256: Tenbuna Castle

The previous chapter was about Lin Feng and Mo Fengwu in front of Mu Peiling… half of the more than 4000 words were deleted and still couldn't be published, then it got stuck in review, so I'll just write two quick chapters first…

Spirit Realm, within the Cloud Dream Marsh mountain range.

Night fell, the bonfire crackled, and the orange-red firelight illuminated the people sitting in a circle. Several guards from the Tiandong Trading Company were drinking strong wine and boasting about what they had seen during the day, creating a lively atmosphere.

Lin Feng’s plant-based Clone, now named Qinglian, was sitting side by side with the caravan manager, Zhao Ping. After several days of traveling together, he had effortlessly resolved several minor and major troubles, earning the respect and trust of the entire caravan.

“Brother Qinglian, come, have another bowl!” Zhao Ping raised a large earthenware bowl and enthusiastically handed it over. His face was flushed, clearly having drunk quite a bit. “If it weren’t for you, brother, accompanying us this time, we probably wouldn’t even be able to get out of this mountain.”

“Brother Zhao is too kind.” Lin Feng took the wine bowl and took a shallow sip. The spicy liquor slid down his throat, carrying a hint of grassy fragrance. The Foundation Establishment Middle Stage Loose Cultivator he portrayed was forthright yet somewhat mysterious, and he got along extremely well with these men who often lived on the edge.

“Hey! What’s with the ‘too kind’!” Zhao Ping waved his hand. “I, Old Zhao, have traveled north and south for so many years, what kind of people haven’t I seen? Brother, you are an honest person! From now on, you are my, Zhao Ping’s, blood brother!”

Lin Feng smiled and took the Opportunity to ask, “Brother Zhao is knowledgeable and experienced. I’m new here, and I hope you can enlighten me more about matters in this Spirit Realm. For example, I observe that the Mortals here seem to possess considerable strength, very different from what I’ve seen before.”

Once this topic was opened, Zhao Ping’s interest grew even stronger. He lowered his voice, speaking with a sense of mystery, “Brother, you don’t know. In our Spirit Realm, although Mortals cannot Cultivate Immortals, they can Cultivate their Physical Bodies, and they are called ‘Body Refiners’!”

“Body Refiners?” Lin Feng feigned curiosity.

“Exactly!” Zhao Ping’s eyes gleamed as if he was recounting a legend. “Ordinary Body Refiners can lift tripods and shatter stone tablets. And those with extraordinary talent, it is said, can Cultivate their Physical Bodies to the extreme, fearing no Magic Treasures, and can shatter mountains and rivers with their fists! I once heard that at the centennial ceremony in Tianyuan City, a Body Refining Great Grandmaster, with a pair of iron fists, fought an Old Ancestor in the Nascent Soul Stage to a standstill! Isn’t that terrifying?”

“A Mortal body, capable of such strength?” Lin Feng’s face showed a perfectly timed look of shock.

However, he was dismissive in his heart.

“Nascent Soul Stage, huh… Although this Clone of mine primarily Cultivates plant-based Divine Abilities, its Physical Body strength far surpasses ordinary Magic Treasures. If my main body were present, even directly confronting a Soul Transformation Late Stage Cultivator might not result in a loss. However, the Body Refining techniques of this Spirit Realm do seem somewhat interesting.”

He subtly changed the topic: “Listening to Brother Zhao, that Tianyuan City seems to be a central hub here?”

“More than just a hub!” Zhao Ping looked yearningly. “That is the largest Human Race majestic city within a radius of hundreds of millions of miles! Legend has it that an Old Ancestor in the Void Refining Stage is in charge, making it impregnable! Our caravans merely make a living on the outskirts of Tianyuan City’s sphere of influence. The true prosperity, the true Opportunities, are all within the city!”

Tianyuan City… Void Refining Stage Cultivator… Lin Feng’s heart stirred slightly; this information was crucial to him.

