Ziwei Immortal Path

Chapter 172 Entering the City
Although Xu Boyang was seriously injured in the battle, he was overjoyed and couldn't put down the magic artifact.

At this moment, upon seeing the "Gentle Touch" appear, Monk Li couldn't help but feel a little intimidated. After a pause, he said:

“Master, Leopard Skin Gonghu was one of the top candidates for the next Cuan Chief of the Leopard Skin Gong tribe. Now that he is dead, if Cuan Chief Leopard Skin Gongwei finds out, he will surely go mad. We should leave as soon as possible.”

"Ah."

Xu Boyang nodded. He naturally understood the implications. The Leopard Skin Clan was one of the major powers outside Wubi City. Although the Cuan Lord Leopard Skin Gongwei was not present, they were still not to be underestimated. Who knew what demons and monsters were hiding in the mountains? Now that Leopard Skin Gongwei was dead, it would inevitably cause some turmoil. It was not advisable to stay here for long.

With a flick of his finger, the "Gentle Touch" slipped into his sleeve, and with a snap, he extinguished the campfire.

"Everything is done, let's go!"

After saying this, he put the monk Li into the [Yin Shen Buddha Shrine], then flicked his sleeves and flew out of the cave, transforming into a streak of black light and heading north.

Ten days later.

Suddenly the terrain rose higher, and Xu Boyang crossed a mountain ridge and stepped onto the territory of the land without walls.

The snow-covered plains stretched as far as the eye could see, and the dark mountain ranges stretched for miles. Many of the peaks below shimmered with spiritual light, indicating that they were all owned by someone.

Having been delayed for so long on his journey, Xu Boyang had no intention of lingering any longer. He merely glanced at it from high above and then swept past.

After flying for another ten days, a huge city suddenly rose from the ground in the winding mountain range.

This city is like a giant between heaven and earth, sitting majestically among the high mountains and peaks, a magnificent sight, like a dragon coiled and a tiger crouching, even more imposing than Yuchuan City in Qingshen.

This city is naturally known as Wubi City, the largest city in the country.

Upon arriving here, the wind stopped, the snow ceased, clouds rose and rosy hues appeared, and the wind howled. Suddenly, there were many more streaks of light in all directions in the sky, and Xu Boyang secretly kept a safe distance.

After probing with his divine sense, the Demon Lord discovered that there were quite a few Taoist Foundation Establishment cultivators, Confucian Spirit Nourishing Masters, and a very small number of Bodhi Bhikkhus among the flowing light. However, everyone was in a hurry and disappeared in an instant. This city was indeed full of hidden talents and powerful figures.

A moment later, as they approached the city, the massive and towering city gate appeared and disappeared amidst the clouds and mist. Xu Boyang saw many streaks of light turning and falling, and understanding dawned on him. He then floated down as well.

"Heaven and earth are dark and yellow, the universe is vast and boundless, cold comes and heat goes, autumn harvests and winter stores, all who come and go are passersby, all who leave and stay are friends. Forgive me for not being able to see which face you are, please take out your 'Boundless Token' and wait for verification. If you don't have one, get out of here as soon as possible, lest you make a fool of yourself."

The city gate was crowded with people, forming a long queue. At the front, a man wearing a purple and blue brocade robe and with a short beard spoke, his gaze coldly fixed on the crowd.

After Xu Boyang established his foundation, his spiritual sense had become much stronger. As his gaze shifted, his spiritual sense naturally expanded, and he discovered that the speaker was a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator from a Daoist school. Moved, he couldn't help but feel a slight surprise:

"This Wubi City is indeed quite powerful. This late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator is already a powerful figure in Qing Shen, or a disciple of a celestial sect. Yet here he is merely a gatekeeper. I wonder who this Wubi City Lord is? That so many heroes would bow down before him!"

"Senior, Foundation Establishment cultivators do not need to wait. Please hold your token and come this way."

Xu Boyang was about to join the queue and take out his token to follow behind when a young cultivator suddenly appeared from the crowd. He was all smiles and bowing, and Xu Boyang gestured for Xu to follow him.

"This person is... a Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Daoist sect?"

The people around were a little surprised. They hadn't noticed that there was a Taoist Foundation Establishment cultivator hidden in the crowd. They all stepped aside and looked at Xu Boyang.

"Excuse me."

Seeing many gazes coming from around him, each pair of eyes filled with conflicting emotions, Xu Boyang felt overwhelmed by the crowd and, without thinking too much, followed Xiao Xiu through the throng.

Upon arriving at the city gate, the late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator in the purple-blue brocade robe glanced at Xu Boyang and said indifferently:
"Fellow Daoist, you need to present your token before entering the city."

"clear."

Xu Boyang gave a simple reply, took out the brass token he had just intended to take out from his sleeve, and held it in his palm.
"The token is here."

