Chapter 50: Food Street, Hundred Arts Garden

Shopping City is the city with the strongest commercial-cultural atmosphere that Wang Ping has seen in the cultivation world so far.

Indeed, every civilization has its own unique way of development.

In Shopping City, aside from the three thousand shops in the Resource District selling cultivation resources, all the other establishments are shops providing food, drink, and entertainment for cultivators.

Originally strolling through the Resource District, Wang Ping heard there was a Food Street here, and for some reason, he inexplicably ended up walking here.

At this moment, he was in a noodle shop, eagerly eating a bowl of beef noodles.

The noodles are made from spirit wheat grown by the shop itself, ground into flour; the method is roughly the same as ordinary noodles, all made through three awakenings, three kneadings, and pulling.

Using the same method, the taste differs wildly because of the different ingredients.

Chewiness and smoothness are merely the most immediate sensations; the lingering flavor is what truly leaves a lasting aftertaste.

What is most outstanding is the toppings: this shop's beef noodles consist of slightly yellow noodles, a nearly transparent broth, and a palm-sized chunk of deep-red beef, with no other extra ingredients.

The meat of a first-rank demon beast wild ox, prepared with the shop's secret recipe, is soaked through with rich broth in every piece.

The firm beef is scooped from the brine pot onto the noodles, quickly served; taking a bite, the broth bursts instantly inside the mouth, and the rich, fragrant meat aroma stimulates the sensitive taste buds.

Taking another bite of noodles, the blend of wheat and meat aromas does not confuse but intertwines, each having its own merit; the secret likely lies in that red-oil broth.

Wang Ping ate three full bowls, paid thirty-six spirit stones, and left the shop satisfied.

Now that Wang Ping is well-off, he dares to eat beef noodles costing twelve spirit stones per bowl, and he still eats three bowls.

Cultivation-world noodles are indeed delicious! Even after leaving the shop, Wang Ping keeps savoring the flavor.

Such delicacies, if he had never cultivated, he might never have heard of them in his entire life.

This is another kind of scenery on the path of cultivation, besides longevity; unfortunately, Wang Ping can now only enjoy it occasionally.

As he walked, Wang Ping recalled the news he had just heard in the noodle shop.

Those cultivators had mentioned that Shopping City now has at least two hundred thousand cultivators, ninety-nine percent of whom are at the Qi Refining stage.

Moreover, some said that the emergence of Shopping City would cause a surge in Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Western Droop Land, and even several Golden Core True Person–level cultivators might appear.

Wang Ping listened and nodded frequently; before the Soul Refining Hall appeared, the Three Great Sects controlled the resources of the Western Droop Land, and most of the spiritual items for breaking through Foundation Establishment, as well as Foundation Establishment Pills, were held by them.

Wang Ping thought of the Azure Moon Sect where he once stayed, with tens of thousands of Qi Refining cultivators but only over a hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators—a ratio of one hundred to one.

In the outside world, with millions of Qi Refining cultivators, Foundation Establishment cultivators number only in the thousands, a ratio of one thousand to one.

Is it that the cultivators of the outside world have poor aptitude?

Indeed, seventy percent of cultivators have lower-grade spirit roots, yet there are still three hundred thousand cultivators with middle-grade spirit roots or better.

Even with so many Qi Refining cultivators, only over a thousand have managed to reach Foundation Establishment.

Even if the resources of the Western Droop Land are extremely poor, they would not produce just a few Foundation Establishment cultivators.

The poorer the place, the more ruthlessly the upper echelons scavenge resources.

Now, because the Soul Refining Hall has appeared, the previous situation has been disrupted; with the Alliance's involvement as well, many opportunities have arisen for Qi Refining cultivators.

Wang Ping's opportunity has also come; from the earlier conversation, in this auction, there are five Foundation Establishment Pills alone, and twenty Foundation Establishment spiritual items.

With his financial means, he can easily afford to buy one Foundation Establishment Pill; previously, in the Western Droop Three Kingdoms, there had never been a precedent for auctioning Foundation Establishment Pills.

Yet everyone unanimously places it on the same level as top-grade magical artifacts and supreme cultivation methods.

As for more detailed information, we will probably have to meet up with Tie Lanshan and discuss it thoroughly.

After leaving the Food Street, Wang Ping's storage bag now holds over a hundred kinds of delicacies—various-filled buns, a wide variety of pastries, and assorted packaged meals.

Wang Ping has always loved food, but unfortunately he has no time to study it.

Earlier he had already located Tie Lanshan's information; his position is precisely in the direction of the Hundred Arts Garden.

