human Emperor] ruled the world with morality. I wonder if those immortal dynasties have learned the essence of this?!"

Lin Muyang shook his head with a wry smile upon hearing this. Even though he was in Southern Reach, he didn't dare to say more. He simply changed the subject, saying, "Actually, the Central Continent Immortal Dynasty's rule was a last resort."

"It mainly involves a huge battle from years ago, but the root cause lies in a major flaw in the New Method."

"Oh?!" At this point, Xue Yong stopped drinking his tea and listened attentively.

Hua Chunning also became somewhat interested.

"The concept of Spirit Root in the New Method is something you two fellow cultivators are surely already aware of," Lin Muyang sighed and said in a deep voice, "Without Spirit Root, one cannot cultivate!"

"But whether one possesses Spirit Root is determined at birth."

"What exists is exist, what doesn't exist is not; it's almost impossible to change that later in life."

"Even if two exceptional individuals unite, they will still give birth to a mortal child without Spirit Root."

"A Dao seed with Heaven Spirit Root might be born from a humble, unassuming family in the mountains."

"Logically speaking, this should be a good thing, allowing everyone in the world to have the possibility of cultivation, and preventing them from being controlled by aristocratic Aristocratic Clan and sects."

"But it was precisely this kind of good fortune that triggered a great war that engulfed the entire Central Continent hundreds of years ago."

"That battle involved almost all of the most powerful Dao sects in the Central Continent, fighting so fiercely that the sun and moon lost their Lightless, mountains and rivers crumbled, and even Nascent Soul perished!"

"In the end, only the intervention of a Nascent Spirit Transformation could stop the conflict."

"In the end, out of desperation, each family invoked the ancient system of the [Human Emperor] and established the rules for the Immortal Dynasty's rule."

Lin Muyang paused here, and asked with a smile, "Fellow Daoists, why don't you guess what caused this great battle?"