Chapter 122: Revealed Alias, Immortal City Sightings

After crossing the Cloud Mist Mountain Range and parting ways with Ruan Qingzhu, Xiao Zhangqing and the Lin sisters slowed their pace, no longer hurrying under starry and moonlit skies as before.

First, with no "outsider" present, the three's lives returned to their previous state, much more relaxed; second, now that they have entered the central region, they are curious about this most prosperous place in the Da Yu Cultivation World.

So they walked and paused, passing by cultivation markets and the like, choosing to stroll and feel how it differs from the Southwest Region.

Their mode shifted from hurried travel to leisurely touring.

What was originally a two‑month journey stretched to nearly five months, and the towering, majestic, faintly fiery‑red Character: Liyang Immortal City finally came into view of Xiao Zhangqing and his companions.

Character: Liyang Immortal City spans almost six hundred li in width, its cityscape formed by a main third‑tier spirit vein and dozens of first‑ and second‑tier branch veins.

The entire city is shrouded by a massive third‑tier formation; one can hardly imagine the skill and resources required to lay such a formation and reach the third tier.

Thus one can see how deep the foundation of Character: Liyang Immortal City, the premier Scattered Cultivator city of the Da Yu Cultivation World, truly is.

All of this is thanks to the Character: Liyang Real Person.

Though originally a Scattered Cultivator, he has become one of the most prestigious Golden Core True Persons in the Da Yu Cultivation World, not even lagging behind the top Golden Core True Persons of Xingyue Palace and the Seven‑Star Sword Sect.

The Character: Liyang Immortal has been famous for over two hundred years, yet is only just over three hundred years old; compared with the nearly five‑hundred‑year lifespan of Golden Core cultivators, he is not considered old.

With him present, Character: Liyang Immortal City's standing is unassailable, and its prosperity will not wane.

Xiao Zhangqing and his group only saw the imposing city from afar, still at least a hundred li away.

But from here, they could already see a constant stream of cultivators coming and going.

There were those riding flying boats like them, those soaring on wind, and all manner of magical treasures, Flying Swords, spirit beasts, and evasion techniques…

Even though Xiao Zhangqing, as a Foundation Establishment cultivator, has reached the Golden Core level, arriving at such a city gives him a Liu Laolao‑in‑Grand View Garden feeling.

"This is the true cultivation world!"

The one exclaiming was not Xiao Zhangqing but Lin Zixi, whose eyes were dazzled and entranced.

Lin Ziyu heard this and nodded in agreement.

And this is only outside the county immortal city; it is already so spectacular that one can hardly imagine its interior.

Compared with Nanshan Fang, where they lived for years, even Sword Flight was considered a rare dragon‑and‑phoenix among people…

After the brief exclamation, Lin Ziyu suddenly asked, "Master, do we need to conceal our identities when entering Character: Liyang Immortal City?"

Xiao Zhangqing thought for a moment and said, "You don't need to change identities; I will still take another name."

Character: Liyang Immortal City is highly tolerant of outsiders and shows no xenophobic behavior, which is why it can thrive.

Regardless of identity, as long as one does not cause trouble within Character: Liyang Immortal City and obediently follows its rules, the city generally will not act against them.

Of course.

If one is on the Da Yu Cultivation World's wanted list, pursued by some Golden Core sects or even the two major Nascent Soul forces, and chased into Character: Liyang Immortal City, then it's a different story.

If the person is truly a heinous criminal whose identity is uncovered and the pursuers also reach Character: Liyang Immortal City, the city will cooperate in the capture.

Xiao Zhangqing, being in Nanshan Fang, has, after all, a deep feud with Luoxia Sect and Baihua Valley.

Zhou Songbai and Liang Yuehua both harbor a grating hatred toward him.

Especially Liang Yuehua, who lost his original Magic Treasure, should hate Xiao Zhangqing to the bone.

Moreover, these two major Golden Core sects are now on the front line against Demon Sect Evil Cultivators; issuing a warrant for him would be quite troublesome.

Also, killing the mysteriously‑identified Yue Lao Mo in Qingjian Fang gave Xiao Zhangqing a 'Red Name' effect, which is a moderate hidden risk…

Therefore Xiao Zhangqing prefers to hide his surname and adopt an alias.

"Then Master, what should I call you?" Lin Zixi asked.

Xiao Zhangqing gazed at her pretty face and bright eyes, filled with longing for his future life in Character: Liyang Immortal City, and, with a mischievous grin, mused, "How about calling me Bai Wuji? The Bai Wuji of no taboos."

Whoa! The previously enthusiastic Lin Zixi was stunned by the words and fell silent.

