Chapter 11: " Wandering Through Puchan Town"

As Gu Dao traveled, he noticed a sudden drop in the spiritual energy around him, causing him to furrow his brow.

"Why is there such a sharp contrast between the forest behind me and this place?"

Back in the forest, he had sensed an abundance of spiritual energy in the air.

But here, it was the opposite—the spiritual energy was sparse, almost nonexistent.

Nevertheless, Gu Dao pressed on, his steps measured as he carefully made his way through the rugged terrain.

Before long, he stumbled upon a crystal-clear lake nestled between the mountains.

The water shimmered under the faint glow of the spiritual energy lingering in the air, its surface rippling gently with the whispers of the wind.

Taking the opportunity to refresh himself, Gu Dao stripped down and stepped into the lake. The cool water washed away the dust and sweat of his travels.

He ran his fingers through his hair, tidying his appearance to avoid looking too barbaric upon entering civilization.

Once finished, he donned his animal-skin clothes, his 'Immortal Bone Stick' (as he liked to call it) securely fastened at his waist, and resumed his journey.

Though he had a general direction, the truth was—he had no map, no precise landmark to guide him.

He was simply following instinct and the vague words of those wandering cultivators.

After a few hours, Gu Dao spotted a flying boat in the sky. Without hesitation, he followed its direction and soon caught sight of the town the monk had mentioned.

From afar, the scene was bustling with life.

Countless roads were filled with flying cultivators riding swords, while some monks drove flying chariots along the way.

Others soared through the sky on spirit beasts.

Glancing at himself, he couldn't help but notice the air of poverty surrounding him, even from a distance.

For a brief moment, he felt embarrassed, but he quickly shook his head and continued on his way.

Soon, he arrived at a line of people waiting at the town's entrance. From the outside, nothing inside the town was visible. When he looked up at the sky, he noticed runes floating in the air.

"It seems this is the legendary Hidden Array Formation they talk about in novels."

He couldn't help but feel a slight fluctuation in his mood, but he quickly calmed down again.

The monks standing nearby also noticed his arrival. They quietly observed his strange clothing but said nothing, simply ignoring him and continuing with their own business.

Gu Dao felt a little embarrassed, but his expression remained indifferent, without the slightest change.

Soon, it was his turn. As he stepped closer to the entrance, he hesitated. Now… what should I do?

He stood there in a daze at the town's entrance.

"Is it the newcomer's first time here?"

A voice suddenly sounded beside him. Gu Dao's hesitation disappeared, and he instantly became alert.

Turning his gaze, he noticed a table set off to the side. A young man was lazily leaning against it, looking drowsy. The voice spoke again.

"Give me your ID card."

Gu Dao was puzzled. An ID card? he thought to himself.

He looked at the young man and said, "I don't have one."

The young man raised an eyebrow slightly but was too lazy to ask further. He simply pointed to a spot and said, "Stand here for a moment."

Gu Dao was confused, but he still stepped where the young man indicated.

As soon as he stepped onto the marked spot, mysterious runes suddenly lit up. Gu Dao was startled and was about to run, but the young man suddenly said, "Don't move. It's just an Identification array to check if you're registered in the system or wanted for something. Don't worry."

Gu Dao relaxed and allowed the array to scan him, as a pure white light enveloped his entire being.

After a moment, the array powered down. The young man waved his hand, glanced at him, and spoke briefly.

"Since this is your first time here, let me tell you something.

According to the rules of Puchan Town, which is under the jurisdiction of Qinglan Sect, if this is your first time entering an established area under Qinglan Sect, entry is free for the first seven days.

You can move around the town normally, but you're not allowed to spend the night in the place."

"Unless you rent a house in the town or get a special permit, if you're caught, you'll be sentenced to three years in a bitter cellar."

"Also, private fighting is strictly prohibited in the town. Those who violate this rule will have their souls extracted to light lamps!"

"Wear this, and it will remind you when the time comes."

  "If you don't understand anything, don't ask me, go find out yourself!"

  The man threw a ring over and ignored Gu Dao, squinting his eyes as if he fell asleep again.

Gu Dao took the ring, eyed the man briefly, and then, after a moment's hesitation, kept it in his hand without putting it on.

And so, he entered the town, feeling a surge of spiritual energy wash over him. A smile appeared on his face unconsciously.

