Chapter 611

Chapter 611: Immortal Registry

Wang Chen’s new home had never been so lively since its completion.

Zhang Mushan and his family of five were all invited to come.

Mrs. Zhang took the initiative to handle the kitchen duties, allowing her husband and Wang Chen to sip tea and chat.

Zhang Zhuanghu accompanied his two twin sisters in the yard, occasionally bursting into cheerful laughter, adding a touch of vitality and energy to the place.

Since Wang Chen’s home was located outside Feixu Valley, he could freely claim the land. His house was simply constructed, but the enclosed yard was quite spacious, with several large trees transplanted from nearby mountains.

Though it was the late summer and early autumn and the weather was warm, a cool breeze flowed through Wang Chen’s yard. Sitting leisurely and gazing at the rolling mountains in the distance brought a sense of tranquility and joy.

Zhang Mushan remarked, "It’s much more comfortable living outside the valley."

Although Feixu Valley was vast, the cultivators in Feixu Camp mostly gathered in a relatively small area, so most families, including Zhang Mushan’s, lived in modest homes.

This was necessary for defense; if every household were scattered, the defensive formations would need to be enormous, and the resources and daily consumption would be beyond what a small group of loose cultivators could bear.

Furthermore, if Feixu Valley were to face an attack, the cultivators gathered together could resist in the shortest time possible.

With increased safety came a significant decrease in comfort.

This was unavoidable; one cannot have both fish and bear’s paw!

Of course, Zhang Mushan was just expressing a thought; with a family and three children, safety was naturally the top priority for him.

“Daddy!”

At that moment, a lovely little girl rushed over and jumped into Zhang Mushan’s arms.

Zhang Mushan’s twin daughters were only four years old this year, the cutest age.

The Purple Palace cultivator smiled as he embraced his daughter, showing a face full of happiness.

Wang Chen couldn’t help but feel a hint of envy.

“Go play with your brother and sister,” he said, being affectionate with his daughter for a moment before letting her go.

Noticing Wang Chen’s gaze, he chuckled, "Children are the karmic debts that parents owe from their past lives."

Wang Chen nodded.

This saying truly applies to most cultivators.

Bringing forth the next generation is a costly endeavor for cultivators, especially for female cultivators.

Childbirth consumes their essence and requires substantial resource investment.

As a result, many cultivator couples choose to remain childless, unwilling to have children.

It’s rare for a Purple Palace cultivator like Zhang Mushan to have three!

Having children brings both ties and burdens.

Zhang Mushan watched his playful children and sighed, “I suppose I will never hope to condense my Golden Core in this lifetime; I only wish that one day they can enter the immortal registry.”

With the immortal registry comes the qualification to live in the immortal city—a place with an environment far superior to the wild camps.

Their descendants would also benefit from the immortal blessings.

As Wang Chen broached this topic, a spark of interest ignited within him.

He pressed further with a few more questions.

Having secured his loose cultivator status, he now stood on solid ground within the Haotian Realm.

Yet, to ascend further, obtaining the immortal registry was imperative.

Wang Chen was acutely aware of the challenges; otherwise, Zhang Mushan and the myriad of loose cultivators wouldn’t be sequestered in Feixu Valley.

To Wang Chen’s inquiries, Zhang Mushan offered a thorough explanation.

His knowledge in this domain was profound.

The immortal registry was distinct from the loose cultivator status; the latter could be acquired with ample spirit stones and a guarantor.

Zhang Mushan had facilitated Wang Chen’s loose cultivator status in Yongle Immortal City through a broker he was acquainted with.

This implied that the loose cultivator status was conferred by the immortal city.

However, the allocation of the immortal registry was under the jurisdiction of the Nine States Immortal Alliance!

To be considered for registration, one must first forge connections within the immortal city, secure the application qualifications, and preferably garner a recommendation from an immortal clan, followed by the alliance’s approval.

Navigating these hurdles was no small feat.

Indeed, the difficulty of obtaining the immortal registry was stratified.

The most accessible path was for the cultivation families within the alliance’s framework, each entitled to an annual quota for registration, which could be allocated to their progeny or new inductees.

Next in line were the resident cultivators of the immortal city; for instance, if both parents held the immortal registry and wished to register their offspring, an application was necessary.

Under favorable circumstances, registration could be achieved within three to five years; however, complications could extend this to eight or ten years, a not uncommon scenario.

Should the children of resident cultivators reach adulthood without registration, they would be barred from residing in the immortal city.

Feixu Valley harbored many such offspring of the city’s fallen nobility.

For loose cultivators like Zhang Mushan, the quest for the immortal registry was fraught with difficulty.

Compounded by his familial responsibilities, the challenge was even more daunting!

As for illegal residents like Wang Chen, even with loose cultivator status, if the alliance uncovered their dubious origins in the Haotian Realm, the prospect of obtaining the immortal registry would be a mere fantasy!

Wang Chen’s most promising avenue to the immortal registry was breaking through to the Golden Core stage; such an achievement would open the doors of most immortal cities to him, and the Nine States Immortal Alliance would not turn away a true immortal.

There was also a faint glimmer of hope in securing a special quota from the Nine States Immortal Alliance!

Concerned that his words might dishearten Wang Chen, Zhang Mushan added, "In the end, it all hinges on one’s fortune. I am confident that with your luck, Brother Wang, you will one day attain the immortal registry."

Wang Chen smiled and replied, "I appreciate your kind words, brother."

“Enough of the chatter.”

At that moment, Mrs. Zhang emerged from the kitchen, bearing a large, steaming platter of grilled meat, and beckoned, “The meal is ready; come and eat while it’s hot.”

“Let’s eat!”

Zhang Zhuanghu and his two sisters cheered as they gathered around the dining table, their mouths watering at the sight of the savory grilled meat.

Wang Chen and Zhang Mushan exchanged a smile and took their seats.

Wang Chen addressed Mrs. Zhang, “Thank you for your hard work, sister-in-law.”

“By the way,”

he retrieved the deer skin he had previously stashed in his Xumi Ring, “this is a small token from me; I hope you’ll accept it.”

Wang Chen had no interest in tanning the hide; this pristine Spotted Deer skin, with its moderate value, was ideal for a gift.

“Thank you.”

Mrs. Zhang accepted it with a beaming smile, saying, “Just in time to craft a few pairs of leather boots and gloves for the children.”

Given their amicable relationship, there was no need for excessive politeness over such a token.

“It’s an adult Spotted Deer, isn’t it?”

Zhang Mushan was taken aback. “Brother Wang, where did you hunt it?”

Upon hearing the answer, he was even more astonished: “You’re indeed fortunate; such prey is scarce around Dongli Mountain these days.”

Zhang Mushan often ventured out hunting, usually with the hunters from Feixu Camp to distant locales.

Wang Chen stroked his chin, “I do have a knack for good fortune.”

In truth, while luck played a part, he also had a way of tipping the scales in his favor.