Mortal: Joining the Star Palace at the Start

The next day, some earth-shattering news arrived.

Zhenhai Zhenren declared that he would not emerge from seclusion for at least ten or twenty years to break through to the next level.

When the news broke, everyone except Ji Qing, who knew the inside story, was in an uproar and began to discuss it.

Some say that Zhenhai Zhenren's seclusion this time is to try to break through to the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm.

Some say that Zhenhai Zhenren's cultivation technique has reached a bottleneck and he needs to go into seclusion to try to break through.

In short, opinions vary, and there is no definitive answer.

...........

The streets and alleys are intertwined, the market is bustling, merchants gather, and pedestrians come and go in droves.

After saying goodbye to Ling Yuling, Ji Qing pondered for a moment and finally decided to find Wen Qiang.

Wen Qiang was originally a foreign affairs officer from Kui Xing Island.

Now, under Ji Qing's guidance, Wen Qiang has become an enforcement elder, responsible for registering the entry and exit of cultivators.

Ji Qing walked along the bluestone road for a while, and two hours later he arrived at the city gate.

"Huh? What's this?"

Ji Qing frowned slightly, seemingly lost in thought.

Before him, two beautiful women seemed to be talking to Wen Qiang.

"Lord Wen, please have mercy on us and forgive us for a few days. We have no more spirit stones on us. Could you please not send us away?"

Upon hearing this, Wen Qiang felt a headache coming on.

The two women in front of me are named Yuan Yao and Yan Li. They are at the eighth or ninth level of Qi Refining and are genuine independent cultivators with no special background.

As everyone knows, cultivators in the Chaotic Star Sea need someone to act as guarantor and pay spirit stones if they want to live on the island.

If you don't have spirit stones, that's simple too. Just serve as labor for the island lord and you won't need to pay spirit stones when you go out on missions.

However, while the latter is good, given Yuan Yao's stunningly beautiful appearance, if they choose the latter, there will be no shortage of unnecessary trouble.

Yuan Yao and Yan Li knew the truth perfectly well, so they did not choose the latter.

Instead, they chose to have Wen Qiang act as guarantor and pay spirit stones to allow them to live on Kui Xing Island.

It must be said that the two women have excellent taste.

Fortunately, the person they found was Wen Qiang.

Wen Qiang has a good personality and is sincere in his dealings with people.

If an ordinary person were to act as their guarantor, they would probably have to pay a price.

Now, counting the time, they have been living on Kuixing Island for three years, and the spirit stones they have paid during this period have been intermittent, never paid in full at once.

As time went on, even if Wen Qiang wanted to help, he was powerless to do so.

His superior is Lord Ji Qing.

If Lord Ji Qing were to learn of this matter and hold those responsible accountable...

He had failed Lord Ji Qing's expectations of him.

Therefore, Wen Qiang had no choice but to persuade them to leave.

After all, it's difficult to live on Kui Xing Island without spirit stones.

"Sigh, this is a tough situation."

Wen Qiang smiled apologetically at them, and said with a helpless expression:

"Ladies, I know your difficulties, and you know mine."

For everyone's sake, ladies, please excuse me.

To be honest, I really can't help you guys today.

As you all know, in these three years, I have paid more than a thousand spirit stones for you.

If you care about me, then leave as soon as possible. Consider the spirit stones you owe me a gift; you don't need to repay them.

Yanli bit her lip, feeling very unwilling:

"Lord Wen, is there truly no room for negotiation on this matter?"

Wen Qiang sighed and shook his head:

"I'm sorry, ladies, I've done my best."

Upon hearing this, Yanli nodded dejectedly.

"Sister, let's go, don't trouble Lord Wen anymore." Yuan Yao, whose face was a little pale, said beside Yan Li.

After saying this, she bowed to Wen Qiang and said apologetically:

"I'm so sorry, Lord Wen, for causing you so much trouble these past few years. I truly apologize."

Wen Qiang smiled and waved his hand:

"It's alright, it's alright. Everyone has difficult times, I understand."

Just as Wen Qiang was about to escort the two women out of the city, a rustling sound of footsteps rang out, and a man suddenly appeared.

The man was dressed in a silver-white robe with gilded embellishments on his shoulders. He had an extraordinary air about him and a very handsome face.

The person who arrived was none other than Ji Qing.

"Greetings, Your Excellency." Wen Qiang immediately bowed upon seeing the visitor.

"Um."

Ji Qing nodded gently in response, glanced down at the two women, and spoke softly:

"Yuan Yao and Yan Li, is it? I am Ji Qing, and I greet you both."

Seeing Ji Qing like this, Yuan Yao instinctively felt inferior and lowered her head, not daring to speak.

"Sister, sister." Yanli became angry when she saw Yuan Yao like this.

She greeted them several times, but seeing that Yuan Yao still didn't dare to speak, she glared at Yuan Yao, then followed Ji Qing in bowing and saying:

"This humble woman, Yanli, greets fellow Daoist."

This is my younger sister—Yuan Yao.

"Um."

Ji Qing smiled and nodded, then got down to business:

"I am somewhat aware of your situation and I deeply sympathize with you."

After all, I went through the same thing.

As soon as she finished speaking, Ji Qing turned to look at Wen Qiang and said softly:

"Wenqiang, arrange the best rooms for them in my name, and I will cover all the expenses."

"Um?"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Yao suddenly raised her head, her face showing disbelief.

Yanli was the same; she stood there with her mouth agape, unable to recover for a long time.

"What did you say, sir? Did I hear that right?"

"Haha, don't look so incredulous. Anyway, that's how it is. Just follow Wenqiang."

After saying this, Ji Qing patted Wen Qiang on the shoulder and then left.

"Lord Wen...who is this person?" Yanli swallowed hard, extremely curious about Ji Qing's identity.

"Don't ask me."

To be honest, after serving this lord for so long, besides knowing that he has two late-stage Core Formation guards behind him, I know nothing else about his identity.

"Oh...I see. Well...this person must be someone of great importance."

"He actually used two late-stage Core Formation cultivators as guards; just whose offspring is he?"

"Haha, alright, why ask so many questions?"

Since Lord Ji has allowed you to stay here, just follow me. Don't think about anything else.

My husband isn't a bad person, and he won't have any ill intentions towards you, so you can rest assured.

After saying that, Wen Qiang led the way.

"Sister, should we go with them?"

Of course I went with him. You know what kind of person Lord Wen is.

Since Lord Wen has said so, what are we still hesitating about? Let's settle in first.

"Once our cultivation has improved, we'll come back to properly repay Lord Ji."