"A Yellow-level token?"

Xiao Xiu, standing beside him, craned his neck and glared at him, his mouth agape in surprise. He clicked his tongue and asked a question, though he didn't say anything more, his disappointment was palpable. The moment he looked up, he seemed like a completely different person, his face filled with disdain. Without even glancing at Xu Boyang, he said irritably,
"Farewell, senior. I will not see you off further."

The cultivator in the purple and blue brocade robe, seeing his expression change faster than flipping through a book, couldn't help but chuckle softly. He pointed at Xu Boyang and said:
"Fellow Daoist, it seems this is your first time here. Look, after passing through the South Gate, channel your spiritual energy into the token, and it will open a slit, allowing you to enter the city."

"Thank you."

Xu Boyang noticed the change in their expressions and felt a little strange, but he didn't ask any questions. He immediately thanked them, took the token, and walked through the city gate.

Suddenly, a tremendous force blocked his way, making it impossible to move an inch. Xu Boyang felt a chill in his heart and had no choice but to hold the token and draw it across the void. The void was cut open by the Wubi Token, flashing with purple light, as if revealing another world.

But in the blink of an eye, the opening was slowly closing.

Upon seeing this, he immediately slipped inside and entered the city. The four main streets and eight lanes came into view, and he was immediately struck by their beauty and slightly moved.

It turns out that there is another world inside this city without walls. So, the city seen from outside is probably an illusion. It seems that there must be some kind of illusion array in this city without walls that can deceive the eyes and spiritual senses, covering everything inside the city.

As a result, outsiders, standing on high ground, could only see the city walls but could not see anything inside.

If it's your first time here, the sights in the city are truly eye-opening.

Once past the city gate, one finds a vast square. Beyond the square, the city's houses rise and fall in a neat, orderly fashion, their roofs stretching endlessly. Spirit beasts soar and cultivators fly, the sky shimmering with colorful light. On the ground, the streets are bustling with people, many strange and wonderful creatures and cultivators in various attire walking along the streets, chatting and laughing.

A young and beautiful woman in a Taoist robe walked past, arm in arm with a burly tiger demon with a bare upper body.

In one corner of the street, there were quite a few children and a group of sheep demon cubs chasing each other, playing a game.

Three Li shamans suddenly appeared from the ground, holding Southern Shaman artifacts in their hands. They chatted and laughed as they gestured, seemingly comparing newly purchased items.

Above the sky, there were monks with their sleeves folded and hands clasped together, chanting scriptures as they flew, and there were scholars riding flying shuttles, holding books, shaking their heads and reciting eloquently.

Xu Boyang was overwhelmed with emotion, thinking to himself,

"Is this the Wallless City, which is said to be the epitome of universal harmony?"

"Is this Foundation Establishment senior from the Daoist sect heading to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion of the Daoist Mansion?"

As Xu Boyang looked around, a young man dressed as a servant approached him with a bow and a smile. After glancing at him, Xu Boyang realized that he was a cultivator at the fourth level of the Qi Condensation stage. He wondered how the young man could tell that he was at the Foundation Establishment stage.

His mind raced, and he asked:
"Any other recommendations?" "Senior, to be honest, among the six areas of Wubi City, the Dao Mansion is not as bustling as the Demon Mansion, but it is the most honest and trustworthy. Among them, Baizhenlou is the top shop in Dao Mansion. It has everything that Daoists need. There is no one that Baizhenlou does not know, only you may not know."

"Senior, it seems this is your first time here. Although there are many shops in Wubi City and the prices are cheap, they are all common goods with nothing of value. You didn't come all this way just to buy some healing pills, did you?"

Upon seeing Xu Boyang's response, the servant immediately launched into a long-winded speech, patting his chest and saying,
"Please rest assured, senior. I am just a guide. To be honest, I will only charge you five spirit stones for taking you there. You will only get the reward after you make a purchase at the store. Whether you buy or not is up to you, senior. I am just earning a little money for my hard work."

"You're quite honest."

Xu Boyang glanced at the man and smiled knowingly. No one gets up early for nothing in this world. If he is not a scoundrel, then he must be driven by profit. However, since the man is speaking frankly, he can be considered a kind person.

Xu Boyang traveled a great distance to Wubi City in the north of Baima for two reasons. First, he wanted to find out about the current situation of the world and the situation of Langmo and Niushan. Second, he naturally came to purchase and refine life-supporting magic treasures.

"Alright, lead the way."

"Alright! This way, please, senior!"

The Taoist servant was overjoyed and eagerly led the way, using his "Divine Speed ​​Technique" as he spoke.
"I'm sorry, senior. Except for the city government, flying is not prohibited in Wubi City. However, my cultivation is too low and I cannot fly. I can only trouble you to use your strength."

