Chapter 75
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Chapter 75: Tianlai City
The main cultivation method is crucial for cultivators, often guiding them throughout their lives. Li Hui, based on the texts he possessed, identified that this method, while difficult to practice, surpassed all the techniques from the Jade Symbol Sect and was even stronger than the legendary methods from Dalong. The achievements attainable at each stage far outshined those recorded elsewhere, as did its benefits in battles.
However, the required resources were immense, truly extravagant; some rare items were not even mentioned in the many miscellaneous texts of the Jade Symbol Sect. Additionally, after certain periods, he needed to find ways to offset the side effects, or else his strength would be significantly reduced.
The nine heads fluttered together through the night, and by sunrise, they appeared weary, having rapidly flown two thousand miles, consuming an extraordinary amount of energy.
“Thank you! Each head will receive a piece of Miao Jade. Rest well, we’ll need to dash again tomorrow night!” Li Hui felt a little relieved, his mind displaying a vast map as he thought: “Only three hundred miles remain to Tianlai City. If I were to walk on foot, it could take ten days to reach here.”
From morning to noon, and from noon to late afternoon, he traveled tirelessly until he finally saw a stretch of pure white.
As he gazed ahead, the white gradually rose higher; Tianlai City was built on Baisha Slope.
What was called a “slope” was actually a continuously rising white desert. It was said that the desert expanded every year, with Tianlai City being the only oasis in the white desert.
Li Hui bore the bag of treasures and pressed forward for fifty miles, finally reaching Tianlai City before dusk, hearing songs and seeing bonfires rising above the city.
The city walls were not high, constructed from black stones, with some areas in disrepair, having lost their ability to fend off enemies. Several caravans congregated at the city gate, preparing to pay to enter.
Surprisingly, some cultivators sat atop camels, providing protection for the caravans. The city guards were already used to this; the entrance fee couldn’t be less than one tael.
Though Li Hui possessed many texts, most were a bit old, and he wasn’t familiar with Tianlai City. Sun Zhengyang only mentioned that a medical sage resided there, not providing any further details.
“Whether I can find that medical sage or not, I can only stay in Tianlai City for twelve hours. I must leave by this time tomorrow; staying any longer carries additional risks.”
Upon reaching the city gate, the guard glared and barked, “Buddhist monks must pay five times the tax to enter the city. If you can’t afford it, you can sleep outside. Hmph, we enjoy a peaceful life in Tianlai City and cannot let a single rotten apple spoil the whole barrel.”
“Really? Does Tianlai City discriminate against monks?” Li Hui rushed through the caravan, quickly moving to confront the guard.
“You’re not from around here. Our city lord despises monks the most. Hmph! What are you staring at? If you dare touch me, you’ll regret it.” The guard spoke with great confidence, not taking monks seriously at all.
“Fine, five times the tax it is.” Li Hui smiled slightly, pouring silver coins into their treasury box with a clatter. It wouldn’t be just a single monk paying the fee; even fifty monks would have more than enough.
“What?” The guard was taken aback, thinking: “Aren’t there only two types of monks? The first is poor as a church mouse, and the second is stingy like a miser. Could this monk be the abbot of some temple?”
He didn’t realize there was a third type of monk: a Fake Monk.
Li Hui laughed heartily and confidently stepped inside. Why not take advantage of the opportunity to enter the city? As for the silver coins, it was simply clearing some clutter.
Cultivators did not lack gold and silver, and Buddhist cultivators were no different. Unfortunately, under the current poor economic conditions in Dalong, their permits had been converted to official sales, particularly as there were hardly any Buddhist sects along the coast. Hence, actual Buddhist cultivators rarely appeared; however, there were many wandering monks, akin to locusts swarming in.
Several caravan leaders observed this scene and couldn’t help but come up with ideas. They knew that genuine Buddhist cultivators weren’t poor; they usually owned extensive industries and were typically quite wealthy.
“Go find someone to check, ask what the master needs.”
“Understood!”
Businessmen had keen instincts and would rush towards the smell of money. In fact, Li Hui was also a businessman, so he knew people would undoubtedly pursue him.
Upon entering the city, he was astonished by the crowded scene.
The city wasn’t big, with some areas allocated for large caravans to set up shop and conduct business, while also protecting the water sources. As a result, incoming merchants could only squeeze together, with dense populations becoming one of the city’s defining features.
Amidst the flickering flames, dancing women twirled gracefully, and beautiful songs resonated from tall rooftops.
It couldn’t be referred to as heavenly sound, but it was above average. As a creator of spectacle himself, Li Hui could tell with just a glance how each business operated and its conditions.
Suddenly, he spotted a grand building ahead, with the characters “Guanglu Pavilion” shimmering in the light, visible from two streets away.
Li Hui scratched his bald head, pondering: “So there’s a Guanglu Pavilion in Tianlai City. If a monk like me makes large purchases of talismans, artifacts, alchemy, etc., it would be like announcing to everyone that I hail from the Jade Symbol Sect.”
“Master, what troubles you?” Someone approached from behind respectfully, offering a greeting—like a pillow being presented just as sleepiness arrived.
Li Hui casually replied, “Recently, I killed a demon cultivator and destroyed a convenient linked shovel, unexpectedly incurring greater enmity. This poor monk is willing to dissipate all his wealth to gather artifact fragments and reforge a convenient linked shovel.”
“Collecting artifact fragments can really forge Buddhist artifacts?” The newcomer was very surprised.
“Indeed! But I need a significant amount of artifact fragments; if not, low-level artifacts will suffice! If there are any Buddhist artifacts available here, I kindly ask for your assistance in acquiring them; the poor monk will surely offer generous rewards.” Li Hui bent over backward to convey the message: The man is foolish, the money’s plenty, hurry over!
Of course, others approached to inquire, sticking to the same narrative.
He was certain they would bring broken artifacts to test him, especially since if Guanglu Pavilion had an artifact master present, many discarded artifacts had likely accumulated over the years.
This was an open tactic; at most, he’d compare goods and negotiate the price. Li Hui didn’t take this too seriously; he had come to Tianlai City primarily to visit a master and seek methods for longevity.
“Where is the high-level cultivator?”
“Those who are slightly hidden in the wild, moderately concealed in the market, and greatly cloaked in the court.”
“This person has been living in Tianlai City for at least twenty years and doesn’t have much fame, or else Tianlai City would be much busier than it currently is. However, it’s possible that he occasionally comes out to help patients he finds appealing, so there should be some rumors about that.”
Li Hui began to wander around; whenever he encountered beggars, he tossed out handfuls of copper coins. Everyone guessed how much copper he carried in his large bag of treasures.
After scattering the coins, he ordered many large buns at the tavern to be sent to the beggars in Tianlai City, and finally gathered a piece of useful information.
