The Outer City of Black Cloud was largely similar to Tuyue’s, also divided into a fringe district, a town district, and outlying farmland.

The only difference was the proportion.

There was very little farmland here. The streets were constantly filled with a steady stream of transport oxcarts, loaded with various kinds of cut and processed salt-baked, air-dried meats.

After Lin Hui familiarized himself with the local ways through his father’s connections, he purchased a large courtyard estate from a housing agent.

As the Daoist Master of Qingfeng Dao, he had brought a considerable amount of wealth with him. He had three hundred vials of Feather Blood alone, and purchasing the estate only cost him two vials plus a few gold notes.

Even so, the price was far higher than in Tuyue.

But the estate was massive, large enough to comfortably house all one hundred-plus of his people.

After settling everyone in, they all went about adapting in their own ways, deciding to first spend a few days familiarizing themselves with the new environment.

Lin Hui, meanwhile, took a walk around the area to assess the situation.

The place they were staying in was called New Magpie Town. Despite being by the sea, there were quite a few magpies. They spent all day weaving through the mist in the air, flying back and forth. It was a mystery how these birds avoided the night fog.

Most of the residents of New Magpie Town were sailors who went out to sea. A smaller portion were artisans who processed and sold the sailors’ hauls.

Outsiders like Lin Hui and his group were a tiny minority.

Just like Xinyu Town, this town was situated right next to the white wall—a location Lin Hui had chosen carefully for convenient access to the Inner City in the future.

After a few days of gathering intelligence, the members of Qingfeng Dao gathered to summarize their findings.

"It seems the situation here is much better than in Tuyue."

Within the newly purchased estate, Core Disciples like Wang Hongshi gathered around Lin Hui.

The first to speak was Su Yaping.

He seemed to have already blended in over the past few days. He had changed into a cool, light-green sleeveless long dress, with a Sea Beast leather belt around his waist and a deep-sea black pearl pendant around his neck.

"Men and women both wear dresses here, huh..." Wang Hongshi said with a sigh, tugging uncomfortably at the black skirt-pants he was wearing.

"There are some differences. The men’s dresses are more like long robes, while the women’s are the same as ever, just looser and thicker. They usually wear leather trousers or waterproof Sea Beast hide boots underneath," Qiu Yiren added.

"That’s not the point," Wang Hongshi said with a nod. "The point is, I’ve specifically investigated the food and living conditions. They have Wanfu Meat here too, but people don’t rely on it because there’s no shortage of food. The Moon Tower in the Inner City has mastered the ability to remove toxins from the flesh of Fog Area monsters, and they’ve even created an entire industry around it. Not only is it more than enough to supply the city, but they also export large quantities of dried meat to other cities."

"It’s the Moon Tower’s toxin-purging Evil Energy. I’ve heard of it. It’s one of the reasons Black Cloud is so prosperous," Su Yaping nodded.

’A toxin-purging Evil Energy...’ Lin Hui mused. Tuyue’s Evil Energy absorbed life spans, turning the nobles of its Moon Tower into literal man-eating demons. Here, the Original Blood Nobility’s Evil Energy purged toxins. On the surface, it seemed far less practical than absorbing life, but it had created a society far more prosperous and powerful than Tuyue’s.

’The uses of this Evil Energy... it’s a matter of give and take. Hard to say which is truly better.’

"I went to the Inner City yesterday to investigate. The Moon Tower’s Extreme Desire Heaven here is just as open-minded, but not as arrogant and unrestrained as Tuyue’s. That’s because there isn’t just one Fog Person here, but three!" Su Yaping continued.

"Three!?" Lin Hui was taken aback.

"Yes. The Three Great Fog People keep each other in check. The three types of Evil Energy they possess are toxin purging, nourishment, and proliferation. These three abilities complement each other and have greatly increased Black Cloud’s population. It’s also why geniuses emerge one after another here," Su Yaping sighed. "However, one slight difference is that the three Fog People here generally reside on three floating mountains in the Inner City, not in the Moon Tower."

"That also indirectly suggests that the environment around Black Cloud is extremely harsh. Otherwise, The Three Great Fog People wouldn’t have a reason to crowd together," Lin Hui said in a low voice.

