The road is vague

Chapter 289 Jingzhou Yuancheng
When people talk about a certain sect, they often think of its outstanding disciples, Nascent Soul stage masters, and its profound heritage.

No one has ever paid attention to the batches of potential disciples who are constantly being screened out.

They were like firewood being added to keep a blazing fire burning, solely to select those high-level cultivators with greater potential, to maintain the sect's cultivation techniques, and to uphold the will of the nation's traditions.

Lü Cuicui is thirty-four years old this year.

In the mundane world, she would have long passed her youth and would be jokingly called a middle-aged woman, or mocked for being old and faded, and might even be a grandmother.

At Qingming Mountain of the Lingmu Sect, she was an insignificant low-level disciple of the Dharma Protection Hall, participating in training every day according to the rules of the Dharma Protection Hall and receiving a salary contribution that was neither too much nor too little.

Day after day, without end.

this day.

Lu Cuicui returned to her cave dwelling with a heavy heart.

She stared at the various puppet parts scattered haphazardly in front of her, lost in thought, until she heard her friend Lü Tong's voice from outside the door, which brought her back to her senses.

"Cui Cui!"

When Lü Cuicui arrived at the entrance of the cave, she smiled slightly at Lü Tong, which effectively concealed the bewilderment in her heart.

Why didn't you and your husband contemplate the Great Dao together today?

As a formation master of the Lü family, Lü Tong became a dual cultivation partner with a disciple of the Ye family three years ago. The ceremony was quite lively, and many disciples from the sect went to participate.

Lu Tong didn't take Lu Cuicui's teasing to heart.

She pulled out a transfer order with a grin.

"There is clear intelligence indicating that war in the Southern Barbarian Lands is imminent. Once conscripted into the military, whether they will survive will depend on fate. This is a transfer order for a disciple of the Lü family to serve as a disciple of the Four Seas Hall in Jingzhou. It is now worth a fortune!"

Lü Tong placed it in Lü Cuicui's arms.

“I’ve gotten it for you. With this, you won’t have to worry about being drafted by the military anymore.”

"This... thank you."

Lu Cuicui looked at the transfer order in her hand, her heart filled with mixed feelings.

"The war in the Southern Barbarian Lands is urgent. Before the conscription begins, you should leave Muzhou as soon as possible, or it will be too late."

"okay, I get it!"

After Lü Tong left, Lü Cuicui looked at the transfer order in her hand.

After lingering in front of the cave for a moment, she finally gritted her teeth and ran quickly towards the back of the mountain.

No matter what, she wanted to see that person again.

The closer Lü Cuicui got to Xiaoquan Peak, the more uneasy she felt.

She didn't know how to start a conversation.

Over the years, she has been unable to extricate herself from that situation, as if she were living in that day forever. She kept trying to investigate further until three months ago, when she finally found a senior uncle named Tong Yuan through Chen Rong, the great master of the Alchemy Hall, and was able to uncover the truth of the matter.

Only this senior uncle paid close attention to Li Mo's situation during the Battle of Qinglongtan and confirmed that Lü Shun had indeed deliberately concealed himself at the time.

"My brother had only been promoted not long before, and perhaps he wanted to help Li Mo secretly."

Lu Cuicui no longer hoped that Li Mo could reconcile with her. She just wanted to tell Li Mo in person that Chen Rong was ashamed and that they had both forgiven him from the bottom of their hearts.

However, just as Lü Cuicui arrived at the foot of Xiaoquan Peak and was about to use the sound transmission talisman, she was stopped by an old man who had no breath.

"Cough cough."

To Lü Cuicui's astonishment, the old man reached out and stopped the communication talisman, looking at her.

Upon seeing this, Lü Cuicui was greatly surprised and immediately bowed in respect.

"Disciple Lü Cuicui greets Hall Master Lu!"

"Okay, come with me."

Lu Qi, the head of the Dharma Protector Hall, has been secretly on guard here for several days.

Now he finally met Lü Cuicui. Without saying a word, he gestured for Lü Cuicui to follow him. The two then arrived at the main peak of Qingming Mountain and entered the main hall of the Dharma Protector Hall.

Lü Cuicui was filled with unease.

Lu Qi then handed her a cup of spiritual tea, gesturing for her to relax.

“Li Mo is my most outstanding disciple. As his master, I have watched him grow up day by day, so I will play the villain.”

Lu Qi sat opposite Lü Cuicui, his voice somewhat low.

“Now that Li Mo is a true disciple of our sect, his advancement to the Golden Core stage is just around the corner. At that time, his lifespan will easily reach six or seven Jiazi, and his future will be limitless. As for you… you have not yet been able to advance to the Foundation Establishment stage. Even if the two of you are forced to be together, you will be separated by the difference between immortals and mortals and will not be able to stay together for a long time. Do you understand what I mean?”

Lu Cuicui stared blankly at Lu Qi, tears welling up in her eyes.

"But I just wanted to clarify things face-to-face, I've already..."

I don't think that's necessary.

After taking a deep breath, Lu Qi resumed speaking softly.

“I am Li Mo’s master. I know that Li Mo is easily influenced and can’t stand seeing his loved ones suffer. He never considers his own interests when doing things, but pursues what he wants, is clear-headed, and has a clear conscience. If you cry in front of him, who knows what trouble you will cause. If you really like him, you should leave him and wish him a bright future.”

At this point, a hint of guilt flashed in Lu Qi's eyes as he looked out of the main hall.

He took out a bulging storage bag.

"This is the five thousand spirit stones that the Dharma Protector Hall is giving you as a subsidy. It will be enough for your daily expenses in Jingzhou. Li Mo is a true disciple of our sect. The sect has already arranged a better candidate for Li Mo. This is a better choice for him, for the Lü family, and for the sect."