"Now, this is what I'm talking about."

As he walked past the gate, he glanced left and right, noticing casual cultivators coming and going, some engaged in conversation.

A vast lake stretched across a large area, its shimmering surface reflecting the sky. Beyond it, rows of houses extended along the far shore, blending naturally with the landscape.

you can see a little bit of light flickering on the wooden doors of the house walls.

Under the eaves of the street, there are lamps hanging high.

The lamps are obviously not lit by candlelight. They seem to be cast in bronze, and misty white jade is inlaid around the lamps and the bottom. The faint white fluorescence flickers, soft but bright.

Most of the doors on both sides of the street are closed, and there are few pedestrians on the street.

Occasionally, a few people are seen, and they are all in a hurry. As for Gu Dao, an outsider, no one seems to care at all.

Gu Dao's heart, which was on the edge of the heart, slowly calmed down during this walk.

As he looked far away in deep in the town, there stood a gigantic mountain towering in the heart of the town, its peak shrouded in mist, exuding an ancient and majestic aura.

He was filled with awe. If this mountain existed on Earth, it would be considered a miracle.

Countless people would flock to it—scientists eager to study its unique formation, explorers attempting daring climbs, and spiritual seekers believing it to be a sacred site.

Debates would arise over its origins, with some claiming it was a geological anomaly, while others wove myths of divine intervention.

Yet, in this world, such a towering peak stood naturally in the heart of a bustling town, as if it were merely another part of daily life.

He smiled slightly, pushing the thoughts aside, and continued on his way.

Following the main road leading deeper into the town, Gu Dao observed the blend of tranquility and liveliness that filled the air.

Soon, he arrived at the town, where countless pathways branched off in various directions, leading to different districts and industries.

Gu Dao stood still, momentarily confused, unsure of where to go next.

"Fellow Daoist, do you need a guide?"

A sudden voice startled him. Turning his head, he saw a young woman with a long flowing brown hair that Sparkling under the sunlight, cascading like a waterfall down her back.

Her deep brown eyes held a mesmerizing charm, like an autumn lake reflecting the stars.

Dressed in a flowing white and gold robe embroidered with delicate lotus patterns.

She was more stunning than any goddess he had ever seen on Earth, even on TV.

Gu Dao was momentarily taken aback by her beauty. Sure enough, everything in the world of immortal cultivators seemed extraordinary,

However, he quickly shook his head and replied politely, "No need," waving his hand as he continued on his way.

'What a joke! How could he hire a guide when he was penniless? Rather than embarrassing himself, he'd rather take his time exploring the town on his own'

As Gu Dao walked slowly, he overheard some monks talking about heading to the market, so he quietly followed them, making sure not to attract attention.

A few minutes later, he arrived at the bustling market district of the town.

The street was bustling with pedestrians, lively and noisy. Shops of varying sizes lined both sides of the street.

The layout reminded him of a regular town back on Earth, with shops lining the streets in neat rows.

Ahead of him stood a three-story attic, its design not much different from a regular building in his past life.

But the sign above the door was glowing with a faint fluorescence, and the three words "Hundred Herbs Pavilion" stood out under the evening sky.

Inside, the counters gleamed, runes flowing across the surfaces, and each jade bottle was surrounded by protective runes.

Beside the entrance, there was a screen about half a person's height, resembling the display screens from Earth.

The metal frame and the flashing screen were obviously an immortal creation, with flowing fonts displaying the prices of various items sold at the pavilion.

At the bottom of the screen...

  what did he see?

Hundreds herbs Pavilion is recruiting apprentices in the Qi training realm for a long time to cooperate with... drug testing? The monthly salary is negotiable?

Gu Dao's mouth twitched slightly, and he quickly looked away, glancing at the other shops.

The street bustled with pedestrians, their clothing as diverse as their appearances,

and there were also rich men with gorgeous clothes, and there were also women with revealing clothes and enchanting looks, and... men.

Most of them were carrying or holding the same variety of weapons, and even worse, they were even wearing creations like the mechas in their previous lives, walking on the street with a clang, and the pedestrians around them hurriedly avoided them, obviously in awe.

But without exception, Gu Dao's feeling was very clear.

Every person in front of him, no matter how insignificant, was definitely equal or stronger than him.

  Every one of them... was a cultivator!

.....