169: Chapter 169 Foundation Building Estates and Maritime Landscape

Sitting in an open-top carriage pulled by two gentle Tier 1 Spirit Beasts that resembled seahorses, covered in scaled armor with short horns on their heads, Clan Leader watched the street scenes with great interest and casually asked the young guide beside him, Yu Zhou, "You're quite sharp-eyed. How did you tell the two of us were newcomers to Qianliu City?"

Yu Zhou, sitting next to the driver, turned around upon hearing this, a clever smile characteristic of a youth on his face. "In response to Senior, it's actually not hard to guess. Qianliu City is the largest Cultivator city in this sea region of a million miles, with flourishing trade. Every day, there are at least eighty to a hundred new faces coming from various islands or even further seas. I've been hanging around this pier since I can remember, earning some Spirit Stones to supplement my cultivation by guiding Seniors who have just arrived. After seeing so much, I've naturally learned a few tricks."

He counted on his fingers. "For example, after you two Seniors got off the ship, you first stopped to look at the Skyport and the overall view of the city, with eyes full of novelty and appraisal. Your walking pace and rhythm are also slightly different from the Cultivators who have lived in the city for years. Also, it's clearly your first time taking some of the city's basic facilities, like this 'Sea-Patrol Beast Carriage'. These details are quite obvious to old hands like us."

Lin Cangchen nodded inwardly as he listened. Indeed, there are masters in every profession. This youth's ability to observe people would have made him an excellent salesperson or tour guide in his previous life. Recalling some novel tropes from his past life, he couldn't help but tease, "I see people coming and going at this pier. There must be more than just you in this guide business, right? Do you guys fight over business?"

Yu Zhou laughed instead. "Senior must be joking. Qianliu City has strict rules, especially in this pier area, which is directly managed by the City Lord's Mansion. Those of us working as guides are basically low-level Cultivator children born and raised in the city, with known backgrounds. Even if we aren't close, we recognize each other's faces. The City Lord's Mansion has regulations: no forced soliciting, no fraud or trouble-making, and certainly no fighting over customers. Violators are fined and expelled at best, or have their cultivation base crippled at worst. Everyone makes money peacefully, and the prices we quote are about the same; it mostly depends on which Senior is willing to trust whom. Besides, with so many Seniors coming every day, we're sometimes even too busy to handle them all with our limited numbers."

So that was it. Lin Cangchen realized that with strong official management, much of the chaos could indeed be eliminated. The governance level of Qianliu City seemed quite high.

While introducing some landmark buildings and shops along the way, Yu Zhou inquired about their needs. "Seniors, you mentioned earlier that you were looking for a quiet and safe place to stay. I see that you both have extraordinary temperaments, so you must not be ordinary Loose Cultivators. Although the Outer City is lively and the inns are cheap, it's a mixed bag of people, and the Spiritual Qi is relatively cluttered. The Inner City is strictly managed, the Spiritual Qi is purer, and there are Immortal Cave courtyards specifically for long-term lease to Cultivators, but the price... is quite a bit more expensive."

He paused and cautiously suggested, "With your Qi Refining Late Stage cultivation, finding a high-quality private courtyard in an inn in the Outer City would actually be sufficient."

Along the way, although Clan Leader did not use his Divine Sense ostentatiously, he keenly sensed that the overall level of Cultivators in Qianliu City was significantly higher than in Qingyun Prefecture city. Qi Refining Late Stage Cultivators were everywhere, Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators were frequently seen, and he even occasionally sensed one or two deep, sea-like, awe-inspiring auras flashing by—those were likely the Golden Core True Persons presiding over this city!"

In such an environment, continuing to disguise their cultivation at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining was certainly low-key, but sometimes, appropriately revealing a portion of one's strength could actually reduce many unnecessary troubles and secure better resources. Leasing an Immortal Cave was one such case; good Immortal Caves would surely be prioritized for high-level Cultivators.

With this thought, Clan Leader made a decision. He smiled slightly and said to Yu Zhou, "Thank you for the suggestion, young friend. However, we would still like to go to the Inner City to take a look."

As he spoke, with a slight thought, the aura-concealing technique in the Phantom Jade Bone Art was quietly adjusted. The Spiritual Qi fluctuations that had been suppressed at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining were like a released constraint, slowly rising. A more solid and heavy prestige, unique to a Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator, naturally flowed out. Although it was only a flash before mostly being retracted to maintain the level of Early Stage Foundation Establishment, it was enough for Yu Zhou, who was right next to him, to feel it clearly.

"Found... Foundation Establishment Senior!" Yu Zhou was first stunned, then a clear look of awe appeared on his face as he hurriedly bowed on the carriage. "This junior was blind, please forgive me, Senior!" He secretly felt lucky that he had been consistently respectful, while also guessing that these two Seniors must have significant plans for coming to Qianliu City with their cultivation hidden.

Lin Cangchen watched the youth suddenly become much more constrained and laughed inwardly; the Clan Leader was quite proficient at this "muscle-flexing" move.

"It's fine, I didn't state it earlier." Clan Leader's tone was peaceful and he did not blame him. "Now, can you take us to the Inner City to see the Immortal Caves?"

