152: Chapter 152 Sights and Sounds in the Immortal City

Leaving the "Ascension Hall," Lin Wan did not linger long inside the hall.

Chen Feng personally escorted him to the plaza outside the hall, pointed out the general direction to "Donghua Immortal City," and then bowed and took his leave, his attitude far more respectful than it had been initially.

Lin Wan did not mind; in the world of cultivation, strength is paramount, and the Immortal Realm is the same.

If he hadn't displayed enough strength to crush the three of them, that Hall Master Yunxu likely wouldn't have been so "easy to talk to," nor would he have given him a "Temporary Pass" and the opportunity to participate in the "Ascension Conference."

"Donghua Immortal City... Ascension Conference..." Lin Wan stood at the edge of the plaza outside the "Ascension Hall," gazing into the distance.

Clouds and mist swirled, with Immortal mountains appearing and disappearing. With his current vision, he could only vaguely discern the outline of an incomparably magnificent and towering city in the far distance, like an ancient behemoth crouching at the end of the world, exuding a vast, ancient, and dignified Aura.

That must be "Donghua Immortal City," the core of this "Donghua Immortal Domain," and the center of the Immortal Court's rule.

"Since I already have an identity credential and a destination, I will first go to this Donghua Immortal City to take a look.

Three months from now is the Ascension Conference. It is a perfect opportunity to understand the Immortal Realm, resolve my identity issue, and at the same time, see exactly what level the 'Geniuses' of this Immortal Realm are at."

Lin Wan's mind stirred, and his Immortal Essence circulated within him as he prepared to cast an escape technique to head toward Donghua Immortal City.

However, as soon as he mobilized his Immortal Essence, he felt something was off.

"Hmm? The spatial structure here is far more stable than in the Lower Realm.

In the Lower Realm, with a casual movement, I could tear through space and teleport ten thousand miles.

But here, the spatial barriers are exceptionally sturdy. With my current Immortal Essence strength, even if I exerted my full power, I could likely only perform short-range teleports, and at a huge cost."

Lin Wan tried to tear through space and indeed felt immense resistance; the spatial barriers were like divine metal and Immortal iron, difficult to shake.

He estimated that with his True Immortal Middle Stage cultivation, plus the augmentation of the "Chaos Reincarnation Divine Kingdom," he could at most teleport about a thousand miles at a time with full effort, and the consumption would be significant.

To travel long distances, he would still have to rely on flying, or... use other tools.

"It seems the Immortal Realm and the Lower Realm are truly worlds apart.

Not only the Immortal Qi and the Laws of Heaven and Earth, but even the spatial structure, gravity, and many basic rules are more stable and Advanced.

No wonder Hall Master Yunxu said that a True Immortal is only a starting point in the Immortal Realm.

Cultivating and fighting in such an environment demands more than a hundred times more from a Cultivator than in the Lower Realm?"

Lin Wan realized this in his heart and stopped trying to teleport. Instead, his figure flickered, transforming into a gray streak of light, and he flew rapidly toward the direction of Donghua Immortal City.

Even without teleportation, with his True Immortal Middle Stage cultivation, his flying speed was extremely fast.

The gray streak of light tore through the sky, weaving through the sea of clouds with lightning speed.

Along the way, he saw countless wonders.

There were Immortal mountains towering ten thousand feet high, entirely like white jade and wreathed in Immortal Qi, with magnificent palaces and pavilions atop them, where Immortals could vaguely be seen flying on swords and cranes circling about.

There were great rivers as wide as the sea, with surging waves and water vapor containing rich Water Spirit Qi, traversing the land and nourishing all things.

There were primeval mountain ranges stretching for hundreds of millions of miles, with ancient trees reaching the sky and exuding a wild, ancient Aura, from which terrifying beast roars could vaguely be heard, clearly inhabited by powerful Immortal Beasts and Yao Beasts.

There were also boundless, Spiritual Qi-rich plains and basins planted with various exotic flowers, grasses, Immortal rice, and Spirit Medicine, divided into neat plots of Spirit Fields where Cultivators worked and managed them.

