Immortal Creation.

Chapter 683 Renting a Cave Dwelling
A moment later, Ning Zhuo parted ways with Shen Xi and Su Lingkou outside the main hall.

Watching Ning Zhuofei's departing figure, Su Lingkou stood beside her cousin and asked in confusion, "Cousin, you are the genius and hope of our clan. Your goal in joining the Myriad Manifestations Sect is to become a true disciple."

"What merit or ability does this person possess that makes you condescend to befriend him?"

Shen Xi said, "Didn't you see? Fellow Daoist Ning Zhuo and another cultivator came together via the teleportation array. Although that person concealed his aura, only revealing some Confucian cultivator's aura, he did not pay for the teleportation array."

"This reminds me that the Myriad Manifestations Sect has this policy. Any cultivator with the status of a true disciple does not need to pay when returning to the sect."

Su Ling asked, "I see."

"But the situation where no payment is required isn't limited to true disciples, is it?"

"Moreover, even if his companions are true disciples, their relationship might not be close. Perhaps they just happened to meet on the road."

“Cousin, think about it, if he really has an elder in the Myriad Elephant Sect, why would he need to buy such expensive information?”

Shen Xi nodded: "You're right, that's all possible."

Su Lingkou revealed a hint of anger: "Ning Zhuo is a bit ungrateful. You, cousin, took the initiative to invite him to rent a cave together and travel together, but he refused. If this were in our Nine Palaces Immortal City, countless cultivators would flock here and be extremely grateful to you, cousin."

Shen Xi frowned slightly and became serious: "Cousin, this kind of arrogance is unacceptable."

"My aptitude and strength may be among the best in the Nine Palaces Immortal City, but this is the Myriad Manifestations Sect!"

“Every Flying Cloud Assembly is a gathering of wise men and geniuses. Cultivators in similar situations to me, or even stronger than me, will come here to show their strongest stance and strive to join the Myriad Manifestations Sect at a high level.”

Su Ling stuck out her tongue, took Shen Xi's arm, and gently shook it, saying with an admiring tone, "Even so, I still believe that you, cousin, are the most dazzling among these geniuses."

"You..." Shen Xi shook his head slightly, sighed indulgently, and stopped blaming his cousin.

He watched Ning Zhuo disappear into the clouds, a clear light flashing in his eyes: "Although Fellow Daoist Ning Zhuo is simply dressed, he has a natural air about him and communicates with us with ease and leisure."

"Even if he doesn't come from a super family, he certainly isn't from a humble background."

Su Ling thought for a moment, and this time she did not refute: "That's true."

Ning Zhuo stepped on a flying cloud and slowly walked in the high sky.

This technique of riding the clouds and mist was something he created on the spot, based on the scene before him.

The elements of clouds and water are closely related. Ning Zhuo's understanding of the Five Elements is profound, so achieving this is not difficult for him.

At first, he moved slowly, focusing more on observing his surroundings.

Within the main gate of the Myriad Manifestations Sect, towering peaks stand tall, numerous halls are established, and countless people traverse the clouds and sky. The scene appears chaotic, yet it contains unspoken rules of conduct.

With the contents of the jade slip in his hand for reference, Ning Zhuo quickly adapted.

Sometimes he would veer off onto side streets and walk alone. Other times he would merge into the crowd and walk onto the main road.

In a moment, he dispersed from the clouds and landed on the summit of a broken peak.

The mountaintop was leveled off, and a palace stood there.

The palace is made of black stone, with hidden spiritual patterns flowing through it; golden talismans guard the gate, making it solemn and majestic.

The palace was not large, and could not compare with the trading hall we had just visited, but it was crowded with people, and people were constantly coming and going from the palace entrance.

This is a branch of the Inner Affairs Hall.

Ning Zhuo entered the room, and soon after, he was led away by a middle-aged cultivator.

"Fellow Daoist Ning Zhuo, do you have a vehicle to ride?" The middle-aged cultivator asked as they approached the cliff.

Ning Zhu shook his head, made a hand seal, and formed a cloud of mist under his feet.

The middle-aged cultivator opened his beast-taming pouch and summoned a four-winged flying centipede. Several rows of seats were arranged on the centipede's back.

He beckoned to Ning Zhuo: "Your cloud speed is slow, come ride my flying centipede."

Ning Zhuo cupped his hands in thanks: "Then thank you very much, senior."

The middle-aged cultivator quickly replied politely, "We are both Foundation Establishment cultivators, so I can hardly be called a senior."

Ning Zhuo chose a seat and sat down. The middle-aged cultivator stomped his foot, and the flying centipede spread its wings and took flight. It was indeed very fast.

The middle-aged cultivator stomped his foot again, and array patterns lit up on the chair, forming a light shield that blocked the mountain wind and clouds that rushed towards him.

He explained, "Before each Flying Cloud Conference, a large number of cultivators would flood into the main gate, and they would come to rent cave dwellings."

"I've been so busy lately that I'm dizzy, but the tasks keep piling up."

"Therefore, we should try to save time on the journey."

