READ NOVEL FREE Chapter 188: Yunzhou Prefecture City
Chapter 188: Yunzhou Prefecture City
Xu Lian rented several carriages to take everyone back to First Street in Pingyang County. As for Fang Shaoze, once they entered the city, he got off the carriage.
Whether he could make something of himself and become a cultivator would entirely depend on his own abilities.
After returning to First Street, Xu Lian immediately went to see the White Fox.
The White Fox said, “You came at the right time. I was just about to call for you.”
Xu Lian asked, “What is it, Town Guard Commander?”
The White Fox replied, “Two things. First, my main body needs to go into seclusion for a while to focus on cultivation. I won’t be able to spare any attention for this Earth Flesh doppelganger. Unless you have something urgent, don’t bother me.”
Xu Lian was curious. “Has your cultivation level broken through again?”
He remembered that half a year ago, her main body had once gone into seclusion. After emerging, the strength of her White Fox doppelganger had noticeably increased. Clearly, her main body had achieved a breakthrough, which caused this effect. Now, only half a year later, she was going into seclusion again. It seemed that she had made another breakthrough?
Given that her projected strength was already stronger than that of most powerful experts, her main body must be even more formidable. To make such rapid progress at such a high level of cultivation was truly extraordinary.
The White Fox didn’t answer his question. “The second thing is that the Hundred Boats Secret Realm is about to open. It’s a suitable place for young talents like you to train. You should join. Otherwise, you’ll just spend your days in Pingyang County eating, drinking, and having fun with a bunch of women without making any progress.”
“…” Xu Lian was speechless. So, in her eyes, this was how he spent his time?
Xu Lian was a little suspicious. “Is the new Quarry Patrol Inspector in Green Bamboo Town also one of your doppelgangers?”
The White Fox asked, “Why do you say that?”
Xu Lian explained, “During my recent trip back to Green Bamboo Town, the new Quarry Patrol Inspector invited me to participate in the Hundred Boats Secret Realm.”
The White Fox said indifferently, “It’s not my doppelganger. Why would I need so many lookalikes? It would only distract me. Don’t be so suspicious. If one day you reach a high enough level and meet my main body, of course I’ll tell you everything.”
“If I meet your true form and find out that you’re beautiful, I’ll become your Dao companion.”
“?”…
Xu Lian felt a bone-chilling killing intent and immediately turned tail and ran!
Once he was out of the range of the Spirit Tree’s barrier, Xu Lian couldn’t help but laugh. He had always been at a disadvantage when dealing with the White Fox, but this time, he had finally managed to turn the tables. His mood improved significantly.
He called Yun Conglong over and instructed him to go to Green Bamboo Town to inform the new Quarry Patrol Inspector that he had agreed to participate in the Hundred Boats Secret Realm.
Next, Xu Lian began planning his time, preparing to become a master of time management once again.
Zhao Yuqing and Zhao Yuhe both had an affection level of 90/100, so there was room to cultivate and improve their relationship.
Jing Se’s affection level was at 70/100, which also had significant potential for growth.
In addition, Miao Yueyue (91/100), Yu Qingning (92/100), and Huo Xin’er (92/100) still had some room for improvement.
As for the other companions, their affection levels were all at 93/100, with Pei Zhaoxi reaching an impressive 94/100. Improving these would be difficult, so maintaining them was the priority.
Three days later, Yun Conglong returned from Green Bamboo Town and reported, “Master, the owl said that we should meet at Yun Tower in Yunzhou Prefecture City in half a month.”
“All right, you can go now,” Xu Lian said. He was currently out shopping for cultivation materials with Zhao Yuqing and Zhao Yuhe.
Over the past three days, he had been focusing on improving his relationship with them. For the next half month, he planned to continue cultivating his affection with Jing Se as a secondary focus. As for the other companions, he would spend time with them occasionally to maintain their relationships.
Half a month later, Zhao Yuqing’s and Zhao Yuhe’s affection levels had both reached 91/100, earning Xu Lian two progression points. Double points were indeed sweet. He now had a total of eight progression points. If he used them all and had sufficient materials, he could advance to the eighth stage of the Great Grandmaster level.
In addition, Jing Se’s affection level had increased from 70/100 to 80/100. Once he returned from the Hundred Boats Secret Realm, he could continue cultivating her affection and likely earn another progression point.
He informed all his companions about his upcoming training trip, and they all supported him, hoping that he would become a powerful expert in the future.