In the sky, various streaks of light flew by from time to time, whether flying on swords, riding clouds, or traveling on flying boats or Immortal birds, coming and going in a lively manner.

The cultivation of these Cultivators was at least equivalent to the "Void Refining" or "Body Integration" Realms of the Lower Realm, with many more at the "Mahayana" or "Undergoing Tribulation" stages, and even "True Immortals" were not in the minority.

Lin Wan also sensed several Auras above the True Immortal level, but they were all obscure and deep, clearly far exceeding his own cultivation.

"As expected, True Immortals are as common as dogs, and Heavenly Immortals walk everywhere..." Lin Wan sighed in his heart.

In the Lower Realm, a True Immortal is already the Peak, capable of founding a Sect and becoming a revered ancestor.

But in this Immortal Realm, a True Immortal seems to be just a relatively powerful Cultivator, far from being top-tier.

In just the short while he had been flying, he had sensed no fewer than dozens of True Immortal Auras.

As for the Heavenly Immortals above the True Immortal level, he had vaguely sensed a few, but the Auras were very far away and hidden, making it difficult to judge their specific cultivation.

"The Immortal Realm is vast, and powerful experts are as numerous as clouds.

My cultivation, in this place, is probably nothing to speak of.

I still need to keep a low profile and improve my strength as quickly as possible."

Lin Wan restrained his Aura and dimmed his streak of light slightly, blending into the passing streaks of light as he flew toward Donghua Immortal City.

After flying for about half a day, the towering city ahead finally appeared clearly before Lin Wan's eyes.

It was a massive city whose magnificence and grandeur could not be described in words!

The city walls stood ten thousand feet high and were constructed entirely of a strange, cyan-gold metal that emitted a faint Immortal light and had runes faintly flowing across it, stretching for who knows how many tens of thousands of miles, with no end in sight.

At intervals along the city walls stood arrow towers and magic towers reaching a thousand feet high. The tops of the towers flickered with light, and faint, powerful Formation fluctuations could be felt, clearly indicating the presence of terrifying defensive and offensive Formations.

Above the city, a faint, seven-colored, translucent light shield covered it like an inverted giant bowl, enclosing the entire city.

That was the city-protecting Formation. With Lin Wan's discernment, he could feel the terrifying power contained within that Formation, sufficient to easily kill a True Immortal or even threaten a Heavenly Immortal.

There were nine city gates, each a thousand feet high and several hundred feet wide, allowing dozens of carriages to pass through side by side.

At this moment, all nine gates were wide open, and countless Cultivators, Mortals, and even some strange-looking races, whether walking, driving carriages, or riding exotic beasts, were gathering from all directions like a tide, passing through the gates and entering the city in a bustling scene.

Above the city gates, four majestic, sweeping characters were engraved in ancient Immortal script — Donghua Immortal City!

The characters contained a vast, dignified, and imperial Aura that commanded all directions, making anyone who looked at them feel awe and dare not harbor the slightest disrespect.

"What a Donghua Immortal City! It truly lives up to its reputation as the core of the Immortal Territory; it is indeed magnificent, grand, and full of majesty!" Lin Wan exclaimed in his heart, slowly lowering his flying light and landing outside one of the city gates, queuing to enter the city.

At the city gate, there were city guards wearing uniform silver armor with fierce Auras, all at least at the "Undergoing Tribulation" Realm, who were checking the identity credentials of those entering the city.

Most people entering the city presented a jade token of various styles, and the city guards would let them pass after checking them.

Only a very small number of people, who seemed to be familiar with the city guards or had special identities, could enter the city directly without inspection.

"It seems this identity jade token is a necessity in the Immortal Realm. Without an identity, it is difficult to move even a single step."

Lin Wan understood and took out the "Temporary Pass" that Immortal Master Yunxu had given him, holding it in his hand.

The queue moved quickly, and before long, it was Lin Wan's turn.

"Identity jade token." A cold-faced silver-armored city guard reached out and said routinely.

Lin Wan handed over the "Temporary Pass."

The city guard took the jade token, probed it with his Divine Sense, and sensed it slightly. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes as he looked up at Lin Wan, his tone becoming a bit more polite: "So it is a distinguished guest of the 'Ascension Hall.' Please enter."

