Practice begins with immortality

The Hundred Cities Alliance is located on the edge of the Northern Yan immortal cultivation world. There are more than a hundred cities of various sizes in the alliance. Except for the main city Tianyong City, all other cities are guarded by Jindan Zhenren, and Yu Chen is the lord of Huangsha City.

Tianyong City Affairs Hall.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, I will go and hand over the task first. You please wait here for a while. I have already reported your matter to the alliance. Someone will come to explain the matter to you soon." Yu Chen said to Wang Bai, and then left in a hurry.

"As expected of the Northern Yan cultivation world, even in a relatively marginal region, it's teeming with powerful individuals." Wang Bai sighed, sensing the cultivation levels of the people in the Affairs Hall. When he first journeyed north from the Luoxia Mountains, he'd noticeably sensed a rise in the concentration of spiritual energy over time. Similarly, the variety and quality of natural treasures, as well as the number of cultivators, were also increasing. Furthermore, the three major factions of the Tianjing Plains were considered relatively weak within the entire Northern Yan cultivation world. Meanwhile, the most prosperous region of Nanyan Continent, the heart of the Northern Yan cultivation world, was presided over by a Divine Transformation Master.

Just as Wang Bai was thinking, a voice came, "Senior, my name is Zhang Yue. I have come here specially to introduce you to the affairs of the alliance." A young monk in a white robe said respectfully to Wang Bai.

"I wonder where you came from, Senior?"

"I'm from the Luoxia Mountains."

"Luoxia Mountains?!" Zhang Yue was a little surprised when he heard this: "But that place near the Absolute Spirit Land? The spiritual energy there is a bit thin compared to the Tianjing Plain. Senior was able to cultivate to the Golden Core stage in that place, so he must have a top-grade spiritual root without a doubt."

Afterwards, Zhang Yue introduced Huang Bo to some common knowledge about the Hundred Cities Alliance. Jindan cultivators who joined the Hundred Cities Alliance usually had two options: one was to be sent to guard the city, and the other was to settle in the main city.

The monks guarding the city were required to submit 70% of the annual taxes collected to the alliance, with the remaining amount used as resources for cultivation. Furthermore, the Hundred Cities Alliance would not interfere with the affairs of its members unless they practiced magic, embezzled tax revenue, or had secret dealings with the Tianxuan Sect.

Cultivators stationed in Tianyong City naturally enjoy better training conditions. Tianyong City itself possesses a quasi-fourth-tier spiritual vein, and coupled with the power of the formation, the spiritual energy is rich, allowing for faster cultivation. Furthermore, the rewards gained from being assigned to other cities are tied to the city itself. Most of the lucrative cities have already been divided up, leaving only those with less lucrative resources. However, within Tianyong City, every move is easily traceable, and there are many restrictions. Therefore, being assigned to other cities is more suitable for Wang Bai.

After explaining the matter, Zhang Yue left

Half an hour later, Yu Chen came back after finishing his work.

"In that case, fellow Daoist should have understood the affairs of the alliance. I wonder what you will choose?"

"Of course I'll choose to be sent abroad."

"That's great! Fellow Daoist Wang, I happen to know a city that's suitable for you." Hearing Wang Bai's answer, Yu Chen said happily: "Fellow Daoist, you can choose Xuantie City. The previous governor of Xuantie City just passed away not long ago, so the position is vacant. Moreover, Xuantie City is only a thousand miles away from my Huangsha City. Choosing this city will provide me with a place to look after. And..." He paused at this point, then transmitted his consciousness: "The elders of my clan had a friendship with the previous governor of Xuantie City. Although Xuantie City doesn't seem to have much money on the surface, according to my elders, there is a second-level spirit vein within the city, and an associated spirit stone mine. It was reported to the alliance a few days ago. Fellow Daoist is also lucky. If it were a few days later, the governor of Xuantie City would probably have been taken away by someone else."

"Fellow Daoist, you have shown me the way out of this maze. I will certainly repay you for this great favor in the future."

"Fellow Daoist Wang, this is my way of repaying your kindness in helping me. Besides that—" Yu Chen paused for a moment before adding, "I have one more unwelcome favor to ask."

"Fellow Daoist Yu, please feel free to speak up. If I can help, I will do my best."

"Fellow Daoist, do you know the Demonic Sect? This demonic sect is related to the origin of the Land of Absolute Spirits." Yu Chen took out a map and said to Wang Bai.

"Please, Fellow Daoist Yu, explain a few things to me."

"Legend has it that thirty thousand years ago, two Divine Transformation Masters engaged in battle. The aftermath of this battle destroyed the southern part of Ancient Nanyan Continent and turned it into a land devoid of spirits. However, records show that the impact of those two battles was far greater than this. Records state that the battle lasted for three days and three nights, stretching from the depths of the South China Sea to the southern part of Ancient Nanyan Continent. The battle also had a profound impact on the Tianjin Plain. At the time, there existed a demonic sect called the Demonic Evil Sect on the Tianjin Plain. Three Nascent Soul cultivators led the sect, ruling the entire Tianjin Plain. However, they were later affected by the Divine Transformation Battle and their sect was destroyed. However, their ruins did remain."

"The ruins of the Demonic Demon Sect lie at the border of the Hundred Cities Alliance and the Tianxuan Sect, opening every hundred years. When the ruins were first discovered, a major battle erupted between the two factions. Later, they agreed to send Foundation Establishment and Golden Core cultivators from each side to explore the ruins upon their opening. Now, there are still fourteen years until the next opening. When the next opening arrives, I ask you to accompany me and help me retrieve a treasure called the Green Flame Fruit." Yu Chen told Wang Bai. His clan's core technique, the Red Wood Flame Spirit Art, requires refining the Green Flame Fruit, a spiritual material with both wood and fire attributes, to achieve a breakthrough to the middle stage of the Golden Core stage. However, his last exploration of the ruins revealed that the Green Flame Fruit was guarded by a mid-stage Golden Core Flame Lion. He was no match for this alone, so he needed help. Including himself, his clan had five Golden Core cultivators. Besides the late-stage Golden Core ancestor, the others also needed to find spiritual objects with wood and fire attributes to achieve breakthroughs, so Yu Chen didn't seek their help. Wang Bai was practicing a non-attributed technique, so naturally he didn't need a spiritual object with wood or fire attributes to break through, so Yu Chen asked him for help.

Wang Bai pondered for a moment and said, "Then I will accept this." He agreed because, after examining the map, he discovered that the location depicted on it matched the map he had previously obtained from the demon spirit. However, after Wang Bai injected spiritual energy into the demon spirit's animal hide map, it transformed into a more detailed map of the Demonic Sect ruins. With this information advantage and cultivation advantage, Wang Bai naturally wanted to explore the ruins.

"In that case, I would like to thank Fellow Daoist Wang first. I will take care of the matter of Xuantie City." Yu Chen was overjoyed when he saw this, and then left to take care of the matter of defending Xuantie City. His Yu family also had a say in the alliance, so it was natural for him to decide on the matter of defending a city.