In a high-level martial arts game, a wife is given to you at the start.

The knocking stopped.

"According to the 'Holy City Household Registration Law,' those entering the city for the first time will receive a temporary identity jade token, which must be obtained within one month," the official read in a flat voice, his enunciation clear but devoid of emotion, as if reciting the same article for the hundredth time. "The temporary jade token only allows movement within most areas of the outer city; entry into the inner city and certain restricted areas is prohibited—the locations of these restricted areas are marked on the jade token. Approaching them without authorization will be at your own risk. You must report to the Household Registration Office monthly for verification. Anyone who commits crimes or fails to obtain formal status within the stipulated time will be severely punished along with their guarantor. The law is merciless; do not say you were not warned."

He retrieved a stack of pale blue jade tablets from under the table. These tablets were about two fingers wide and three inches long, with smooth surfaces and no inscriptions. The middle-aged man, his fingertips circulating his inner energy, extracted Lin Qiye's aura imprint from the "Mirror of Truth." He quickly engraved Lin's name, temporary number, and aura imprint on one of the jade tablets, and then made identification tablets for Luo Sheng and the others' dependent family members on several other tablets. The entire process was fluid and seamless, clearly indicating that he had done it countless times.

"Temporary jade token, keep it safe. The one-month period begins today." The clerk pushed the jade token to the side of the table and said no more. He didn't even bother to say "next" and had already started tidying up the documents on the table.

Manager Chen felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He grabbed the jade token, thanked him repeatedly, and led Lin Qiye and the others away from the Household Registration Office. He walked so fast it was almost as if he were fleeing. He only stopped abruptly after walking more than a hundred steps, turning the corner, and completely out of the sight of the guards. His back was already soaked with sweat.

"Mr. Lin, finally... finally it's done." He shoved the jade token into Lin Qiye's hand, wiping his sweat and forcing a bitter smile, his voice still trembling. "Over the next month, you need to find a way to obtain official status as soon as possible, otherwise—" He shook his head, his wrinkles twice as deep as when he entered, "This old man's abilities are limited. An official identity token requires a guarantor from an inner-city resident or a higher-level organization, and the screening is more than ten times stricter than today. My Black Rock Chamber of Commerce... I'm afraid we can't reach that threshold."

"Understood." Lin Qiye casually put away the jade token, which felt slightly cool to the touch and faintly contained a flow of source energy. "Residence?"

"I've found you a courtyard house in Qing Shi Lane in the western part of the outer city." Steward Chen hurriedly took out a simple land deed from his sleeve and handed it over with trembling hands. "It's not the best, but it's a detached house, not adjacent to other residents, so it's quiet and safer. However..."

"Just what?"

"It's just that the area is a mixed bag, you see all sorts of people there. Please bear with me," Manager Chen said with an embarrassed smile. "This old man is really... strapped for cash."

Lin Qiye didn't say much. He glanced at the address on the land deed and nodded.

Qing Shi Lane is located on the western edge of the outer city, right next to the high outer city wall. It's three lanes away from the most bustling main streets, offering a quiet retreat amidst the hustle and bustle, yet also a secluded spot. The lane is less than two zhang wide, paved with bluestone slabs worn smooth by countless footsteps, with withered weeds growing in the cracks. The courtyard walls on both sides vary in height, mostly with gray tiles and wooden doors. Some doors have yellowed talismans pasted on them, while others are missing pieces of their doors.

Manager Chen led them to a courtyard at the deepest part of the alley. The gate was made of two old wooden doors, the bronze knockers were rusted, and an old plaque without any words hung above the door—probably left by the previous resident. Pushing the door open, a musty smell that had been there for a long time hit them, clearly indicating that no one had lived there for some time.

But the place is indeed quite large.

The main house has three rooms, with the central hall and two bedrooms on either side. There are four side rooms on either side, enough to accommodate all the family members. In the middle of the courtyard is a small patio with an ancient tree of unknown age. Its trunk is thick, but half of it is dead, while the other half stubbornly sprouts a few new branches, creating a small patch of shade above the patio. In the corner is a stone well with clear, cool water that emits a faint fluctuation of primal energy—this is probably the most valuable thing in the entire courtyard. The furniture is made of basic cedar wood, the edges worm-eaten, but it has been cleaned fairly well and is barely usable. The kitchen stove is an old-fashioned earthen stove, with several bundles of firewood piled beside it.

"It's not great, but it's habitable." The Barbarian Princess casually leaned her axe against the door, glanced around the entire courtyard, and drew her conclusion.

Luo Sheng first went to check the bedroom and found that the bed in the master bedroom of the main house was quite spacious and sturdy, so she quietly began to tidy it up. Shuang'er helped her make the bed and fold the quilts, while Qingyin quietly went to the kitchen to boil water.

After settling his family in, Steward Chen took a heavy cloth bag from his sleeve and placed it on the table. "Here are one hundred standard source crystal coins, a small token of my appreciation. Mr. Lin, please use them for now, and we'll exchange them later—" He hesitated, then finally bowed, "The Chamber of Commerce is quite busy; I must take my leave now."

After saying that, he left in a hurry, his figure quickly disappearing around the corner of the alley.

Lin Qiye stood in the center of the courtyard and slowly raised his head.

The towering inner city walls of the holy city can be seen in their entirety from the outer city—a colossal white wall hundreds of feet high, constructed entirely of some kind of unidentified giant stone. The gaps between the stones are sealed with golden runes, reflecting a majestic light in the sunlight. At intervals along the walls stands an arrow tower, its tip suspending a spherical light source that ceaselessly emits detection waves day and night.

Above the inner city, even further and higher, the spires of the temple's nine towers pierce the clouds, appearing and disappearing in the morning mist. Some special crystals embedded in the towers reflect the sunlight, like a star that will never fall, suspended above the clouds.

The noise from the outer city drifted in faintly from the alleyway—the cries of vendors, the clatter of wheels, the laughter of children—but the high walls and distance filtered out the sharp sounds, leaving only a muffled background noise, as if separated by an invisible barrier.

He opened his palm, the pale blue temporary jade token gleaming faintly, its coolness penetrating to the bone. One month. Thirty days. Time was not ample. In this holy city where every step was governed by strict rules and every matter was scrutinized, one could hardly move an inch without official status. He had clearly seen the look in the eyes of the official in charge of the household registration office today—the other party had already become suspicious, but simply couldn't find a breakthrough. Once someone investigated thoroughly, this thin veil of pretense, the temporary jade token, would be torn apart in an instant.

A formal identity is the first step to establishing oneself.

Having a formal identity would allow for greater freedom of movement, access to higher-level information channels, and the ability to find a true home for his family in the Holy City. More importantly—the strange fragment on his person and the altar deep within the Canggu Mountains—all these mysteries point to a higher level, and the Holy City is currently the only source of clues that seems substantial enough.

He suddenly remembered last night. Those two spies who claimed to be from "Dark Viper." Their bodies weren't even cold yet, but the news had already leaked. There wouldn't be only one group coveting their territory. Dark Viper was just the first to knock; there might be more to come.

In this strictly ordered yet turbulent holy city, strength is the foundation of survival, but strength alone is not enough. A suitable identity and position can allow him to avoid unnecessary trouble and focus his energy on what truly matters. The treatment a "vagrant of unknown origin" and a "cultivator with official status" receive in the holy city is worlds apart.

As night deepened, the withered branches of the old tree in the courtyard cast distorted shadows under the moonlight.

Lin Qiye withdrew his gaze. One month.