Saying this, he returned the jade token to Lin Wan and cleared the way.

"Distinguished guest of the Ascension Hall"? Lin Wan's heart stirred; it seemed the grade of this "Temporary Pass" was not low, as even the city guards had to give it some Face.

"Many thanks." Lin Wan took the jade token, nodded, and walked into Donghua Immortal City.

Once inside the city gate, it was as if he had entered another world.

A bustling, prosperous, and vibrant atmosphere rushed toward him.

What met his eyes was a street wide enough to accommodate dozens of carriages traveling side by side, paved with a certain kind of cyan jade and spotless.

On both sides of the street were rows of buildings and shops with varying styles.

There were luxurious restaurants that were a hundred stories high, with carved beams and painted pillars, wreathed in Immortal Qi; antique-style Pill Pavilions filled with the fragrance of medicine; Artifact Workshops flashing with treasure light and soaring Sword Qi; Talisman shops shimmering with spiritual light and flowing with runes; and markets filled with street stalls selling all kinds of strange and peculiar items...

On the street, the crowd was thick, shoulder to shoulder.

There were Cultivators flying on swords, passing by in a hurry; scions of influential families riding in gorgeous carriages, surrounded by attendants; fierce men riding exotic beasts, charging recklessly; and ordinary merchants hawking their wares and bargaining along the street.

Cultivators, Mortals, Yao Race, Essence Spirits, and even some strange races Lin Wan had never seen before mingled together, composing a bizarre yet harmoniously coexisting picture of Immortal Realm city life.

The air was filled with various scents.

There was the aroma of delicacies wafting from the restaurants, the medicinal fragrance emanating from the Pill Pavilions, the scent of burning metal from the Artifact Workshops, and the strange smells of various exotic flowers, grasses, and Ore Materials from the street stalls.

Even more intense was the omnipresent, pure Immortal Qi, which was several times denser than outside the city; with every breath, one felt refreshed, and their magic power grew faintly.

"What a prosperous Immortal City! Such dense Immortal Qi! No wonder Cultivators are willing to stay in the Immortal City; cultivating here is likely several times more efficient than in the outside world!" Lin Wan strolled along the street, feeling the prosperity and vitality of this Immortal City, and was secretly amazed in his heart.

As he walked casually, he released his Divine Sense, cautiously probing the surroundings, while also listening to the conversations of the Cultivators on the street to gather information.

"Have you heard? The 'Ascension Conference' in three months is said to be unprecedented in scale, and the rewards are much richer than in previous years!"

"Indeed! It is said that the top ten in this conference will not only receive rich rewards and official Immortal status bestowed by the Immortal Court, but also have the opportunity to be favored by top-tier forces like the 'Donghua Immortal Sect,' 'Yaochi Immortal Palace,' and 'Divine Weapon Pavilion,' and be directly accepted as Core Disciples!"

"Donghua Immortal Sect? Yaochi Immortal Palace? Those are the top-tier forces in our Donghua Immortal Domain! To join them is simply leaping over the dragon gate and ascending to the heavens in one step!"

"Sigh, for Loose Cultivators like us, being able to get into the top hundred and join a medium-sized Sect would be good enough.

The top ten? That is reserved for the Genius Disciples of those large Sects and great clans."

"Not necessarily. I heard that this conference allows those who have ascended from the Lower Realm to participate.

Those geniuses who can Cultivate to the point of Ascension with the meager resources of the Lower Realm are all extraordinary; there might be a dark horse that emerges and breaks into the top ten!"

"Ascenders from the Lower Realm? Hehe, what kind of formidable figures could come from the Lower Realm? With scarce resources and inferior Cultivation Techniques, they will at most just be at the bottom."

"You can't say that. I heard that a few days ago, a Sword Cultivator who ascended from the Lower Realm won three consecutive matches at the 'Fighting Platform' in the west of the city, and the opponents were all True Immortal Early Stage experts native to our Immortal Realm!"

"Oh? Is there such a thing? That is a bit interesting..."

...