"If Fellow Daoist Ning Zhuo has taken a liking to this place, he should rent it as soon as possible. It's very likely that this spot will be snatched up by someone else in the next moment. Not everyone will conduct an on-site inspection; some people make their decisions simply by reading the jade slip inside the hall."

Ning Zhuo quickly thanked the other party for the reminder, and then stuffed ten mid-grade spirit stones into their hand.

The middle-aged cultivator immediately became more enthusiastic, and his smile became much more sincere than before.

A moment later, the flying centipede landed, and the two arrived at the first cave.

"This is Lingfeng Slope, which has eight cave dwellings. What we see here is the most luxurious of the eight cave dwellings."

The middle-aged monk pointed to the cave at the top, then shook the token to open the cave entrance's restriction.

The cave entrance is quite wide and unobstructed, allowing plenty of sunlight to pour in, making the inner stone walls appear warm and smooth like jade.

The two entered the cave.

The cave is quite dry and clean, with stone tables and benches, and several shallow natural stone niches on the walls where books and objects can be placed.

Behind the cave, there is a stone well with water that is icy cold.

The middle-aged cultivator said, "Although this cave dwelling is not large, it is definitely enough for one person to live in."

"Look at this scenery, isn't it beautiful?"

The two stood at the cave entrance, gazing into the distance.

The view here is indeed expansive, with a gentle slope covered in lush green grass, interspersed with tiny, star-like yellow wildflowers.

The clouds high in the sky are not dense, but rather scattered and peaceful.

The brilliant sunlight shone through the clouds, occasionally forming beams of light that were bright but not dazzling.

A mighty mountain wind surged in from the horizon, making one's clothes flutter and bringing a refreshing feeling.

The middle-aged cultivator smiled and said, "The layout is clear and the view is excellent. With plenty of sunlight, it's the easiest place to cultivate a noble spirit. In the morning, you can watch the sunrise and the clouds and rosy hues; at night, you can almost pluck the stars from the sky." "The monthly payment of fifty mid-grade spirit stones is a bit high, but the extra cost is all in the artificial spirit well. Overall, it's not expensive at all."

Ning Zhuo nodded calmly, his tone indifferent: "The spiritual veins of Lingfeng Slope are thin, which is why the spiritual well was built to convert more spiritual energy."

"The scenery here is indeed expansive, but precisely because of this, the mighty mountain winds act like a sieve, constantly scattering the spiritual energy gathered here."

The middle-aged cultivator's expression froze: "Fellow Daoist Ning's comments are reasonable."

Ning Zhuo turned to him and smiled: "Just looking at this cave dwelling, I know that choosing to investigate in person was the right decision. Please continue to lead the way, fellow Daoist."

The middle-aged cultivator's expression softened, and he forced a smile: "Fellow Daoist Ning, this way please."

The two rode flying centipedes away from this place, and their second stop was a valley.

The rocks were crimson, as if they had been forged in a raging fire. Even before getting close, a warm sensation wafted over you. Visible to the naked eye, several thin veins of fire flowed slowly among the rocks in the valley, distorting the air slightly and creating a halo of ruby-like light.

"This is the Jia Ding Cave in the Riftfire Valley." The middle-aged cultivator opened the barrier and led Ning Zhuo in.

This cave was carved into a huge red rock wall.

The entrance to the cave is narrow, but the interior is a completely different world, divided into two sections.

The outer stone chamber was dry and warm, with faint spiritual light emanating from the stone walls, all of which were fire spirit stones.

Inside was a natural fire chamber deep within the earth's veins. A perfectly round fire pit was carved into the center of the ground, and below, the muffled pulse of subterranean fire emanated, its heat astonishing.

The walls are decorated with magic array patterns and talismans. The former is used to guide the flow of energy, and the latter to control the fire, which is extremely helpful for alchemy and weapon crafting.

The middle-aged cultivator pointed to the fire pit on the ground, the red light making his face glow. "Fellow Daoist Ning, look at this fire vein. Although it is not top-tier, it is stable and controllable. The formation of the fire pit is stable and exquisite. With a little familiarity, one can accurately control the firepower."

"With this earth fire in hand, refining ordinary pills and tempering entry-level magic weapons will be twice as effective with half the effort! The monthly payment is eighty mid-grade spirit stones, but there is a reason for the high price."

Compared to before, his tone was no longer so exaggerated, but rather factual.

Ning Zhuo walked around the inner room, his expression indifferent: "There is no way to set up an array on these walls. The array at the fire pit can only guide the flow, and the talismans can only control the fire, but they cannot stop the heat from overflowing."

"Therefore, this cave is suitable for fire-attribute cultivators or those with strong physiques to live in for a long time. Ordinary cultivators living here will inevitably feel restless and agitated. Moreover, being deep in the earth's veins, the atmosphere is scorching and stifling. If one does not have the mind to refine pills and artifacts, it will become torture."

"Uh." The middle-aged cultivator was speechless, but he had to admit that Ning Zhuo's words made sense.

The two then set off again, riding on the flying centipede and flying to a small peak.

