Chapter 420: Still Too Conservative

On the second day, Wei Yuning set out again, with only Huo Yun Dao Ren and Ji Qiu He accompanying him; today they were to choose a location for opening a restaurant.

Both of them had run businesses before, so they could offer some advice on the way, while the others stayed home to study recipes and prepare for the newly opening restaurant.

Their residence was called the Star-Viewing Slope Seven Bends Path; not far away was the Star-Viewing Slope Teleportation Array, and the destination was the East-Approach Water Teleportation Array, which lay near Gem Lake.

The teleportation fee for a mid-grade spirit stone was not cheap either.

In fact, looking down from the edge of their house, they could see part of the bluish shimmering Gem Lake.

Beyond the East-Approach Water Teleportation Array, the rest of the journey relied on body technique; all of them were great masters, and even with continuous observation, in less than half an incense‑stick's time they arrived at Gem Lake fifty li away.

"What a beautiful place!" Wei Yuning exclaimed, unable to restrain his admiration as he gazed at the emerald sea, blue sky, sandy beach and sunlight before him.

What surprised him even more was that he actually saw men and women in short garments strolling along the beach and playing in the shallow sea; had he not seen the radiant, protected seaside residences, he would have thought he had returned to Earth.

"What a huge natural hot spring!" Ji Qiu He said without any hint of surprise, "Langya Heaven also has one, but unfortunately it's too small!"

Huo Yun Dao Ren half‑opened his mouth, drool spilling at the corners, muttering, "Why are the fairies here like beast cultivators, showing no shame at all!"

"At least the fairies have fine skin, aren't afraid of the sun, and have good figures; it's a pity they don't show themselves off for everyone to see!" Wei Yuning said, his eyes flashing.

He had thought immortals were very conservative, but didn't expect such a wonderful place with beach beauties.

Ji Qiu He, watching their reactions, couldn't help laughing, "It seems Huo Yun Dao Ren's insight is higher; these customs originally spread from beast cultivators. I once heard about them from a high immortal and was half‑skeptical, but after coming to Gem Lake today I truly witnessed them. Still, the fairies at Langya Heaven Hot Spring dress sparingly!" He rarely showed such a mischievous grin.

"Oh, Daoist companion Ji, tell me more!" Wei Yuning said, greatly interested.

The Immortal City was so open and colorful that it gave him a sense of having his eyes opened wide. No wonder Qiu Hu had always praised the Immortal City for its many amusements; it indeed proved true.

"Beast cultivators, after training, mostly transform into human form; even after becoming human, they are accustomed to wearing no clothes or only simple garments. To orthodox cultivators, they appear as a group of uncivilized, ignorant fools. Yet this world values strength, and while beast immortals are weaker than high‑rank immortals, they are stronger than ordinary true immortals, so over time everyone accepted the beast cultivators' clothing style. The Immortal Realm enforces strict regulations, causing beast cultivators there to be more restrained, whereas the Immortal City is far more relaxed; thus, this attire gradually became its own fashion, and daring cultivators began to imitate it," Ji Qiu He explained.

"I see, today I, the old Daoist, have truly broadened my knowledge!" Huo Yun Dao Ren beamed.

The three walked along a road not far from the coast, observing their surroundings.

Gem Lake truly lived up to being Green Forest Wei City's premier leisure spot; tourists came and went, and the shops along the shore thrived.

Among the many shops, restaurants were the most numerous, followed by clothing stores, a few artifact shops, and even a stall selling ice.

Just by a sniff, he could tell the restaurant food tasted average, which boosted his confidence; however, the restaurants also offered some local fruits, whose fragrant sweetness made Wei Yuning marvel as well.

The clothing stores here sold garments exactly like those worn by the beach revelers: shorts that reach the knees and tops that expose half an arm. For cultivators, that was indeed open, but in Wei Yuning's eyes it was still too conservative, with plenty of room for improvement.

The clothes came in various styles and patterns, but only the details differed; there were no belly‑or back‑exposing designs, let alone thong‑type outfits.

For a moment, Wei Yuning almost considered switching to a clothing business.

By contrast, the artifact shops sold more playful items, reminiscent of Earth styles. Light wooden planks and small boats floating on the water were the most common; they are compressed artifacts, only palm‑sized, yet they conceal spatial techniques, a level befitting a master alchemist of the cultivation world.

"Since they sell ice, why not sell some ice cream?" Wei Yuning complained as they passed several ice stalls.

"What is ice cream?" Ji Qiu He asked curiously.

"Huo Yun brother, don't ask, that's something the ladies love to eat!" Wei Yuning laughed.

Huo Yun Dao Ren, looking at Wei Yuning's flirtatious demeanor, sighed, "I kind of miss the former Wei City Lord; with you like this, you're hard not to dislike!"

"..." Wei Yuning's face went pale.

Ji Qiu He, not shying away from the awkwardness, laughed along, "Although the former Wei City Lord seemed aloof, he was more reassuring!"

"You all wait, turn around!" Wei Yuning suddenly said.

The two were puzzled but obeyed Wei Yuning's command.

"Alright, turn back!" a cold, icy voice rang out.

Ji Qiu He and Huo Yun Dao Ren were startled, then abruptly turned; a tall, slender man wearing a conical hat and a veil appeared before them. His stature and demeanor were completely different from the cheeky Wei Yuning moments before, and merely standing there exuded a cold aura.

The strong sunlight made the thin veil unable to conceal his features; Yu Long Mountain was back.

"Wei City Lord, what's really going on? You..." Ji Qiu He suddenly recalled something, grabbed Huo Yun Dao Ren and retreated swiftly, floating three zhang away.

At that moment, a female voice suddenly sounded, "Eh, Master... Wei City Lord, Daoist companion Ji, Daoist companion Huo Yun, why didn't you say a word?"

The few turned their heads and saw Thus line: Ye Ying walking over with a smile.

They didn't expect that, without realizing it, they had arrived at Thus line: Ye Ying's workplace.

"Don't panic, I'm still me; I just want to tell you that that guy left an ownerless primordial spirit, and now I can fully control it!" Wei Yuning said hurriedly, ignoring Thus line: Ye Ying's presence.

He then crouched, reverting to his original form again. Because of the conical hat, the two body changes went unnoticed by the distant onlookers.

Thus line: Ye Ying was startled, glanced at Huo Yun and Ji Qiu He, and asked, "Wei City Lord, have you changed?"

"Junior sister, they already know; I've returned to my original self!" Wei Yuning laughed.

A familiar voice sounded, and Thus line: Ye Ying exclaimed with delight, "Great! I've already told Senior Sister Qiu Hu about your arrival; she still doesn't know you've reverted. If she sees you again, how happy she'll be!"

Cultivation begins with menial duties /book/84054/