On the street, the discussion about the "Ascension Conference" was the most heated. Almost all Cultivators were talking about it, their tones filled with anticipation, excitement, and a hint of nervousness.

"It seems this 'Ascension Conference' is indeed a grand event in the Donghua Immortal Domain, attracting countless gazes." Lin Wan thought to himself, "The top ten have a chance to join top-tier forces... This is indeed a good stepping stone.

With my current strength, breaking into the top ten shouldn't be difficult. However, I need to be careful of those geniuses native to the Immortal Realm, as well as... other Prodigies who ascended from the Lower Realm."

Lin Wan had confidence in his own strength, but he would not be blindly arrogant.

The Immortal Realm is vast and produces many Prodigies; the geniuses who can grow up in such an environment are by no means comparable to those in the Lower Realm.

Moreover, those who can ascend with the resources of the Lower Realm are all brilliant and talented people, not to be underestimated.

"Besides the Ascension Conference, I also need to inquire about the distribution of forces in the Immortal Realm, common knowledge about cultivation, resource acquisition, and... information about the fragments of the 'samsara mirror' and the source of 'the end.' All these will take time."

Lin Wan calculated in his heart, and before he knew it, he had walked in front of a luxurious building that was nine stories high, with carved beams and painted pillars, wreathed in Immortal Qi, and with a plaque hanging at the entrance bearing the three golden characters "Wanbao Tower."

This "Wanbao Tower" occupied a vast area and was magnificent in scale. Those who entered and exited were either rich or noble; it was clearly not an ordinary shop.

Moreover, Lin Wan could feel that there were several powerful Auras dormant within the building, at least at the True Immortal Late Stage, or even stronger existences.

"Wanbao Tower... the name is quite domineering; I'll choose this one." After a moment of thought, Lin Wan stepped inside.

He was a newcomer and knew nothing about the situation in the Immortal Realm. He needed to buy some intelligence, and also exchange for some of the Immortal Realm's currency—Immortal Crystals, and while he was at it, see if there were any suitable cultivation resources, Magic Treasures, or Cultivation Techniques for himself.

As soon as he entered "Wanbao Tower," a rich fragrance mixed with the scents of various Heaven And Earth Treasure, Medicinal Pill, and Magic Treasure rushed toward him.

The space inside the building was huge. The first floor was a massive hall with a radius of several thousand feet, filled with countless counters and shelves displaying all kinds of items, dazzling and shimmering with treasure light.

There were Ore and Spiritual Plant flashing with various colors; Medicinal Pill and Talismans floating in light shields; Flying Sword and Magic Treasure displayed on jade racks; and Jade Slip recording Cultivation Techniques and Divine Ability...

In the hall, there were many Cultivators; some were inquiring at the counters, some were selecting items in front of the shelves, and some were sitting in the rest area nearby, talking in low voices.

There were waitresses and attendants wearing uniform clothing, weaving through the crowd to introduce items and serve the guests.

As soon as Lin Wan entered, a sweet-looking waitress with a cultivation at the "Void Refining" Realm came up to him, with a professional smile on her Face and a crisp voice: "Welcome, Senior, to Wanbao Tower. I wonder what you need, Senior? Medicinal Pill, Magic Treasure, Cultivation Techniques, Materials, or something else? This Junior can introduce them to you."

"I need a detailed report on Donghua Immortal Domain, as well as basic knowledge of the Immortal Realm, the more detailed the better." Lin Wan said directly.

He had no need for those Medicinal Pill or Magic Treasure for the time being; the most urgent task was to understand this world.

"Is this Senior's first time in Donghua Immortal City?" A hint of understanding flashed in the waitress's eyes, and her smile became sweeter, "Senior, please follow me. Information and classics are on the third floor.

This building has special Jade Slip such as "Donghua Immortal Domain Gazetteer," "General Knowledge of the Immortal Realm," "Summary of Immortal Court Laws," and "Detailed Explanation of the Ascension Conference" for sale, with detailed content and fair prices."

"Lead the way." Lin Wan nodded.

The waitress led Lin Wan through the first-floor hall and along the spiral jade staircase to the third floor.

