49: Chapter 49 Entering the Flowing Clouds, Adhering to the Rules, Renting a Cave Dwelling

After flying for another half day, the silhouette of a majestic city gradually became clear on the horizon ahead.

The city walls were over ten zhang high, built from a type of massive cyan stone, with runes faintly flowing across their surface, exuding a heavy, stable, and inviolable Spiritual Pressure.

On the ramparts, armored soldiers holding halberds could be seen patrolling; most of their auras were at the Middle Stage of the Qi Refining Stage, while the leading squad captain had cultivation at the Late Stage of the Qi Refining Stage.

The city gates were tall and grand, divided for entry on the left and right; the flow of people was like a weaving loom, and the noise of carriages and horses was constant, yet everything was orderly.

Above the city gate, two large characters were carved in a primitive seal script—Liuyun.

Liuyun City, here it was.

Ye Qing lowered his escape light and landed several miles outside the city.

Such large cities all had flight prohibitions; unless one had special permission or was a Cultivator above the Golden Core stage, one was not allowed to fly within the city. This was common knowledge.

He followed the flow of people toward the city gate.

The gate-guarding soldiers had eyes like lightning, scanning every person entering the city, paying special attention to those Cultivators with deep auras.

Ye Qing restrained his aura to the Early Stage of the Foundation Establishment Stage, keeping a low profile, and handed over the ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones for the entry fee—this was the rule: one for the Qi Refining Stage, ten for the Foundation Establishment Stage, with no credit allowed.

Seeing that he was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, the soldier's attitude became slightly more respectful. After verifying everything was correct, he handed over a cyan Jade Slip: "This is a temporary identity token, valid for a one-month stay in the city. Upon expiration, you must go to the 'Household Registration Department' to renew or apply for long-term residency. Private fights are strictly prohibited in the city, and restricted areas must not be entered without authorization; violators will be severely punished."

Ye Qing nodded and took the token, which felt warm and smooth in his hand. It contained simple information records, which also served as a form of supervision.

Stepping into the city, the noise and prosperity rushed toward him.

The streets were wide and flat, paved with cyan flagstones, wide enough for several carriages to travel side-by-side.

Buildings stood on both sides, with flying eaves, bracket sets, and carved beams and painted pillars, far exceeding the quality of the shanties in Blackwater Market.

Shop signs were dazzling to the eyes, with Medicinal Pill shops, Magical Artifact pavilions, Talisman shops, Material firms, restaurants, tea houses, inns... everything one could ask for, and most had bright, clean facades with an endless stream of customers.

Pedestrians on the street were like a weaving loom, a mix of Cultivators and Mortals.

The Cultivators' cultivation ranged from the Qi Refining Stage to the Foundation Establishment Stage, and their auras were mostly peaceful, rarely showing the fierce and rugged air found in the Black Water Swamp.

Mortals mostly worked in the service industry or as servants for low-level Cultivators; while they were respectful toward Cultivators, they lacked some of the fear and possessed a bit of the composure unique to residents of a large city.

The concentration of Spiritual Qi was significantly higher than outside the city and was much more peaceful and stable, evidently the effect of a large Spirit Gathering Formation within the city.

Ye Qing strolled along the street, his gaze calmly sweeping over the shops on both sides, while his ears gathered various pieces of information.

"...Have you heard? The City Lord's Mansion issued a mission yesterday to 'exterminate the Yao Beasts in the Black Wind Cave a hundred miles east of the city,' with generous rewards; many Yao Beast hunting teams are tempted."

"Wanbao Tower is holding a small auction in three days; it is said that a few excellent top-tier Magical Artifacts will be the finale. Brother Liu, are you going to take a look?"

"'Danxia Pavilion' has just received a batch of 'Ningyuan Pills,' which are quite effective for consolidating the foundation and cultivating the origin for Cultivators at the Early Stage of the Foundation Establishment Stage, but the price has gone up again..."

"There are quite a few new faces entering the city recently. I heard that several small Sects in the south were overrun by Yao Beasts, and many Cultivators have fled here for refuge."

"Indeed. A few new Artifact Refining shops opened in the East Market, and business seems quite good. This Liuyun City is becoming more and more bustling."

The information was complex, but Ye Qing extracted the key points: Liuyun City was orderly, rich in resources, and had numerous channels for missions and trade.

Recently, due to border wars, outside Cultivators had been flooding in.

The City Lord's Mansion had strong control and regularly issued missions to clear out surrounding threats.

He needed to find a place to stay first.

An inn was not a long-term solution; it would be best to rent an Immortal Cave with basic protection and decent Spiritual Qi.

Following the signs, he arrived at the "Immortal Cave Rental Department" in the west of the city.

This was a three-story pavilion, with many Cultivators entering and leaving.

Ye Qing stepped into the first-floor hall, and a waiter in green clothes immediately greeted him with a beaming smile: "Senior, are you looking to rent an Immortal Cave? Our department has properties all over the city, with varying Spiritual Qi concentrations, protection levels, and sizes, and the prices differ accordingly. Senior, please take a look at the Jade Slip introduction first."

As he spoke, he handed over a Jade Slip.

Ye Qing took it and let his Divine Sense sink in.

Inside the Jade Slip was a holographic map of Liuyun City, marking the locations of various Immortal Caves available for rent, with simple introductions beside them: location, approximate Spiritual Qi concentration, basic protection Formation, size, and rent.

Immortal Caves were divided into three grades: Heaven, Earth, and Human.

