Starting with a daily divination to build an immortal clan

Chapter 149 There is a demon, Bai Ze
Danzhou, Cangmang City.

The cities in the cultivation world are not much different from those in the secular world, the only difference being that Cangmang City is really too big.

If this entire city were placed in Yangnao, it would be comparable in size to a prefecture.

Even so, Cangmang City was just a small city near the Qishan Mountains in Danzhou.

The Tuoba clan, which controls the entire Cangmang City, has several direct descendants who have joined various immortal sects in Qishan. In addition, the Tuoba clan is said to have an old ancestor who is nearing the end of his lifespan and is stationed in Cangmang City.

Cangmang City, Qingyu Workshop.

The wide road led straight to the city gate, and the streets were bustling with people, with various vendors calling out their wares one after another.

A disheveled and filthy figure staggered through the crowd, causing passersby to cover their noses and avoid him.

The man was dressed in a tattered, moon-white long robe, which was covered in filth. He carried a book basket on his somewhat hunched back.

After taking a few steps forward, the figure seemed to have sensed something and slowly turned its head to look at a steaming bun shop in the distance.

"Gudong!"

Looking at the steaming hot buns, Shen Wenyan swallowed hard and staggered to the bun shop.

"Sir, would you like..."

The owner of the steamed bun shop was busy with his work, and when he sensed someone approaching, he was about to greet him warmly, but when he looked up and saw Shen Wenyan looking like a beggar, he immediately waved him away with some disdain:
"Go!"

"This isn't a charity!"

A hint of embarrassment flashed across Shen Wenyan's face as he slightly cupped his hands and asked, "How much are these steamed buns, shopkeeper?"

"One Azure Pearl for two, do you want to buy it?"

Shen Wenyan felt somewhat embarrassed under the suspicious gaze of the steamed bun shop owner.

He didn't even know what a Cangzhu was, so naturally he couldn't afford it.

"嘁~"

Seeing this, the steamed bun shop owner waved his hand dismissively and ignored him, continuing to arrange the steamed buns in the steamer.

"Shopkeeper, I have some books here. Could I exchange them for two steamed buns?"

As Shen Wenyan spoke, he hurriedly pulled several books from the book basket behind him.

"Practice methods?"

Upon hearing this, the steamed bun shop owner immediately softened his attitude and came over with a smile from behind the steamer.

"These are not cultivation methods, but just two ordinary books written by myself."

Upon hearing this, the steamed bun shop owner who had come up immediately turned stern and slapped the book out of his hand.

"What's the use of something so hard it's too stiff to even wipe your butt?!"

"Go away, hurry up and leave, don't delay my business!"

Shen Wenyan's face darkened, and his literary energy surged slightly before being quickly suppressed.

This is a city within the cultivation world; it would be unwise to act rashly.

His eyes darkened slightly as he bent down to the fallen book. As he reached out to pick it up, he saw a pair of snow-white silver-threaded slippers appear before him.

Immediately afterwards, a delicate hand reached out and picked up the book that had been knocked down.

Shen Wenyan stood up.

He saw a girl in a moon-white dress, holding a long sword, her face veiled by a white veil, standing in front of him, curiously flipping through his book.

"Your writing is quite strange, unlike the writing style that is common in Danzhou."

A clear, melodious voice rang out, and the girl looked up with curiosity in her eyes: "Can you tell me what's written in this book?"

Shen Wenyan cupped his hands and said, "They are just some strange tales."

The girl's eyes lit up slightly, as if she was very interested.

She glanced at the steamed bun shop next door, a flash of light appeared in her hand, and she immediately took out three pearl-like objects and threw them onto the table in front of her.

"Give him four steamed buns and a bowl of soup."

The owner of the steamed bun shop seemed to recognize the girl, and his attitude was so respectful it was almost obsequious as he cupped his hands and said:
"Sir, this..."

The girl waved her hand, turned to Shen Wenyan and said, "I'll treat you to something, and you tell me what story is in this book. Isn't that a good deal?"

Shen Wenyan hurriedly cupped his hands in thanks: "Thank you, Miss."

……

In front of the bustling steamed bun shop, a young girl rested her chin on her hand, listening intently.

Shen Wenyan wiped her mouth, let out a burp, stood up, and cupped her hands in greeting, saying, "Miss, the story is over."

The girl snapped out of her daze and scrutinized him carefully, asking, "You're not from Danzhou, are you?"

Shen Wenyan's eyes darted away as he slightly cupped his hands and said, "I am indeed from Danzhou, but I have lived in a remote village since childhood and this is my first time in Cangmang City."

"So how did you come up with this story?"

"Such a story feels as if I had personally experienced it."

