Chapter 223: Entering Zixiao Palace

After putting away the map and five copper pieces, Chen Shicheng rummaged in his storage slot, and a wooden token appeared in his hand.

【Sect Token: With this wooden token, you can study any skill at any sect branch in the imperial capital until mastery level.】

This sect token was also an item dropped after he killed an old Russian on the icefield; he thought he would never use this token that could only learn a mastery-level skill in his lifetime, but he didn't expect, "Surely, there's nothing useless, only people who can't use it."

According to the information-selling old man's words, Chen Shicheng's identity in the capital's cultivator circles is apparently not a secret; it's basically known to everyone.

Therefore, to avoid complications, he used Myriad Transformations to give himself an inconspicuous appearance that wouldn't stand out even if thrown into a crowd.

However, this slight disguise seems unable to fool keen observers, after all some people idle away, distinguishing others by aura; thus he rummaged again in his storage slot and found a ring.

This ring was given to him when he sold Yinxiang Incense, a player converting it to gold in trade; its appearance is very ordinary, just a rough iron ring, and its function is also rather useless.

【Cultivation Ring: When worn, level -5 (temporary), cultivation speed increased by 5%.】

His level is still 19; after putting on the ring, his level is directly suppressed to 14, and his aura instantly drops significantly.

Chen Shicheng jumped twice on the spot, adapted to his weakened body, then found the nearby official road and set off toward the city gate.

Along the way, it was wonderfully exciting, opening his eyes greatly.

Just like the large-scale closed beta earlier, on the official road every ten or so meters a group of players blocks the monster spawn points; those monsters born of heaven and earth's resentment are instantly hacked to death the moment they appear, with no chance to fight back.

Moreover, these players seem to have an unspoken agreement; each group guards their own small plot, trying to stay restrained, never crossing boundaries to avoid unnecessary conflict.

Only when the stranger Chen Shicheng passes by them do these players become wary, giving him warning glances; if he dares to steal a monster, they will team up against him.

Of course, some players, thinking strength in numbers, tried to invite Chen Shicheng to join them in monster grinding, but he politely refused them all.

But these were just superficial; the more shocking thing was still after he approached the capital.

They say when people number in the tens of thousands, it's boundless.

Previously these were only concepts in Chen Shicheng's mind, but today he can truly be said to have opened his eyes.

Below the capital's city walls, it has now become a refugee camp; countless players crowd here, some cooking over fires, some chatting and farting, some idly basking in the sun, the buzzing din never ceasing.

And the guards on the city walls seem to have grown accustomed; as long as these players don't rush the gate, nobody pays attention.

Chen Shicheng stared for a long time before barely managing to close his jaw.

Nor can we blame the Da Yu Court for ordering all new entrants to the game to be expelled from the city; if these players all appeared in the capital at once, not to mention in this feudal era, even in modern times it would cause huge chaos.

Moreover, players have a resurrection mechanism, each one utterly lawless.

"Tsk tsk tsk, this is getting interesting."

Chen Shicheng no longer dares to imagine how lively the future game will be as the world's population floods into the celestial realm.

Ignoring the curious glances of the surrounding players, he followed the official road straight to the city gate.

"Halt, stranger!"

As he approached the city gate, two spears blocked his way: "Show your travel permit and household registration; those without proper identity are forbidden to enter the capital!" "Another country bumpkin from out of town!"

"Isn't that right? Even we locals can't get in, so how could an outsider possibly?"

"Brother! Don't bother trying, you can't get in."

The players by the city gate, seeing there's excitement to watch, gathered around, started whispering, waiting to see the joke.

Chen Shicheng glanced at the surrounding gloating players, produced the sect token and handed it to the city guards, saying, "I don't have a travel permit and household registration, but take a look at this—will it work?"

The soldier took the wooden token, looked it over, then curiously sized up Chen Shicheng, enviously sheathing his spear: "Go on in; lately there's been some turmoil, be careful not to cause trouble in the capital, or you'll be expelled just like them."

"Thanks."

Chen Shicheng gave his thanks, then, under the gaze of other players, swaggered into the capital's main gate.

Suppressing the urge to return to Sifangguan to check on later developments, he, like an idle person, came to the Zixiao Palace station located southwest of the capital.

The disguises of Myriad Transformations and the Cultivation Ring were successful; the Daoist guarding the Zixiao Palace gate saw no issue, and after verifying the authenticity of the sect token, led him to a hall for registration.

I don't know whether it's because Zixiao Palace is efficient or simply doesn't care about visitors' information; Chen Shicheng merely filled out a form casually, then was led to his future lodging.

Moreover, on the bed he discovered a neat set of clothes, with a jade pendant placed on top.

The clothes are a set of ordinary blue Daoist robes with a pair of thick-soled cloth shoes; Chen Shicheng examined them with the Eye of Bai Ze, and as expected, there was no surprise—they are ordinary items distributed to everyone who comes to study with a token, with no attribute bonuses.

As for that jade pendant, it's much more complicated.

【Zixiao Palace Outer Disciple Certificate (Temporary)】

【Name: Chen Shicheng】

【Contribution: 0】

【Sect Permission: Wu level】

Looking at the pop-up secondary panel, Chen Shicheng curiously clicked each item to examine.

Contribution isn't anything special; just completing Zixiao Palace's tasks yields a certain amount of contribution, which can be exchanged for items, and if enough is accumulated, one can become an official disciple of Zixiao Palace.

Sect Permission is interesting, divided into Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, Wu, representing your status in Zixiao Palace and the areas you may access; permission can be upgraded via contribution, and Chen Shicheng's permission right now is the lowest Wu level.

Although he doesn't care much about permission level, the places accessible with Wu level are few, and they do not include his current goal, the Sutra Pavilion.

However, permission can be raised through contribution; reaching Bing level grants official disciple status in Zixiao Palace, after which one can presumably enter the Sutra Pavilion.

But he doesn't have that much time to waste; he can only think of a way, looking for a chance to sneak in secretly. (End of chapter)

But he didn't have that much time to waste, so he could only think of a way, see if he could find an opportunity to sneak in quietly. (End of chapter)