With their blessing, Xu Lian set off with a calm heart. He rode a horse out of Pingyang County and arrived at the altar on the outskirts of the county, preparing to travel to Yunzhou Prefecture.
As usual, the county’s altar was desolate and rarely used. It was simply too expensive for most cultivators to afford.
This time, however, a familiar figure stood there, catching his attention. It was none other than Lin Ying, who had gone to great lengths to get close to him.
Xu Lian’s face darkened. “What are you doing here?”
Lin Ying ran over to him, hugging him tightly as soon as he dismounted. Her eyes were pleading. “Husband, please take me with you.”
Xu Lian sighed. “The Hundred Boat Secret Realm is a place for top-level geniuses from all over. The participants are at least at the Grandmaster level. You’re only at the level of Bright Strength. It would be a joke for you to go.”
Lin Ying wiped her eyes, which immediately turned red and teary. “If I can’t go, that’s fine. But you haven’t spent any time with me yet. I don’t know when you’ll come back after this trip. I can’t bear to see you go.”
Was she really getting into character? Xu Lian grabbed her wrist and inspected her hand. Sure enough, she had applied a pungent medicinal paste to her palm, which explained why her eyes had turned red and teary so quickly.
Even after being exposed, Lin Ying remained calm. “I only wanted to make you happy. Doesn’t this show how sincere I am?”
Xu Lian studied her carefully. “Do you really want to be with me so much?”
Seeing that he was finally relenting, Lin Ying’s face lit up with joy. She nodded repeatedly. “Of course!”
Xu Lian said, “Alright. When I return from the Hundred Boats Secret Realm, I’ll give you a chance. I have a secret technique that can verify if your feelings are sincere. If your heart isn’t sincere or your determination isn’t strong enough, I’ll be able to tell. If that’s the case, I won’t pay any more attention to you. Think about it carefully while I’m gone.”
With that, Xu Lian said nothing more. He stepped onto the altar, declared, “To Yunzhou Prefecture City,” and placed 30,000 spirit stones on the altar, adding more as he went.
Lin Ying waved at him with a sweet smile. “Husband, take care on your journey.”
Xu Lian wasn’t too worried. After all, he could check her level of affection. There was no harm in giving her a chance. If her affection level didn’t improve, he could always give her a spirit property and send her on her way.
When enough spirit stones were added, the altar began to glow. Xu Lian disappeared in a flash of light.
Once again, he saw the humanoid monsters in the spatial tunnel. However, after seeing them so many times, he no longer felt anything. Let them scratch at the void outside the tunnel, no matter how far away they were…
Another flash of light appeared, and Xu Lian closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, he was standing on another altar.
In front of him was a strange city.
There were no city walls, and he could see endless rows of houses, densely packed and neatly arranged.
Without exception, every roof was shaped like a funnel.
A huge cloud floated in the sky, drizzling lightly. Clearly, the funnel-shaped roofs were designed to collect rainwater.
“Is there spiritual energy in this rainwater?”
Xu Lian reached out and caught a few drops of the drizzle. Upon sensing it, he indeed detected spiritual energy within the rain.
Every city in this world was built in a location suitable for cultivation. Pingyang County had its spirit tree, Taizhou Prefecture had its illusory river, and here in the city of Yunzhou Prefecture, the rain carried spiritual energy.
However, it was unclear how the cloud in the sky had formed.
It seemed that the sky contained not only strange substances, but also spiritual energy suitable for cultivation.
“To Yun Tower,” Xu Lian said as he hired a beast drawn carriage.
There was also a small funnel on the roof of the carriage, allowing the rain to drip into the carriage. This was certainly unique…
The city of Yunzhou Prefecture was huge. It took the beast drawn carriage half a day to reach a five-story wooden building with a large funnel on its roof. A sign above the entrance read “Yun Tower”.
“You must be Young Master Xu. Our lady has instructed us to reserve the top floor for you. Please come up.”
The doorman carefully examined Xu Lian before quickly approaching him.
Xu Lian was confused. “You’ve never seen me before. How did you recognize me? Has your lady shown you a portrait of me?”
The doorman smiled. “No portrait, but the lady described you as a young man of about seventeen or eighteen, plainly dressed but with an extraordinary aura. When I saw that your age, clothing, and demeanor matched her description, I guessed that it was you.”
Xu Lian didn’t ask any more questions and followed the doorman inside.
They went straight to the fifth floor – the top floor.
Sure enough, the big funnel was dripping rainwater, and being rained on was considered a VIP experience… Xu Lian had no choice but to adapt to the local customs.