This is the true immortal of the Taoist sect.

Only after entering the city did Li Daoxuan understand why it was called the City of Ten Thousand Beasts.

The two lions standing at the city gate, each larger than an elephant, speak for themselves.

Upon entering the city, strange beasts could be seen everywhere. Some resembled oxen and horses, carrying goods, but were far stronger than ordinary oxen and horses; some monkey-like beasts even served tea and water in restaurants and inns; and some bird-like beasts flapped their wings, acting as biological fans for the guests...

A city of ten thousand beasts, truly embracing all the beasts of the world, living in perfect harmony with humans.

What's most remarkable is that despite the abundance of animals in the city, the ground isn't covered in feces and urine as one might expect; on the contrary, it's remarkably clean.

There was no unpleasant odor in the air.

Clearly, the City of Beasts has perfected this rule of harmonious coexistence between humans and beasts to the extreme.

Unfortunately, the mythical beasts or spirit beasts of the Xuanhuang Great World do not have the concept of cultivating and transforming into human form.

Even the most powerful beasts, whose strength is comparable to that of immortals or martial gods, are still beasts in form.

Except for a few extremely special spirits and monsters.

For example, Lingxi.

However, most of these spirits have a prerequisite: they are born from heaven and earth, not from the previous generation.

Therefore, spirits like Lingxi are not common in the entire Xuanhuang Great World.

This is why the Holy Lord of Qingyun was so furious when he heard Li Daoxuan demanding Lingxi.

Upon entering the city, Li Daoxuan and his apprentice followed Bai Susu to a bustling street. Judging from the shops and pedestrians on the street, they did not seem to be upper-class figures in the City of Ten Thousand Beasts.

But strangely, Bai Susu seemed to be very familiar with them.

Every shop owner on the street would greet her warmly, and even the strange beasts were very friendly with Bai Susu.

This shows that this stunningly beautiful woman's inner qualities are just as beautiful as her appearance.

After glancing at the only two inns on the street, Bai Susu didn't rush in. Instead, she turned and asked:

"Master Li, do you have any spirit crystals on you?"

Li Daoxuan nodded.

"Yes, although not much, it should be enough for a hotel stay."

Bai Susu pointed to one of the shops called Wenhua Inn and said:

"This shop only accepts spirit crystals. The most basic room only costs one red spirit crystal per night, while the more expensive ones cost three."

"Although it accepts spirit crystals, this shop has a spirit-gathering array, and the spiritual energy inside the rooms is higher than outside. Staying here will have a better effect on both body tempering and qi refining."

After saying that, she pointed to another shop and said:

"This Yuelai Inn is just an ordinary inn; you can stay there if you have money."

Upon hearing this, Li Daoxuan nodded and cupped his hands in greeting, saying:

"Thank you very much, Miss Susu. We will go and see for ourselves. We are really sorry to have troubled you for so long."

At this point, Li Daoxuan took out a talisman from his pocket and handed it over.

Bai Susu naturally didn't recognize what it was. She took it and glanced at it, only to see that it was covered with all sorts of lines and some words she didn't recognize.

She recognized the only seal on the bottom.

"A decree from Dao Xuan Tianzun? What is this?"

Li Daoxuan explained:

"This is a protective talisman I crafted. I'm giving it to you as a token of my gratitude for this journey. If you don't mind, it would be best to carry it with you every day; it might keep you safe."

Although Bai Susu didn't quite believe that a piece of paper could guarantee safety, she was kind-hearted and couldn't bear to refuse others' kindness, so she carefully folded it and tucked it into the small bundle at her waist.

"Thank you very much. I still need to return to my sect to report, so I won't keep you company any longer."

Li Daoxuan quickly cupped his hands and said:

"Please make yourself at home, young lady..."

Bai Susu smiled, looked down at Ling tide, reached out and picked her up, hugging her and pinching her cheeks.

"Little Lingxi, stay in the City of Ten Thousand Beasts for a few more days. I'll come visit you as soon as I'm done with my work and bring you some delicious spirit fruits, okay?"

Lingxi nodded her little head vigorously.

"Yes, Sister Susu keeps her word!"

"I promise, come on, pinky swear..."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Watching Bai Susu's retreating figure, Li Daoxuan sincerely praised:

"Sigh...she's a really nice girl. I hope...you'll believe in this talisman..."

Ling tide, who was watching Bai Susu walk away, suddenly froze. He turned sharply to Li Daoxuan and asked:

"Master... what if Sister Susu doesn't believe in your talismans?"

Li Daoxuan remained silent for a moment, then sighed softly:

Let's respect other people's fates...

Lingxi's shoulders trembled slightly, and she tugged at Li Daoxuan's sleeve, saying:

"Master, can't you save her?"

Upon hearing this, Li Daoxuan lowered his head and looked at Lingxi, saying:

"Is there no hope for Master?"

Lingxi was stunned for a moment before she realized what was happening.

The master saw through Bai Susu's fate and knew that she would face a calamity, so he gave her that talisman.

This was Bai Susu's chance encounter with Li Daoxuan, a turning point destined for her.

However, if Bai Susu doesn't believe the talisman and forgets Li Daoxuan's words after returning home, then it means that she is destined to face this calamity.

Sending out one talisman was already the limit for Li Daoxuan. If he did more, the consequences would become even greater, and an ordinary calamity might turn into a death sentence.

Therefore, he cannot reveal the truth, nor can he interfere further; this is the limit.

"Let's go. If fate allows, we will meet her again."

Li Daoxuan turned and walked into Wenhua Inn, where he asked for a superior room to stay.

Lingxi is about to successfully establish her foundation and needs to cultivate in seclusion for a while. Although this Wenhua Inn is not as good as the Lingquan Villa in Qingyun City, it is safe and secure.

After listening to her master's words, Lingxi was a little worried, but she also knew that everyone's fate was predetermined. Although cultivators had the power of the Dao and were favored by the Dao, they should not interfere too often.

So I had no choice but to relax.

Just as Master said, if there is a predestined connection, there will naturally be a turning point.

On the third day after checking into the inn, Bai Susu did not come, but instead sent a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect to deliver a message to Lingxi, saying that she was going away for a while and that if Lingxi was still there when she returned, she would definitely come to find him.

On the fourth day, a bright and sunny morning, Lingxi sat in the courtyard and entered a meditative state, thus quietly completing her Foundation Establishment.

Just as he was about to begin his first Qi refining, Li Daoxuan stopped him.

Lingxi was puzzled, but she still obediently listened to him.

Afterwards, the master and disciple checked out of the room, and Li Daoxuan took Lingxi to play in the City of Ten Thousand Beasts for three days, where they experienced many local customs and cultures they had never seen before.

After that, they left the City of Ten Thousand Beasts.

They continued heading north, without a destination or time limit, going wherever the road took them.

The two stopped when they arrived at a vast swamp that resembled a boundless ocean.

Beside the great marshland, there is a low hill. The hill is not high, and there is only one large tree on the entire hill. Apart from that, not a single blade of grass grows.

It was over a hundred feet tall, with its canopy spreading out so wide that it almost blocked out the sky and the sun.

Li Daoxuan stood under the tree and gently patted the trunk, saying in a slightly apologetic tone:

"All living beings in heaven and earth contend for the Great Dao. You have existed for a thousand years, and today you are destined for this calamity. I will compensate you..."

Lingxi was completely confused, not knowing why her master would say these things to a tree.

"Lingxi, kneel down and kowtow three times to this tree."

Lingxi was puzzled, but she still obediently did as she was told.

After kowtowing, Li Daoxuan pointed to an open space under the tree and said:

"Alright, you can begin your qi cultivation now."