Lü Cuicui's lips trembled.

She suppressed her inner pain, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably.

She then slowly rose, without taking the spirit stones, and walked absently towards the outside of the main hall. Amidst Lu Qi's reluctant sigh, she disappeared at the end of the main path of the Dharma Protector Hall.

Only after Lü Cuicui had completely disappeared from sight did Lu Qi suddenly stand up, seemingly recalling his youthful days. He once thought that as long as he achieved mastery of his cultivation, he would win the love of his beloved and live happily ever after.

until that day.

He truly achieved great success in his cultivation, but when he saw his beloved again, everything had changed. The person she loved was the one who was young, naive, and constantly striving to cultivate, not the one who had achieved great success and was on the path to enlightenment.

……

a few days later.

Sima Fu led Li Mo to the teleportation pavilion.

Sima Fu, holding the sect leader's token, could use the military's teleportation array unconditionally; Li Mo was merely an accessory to him.

"Go to Yuancheng in Jingzhou."

"Yes."

As the teleportation array was activated, the celestial orbit ring in the air began to rotate continuously. Li Mo vaguely felt his body being stretched and squeezed, and couldn't help but let out a muffled groan.

"Don't fight it, try to adapt to it."

Sima Fu's words startled Li Mo.

He tried his best to adapt as Sima Fu had instructed, but unfortunately the teleportation time was too short. Before he could even comprehend it, his figure twisted and he appeared in another, more spacious bluestone hall.

Inside this main hall, there are six stone steps, representing six teleportation arrays.

"Could it be the Sixth Gate of the East?"

Li Mo thought to himself.

"Greetings, senior. This way, please."

Two cultivators clad in silver armor looked at the two people emerging from the teleportation array and respectfully clasped their hands in a fist and bow to Sima Fu.

"kindness."

Sima Fu did not say much.

He led the slightly unsteady Li Mo out of the main hall and into a more spacious hall. Li Mo looked back and saw that there were six floors and eighteen rooms in this teleportation hall.

The two-story, six-room teleportation pavilion was bustling with people.

Sima Fu noticed Li Mo's curiosity and stepped forward to explain.

“Jingzhou is different from our Muzhou. The prosperity here is far beyond what Muzhou can compare to. These two teleportation arrays, one leads to various counties in Jingzhou and the other leads to various districts in Yuancheng. They are part of the basic living facilities of Yuancheng.”

"this?"

Li Mo was dumbfounded.

Li Mo could understand the existence of teleportation arrays that led to various counties in Jingzhou.

However, it is quite unbelievable that teleportation arrays have been set up in all areas and streets of Yuan City.

In Li Mo's mind, Yuancheng, though large, was still just a city.

"Don't think that Yuancheng is just an ordinary city. This is the center of the Great Qian Kingdom, the place where the Holy Monarch Qian Yuan resides. After more than two thousand years of development, Yuancheng has long become the largest city in the Mountain and Sea Realm. This is the pride of us Great Qian people..."

Following Sima Fu's words, Li Mo followed him onto the street.

He looked at the wide, flat streets, where wooden oxen and flowing horses were everywhere. All the wooden oxen and flowing horses followed the routes on the road and shuttled between the streets in an orderly manner.

The streets are lined with stone lamps, and the towering buildings are exquisitely decorated, exuding understated luxury.

A protective strip of spiritual plants was planted in front of the shops, and people strolling around dressed in gorgeous brocade and silk, showing courtesy and consideration for each other.

Everyone had a relaxed and natural smile on their face.

The sky is filled with flying boats, flying chariots, spirit birds, and spirit beasts, which the people living here have long been accustomed to. Layers of spiritual light from the array cover the sky, keeping the temperature in Yuan City pleasant at all times.

"That's the palace over there, also known as the Six Doors."

Following Sima Fu's direction, Li Mo looked at the six towering cliffs and sacred mountains within the city.

These six spiritual mountains are not large, but they are exceptionally steep and towering, almost sheer cliffs. At the top of the mountain are towering and majestic buildings that are faintly visible. Dense pillars of spiritual energy extend into the sky, forming a huge vortex, like a celestial eye overlooking the mortal world.

The entire Yuan City was built around these six sacred mountains, forming a super megacity.

Hundreds of towering, brightly lit towers, each about a hundred feet tall, are scattered throughout the city.

Li Mo was utterly astonished by the prosperity and wealth of Yuan City. He stood on the street for a long time without saying a word. He finally understood why the emperor of the Qian Kingdom was called the Qian Yuan Holy Ruler.

Yuancheng is the pride of the Qian Kingdom.

This is the largest city in the area between mountains and sea today.

The people who live here are fortunate in themselves.

"I need to go to the central cabinet first to present the confidential letter. It will probably take two or three days to get a result. In the meantime, I plan to visit a few more friends. You can wander around Yuan City on your own. I will contact you by voice later. Remember, the princess's matter involves royal secrets, so you must not say a word, lest you bring trouble upon yourself."

"Yes!"

After Li Mo came to his senses and agreed, Sima Fu chuckled.

"Don't be so reserved. Now that you're here, you have to adapt to the environment."

Say it.

This master painter casually summoned a wooden ox and flowing horse, comfortably leaned back on it, pointed to the distance with the coachman, and drove off leisurely.

"Yancheng."

After muttering to himself, Li Mo suddenly remembered something and took out a slip of paper from his storage ring.

This was the home address that his good friend Wang Feng had left for him when he left Qingming Mountain. He hadn't seen him for so many years and wondered how he was doing.

(End of this chapter)