212: Chapter 212 Taking Over the Branch! Three Golden Opportunities! Soul-Nourishing Wood!

Chapter Two Hundred and Twelve: Taking Over the Branch! Three Golden Opportunities! soul nurturing wood!

Stepping into Tianxing City.

A bustling and grand Aura, completely different from Kuixing Island, rushed toward him.

The most direct observation was the sky above—there was no common "No-Fly Restriction" covering it. Instead, streaks of various colored light from flight techniques and Magical Artifacts shuttled freely between the scattered pavilions and winding mountain paths, like a meteor shower streaking across the sky, bustling yet orderly.

Some flight lights were as fast as lightning, clearly experts at or above the Core Formation Stage, passing over several pavilions in an instant; others were slow and leisurely, merely Qi Refining Stage Cultivators steering ordinary flying Magical Artifacts, carefully avoiding those high-speed lights.

Various lights intertwined—red, green, gold, purple... decorating the sky with brilliant colors, like a flowing scroll.

Lu Qiu had long expected this. As a transmigrator, he remembered that this largest city in the Chaotic Star Sea was famous for its "freedom." As long as one didn't cause trouble, flying through the air was not prohibited, which undoubtedly facilitated the movement of high-level Cultivators.

There was no need to endure the shackles of No-Fly Restrictions like in other places, where one could only walk or take specific means of transportation.

This atmosphere of freedom also made Tianxing City a Holy Land that countless Cultivators in the Chaotic Star Sea yearned for.

He stood at the city gate, took a deep breath, and felt the dense Spiritual Qi in the air.

The Spiritual Qi here was several times denser than that of Kuixing Island.

With every breath, he could feel that Spiritual Qi circulating within his body, nourishing his Meridians and flesh.

As expected of the largest city in the Chaotic Star Sea, just this concentration of Spiritual Qi alone was enough to make countless Cultivators flock here.

If those Cultivators cultivating on remote islands could Cultivate here for a few years, their cultivation would surely advance by leaps and bounds.

Xiao Mei, seeing such a spectacular sight for the first time, couldn't help but let out a cry of surprise.

“Is this Tianxing City? It really is quite extraordinary!”

Her eyes widened as she looked around, her gaze filled with novelty and wonder.

The coming and going of flight lights, the scattered pavilions, and the bustling crowds were all too much for her eyes to take in at once.

She pulled on Xin Ruyin's sleeve, dancing with excitement: “Young Miss, Young Miss, look over there! That building is so tall!”

Xin Ruyin also nodded in agreement, a look of wonder flashing in her eyes.

She had followed Lu Qiu from the South to the Chaotic Star Sea and thought she had seen a fair amount of the world.

The Tianxing Sect Market Town was already considered one of the top markets in the Yuanwu Kingdom.

She had thought that was the Peak of prosperity in the cultivation world.

But seeing the sights of Tianxing City now, she finally knew what true prosperity meant.

Compared to this place, that Tianxing Sect Market Town was simply a small country fair.

Whether in terms of scale, foot traffic, or the concentration of Spiritual Qi, they were not on the same level at all.

She sighed inwardly; so there was such a place in the cultivation world.

Lu Qiu smiled slightly.

“Let's go, we'll take a walk around first.”

He led Xin Ruyin and Xiao Mei toward the market within the city.

...

The core trading area of Tianxing City was the market located on the first level of the Holy Mountain.

Its scale was so large that it occupied more than half of the first level's area, making it the largest distribution center for cultivation resources in the Chaotic Star Sea!

The giant mountain where Tianxing City was located was called the “Holy Mountain,” divided into eighty-one levels from base to summit.

The first level had the largest area, primarily functioning as an enormous market and an activity area for some low-level Cultivators and even Mortals.

Shops were lined up and vendors gathered here, offering everything from basic Spirit Medicines and Ores to rare Magical Artifacts and Medicinal Pills.

It was said that as long as you had enough Spirit Stones, you could buy anything here.

