163 Xiaoqian Mountain
After giving the last female immortal cultivator a quick death, Jiang Ming quickly left the valley and continued to advance into the depths of the snowfield.
“Those two were quite honest. They both gave the same information,” Jiang Ming muttered to himself.
Jiang Ming now had a deeper understanding of the world of immortal cultivation outside the Red Pine Snowfield.
Outside the snowfield was a vast area called the Litfire Region. Although it was only a remote corner of the Feather Kingdom, according to those two, the area was ten times as big as the Cloud Empire. Almost all mortals had never left the Litfire Region in their entire lives.
“The four major immortal cultivation forces in the Litfire Region all have early-stage core formation cultivators. The first three are all immortal cultivation sects with strict rules. Only Xiaoqian Mountain is an exception. On the surface, there are no mandatory restrictions on the cultivators living there.”
Jiang Ming felt a little helpless. He did not expect to provoke two major immortal cultivation sects before he even entered the world of immortal cultivation.
The two women who had entered the valley with the disciples of the Fire Lotus Valley were from the Qingyin Pavillion. They focused on musical techniques instead of their physical bodies. They were also invited by several disciples of the Fire Lotus Valley to tour the valley and cultivate with them.
Perhaps they were looking forward to something on their trip, and they did not expect to die like this.
However, Jiang Ming did not have any regrets. If he spared them, he might be in even more trouble later. It was better to kill them all.
Now that he had mastered the two basic seals, he could perfectly seal his own spiritual energy and not leave any trace of himself at the scene. Even a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator would not be able to find any clues.
Jiang Ming began to think about his next move.
“From the information I’ve received from all sides, Xiaoqian Mountain is the most suitable place for me to go. Although it might be a little messy, it also means that it’s easier to hide there.”
Although Jiang Ming had made up his mind to be a nomadic cultivator, the world of immortal cultivation was not full of spiritual energy. If he cultivated in an ordinary place, it was no different from a place with no spiritual energy.
The places with rich spiritual energy had long been occupied by immortal cultivation forces of various sizes.
Xiaoqian Mountain was a place with rich spiritual energy. It was first occupied by a core formation stage master and had been passed down for a thousand years. It was strengthened by various spiritual energy-gathering arrays by immortal cultivators. Although it was still inferior to immortal cultivation sects like the Fire Lotus Valley, it was a good place for independent cultivators to stay.
“Moreover, there are many individual cultivators gathered in Xiaoqian Mountain. There are also many resources such as cultivation techniques, elixirs, and magical artifacts. I can also find spiritual stone mines and spiritual fields there. All kinds of immortal cultivators come and go. Even the authorities have a hard time figuring out the identity and background of all the immortal cultivators that come and go. It’s the best place for me to slowly cultivate.”
Although there were some smaller immortal cultivation forces, in Jiang Ming’s opinion, they might not be as safe as Xiaoqian Mountain.
“Next, I have to avoid the Fire Lotus Valley and enter the world of immortal cultivation!”
From the tall man’s words, he learned that the Red Pine Snowfield was the boundary between the world of immortal cultivation and his world. After crossing a certain ice valley that was thousands of feet deep, one would break away from the restrictions of this world and completely enter the world of immortal cultivation.
The Fire Lotus Valley’s base was right beside the ice valley. It was said that there were only a few mid-stage Qi Refinement Realm disciples who were stationed there in shifts all year round to collect spirit herbs and materials unique to the Red Pine Snowfield. Occasionally, they would enter the mortal world to seize the King of Medicine.
However, Jiang Ming did not intend to provoke the Fire Lotus Valley’s encampment. He was not strong enough yet.
* * *
Half a month later, he stopped in front of a dark ice valley.
“We’ve finally arrived!”
In order to avoid the Fire Lotus Valley’s encampment, Jiang Ming ran nearly a hundred miles diagonally before he turned into the ice valley.
Jiang Ming stared at the bottomless ice valley and was shocked.
It was terrifying. Even more terrifying was the thought that it might be man-made.
“With my current strength, I’d better not explore this for the time being,” Jiang Ming muttered, then jumped over the ice valley, which was more than ten feet wide, and landed on the snowy land opposite.
“So, this is the world of immortal cultivation?”
Jiang Ming tried to use the Fire Control Technique. A wisp of fire danced on his fingertips. However, none of the laws of the mortal world descended upon him.