The third floor was much quieter than the first, and there were far fewer people. It felt more like a library, with rows of tall jade shelves. On these shelves were not physical objects, but Jade Slips of various colors and styles, neatly categorized and arranged. There were categories such as "Regional Customs," "Sect Forces," "Cultivation Knowledge," "Heaven And Earth Treasure," "Cultivation Technique And Divine Ability," and "Historical Secrets," among others.

The attendant led Lin Wan to the shelves for "Regional Customs" and "Cultivation Knowledge" and introduced them: "Senior, these Jade Slips record the basic situation of the Donghua Immortal Domain and the Immortal Realm. Senior may choose as you wish. Once you have selected, please go to the counter over there to settle the bill. Each Jade Slip costs one hundred Low Grade Immortal Crystals."

"Immortal Crystals?" Lin Wan raised an eyebrow. He had just arrived and did not possess any currency of the Immortal Realm.

"Yes, Senior. Immortal Crystals are the common currency of the Immortal Realm and are also common resources for Cultivate, containing pure Immortal Qi. Immortal Crystals are divided into Low Grade, Medium Grade, High Grade, and Advanced grades, with an exchange rate of one to one hundred." The attendant explained. Seeing Lin Wan's expression, she seemed to understand something and smiled, "If Senior does not have Immortal Crystals, you can also use other items to offset the price. This building has specialized appraisers who can provide an estimate for Senior."

"That will do." Lin Wan nodded and took out several Magic Treasures and Materials from his storage ring that he did not need from his time in the Lower Realm, but were of decent quality, and handed them to the attendant. "Take a look at these; how many Immortal Crystals are they worth?"

These Magic Treasures and Materials were considered high-quality in the Lower Realm, but Lin Wan had no idea what their value would be in the Immortal Realm.

The attendant took them and looked carefully. A flash of surprise crossed her eyes as she said, "These items of yours, Senior, have decent Materials, but the refining techniques and the Law contained within are slightly crude; they must be items from the Lower Realm. In the Immortal Realm, their value is not high. However, these few pieces of Ore are quite rare. I estimate they are worth about five thousand Low Grade Immortal Crystals."

Five thousand Low Grade Immortal Crystals? Lin Wan calculated in his heart that one information Jade Slip cost one hundred Low Grade Immortal Crystals, which was not expensive. However, he needed more than just one or two Jade Slips.

"First, help me exchange these for Immortal Crystals. Additionally, I need to purchase quite a bit of information; could you recommend some essential ones?" Lin Wan said.

"Very well, Senior, please wait a moment." The attendant took the items to the counter. Before long, she returned with a Storage Pouch and handed it to Lin Wan. "Senior, your items have been valued at a total of five thousand two hundred Low Grade Immortal Crystals, all of which are in this Storage Pouch. Additionally, these are some essential information Jade Slips I have selected for you; please take a look, Senior."

The attendant handed over a tray with a dozen or so Jade Slips on it.

Lin Wan took them and scanned them one by one with his Divine Sense.

"Donghua Immortal Domain Gazetteer" (Latest Edition) — Records in detail the geography, power distribution, local customs, taboos, etc., of the Donghua Immortal Domain.

"Immortal Realm General Knowledge" — Introduces the basic situation of the Immortal Realm, such as the Realm of Cultivate, Heaven And Earth Treasure, common races, currency, weights and measures, etc.

"Immortal Court Law Summary" — Lists the important Laws promulgated by the Immortal Court, as well as the consequences of violating them.

"Ascension Conference Detailed Explanation (Current Session)" — Details the rules, procedures, rewards, precautions, etc., for this session of the Ascension Conference.

"Donghua Immortal City Guide" — Maps of Donghua Immortal City, distribution of major forces, famous shops, restaurants, Immortal Cave rentals, etc.

"Common Heaven And Earth Treasure Illustrated Handbook" — Illustrated, introducing common Spiritual Plant, Ore, Yao Beast Materials, etc., in the Immortal Realm.

"Introduction to Basic Alchemy, Artifact Refining, and Talisman Making" — Basic methods for Alchemy, Artifact Refining, and Talisman making popular in the Immortal Realm.

