The Journey of Immortal Cultivation

Chapter 1018 - 557: Setting Out, Destination—Central Capital!

More importantly, even Miluo is secretive about the affairs of the Mirror Sea King’s Mansion, so how does this Demon Sect know the origin of the stone heart and even the structure of the Treasure Vault so clearly? Likewise, is the Mirror Sea King’s Mansion also guarding against someone stealing, so they found a more hidden place to hide this treasure?

So curious, I really want to know. She slowly climbed the stairs and buried herself in the soft quilt, closing her eyes and falling asleep.

This sleep was so peaceful, she dreamed of Changtian returning, and thus woke up with a smile.

That night, the whole Mirror Sea King’s Mansion was on edge, with one team of guards after another passing by her door, yet she was not disturbed at all in the Yiqing Garden, having a nice dream until dawn.

####

The next day was clear and breezy, perfect weather for traveling.

The Old Grand Dowager’s birthday banquet had ended, and the guests were all preparing to depart. Ning Xiaoxian, after bidding farewell to the Mirror Sea King, encountered Huangfuming as she stepped out.

He bit his lip, a trace of reluctance in his eyes, "You’re leaving today?"

She smiled slightly, "The Heavenly Residence auction date is nearing, if I don’t set off now, it’ll be too late. Among the many guests attending the birthday banquet, many are also heading to the Central Capital."

Huangfuming showed a look of envy, "I want to go too! But the Old Grand Dowager can’t bear to let me go, and father won’t let me either."

She smiled slightly. With this kid’s personality, if he saw something he liked at the auction, he would probably insist on getting it no matter the cost, right? Maybe the Mirror Sea King knows his habits too well, which is why he’s not allowed to join the excitement in the Central Capital.

After looking around, she pulled Huangfuming to a secluded place before asking him, "How was the matter of the Music Palace resolved?"

Huangfuming pouted, "What else could we do? My father sent someone to report to the Music Palace, claiming that the Bitter Old Woman was bribed by unknown people to take my life, demanding the Music Palace give the Mirror Sea King’s Mansion an explanation."

"Ah?" she was momentarily stunned, then immediately understood. Huang Fusong Yun’s move was indeed cunning; clearly, it was his good son who provoked and killed first, yet it turned into an accusation against the Music Palace disciples. What’s more, during the latter half, the Chaoyun Sect disciples who happened to pass by witnessed the Bitter Old Woman’s corpse transformation, attacking Huangfuming, which seemed like an evil technique, obviously indicating someone was behind it. With a bunch of Chaoyun Sect disciples as eyewitnesses, Huang Fusong Yun naturally had more ground to accuse the Music Palace.

This ability to confuse right and wrong is indeed essential for those skilled in power schemes.

"Heh, you all..." She shook her head, suddenly remembering a loophole in this affair, and her heart sank, "Wait, did you kill all the people at the dock that day?" Those vendors, sailors, and porters were witnesses to Huangfuming’s provocation of the Music Palace. How could the Mirror Sea King’s Mansion leave such a big flaw? At most, it was only a few dozen mortal lives; this kid didn’t blink when he killed more than two thousand people for the Old Grand Dowager’s smile, how could he care about a few more lives on his record?

Huangfuming chuckled sheepishly. Later that day, the black cat he had summoned returned, burping contentedly, boasting that it hadn’t missed a single person. Seeing her displeasure, he didn’t argue, just lowered his head, tugging on Ning Xiaoxian’s corner of clothing, and whined, "Sister, I’m sorry, just forgive me this time."

Ning Xiaoxian detected nothing but cunning in his voice, devoid of any genuine remorse. She pulled back her sleeve from his hand, saying indifferently, "I’m not your real sister, can’t control you, what is there to forgive?"

Seeing she was truly angry, Huangfuming immediately grabbed Ning Xiaoxian’s arm, gently shaking it, blinking his clear eyes, trying to win her over, "Dear sister, I really know I’m wrong! From now on, I won’t kill recklessly. I’ll definitely provide ample compensation to the families of those guys! The Old Grand Dowager says, when women are angry, they’re not beautiful, and Conch Pearl earrings can’t complement them! That was a treasure I specially picked from father’s small Treasure Vault."

The coldness on Ning Xiaoxian’s face eased a bit. Indeed, it’s hard to refuse a gift. This kid intended to remind her of the precious gift he had just given her yesterday—was she really going to turn against him today? But, the Mirror Sea King’s little private vault?

Never mind, she was about to leave; whether there were ten or eight little private vaults or little silver storages, what did that have to do with her?

"Hmm. I’m leaving, don’t act so recklessly in the future. You only have one life, once it’s lost, no one can bring it back for you!" She finished, turning to leave.

Though her words were cold, Huangfuming heard the concern within them, feeling a warmth in his heart. He wanted to hug her waist with open arms, but in the end, he only managed to grasp her sleeve.

He gently said, "What kind of flower is Mangzhuhuasha? Since the Great Master knows it’s more beautiful than the Bliss Flower, why won’t he let me seek it?"

