Gloom

After Yuan Qing and Liu Chun introduced themselves to each other, the four of them headed together toward the boarding point Banxiang City.

Another period of boring yet relaxing return journey.

This time, however, Lin Xiao noticed that the ship seemed to be docked in one less city.

On his way here, he was quite certain that he hadn't missed a single city, and he had made a note of each place he visited.

The city we missed on our way back was called Hengtong City.

Lin Xiao asked Liao Pantu about this matter, and his reply was that it was not unusual for the Immortal Cultivation Realm to lose one or two cities.

Liao Pantu then added:

"Didn't you see how many people from Gold Mountain City came all at once? I reckon most of them weren't going to the Talisman Master Assembly. Maybe Hengtong City offended Gold Mountain City somehow before."

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiao was stunned.

"So you mean that Hengtong City was very likely... destroyed by Gold Mountain City?"

Isn't this a bit too exaggerated?

In just a few dozen days, a city was destroyed?

Liao Pantu then returned and said:

"It's not necessarily destroyed, but it's quite possible that most of the cities and sects in the Southern Spirit Domain have united to exclude Hengtong City. Coupled with the various pressures from Gold Mountain City, even if Hengtong City can defend itself in the Southern Spirit Domain, it's essentially besieged, and its demise is only a matter of time, unless they can break free from this isolated and excluded state."

After listening, Lin Xiao felt that he had learned something new.

Isn't this just a city-wide version of bullying?

As expected of the Immortal Cultivation Realm, they really know how to have fun.

Liao Pantu, seemingly lost in thought, sighed again and said:

"So, young sect leader, the Immortal Cultivation Realm really isn't a good place."

The more comfortable Liao Pantu was in the Lingxian Sect, the more frustrated he felt upon returning to the Immortal Cultivation Realm.

The four people and one soul returned to Yuanling City safely.

When they entered Yuanling City again, they sensed that the atmosphere in the city had become somewhat subtle.

It seemed as if a faint gloom hung over everyone's head.

At the far end of one direction in Yuanling City, a plume of black smoke was actually swirling in the sky. Yuan Qing said that it was the direction of the Wu Household's main residence.

Now everyone in Yuanling City is living in fear.

Those who usually had frequent contact with the Wu Household, in particular, stopped leaving their homes altogether.

Someone actually managed to break through the Yuanling City's protective barrier, enter the city, and slaughter the entire Wu Household without anyone noticing. Who knows if I'll be next?

Although they didn't quite understand why the Wu Household had been wiped out.

Although the Wu Household did not have a good reputation in Yuanling City.

But this did not comfort the people in the city, nor did it make them feel that the threat of death would not befall them.

The atmosphere in Yuanling City made Lin Xiao and his group feel extremely uncomfortable.

If they weren't still waiting here with Liu Chun for Elder Zhang's reply, Lin Xiao would really want to go back to Xiushui Village right now.

So for the first few days after returning to Yuanling City, the four of them didn't go anywhere. They stayed in the inn all day meditating and cultivating, or soaking their feet, chatting, eating and drinking.

In addition to these, they now have another form of entertainment: reading.

Fortunately, they had bought a lot of books beforehand. Even though they read very quickly now, easily skimming through pages, those books would still be enough to keep them occupied for a long time.

Nevertheless, they cannot simply wait idly.

Especially Lin Xiao.

He always felt that it would be a waste not to collect more information during his time in the Immortal Cultivation Realm.

So after staying at the inn for a few days, he couldn't resist going out.

However, this time Lin Xiao didn't bring Jiang Youfu and the others, only Yuan Qing.

After all, Liu Chun had some connection with the Wu Household, and the Wu Household's destruction this time, regardless of right or wrong, was ultimately caused by Liu Chun. Therefore, Lin Xiao was afraid that if he showed up and was recognized, it might cause trouble, so he took Yuan Qing with him when he went out.

The two arrived on the street and discovered that perhaps due to the recent increase in the number of people sent by several sects to investigate, the city lord had also increased the number of patrol personnel on the streets.

People's mood has improved; they are not as fearful as they were a few days ago.

Lin Xiao had no particular purpose. He was thinking about what he had said to Qin Jianghe and his current plans, so he wandered around the streets, inquiring about and recording the prices and types of goods.

Although he had done these things before when he came to Yuanling City, there were just too many things here for him to memorize all at once.

I happen to have some time now.

Before coming out, Lin Xiao also disguised Yuan Qing, so that he wouldn't have to worry about Yuan Qing being recognized by acquaintances.

However, this is also because Yuan Qing was still a child when he left Yuanling City. Now, even people who knew him before, unless they are acquaintances like Yuan Zhiyun, are unlikely to recognize him.

But a little pretense is always necessary.

The two strolled around the street, looking at everything.

Lin Xiao chatted with him casually.

"Fellow Daoist Yuan, are you familiar with the Mortal Realm?"

Yuan Qing didn't understand why Lin Xiao was paying attention to the prices and types of goods on the street, but he wasn't curious either; he'd just accompany him anyway.

Upon hearing Lin Xiao's question, Yuan Qing thought for a moment before answering:

"I think I've heard of it before, but I'm not sure where."

Lin Xiao then asked again, seemingly casually:

So what is your view on mortals?

Yuan Qing had never really thought about this question before, but now that he was asked, he thought about it seriously for a moment before answering:

"I haven't had much contact with mortals, but I imagine they're pretty much the same as cultivators. It's just that they can't cultivate, so they're at a greater disadvantage when facing cultivators. But human nature is the same for everyone; there's good and bad, kindness and evil. It shouldn't matter whether someone is a cultivator or a mortal."

Lin Xiao nodded to indicate that he understood.

Then he tentatively asked:

"If you were asked to live among ordinary people, would you be willing?"

Yuan Qing, without suspecting anything, assumed he was just chatting casually, and nodded, saying:

"In a normal environment, I would rather live among ordinary people than with a sect or Lineage..."

As he spoke, he recalled an ordinary person he had met when he was a child.

There were also many ordinary people in Yuanling City.

However, in Yuanling City, where cultivators reigned supreme, mortals seemed to be invisible, having no presence whatsoever.

He recalled a time when he was a child, after his parents passed away. He was so hungry that he could only scavenge for leftovers to eat, and a mortal gave him a large white steamed bun.

That was the only time I felt kindness from this world during that period, before I was taken to my older sister's house.

Thinking of this, he lowered his head and sighed softly:

"Mortals are probably much better off..."

I wonder if Lin Xiao heard it or not.

After that topic came up, they remained silent for quite a while.

Lin Xiao spent the whole day wandering around the city, carefully observing and recording prices and product categories because he had a specific purpose for the trip.

Therefore, he recorded much more information today than he had ever done before.