131: Chapter 90 Taking Office in the City of Ten Thousand Demons

Ten days later.

Chen Xuan stood at the edge of the airport, watching the final crate of supplies being loaded onto the flying boat.

The supply ships from the Qingyuan Chamber of Commerce had arrived three days ago. Three hundred crates of Spirit Stones, two hundred crates of Medicinal Pills, one hundred crates of Talismans, along with Spiritual Artifacts, Dharma robes, and Formation Materials—dozens of cargo ships in total—had piled the airport high.

President Liu Yishou was overseeing the shipment in person, standing on the deck of a cargo ship to direct the Chamber's Cultivators in counting the supplies.

Chen Xuan walked over and stopped by the gangplank.

"President Liu, you came yourself?"

President Liu Yishou jumped off the deck and brushed the dust off his robes.

His cultivation was still at the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment, but his aura was much more substantial than it had been half a year ago.

"Fellow Daoist Yun, the opening of Wanyao Immortal City is a major event unseen in the Southern Region for a century. If the Qingyuan Chamber of Commerce doesn't take the lead, we won't even get to drink the soup later."

He took out a Jade Slip and handed it to Chen Xuan. "This is the Chamber's layout in the Immortal City. We have opened a headquarters in the Inner City and three branches in the Outer City, mainly dealing in Medicinal Pills, Talismans, and Spirit Beasts. Additionally, the specialty store for ascension spirit liquid is located on the second floor of the headquarters. It is only open to Cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage or above, and they must sign a Dao contract before they can use it."

Chen Xuan took the Jade Slip, probed it with his Divine Sense, took a look, and put it away.

"Well done."

President Liu Yishou lowered his voice: "Fellow Daoist Yun, there is one thing I must tell you. Things haven't been right with Yao Shuang recently. There are three large expenditures in the Chamber's accounts with unknown destinations. He stammers and cannot explain them clearly. I suspect he has dealings with the White Lotus Sect, but I have no evidence."

Chen Xuan frowned slightly.

"Keep an eye on him, but don't alert the enemy. Wait until I return from Wanyao Immortal City, then we will deal with it."

President Liu Yishou nodded and turned to continue directing the loading.

Chen Xuan boarded the flying boat and stood by the railing.

This flying boat was twice as large as the one used during the Northern Expedition. The emblem of the Liuyang Sword Sect was carved onto the hull, and the deck was filled with Disciples from the Conquest Hall.

Senior Brother Zhang Qian stood at the bow, his Late Stage Foundation Establishment aura as solid as a mountain. His injuries were mostly healed, and although his left arm was bandaged, he was in high spirits. Second Senior Sister Xu Miao stood beside him, her small frame appearing exceptionally frail in the morning breeze, but her gaze was sharp as a knife.

Third Senior Brother Yun He was in the cabin, polishing his long sword. His movements were slow and meticulous, as if he were performing a very important task.

Senior Sister Wen Yao leaned against the railing, dual swords hanging at her waist, her long hair tied into a ponytail. The red lotus petal mark on her forehead was particularly striking in the morning light.

Liu Lili walked out of the cabin, holding a bowl of hot soup, which she handed to Chen Xuan.

"Junior Brother, drink this to warm your body."

Chen Xuan took the bowl and took a sip.

The soup was spirit chicken soup, added with thousand-year ginseng slices and century-old goji berries—an excellent product for nourishing the kidneys.

It was piping hot, sliding down his throat, and a wave of warmth surged in his Dantian.

"Senior Sister, when did you learn to make soup?"

"Last night." Liu Lili said righteously, "I learned it from the Senior Sister at the Medicine Hall. She said this soup is the best for replenishing Origin Qi."

She pouted coquettishly: "You have been getting lazier recently, not working hard enough!"

Chen Xuan took another sip and nodded.

"Alright, alright."

Liu Lili laughed, her eyes curving into crescent moons.

She leaned against Chen Xuan, also looking at the distant Qingming Peak.

The morning light spilled down from the peak, plating the entire mountain in gold.

The flying boat slowly ascended.

Chen Xuan stood by the railing, watching Qingming Peak grow smaller and smaller, gradually becoming a tiny dot between heaven and earth.

Then he turned his head to look north.

In the direction of the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range, there was a faint golden halo on the horizon—that was the protective Formation light of the newly built Immortal City.

Two days later, Wanyao Immortal City.

When the flying boat landed at the airport, Chen Xuan could hardly recognize it as the dilapidated outpost camp from before.

The city walls were twenty zhang high, entirely built of second-level spiritual material, Blue Steel Stone. The walls were engraved with defensive Talismans, and spiritual light flowed ceaselessly.