"That flower doesn’t exist in the mortal world." Ning Xiaoxian sighed, "Mangzhuhuasha is the only flower said to grow on Huangquan Road, its fragrance has the magic to evoke the memories of the deceased. But none of us have seen it. This flower is also called the red spider lily, blooming for a thousand years, falling for a thousand years, the flowers and leaves never meet. How could the Great Master let you search for such a flower?"

Huangfuming remained silent for a long moment before quietly saying, "Sister, I’ve been feeling very uneasy these days, always having some ominous premonitions. You must be careful on your journey." She possessed the scent he was endlessly fond of, making it hard for him to let go. Besides, he had indeed been feeling anxious these past few days.

She chuckled lightly, "The spiritual sense of cultivators is only effective for their own fortunes, can you see my future instead? Don’t overthink it." She patted his thin little arm and said, "Let go quickly, in broad daylight, don’t you know there’s a difference between men and women?"

Her words were exactly the same as those Huangfuming said to Jin Manyan at yesterday’s banquet. Huangfuming chuckled and loosened his grip.

Once freed from the restraint on Ning Xiaoxian’s sleeve, she walked forward on her own, not looking back, and soon walked out of the courtyard, disappearing from Huangfuming’s sight.

He stared dazedly at that direction for a long time until the Mirror Sea King emerged from the hall, came to his son’s side, and patted his head, saying, "Joyful moments, bitter separations, amidst them are infatuated lovers. Would it not be better to put this affection into Manyan?"

Huangfuming remained silent, but inwardly pondering how to reject this unbearably dull marriage. Thinking of the sisters Jin Manyi and Jin Manyan, a surge of resentment rose in his chest, wondering if the sisters shared the same temperament.

#####

More than three hundred miles away from the King Jinghai Mansion, there was a small county town where Ning Xiaoxian let Ahua down, and he reverted to human form.

"Your sect indeed poisoned you, but fortunately it’s only common toxins, not difficult to cure." Ning Xiaoxian casually pinched his pulse, then gave him a Clearing Void Pill, saying, "Swallow it, it will keep you safe."

"I am now an elder of Hidden Stream, but Bashe Forest advocates the law of the jungle, far more brutal than the external world. It is not suitable for you." Ning Xiaoxian looked at him and said, "You’d best not return to the original Demon Sect, even if you succeeded in stealing, your sect’s lord might kill you to silence you."

"This county town is not far from the King Jinghai Mansion, the people’s livelihood is stable, you can live here."

Ahua’s body trembled, and he slowly knelt before her, saying, "I am indeed useless, always hoping for a day when I could repay you, yet every time I must rely on you to escape with my life."

He did not lift his head. Two drops of water fell on the dusty ground.

Ning Xiaoxian said slowly, "That arrow tail is of great use to me, by bringing it to me, you have already repaid the favor of saving your life." She took out a bottle of elixir and a hundred Spirit Stones from her arms and handed them to him, saying, "Take them and go quickly."

The little Cat Demon received them with both hands, then kowtowed to her thrice sincerely, wiping his face messily with his hand, and turned to enter the county town.

He never turned to look at her again.

...

The sights along the upcoming journey left the group of Hidden Stream bumpkins clicking their tongues in wonder.

On the ground, the traces of human activities became increasingly evident with more and more merchant teams coming and going, thousands of hectares of fertile fields becoming more and more magnificent, and the cities they passed through becoming more and more prosperous.

Even in this world, Humans, with their resilience and diligence, are ceaselessly creating one miracle after another.

Central Province is one of the largest prefectures on the Southern Continent, its area equivalent to four normal-sized provinces combined. Its name straightforwardly means "Center of the World," but it’s actually located at the central eastern part of the continent, this vast and boundless plain is fertile, with abundant resources, countless rivers winding like large arteries continuously supplying blood to the plains, it’s said that anything planted here can thrive, and thrive well, thus the variety, yield, and quality of its agricultural products are unrivaled.

Central Province is called "Heaven’s Favored Land," always enjoying favorable weather without facing major disasters. Without going too far, even the drought ravaging the Northwest, the plague causing panic across the continent, haven’t extended their demonic claws here. In such circumstances, wave after wave of mortals moved here to reside over countless years, the massive population began to give rise to city after city. And the largest, most famous, and most prosperous among them, of course, is Central Capital.

Compared to other cities, Central Capital is merely slightly larger in area, with a slightly larger population, slightly more nobility, and slightly more prosperous trade... Yet all these "slightly more" added together, construct the Southern Continent’s largest city!

Central Capital, also known as Shangdu, has been standing for over three thousand years. Located at the river bend of the Central State Plain, here the terrain is flat, with large rivers meandering eastward both north and south, making it convenient to draw water into the city, while in the middle several high mountains eliminate the threat of summer floods inundating the city.

She was unfamiliar with the area’s measurement units, so after conversion, she realized Shangdu’s area exceeds thirty-three thousand square kilometers, occupying one-fiftieth of all Central Province, with a subordinate population of over eleven million. (To be continued. If you like this work, you’re welcome to vote for recommendation and monthly tickets on Qidian (qidian.com), your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please read at m.qidian.com.)