From the second to the fiftieth level, there were numerous houses available for rent (shared courtyards or floors) and independent Immortal Caves (expensive but offering good privacy).

The higher the level, the denser the Spiritual Qi, and the rent increased exponentially.

Levels above fifty were basically beyond what ordinary Cultivators could hope for.

In those places, a year's rent was enough to bankrupt a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

Those who could live there were either wealthy or noble, at least Cultivators of the Core Formation Stage or higher.

The fifty-first to eightieth levels were generally areas that only internal personnel of the Star Palace could enter.

The Star Palace's headquarters, cultivation Holy Lands, and secret storehouses were located there; outsiders were not permitted to enter.

It was said that the Spiritual Qi there was so dense it almost condensed into substance; cultivating for one day inside was worth a hundred days outside.

The topmost eighty-first level was a place only the legendary Heavenly Star Dual Saints could set foot upon.

That was the Peak of Tianxing City and the Peak of the entire Chaotic Star Sea.

No one knew what it looked like up there, and no one dared to pry.

Lu Qiu withdrew his gaze and led the two women into the market.

...

A moment later, Lu Qiu and the others had arrived within the market on the first level.

Even though Lu Qiu was prepared, he couldn't help but be inwardly amazed by the scene before him.

The streets were as wide as plazas, enough to accommodate dozens of people walking abreast.

On both sides, pavilions and shops were arranged in rows, rising and falling, with no end in sight.

Some shops were several stories high, with carved beams and painted rafters, possessing a grand Aura, with Foundation Establishment Stage greeters standing at the doors; others were simple stalls, just a cloth spread on the ground with a few items laid out, the stall owners being only at the Qi Refining Stage yet daring to hawk loudly.

The crowds surged, shoulder to shoulder, with cultivation levels from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment everywhere, and occasionally even the Aura of a Core Formation Cultivator could be sensed passing by.

Those Core Formation Cultivators were either alone, walking composedly with indifferent gazes, or leading several Disciples, acting haughty and pointing things out.

Wherever they walked, the surrounding Cultivators made way, not daring to block the path, their eyes full of awe.

The sounds of hawking, bargaining, and Cultivators' conversations mixed together, forming a strange hum full of vitality and desire.

“Fine Magical Artifacts! Top-tier Magical Artifacts! Only one thousand Spirit Stones! Don't miss this chance!”

“Medicinal Pills, Medicinal Pills! Golden Origin Pills for the Foundation Establishment Stage! Guaranteed effects! Only one hundred Spirit Stones a bottle!”

“Buying Yao Beast Materials! Third and fourth-level Yao Beast Materials! Buying at high prices! Come quickly if you have stock!”

“Team exploration! Going to the Misty Sea! Still need two Foundation Establishment Cultivators! Profits split equally!”

Various voices rose and fell, exceptionally lively.

The air was filled with the strange scent of various Materials, Medicinal Pills, and Spiritual Plants mixed together, and the Spiritual Qi was also much denser than outside.

That was the Aura emitted by countless spiritual items, gathering together to form a unique scent that made one feel refreshed upon smelling it.

Xiao Mei followed closely behind Lu Qiu, looking around curiously.

She saw various colored stones laid out on a roadside stall and couldn't help but ask: “Master, what are those?”

Lu Qiu took a look and said: “Those are raw Spirit Stone Ores. They might contain high-quality Spirit Stones, but they might also contain nothing. It's a type of stone gambling game.”

Xiao Mei nodded as if she understood, then looked at another stall where various Yao Beast claws and teeth were displayed, some thicker than her arm, emitting a fierce Aura.

She shuddered and didn't dare look further.

Xin Ruyin followed quietly by Lu Qiu's side, her gaze calmly sweeping over the surroundings.

She noticed that the Cultivators here were of all sorts—some dressed in luxury, some in rags; some haughty, some cautious.

She sighed inwardly; this was the core of the Chaotic Star Sea, the place countless Cultivators dreamed of.

Lu Qiu was full of expectation. In a place where so many Cultivators gathered and major powers sought profit, who knew how many opportunities were hidden here.