The city gate was five zhang wide and eight zhang high. Four large characters were carved on the lintel: Wanyao Immortal City. The characters were written by Master Liu Yun himself, the brushstrokes as sharp as a sword.

The streets inside the city had already been paved with bluestone slabs, and shops on both sides were opening one after another.

The headquarters of the Qingyuan Chamber of Commerce was at the end of the most prosperous Central Avenue. It was a three-story pavilion, with carved beams and painted rafters, magnificent and golden. Next door was the Spirit Pill Pavilion of the Fusheng Sect, and next to that was the Spirit Beast Pavilion of the Qingcang Sect. The three shops faced each other, door to door, bustling with activity.

Chen Xuan walked into the Immortal City and headed north along Central Avenue. To the north was the Inner City, jointly managed by the The Three Sects, with a protective Formation separating it; those who were not Disciples of the The Three Sects were not allowed to enter.

In the deepest part of the Inner City lay the third-level Spiritual Vein. The Spiritual Qi was as thick as fog; a normal person could extend their life by ten years just by taking a breath.

Master Liu Yun's Immortal Cave was right next to the spring eye. It was a three-courtyard residence with white walls and black tiles, and a few clusters of spirit bamboo planted in the courtyard.

The Disciples of the Conquest Hall lived in the side rooms on the left and right, one room per person, with simple but complete furnishings.

Chen Xuan was assigned to the room at the innermost part of the east side. Pushing open the window, he could see the mountains of the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range in the distance.

The mountain peaks were stacked, shrouded in clouds and mist. The Demonic Qi had become very faint, but it had not completely dissipated.

He stood by the window for a long time.

Liu Lili knocked on the door and entered, holding a stack of Jade Slips.

"Junior Brother, these are what the Old Ancestor asked me to give you. The course schedule for the Dharma Propagation Hall, and the tasks you are responsible for in the next three months."

Chen Xuan took the Jade Slips, sat at the table, and read them one by one.

With the initial construction of Wanyao Immortal City, the The Three Sects established the Dharma Propagation Hall within the city, specifically to teach cultivation to Loose Cultivators and children of small and medium-sized Families.

The Dharma Propagation Hall was divided into three levels: the Elementary class taught Qi entry, the Intermediate class taught Breakthroughs for Late-stage Qi Refining, and the Advanced class taught insights on Foundation Establishment.

The lecturers were appointed by the The Three Sects in turns, with each sect providing three Foundation Establishment Cultivators per term, and each term lasting three months.

Chen Xuan was assigned to the Advanced class.

"Advanced class?" Liu Lili leaned over to take a look, her brows furrowed. "Junior Brother, you are only at the third level of Foundation Establishment. Many students in the Advanced class are Loose Cultivators at the fourth or fifth level of Foundation Establishment. What can you teach them?"

Chen Xuan smiled.

"Senior Sister, don't forget, I am a Genius who has mastered Sword Qi Condensing into Silk and Sword Dao Thunder Sound."

"Besides, I can also teach them how to kill Golden Core Yao Beasts."

Liu Lili was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"That's true. In the entire Southern Region, you are the only one who can kill a Golden Core while at Foundation Establishment. If you don't teach them, who will?"

Chen Xuan put away the Jade Slips and stood up.

"Let's go, let's go take a look at the Dharma Propagation Hall."

The Dharma Propagation Hall was on the east side of the Inner City, a three-story pavilion with blue bricks and grey tiles. A stone tablet stood in front of the door, with the words "Dharma Propagation Hall" carved on it. The hall was spacious and bright. The first floor was the lecture hall, which could accommodate three hundred people listening simultaneously; the second floor was the quiet room for students to study on their own; the third floor was the lecturer's lounge.

Chen Xuan walked to the first floor, and the lecture hall was already full of people. In the front row were several Loose Cultivators at the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment, with grey hair and aged faces—one look and you could tell they were the type who had been stuck at the Perfection of Qi Refining for decades before luckily achieving Foundation Establishment. The middle rows were young Cultivators at the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment, mostly rising stars from various small and medium-sized Families, their eyes filled with both anticipation and defiance. The last row was filled with Loose Cultivators at the Perfection of Qi Refining; they had not yet achieved Foundation Establishment, but they already had the qualifications to attempt it and wanted to hear about the experiences of Foundation Establishment in advance.

Chen Xuan walked onto the podium and placed the Three Bright Moon Sword on the table.

The lecture hall quieted down.

He scanned the audience and spoke slowly.

"My name is Yun Qi, a Disciple of the Conquest Hall of the Liuyang Sword Sect, third level of Foundation Establishment."