This place is cool and secluded, with ancient trees reaching for the sky and vines like curtains. The sunlight is blocked by the towering mountains, leaving only clear light filtering through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows.

The air was moist, carrying the unique fragrance of grass and soil, along with a refreshing coolness, which quickly dispelled the heat they had felt in the Fire Rift Valley.

The middle-aged cultivator waved his waist token, causing the emerald green vines to rise like a rolled-up curtain. The restriction was lifted, revealing the cave dwelling.

Inside, the lighting is dim, but not gloomy; instead, it gives one a profound sense of tranquility.

The cave was deep and the stone walls were cool, smooth, and damp to the touch.

Above the rock face, clear mountain spring water seeps out along natural cracks in the rocks, dripping into a small, smooth, mirror-like pool below, the sound of the water tinkling like the tinkling of jade pendants.

A ring of moss grew around the edge of the pool, clearly a spiritual plant planted by humans, emitting a faint light and a subtle spiritual aura.

The deepest part of the cave is quite spacious, with a flat stone and jade bed.

The middle-aged cultivator already knew that Ning Zhuo was easygoing but had his own ideas, so he simply introduced the place: "Fellow Daoist Ning, as you can see, this cave is secluded and tranquil, with a refreshing coolness. The arrangement of the spring and the stone pool is made in accordance with the local conditions, and the sound of dripping water can help to concentrate the mind and meditate. The monthly fee is thirty mid-grade spirit stones, which is quite affordable."

He was prepared to be rejected, but for some reason, Ning Zhuo took a liking to this ordinary cave dwelling and said directly, "This is the place."

The middle-aged cultivator was surprised for a moment, then quickly took out a jade slip to register the transaction and signed a contract, asking Ning Zhuo to pay three months' rent: "I'll refund any overpayment and make up any underpayment, Fellow Daoist Ning, I'll be leaving now."

"Take care, I won't see you off." Ning Zhuo saw the middle-aged cultivator out of the cave entrance and then stopped.

The middle-aged cultivator flew away from the small peak, while Ning Zhuo remained standing at the cave entrance, gazing into the distance.

Opposite to Xiaofeng, there is another mountain peak, but it is taller and more magnificent.

On the sunny side of the mountain peak, there was a small lake, its surface calm and still, like a jade mirror. Ning Zhuo knew the lake was called Biyu (Jade). At the bottom of the lake was a cave dwelling called Shuyu Zhai, which was the cave dwelling of his mother, Meng Yaoyin, before her death.

After Meng Yaoyin's death, the soul lamp she left behind in the Myriad Manifestations Sect was extinguished. According to the rules of the Myriad Manifestations Sect, her possessions, including this cave dwelling, must be sealed for a hundred years, reserved for her blood descendants or successors recruited from outside.

One hundred years later, the Myriad Manifestations Sect reclaimed its cave dwelling.

Of course, this treatment is only given to true disciples of the Golden Elixir lineage.

In the jade slip, the Buddhist physician Meng Yaoyin explained that most of her belongings were in her cave dwelling, Shuyu Zhai.

However, under another pretext, she rented a cave dwelling on the opposite mountain peak. Cleverly, she carved out a hidden teleportation array from the rocks, which led directly to the Shuyu Zhai (a Buddhist temple).

The intelligence jade slip that Ning Zhuo acquired clearly states that, as a successor, inheriting the cave dwelling and relics of one's predecessors requires strict review by the Internal Affairs Hall.

The review process is quite complicated and takes a long time.

The successor must prove their identity. Then, the Internal Affairs Hall will transfer the investigation to the External Affairs Hall. The External Affairs Hall will dispatch monks to investigate, and the monks will travel long distances to return to the External Affairs Hall with the results. The External Affairs Hall will then transfer the results to the Internal Affairs Hall.

Once the Household Department confirms the facts, it will begin the process of transferring assets.

This process alone often takes more than half a year. Not to mention how time-consuming the overseas investigation process is, and what unexpected things might happen.

Having realized this, Ning Zhuo decided to sneak in first and take the money into his hands.

To prevent the Great Serpent Scythe from acting strangely, Ning Zhuo was instructed to immediately burn the relics, but he was still waiting for the Foreign Affairs Hall's investigation report.

Ning Zhuo activated the restriction and lowered the vine curtain, completely concealing the cave's exit.

He went deep into the cave, lifted his clothes to reveal the Myriad Dragon Sword tied to his waist, and released Sun Lingtong, Qingchi, and the old cook.

Sun Lingtong had been bored for a long time, and jumped up excitedly as soon as her feet touched solid ground.

The old cook, being steady and reliable, asked Ning Zhuo for permission and, after receiving it, went to another room to start cooking.

Qing Chi stayed beside Ning Zhuo, staring at him.

Ning Zhuo: "Miss Qingchi, why are you looking at me like that?"

Qing Chi's eyes flickered slightly: "We have been separated for a long time, and I miss you very much. I just want to see you more."

Although she has amnesia, she still maintains her previous direct and frank style.

Ning Zhuo sighed deeply: "Miss Qing Chi, I have already told you the truth. Your feelings are just a misunderstanding."

(End of this chapter)