"Master… you… you…"

Lin Zixi, usually eloquent, stammered, her eyes wide with disbelief, shock mixed with surprise, shyness, and embarrassment.

Bai Wuji.

She was far too familiar with that name.

Although over the years she had almost forgotten it and rarely thought of it.

Yet before becoming Xiao Zhangqing's concubine, the name had constantly lingered in her mind, filling her with endless glory, admiration, and constant anxiety.

Although she had no substantive relationship with senior Bai Wuji, she once admired him deeply for a period.

When she first became the master's concubine and asked him to help fend off the harassment of Zhou Changkong, the manager of Lingfu Pavilion, she told the master about her collaboration with senior Bai Wuji.

Thus the master knowing the name 'Bai Wuji' was not surprising.

But now he suddenly wants to use this alias and even said 'the Bai Wuji of no taboos'…

Lin Zixi instantly lost her composure.

That phrase was how senior Bai Wuji introduced himself when they first met.

"Master, are you really… senior Bai Wuji?"

As for sister Lin Ziyu, though also a bit shocked, her reaction was far milder, and her eyes seemed to have long suspected this.

Xiao Zhangqing pinched Lin Zixi's shocked, stiff cheek and couldn't help bursting into laughter, "So surprised? Look at your sister—she's not as surprised as you are."

After speaking, he instantly transformed, his figure becoming tall and mighty, his appearance rugged and imposing—the very look of Bai Wuji before.

"Ah…"

Lin Zixi snapped back, let out a soft scream, two pink clouds blossoming on her cheeks, hurriedly covering her face with both hands, turning away so Xiao Zhangqing and Lin Ziyu couldn't see her, looking as if she wanted to bury herself like an ostrich, and exclaimed bitterly, "Master, you are truly terrible!!"

Lin Ziyu, seeing this, couldn't help a sly laugh, her childlike spirit surfacing, teased, "Zixi, why are you covering your face? Before we became the master's concubines, weren't you constantly thinking of senior Bai Wuji, day and night? After all these years, your senior Bai Wuji finally appears, yet you hide again."

Lin Zixi, hearing this, felt both ashamed and angry, her cheeks reddening as she retorted, "Sister, what are you rambling about! When did I ever obsess over senior Bai Wuji? I never did!"

Lin Ziyu, too lazy to argue, snorted, "You can't fool me. Though you denied it then, I could see you had a secret affection for senior Bai Wuji." "Impossible! I've never liked senior Bai Wuji…" Lin Ziyu, once the tease, now the teased, felt extremely embarrassed, unable to counter. "In this life, I've only ever liked the master…"

After a moment, finally gathering her thoughts, she looked at Xiao Zhangqing now in Bai Wuji's form, and simply threw herself into his arms, no longer objecting, her cheeks red, saying, "A secret affection is a secret affection. After all, we're both devoted to the master! That means I liked the master even earlier than you, sister!"

But soon she lifted her head, slightly frowning, and said, "Master, if you don't need to change your appearance, perhaps you shouldn't. Your disguise is so perfect that both my sister and I can't see through it; it feels odd…"

Lin Ziyu didn't argue with her sister about this, and nodded in agreement.

Her younger sister Lin Zixi was at least acquainted with Senior Bai, having dealt with him for a year, regardless of whether she had ever been attracted to him.

But she never met Senior Bai from start to finish.

If the lord were to keep that face and live together day and night in the future, that would… be too strange.

I can't accept it at all!

Xiao Zhangqing saw that the two sisters both had this need, so he didn't disguise himself, only used an alias for his name.

"Let's go. Enter the city!"

Having settled everything, Xiao Zhangqing led the Lin sisters along the crowd to the registration office at the Immortal City formation gate, paid Spirit Stones, and registered their information.

Character: Liyang Immortal City is different from ordinary cultivation market towns.

Places like Nanshan Fang, as long as you can find them, you can enter without any regulation.

Only when you rent a house, eat, or buy goods in the market town do you need to spend Spirit Stones.

But in Character: Liyang Immortal City, each entry requires a Low-grade Spirit Stone! For Xiao Zhangqing that's nothing, but for low-level Qi Refining Realm cultivators, especially those in the early stages of Qi training, it's quite difficult.

After all, in Nanshan Fang, a month's rent in Peng Hu Qu is only one Low-grade Spirit Stone.

There are two registration passages at the city gate.

One passage has five lines, each very long; most in the queues are Qi Refining Realm cultivators, with a few humble, cautious mortals mixed in.

The passage Xiao Zhangqing took with the Lin sisters is dedicated to serving Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators.

There are more staff than incoming cultivators, so no queue is needed.