"The Daoist Master is absolutely right." Su Yaping nodded. "The greatest threat around Black Cloud is mainly the Fog Spirits. The Fog Spirits are a large group of varying strength. The strong ones can rival multiple Fog People, while the weak ones are only slightly stronger than a Blood Patriarch. There are many Fog Spirits around Black Cloud. The one that clashes with this city most often is a Sea-Surge God named Minglan. I’ve only heard a rough overview; the details will require further investigation."

"That’s enough. It’s good to have a general understanding. I’ll be starting my post at the martial arts academy tomorrow. Once I’m familiar with the situation, I’ll open a study hall on the outside," Lin Hui nodded.

"Daoist Master, I’ve also found out about the sea routes back to Tuyue, as you requested," said Wang Hongshi.

"Tell me."

"The ships of the Hundred Seas Merchant Alliance travel once a year to the region where Tuyue and Xingdiao are located. They have significant trade dealings with the Cult of Corruption over there."

"The Cult of Corruption?!" Lin Hui started, looking at Xia Si.

Xia Si looked utterly bewildered. ’Wasn’t the Cult of Corruption that group of mystical lunatics from back home?’

"Yes. It’s unclear what they trade. Then there’s the White Cloud Merchant Alliance’s fleet, which also goes to Tuyue once every two years to purchase their local specialties," Wang Hongshi said. "But because there’s very little worth buying there, sometimes the fleet cancels the trip."

"That’s good. You’ve done well." Lin Hui nodded. "That’s a rough summary of the situation in Black Cloud. Does anyone have anything to add?"

"I have something." Xia Si raised her hand. "Master, I don’t want to work in the study hall. I want to go to sea."

"Go to sea?"

"Yes! If you’re lucky, the rewards from going to sea are huge. You can also encounter all sorts of Sea Beasts and Fog Spirits, and see the sights. It’ll be fun!" Xia Si’s face was full of eager anticipation.

"As long as you’ve thought it through." Lin Hui nodded.

"Daoist Master, I want to go to sea too."

"Me too, Daoist Master! If you have the strength, the income from going to sea here is very high! It’s much better than in Tuyue!"

"I want to go to sea too!"

Once Xia Si started, the vast majority of the group sheepishly raised their hands and spoke up.

Lin Hui looked around. Of the ten or so Core Disciples, only Qiu Yiren was willing to open the study hall with him. Everyone else wanted to go to sea.

He was rather exasperated. After he had bestowed the Dharma Seal technique on them, their power had soared, and it seemed their attitudes had become a bit inflated too.

Most of them may have only been Inner Power Martial Artists, but in the Outer City of Black Cloud, an Inner Power Martial Artist was not weak. Besides, they had the perfect version of the Qingfeng Swordsmanship for Body Tempering, enhanced by the True Body Seal.

In a real fight, not even those at Inner Power Perfection would be their match.

They were effectively above Perfection but below the Circulation realm. That kind of strength was nothing to scoff at.

After some discussion, Qiu Yiren decided to stay with Lin Hui, while Li Yuanyuan, the princess of the Shadowhound Clan, would remain in the city to handle the hauls for those who went to sea.

Without anyone to help, the study hall naturally couldn’t be opened.

The group that wanted to go to sea even pulled in Su Yaping and Xia Si, planning to pool their money to buy their own sea vessel.

Lin Hui didn’t quite understand it at first. But after hearing the exaggerated rumors circulating around Black Cloud—tales of finding Treasure Medicine at sea and ascending to the heavens, of ordinary people crossing several major realms to become a High Priest—he began to understand.

The most incredible part was that these rumors could actually be substantiated with real-life examples, with several new cases appearing every year. The most famous was undoubtedly Wang Chongjun, the Sea-Calming General in charge of the entire Outer City bay. He was a classic example: an ordinary person who went to sea, consumed a Sea Dragon Pearl, and ascended to the heavens, reaching the levels of Palace Master and Mingji in just three short years.

The Jade Sea and Crystal Sea were boundless, filled with mystery, danger, and opportunity, so much so that the entirety of Black Cloud City was swept up in a frenzy to go to sea.

Lin Hui didn’t try to dissuade them. Instead, he followed the steps his father had arranged, went to the Taixu Martial Arts Academy to register, and after a simple assessment, successfully started his job three days later.

