Living steadily in the world of gods and mystery

"Throughout Red Pillar City, where the houses are good and where they are poor, I’m most familiar with that. You’ll soon understand that your Spirit Stones won’t be wasted!" the old cultivator said with a smile.

"I must also ask Fellow Daoist to take good care of this junior," Chen Li added.

Along the way, Chen Li deliberately tried to make friends, keeping a very low profile and giving compliments from time to time.

After several exchanges, the old cultivator’s attitude toward Chen Li grew increasingly friendly, and without realizing it, he divulged quite a bit of information.

The old cultivator’s surname was Wei, his name Changming, at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, over two hundred years old. He was one of the Huoyun Sect’s stewards in Red Pillar City, and there were thirty-eight such stewards in the city, with an elder in the Golden Core Late Stage permanently stationed there.

Red Pillar City was the most important source of wealth for the Huoyun Sect, earning a great deal of Spirit Stones yearly.

To say it was an inexhaustible mine of Spirit Stones would not be an exaggeration.

Furthermore, the city was full of a mix of characters, with Golden Core cultivators as common as crucian carp crossing a river.

It made sense to station an elder in the Golden Core Late Stage here.

As for the whole Huoyun Sect, it had been established for over two thousand years, with one Nascent Soul, twenty-one Golden Core elders, and countless Foundation Establishment cultivators. In the vast western regions, it was undoubtedly a super sect with a transcendent status.

"This originally belonged to a Loose Cultivator at the Foundation Establishment level, but unfortunately, he has been gone for nearly thirty years now. Nine out of ten chances are that he’s dead. The house was just refurbished last year; everything is new. Fellow Daoist Chen, why don’t you go inside and take a look?" Wei Changming pointed to a large house and said.

"Didn’t this Fellow Daoist leave behind a wife or children?" Chen Li asked, somewhat puzzled.

"You might not know this, but houses here cannot be inherited or sold privately. If the homeowner dies or the property has been vacant for more than twenty years, it will be unconditionally reclaimed," Wei Changming explained.

"I see!" Chen Li said, suddenly understanding.

No wonder the Huoyun Sect still had houses for sale.

It was a cycle of making money.

Even Foundation Establishment cultivators only live a hundred years more than ordinary people. In fact, most of them die prematurely before reaching their natural lifespan.

In the end, the houses still belong to the Huoyun Sect.

Chen Li went inside to take a look. The courtyard covered a large area, estimated to be over six acres. Inside there were inner and outer courts, separated by walls. The inner court was for living, while the outer court’s open space was almost all turned into herb gardens, the fragrance of the herbs filling the air.

Chen Li was very pleased with all this.

The only drawback was that it was too close to the river.

Red Pillar City had a river that cut right through it, dividing the city in half.

Thus, Red Pillar City was divided into the South City and North City.

Various boats bustled up and down the river every day, noisy and lively.

Of course, if it were just lively, that would be fine.

With the right formation in place, no matter how noisy, it won’t disturb the house.

The key was the soil quality here: rich humus, soft and not sticky, and most importantly, near the river... it’s not good for digging.

Even if one manages to dig, it’s likely to have serious water seepage.

Without an underground shelter or several escape tunnels,

how could one rest assured living in this house?

Based on his survival experience in this world for over a decade, being more cautious sometimes meant the difference between life and death!

Next, Chen Li looked at several more places and finally chose one near the outskirts of the city.

First, it was far from the main thoroughfares with less traffic. The neighbors were mostly Foundation Establishment and Qi Cultivation cultivators, so safety was not a concern. Moreover, it was only two li from the city gate, which made escape convenient should anything go awry.

Secondly, the ground here was firm, with rock underneath.

According to Wei Changming, the area used to be a small hill, which was leveled during the city’s construction using local materials.

Thirdly, the price was relatively cheap.

The courtyard was a total of seven acres.

Yet, the price was only fifty-two top-grade Spirit Stones.

While a house of the same size in the city center would cost at least a hundred top-grade Spirit Stones and upward.

Afterwards, having paid the Spirit Stone, I went through the formalities.

This residence then became Chen Li’s first dwelling in this world, as before, he had either rented or lived at the mountain gate.

Chen Li pushed open the gate, admiring every plant and tree here, feeling completely different from when he had previously viewed the place!

Now, everything here belonged to him.

The quality of this residence didn’t fall short of the previous few he had examined at all, with its clear lakes, ancient trees forming canopies, and winding corridors, it was evident that the former owner had put considerable thought into its arrangement, reflecting a taste for elegance and leisure throughout.

...

With a house, there was naturally no need to waste money living in inns anymore.

That very afternoon, Chen Li checked out of his room, and our party moved into the newly-purchased residence.

What followed, the cleaning and organizing, purchasing of bedding and other living necessities, is not worth mentioning. Everyone was so busy that they hardly had a moment to rest, and by dusk, the Yin Yang Five Elements Gathering Spirit Array had also been re-established by Chen Li, isolating the inside from the outside.

Just after dinner, as Chen Li was preparing to take a stroll in the vicinity to familiarize himself with the environment, the Formation control Token in his bosom suddenly trembled slightly—a visitor was calling.

Chen Li hurriedly rose to his feet, went out to greet the visitor, and deactivated the Formation.

The visitor was a middle-aged Foundation Establishment cultivator with a goatee, who had a clear and scholarly demeanor that immediately inspired affection.

"I did not know I would have the honor of your visit, and I did not come out to meet you sooner. For that oversight, my apologies," Chen Li said respectfully.

"Hahaha, it is I who have intruded upon you, my dear Fellow Daoist. I live just next door. Seeing that you had moved in today, I thought that since we will be neighbors, I should come over and pay a visit. For any rudeness, please forgive me."

...

After a round of polite exchanges, Chen Li led the guest to the living room.

This Foundation Establishment cultivator was named Lin Qing and had moved here only a few years ago.

Possibly because they hit it off in conversation, the topics gradually became more serious.

"I too was once a Sect Disciple, but alas, fate is unpredictable. In recent years, our Sect was unfortunately destroyed, and only a few fellow disciples, including myself, were lucky enough to escape with our lives, forcing us to wander to this place," Lin Qing said, still with a hint of anger showing on his face.

Sect destruction!

Just a few years ago!

Chen Li’s heart skipped a beat upon hearing this, his anxiety rising sharply.

Could this be the remnants of the disappearing Tianxing Sect?

The timing matched up perfectly.

It couldn’t be such a coincidence, could it?

"My Fellow Daoist, please take comfort. What’s in the past is past, and we must look forward," Chen quickly offered consolation.

When would the cycle of vengeance end?

Now that the Returning True Sect was also destroyed, the other party should be able to let go of their hatred... right?

"Alas, such is the state of the world. I’ve come to accept that over the years. By the way, what brings you here?" Lin Qing asked with a smile.

"Unlike you, I came here lured by fame. As a Loose Cultivator without any ties, and not wishing to join any factions but still having aspirations on the path of cultivation, I had no other choice but to come here," Chen Li replied.

...

Chen Li saw Lin Qing out and closed the door behind him.

He couldn’t help but sigh.

"Ah! Trouble," he muttered to himself.

He remembered that there were five of those people, their cultivation levels unknown.

But among them, there was likely one at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage.

Previously, to apprehend that group, nearly half of the Returning True Sect’s Foundation Establishment had been mobilized, and after nearly half a year of effort, they still hadn’t captured any trace of them.

"Later, I must remind my wives and maids not to reveal the identities and origins of our People. Otherwise, the trouble will be great," Chen Li thought, brow furrowed, a troubled expression on his face.