559: Chapter 559 The Situation in the Immortal Realm

Half a day later, the silhouette of a towering giant city appeared on the horizon.

The city walls were high, built of a certain dark giant stone and covered with mottled marks, exuding an aura of vicissitudes and slaughter.

The crowd at the city gate was like a woven fabric, with Cultivators of all races present, but most were in a hurry and wore looks of vigilance.

The city gate was guarded by soldiers in uniform armor with fierce auras, all with cultivation levels above the Saint Realm, and the squad leader at the head was even at the Early Stage of the Void Immortal realm.

All those entering the city had to cast Spirit Crystals into a large jade basin inscribed with a Formation nearby.

“Two Spirit Crystals per person, pay quickly and enter quickly!”

The guard squad leader shouted expressionlessly.

Xiao Ruobai's gaze swept over the top of the city gate, where the emblem of the Chengyun Immortal Palace should have hung, but it was now empty.

He understood in his heart; collecting Spirit Crystals was clearly a means for the several major powers currently controlling this city to amass wealth.

He remained calm, took out ten Spirit Crystals obtained from the Black Wind Four Evils, and threw them into the jade basin.

Xiao Ruobai remained calm, took out ten Spirit Crystals, and threw them into the jade basin.

The guard squad leader took the Spirit Crystals, but his gaze involuntarily lingered on the five of them for a moment longer.

The bearing of these few people before him was too clear and clean, completely different from the usual travel-worn Loose Cultivators or the desperate outlaws wreathed in Evil Qi.

His Adam's apple bobbed once, and the few words of harassment and reprimand at the tip of his tongue were swallowed back down.

He simply waved his hand expressionlessly: “Go in.”

Upon entering the city, the clamor rushed toward them.

The streets were wide, lined with shops on both sides, and the sound of hawking was incessant, but a faint sense of tension still permeated the air.

The wariness between Cultivators was obvious, and conflict seemed to be on the verge of breaking out at any moment.

“First, find a place to stay and gather information,” Xiao Ruobai said via Divine Thought transmission.

Wang Xiaopang was sharp-eyed and pointed to a nine-story, extraordinarily grand wine tower ahead that was filled with guests:

“Great Senior Brother, that Drunken Immortal Tower looks good. With so many people, it's a perfect place to gather information.”

“Very well,” Xiao Ruobai nodded.

As the five of them stepped into the Drunken Immortal Tower, a waiter immediately came forward to greet them.

Immortal Qi misted within the wine tower, and the cultivation of the guests was significantly higher; the Void Immortal Realm was no longer rare, and one could even vaguely sense the presence of True Immortal auras.

Wang Xiaopang familiarly requested a private booth by the window and ordered a table of expensive spiritual wine and delicacies.

Once the food and wine were served, the five appeared to be dining quietly, but in reality, their Divine Thoughts had already quietly spread out.

Capturing the conversations from all over the tower, countless fragments of information were flowing into their ears.

The wine tower was bustling with noise as Cultivators of all kinds talked loudly and toasted one another.

The Divine Thoughts of Xiao Ruobai's group of five were like the most sensitive tentacles, quietly capturing useful information scattered amidst the noise.

At first, it was mostly fragmented rumors about trades, vendettas, and Secret Realms.

But soon, some terms that were repeatedly mentioned—and with tones of awe, fear, or resentment—gradually outlined the current power structure of the Chengyun Immortal Domain Fragment.

“If you ask me, when that existence destroyed the Chengyun Immortal Palace back then, it was truly gratifying!

But who would have thought that the old senior would just leave directly, leaving behind such a large piece of fat meat...”

At the next table, a weather-beaten Void Immortal elder took a sip of cloudy wine and lowered his voice to speak to his companion, his tone complex.

“It's better that he left!”

The lean man opposite him sneered, but a trace of lingering fear flashed in his eyes.

“If he had stayed, would there still be room for us to breathe in this Chengyun Immortal Domain?

In the current situation, although it's chaotic, at least we Loose Cultivators can still scratch out some food in the cracks. It’s just...”

“It’s just that those four major powers are becoming more and more unsightly in their greed.”