"Of course! Of course!" Yu Zhou nodded repeatedly, his attitude even more respectful, and said to the driver, "To the Anju Pavilion in the Inner City!"

The Spirit Beast carriage turned onto a wider main road paved with smooth white jade stone slabs. The buildings along the road were clearly taller and more orderly, and the Spiritual Qi became increasingly dense and pure. The cultivation levels of the pedestrians were generally higher, and their expressions held more composure.

Taking advantage of the travel time, under Clan Leader's intentional and unintentional questioning, Yu Zhou began to introduce the general situation of Qianliu City and its surrounding sea areas in detail. This information was common knowledge for local low-level Cultivators, but for Clan Leader and his companion, it was a key piece of the puzzle for building their worldview.

"Qianliu City is one of the most powerful human Cultivator cities in the northwestern region of the Shattered Star Sea; it's a true Golden Core-level power!" Yu Zhou's tone carried pride. "Our City Lord, True Person Canglan, is a Late Golden Core Stage great Cultivator! The Vice City Lord, True Person Bibo, is a Middle Stage Golden Core, and there are also three Early Golden Core Stage Elders presiding! The entire Qianliu City is built upon a massive third tier mid-grade Spiritual Vein!"

He pointed to the ground and the distant buildings. "Seniors must have felt it, right? The reason the Spiritual Qi in the city is so dense is that the entire Spiritual Vein has been cleverly guided and utilized to construct an ultra-large Spirit Gathering Formation network covering the whole city!"

Clan Leader and Lin Cangchen were shaken. Utilizing an entire third tier mid-grade Spiritual Vein to create the foundation of a city was indeed a feat far beyond the Azure Cloud Sect. Although the Azure Cloud Sect's Spiritual Vein was good, it was only used as the core of the mountain gate and was not so thoroughly integrated with a giant city.

Yu Zhou continued, "The main island where Qianliu City is located is named Qianliu Island, and it's the largest island in the vicinity. Besides that, the Shattered Star Sea is vast and boundless, with islands scattered like stars. Within the sphere of influence of Qianliu City, there are over a hundred islands of various sizes with Spiritual Veins, where various cultivation families subordinate to our Qianliu City live. There are Foundation Establishment Immortal Clans and Qi Refining Immortal Clans; they are responsible for developing island resources and paying tribute to the City Lord's Mansion regularly, and in return, they receive the protection of the City Lord's Mansion."

"As for the entire northwestern region of the Shattered Star Sea..." Yu Zhou scratched his head. "I don't know the details very well, I've only heard the Elders mention that besides our Qianliu City, there are two other human Righteous Path powers about as strong as us, seemingly called Golden Rainbow Island and the Shuiyue Immortal Sect, both of which have Golden Core True Persons presiding."

"In addition, there are two Golden Core-level Demonic Path powers, namely the Yin Ming Cult and the Blood Fiend Sect." When mentioning the Demonic Path, Yu Zhou's face didn't show much fear or disgust, but rather a sense of normalcy. "But Seniors can rest assured, the Demonic Path here is different from the extremely cruel demonic Cultivators in legends. The Cultivators of the Yin Ming Cult and the Blood Fiend Sect mainly practice techniques that need to absorb Yin Qi or blood-fiend energy, which can also be found in some special sea areas of our Shattered Star Sea. Their tempers are a bit explosive and their actions are eccentric, but overall they follow the rules and won't kill people for Soul Refining at every turn... at least not on the surface. You can occasionally see their Cultivators coming to trade in Qianliu City; as long as they don't cause trouble, the City Lord's Mansion doesn't care."

Clan Leader and Lin Cangchen exchanged a look. It seemed the "Demonic Path" here was closer to sects with techniques leaning towards the sinister, fundamentally different from the Black Fiend Cult, which truly treated human life like grass and cultivated using the blood, flesh, and souls of living beings. This was good news, meaning the conflict between righteous and demonic here might not be so life-and-death.

"Finally, there are two Yao Race powers," Yu Zhou's tone became significantly more serious, even carrying a hint of awe. "They are the Azure Water Mystic Turtle Clan and the Silver Scale Flood Dragon Palace. They are said to be very powerful."

Yu Zhou seemed to have limited knowledge, or perhaps the Yao Race was too distant and mysterious for him; he didn't explain further, but simply repeated the names and emphasized that they were "very powerful" before stopping.

Clan Leader did not press further, but simply kept these two names in mind. A Yao Race, and one that could form a power on par with Golden Core human powers, was by no means comparable to the scattered Yao Beasts they had encountered before.

During the conversation, the Spirit Beast carriage stopped in front of a simple yet grand seven-story pavilion. Three large characters, "Anju Pavilion," were written on the plaque; this was the official center for leasing and trading Immortal Caves managed by the Inner City of Qianliu City.

"Seniors, we've arrived." Yu Zhou jumped off the carriage and said respectfully, "Long-term Immortal Cave leases in the Inner City are all handled here. The deacons inside will explain the prices and conditions in detail."

Clan Leader nodded, paid the fare, and, led by Yu Zhou and accompanied by Lin Cangchen, stepped through the gates of the Anju Pavilion. Their temporary residence in Qianliu City and their deep exploration of this sea region were about to officially begin here.