With his Golden Finger, he could take all these unknown opportunities for himself.

Those treasures others didn't know about, those buried gems, those opportunities hidden in corners—all would become his.

The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, and a glint flashed in his eyes.

...

A moment later.

Lu Qiu and the others stopped in front of a pavilion named “Liulian Residence.”

It was a three-story pavilion with green bricks and gray tiles, carved beams and painted rafters. The storefront wasn't very large, but the decoration was exquisite, exuding a touch of elegance.

Two plaques hung at the entrance; one said “Liulian Residence,” and the other said “Buying and Selling All Kinds of Cultivation Resources,” the handwriting vigorous and powerful.

Unlike the Liulian Hall on Kuixing Island which occupied six spacious halls, land in Tianxing City was worth its weight in gold, so the Liulian Hall could only occupy such an unremarkable pavilion.

This showed how difficult it was to establish a foothold in Tianxing City.

After Lu Qiu led the group inside, a manager immediately came forward to greet them.

The manager was a middle-aged man at the Early Foundation Establishment Stage, wearing a gray robe with a professional smile on his face.

He looked Lu Qiu and the others over, sensing that they all had Core Formation Auras, and his smile immediately became more enthusiastic, his attitude more respectful.

“Seniors, your presence brings light to our humble shop! I wonder what you might need? Our shop deals in all kinds of cultivation resources—Magical Artifacts, Medicinal Pills, Talismans, and Materials, we have everything! As long as you ask, we will do our best to satisfy you!”

His voice was warm and respectful, but his eyes held a hint of curiosity.

These Seniors looked like unfamiliar faces; could they be newcomers?

Lu Qiu didn't waste words and directly took out that golden medallion engraved with “Liulian Hall” from his Storage Pouch and placed it on the counter.

The medallion was the size of a palm, entirely golden, with the character “Lu” engraved on the front and “Liulian Hall” on the back, emitting a faint spiritual light.

As soon as the medallion appeared, the surrounding air seemed to grow heavier.

Upon seeing the medallion, the manager's expression instantly changed.

He recognized that medallion—it was an Elder's medallion of the Liulian Hall, representing a confidant of the Hall Master.

The holder of this medallion held a very high status in the Liulian Hall, could mobilize branch resources, and even had the right to deal with branch personnel.

He hurriedly bowed in salute, his attitude even more respectful than before, even carrying a hint of trepidation.

“Greetings, My Lord! I did not know you were arriving and failed to welcome you properly, please forgive me!”

Lu Qiu put away the medallion and said indifferently: “I want to see Elder Chen.”

Elder Chen was the Elder stationed at the Tianxing City branch of the Liulian Hall, and also the confidant Nangong Hai had mentioned.

The manager hurriedly said: “This lowly one will go and report immediately, please wait a moment, My Lord.”

He turned and hurried upstairs, his steps rushed, not daring to delay for a second, nearly tripping on the stairs.

A moment later, an old man walked down from upstairs.

The old man had white hair and a thin, refined face, wearing a green Daoist robe, his temperament elegant.

His Aura was deep, clearly at the Middle Core Formation Stage, with spiritual light faintly circulating around him, showing his solid cultivation.

He walked up to Lu Qiu, looked him over, and cupped his hands: “I am Chen Xuan. Is Fellow Daoist the Elder Lu mentioned by Hall Master Nangong?”

His voice was calm, but his eyes held a hint of scrutiny.

After all, for someone to suddenly come and take over his territory, anyone would feel a bit displeased.

Lu Qiu took out the golden medallion again and nodded.

“Indeed.”

He slightly released a trace of his Aura—it was the pressure of the Late Core Formation Stage. Though it was only for an instant, it shrouded the entire hall like Mount Tai pressing down.

Although that pressure was only momentary, it gave Chen Xuan a shock.

Late Core Formation Stage?

