394: Where did this country bumpkin come from?!

"Huh?"

Lu Ming's finger-pinching calculation suddenly halted, his gaze turning to the immortal city silhouette faintly veiled in mist not far away in surprise.

Perhaps it was the increased proficiency from his frequent "practice" of the Heavenly Mandate Compilation and Fortune Diagram Record during this period.

Or perhaps the Karma level involved in the 'Miraculous Treasure Demon Luo Dharmakāya' itself wasn't too high; after a round of deduction, he quickly arrived at a clear directional result in his heart.

"The subsequent Cultivation Technique for this Divine Ability is inside this Liuyun Immortal City?"

This conclusion left Lu Ming quite taken aback.

Just obtained a fragmented technique, and immediately discovered the follow-up might be right at hand?

This... is a bit too coincidental, isn't it?

Lu Ming's suspicious and cautious nature immediately made him subconsciously wonder if there was some trap or scheme behind this.

However, after quickly scanning the karma golden book in his Sea of Consciousness and confirming no new Fellow Daoist names had abruptly appeared on it, his heart settled slightly.

But for the sake of caution, he once again calmed his mind and focused, conducting a more meticulous deduction.

Strands of profound mystery flowed between his fingertips. Moments later, a flash of realization crossed Lu Ming's eyes.

"So that's it. The 'Minor Auspicious' fortune shown in the divination I cast for myself actually has part of its manifestation reflected here?"

He had wondered why he would encounter those clueless Calamity Cultivators on the road. Turns out that wasn't bad Luck, but a delivery of warmth!

And those Calamity Cultivators brought the fragmented technique, and the follow-up pointed to by the fragment just happened to be in the immortal city he was originally heading to.

One link connected to another, the flow of Luck actually manifested in such a manner.

"Well, since this trip was originally for relaxation anyway, if I can incidentally complete the follow-up of a Divine Ability with decent potential along the way, that would be a pleasant surprise. How wonderful would that be?"

Lu Ming stopped dwelling on whether it was a coincidence or not. Matters of Luck were inherently profound and hard to explain; sometimes, one plants a willow without intent, yet it grows into shade.

With his mind made up, he no longer delayed.

An almost imperceptible layer of hazy aura quietly enveloped his body, like an invisible film isolating him from everything around him.

This was the Karma Concealment Veil recorded in the Heavenly Mandate Compilation and Fortune Diagram Record.

Not invisibility, but diminishing one's "presence" on the Karmic level.

Then, as if strolling through a courtyard, he headed towards the direction of Liuyun Immortal City's gate... Liuyun Immortal City, East Gate.

The city gate stood ten zhang high, forged from Black Iron Profound Stone mixed with some Yao Beast bones, covered in marks of time and defensive runes, faintly exuding an aura of solemnity and sturdiness.

On both sides of the gate stood guards in standardized light armor, Cultivators with cultivation levels ranging from Late-Stage Qi Refinement to Early Foundation Establishment Stage, responsible for maintaining order and collecting an entry fee of one Mid-Grade Spirit Stone.

For most low-level Loose Cultivators, this wasn't a small amount, but it was still within an acceptable range, serving as one of the basic revenues for maintaining the immortal city's operations.

Lu Ming approached the gate with the sparse flow of people, already prepared to take out a Spirit Stone and pay the fee like an ordinary Cultivator.

But just as his hand was about to touch his Storage Ring, his eyes shifted slightly, and an idea popped into his head.

Then, without stopping his steps, as if he didn't see the guards by the gate, he swaggered directly towards the gate passage with a matter-of-fact attitude.

"Hey hey! Stop right there!"

"Hey, you! The one in the Blue Robe!"

A guard standing on the outer side, with sharp eyes and at the Early Foundation Establishment Stage, immediately noticed this "arrogant" fellow.

His brows instantly furrowed, and he quickly stepped forward, reaching out to block the way while shouting sternly.

"Where did this country bumpkin Cultivator come from? Have you paid the entry fee? Don't you know the rules!"

His voice was loud, drawing the attention of some nearby city guards and Cultivators waiting to enter.

However, just as this guard was about to grab Lu Ming's arm, and his gaze met those calm, unrippling eyes for an instant.

The guard's movement abruptly halted!

His outstretched hand froze mid-air, the sternness on his face rapidly fading, replaced by a sudden, deep confusion.

He blinked, looked at his own outstretched hand, then at the empty gate passage before him, his brows tightly knit.

"What was I about to do just now?"

He muttered softly, his gaze sweeping around in bewilderment.

He clearly felt like someone was trying to rush the gate just now? Was he seeing things?

"Zhao Tieniu! What are you standing there for, you brat! Think you're too idle? Get back to your post now!"

From inside the gate, a Small Banner Officer of the gate guard team, clad in a silver breastplate with an aura reaching Foundation Establishment Perfection, reprimanded discontentedly. His voice was like muffled thunder, clearly a hot-tempered character.

This reprimand struck like thunder, jolting the guard named Zhao Tieniu out of his confusion.

He shuddered all over, instinctively stood at attention, and responded loudly: "Yes! Banner Officer!"

Then he scurried somewhat flustered back to his original position.

On the way back, he was still muttering to himself.

"Strange, what exactly happened just now? Feels like I forgot something. Could it be I've been Cultivating too hard lately and started hallucinating?"

He stole a glance at that displeased-looking Small Banner Officer, then looked at the faint, shimmering spiritual light on the city gate representing the operation of the Third-Tier Protective Formation, immediately finding a "reasonable" explanation in his heart.

"I must be overthinking it! Even the Banner Officer didn't notice anything unusual, and the city gate Formation didn't react. How could anyone slip in without paying right under my nose? Must be something wrong with my Cultivation, yeah, that's it!"

He nodded vigorously, as if convincing himself, then straightened his back, refocused his attention on the pedestrians outside the gate, and continued his day's drudgery.

As for that Foundation Establishment Perfection Small Banner Officer, after reprimanding Zhao Tieniu, his gaze casually swept over the inside and outside of the gate.

Finding everything normal, the flow of people orderly, the Formation stable, and not detecting any abnormal spiritual energy fluctuations, he merely assumed his subordinate was slacking off and daydreaming, snorted coldly, and paid no further attention... By now, Lu Ming was already inside Liuyun Immortal City.

Standing on a wide main street paved with bluestone and lined with shops on both sides, he looked around with interest.

On both sides of the street, buildings stood in rows, varying in height.

There were Magical Artifact shops with faint treasure glows and clerks shouting at the door.

There were Medicinal Pill pavilions exuding medicinal fragrance and hung with various signs.

There were general stores displaying a dazzling array of Yao Beast Materials, exotic flowers, and rare herbs.

And there were elegantly decorated teahouses and taverns frequented by Cultivators.

In the air, multicolored escape lights occasionally streaked past along fixed routes—those were the specific flight paths permitted within the city.

On the ground, Cultivators of all kinds jostled shoulders; some hurried along, some haggled while stopping, some called out to friends and companions. The bustle didn't lack order, with the atmosphere of daily life and Cultivation strangely fused together.

For a moment, it gave Lu Ming a feeling of dreaming back to Heavenly Star Immortal City.