Chapter 36
A few days passed, filled with lofty dreams of fortuitous encounters.
Finally, the day dawned to depart for the Immortal City governed by the Clan.
“Yaaawn.”
Baek-Cheong packed her bags early in the morning and headed to the Clan’s Training Ground.
In the center of the Training Ground, a massive Pavilion-ship-like Flying Dharma Treasure boasted a majestic appearance, looking as if it had pierced the clouds and risen.
Dozens of laborers moved busily, endlessly loading large crates into the Pavilion-ship’s storehouse.
“Oh, Cheong-Yi, you’re here.”
Baek Mu-Yeong, the Guild Master of the Baek Clan Merchant Guild and Baek-Cheong’s uncle, welcomed his Niece with a generous smile.
He was at the Mid Foundation Establishment Stage and possessed exceptional acumen as a merchant.
“Hello, uncle. That’s a lot of luggage.”
“Haha, this trip doubles as a regular transport to carry the Merchant Guild’s goods to the Marketplace.”
Baek Mu-Yeong wore a good-natured smile, but his voice was somewhat booming, as if conscious of the surrounding attention.
However, Baek-Cheong immediately saw through her uncle’s true intentions.
The large crates the laborers were sweating to carry were merely a clever smokescreen to distract the eye.
The true purpose and real treasure of this procession were likely the Five Elements Pill, hidden inside a small jade bottle tucked away in her uncle’s robes.
There was no reason to stick her nose into the complex and secretive affairs of adults, so Baek-Cheong feigned ignorance and nodded.
“Now then, it seems the loading is finished, so let’s get going.”
Under her uncle’s protection, Baek-Cheong boarded the deck of the Flying Dharma Treasure.
The massive Pavilion-ship began to slowly rise into the air with a faint vibration.
“Woah…”
An exclamation burst from Baek-Cheong’s lips.
For someone who had stayed exclusively within the walls of the Baek Clan since being born into this Xianxia World, looking down at the outside world from the sky was a marvel in itself.
Bizarre rock formations piercing through the clouds, a silver river flowing along a winding spirit vein, and a dense forest of spirit plants.
The vivid and majestic scenery of the Cultivation World stretched endlessly beneath her feet.
Finding his Niece adorable as she stared blankly out the window, Baek Mu-Yeong approached her side and kept striking up conversations.
“That Mountain Peak you see over there is Thunder Roar Mountain. It’s where the Thunderbird demonic beasts build their nests. And if you follow that river…”
She was grateful for her uncle’s kind explanations, but Baek-Cheong’s inner thoughts were a bit different.
It was exciting at first, but on closer listening, I realized it was just an extension of a boring story.
“Wow, really?”
“Ah, I need to connect to the Nameless Forum and look up more info on fortuitous encounters.”
Playing the role of a conversation partner for her uncle’s endless chatter left her absolutely no time to browse the forum.
Unable to coldly reject an adult’s goodwill, she had to spend the time forcing herself to play along.
Consequently, the novelty of admiring the outside scenery didn’t last very long either.
The view from the sky was grand, but after several hours of the same mountains and rivers repeating, boredom soon crept in.
To Baek-Cheong, who was steeped in the explosive reactions and pouring attention she received from just slightly provoking the Dao Friends on the Nameless Forum, the natural scenery felt far too peaceful.
Fortunately, the distance from the Yeonha Baek Clan’s Main Family to the Immortal City wasn’t far.
After the Flying Dharma Treasure cleaved through the clouds for a little over half a day, the silhouette of a massive city wall finally began to reveal itself over the horizon.
“That right there is Yeonha Immortal City.”
“Woaaah!”
Following Baek Mu-Yeong’s fingertip, Baek-Cheong marveled once again.
A massive wall stretched so long that its end couldn’t be seen.
Above it, the brilliant, multi-layered veil of a Protective Formation wrapped around the entire Immortal City like a round dome.
Inside the city, towering, ornate buildings were packed tightly together, and countless Cultivators and Mortals mingled like a swarm of ants, forming a vast, living Community.
“Are you saying all of that belongs to our Clan?”
Baek-Cheong asked, unable to hide her excitement.
The status of being the Baek Clan’s Youngest daughter suddenly struck her as an immense power, and a sense of grandeur filled her small chest.
“Haha, yes. It’s a place managed and governed by our Baek Clan. Strictly speaking, the numerous Merchant Guilds and Sects within the Immortal City pay us rent and taxes in exchange for protection.”
The Flying Dharma Treasure passed through the Immortal City’s Protective Formation and touched down smoothly at the designated Docking Area.
As the deck opened, three retainers who represented the Baek Clan’s interests and oversaw the defense of the Immortal City were waiting to greet them.
The white-haired old man standing at the very front was an Expert at the Early Golden Core Stage, and behind him stood a middle-aged man at the False Core stage and a young, promising Cultivator who had just entered the Early Foundation Establishment Stage, all waiting respectfully.
