318: Chapter 318 The Heart of a Mortal Race

"Puppets?"

Ye Jing’s tone paused slightly.

He recalled the Mortals he had seen just now; the joy on their Faces was too stiff, and their eyes were hollow, not like normal happiness, but more like marionettes being controlled.

"Indeed."

Zhang De sighed, his voice dropping even lower.

"Some also say that those Buddhist Cultivator collect the 'Kind Thoughts' of Mortals to refine some kind of Buddhist Treasure. The more devout and the more they forget their troubles, the purer those Kind Thoughts become."

"But these are just wild guesses we Mortals make in private. Who would dare ask the Buddhist masters? We just treat it as the masters' benevolence."

Ye Jing was secretly shocked, feeling a chill run down his spine.

He suddenly thought of Ming Hui’s decisiveness when killing Fan Lang, and the Buddha Realm’s oppression of Luoxia Land. It seemed this Great Leiyin Temple was far more eerie than he had imagined.

"Then is there anything in particular to watch out for in Jinshan City?" Ye Jing suppressed the gravity in his heart and continued to ask.

He had smuggled himself in, had no Transit Permit, and wasn't a Buddhist Cultivator. One slip-up and he'd be exposed; he had to figure out the rules of Jinshan City.

Zhang De wiped the cold sweat from his brow and hurriedly said, "The rules of Jinshan City are simple. Mortals pay Spirit Stones to enter and exit, while Cultivators must show a Transit Permit."

"Those Transit Permits are either issued by the Great Leiyin Temple or its Three Major Branches, or they are obtained by wealthy families and big merchants in Jinshan City who pay Buddhist Cultivator to act as guarantors. Ordinary Cultivators can't get them at all."

"Immortal, with your appearance, it's clear you're not a Buddhist Cultivator. If you're spotted by the patrolling Cultivators from the Golden Light Courtyard, you'll definitely be questioned."

At this point, Zhang De hesitated, then leaned forward and said, "If you don't mind, Immortal, I have a way."

"Our merchant caravan is entering Jinshan City tomorrow morning to deliver goods. We usually grease the palms of the Golden Light Courtyard's patrolling Cultivators with some Spiritual Plants and Ores."

"You can disguise yourself as a guard for our caravan and follow us into the city. As long as you don't actively reveal your cultivation, there's a high probability you can slip through."

After hearing this, Ye Jing was silent for a moment before asking, "Boss Zhang seems to trust me exceptionally well?"

At this, Zhang De hurriedly smiled and said, "Naturally! You saved my life, Immortal; this is but a small favor!"

Ye Jing knew they were just the most ordinary Mortals, so he nodded and blended in with them.

This area was a wilderness. The caravan rode camels and arrived at Jinshan City in just two or three days.

Looking from afar, the walls of Jinshan City were actually built of gold bricks. Along with the towering hall in front, the entire city shimmered with a faint golden light. No wonder it was called 'Jinshan City'.

Ye Jing dressed simply and restrained his spiritual power. In the eyes of outsiders, he was just an ordinary old man.

He looked up and saw a few Qi Refining Cultivators standing on both sides of the city gate. They were all bald, dressed luxuriously, and stood lazily by the wall, lacking any proper form.

Upon reaching the wall, Zhang De hurriedly dismounted his camel and secretly handed the Spirit Stones needed for entry, along with a small cloth bag, to the leading guard. "Great Master, thank you for your hard work. A small gift, just a token of my respect."

Seeing the benefit, the Cultivator immediately beamed with joy and gave a Buddhist greeting, "You are too kind, benefactor."

After entering the city, this merchant, Zhang Jian, who frequently traveled to Jinshan City and even owned a property there, invited Ye Jing to stay for the night.

Ye Jing thought he had nothing else to do, so he accepted the invitation. This made Zhang Jian incredibly happy, and he immediately led Ye Jing to his home warmly.

Zhang Jian's house was not small; it was a four-sided courtyard house.

Upon arrival, a middle-aged woman stood at the door, accompanied by two fairly pretty young women.

Presumably, the woman was Zhang Jian's wife, and the two young women were his daughters.

However, Ye Jing noticed that when the two girls saw him arrive, nervousness appeared on their Faces, and they seemed quite uneasy.

But Zhang Jian only smiled slightly and said to Ye Jing, "Come, come, Immortal, please don't be formal!"