Although the Lin sisters are Qi Refining Realm cultivators, they are Xiao Zhangqing's concubines, and as long as he wishes, he can take them through the special passage.

"Senior Bai, here are your identity Tokens, please keep them safe."

The staff respectfully handed the Tokens to Xiao Zhangqing and the Lin sisters.

Xiao Zhangqing changed his alias, but did not conceal his Foundation Establishment Realm cultivation, and even voluntarily listed his Second-rank Talisman Master skills.

The reason is simple.

He came to Character: Liyang Immortal City to cultivate and seek opportunities, not to endure hardship.

After arriving, he will certainly need a high‑grade cave residence; there are many expenses, and using a Qi Refining Realm status would be inconvenient and could attract unnecessary trouble.

Being a Foundation Establishment cultivator makes things much easier.

Although Character: Liyang Immortal City, as the foremost city of Scattered Cultivators, has several Golden Core cultivators, there are more than ten Fake Core True Persons.

But the True Persons are lofty; in the eyes of ordinary cultivators, a Foundation Establishment cultivator is definitely a "big figure."

Moreover, Xiao Zhangqing also holds the Second-rank Talisman Master title.

If Xiao Zhangqing wishes, taking a post at the City Lord's Residence might be somewhat difficult, but entering the "Ten Great Families" would likely be welcomed by them.

After all, each of Character: Liyang Immortal City's Ten Great Families has Fake Core True Persons or even Golden Core True Persons behind them, yet a Foundation Establishment Second-rank Talisman Master is worth courting.

"Senior Bai, if this is your first time in Character: Liyang Immortal City and you wish to learn about its customs and information, after entering the city go left about a li; there is a plaza where many early‑stage Qi Refining Realm cultivators serve as guides."

The registration staff said enthusiastically.

"Alright. Thank you."

Xiao Zhangqing nodded, took the Tokens, and left with his two concubines.

Choosing to linger in Nanshan Fang for a few years and venture out after becoming powerful is just to make life easier later.

No need to force oneself to endure hardship.

After entering the city, a brand‑new world unfolded before the three of them.

Not to mention the Lin sisters, even Xiao Zhangqing was shocked this time.

Viewing this magnificent Immortal City from outside Character: Liyang Immortal City only gives a sense of grand atmosphere and extraordinary momentum.

But only after entering does one learn what a true Immortal City is!

Perhaps because the city gate is one of the most populated spots in the entire Immortal City, there are many shops.

On the streets, cultivators buying spirit herbs, monster materials, and refining materials shout, approaching any newcomer to inquire.

The wide streets were flanked by towering buildings, their dazzling, multicolored signs looking like dreams, clearly crafted by skilled refining artisans; there were shops for food, drink, and entertainment, and advertisements everywhere, making Xiao Zhangqing feel as if he were back in the city of his past life! No, it was even more astonishing than the so‑called first‑tier international metropolis of his previous world, because beyond the high‑rise shops along the streets, farther toward the inner city, when he looked up, he could see some magnificent pavilions floating in the air! From an unknown shop, faint musical sounds drifted out, like celestial music; occasionally a flying magic treasure dragged a trail of light across, and the calls of celestial birds echoed now and then…

Nanshan Fang truly is countryside! Xiao Zhangqing and the Lin sisters both thought so.

During the past few months, they visited several market towns and found that the Central Region's towns, while superior to Nanshan Fang in every way and broadened their horizons, were nowhere near this extreme.

Arriving at Character: Liyang Immortal City, they finally understood what it means to shatter preconceptions.

Soon they reached the plaza mentioned by the registration staff; Xiao Zhangqing spent a Low-grade Spirit Stone to hire a third‑tier Qi Refining cultivator who seemed eloquent, to guide him around the Immortal City for a day, explain its basics, and then also rent a cave residence.

As for the cave's grade, Xiao Zhangqing did not skimp on himself and planned to rent the best cave available to outsiders—a second‑rank supreme Spirit Vein level.

He had no need to rent a third‑rank Spirit Vein now, and wouldn't use it.

Moreover, although Character: Liyang Immortal City has third‑rank Spirit Veins, they are controlled by the City Lord's Residence and not offered for long‑term lease or sale.

They are only provided to fully established Foundation Establishment cultivators for temporary use when attempting to break through to the Golden Core.

In other words, if an outsider Golden Core cultivator, or a Foundation Establishment cultivator, successfully forms a Golden Core in Character: Liyang Immortal City and wishes to reside there long‑term, they must negotiate directly with the City Lord's Residence.

Xiao Zhangqing is still far from leaving the Foundation Establishment stage.

(End of chapter)