He wouldn't actually move into the Hundred Arts Garden, would he? Wang Ping thought it a bit strange, but then felt nothing was impossible; with his attainments in formations, passing the assessment of the Gathering Treasure Pavilion would also not be difficult.

The layout of Shopping City is clear at a glance—the Food District, Leisure District, Cultivation District, and Resource District are each distinctly divided.

As for the Hundred Arts Garden, it lies in the Cultivation District; when Wang Ping arrived at its gate, a graceful young master in splendid blue robes was standing there, and upon seeing Wang Ping, the Blue Young Master's eyes lit up and he hurried over.

"Blue Dao Friend, you've finally come!"

Upon hearing the voice, Wang Ping knew it was Tie Lanshan.

The Hundred Arts Garden does not ordinarily allow cultivators to enter, but if a cultivator from within the garden brings one in, residence is possible.

Each cultivator who obtains residency qualification in the Hundred Arts Garden has two slots for bringing others.

Tie Lanshan's status within the garden surprised Wang Ping; along the way, many cultivators proactively greeted him.

Tie Lanshan, however, acted as if he couldn't care less.

Wang Ping, who had been silently observing the surroundings, remarked with a half-smile:

"Dao Friend, you're quite popular in the garden!"

After responding to a cultivator's greeting, Tie Lanshan replied with a smile via voice transmission:

"In the Hundred Arts Garden, strength is paramount; you know my attainments in formations, and since formations are the foremost of the Hundred Arts, my status is naturally different. However, Blue Dao Friend, if you go to participate in the Artifact Refining Examination, you will surely pass with first-class excellent marks!"

Wang Ping nodded with a smile; he also had that intention.

He also inexplicably bore a bounty and a recall order; if he could pass the Artifact Refining Examination in Shopping City, he could also gain an additional retreat for himself.

Regarding the Reverse Fire Curse, Wang Ping still hasn't figured out what it actually does, and what Lan Bing said about it remains uncertain whether true or false.

In the Hundred Arts Garden, there must be many well-informed people; over these few days, he can gather information indirectly.

Wang Ping and Tie Lanshan chatted leisurely all the way, and only after a full quarter of an hour did they arrive before his residence.

Heavenly Gang Institute!

"What a fine name! Although I don't understand formations, I also know the renowned Heavenly Gang Earth Slaughter Formation; it is said that the Heavenly Gang Formation and Earth Slaughter Formation are each fourth-rank grand formations, and if combined they become a fifth-rank Heavenly Gang Earth Slaughter Formation! I don't know if that's true."

When Tie Lanshan spoke of formations, his spirit shone with extra confidence; hearing Wang Ping's words, he answered with utmost certainty:

"What you said is correct, but in the present cultivation world, not only is the Heavenly Gang Earth Slaughter Great Formation lost, even the Heavenly Gang Formation and Earth Slaughter Formation have been forgotten; only the Lesser Heavenly Gang and Lesser Earth Slaughter Formation, evolved from fragmented formations, remain, and their power is at most quasi-fourth rank."

"Blue Dao Friend!" Having just finished explaining, Tie Lanshan again called out to stop Wang Ping.

"One day I will surely re-derive the true Heavenly Gang Formation and Earth Slaughter Formation, then combine them to let the fifth-rank grand Heavenly Gang Earth Slaughter Formation reappear in the cultivation world!"

Wang Ping was a bit dazed by this sudden question—how would I know if you can reconstruct the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Sha Grand Formation?

But, upon seeing Tie Lanshan's gaze, he seemed to understand a little; he now needed someone sufficiently close to encourage him.

And, as the one who avenged him and rescued him, Wang Ping undoubtedly was now playing that role.

Having figured this out, he answered without hesitation:

"Fellow Daoist, your talent in formations is rare in the world; you will surely be able to reconstruct the perfect Heavenly Gang and Earthly Sha Formation!"

Tie Lanshan's eyes suddenly seemed to flash with a dazzling light, then gradually softened, and he said:

"Fellow Daoist Lan, come with me; I'll introduce you to a few friends."

Saying that, he led Wang Ping and pushed open the courtyard gate.

The scenery inside the courtyard need not be spoken of—strange flowers and exotic grasses, artificial hills, flowing water; being amidst it has the effect of cultivating one's character and nurturing one's nature.

However, what initially attracted Wang Ping was not these sights, but a shining bald head.

A monk?

Before he could speak, upon seeing Wang Ping, the monk's eyes suddenly widened, and he then chanted a Buddhist invocation:

"Amitabha!"

"Fellow Daoist! You have already given rise to a demonic obstacle!"