After hearing Sheng Yuhong's report, Yunxi tapped the armrest with her fingertip. A moment later, she turned to Zhou Lingchuan. "Take Ancestor Haoran's token and pay a visit to the City Lord's Manor. Inform them that we will call tomorrow and request that the city lord make time to meet us."
With that, Yunxi flipped her palm and handed over a jade pendant.
Zhou Lingchuan did not know why Yunxi wished to meet the city lord, but he still nodded his assent and left the Wei estate.
Only then did Yunxi look at Sheng Yuhong. "Anything else we should be paying attention to?"
Sheng Yuhong thought for a moment. "Because the western region is close to Yunxiao Sea, it has been tacitly designated as the place where all regions and sects of the Spirit Realm station their cultivators for garrison duty. Even if some dislike it, the city lords of the larger cities in the western region have already been replaced. Whether the new city lords are reasonable depends on each city's luck.
The original city lords who understood the situation took the initiative to vacate their seats and even secured decent positions for themselves. After all, they are the local snakes. Before Spirit Realm cultivators fully control the returning Weiyu Realm, they probably will not push things to the extreme.
Of course, some new city lords are more overbearing. They did not trust the old city lords and found excuses to push them out. Those cultivators, knowing they could not gain an advantage, simply banded together and headed for other places in the Spirit Realm."
Yunxi nodded. She understood. There are no true fools in the cultivation world. Rather than clinging to old territory and butting heads with high-level Spirit Realm cultivators, it is better to explore a fresh map.
Besides, the Weiyu Realm has only just returned. The spiritual energy here is much denser than it was in the lower realm, but it still cannot compare to the Spirit Realm. Leaving Weiyu Realm's lands is not necessarily a bad thing. Moving from a place with thin spiritual energy to one with richer energy might lead to breakthroughs. For that reason alone, many cultivators are willing to venture out.
Moreover, the great sects of each region have already found where they belong and have integrated rather smoothly into new Spirit Realm sects. There were bumps in the process, naturally, but the results so far look good.
Seeing that Yunxi only nodded without asking for details, Sheng Yuhong continued. "Because the fighting on the Ancient Battlefield is still ongoing, any cultivator in the Spirit Realm at the Out-of-Body stage is required to enter the Ancient Battlefield. Each rotation lasts ten years. Unless severely injured, one is not allowed to leave without permission. However..."
Here Sheng Yuhong paused, frowning slightly. Yunxi finished the thought for him. "There are exceptions. For example, favored disciples of a sect or elite juniors of a family. They do not want their promising seedlings to die on the righteous versus evil frontlines, so they fulfill the requirement in another way, such as supplying spirit stones, pills, artifacts, formation plates, and other consumables used on the battlefield. Is that right?"
Sheng Yuhong was not surprised that Yunxi guessed it and nodded. "That arrangement is very common. Some families even spend spirit stones to hire loose cultivators to complete missions. It is mutually beneficial, so the big shots turn a blind eye. As long as there are enough combatants, it is acceptable."
Yunxi said, "I expect that in the next ten-year rotation, the cultivators who ascended with the Weiyu Realm will be entering the battlefield."
Sheng Yuhong agreed, then added, "Zūnzhǔ, the Ancient Battlefield is the righteous versus evil front, but if one is lucky, one can also obtain opportunities there. That is why some high-stage cultivators are willing to enter on behalf of others. They can earn cultivation resources and explore the Ancient Battlefield. With fortune, they might find an ancient cultivator's legacy."
Yunxi neither agreed nor refuted. "That kind of opportunity is only half a chance. If you lose your life on the battlefield, there is no opportunity to speak of. Do not be fooled by pies drawn in the air. What is not in your hand is not a true opportunity."
Sheng Yuhong started, then bowed his head. "Understood. Thank you for the guidance, Zūnzhǔ."
"Since the righteous and evil forces began their war, has the Weiling Realm sent additional forces to the Ancient Battlefield?"
Sheng Yuhong shook his head. "I have not heard of that. I only know that severely injured cultivators have withdrawn to recuperate. As for whether reinforcements were sent, we did not manage to learn it."
Time was limited. He had done his best to gather this much.
"Good. I know. Tomorrow you and Lin Keyang will remain at the Wei estate to help them prepare for relocation. Once this Lord returns from the City Lord's Manor, we set off."
"Yes."
Sheng Yuhong bowed and withdrew.
After Sheng Yuhong left, Yunxi went to find Lin Keyang and Zhang Lingrui.
As for Zhou Lingchuan, he had already met the new gatekeeper of the City Lord's Manor. The guard's cultivation was also at the Nascent Soul stage, though this ghost cultivator was only at early Nascent Soul.
Zhou Lingchuan saluted politely, stated his purpose, and presented Hao Ran Zhēnzūn's token.
The gatekeeping ghost cultivator had not expected to see the descendant of a Mahayana Zhēnzūn in Haoran City. His eyes flashed as he pieced it together. Hao Ran Zhēnzūn must have ties to Haoran City, and with Haoran Sect having relocated not long ago, the pieces fit. He respectfully asked Zhou Lingchuan to wait and went to report to the new city lord.
The new city lord, the Unity ghost cultivator Li Ze, was cultivating with soul stones in hand when his subordinate reported that a descendant of a Mahayana Zhēnzūn had delivered a token and sought an audience tomorrow. Li Ze set down the soul stone and accepted the jade pendant. With a single look he confirmed it was genuine. The Mahayana aura clinging to the token could not be faked.
"Return the token to the messenger and tell him that this City Lord will await them in the manor tomorrow."
"Yes, City Lord."
When Zhou Lingchuan received the token back, he also obtained the city lord's affirmative reply. He took his leave with a courteous smile.
After returning to the Wei estate and reporting to Yunxi, Zhou Lingchuan went to see Sheng Yuhong. He grumbled that even the manor's gatekeepers were at the Nascent Soul stage, while their own cultivation looked lacking by comparison. Once they returned to the sect, he was determined to seclude himself and charge at Divine Transformation. Otherwise, he would lack the capital to move freely in the Spirit Realm.
Sheng Yuhong agreed. In any place and at any time, strength is the Ultimate Truth.
The next day, Yunxi brought Zhang Lingrui and Zhou Lingchuan to the City Lord's Manor to pay respects to the new city lord.
Because of the arrangements the day before, the gate guards recognized the descendant of a Mahayana Zhēnzūn the moment they saw Zhou Lingchuan. They courteously opened the gates. When they sensed that the leading female cultivator's presence did not lose to their own city lord, their attitude became even more respectful.
Yunxi proceeded smoothly to the guest hall and met the new city lord, Li Ze. Yunxi cupped her hands with polite grace. "I am Ran Xi of Haoran Sect. Greetings, City Lord Li Ze. I have taken the liberty of calling today and fear I have disturbed your peace. I hope you will not take offense."
She then smiled, obedient and well-mannered.
Li Ze had been a touch casual, but his gaze flickered when he saw Yunxi. He could see that this young girl was only a little over a hundred years old. What did that mean? Even the top geniuses of the Spirit Realm did not cultivate at such speed. Moreover, she carried the aura he disliked the most.