Shen Wenyan cupped his hands again: "I dare not hide it from you, Miss. I have been unwilling to be mediocre since childhood and am very obsessed with seeking immortality."

"I have heard the celestial music of Tingqin Peak in Qishan and witnessed the sunset at Zhuixian Lake. After trekking for several years, I have finally arrived in Cangmang City."

The girl was still a little suspicious, but when she heard about the unique scenic spots of Danzhou, namely "Tingqin Peak" and "Zhuixian Lake", she stopped thinking about it.

“I observe no spiritual energy fluctuations on you. You are just a mortal. It is truly strange that you were able to travel to Tingqin Peak and Zhuixian Lake and even make it to Cangmang City alive.”

Shen Wenyan chuckled self-deprecatingly: "I guess I was just lucky."

The girl didn't press further, but stood up and handed over the book, saying, "Thank you for your story, it was wonderful."

"However, you should go now."

Shen Wenyan was organizing books when he heard this and was slightly taken aback.

The young woman smiled faintly and said, "I forgot to introduce myself. I am Tang Qingyue, the patrol officer of Qingyufang in Cangmang City."

"Recently, demonic calamities have occurred frequently. Cangmang City has imposed a curfew. After sunset, no one is allowed to appear on the streets. Anyone who violates this rule will be executed on the spot."

"If you can't even afford a meal, then you probably shouldn't be staying at an inn like Cangzhu either."

Shen Wenyan was stunned for a moment, and before he could say anything, Tang Qingyue said, "Let's go. I'll personally escort you out of the city, so that if you get arrested, it won't implicate me."

Helpless, Shen Wenyan could only follow her toward the city gate.

After the two left the city gate, Tang Qingyue pointed to the road in front of them and said, "After leaving, follow the road. We might be able to find some villages to stay in before dark."

"Hopefully your good luck hasn't run out yet, and you can find a village untouched by demons to live in."

After saying this, Tang Qingyue walked towards the city gate without looking back.

Shen Wenyan glanced at the winding road leading into the distance, then at Tang Qingyue's retreating figure, and bowed slightly, calling out, "Thank you for the meal, Miss Tang!"

Tang Qingyue paused slightly, and a slight smile appeared on the corners of her mouth beneath her veil.

"The story is interesting, and the people... are quite interesting too."

Watching Tang Qingyue's figure disappear, Shen Wenyan also hurriedly walked away into the distance.

As dusk fell, the forest path was deserted.

Along the way, he did encounter many villages, but they were all dilapidated and there wasn't even a single intact house.

Rotting bones were scattered throughout the village, making it resemble a living hell.

Shen Wenyan had no choice but to continue forward.

Gazing at the familiar tree-lined path ahead, he seemed somewhat dazed.

Determined to embark on a long journey, after leaving Yunzhong County, he headed north, wanting to see the vast snowfields. He traveled for several months in the northern snowfields, witnessing their boundless expanse, but also unexpectedly lost his way within them.

After a fruitless search, on the verge of death, he was fortunate enough to encounter disciples of the Tianfu Sect, one of the Twelve Immortal Sects, who were preparing to return to Danzhou.

Upon learning that Shen Wenyan was from the Shen family of Yunzhong, the Tianfu Sect disciples originally planned to take a detour to send him back to the Shen family of Yunzhong.

However, the thought of going to the cultivation world of Danzhou arose in his mind.

The disciples of Tianfu Sect did not refuse and took him to Qishan.

After arriving in Danzhou, Shen Wenyan declined the Tianfu Sect's offer to stay, wanting to go and see this magnificent world where immortals were everywhere.

After leaving the Tianfu Sect's mountain gate, they traveled through mountains and rivers.

It's unclear whether the Heavenly Talisman Sect was located on the outskirts of Qishan, or if he was simply lucky.

Along the way, they only encountered a few demonic beasts that had just transformed into monsters.

After being intimidated and frightened by his literary prowess, they arrived at Cangmang City without any real danger.

As for the places he mentioned, such as "Listening to the Qin Peak" and "Falling Immortal Lake," he had only heard about them from the disciples of the Heavenly Talisman Sect.

"Four years..."

"Father, Mother... Eldest Brother."

As Shen Wenyan murmured to himself, the image of Zhao Xuan and her two children at the moment of parting flashed through his mind.

But the tenderness in his heart had just begun to stir when he forcibly suppressed it.

Four years of hardships and trials, four years of mental training, made him clearly feel that his soul had been greatly sublimated.

He can now clearly feel that his soul is just one step away from the next transformation.

If this transformation is successful, it will be a tremendous boost to one's literary and spiritual cultivation.

If I fail... I might die in a foreign land.