"Earning and Using Immortal Crystals" — Introduces various ways to earn Immortal Crystals in the Immortal Realm, as well as the uses of Immortal Crystals.

"Not bad, I'll take these." Lin Wan nodded; what the attendant chose were exactly what he urgently needed at the moment.

"Thirteen Jade Slips in total, costing one thousand three hundred Low Grade Immortal Crystals." The attendant smiled.

Lin Wan took out one thousand three hundred Low Grade Immortal Crystals from the Storage Pouch and handed them to the attendant. These Immortal Crystals were about the size of a fingernail, diamond-shaped, crystal clear, and emitted a faint, pure Immortal Qi; these were indeed Low Grade Immortal Crystals. Medium Grade, High Grade, and Advanced Immortal Crystals contained even purer and denser Immortal Qi, were slightly larger in size, and had deeper colors.

After the transaction was completed, the attendant handed the Jade Slips to Lin Wan and added, "Senior is new here, so you must not have a place to stay yet, right? Our building has a specialized Immortal Cave rental service in the east of the city. The environment is quiet, the Immortal Qi is dense, and the prices are fair. If Senior has a need, this Junior can take Senior to take a look."

"Immortal Cave?" Lin Wan's heart stirred. He did indeed need to find a place to settle down first to digest this information, and at the same time, prepare for the Ascension Conference three months later. This Wanbao Tower seemed to have a good reputation, so the Immortal Cave rental service was worth considering.

"Take me to see it." Lin Wan said.

"Please follow me, Senior." The attendant led Lin Wan out of the third floor, out of Wanbao Tower, and onto a luxurious open-top carriage pulled by gentle Immortal Beasts, heading towards the east of the city.

The carriage was not fast, but it was very steady. Lin Wan sat in the carriage, admiring the bustling scene of the Immortal City while using his Divine Sense to browse the Jade Slips he had just purchased.

According to "Immortal Realm General Knowledge," the Cultivate Realm in the Immortal Realm, from low to high, is roughly divided into: Human Immortal, Earth Immortal, Heavenly Immortal, Profound Immortal, Golden Immortal, Grand Unity Golden Immortal, Immortal King, and Immortal Emperor. Each major Realm is further divided into four minor stages: Early Stage, Middle Stage, Late Stage, and Peak. True Immortal is a general term for Cultivators who have just ascended, initially forged their Immortal body, and converted their Immortal essence, usually corresponding to the "Human Immortal" Realm. Lin Wan's current True Immortal Middle Stage cultivation, according to the standards of the Immortal Realm, was "Human Immortal Middle Stage."

"Human Immortal, Earth Immortal, Heavenly Immortal, Profound Immortal, Golden Immortal, Grand Unity Golden Immortal, Immortal King, Immortal Emperor..." Lin Wan recited silently in his heart, feeling the vast power represented by each Realm and the unreachable gap between them. He was currently only at the "Human Immortal Middle Stage," and above him were Earth Immortal, Heavenly Immortal, Profound Immortal... and even the legendary Immortal Emperor! The path of immortality is long, and the Dao is obstructed and arduous.

"However, I have the 'Chaos Reincarnation Divine Kingdom.' With this supreme Dao Fruit, I am invincible among those of the same Rank, and fighting across Ranks is not difficult. As long as the resources are sufficient, improving my Realm is not a difficult matter." Lin Wan quickly adjusted his mindset, filled with confidence.

"Donghua Immortal Domain Gazetteer" records that the Donghua Immortal Domain is vast and boundless, stretching for unknown billions of miles, and is ruled by the Immortal Court. Under the Immortal Court, there are countless Sects, families, races, and forces, intertwined with complex relationships. Among them, forces such as the Donghua Immortal Sect, Yaochi Immortal Palace, Divine Weapon Pavilion, Danding Immortal Sect, and Tianji Tower are the most powerful, being the top forces in the Donghua Immortal Domain. All of them have Golden Immortal Masters, and it is even rumored that they have slumbering Grand Unity Golden Immortal Old Ancestors. Besides these, there are countless medium and small forces, as well as Loose Cultivator, rangers, mercenaries, etc.