He became a Martial Arts instructor at the Inner City’s Taixu Martial Arts Academy.

*

*

*

Taixu Martial Arts Academy, Fifth Branch.

In Black Cloud’s Inner City, amidst a large grove of palm trees near the city wall, white stone buildings were scattered in a pleasing arrangement. A high wall encircled them, forming a large circle.

From within, the shouts of martial arts practice could be heard from time to time, occasionally interspersed with the crack of a whip and angry curses.

At this moment, inside the branch academy, on the edge of a training ground the size of a soccer field.

A slender, purple-haired female teacher, dressed in the standard academy uniform of a black, waist-cinched long dress, was smiling as she gave Lin Hui a tour of the academy.

"Our Fifth Branch’s students are mainly commoners from the thirty towns surrounding the Outer City. Of course, a small number are elite children from nearby sea clans, as well as children of nobles from the Inner City who have followed their teachers here. You must remember the distinctions clearly. Offending a noble from the Inner City could lead to big trouble."

The female teacher transmitted her voice directly using her Inner Strength.

The minimum requirement to become a teacher at the Martial Arts Academy was the Circulation realm.

So, despite her gorgeous appearance and alluring figure, she was actually an old hag over a hundred years old.

"Thank you for the reminder, Teacher Song. I’ll be careful," Lin Hui nodded, a polite smile on his face.

"Not ’be careful,’ you must remember it without fail," the purple-haired teacher named Song said, turning back with a serious expression. "Here, official ranks aren’t that strict. There are plenty of genius students whose strength grows so fast they can challenge and even defeat teachers. And there are also many teachers who seriously injure or even kill students every year. Even as a teacher, you have to be constantly on guard with some of the noble children. A moment of carelessness could cost you your life."

"Understood!" Lin Hui nodded seriously this time.

Only then did she nod in satisfaction, turning around to continue leading the way.

Song Xinyan actually hated doing miscellaneous tasks outside of teaching, but it couldn’t be helped. She disliked the explosive atmosphere of the official classes even more.

"The class you’ll be in charge of is the relatively safe Class Four. It’s almost entirely commoner children. The classroom atmosphere is good, and the students are obedient. There are only two boys from pirate families who are a bit thorny, but it’s not a serious problem. As the Class Leader, I primarily teach the academy’s standard Seven Forms of Smoky Cloud Unarmed Style. It’s the best Martial Art for building a foundation. Children between 6 and 16 can practice it, and if they master it, they can smoothly break through to the Inner Strength realm and move up to a higher class," the purple-haired Teacher Song explained as they walked.

"Move up? So we aren’t responsible for them all the way through?" Lin Hui asked.

’I thought it was like schools in my past life, where a homeroom teacher would guide the students until graduation.’

"Of course not. Inner Power Martial Artists have higher-level teachers to instruct them. Naturally, if you see a student with great potential, you can take them as your personal disciple. The student just needs to take the academy’s exam when the time comes. As long as their results are good, the academy doesn’t care how they were taught," Teacher Song said.

"I see." Lin Hui nodded.

"During your assessment, you demonstrated Inner Power Perfection, and with your Secret Technique, you can reach the Circulation realm. Therefore, you will be mainly responsible for teaching Basic Sword Technique. Although the students major in the Seven Forms of Smoky Cloud Unarmed Style, they must also familiarize themselves with various other weapons. They don’t need to master them, but they must know how to counter them. That is your teaching assignment," Teacher Song instructed.

"Understood."

After the tour and introductions, the Class Leader, Song Xinyan, led Lin Hui to a private office that was assigned to him.

And just like that, his employment was confirmed.

He had one class in the morning and one in the afternoon every day, each lasting two hours. Lin Hui was responsible for teaching the students Basic Sword Technique and for sparring with them to train their responses to swordsmanship.

The work was quite relaxed, and the pay wasn’t bad either—a salary of 70,000 cash a month. There were no schemes or backstabbing; life was remarkably simple.

It was a perfect fit for Lin Hui’s goal of using a disguised identity to first understand the situation in Black Cloud.

After his life and work quickly stabilized, he also began to determine the next evolutionary goal for his Blood Seal.