“I’m still missing a water-attribute treasure, an ink kirin scale, for the refinement of my Lifebound Treasure. This item comes from a true spirit descendant and is extremely rare. Perhaps I can find a clue in Tianyuan City.”

The night passed without incident.

Early the next morning, as the caravan prepared to break camp and set off, Lin Feng found Zhao Ping.

“Brother Zhao, thank you for your care these past few days. I intend to travel to Tianyuan City alone and will part ways here.”

“What? Brother, you’re leaving?” Zhao Ping looked startled, then regretful. “This… well, Tianyuan City is indeed where Cultivators like us should go. But the journey is long and fraught with danger, so please be careful, brother!”

Zhao Yan, the young girl in the green dress beside him, also had a look of disappointment in her bright, watery eyes and timidly asked, “Big Brother Qinglian, will you come to Qing Shi City to see us again?”

Lin Feng smiled and patted her head, then took out a small jade bottle and handed it to Zhao Ping: “Brother Zhao, there are a few Medicinal Pills inside, which might be useful to you. We’ll meet again when the mountains are high and the rivers are long.”

After speaking, he no longer lingered. He cupped his fists at everyone, and his figure transformed into a green rainbow, disappearing into the horizon in an instant.

Zhao Ping opened the jade bottle, and a refreshing medicinal fragrance wafted out. He only took one look before gasping, his hands starting to tremble.

Inside the bottle lay three Medicinal Pills, the size of longans, surrounded by spiritual light—they were indeed top-grade Medicinal Pills that Foundation Establishment Cultivators dreamed of!

…Having left the caravan, Lin Feng had no more reservations. His escape light speed increased to its limit, transforming into a streak of light barely visible to the naked eye, swiftly sweeping over the towering mountains.

Above the sky, four suns of different colors hung high, dyeing the earth a colorful and wondrous sight. The rich Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi rushed towards him, making even his plant-based Clone feel a sense of comfort.

“Fortunately, I took the Dust-Cleansing Pill before coming, washing away the aura of the Human Realm; otherwise, just getting into the city would be a big problem.”

He pondered as he flew.

Half a day later, the outline of a colossal city, indescribable in words, appeared at the end of the horizon.

The city walls were like a sprawling black mountain range, soaring into the clouds, continuous and boundless. Above the city walls, visible runic light flickered, and a huge translucent light screen enveloped the entire city, emitting terrifying magical power fluctuations.

Countless escape lights, large and small, like a swarm of bees returning to their hive, flew towards the giant city from all directions, landing in front of the city gate and queuing to enter.

Lin Feng restrained his aura and blended into the crowd, slowly descending in front of the South City Gate.

At the city gate, a squad of guards in black armored uniforms stood, each with a steady aura. The lowest Cultivation Base among them was Foundation Establishment Late Stage, and the captain leading them was even a Core Formation Middle Stage Cultivator. Their gazes were like lightning, scanning every person entering the city with scrutinizing eyes.

When it was Lin Feng’s turn, the captain’s Divine Sense swept over him but found no abnormalities.

“Entrance fee, ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones,” the guard said expressionlessly.

Lin Feng casually tossed out ten Spirit Stones and then, with the flow of people, walked into the city gate, which was as deep as the mouth of a giant beast.

Stepping inside, a bustling and prosperous atmosphere enveloped him.

The streets, wide enough to accommodate dozens of beast-drawn carriages abreast, were paved with smooth bluestone. Along both sides of the streets were rows of towering pavilions and shops, strangely shaped and varied in style, some reaching hundreds of feet high, piercing the clouds.

Cultivators, Mortals, Body Refiners… people of all kinds moved through the streets, and luxurious flying Magic Treasures occasionally swept across the sky, leaving trails of brilliant light.

Lin Feng stood at a street corner, looking up at this scene, a glimmer of unusual light flashing in his eyes.

“Tianyuan City… it does have a certain grandeur. But where should I start looking for clues about the ink kirin scale?”