Chapter 223

Chapter 223: Qinyuan Immortal City

Unlike the Qinyuan Sect, Qinyuan City stood at the very heart of the entire Qinyuan Domain, serving as the hub connecting hundreds of large and small cities from all directions.

The distance to Maple Leaf City wasn’t far, but preparation still required an early departure.

In previous years, Tenth Elder Lin Ze, who oversaw the family logistics, had always led the team for procurements. This year was no exception.

When Zhou Luo arrived, besides Tenth Elder, Fifth Elder Lin Yan was also present in the group.

Additionally, there were the family guards and Third Young Lady Lin Xin.

Today, Lin Xin wore a simple dress, dignified and graceful as fine jade, showing less of her young mistress’s pride.

"Since everyone is here, let’s depart," Lin Ze said with a hearty laugh.

He then produced a specially crafted flying boat and tossed it onto the ground.

This flying boat was covered in various formation patterns and intricate, profound runes.

Clearly, it was a vessel designed for rapid assault and combat, with two formations inscribed respectively on its front and rear sections.

For this auction, the Lin Family was certain to make substantial purchases. To guard against any unforeseen incidents, they had specially prepared this flying boat.

Once everyone boarded, the flying boat slowly lifted off, heading towards Qinyuan City.

On the flying boat, Zhou Luo naturally sat side by side with Lin Xin.

Approximately five hours later, an enormous city appeared within everyone’s sight.

It was a sprawling metropolis sitting upon the land like a slumbering gigantic beast, emanating a grand and imposing presence.

Dim radiance shimmered above the city walls, surrounded by swirling white mist and dazzling yellow glows – this was the defensive grand formation.

Subconsciously releasing his mental strength as a formation master, Zhou Luo directed it towards the defensive grand formation. Instantly, he felt as if he had plunged into a Vast Ocean. The immense, boundless aura caused his face to pale slightly.

This was at least a Third Level formation.

With the auction approaching, other cultivators constantly flew by overhead. Some rode magical artifacts, others perched on flying beasts, while a few shot past like streaks of light.

Occasionally, Foundation Establishment cultivators passed by, radiating terrifying pressure that made others hastily yield the way.

The Lin Family, however, paid it no mind.

Because the Lin Family also had Foundation Establishment cultivators. In terms of true heritage, they had no reason to fear; moreover, they were now within Qinyuan City’s jurisdiction, and no one dared to actually attack.

Flight over Qinyuan City was prohibited. Therefore, nearing the Immortal City, everyone obediently descended to the ground and approached the city entrance.

The group bearing the Lin family emblem attracted the attention of many cultivators the moment they appeared. Some looked at them with respect, others wore expressions of disdain, and a few even directed expressions of greed towards Lin Xin.

Qinyuan City was a massive city gathering cultivators from all corners. Some loose cultivators, lacking deep roots or high status, behaved quite humbly. Yet others hailing from established factions inevitably displayed some arrogance.

The Qinyuan Domain wasn’t solely home to one sect and five long-life families; various factions, large and small, existed alongside them.

While these factions weren’t officially recognized, it didn’t mean they lacked strength.

Some even had Foundation Establishment cultivators presiding over them; it was just that their accumulated heritage couldn’t match the long-life families that had endured for centuries.

At the vast entrance gate rising ten zhang high, a continuous stream of cultivators formed orderly lines, filing quietly into the city.

This was the Immortal Sect’s territory. Even the long-life families had to abide by the rules.

Zhou Luo and the others merged with the flow of people. Due to their status, they entered the city directly without needing additional registration.

Qinyuan City was larger than Maple Leaf City, situated atop a top-quality small spiritual vein. It was divided into three major parts.

The first was the Outer City, where spiritual energy was relatively thinner. It was mostly inhabited by low-level cultivators and descendants of cultivators. Zhou Luo even spotted martial arts masters seeking immortality here.

This could be considered the boundary where the immortal realm met the mortal world.

The second part was the Inner City, where spiritual energy was denser. Most residents were cultivators. The city’s major stores, entertainment facilities, and such were all concentrated here. The venue for the auction this time was also located here.

The third part was the core area, which was also open to the public, but you had to pay quite a few spiritual stones to enter.

This was because the core area housed only powerful cultivators. Moreover, situated on the top-quality small spiritual vein, it possessed extremely rich spiritual energy.

Spiritual veins were categorized into six types based on size: micro, small, medium, large, and variant types.

Each category was further subdivided into four grades: low, medium, high, and top-quality.

For instance, Maple Leaf City, where the Lin Family resided, sat atop a medium-grade small spiritual vein.

Although this Qinyuan City was also on a small spiritual vein, its top-quality grade resulted in far richer spiritual energy.

Generally, if seeking to breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment stage, the core area of Qinyuan City would be the best choice.

For the spiritual energy here vastly surpassed other places. Moreover, it was governed by the Qinyuan Sect, ensuring no safety concerns.

It was said the Great Elder of the Lin Family was currently in the core area, though it remained unknown how much longer before his successful advancement to Foundation Establishment.

Lin Xin had told Zhou Luo all of this.

After listening to the introduction of this Immortal City, Zhou Luo pondered privately: if he ever needed to achieve a Foundation Establishment breakthrough in the future, he’d likely have to visit this city too.

The city was exceptionally bustling, cultivators flowing through the streets endlessly.

The group passed through the Outer City and headed straight to Tian Xia Restaurant in the Inner City.

"Father-in-law, do you know which Immortal Sect stands behind this Tian Xia Restaurant?"

Zhou Luo felt naturally curious about this restaurant that seemed omnipresent.

Lin Ze shook his head, whispering, "I’m not entirely sure. It’s said it has backing from members of the imperial clan."

The Imperial Family of Huoyun Country had always been the greatest power in this cultivation kingdom, their strength unfathomably deep.

No wonder Tian Xia Restaurant could be found everywhere across the nation.

Zhou Luo hefted the VIP token in his hand, wondering if it might bring him pleasant surprises later.

After checking into Tian Xia Restaurant, Zhou Luo and Lin Xin were forced to share a room once more.

This time, however, she had no excuses left, so he naturally took possession of the soft bed.

The auction would commence in three days. Lin Ze gave each of them a communication talisman and instructed them not to leave the Inner City.

After tucking away his communication talisman, Zhou Luo exited the restaurant, donned a mask, and headed for the various stores.

Having the chance to visit such an Immortal City, he naturally intended to shop thoroughly.

It had to be said, Qinyuan Immortal City truly lived up to its name as the first great city in the Qinyuan Domain. Materials of all kinds were abundant, even including Second Level ones.

Elated and flush with wealth, Zhou Luo immediately started purchasing those high-grade materials.

He particularly focused on talisman-making materials and alchemy ingredients. Future cultivation breakthroughs would undoubtedly require potions like Gathering Spirit Potion for support, while talismans were vital combat aids.

Somewhat disappointingly though, materials for magical artifacts proved harder to find than expected.

However, he gathered that the three remaining materials would be available at the auction, so he had to wait until then.

Three days of shopping cost Zhou Luo a full thousand spiritual stones, including over twenty medium-quality spiritual stones.

Though the expense was significant, he considered it worthwhile.

Upon returning home, he could finally refine various top-quality potions, top-quality symbols, and more.

When the three days passed, the eagerly anticipated auction was finally about to begin.