He instructed the woman, "Mother of my children, quickly prepare the best spiritual tea and snacks to properly entertain the Immortal!"

The woman bowed, her Face filled with a standard smile. "Understood, husband."

Zhang Jian was extremely enthusiastic; the wine and dishes served were all excellent.

However, Ye Jing had already reached Foundation Establishment and did not need to eat mundane food. He only drank a few cups of wine to show respect, said a few words, and then prepared to rest.

Zhang Jian was also very sensible and did not say much more.

After returning to the guest room, Ye Jing sat cross-legged on the bed and used his Primordial Spirit to probe the surroundings.

This Jinshan City was an area where Mortals and Cultivators lived together, but the number of Cultivators was very high, far exceeding that of Mortals.

Ye Jing's heart sank slightly. He thought that as a Mortal, Zhang Jian didn't know much. When dawn came, he would ask the Cultivators who ran the shops.

Perhaps he could buy some Spiritual Artifacts or materials here; it wouldn't be a wasted trip.

Just as Ye Jing was thinking about his next steps, two women suddenly appeared outside the door. One of them asked softly, "Immortal, may we come in?"

Ye Jing was startled, then opened the door with his spiritual power. Standing outside were the two daughters of the Zhang Family he had seen during the day.

The two women were wearing thin gauze clothing, revealing large areas of delicate skin. Their slender figures were trembling slightly. Anyone could see what they were there for.

Ye Jing's eyes darkened, and then he said, "Go back."

Ye Jing knew all too well why this was happening; some Mortal families would want their daughters to serve an Immortal in hopes of conceiving a child with a Spiritual Root.

Not to mention that Ye Jing already had fourth-generation descendants; as the head of his Family, he couldn't mess around outside and produce an offspring. That would be unfair to his descendants at home.

One of the women bit her red lip and hurriedly said, "The Immortal has had a long journey. Please let me serve you..."

"No need."

Ye Jing's voice was very cold. Coupled with his current sharp appearance as an old man, it made the two women's delicate bodies tremble. Then, the older one could only bow and withdraw, closing the door behind them.

The two women retreated from the room still virgins. Zhang Jian, who was standing under the corridor, saw this and hurriedly asked, "It didn't work?"

The two women shook their heads. Zhang Jian couldn't help but sigh, then told his daughters to return to their rooms and mentioned it no further.

Early the next morning, Ye Jing acted as if nothing had happened and bid farewell to a reluctant Zhang Jian.

After leaving the place, Ye Jing walked through the city-state as a Mortal.

As for the so-called Transit Permit, after inquiring, he found it could be obtained at a place in Jinshan City called the Gubao Pavilion.

Any Cultivator only needed to show their spiritual power and spend five Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

Ye Jing blended into the crowd, his gaze discreetly scanning the surroundings.

The streets of Jinshan City were far more prosperous than the towns in the Luoxia Wasteland. The bluestone roads were polished smooth and shiny by spiritual power, and shops lined both sides.

Most of the shop signs were embroidered with Buddhist patterns or carved with words like "Spiritual Plant," "Magical Artifact," or "Talisman." Among the passersby, Cultivators and Mortals walked together, yet there was a faint, invisible boundary between them.

Buddhist Cultivator mostly wore luxurious monk robes with shiny bald heads. Mortals often bowed to them, their expressions respectful but tinged with fear.

He restrained all his spiritual power, hunched his back slightly, slowed his pace, and completely pretended to be an ordinary elderly Mortal, following the flow of people.

Along the way, he occasionally saw patrolling Cultivators from the Golden Light Courtyard. Every one of them looked lazy, but their eyes were sharp. When they scanned the passing Cultivators, they would deliberately pause for a moment, clearly checking for Transit Permits.

Ye Jing understood clearly. It seemed that although the Transit Permit was easy to obtain, it was also a means for the Buddhist Cultivator to control the Cultivators entering the city. One slip-up, and he would still be exposed.

After walking for about the time it takes to burn half an incense stick, an imposing pavilion appeared ahead. A black wooden plaque hung above the vermilion gates, with three gilded characters: "Gubao Pavilion."

Two Middle Stage Qi Refining Cultivators stood by the door. Their auras were steady, unlike the laziness at the city gate.

Many Cultivators were coming and going from the pavilion, most with cautious expressions. They were clearly there to handle Transit Permits or to look for treasures.