[part:gemini-3.1-flash-lite]

He had originally assumed that the Elder sent by the Hall Master would be at most at the Middle Core Formation Stage, on par with himself. After all, Late Core Formation Stage Cultivators were extremely rare throughout the entire Chaotic Star Sea; why would one come to take over such a small branch? Unexpectedly, it was actually a Late Core Formation Stage Cultivator!

He had originally harbored some dissatisfaction with the Hall Master's arrangement. After all, he had operated in Tianxing City for many years and had long regarded this place as his own territory. Having someone suddenly come to take over would make anyone uncomfortable. He had even thought that if the person who arrived had a lower cultivation level than his own, he would find an excuse to make things difficult, give him a hard time, or pay lip service while secretly obstructing him. But at this moment, that dissatisfaction instantly vanished.

A Late Core Formation Stage Cultivator was indeed more suitable to oversee this Tianxing City branch than he was. Tianxing City was a place where dragons and snakes mingled, with various forces intersecting; a Middle Core Formation Stage Cultivator overseeing it would sometimes inevitably find it overwhelming. Encountering people from major forces or some Late Core Formation Stage Loose Cultivators would put him in a very passive position. But a Late Core Formation Stage Cultivator was different; it was enough to deter most petty villains. In this Tianxing City, aside from the people of the Star Palace, a Late Core Formation Stage Cultivator was almost the pinnacle of existence. After all, the Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators of other major forces would not come to settle in Tianxing City.

He merely sighed in his heart, wondering where the Hall Master had recruited such a Late Core Formation Stage Cultivator. Was it some Loose Cultivator who had been in seclusion for many years? Or had he been poached from another force? But he did not ask further, merely nodding. "Since the Hall Master has given the order, I will handle the handover process with Fellow Daoist Lu right away." His attitude was respectful, his words polite, and he no longer held even a shred of dissatisfaction.

Subsequently, under the deterrence of Lu Qiu's Late Core Formation Stage cultivation and Nangong Hai's order, this Elder Chen did not harbor any devious thoughts and honestly handed over all the power of this Tianxing City branch to Lu Qiu. Account books, warehouses, personnel, clients... everything was handed over clearly, without the slightest concealment. Chen Xuan took Lu Qiu to tour the entire branch and introduced every detail. From the reception hall on the first floor, to the warehouse on the second floor, to the VIP room on the third floor, and finally to the Elder's residence on the top floor, everything was explained in detail.

He also inventoried the stock in the warehouse one by one. Magical Artifacts, Medicinal Pills, Talismans, and Materials were sorted by category and arranged neatly. There were tens of thousands of Spirit Stones alone. There were also some rare items, packed in specially made Jade Boxes and affixed with Seal Talismans. Regarding personnel, apart from Chen Xuan himself, there were three Foundation Establishment Stage managers and over a dozen Qi Refining Stage shop assistants. Chen Xuan introduced the situation of each person, explaining who was responsible for what, what their capabilities were, and who was reliable or unreliable, all clearly stated.

The other managers of this branch naturally sensed Lu Qiu's Aura and knew that a Late Core Formation Stage Elder had arrived. They looked at each other in shock, but did not dare to have any objections, and one after another stepped forward to pay respects to the new Elder, their attitudes extremely respectful.

Half a day later. Chen Xuan handed the last account book to Lu Qiu and cupped his hands, saying, "The matter here is concluded, and I should return to headquarters. I entrust this Tianxing City branch to Elder Lu." His tone carried a hint of emotion; after all, having operated here for many years, leaving suddenly was still a bit reluctant. Lu Qiu nodded. "Rest assured, This Lu will certainly manage it well." Chen Xuan cupped his hands again and turned to leave. His escape light soon disappeared into the distance.

Lu Qiu withdrew his gaze and looked at the few managers in front of him. Those people kept their heads down, not daring to meet his eyes, and did not even dare to breathe loudly. Lu Qiu said indifferently, "You may all go about your business. I will summon you if there is anything." The few managers felt as if they had been granted amnesty, replied in unison, and bowed as they withdrew.

