The inn’s lobby is small, with only a few tables and a counter.
Behind the counter stood a gray-haired old man with a cultivation level of the ninth rank of the True Immortal Realm. He squinted at the incoming customers.
His gaze fell on the two of them for a moment, but he didn’t ask anything; he just raised two fingers.
“Two superior rooms, ten middle grade spirit stones per night.”
Venerable Hanyuan took out twenty mid-grade spiritual stones from his sleeve and placed them on the table.
The old man put away the spirit stones, took two keys from the wall, and threw them on the table.
“Upstairs on the left, third and fourth rooms.”
The two took the keys and went upstairs.
The guest rooms are not large, but clean enough.
Wooden bed, wooden table, wooden chair, and futon mattress in the corner of the room.
The window was on a wall facing south, and through the window paper you could see the gray sky and the faint outline of three suns shining brightly outside.
The Red Flame Venerable sat on the bed, took out the Soul Suppressing Pearl from his sleeve, and held it in his palm.
The purple divine soul within the pearl remained still, its golden light appearing and disappearing alternately.
“What should we do next?” His voice was slightly hoarse, reflecting his tiredness after days of running around.
Venerable Hanyuan leaned against the window, looking at the sky outside. “Let’s settle down in Loose Cultivator City first, rest a few days, and stabilize our cultivation. Then we’ll gather information and see which forces on Seventeenth Heaven are worthy of our allegiance.”
“Seeking shelter?” Venerable Red Flame sneered. “We, the venerable Gold Immortals, have humbled ourselves by seeking refuge in others?”
Venerable Hanyuan shook his head. “It’s not about giving up, it’s about cooperation. We need high-level Gold Immortals to work together to activate the Soul Refining Array; the two of us alone are not enough.”
There are definitely other powerful figures like Heavenly Venerates on Seventeenth Heaven, but we don’t know them. We need to find them.
The Red Flame Venerable was silent for a moment, then put the Soul Suppressing Pearl into his sleeve, closed his eyes, and said, “Then, let’s rest for a few days first.”
The two stopped talking and closed their eyes to regulate their breathing.
The street outside the inn was bustling with people and filled with noise.
Some argue, some trade, and some fight with magic. Flashes of light, clashes of magical artifacts, and sounds rising and falling, reached the inn and penetrated the walls to be heard by the two people.
But the calmness of the Gold Immortals was far beyond that of ordinary people, and those voices could not affect them at all.
Meanwhile, in the Heavenly Palace.
The Heavenly Venerate sat on the throne in the main hall, his face still pale and his breathing still somewhat weak.
The aura of the Great Luo Golden Scripture had severely damaged his soul. Although he had mostly recovered after a night of treatment, he still felt some discomfort.
His fingers tapped lightly on the armrest, his rhythm slow and containing pent-up anger.
A black-clothed cultivator knelt before His Majesty, his aura was restrained, his cultivation was at the first rank of the Golden Immortal Realm, and he was the chief secret agent of the Extreme Heavenly Palace.
His forehead was pressed against the ground, and he did not dare to lift his head.
“Report.” Venerable Tianji’s voice was calm.
“Palace Master, Venerable Red Flame and Venerable Cold Abyss have left the territory of Extreme Heavenly Palace and entered Loose Cultivator City.”
The black-clothed cultivator’s voice was deep and clear, “As per Palace Master’s instructions, I followed closely without daring to approach or disturb him.”
The Heavenly Venerate paused for a moment.
“A city of heretic cultivators? They sure have good sense, knowing to be attracted to places like that.”
A faint smile spread across his lips. “The City of Free Cultivators is a gathering place for all kinds of people, and without a major force controlling it, this place is definitely a good place to hide. What a shame that they think they are safe just because they have entered the City of Free Cultivators?”
He was silent for a moment, then his fingers started tapping lightly on the armrest again.
“Pass the message to Elder Zhao, Elder Qian, Elder Sun, and Elder Li to come see me.”
“Yes.”
The black-robed monk got up, bowed, and left the hall.
A moment later, the four Golden Immortal Elders entered and stood in the center of the hall, bowing in unison.
“Palace Lord.”
The Heavenly Venerate looked at them, his gaze sweeping across each of their faces.
The four elders, whose cultivation levels ranged from first-level Golden Immortal to second-level Golden Immortal, were all the core fighting force of the Heavenly Pole Palace. They have followed him for years and are very loyal.
“Elder Zhao, Elder Qian, go to Heretic Cultivator City, find Chi Yan and Han Yuan, kill them, and take back the Soul Suppressing Pearl.” Venerable Tianji’s tone was calm, as if he was giving unimportant instructions.
Elder Zhao frowned slightly.
He was tall, old-faced, and gray-haired. He practices metal-based techniques and is skilled in direct and powerful attacks.
He stepped forward and said in a deep voice, “Your Majesty, there is something I don’t understand.”
FAQ Novel
Q: What are the characteristics of the city’s defenses?
A: The city walls feature chaotic and disorderly defensive runes, reflecting the lack of uniform patterns and multiple cultivators’ work, unlike the strict cities of the gods.
Q: What kind of inhabitants and commerce can be found in the City of Free Cultivators?
A: The city is a diverse melting pot of humans, demons, monsters, ghosts, and other races, with shops selling various items like potions, magical artifacts, wits, and talismans.
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