Two weeks later, when Jiang Ming felt that he was about to be blinded by the snow, some green finally appeared in front of him.
He had finally walked out of the Red Pine Snowfield.
* * *
He came to Yuyang Town.
It was an ordinary mortal town. Jiang Ming had changed his appearance and had been hiding here.
Although he was going to Xiaoqian Mountain, he had to be prepared. It was not very smart to rush up rashly.
Although this town was small, it was not far from a few big cities where immortal cultivators lived. News about immortal cultivators could often be heard.
“Hey, hey! Come and have some braised meat! Even great Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators have eaten it when they passed by!”
The stall owner of a braised meat stall bragged.
Jiang Ming bought a skewer and ate it while walking.
He found it quite interesting.
In this place, any ordinary person could talk about immortal cultivators. After being in this town, he finally learned the actual term for core formation cultivators. They were cultivators in the realm after the Foundation Establishment Realm, the Golden Core Realm.
Jiang Ming walked to a tattered bookshop and haggled with the owner for a long time. Finally, he took out two pieces of silver with a pained expression and bought a few old books that no one was reading.
“I’ll first understand the history of this place, learn their customs, and completely integrate myself here.”
* * *
Another three years passed.
Jiang Ming had finally completely integrated into this world. He had also become familiar with the people of Yuyang Town and had become a “native” of this place. His language and habits were no different from those of ordinary townspeople.
“It’s almost time to leave!”
Although Yuyang Town was good, the spiritual energy was extremely thin. In three years, Jiang Ming’s cultivation did not increase much. He was still stuck at the sixth level of the Qi Refinement Realm and could not step into the late stage of the Qi Refinement Realm.
However, in this world where immortal cultivation was not prohibited, Jiang Ming’s casting of spells was smoother and more convenient. In the past three years, he had improved a lot in spell casting.
The next day, Jiang Ming left Yuyang Town and began to head in the direction of Xiaoqian Mountain.
He pretended that he was at the fourth level of the Qi Refinement Realm. Thus, his journey was safe, and he did not encounter any trouble.
The nine levels of the Qi Refinement Realm were divided into three stages. After reaching the ninth level of the Qi Refinement Realm, a cultivator could try to build a foundation. If they succeeded, even the Fire Lotus Valley and the other three major forces would consider them an expert.
In addition to the four major immortal cultivation forces, a mid-stage Qi Refinement Realm cultivator was a powerful figure that few people dared provoke in this area where there were many mortal towns.
Along his journey, Jiang Ming continued to increase his knowledge and deepen his understanding of the world of immortal cultivation. Half a year later, he finally arrived at Xiaoqian Mountain.
He could see a faint rainbow in the sky. It was probably an immortal cultivator flying on a magic weapon.
Jiang Ming looked at Xiaoqian Mountain and squinted.
In front of him was a continuous group of mountains, surrounded by light fog and clouds. It did not seem to be naturally formed, so it was probably the protective spiritual array.
Through the fog, Jiang Ming could also vaguely see that there were several buildings on the highest mountain.
There were also scattered buildings on the other mountains. It was like a city that occupied a large area.
On the mountain road ahead, many figures were coming and going. Some of them were cultivators. However, most of them were mortals.
Some mortals were carrying goods into the mountains.
There were also some people who followed behind the immortal cultivators. They seemed to be servants.
Jiang Ming even saw a burly immortal cultivator holding two mortal women in his arms and walking into the mountain. The man was warmly greeting everyone he came across.
Jiang Ming took a deep breath. He felt that he had really gained some insight this time.
The world of immortal cultivation did not seem so different from his own.
Immortal cultivators were also people. They instinctively sought community.
“This is good. With all kinds of people here, no one will notice me!” Jiang Ming thought to himself as he walked along the mountain road with a calm expression.
“Hey? Are you new here?”
Suddenly, an old man carrying two baskets of dried persimmons walked past Jiang Ming and smiled.
Jiang Ming’s face fell. No one was supposed to notice him!
The old man tapped his pipe and chuckled. “With such a vigilant gaze, you must be a new nomadic cultivator. Don’t worry, Xiaoqian Mountain is quite safe during the day. No one would dare cause trouble.”
“During the day.”
Jiang Ming keenly captured those keywords and smiled perfunctorily.