For the three days he waited, Wang Ping spent his nights meditating and practicing Qi Cultivation in his inn. In the mornings, he would complete a session of marrow washing, feed Yu Lian, and then wander around Sea City, learning about its customs and curiosities.
Hu Mountain Country was different from Xia Country. Here, Cultivators and mortals lived side-by-side. In Xia Country, however, a clear line was drawn between the two. The ruling class of Xia Country was composed of the Imperial Family, Noble Clans, and Cultivators, whereas in Hu Mountain Country, only Cultivators held power.
Hu Mountain Country comprised ten major cities. The territories under their influence spawned countless smaller settlements, all of which made up the country as it was today. In Sea City, the residents had no concept of a nation. The name "Hu Mountain" was more like the title of an external alliance.
The ten cities of the alliance were led by the Yuqing Sect. Beneath the Yuqing Sect were six other cultivation sects, with the Upper Dan Sect being the most famous among them. The remaining five were all considered unorthodox sects.
Hu Mountain Country's rule over mortals was one of laissez-faire. As long as they paid their taxes in full and on time, there were generally no problems.
Sounds pretty great, doesn't it?
But this also led to the clans of the lower classes forming factions. These clans would then fight viciously amongst themselves over resources.
Some clans were predominantly human, others predominantly demon, and some were a mix of both. Their conflicts were a daily occurrence, yet the powers that be turned a blind eye. Even in Sea City itself, one could occasionally see two groups engaged in an armed brawl. The only caveat was that if the City Defense Army caught you, you'd be thrown in a dungeon for anywhere from ten days to a year.
「The morning of the third day.」
After finishing his daily marrow washing, Wang Ping walked into the inn's front courtyard. He was just in time to see two groups of people clashing on the street with all sorts of weapons. A Pig Demon leading the charge for one side was covered in blood; it was clear he wasn't going to make it.
"What damn bad luck!"
The inn's proprietress grumbled, then called for someone to boil some water.
The brawl lasted for half an hour. The victors stood on the blood-soaked street, declared something in their own tongue, and then dragged away their casualties.
A short while later, soldiers from the City Defense Camp finally arrived. They gave the scene a cursory glance before leaving indifferently. Once the soldiers were gone, people from the nearby shops came out to wash the blood from the street, sprinkling some fragrant powder after they finished.
It was from this incident that Wang Ping learned the City Defense Camp had a habit of sleeping in. This was why morning brawls in Sea City were usually fought to the death. Fights at other times were generally just disputes of pride. Occasionally, though, if the brawlers got riled up enough, even the arriving City Defense Army would get a beating, but that was rare.
"These people are so strange," Yu Lian asked in confusion. "Everyone's state seems to be centered, yet their actions are chaotic and disorderly. Why is that?"
"You'll understand in the future."
Having watched the commotion, Wang Ping left the inn. The smell of fragrant powder on the street was thick—the same scent he'd noticed upon entering the city. He had assumed it was flowers blooming somewhere, never imagining it was powder used to mask the stench of blood.
Today was the day he had arranged to meet the Shopkeeper of the Upper Elixir Shop. Wang Ping checked out of the inn, grabbed his luggage, and headed straight for the shop. Upon entering, he saw the same person as three days prior: a very capable-looking middle-aged Shopkeeper.
"Daoist Changqing!"
Seeing Wang Ping, the middle-aged Shopkeeper handed off the customer he was serving to a young attendant. He then stepped out from behind the counter, bowed to Wang Ping, and gestured toward the entrance to the rear courtyard. "This way, please, Daoist..."
At this, Wang Ping produced a Copper Coin and flipped it idly before following the middle-aged man to the back. They came to a stop outside a cultivator's room in the east courtyard, the air thick with the scent of sandalwood.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK. The middle-aged Shopkeeper knocked cautiously on the door.
"Come in!"
The voice from within was calm and steady. As the Shopkeeper cautiously pushed the door open, Wang Ping saw a Cultivator seated directly ahead, dressed in a plain, light-blue Daoist robe. He appeared quite young, with one eye closed and the other open. The open eye, however, had a vertical pupil.