“The Cultivators guarding the Immortal City are incredible too.”
“Haha, it’s not just a mere Marketplace but an Immortal City, so it must naturally be guarded by those with skill. They are all individuals who maintain their loyalty to the Baek Clan, and they are the Law Enforcers of Yeonha Immortal City.”
Listening to the explanation, Baek-Cheong disembarked from the Flying Dharma Treasure under her uncle’s protection.
On one hand, seeing the powerhouses of the Cultivation World coming out to welcome her visit made her feel inwardly smug.
The retainers offered a brief greeting to Baek Mu-Yeong before bowing deeply in unison toward Baek-Cheong.
“Welcome to the Immortal City, Young Lady.”
A mix of deep curiosity and awe swirled in the eyes of the Immortal City’s Law Enforcers.
Rumors of the genius girl who had broken through the limits of her Five Spiritual Roots to reach 4th-Stage Qi Condensation, and who had monopolized the favor of Yak-seon, had long since spread far beyond the Main Family to this Immortal City.
“It is a pleasure to meet the Law Enforcers of Yeonha Immortal City.”
When Baek-Cheong bowed her head, pretending to be shy, pleased smiles spread across the retainers' faces.
Among them, the young Cultivator at the Early Foundation Establishment Stage took a step forward and spoke amiably.
“I have heard much about you, Young Lady. I may not look it, but I am a close friend of Baek Gyu, so I heard of your astonishing achievements through the Young Master.”
At the mention of being Baek Gyu’s friend, Baek-Cheong’s ears perked up.
“You’re my Eldest Brother’s friend! Is he doing well?”
“Yes, the Young Master’s position within the Biun Sect has recently become very solid. He recently caught the eye of the Biun Sect’s Sect Leader, was hailed as a Nascent Soul Talent, and was taken in as a True Disciple. Furthermore, there is the Geomun True Person who committed a discourtesy against the Baek Clan a while ago.”
The young Cultivator lowered his voice and brought up an intriguing behind-the-scenes story.
“That elder who was so shocked by your Talent, Young Lady, that he fled in a panic was, in the end, pushed out in a power struggle within the Sect and completely lost his standing. He had originally tried to force Baek Gyu in as a desperate measure after losing ground in Factional Strife, but since he got firmly on the bad side of the Baek Clan and Yak-seon, he was essentially abandoned by the Sect as well. I heard he’s been demoted now to a dead-end job managing a Spiritual Plant Cultivation Field on the outskirts of the Biun Sect.”
It was a refreshing, satisfying story.
The miserable end of the arrogant elder who had looked down on her and fearlessly threatened her Clan.
Baek-Cheong cheered inwardly and opened her mouth to ask for more details.
“Ahem! Do not sully the Young Lady’s ears with useless chatter.”
However, the Golden Core stage Law Enforcer cleared his throat and sternly reprimanded the young Cultivator.
The young Cultivator scratched his head awkwardly and stepped back.
“Ah, listening to that story was pretty fun.”
Baek-Cheong felt inwardly disappointed but didn’t bother showing it.
She turned her gaze toward the splendid scenery of the Immortal City spread out below the Docking Area.
Thanks to the Docking Area being located at a fairly high elevation, the interior of the Immortal City could be seen at a glance.
Countless people were coming and going energetically on the wide roads that stretched out like a spiderweb.
On both sides, shops selling all sorts of spiritual items and dharma treasures were lined up endlessly.
The peculiar thing was that out of all those countless Cultivators, not a single one was flying through the air.
“A no-fly Formation is laid out inside the Immortal City, so Flying Dharma Tools are strictly prohibited.”
Baek Mu-Yeong saw through his Niece’s curiosity and explained.
It was a necessary measure to maintain order throughout the massive Immortal City.
“Now then, you can sightsee to your heart’s content when we go to the Marketplace tomorrow. It was a short journey, but since it’s your first time traveling outside, you must have accumulated some travel fatigue, so head to your Abode and rest for now.”
Baek-Cheong obediently nodded and, guided by the Retainers, headed to the Baek Clan’s large Mansion located in the center of the Immortal City.
Though not quite on the level of the Main Family, a spacious, elegantly and luxuriously decorated Abode was waiting for her.
She took a sip of the warm tea prepared by the maidservants and immediately threw herself onto the soft bed.
Sightseeing outside was good, and searching for fortuitous encounters was good too, but for a Forum Lurker, the time spent lying in bed and fiddling with the Nameless Forum as if looking at a Smartphone was the most precious healing of all.
“Are there any strategy guides for Marketplace fortuitous encounters?”
Rubbing her sleepy eyes, Baek-Cheong deployed her Divine Sense and rummaged through the Nameless Forum’s Information Board.
However, the wave of fatigue was inevitable.
Her relaxed body melted away, and she drifted off into a deep sleep, unable to fight off the pouring drowsiness.