In the evening, on the top floor of the Liulian Hall residence. This was Lu Qiu's residence as the branch Elder. It was a spacious set of rooms, divided into a living room, bedroom, Quiet Room, study, etc., elegantly furnished with complete furniture. In the living room, there were rosewood tables and chairs, and a few landscape paintings hung on the walls; in the bedroom, there was a wide bed covered with a soft brocade quilt; the study was filled with various classics, including Cultivation Techniques, Formations, and Alchemy...

Outside the window, one could overlook the night view of the entire first layer of Tianxing City, brightly lit and as bustling as ever. Countless lights twinkled like a galaxy on the ground, reflecting and shining with the stars in the sky, a breathtaking sight. Xiaomei leaned against the window and exclaimed, "Master, this place is so beautiful! It's much better than the place we lived on Kuixing Island!" Xin Ruyin also walked to the window, looking at the night view outside, a look of wonder flashing in her eyes. Lu Qiu smiled slightly. "As long as you like it. From now on, this will be our home."

He sat cross-legged in the Quiet Room and took the spirit eye spring out of his Storage Pouch, gently placing it on the ground. He performed hand Seals to set up concealment and isolation Formations to prevent the Spiritual Qi from leaking and being detected by others. This was Tianxing City, where there were many people and prying eyes, so he had to be careful. As soon as the spirit eye spring appeared, it gurgled with spring water, and the dense Spiritual Qi instantly permeated the room. A moment later, the Spiritual Qi in the entire Quiet Room became several times denser, almost condensing into substance. That Spiritual Qi flowed slowly in the Quiet Room like white mist, and with every breath, he could feel it circulating within his body. Lu Qiu nodded with satisfaction. With the spirit eye spring, cultivating here would yield twice the result with half the effort.

He was just about to start cultivating when the Restriction outside the Quiet Room was triggered. Lu Qiu probed with his Divine Sense, and a moment later, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly. He got up, walked to the living room, and opened the door. Standing outside was a person, who was none other than Zhao Wen. Zhao Wen was wearing a plain gray robe, his Aura restrained, looking just like a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. He kept his head down, his attitude respectful, and seeing Lu Qiu open the door, he quickly bowed and saluted. "Subordinate greets the Master." His voice was respectful, his eyes filled with awe. Lu Qiu nodded. A year ago, he had sent Zhao Wen to Tianxing City to scout for gold intelligence and gather intelligence. Although Zhao Wen was only at the Early Core Formation Stage, he was clever and cautious, making him suitable for this kind of work. Moreover, he was loyal to Lu Qiu and had never had two hearts. This time, upon arriving in Tianxing City, he had sent a message to Zhao Wen, asking him to come and report the situation. "Come in."

Zhao Wen followed Lu Qiu into the living room and stood respectfully, not daring to sit down. Lu Qiu sat on a chair and gestured for him to sit as well. Zhao Wen, however, did not dare to sit and just stood there, taking a Jade Slip from his Storage Pouch and presenting it with both hands. "Master, this is the gold intelligence I have collected over the past year. Please take a look, Master." His voice was respectful, carrying a hint of expectation, hoping that the Master would be satisfied with his work. Lu Qiu took the Jade Slip and probed it with his Divine Sense. A moment later, he opened his eyes, having gained a general understanding of the situation in Tianxing City. Although it was bustling, various forces were intertwined, and dragons and snakes mingled. The Star Palace was the absolute hegemon, suppressing everything. People from the Star Palace were spread throughout the city, maintaining order and handling disputes. But apart from the Star Palace, there were countless large and small forces—there were strongholds of various Families, shops of various Schools, bases of the Loose Cultivator Alliance, and various underground forces, black markets, and assassin organizations... These forces appeared to live in harmony on the surface, but secretly, they were in constant conflict. For the sake of profit, territory, and resources, they would do anything. If it weren't for the Star Palace, a behemoth, pressing down on top and suppressing everything, it would likely have become a place of chaos long ago, with people fighting to the death every day. Even so, the secret struggles never ceased. Every year, many Cultivators disappeared inexplicably or were found dead in some corner. The Star Palace turned a blind eye to this; as long as it did not affect the overall situation, they could not be bothered to care.