"You're Yu Cheng's disciple?" the Cultivator asked, a hint of urgency in his tone as he waved a dismissive hand at the middle-aged Shopkeeper.
"My master is indeed Yu Cheng Taoist," Wang Ping replied respectfully.
"I am Yuan Zheng. Give me my letter," the Cultivator said, holding out his hand.
"Well..."
Wang Ping was stunned. It was his first time delivering a letter, and in his inexperience, he hadn't even asked what the recipient looked like. Nor had Yu Cheng Taoist thought to tell him.
"What are you dilly-dallying for? Yu Cheng must have sent you to me to have your root bone improved, right?"
"To be honest—"
"Forget 'to be honest'! Is it or isn't it?"
"Yes!"
"Then that settles it. Now hurry up. I owe him this favor, and for the past ten years, it's been bothering me so much I can't eat or sleep properly. Quickly, give me the letter so I can get this over with, and you can get back to your master!"
He seemed even more anxious than Wang Ping.
Wang Ping considered for a moment, then hesitated no longer. He took down his luggage and began to look for the letter. Seeing this, Yuan Zheng grew even more impatient. He rose from his meditative position, looking like he wanted to grab it himself, but he seemed to think better of it and forced himself to sit back down.
A moment later, Wang Ping found Yu Cheng Taoist's letter. Before he could say a word, it vanished from his grasp and reappeared in Yuan Zheng's hand. He tore it open and read it with incredible speed.
After finishing, he let out a long sigh of relief. He looked Wang Ping up and down, then beckoned. "Come here. Let me examine you."
Wang Ping didn't hesitate, bowing once before walking over.
'So formal...'
Yuan Zheng muttered as he placed a hand on Wang Ping's shoulder. In the next instant, Wang Ping felt like he'd lost all control over his body, his consciousness left to drift uselessly. The sensation gave him a fright, but thankfully, it was gone in a flash.
"Not bad. There's no Elixir Poison in your body."
Elixir Poison is a side effect of consuming too many Elixirs, and it can be purged through long periods of cultivation.
After his inspection, Yuan Zheng lowered his hand and stared at Wang Ping. "The Upper Dan Sect's method for improving one's root bone was developed by our predecessors based on medicinal principles. During the process, you will need to absorb a large quantity of Spirit Medicine so that your body can be perfectly attuned to my Magic."
"It will be excruciatingly painful, but you must endure it. If you can't, the process could fail, and your body will be corroded by Elixir Poison." Yuan Zheng stared into Wang Ping's eyes. "Can you endure it?"
"I can!"
Wang Ping's answer was swift.
Yuan Zheng, however, let out a dry chuckle and stood up. He pointed to the spot where he had just been sitting. "Get on it. Settle your mind and meditate."
"Yes!"
Wang Ping bowed again, earning an impatient look from Yuan Zheng. Once Wang Ping had settled into meditation as he usually did, Yuan Zheng once again clapped a hand onto his shoulder.
"AHH!"
Wang Ping let out a pained scream. His body began to thrash around uncontrollably, knocking a nearby tea table to the ground. He felt every muscle and sinew in his body being twisted and torn by an immense force, the pain so intense it drove all other thoughts from his mind.
Yu Lian's mind was linked with Wang Ping's. The instant he felt the agony, she coiled tightly around his wrist, apparently sharing his pain.
After a long while, Wang Ping finally recovered. He looked at Yuan Zheng Taoist, feeling somewhat ashamed. Yu Lian was also staring at the Daoist. She wanted to glare fiercely but seemed intimidated by his power. She settled for a single sharp look before retreating back into Wang Ping's sleeve at top speed.
Yuan Zheng Taoist chuckled at Yu Lian's antics, then turned to Wang Ping with a mischievous grin. "So? Still think you can endure it?"
Wang Ping fell silent.
"Improving your body's foundation is tantamount to defying the heavens and changing your fate. The pain involved should go without saying. You didn't actually think I could get it done with a single spell, did you?" Yuan Zheng Taoist chuckled. "You'll be living here for now. Over the next half a month, you're going to have to get used to this pain."