8: Chapter 8 Traveling in the Southern Wilderness

In less than half a day, a towering ancient city came into view.

On the city walls, the three ancient seal characters for Tianfeng City had weathered many storms, yet they remained vigorous and powerful.

This city was a major hub on the edge of the Southern Wilderness, and though it was not as prosperous as the capitals of the three great Imperial Dynasties,

it was still a gathering place for merchants, with a constant stream of Cultivators passing through.

Jiang Changge restrained his aura, transforming his appearance into that of an ordinary Soul Transformation Cultivator, and slowly stepped into the city.

Shops lined both sides of the streets; Medicinal Pill shops, Magical Artifact pavilions, restaurants, and inns were all present.

The sounds of shouting, conversation, and the neighing of Spirit Beasts mixed together, filled with the atmosphere of the Mortal World.

He strolled around with great interest; this was his hundredth year since arriving in the Xuanhuang World,

and the first time he had experienced a bustle so completely different from Kunlun.

Walking to an open square in the center of the city, he saw a clamorous crowd surrounding several temporarily erected high platforms.

On the platforms, Cultivators were sparring, their Spiritual Qi crisscrossing and drawing bursts of cheers from the audience below.

Beside them stood a massive jade wall, its surface shimmering with light.

It constantly updated with tasks, recruitment information, and news from various factions.

“The Abyss Suppression Department of the Zhouwu Dynasty is recruiting temporary deacons to investigate anomalies in Black Wind Ridge in the Northern Border. Requirements: Soul Transformation Stage or above. Generous rewards.”

“The Nanli Chamber of Commerce is recruiting guards to escort a shipment of supplies to Burning Flame Valley. Soul Transformation Cultivators preferred. Can share in the valley's specialty: Earth Core Fire Lotus.”

“The Heavenly Sword Sect is widely recruiting Disciples. Anyone under thirty years old and at the Foundation Establishment stage or above can participate in the entrance trial.”

Jiang Changge's gaze swept over them; this information held little attraction for him.

His purpose for descending the mountain this time was twofold: first, to experience the sights and customs of this world, as he hadn't left the mountain in a century.

Second, he wanted to see if he could encounter a fated person to take as a Disciple and obtain generous rewards.

As Jiang Changge was casually looking around, he suddenly heard several whispers from a nearby tea stall, their tones filled with excitement and anticipation.

“In this Southern Wilderness Family Ranking Battle, I heard that the Qin Family and Su Family from the Zhouwu Dynasty capital both have peerless geniuses emerging. They've reached the Golden Core stage before the age of thirty and are hailed as once-in-a-century talents!”

“That's not all! The Young Lord of the Wang Family in Desert City is said to have encountered a fortuitous Opportunity, and his cultivation has progressed by leaps and bounds. He intends to make a name for himself in this ranking battle and fight for a larger share of resources!”

“The ranking battle concerns the allocation of Family resources for the next fifty years. No wonder there are undercurrents surging.”

“I heard many families are secretly recruiting Cultivators and even sparing no expense to nurture their direct descendants. That battle in three months will likely be exceptionally fierce.”

“Indeed. Whoever stands out in that ranking battle represents not only themselves but also the future rise or fall of the Family behind them. I wonder if any dark horses will emerge this time.”

The Southern Wilderness Family Ranking Battle? Jiang Changge’s heart stirred slightly.

This battle was considered a major event in the vast Southern Wilderness, gathering the cream of the younger generation.

At that time, Lu Jinghan would surely participate as well.

Having returned through Rebirth and awakened the Space-Time Dao Body, he would certainly do everything in his power to change his past ending.

He picked up a bowl of plain tea from the tea stall and took a light sip.

His Divine Thought, however, spread out silently like invisible ripples, capturing fragments of information circulating throughout the city.

Soon, more information flowed into his mind.

“Have you heard? Three months ago, a rare treasure appeared deep within the Permafrost Tundra of the Northern Border. Its glow pierced the sky for three days without fading. It’s said to have drawn out several old monsters who had been living in seclusion!”

