"Tsk tsk, in this Human Path City, although Golden Cores aren’t literally everywhere, they’re definitely not rare either."

Lin Chen thought silently.

Handling the passage document requires a month.

Lin Chen figured there was no rush to leave, so he planned to stay in the city for a month.

"This Upper City District probably spans ten miles around; it’s fairly large... but I’m really not familiar with this Human Path City."

Lin Chen frowned slightly. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Just as he was troubled, a voice suddenly reached his ears.

"Senior, is this your first time in Human Path City? Do you need a guide?"

Lin Chen turned around, and what met his eyes was a slightly chubby baby face.

This was a girl about thirteen or fourteen years old, approximately at the mid-stage of Qi Refining.

Her eyes glanced over the black ring in Lin Chen’s hand, a look of anticipation on her face, she said:

"Senior, I’ve lived in Human Path City for over ten years and am more than familiar with the Upper City District..."

"Pill Shops, Artifact Shops, Cultivation Holy Places... even gambling dens and pleasure houses... I know them all well."

"If it’s your first time here, you’re likely going to need someone to show you around."

After a pause, the girl eagerly continued:

"And my fee is very cheap. A whole day of guiding is just five Spirit Stones..."

Lin Chen inconspicuously glanced over the white ring on the girl’s hand.

Unlike Lin Chen’s black ring, a white ring only allows temporary residence in Human Path City.

While enjoying a higher cultivation speed, spending thirty Spirit Stones a month is a huge burden for a Qi Refining cultivator.

Thus, some lower-level cultivators in the city act as guides to make a living.

Lin Chen frowned slightly, instinctively wanting to refuse.

But seeing the anticipation in the girl’s eyes, and indeed needing a guide,

He nodded and said:

"Alright, show me around the Upper City District first."

The girl appeared visibly pleased upon hearing this, "Senior, my name is Yang Cai’Er, you can just call me Cai’Er... How should I address you, Senior?"

"Zhou Wu." Lin Chen replied calmly.

Yang Cai’Er nodded, and said:

"Senior, then shall we first visit the West Market? The West Market is the largest marketplace in Human Path City, specializing in pills and materials..."

"As for the situation in Human Path City, shall we discuss it as we go?"

Lin Chen shook his head, flicked his fingers, and a long sword appeared beneath his feet.

Then the long sword transformed into a length of about a yard, enough to hold two people.

Lin Chen lightly leaped onto the sword, "Let us fly slowly, and you can introduce as we go."

Yang Cai’Er’s eyes brightened at the sight and boarded the flying sword.

Lin Chen controlled the flying sword, flying slowly towards the West Market.

Along the way, Yang Cai’Er’s introductions were attentive and meticulous.

"Senior, our Human Path City is divided into Upper and Lower Cities, with the Lower City spanning eighty li in circumference, home to nearly ten million mortals."

"They’re mostly wealthy merchants, noble families, people from afar who come seeking immortality... But most are offspring of cultivators. Over hundreds of years, it’s grown to this scale."

"As for the Upper City District, it spans twelve li from east to west, with about 110,000 cultivators, divided into four markets: East, South, West, and North."

"The East Market trades in spirit beasts and arrays, the South Market in talismans and magical treasures, the West Market in pills and materials... The North Market is a place for cultivators to relax, with gambling dens and brothels..."

Though Yang Cai’Er was young, her introduction was thorough and unambiguous.

Lin Chen nodded slightly after hearing this, then asked:

"What about that Floating Mountain at the city’s center?"

Lin Chen pointed to a mountain several li away.

This mountain wasn’t large, only about a li around, but nearly a thousand zhang high, located in the Upper City’s most bustling area.

The whole mountain was shrouded in mist, like a fairyland, quite different from the other areas in the Upper City.

Yang Cai’Er looked up, a glance of envy in her eyes.

"This mountain is called Human Path Mountain, designed to replicate Wenda Sect’s Wenda Mountain."

"The mountain is nine hundred zhang high and divided into nine levels... The closer to the peak, the richer the spiritual energy."

"There are 360 caves in the lower six levels. They’re available for rent to visiting cultivators, provided you have enough Spirit Stones."<>>(Of course, the price... is extremely expensive!)

Yang Cai’Er’s eyes were full of longing; her lifelong dream was to acquire a permanent residence permit in Human Path City.

As for the mountain’s caves, she didn’t even dare to think about it.