The elder picked up the thread, his voice even lower.

“When the Chengyun Immortal Palace was here, there were at least some superficial rules. Although the taxes were heavy, they wouldn't go as far as exterminating whole sects at every turn.

But now? The Chiyang Sect, Xuanyin Cult, Myriad Beast Mountain, and Heavenly Sword Pavilion—which one is easy to deal with?

To fight over a newly discovered miniature Immortal Vein, last month more than three hundred people in Qinglan Valley were wiped out just like that.

Not even a spirit sparrow flew out, and the territory was directly seized by the Chiyang Sect.”

In another booth by the window, several people dressed relatively glamorously, appearing like managers of some small merchant guild, were also talking in low voices, their content having more 'perspective'.

“Brother Wang, your caravan went north this time; were you harassed by those barbarians from Myriad Beast Mountain?”

“Don't even mention it! The toll has risen by another thirty percent! They say it's to raise resources to prepare for the Heaven Sword Trial... I see it as they're clashing with the Heavenly Sword Pavilion again over at Falling Star Gorge. Neither side will back down; sooner or later, they'll have to have a big fight.”

“Let them fight, let them fight. The more fiercely they fight, it might not be a bad thing for us errand runners.

I'm just afraid that one day, one of them will truly gain momentum and swallow the other three. That would be the start of a true nightmare. I fear the old days of the Chengyun Immortal Palace are going to repeat themselves.”

“Swallow? Easier said than done! The four Old Ancestors are all mighty figures at the Late Stage of the Earth Immortal Realm!

Their cultivation levels are neck and neck, and the powers under them are intricately intertwined. They've fought for all these years, and no one can do anything to the others.

In my opinion, this situation of four powers dividing the world will still remain in a stalemate for a long time. It’s just us common folk who suffer.”

“Late Stage Earth Immortal...”

The previous person sighed, “In the past, those were figures who could establish sects and be honored as ancestors.

Now they are squeezed into this broken corner, fighting until their heads bleed for these few scraps. It's ironic when you think about it.”

In the higher-level private rooms, the sound of string and woodwind instruments could be vaguely heard, but some undisguised fragments of conversation belonging to true experts also drifted down with the wind.

“The old ghost of the Xuanyin Cult has been purchasing large amounts of Nether Blood Jade and collecting living souls recently; I'm afraid his plans are not small.

The Cult Leader sent a message last time, telling us to also step up our search for refining materials. The mountain protection Formation needs to be strengthened again...”

“The envoy from the Chiyang Sect came again, still with the same rhetoric, wanting to unite with us to deal with Myriad Beast Mountain, promising to split their mineral resources equally after the deed is done. Hmph, it's like negotiating with a tiger for its skin!”

The fragmented information was like a puzzle, quickly assembling and becoming clear in the hearts of Xiao Ruobai and his group.

The Chengyun Immortal Palace was destroyed, leaving a power vacuum.

The four top powers—Chiyang Sect, Xuanyin Cult, Myriad Beast Mountain, and Heavenly Sword Pavilion—had risen to prominence, each occupying a side.

All had Old Ancestors at the Late Stage of the Earth Immortal Realm presiding over them, which was the current ceiling of combat power in the fragment.

The four houses campaigned against, suspected, and formed alliances with each other, all wanting to annex the others and unify the fragment to become the next Chengyun Immortal Palace, or at least the supreme Dominator of this region.

And in this process, the small powers, Loose Cultivators, and even Mortals who relied on them were all like blades of grass, frequently becoming victims of the struggle or targets of plunder.

The entire Chengyun Immortal Domain Fragment was in a state of high pressure, chaos, and a bloody stalemate with no way out in sight.

Ling Xi's gaze was cold as she sent a transmission: “As expected, it's completely rotten. The weak are prey to the strong, and there is no order to speak of. With such plunder and internal attrition, the decay of this world's Origin will only accelerate.”

“We've heard enough news.”

Xiao Ruobai put down his teacup, his gaze sweeping over the street scene outside that was still prosperous and noisy, yet everywhere revealed tension and ferocity.

“Since we're here, let's look around. We should experience the style of Sunset City for ourselves.”