Chapter 71: The Geography of Yue (For the Alliance Leader of the Son of Heaven Dao Lord! )
Chapter 71: The Geography of Yue (For the Alliance Leader of the Son of Heaven Dao Lord! )
The Southern Barrens Cultivation World.
Celestial Immortal Pavilion.
Steam hissed from the purple clay pot on the small brazier.
Ge Hong Dan wore wide, long-sleeved robes, his hair tied in a topknot and secured with an ebony hairpin, giving him a relaxed, domestic appearance.
He picked up the teapot and poured Fang Xi a cup of tea: "For brewing tea, snow water is best, followed by mountain spring water, and then rainwater. . . This is snow water I collected last year; the weather was favorable, and the first snow arrived at just the right time. Daoist friend, please taste it and tell me what you think?"
"It's not as good as spirit spring water!"
Fang Xi spoke frankly.
Ge Hong Dan was instantly speechless, a hint of self-consciousness even appearing on his face.
Yet, in the eyes of all cultivators, even a bowl of spirit rice was far superior to any rare delicacy!
Even a patched-up, worn-out cultivation robe was more impressive than a prince's coat of a thousand gold pieces!
In the cultivation world, anything unrelated to cultivation was at the very bottom of the contempt hierarchy.
"Haha. . . but this tea is indeed good."
Fang Xi chuckled, easing the awkwardness, and asked, "Daoist Ge, about the items I requested?"
"They are ready, please take a look!"
Ge Hong Dan composed himself and unrolled a scroll on the table. Upon it, mountains and rivers were clearly drawn, a topographical map of the State of Yue!
For ancient people, maps were extremely valuable.
Even for cultivators, it was much the same.
"Daoist friend, please see, Jiahe City is located here!"
Ge Hong Dan pointed to a tiny spot on the map.
Fang Xi looked closely before he could find Jiahe City, while Green Bamboo Mountain Market, not far away, had a conspicuous mark.
The entire Green Bamboo Mountain Market, in turn, was situated in the northeastern part of the territory known as the 'State of Yue'.
This map was extensive, depicting not only the State of Yue but also the neighboring State of Mu and State of Wu. . . One could see the three states forming a tripartite standoff, with the State of Yue situated in the northernmost position.
At the intersection of the three states, there was also a colossal mountain range, resembling a 'Y' shape, dividing the three states.
This was the Myriad Beast Mountain Range, rumored to have even Core Formation-level, third-order demon beasts lurking in its depths.
And at every passable mountain pass, there were cultivation cities and fortresses established.
These fortress-markets were like strings of luminous pearls, the largest of which was located at the border of the three states, marked with the colossal characters: 'White Peace Immortal City'!
"So this is the rogue cultivators' sacred land—White Peace Immortal City?"
Fang Xi gazed at the immortal city's location, his words imbued with endless yearning.
Within the three states of Yue, Mu, and Wu, each had Core Formation sects suppressing all, even monopolizing the source of Foundation Establishment Pills. Only a handful of cultivating families could exchange for Foundation Establishment Pills from these sects at immense cost.
Rogue cultivators, one could say, struggled immensely to survive in the cracks between them.
Only 'White Peace Immortal City' was different. This place was originally just a cultivation market. Because it was located in a no-man's-land between the three states, it quickly became a hub for rogue cultivator activity. Relying on the abundant resources of the Myriad Beast Mountain Range, it continuously developed, eventually establishing an immortal city after the rogue cultivator 'True Person Baifeng' achieved Core Formation!
Today, it could even be said to be the only place among the three states where rogue cultivators had a chance to obtain Foundation Establishment Pills, thus being regarded as a sacred land.
"Indeed. . . If I, Ge, were thirty years younger, perhaps I too would go to White Peace Immortal City to try my luck."
Ge Hong Dan likewise sighed with emotion.
Fang Xi's gaze, however, moved away from White Peace Immortal City. That place was a chaotic mix of powerful and dangerous individuals, definitely not a good place to cultivate the 'Longevity Art'.
His cultivation principle was to neither contend nor snatch, but to quietly plant his tree and develop, absolutely never venturing into perilous, highly contested territories.
Fang Xi's gaze then shifted upwards, towards the north of the State of Yue.
At the northern border of the State of Yue, there was a vast body of water named 'Myriad Islands Lake'. This lake was immensely vast, and venturing further north from it would connect one to the 'Great Dream Marsh'.
This marsh was perpetually shrouded in mist year-round, capable of even obstructing a Foundation Establishment cultivator's Divine Consciousness. Its scope was boundless, and it was said that even Core Formation ancestors who entered it would never return.
According to legend, once one could cross the 'Great Dream Marsh', one could reach a cultivation world further north, one more powerful and prosperous than the Southern Barrens.
Within 'Myriad Islands Lake', countless islands were scattered like stars, many of which possessed spirit veins and were occupied by minor sects and small families.
The ancestral land of the 'Dragon Fish Zhong Clan', one of the seven great cultivating families of the State of Yue, was located here.
Well, the so-called seven great cultivating families of the State of Yue were Foundation Establishment families, led by the Song Clan, with Foundation Establishment cultivators in every generation. They were ranked alongside Foundation Establishment sects like Red Leaf Valley as the thirteen major powers of the State of Yue, subservient to the Black Heaven Sect.
However, currently, the Tianfu Shen Clan, the Black Water Situ Clan, and Red Leaf Valley had all been annihilated, leaving only five of the seven great cultivating families of the State of Yue.
It was also said that the Song Clan had promoted another cultivating family, the 'Tu Clan', helping the Tu Clan's ancestor achieve Foundation Establishment, showing a strong intention to replace one of the original families with the Tu Clan.
'In the State of Yue, the Black Heaven Sect, where Core Formation ancestors preside, is the heavens themselves! Only those with powerful Foundation Establishment cultivators can be considered major, influential families. As for the countless Qi Refinement families and sects, and the rogue cultivators at the very bottom, they can only struggle bitterly to survive. . . '
Fang Xi secretly sighed, his gaze fixed on Myriad Islands Lake.
Within this vast lake, islands rich in spiritual energy were few, only a few dozen. A small portion of these were occupied by minor Qi Refinement sects, Qi Refinement families, and even rogue cultivators. Among them, there was an allied force named the 'Thirty-Six Islands Alliance', which was in a standoff with the Dragon Fish Zhong Clan.
Currently, Green Bamboo Mountain Market was still very chaotic, having even turned into a black market, making it extremely unsafe. Of course, Fang Xi couldn't possibly go there to farm spirit plants.
Moreover, for cultivating the 'Longevity Art', it was best to have a place with a spirit vein.
Fang Xi thus set his sights on the Myriad Islands Lake region.
This area was primarily dominated by Qi Refinement cultivators, and the forces were stable, merely in a standoff. No major wars had occurred in recent decades, so it was considered relatively peaceful.
There were many islands, but their spirit veins were scattered. Most were first-order or even unranked, and resources weren't particularly abundant.
Overall, it wasn't on the radar of major powers, but it was very suitable for "lying low" and developing.
Comments