“That's nothing! The Boundless Sea in the East is also restless. News has come back that someone discovered a suspected entrance to an ancient Sect ruin in the depths, but it's covered by an extremely powerful Restriction. Currently, all the top powers are deploying manpower, preparing to break the Restriction together.”

“These are turbulent times. Our Southern Wilderness is relatively peaceful, though I hear the purple mist in the Purple Bamboo Forest has been growing denser lately. It’s probably not far from officially opening.”

“I wonder how many young geniuses will go in to fight for opportunities this time. Sigh, every time it opens, less than half manage to come out alive.”

Hearing about the appearance of several Secret Realms, Jiang Changge also became interested.

He hadn't forgotten that with the upgraded System, he would receive critical hit rewards as long as he signed in for the first time in various Secret Realms or Forbidden Grounds.

However, currently only the Purple Bamboo Forest in the Southern Wilderness showed any activity; the other two locations were very far away.

The Xuanhuang World had five major regions: the Central Continent, the East Sea, the Western Regions, the Northern Border, and the Southern Wilderness.

All five regions were vast territories; even a Peak Undergoing Tribulation expert would find it difficult to cross a single region in a short time.

“I can take a trip to the Purple Bamboo Forest when the time comes to see what kind of treasures a hundredfold critical hit reward will produce.”

Jiang Changge pondered in his heart while his gaze scanned the Cultivators coming and going on the street.

Suddenly, a spark of inspiration flashed in his mind, and he immediately broke into a mischievous grin.

As if knowing what Jiang Changge was thinking, the System's voice rang out.

[Host, please do not show such a wretched smile!]

Hearing the System's words, Jiang Changge immediately retorted.

“Wretched? How am I being wretched? I'm accusing you of slander! You're slandering me!”

Jiang Changge's looks were on par with a superstar; he was the kind of existence that could debut on the spot.

After giving the System a look of disdain, Jiang Changge did not forget his main business.

“System, since you're supposed to assist me in establishing the strongest Sect in the heavens, shouldn't you help me find Disciples who are fated with me?”

[It is possible. As long as a fated person appears within a thousand-mile radius of the Host, a notification will be given.]

“You should have said so earlier! A thousand miles is quite enough!”

Jiang Changge smiled with satisfaction.

He had originally just been testing it out, but he hadn't expected it to actually be possible.

If he hadn't asked, would the System have never mentioned it?

This System really was a mix of love and hate.

Afterward, after staying in Tianfeng City for a few days, Jiang Changge traveled by riding the wind, and a month passed in this manner.

He set out from Tianfeng City and traveled all the way north.

Sometimes he strolled through bustling marketplaces, and sometimes he walked alone on ancient wilderness paths.

The Southern Wilderness was a vast land with many factions.

Not only were there the three great Imperial Dynasties—Zhouwu, Nanli, and Xuanyuan—standing in a tripartite balance, each occupying a piece of fertile land,

but beneath them, numerous cultivation Families were scattered like stars, their powers intertwined like a web.

There were also many top-tier Sects established across the Southern Wilderness.

During this month, Jiang Changge had stepped through many places.

He had once stopped at the Qingyun Market of the Xuanyuan Dynasty.

That was the largest trading place for Loose Cultivators in the central part of the Southern Wilderness.

All sorts of shady treasures and secret rumors circulated there; it was a mixed bag of people, yet full of vitality.

He had also been to Burning Flame City on the border of the Nanli Dynasty, a city built among a group of volcanoes.

Earth fire resources were abundant there, and Artifact Refiners gathered in large numbers.

The entire city was shrouded all day in a faint scent of sulfur and the sound of forging metal.

However, what made Jiang Changge feel slightly disappointed was

that for an entire month, the System's notification for recruiting a Disciple had never once sounded.

Within his thousand-mile radius, not a single person met the criteria for being "fated."

“This Southern Wilderness is too big, and fated people are too few,” Jiang Changge couldn't help but lament.

However, he did not stop his pace, but continued his travels toward the north.