Looking at the sky, which had completely darkened, Shen Wenyan's gaze hardened.

The heart that seeks the Way is born to face death!

The winding path before him was not only the road beneath his feet, but also the path he took in his pursuit of literature and art.

As darkness fell and night descended completely, Shen Wenyan lost track of how long he had walked. Just when he felt utterly exhausted, he suddenly saw a glimmer of light ahead.

He rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn't hallucinating before happily running towards the light.

It was a village with a dozen or so households.

The night was deep and all was quiet.

Although the village appeared desolate, the houses lit by candlelight ahead gave him a strange sense of warmth.

I slowly walked up to the house with its lights on.

Shen Wenyan hesitated for a moment, then gently knocked on the courtyard gate.

After a short wait, the sound of a door opening came from inside the courtyard.

Then came an old voice filled with doubt and wariness.

"Who?"

Shen Wenyan bowed from behind the door and said, "Uncle, I was on my way to Cangmang City, but I missed my time. I would like to ask to stay here for the night. Please do me a favor."

After a brief silence in the courtyard, the sound of unsteady footsteps could be heard.

Shen Wenyan took a step back and waited quietly with his hands at his sides.

A moment later, the courtyard gate opened, and a girl with a fair complexion, eyes like autumn water, and a flower wreath on her head peeked out, curiously looking at him.

Shen Wenyan was somewhat puzzled by this.

The person who responded just now was clearly an elderly man, this...

"Grandpa Bai, it's a person!"

As Shen Wenyan was puzzled, the girl opened the courtyard gate, revealing an old man behind her wearing an unidentified animal skin skirt and leaning on a cane.

The old man had white hair and beard, looked very old, and exuded an air of impending death.

He looked at Shen Wenyan suspiciously, his clear eyes seeming to sparkle with stars, as if he could see right through people's hearts.

Shen Wenyan did not notice any of this.

He felt that after the old man appeared, there was a special aura around him that made him feel refreshed.

As soon as the aura appeared, the fatigue he had felt from traveling vanished instantly.

"It turns out he was a scholar."

The old man chuckled and then gestured for him to come in, saying, "Young man, please come in."

"My humble abode is simple and unadorned, please do not find it offensive."

Shen Wenyan bowed repeatedly and followed the two into the courtyard.

Along the way, the young girl who was helping the old man would occasionally steal glances at him, her eyes full of curiosity.

Upon arriving at the room, Shen Wenyan noticed that there were many unknown herbs and some medicine jars, mortars and pestles on the floor.

The girl poured a bowl of tea and handed it to him.

"Thank you," Shen Wenyan said.

The old man beside him spoke up again at the opportune moment:

"Young man, have you eaten yet?"

Shen Wenyan nodded awkwardly.

He had eaten a few steamed buns in Cangmang City and had been traveling for several hours. Not to mention eating, he hadn't even encountered a single living creature.

The old man chuckled and looked at the girl beside him, "Girl, go get the young man something to eat."

The girl stood up, nodded, and walked out.

"Young man, please sit down for a while. This old man will go and help the girl with some chores."

Shen Wenyan stood up, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Thank you for your trouble."

The old man waved his hand and left the room, going to the kitchen next door.

Seeing this, the girl quickly peeked into the room and saw Shen Wenyan sitting at his desk drinking tea. She then asked in a low voice, "Grandpa Bai Ze, how was this human able to see through your illusion and find this place?"

The old man, no longer appearing aged and decrepit, wore a strange expression and pondered for a long time before saying:
"This person is not a cultivator of the immortal path, but he possesses a peculiar aura, vast and majestic, righteous and awe-inspiring..."

"His eyes were bright and restrained, indicating that his soul had undergone constant tempering... Strange, when did humans develop a cultivation method that only cultivates the soul and not spiritual power?"

The girl nodded and said, "I also think he smells really good!"

"However, Grandpa Bai Ze just arrived here to avoid those guys' spying, and then this strange human suddenly appears. Could it be a conspiracy?"

"A conspiracy?" The old man chuckled and said, "I have lived for eight hundred years. Even if a human cultivator at the Golden Core stage tries to do something wicked in front of me, he can't escape my eyes."

"Alright, get him something to eat first, we'll talk about it tomorrow."

The girl said "Oh," then looked troubled and said, "Grandpa Bai Ze, we've been hiding here eating dew and drinking the morning mist, what would we have to give a human like him?"

The old man was also stunned upon hearing this.

He then waved his hand and said, "Go into the mountains and catch an untamed wild animal for him to stew."

The girl nodded, and in a flash, she transformed into a snow-white little fox and disappeared into the kitchen.

(End of this chapter)