Chapter 463: Arrival in Great Jin (Requesting Subscriptions~)

After a moment of dizziness as if the heavens and earth had spun wildly.

Qin Ming's vision brightened; when he opened his eyes again, he stood within a formation inside a cave.

Having traveled via a mid-level teleportation array, and with his Foundation Establishment cultivation base, his body felt no discomfort whatsoever.

In contrast, the few behind him swayed like drunkards, barely able to stand, even Han Yuan and his two companions were no exception.

Only after half a cup of tea had passed did they regain their composure.

Long-distance teleportation inevitably causes adverse reactions in those below the Golden Core realm.

"Greetings, fellow cultivators, welcome to the Great Jin Immortal Realm!"

Then, a middle-aged cultivator clad in crimson and purple robes appeared before them, leading a squad of disciples from the Li Huo Palace.

He wore a warm smile as he welcomed these distant arrivals.

"Master Liang, long time no see!"

Han Yuan and the others clearly knew the cultivators stationed here well; they exchanged pleasantries.

Afterwards, under Master Liang's guidance, they exited the cave.

Only when they stepped outside did Qin Ming realize the Li Huo Palace's teleportation array was hidden within the mountain wall of a gorge, heavily guarded and extremely secretive.

"So we've finally arrived? The Great Jin Immortal Realm."

Qin Ming took a deep breath, his spirit stirred, a faint smile rising on his lips.

He could clearly sense that the spiritual energy here was denser than in the Southern Wastelands.

"Hehe! Brother Lu, your destination—the Jing Xue Pavilion branch—isn't far from here, in the 'Ling Xu Bazaar.' Quite close indeed."

Han Yuan said with a smile.

"Oh? I see. Thank you for the information, Brother Han." Qin Ming replied gratefully.

"Here, take this simplified map of the Great Jin Imperial Realm—it's a gift to you, Brother Lu."

Beside him, Gao Feng pulled out a pale yellow jade slip and handed it to Qin Ming.

Qin Ming accepted the jade slip and thanked him again; though this was only a simplified map of Great Jin, it was still a rare item.

Such maps were usually held only by major powers, for they were exceedingly difficult to produce.

After stowing the map, Qin Ming casually inquired: "I heard the Li Huo Palace was recently at war with another major enemy. Though the war has ended, what was the final outcome?"

"Hehe! Didn't expect a cultivator from the Southern Wastelands to be so well-informed." Gao Feng looked surprised, then explained: "Brother Lu, the other side in this war was the newly risen Nascent Soul-level force, 'Shen Dao Mountain.'"

"The great clash between these two superpowers ended two years ago, with both sides agreeing to draw a border along the Five Elements Mountains and cease hostilities."

Qin Ming frowned in surprise: "Shen Dao Mountain? It's a newly risen Nascent Soul-level force in Great Jin?"

"Precisely. Shen Dao Mountain lies in the southern region of Great Jin, occupying vast territory. Decades ago, their Supreme Elder secretly achieved Nascent Soul formation, then launched war."

For decades, countless Golden Core cultivators perished, and the conflict eventually escalated into a struggle for survival.

"Fortunately, two years ago, high-level cultivators from both sides held multiple negotiations at the Five Elements Mountains and finally reached a ceasefire agreement," Gao Feng explained patiently.

Qin Ming's eyes lit up: "Oh? What were the casualty figures on both sides?"

"Low-level cultivators died in uncountable numbers. Even renowned Golden Core True Persons from the Great Jin Immortal Realm fell in great numbers—truly brutal."

"It's said the Nascent Soul True Lord of Li Huo Palace and the Nascent Soul Ancestor of Shen Dao Mountain clashed directly. Neither gained the upper hand."

"Both suffered severe internal injuries and are now in seclusion to heal. Such wounds to these great cultivators will likely take decades to recover from."

"Thus, as soon as the agreement was signed, the war ended."

Qin Ming secretly rejoiced—this suited him perfectly. Now, aside from Nascent Soul elders, few could threaten him.

Yet he still had many questions. For instance, how had Shen Dao Mountain's Supreme Elder suddenly succeeded in forming a Nascent Soul? And how could this newly risen Nascent Soul sect, with so little depth, stand toe-to-toe against Li Huo Palace—a millennia-old powerhouse—without losing ground? The disparity in resources and heritage was immense; something must be hidden beneath the surface.

Moreover, why had the two sects suddenly gone to war? What was the spark that ignited it?

But such high-level intelligence was likely beyond the reach of Han Yuan and others, mere Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Qin Ming planned to find an opportunity to gather more information—his safety in Great Jin depended on it.

At any time, possessing intelligence others lack is invaluable for assessing the situation.

After all, Qin Ming was cautious by nature; if things turned sour, he was ready to flee at any moment. 'Good thing I've arrived in Great Jin—I'm a peace envoy of the immortal world.'

'The peace between these two factions should last a long time.'

Qin Ming thought to himself, then followed the three as they flew out of the valley.

Yet halfway there.

When he activated the jade slip map, he froze.

The location where Qin Ming and the others now stood was in the southern region of the Great Jin Imperial Realm, not far from the Five Elements Mountains.

Only half a month's journey away.

Moreover, the identity of "Master Lu" assigned to Qin Ming by Gu Qingzhao had its destination at the 'Ling Xu Bazaar'—not far from here either.

To avoid drawing attention, Qin Ming decided to use this identity for a while, gather intelligence, adapt to local customs, and familiarize himself with this realm before making further plans.

Otherwise, if Master Lu vanished mysteriously right after arriving in Great Jin, his behavior would be too suspicious and attract the wrong eyes.

'If even a sect like Shen Dao Mountain could secretly form a Nascent Soul, then the opportunities for Nascent Soul formation in Great Jin must still be plentiful.'

…

Two days later.

Ling Xu Bazaar, Yu Feng Tower.

On the first floor of the tavern, Qin Ming drank with Han Yuan and the other three; they ordered a lavish feast of fine wine and dishes to welcome Qin Ming.

"I am but a newcomer, deeply grateful for your kindness. I toast you all." With that, Qin Ming raised his cup and drained it.

Han Yuan and the other three laughed in unison: "Brother Lu, you're straightforward and match our temperaments perfectly—we feel as if we've known each other for ages!"

"This meal is our welcome feast—welcome to Great Jin, ha ha!"

Han Yuan, Gao Feng, and Liu Ye also raised their cups and drank their spirit wine.

As they exchanged cups and clinked vessels, their bond grew closer.

Even though he had seen much.

When Qin Ming first arrived at the Ling Xu Bazaar, he was stunned.

The Ling Xu Bazaar was jointly established by nearby immortal sects and several smaller factions, located on the southern frontier, bordering the territory controlled by the Southern Wastelands' Shen Dao Mountain.

Further south lay the endless, roaring Shou Ming Mountains.

Geographically, it was a vital transit hub, with a constant stream of cultivators passing through.

The Ling Xu Bazaar sat atop a top-grade third-rank spiritual vein and had stood for over a thousand years, enjoying high reputation among free cultivators.

Qin Ming couldn't help but silently marvel: 'Great Jin's strength truly surpasses the four nations of the Southern Wastelands. Its resources are extraordinary—even this remote border bazaar rivals Canghai Immortal City.'

…

(End of Chapter)