Chapter Eighteen: The Invitation from Lotus City

“Ling’er, don’t worry, it’s not as you imagine!” The elder with the blue beard, Shen Kai, perceived the girl’s anxiety and smiled reassuringly.

“That’s good, Father. Here’s what happened...” The girl let out a breath of relief, then began to recount how the materials they were cultivating had been stolen and destroyed, exaggerating as she described Ling Yufei’s bandit-like actions. Though the incident had already passed, speaking of it still made her grit her teeth in anger. Now that she had someone to rely on, her worries faded, leaving only indignation.

In the Lin Four Universe, the power of heavenly tribulations for cultivators was extremely weak. So long as one could overcome the tribulation of the heart, they were deemed to have survived the heavenly tribulation—a kind of compensation for their slow progress in cultivation. In fact, it could be said that there were no wandering immortals in the Lin Four Universe; failing the tribulation of the heart meant only one outcome: total annihilation.

Because of their slow cultivation, all the practitioners in this universe were divided into five levels. The lowest were mortals, the most basic beings in the Lin Four Universe. However, all mortals could access cultivation techniques, and those with talent might one day ascend to immortality. Yet the process was arduous; of every ten mortals, perhaps only one would become a cultivator.

Cultivators formed the largest group among practitioners in the Lin Four Universe and were the foundation of every sect and faction. Most of the lower-level officials in each city were cultivators, with only the highest positions reserved for immortals.

Within the Lin Four Universe, the hierarchy was strict. The forest where Ling Yufei and the others currently were belonged to a nearby city and was specifically set aside for cultivators to train. It was also used to grow a vast quantity of materials beneficial to cultivators. The place where Qin Shuang and those dozen immortals appeared was reserved for immortals alone; cultivators were absolutely forbidden from entering.

Aside from mortals and cultivators, immortals in the Lin Four Universe were also divided into three ranks: Celestial Immortal as the first, Golden Immortal as the second, and Profound Immortal as the third and highest.

Shen Yanling had originally worried that Ling Yufei might be an immortal come to amuse himself. If that were the case, their recent actions would have been extremely dangerous. In the Lin Four Universe, it was nothing for an immortal to kill a cultivator, especially in remote towns like theirs.

But now, Shen Yanling no longer worried—as long as the other party was a cultivator, they had nothing to fear on their own turf. Besides, they were in the right.

Shen Yanling quickly finished recounting the events. Elder Shen Kai’s brow furrowed once more. From the seal his disciple had just used, Shen Kai could tell the person Shen Yanling spoke of was, like himself, at the late stage of tribulation. For someone about to face the trial of the heart to stoop to such banditry was inconceivable. Every city had its own places for cultivating materials, and for someone at that level, acquiring some materials with a word would hardly be difficult.

“Ling’er, are you certain the man truly wanted those materials—that he did this for them?” Shen Kai asked again, for this seemed very important to him.

“Father, I’m sure. You didn’t see the way he looked at those undeveloped materials—his eyes nearly sparkled! And when he returned our things, he seemed to tremble, as if he were truly reluctant to part with them!”

Recalling the events, Shen Yanling now also sensed something amiss. Cultivators in the Lin Four Universe weren’t especially wealthy, but for an expert whom even her father regarded highly, it was unthinkable to be so poor as to steal unfinished goods from others. Even if not in these dedicated cultivation sites, there were plenty of such low-level materials deep in the mountains far from the cities.

“Ling’er, take everyone and return. I’ll stay and look around. Without my command, none of you are to come back!” Shen Kai gave several instructions, and only after Shen Yanling and the others had left did he begin to search the forest for Ling Yufei.

To the cultivators from Su Yu Star, the Lin Four Universe was indeed a treasure trove. After all thirteen cultivators returned, they were utterly satisfied with their haul. Each was already calculating how they might secure a place here and bring their entire sect along.

The thirteen split into three groups, each sect’s members quietly tallying their gains. In just half a day, the wealth they had gathered surpassed what their sects had amassed over tens of thousands of years. The prosperity of the Lin Four Universe drove them to near madness.

“Who’s there!” A sharp shout rang out from Yang Qingtian, and a high-grade spiritual artifact flew from his hand. Shen Kai, who had just approached, was attacked before he even saw clearly.

A loud crash followed as Shen Kai’s supreme spiritual artifact collided with Yang Qingtian’s high-grade one. Shen Kai staggered back several steps, but Yang Qingtian’s mid-grade artifact was left with a deep dent.

“A supreme spiritual artifact!” Yang Qingtian’s eyes lit up, but then he thought of the materials they’d gathered—crafting a few top-grade artifacts would be no problem. He soon lost interest in coveting Shen Kai’s weapon.

“Fellow Daoists, I am Shen Kai of Lotus City. I mean no harm—please do not misunderstand!” After the clash, Shen Kai quickly shouted. Since the other’s high-grade spiritual artifact had forced him back so far, he deduced their strength far surpassed his own.

“So it’s Fellow Daoist Shen. I am Yang Qingtian of the Yin-Yang Sect. My attack was rash—please forgive me!” Yang Qingtian finally realized that this was not Su Yu Star. Until he understood the situation here, it was best to keep a low profile.

“Fellow Daoist Yang, you are too polite. It’s I who came uninvited and caused this misunderstanding!” Shen Kai was secretly startled and silently grateful he had handled things calmly and not provoked a confrontation. In the Lin Four Universe, only those with sect backing could be considered powerful. Ninety-five percent of cities were controlled by sects, and those like himself, from minor city powers, could not join a sect unless they reached the realm of immortality.

Among the thirteen cultivators, seven were in the tribulation stage, and three’s cultivation he could not discern. On the other side sat six mortals, clearly part of their group. Such a team left Shen Kai completely puzzled.

Still, he did not dwell on it. He hadn’t realized the other only used a mid-grade artifact, nor guessed that they were not locals at all. Tradition told him that anyone from a sect represented great power. Even mortals were not to be taken lightly by city cultivators like himself. Thus, a beautiful misunderstanding was born.

“Fellow Daoists, there’s not much of interest here. If your task is not urgent, why not come rest in Lotus City for a while? I’m sure our city lord would be delighted to welcome you!” Shen Kai acted entirely on his own assumptions. To play host to people from another sect—even if only cultivators—would bring him great prestige, all the more so since these cultivators were clearly formidable.