"As for the Upper Three Cities, they are occupied by three major forces: Wenlu Academy, the Demon-Suppressing Temple... and a branch of the Wenda Sect."

"The Demon-Suppressing Temple is actually in Human Path City?"

Lin Chen was somewhat puzzled; he had a good friendship with Li Tianhan but never asked the location of the Demon-Suppressing Temple.

Never thought it was actually on the mountaintop of Human Path City...

Yang Cai’Er nodded, saying:

"Exactly, any force in Qing State of any influence basically has a presence in the Three Cities of Wendao."

"Firstly, because of the abundant spiritual energy, secondly, the city is much safer. The Wenda Sect remains aloof and doesn’t involve itself in disputes between other forces..."

"Moreover, the large number of cultivators in the city is hugely beneficial to all major top-level forces."

Upon hearing this, Lin Chen nodded slightly, his gaze towards Yang Cai’Er containing a bit of surprise.

With views like hers, even in the Righteous Alliance, not to mention a Qi Refining cultivator, even a Foundation Establishment cultivator might not have such insight.

It’s evident that even the cultivators in big cities are different, even if they’re loose cultivators.

"Then where is the largest Pill Shop in the city?"

"I want to purchase some rare pills and materials..."

Lin Chen asked.

Yang Cai’Er heard this and pointed to a tall building ahead:

"That would naturally be the Celestial Pill Pavilion, this Pill Shop is operated by the Wenda Sect..."

"Good, let’s go have a look at the Celestial Pill Pavilion."

Lin Chen nodded, thus steering the flying sword towards the Celestial Pill Pavilion.

.....

Upon entering the Celestial Pill Pavilion, Lin Chen was promptly attended to by the Pill Shop’s manager.

"Esteemed Senior, what might you be looking to purchase from our pavilion?" The Pill Shop manager asked courteously.

Yang Cai’Er, standing by, looked on in astonishment.

Senior?

This manager of the Celestial Pill Pavilion is a Fake Pill cultivator!

Doesn’t that mean... the Zhou Senior beside her is at least a Golden Core cultivator?

Yang Cai’Er’s young face was full of excitement. Golden Core cultivators have to be wealthy!

Lin Chen took a look around the Pill Shop and indeed found that the pills displayed on the shelves were comprehensive, and the quality was very high.

However, it seemed they didn’t have the Nascent Soul Pill and Thunder Avoidance Divine Pill that he needed.

So Lin Chen straightforwardly asked:

"I want to buy the Nascent Soul Pill and the Thunder Avoidance Divine Pill... does your shop have them?"

Nascent Soul Pill, Thunder Avoidance Divine Pill?

The manager was taken aback by these words, understanding the implications of these medicines’ effects.

Then, is the person before him a peak Golden Core cultivator preparing for Nascent Soul Formation?

With this in mind, the manager’s attitude became even more respectful, and so he said:

"Senior, please come inside, these two pills are crucial... may I invite you for a discussion?"

Lin Chen nodded, following the manager into a private room on the second floor of the Pill Shop.

Yang Cai’Er followed as well, standing outside the private room obediently waiting.

The manager first prepared a pot of tea for Lin Chen, then said:

"Senior, to be honest... we don’t have the Nascent Soul Pill and the Thunder Avoidance Divine Pill at Celestial Pill Pavilion."

"Not only do we not have them, but the entire Human Path City doesn’t have them either..."

Lin Chen frowned slightly at this, thinking why invite me into the private room if you don’t have them?

But the manager’s tone soon changed, saying:

"Although they’re not available in Human Path City, it doesn’t mean we can’t sell them..."

"Behind our Celestial Pill Pavilion is the Pill Peak of the Wenda Sect... While these two pills are rare and are of Fourth Grade, the Elders on our Pill Peak capable of crafting them are numerous."

After a pause, the manager continued:

"However, these kinds of pills are generally not for sale."

"If Senior is willing to join our Pill Peak as a Tributor... these two pills are negotiable..."

Lin Chen frowned upon hearing this but did not answer.

The manager hurriedly said:

"Even if you are unwilling to join Pill Peak, as long as you agree to serve Pill Peak for a hundred years... these two pills are yours!"

"Besides the pills, we can also offer any magical treasures required for Nascent Soul Formation."

Upon hearing this, Lin Chen’s frown deepened.

Considering carefully, Lin Chen eventually rose and refused, saying:

"I’m sorry, I’m accustomed to freedom, and truly have no intention of joining any force..."