Lu Qiu finished reading the Jade Slip and nodded. "Well done." He took a Jade Bottle from his Storage Pouch and tossed it to Zhao Wen. "This is a reward for you." Zhao Wen took the Jade Bottle, opened it, and saw that it contained a snow lotus pill, a rare Medicinal Pill for increasing cultivation at the Core Formation Stage. His eyes lit up, his heart was filled with joy, and he quickly bowed and saluted. "Thank you, Master!" His voice was excited, and his hands were trembling slightly. This bottle of snow lotus pill was enough for him to Cultivate for a year. Lu Qiu waved his hand. "Keep watching. If there is important gold intelligence, report it immediately." Zhao Wen nodded repeatedly. "Yes, Master!" He took his leave, his steps light, his face full of joy.

The next day. The morning sunlight shone through the window into the Quiet Room, casting golden light and shadows on the floor. Lu Qiu opened his eyes from his meditation, a look of expectation flashing in them. With a thought, the gold intelligence he had reorganized today appeared in his mind.

gold intelligence: The shopkeeper of the Spirit Pill Pavilion in the Tianxing City market town has mastered a Pill Fusion Technique, which can significantly increase the success rate of Alchemy. This technique is his ancestral secret method and is never passed on to outsiders. If one can obtain it, their Alchemy level can be improved by more than 30%. It is said that this technique requires special Mind-Cultivation Techniques and hand Seals to work together and is extremely profound. Although the shopkeeper is at the Foundation Establishment Stage, relying on this technique, the quality of the Medicinal Pills he concocts far exceeds his peers, and he is quite famous in the market town.

gold intelligence: In the Wuya Cave on the 15th floor of the Holy Land, Core Formation Cultivator Wei Long hides an ancient treasure, the Soul-Devouring Rod, which specifically counters ghosts and Divine Souls. This treasure was obtained from an Ancient Cultivator Ruins, and it is powerful, but because his cultivation is insufficient, he cannot fully unleash it. If one can obtain it, it can counter all ghosts.

gold intelligence: On the west side of the Tianxing City market town, a Qi Refining Loose Cultivator, whose ancestors once produced a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator, hides a Jade Box with a piece of Soul-Nourishing Wood inside. This wood can nourish the Divine Soul, and wearing it for a long time can slowly increase the strength of Divine Sense.

Golden Opportunity! And three of them! He was ecstatic in his heart and quickly focused his mind to examine them. After reading these three pieces of gold intelligence, an uncontrollable ecstasy flashed in his eyes. Soul-Nourishing Wood! It was actually Soul-Nourishing Wood! This item was a treasure that even Han Li coveted in the original novel! It could nourish the Divine Soul, increase Divine Sense, and be of great help to cultivating Spirit Refining secret techniques like the Great Evolution Art! If he could obtain it, his Divine Sense strength could advance further! The cultivation speed of the Great Evolution Art would also accelerate! Moreover, this item was also a nascent soul formation spiritual item, which could settle the soul and stabilize the Divine Soul, resisting the Heart Demon of Nascent Soul Condensation. There was also the Pill Fusion Technique, which could increase the Alchemy success rate by 30%! His Alchemy success rate was already not low, and if he obtained this technique, wouldn't it be like adding wings to a tiger? In the future, when refining those rare Medicinal Pills, his confidence would be even greater! And there was that Soul-Devouring Rod, which specifically countered ghosts and Divine Soul attacks! If he encountered enemies who were good at Divine Soul attacks in the future, or entered some ruins with ghosts, this treasure would be a great weapon! There were many places in the Chaotic Star Sea where ghosts appeared, and with this treasure, he would have one more layer of protection. Tianxing City was truly worthy of being Tianxing City! Lu Qiu took a deep breath, suppressing the excitement in his heart. He would not let any of these three opportunities slip by.