Chapter 117: Arrival

Three days later.

The mirror-snow pavilion’s magic vessel slowly came to a stop.

The cultivators aboard the vessel all leaned out, their faces filled with excitement.

After more than half a month, they had finally reached their destination—the hermit sanctuary of “Canghai Xiancheng.”

A towering, majestic city expanded before their eyes.

Even the nearby mountains and rivers seemed like mere mounds when compared to the giant city.

Canghai Xiancheng spanned thousands of li, resting atop a large, high-grade third-rank spiritual vein.

Yet not everyone could enjoy the spiritual energy from this third-rank vein; only a select few high-level cultivators residing in the city’s center were granted that privilege.

Third-rank spiritual veins were virtually the exclusive domain of Jin Dan elders and pseudo-Jin Dan True Persons.

Besides this, the city also contained several first- and second-rank spiritual vein branches.

The entire Canghai Xiancheng was shrouded beneath a third-rank great array, emitting a faint blue shimmering glow.

Clouds and mist swirled, radiating an aura of divine energy.

“Finally back!”

“I’m suffocating—I nearly stank to death down below!”

“I’m going straight to Canghai Xiancheng’s biggest ‘Hongchen Garden’ to release all this pent-up frustration.”

“I swear I’ll never set foot in Yunze Wilds again—it’s a goddamn trap.”

…

On the magic vessel, countless cultivators shot forth like streaks of light, mounting their flying magic treasures and rushing impatiently toward the immortal city.

Qin Ming stepped onto the deck, stood with his hands behind his back, and silently gazed down at the city below.

A moment later.

Wu Jiang and Mu Ruyin arrived side by side, both smiling.

“Qin Daoist, let’s go—the spiritual energy Archipelago is still some distance from Canghai Xiancheng.”

“The Mirror Snow Pavilion’s vessel can only take us this far; the rest of the journey is up to us,” Wu Jiang explained respectfully.

Qin Ming smiled and nodded. “Please wait a moment—I need to bid farewell to someone, then I’ll join you for the trip to the spiritual energy Archipelago.”

“By all means, Qin Daoist. We’ll wait here,” Wu Jiang and the other replied.

At that moment,

Gu Qingzhao, dressed in plain white robes, and Liao the Shopkeeper emerged as well.

Gu Qingzhao exuded a cold, noble aura, like a celestial being.

She walked slowly to Qin Ming’s side, her starlit eyes smiling. “A thousand-mile farewell is inevitable—Qin Daoist, it seems we must part here.”

“Thank you, Gu Daoist, for all your arrangements these past days—I am deeply grateful,” Qin Ming replied with a faint smile.

Gu Qingzhao said, “These are minor matters. After all, you are now an honorary guest minister of our pavilion; such arrangements are only proper. If you ever change your mind, I welcome you to formally join us at any time.”

“I await you in Canghai Xiancheng.”

“Thank you for your kindness, Gu Daoist. Once I’m settled, you’re always welcome to visit me—it’s not far away,” Qin Ming said with a carefree smile.

Gu Qingzhao nodded. “I will.”

“Hey—what’s this mean?”

“Why didn’t you invite me?”

“Did you forget about me?”

Liao the Shopkeeper feigned annoyance.

“Heh, how could I? You’re always welcome, Liao Shopkeeper.”

“I just haven’t found a place to settle yet.”

Qin Ming smiled.

“If you need anything, come find me in Canghai Xiancheng,” Gu Qingzhao said, then took two jars of spirit wine and some spirit tea from her storage pouch and handed them to Qin Ming. “A small token to see you off.”

“May your immortal path endure.”

Qin Ming accepted the gifts, warmth rising in his chest, and bowed slightly. “No need to see me off, Daoists.”

…

Wu Jiang and Mu Ruyin watched from the side, deeply shaken—they had never imagined the Mirror Snow Pavilion’s mistress herself would come to see Qin Ming off.

And the closeness between them was obvious. Qin Daoist grew ever more mysterious in their eyes.

After bidding farewell to Gu Qingzhao, the three of them mounted their flying magic treasures and set off toward the spiritual energy Archipelago.

At first, their flight speeds were matched.

But after half a day, Wu Jiang and Mu Ruyin slowed noticeably, left far behind by Qin Ming.

It wasn’t just a difference in spiritual power—their flying treasures were vastly inferior.

At this pace, they’d need at least three more days to reach their destination.

So Qin Ming simply invited the two to board his Spirit Light Flying Shuttle.

Wu Jiang and Mu Ruyin had never ridden a top-grade flying treasure before; their eyes sparkled with excitement.

With this change,

their travel speed increased dramatically.

…

The territory of Wei State was divided into twelve circuits, overseeing three hundred and sixty prefectures.

The spiritual energy Archipelago lay at the northernmost border of Jiangbei Circuit, its northern reaches shrouded in mysterious mists, its eastern edge merging into the Eastern Sea.

One day later.

Qin Ming, riding the Spirit Light Flying Shuttle, arrived above the spiritual energy Archipelago.

Before him stretched a vast, boundless expanse of lakes and seas.

Countless islands dotted the waters like stars.

A dense network of rivers and streams crisscrossed the area, with countless boats shuttling back and forth, creating a scene of a hundred vessels vying for passage.

The lake surface shimmered, reflecting the blue sky and white clouds.

A world entirely unlike the Yunze Wilds.

“Qin Daoist, we’ve reached the spiritual energy Archipelago—I’d like to invite you to my home,” Wu Jiang, back in his homeland, took a deep breath and eagerly invited Qin Ming.

“Though our Wu family isn’t a great sect, we do hold an entire spirit island with a high-grade second-rank spiritual vein. If you’re not put off, please come visit.”

Qin Ming replied, “Oh? Isn’t the spiritual energy Archipelago under the jurisdiction of the Zhao clan?”

“Not entirely. Before the Zhao family took control, many families and hermits already lived here.”

“The ownership of these islands remained in their own hands.”

“Of course, the spirit islands under Zhao family control later became superior in quality.”

“For example, my Wu family has lived here for a hundred generations; Hongyu Spirit Island has been ours since time immemorial.”

“I see,” Qin Ming nodded thoughtfully.

Then,

he said to the two, “Daoists, return to your families first—I have matters to attend to.”

“Uh—Qin Daoist, you’re really not coming to my home?” Wu Jiang’s face fell.

Qin Ming smiled calmly. “Heh, no need to worry—I’m just going to stroll around the nearby Tianhe Market.”

“Send me a message tomorrow.”

Seeing Qin Ming was firm, Wu Jiang sighed regretfully. “Alright then, Qin Daoist—I must return to my clan.”

“I’ll meet you again tomorrow.”

Saying this,

Wu Jiang and Mu Ruyin mounted their flying treasures and took their leave from Qin Ming.

Qin Ming gazed down at a spirit island below, then activated his spiritual power and descended.

The Tianhe Market was not Zhao family property, but built and maintained by numerous Qi Refining families of the spiritual energy Archipelago, who traded among themselves and attracted many wandering cultivators, gradually expanding the market’s scale.

The Tianhe Market sat atop a mid-grade second-rank spiritual vein island.

The island covered more than ten thousand mu.

The market was bustling, now teeming with crowds.

Qin Ming guided his Spirit Light Flying Shuttle down to land.

“Daoist, a two-spirit-stone fee is required for first-time entry,” said the gate guard, bowing respectfully to Qin Ming, a late-stage Qi Refiner.

(End of Chapter)