"It doesn't matter."

Xu Boyang followed behind at a leisurely pace, his hands behind his back, and replied softly upon hearing this.

He was naturally magnanimous and never fussed over trivial matters. Even after reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, he remained unpretentious. Besides, he had originally planned to take a stroll and see what Wubi City, known as the largest city in the country, was really like. Faced with the servant's apology, he simply dismissed it with two words.

The two walked on golden light, passing through streets and alleys. The servant boy talked incessantly, explaining the local customs and culture of Wubi City.
"Senior, Wubi City is divided into six major areas, but there is not much difference between them. It's just that the cultivators under the jurisdiction of the six prefectures gather together according to their kind. The rule that private fighting is prohibited in Wubi City is a strict law set by the city lord, and no one dares to violate it."

"So please rest assured, senior. Murder and robbery, forced buying and selling, and such things will never happen in Wubi City. However, you still need to be careful. After all, Wubi City is a mixed bag. You can know a person's face but not their heart. It is still an unchanging consensus in the world that wealth should not be flaunted."

Xu Boyang chuckled, surprised that this young cultivator was so enthusiastic. He couldn't help but be curious about him, but the thought quickly passed and he didn't ask about his situation.

Now that Qing Shen is dead, Xu Boyang understands that he can no longer have any ties. Everything should be focused on cultivation. If he cannot strengthen himself, how can he talk about the path to immortality, protecting others, or reviving Taoism?

My encounter with this servant was merely a chance meeting where we each got what we wanted; it didn't constitute any real friendship. Besides, I had no idea what kind of background he had, and even if I asked, I wouldn't be able to tell the truth since I was new here.

Silence is the best answer.

The servant spoke for a while, but seeing that Xu Boyang had no further response, he awkwardly scratched his head and smiled, then dared not say anything more, and simply led him forward.

After a while, the two stopped at a wide avenue. The street was very wide, and in the middle was a tall building that was huge and very dazzling.

"Senior, this is Baizhenlou."

The servant led Xu Boyang to the front of the building and said something.

Xu Boyang stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the six-story building with its carved beams and painted rafters. The entrance was bustling with people, and two waiters were busy attending to them.

"Hey! Foundation Establishment Senior, please come in, please come upstairs!"

A waiter at the door saw Xu Boyang, his eyes lit up, and he quickly stepped forward.

Xu Boyang bowed slightly to the servant leading the way as a farewell, and then followed the staff of Baizhenlou upstairs to the second floor. When he arrived at the counter, he saw a fat manager.

The man was heavily pregnant, his entire belly protruding from the counter. He glanced at Xu Boyang, his face expressionless.

"Fellow disciple, are you looking to buy or sell goods?"

Xu Boyang glanced at him and realized that the other party was a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator. He smiled and said:
"It should be... available for both buying and selling... I mainly want to see what I want."

"Look at what you're saying, is this your first time here? Never mind, we have whatever you want, but the key is how much you're capable of. Baizhenlou has no stock, but we'll compensate you for every item you ask for."

The portly shopkeeper glanced at him, replied with one sentence, and then asked:
"Fellow disciple, where is the Wall Token?"

Xu Boyang was slightly taken aback, not expecting that buying things in Wubi City required a Wubi Token. He then took out a brass token.

"here."

The portly shopkeeper chuckled, then turned and said into the inner room:

"Number 12, Dingzi, we have a guest."

Upon seeing Xu Boyang's token, the waiter's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he said nothing, only whispering:

"This way, please, senior. Let's talk in a private room."

"Thank you."

Xu Boyang bowed slightly to the fat shopkeeper and then followed the shop assistant through the corridor. Suddenly, the space opened up, and a small pavilion appeared in the building. He never expected that there was such a vast space inside the building, with a building within a building.

Before he had taken two steps, he arrived at the T-shaped attic. Xu Boyang glanced at the doorplate, then pushed the door open and entered. Inside, he saw a cabinet, a thin old man, a round-backed chair, and nothing else.

The thin old man was sleeping, leaning on his hand. Hearing the door open, he woke up, glanced at Xu Boyang, yawned repeatedly, and said:

"What a rare guest! I haven't seen a Foundation Establishment senior in many years!"

Xu Boyang lifted the hem of his shirt, sat down opposite him, and looked at the old man at the sixth level of the Qi Condensation Realm: "I wonder what you mean by that?"

"It's nothing, it's all business, I'm honest with everyone, young and old."

The skinny old man covered his mouth and yawned again, then asked, "Senior, are you doing business?"

"purchase."

Xu Boyang was concise and to the point, getting straight to the point.
"Three Nine Netherworld Frost Orchids, what is the price?"

"What?"

The skinny old man picked at his ear.

(End of this chapter)