Chapter 721

Chapter 721: City of Merchants

Wang Chen knew he couldn’t suddenly find a higher-level Golden Core to vouch for him, so he actually had no other choice.

Since it was already dark, the registry office of Qianxing Immortal City, located in Yingxian Town, only operated during the day. After having dinner with Pei Yan, he planned to return to his rented place and go to apply the next day.

As a result, Wang Chen walked for more than an hour on the way back.

Even though it was in the same town, the return trip wasn’t long at all. However, the nightlife in Yingxian Town was even more vibrant than during the day, which slowed Wang Chen’s pace.

The bustling streets were filled with crowds, and the shops on both sides of the road were all open. Under the eaves of each household hung Obsidian Lamps, casting white, light yellow, orange, light pink, and deep purple lights that created a wonderfully surreal night market.

There were inns, brothels, gambling houses, tea houses, performance venues, and bathhouses…

A lively atmosphere of human life!

Wang Chen was surprised to discover that there were even places for grilled meat here.

These barbecue stalls were almost identical to those in his previous world, with charcoal fires in the grilling slots, topped with metal grids. The stallholders skillfully placed skewered food ingredients on top, flipping and brushing them with sauce.

Next to the stalls were tables and chairs, where diners could either take their skewers to go or sit down to enjoy a couple of cups of bamboo tube rice wine while chatting and feasting!

When Wang Chen first saw this scene, he almost doubted he had crossed back again!

He couldn’t help but stop in front of one barbecue stall, spending dozens of spirit stones to order a large handful of fragrant skewers.

Then he squatted by the roadside to enjoy his food.

He just wanted to experience that once longed-for feeling.

Unfortunately…

There was no cumin.

Besides the barbecue stalls, there was also an open-air market in the town.

Anyone could pay a fee to set up a stall in the market, selling and trading various items.

Wang Chen wandered around inside.

Although he didn’t buy anything, he felt a sense of long-lost relaxation and joy!

As a result, he returned to his rented place quite late.

But he made it just in time before the curfew, not missing the hour.

That night, Wang Chen slept soundly.

The next morning, he woke up to find Ziling had brought him breakfast.

A big bowl of perfectly cooked spiritual rice porridge, two five-spice spirit bird eggs, and three colors of pickled vegetables made Wang Chen feel that twenty spirit fragments for a day’s rent was truly not expensive.

This young landlady obviously had excellent cooking skills, and Wang Chen thoroughly enjoyed the breakfast without any leftovers.

Just after finishing breakfast, Pei Yan arrived.

This young boy took Wang Chen to the registry office of Qianxing Immortal City located in Yingxian Town.

Wang Chen was speechless to find that he had arrived early, but the office hadn’t started processing business yet, and it was already packed with people, a sea of heads everywhere!

Pei Yan then helped him get a queue number, and the number was surprisingly over five hundred!

It would take forever to get through!

Pei Yan felt somewhat embarrassed: "I forgot to inform you, the registry office is always crowded every day."

To secure a favorable queue number, one must arrive early to line up.

Furthermore, even if you obtain a number, if the individuals ahead do not complete their transactions, all subsequent numbers become invalid.

You would have to return the next day to continue waiting in line.

Just as Wang Chen was feeling disheartened, an ordinary-looking middle-aged man approached him and whispered, "Fellow traveler, would you like to exchange numbers?"

He opened his palm, revealing a number token to Wang Chen.

It was number nineteen.

A fixer!

Wang Chen was inwardly amused but maintained a composed demeanor as he inquired, "How much in spirit stones?"

The man scrutinized him and then raised his left hand, spreading five fingers and shaking them.

Five? Fifty? Surely not five hundred!

Wang Chen was unfamiliar with the market rates, so he didn’t respond directly. Instead, he glanced at Pei Yan for guidance.

The young man didn’t disappoint, stepping forward immediately: "Uncle, you’ve approached the wrong person; we can’t engage in such dealings."

The middle-aged man chuckled slyly: "You’re the lad from the Pei family in the west of the town, aren’t you? Well, out of respect for your father, I’ll offer it to you for one hundred spirit stones. Anything less is unacceptable."

Pei Yan scratched his head, looking at Wang Chen as if seeking his decision.

The initial asking price was indeed five hundred spirit stones!

What a rip-off!

After a moment’s hesitation, Pei Yan mustered the courage to bargain: "Eighty!"

The middle-aged man glared at him and then turned to vanish into the crowd.

The deal fell through.

Now Pei Yan was truly scratching his head, feeling ashamed as he said, "Higher Steward, I apologize…"

"It’s alright."

Wang Chen patted his head and smiled, saying, "We’ll wait a little longer."

Scalpers always operate in groups; it couldn’t be just one, after all.

Most importantly, through this minor incident, he caught a glimpse of one of the defining characteristics of Qianxing Immortal City.

It truly lives up to its reputation as the City of Merchants!

Wang Chen didn’t have to wait long before the middle-aged man returned.

"Fine, eighty it is!"

Thus, Wang Chen exchanged eighty spirit fragments for a scalper ticket and swapped his number token with the man’s.

His ranking instantly leaped from over five hundred to number nineteen!

Just as the exchange was completed, the registry office began calling numbers.

Wang Chen understood why the man was willing to lower the price; if no one traded with him, that number would become worthless.

Now with a better number, Wang Chen’s waiting time was significantly reduced.

When his number was called, he squeezed through the crowd and presented his number token to a cultivator maintaining order. Wang Chen was then led into a small room.

The transaction was handled by a registry clerk.

Once the clerk understood Wang Chen’s situation and requirements, he smiled and said, "Fellow traveler, our Qianxing Immortal City welcomes talents from all corners of the land, and we are particularly pleased to see someone as gifted as you."

After a pause, he continued, "But rules are rules; no one can easily break them, so please understand."

The rule of Qianxing Immortal City is—spirit stones!

Cultivators like Wang Chen who need to change their registration can submit an application, and as long as there’s no significant past misconduct, they will generally be approved.

However, a fee is required.

This ties into the household registration system of Qianxing Immortal City.

Citizens of Qianxing Immortal City are divided into four ranks: A, B, C, and D, with D being the lowest.

D-ranked citizens can freely enter and exit the immortal city and buy and sell various goods, but they do not have residency or work rights.

Townsfolk in Yingxian Town are mostly D-ranked.

C-ranked citizens can live and work in the immortal city, but they are not permitted to own properties or open shops!

In other words, to live in the city, one can only rent an apartment or stay in an inn.

B-ranked citizens do not face these restrictions and are considered true citizens of Qianxing.

As for the highest A-ranked citizens, they qualify for official positions within the system!