"Donghua Immortal Sect, Yaochi Immortal Palace, Divine Weapon Pavilion... these top forces are the places where the top ten of the Ascension Conference will have the opportunity to join." Lin Wan noted this in his heart.

The "Immortal Court Law Summary" lists many Laws, such as the prohibition of private fighting or killing within the Immortal City, otherwise, one will be severely punished; one must not destroy the buildings or Formation of the Immortal City at will; one must pay taxes on time; and one must comply with the various decrees promulgated by the Immortal Court, etc. Among them, the punishment for "stowaways," just as Immortal Master Yunxu said, is extremely severe: light punishment means expulsion, while heavy punishment means being thrown into the "Immortal Suppression Prison," or even execution.

"It seems that I must participate in this Ascension Conference and achieve a good ranking to obtain an official Immortal status. Otherwise, after one year, when the temporary pass expires, I will become an 'illegal resident,' and the trouble will not be small." Lin Wan thought to himself.

The "Ascension Conference Detailed Explanation" details the rules of the conference. The Ascension Conference is divided into three stages: "Preliminary Selection," "Secondary Selection," and "Finals." The "Preliminary Selection" is an open audition; all registrants must pass a trial through a tower called "Ascension Tower," and the top ten thousand are selected based on the number of floors climbed. The "Secondary Selection" is a ring battle where the ten thousand Cultivators who passed the preliminary selection fight in pairs to determine the top one thousand. The "Finals" are the most brutal; the top one thousand Cultivators will be thrown into a Secret Realm called the "Myriad Races Battlefield" for a month of melee and slaughter, and finally, based on points, the top one hundred, and even the top ten, top three, and first place will be determined.

"Ascension Tower? Myriad Races Battlefield? A bit interesting." A flash of interest crossed Lin Wan's eyes. This method of selection not only tests strength but also Heart-Nature, wisdom, and even luck.

Just as Lin Wan was browsing the information on the Jade Slips, the carriage had already driven into a relatively quiet area in the east of the city where the Immortal Qi was denser. There were not many buildings here, but each one covered a very large area, with independent courtyards, gardens, and even rockeries and flowing water; the environment was quiet and elegant. Clearly, this was the "high-end residential area" in Donghua Immortal City.

"Senior, we have arrived." The attendant's voice pulled Lin Wan back from the information on the Jade Slips.

Lin Wan looked up and saw a courtyard covering several acres ahead, shrouded in a faint white mist. At the entrance of the courtyard hung a jade plaque with the three characters "Tingyu Pavilion" inscribed on it in a clear and elegant font. Within the white mist, one could faintly see pavilions, small bridges, and flowing water, with Immortal Qi lingering; the scenery was extremely beautiful.

"This Tingyu Pavilion is one of the best Immortal Caves we have here. It has an independent small courtyard, three quiet rooms, one Pill Refining Room, one Artifact Refining Room, and also comes with a small Spirit Gathering Formation, which can gather the Immortal Qi from a radius of one hundred miles. Cultivate here, and you will achieve twice the result with half the effort. The rent is five hundred Low Grade Immortal Crystals per month, and you need to pay three months in advance." The attendant introduced.

Five hundred Low Grade Immortal Crystals per month? Lin Wan raised an eyebrow; this price was not cheap. His entire net worth was only less than four thousand Low Grade Immortal Crystals. Renting for three months would take away one thousand five hundred, and adding the one thousand three hundred spent on purchasing information Jade Slips, he would only have about two thousand left. Moreover, he also needed to purchase Medicinal Pill, Talisman, and other resources for Cultivate to prepare for the Ascension Conference; this amount of Immortal Crystals was far from enough.

"It seems I have to find a way to earn some Immortal Crystals." Lin Wan smiled bitterly in his heart. In the Lower Realm, he was wealthy enough to rival a nation and had countless resources. Upon arriving in the Immortal Realm, he had become a pauper; even renting an Immortal Cave required careful calculation.

"Let's take this one, rent it for three months first." Lin Wan finally decided to rent it. The environment for Cultivate is very important; this "Tingyu Pavilion" looked good, and it had a small Spirit Gathering Formation, which was beneficial for his Cultivate. As for Immortal Crystals, he would just find ways to earn them later.