Human-grade Immortal Caves were mostly on the edge of the city, with average Spiritual Qi, only basic soundproofing and warning Restrictions, and small areas; they were suitable for Cultivators at the Qi Refining Stage or Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivators who were short on funds, with a monthly rent of fifty to one hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

Earth-grade Immortal Caves were in slightly better locations, with medium Spiritual Qi concentration, basic protection and concealment Formations, and decent areas; they were suitable for Foundation Establishment Cultivators, with a monthly rent of two hundred to five hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

Heaven-grade Immortal Caves were located at several gathering points of Spiritual Qi or where small Spiritual Vein branches passed through; they had rich Spiritual Qi, complete protection Formations, and even came with small herb gardens or Artifact Refining Rooms. They were spacious but rare and expensive, with a monthly rent starting at one thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones, and required a certain status or guarantee.

Ye Qing pondered for a moment and pointed to an Immortal Cave on the map near the Inner City in the west, labeled "Earth-Grade A-Seventy-Three."

This location was relatively secluded, close to a small garden, with a Spiritual Qi concentration marked as "Medium-High," protected by a "Lesser Five Elements Prohibition Formation (Simplified Version)," and came with a quiet room, a cultivation room, and a storage room, with a monthly rent of three hundred and eighty Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

"Let's go with this one. I'll rent it for three months first," Ye Qing said.

The price was moderate, the protection was decent, and the location suited him well.

"Senior has good taste," the waiter smiled even wider. "Immortal Cave A-Seventy-Three just became vacant yesterday; it is quiet and elegant. For a three-month lease, the total is one thousand one hundred and forty Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Additionally, you need to pay three months' rent as a deposit, which will be returned in full when you move out if there is no damage. This is the contract Jade Slip; please take a look, Senior."

Ye Qing scanned the contents of the Jade Slip; the terms were clear, mostly stating that one must not alter the structure of the Immortal Cave, must not perform dangerous cultivation or refining within the Immortal Cave, and must pay rent on time, etc.

He readily paid the Spirit Stones and left the Immortal Cave rental information in that temporary identity token.

The waiter handed over a token to control the Immortal Cave's Formation, as well as a detailed Jade Slip map of Liuyun City marking the location of the Immortal Cave.

"You can use this token to control the Immortal Cave's Formation, and it can also serve as an identity credential. If Senior needs to hire servants or purchase daily necessities, you can go to the nearby market. If you have questions about cultivation, or need to exchange Cultivation Techniques or accept missions, you can go to the 'Wen Dao Pavilion' or the 'Contribution Hall' in the Inner City. I wish Senior smooth cultivation."

Ye Qing put away the token and Jade Slip, cupped his hands in thanks, and left the Rental Department.

Following the map, he passed through several streets and arrived at a relatively quiet residential area in the west of the city.

Here, buildings were scattered, all shrouded in the Spiritual light of Formations; evidently, these were all rental Immortal Caves.

A-Seventy-Three was a small, detached courtyard with cyan walls and gray tiles, occupying about half a mu of land.

The courtyard gate was tightly shut, and there was an inconspicuous Jade Slip above the lintel.

Ye Qing took out the control token and waved it at the Jade Slip.

The Jade Slip flashed with a faint light, and the courtyard gate slid open silently.

He stepped inside, and the gate closed immediately. A faint light screen, carrying the aura of the Five Elements rotating, rose up and shrouded the small courtyard.

The courtyard was paved with cyan stone, clean and tidy.

On the left, there was a small flower bed, but unfortunately, it was empty.

In front were three rooms connected together; the middle was the living room, the left was the quiet room, and the right was the cultivation room.

Behind the house, there was also a small storage room.

Ye Qing walked into the living room; the furnishings were simple, with tables and chairs complete.

The quiet room could be used for resting or receiving guests.

The ground of the cultivation room was carved with simple Spirit Gathering Formation patterns; the Spiritual Qi concentration was indeed much higher than outside, and although it was far inferior to the space within his body, it was still quite good.

He activated the control token to start the "Lesser Five Elements Prohibition Formation (Simplified Version)" that came with the Immortal Cave.

A more solid light screen shrouded the entire courtyard, isolating the internal and external auras and sounds, and possessed certain defensive and warning functions.

Although it was far inferior to the "Five Elements Void Prohibition Formation" he had set up himself, it was sufficient for an ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

Ye Qing nodded with satisfaction.

With this temporary place to stay, he could calmly plan his next steps.

He first entered the cultivation room, set up a few warning Restrictions, then sat cross-legged, took out a Mid-Grade Spirit Stone to hold in his hand, and began to regulate his breathing, recovering from the slight exhaustion of the continuous days of travel and the previous battle.

At the same time, he began to plan in his mind.

The primary task was to familiarize himself with the environment of Liuyun City and figure out the various forces, resource distribution, and trading rules.

Secondly, he needed to inquire about more information regarding the ancient teleportation array, the Xingluo Sect, and even the "Dragonfall Abyss."

This matter needed to be conducted in secret and could not be rushed.

Thirdly, he needed to find a way to obtain more Advanced legacies of Formations, Medicinal Pill Dao, and even Artifact Refining to improve his skills, earn Spirit Stones, and pave the way for future cultivation.

Finally, there was naturally his own cultivation.

His cultivation at the Early Stage of the Foundation Establishment Stage needed to be consolidated, his Spells needed to be refined, the Void Dao Seed needed to be comprehended, and the space within his body also needed to be continuously managed and explored.

Each plan was clear and distinct.

Developing steadily—this was the same no matter where he was.

Inside his body, the one-hundred-and-fifty-zhang cave heaven was quiet, with moonlight and starlight flowing through it.

The story of Liuyun City began from here.