After paying one thousand five hundred Low Grade Immortal Crystals, Lin Wan received the Restriction token for "Tingyu Pavilion." After the attendant took her leave, Lin Wan activated the courtyard Restriction and walked into this, his first temporary residence in the Immortal Realm.

The courtyard was not large, but it was exquisite. Rockeries and flowing water, pavilions, and exotic flowers and plants were arranged in a staggered and orderly fashion, full of charm. The quiet room, Pill Refining Room, and Artifact Refining Room were all fully equipped, and all were set up with soundproofing and protective Restrictions, ensuring good privacy. The small Spirit Gathering Formation was indeed in operation, slowly gathering the surrounding Immortal Qi, making the density of Immortal Qi in the courtyard several times richer than that of the street outside.

"Not bad, I will settle down here for the time being." Lin Wan was very satisfied with this place. He walked into the main quiet room, activated the protective Restriction of the quiet room, then sat cross-legged and took out the dozen or so Jade Slips.

"The urgent task is to first understand the basic situation of the Immortal Realm and the detailed rules of the Ascension Conference. Then, it is to improve my strength and earn Immortal Crystals to prepare for the conference."

Lin Wan picked up the "Ascension Conference Detailed Explanation" Jade Slip and immersed his Divine Sense into it.

Time passed quietly in Cultivate and reading.

Three days later, Lin Wan had roughly browsed through the information in the dozen or so Jade Slips and had a preliminary understanding of the Immortal Realm, the Donghua Immortal Domain, and the Ascension Conference.

"The Immortal Realm is vast, and the Donghua Immortal Domain is only one of them. The Immortal Court rules, but it is not monolithic; internal forces are complex, and externally there are threats from other Immortal Territories, as well as the Demon Realm, Monster Realm, Netherworld, etc."

"In the Cultivate Realm, Human Immortal is just the beginning. To gain a foothold in the Immortal Realm, one needs at least the cultivation of an Earth Immortal. And to make something of oneself, Heavenly Immortal is the foundation. A Profound Immortal can be the master of a city and a hegemon of a region. A Golden Immortal can establish a Sect and be honored as an ancestor. Grand Unity Golden Immortal is already a legend; Immortal King and Immortal Emperor are even more ethereal and elusive."

"The Ascension Conference is the best springboard for me to obtain official Immortal status and come into contact with the top forces of the Immortal Realm. With my current Human Immortal Middle Stage cultivation, combined with the 'Chaos Reincarnation Divine Kingdom,' breaking into the top one hundred should not be difficult. But if I want to break into the top ten, or even compete for the top three or first place, I need to improve my cultivation to Human Immortal Late Stage, or even Peak, to have a greater chance."

"Resources for Cultivate... Immortal Crystals are the foundation, but to quickly improve cultivation, I also need Medicinal Pill and Heaven And Earth Treasure. These all require Immortal Crystals to purchase. And what I lack most right now is Immortal Crystals."

Lin Wan put down the Jade Slip, his brow slightly furrowed. Strength and resources were the two major problems he was currently facing.

"It seems I have to go earn some Immortal Crystals first." Lin Wan stood up and walked out of the quiet room.

According to the "Earning and Using Immortal Crystals" Jade Slip, there are many ways to earn Immortal Crystals in the Immortal Realm, such as hunting Yao Beast, collecting Spiritual Plant, mining Ore, completing various tasks, refining and selling Medicinal Pill and Magic Treasures, joining forces to receive a salary, etc.

"Hunting Yao Beast, collecting Spiritual Plant, and mining Ore require leaving the Immortal City and heading to the wilderness, mountains, and dangerous places; it is time-consuming and labor-intensive, and there is a certain amount of risk. Completing various tasks is a good choice, but it usually also requires leaving the Immortal City or having special skills. Refining and selling Medicinal Pill and Magic Treasures... although I know some Alchemy and Artifact Refining, the popular Pill Formula and Artifact Refining methods in the Immortal Realm are different from those in the Lower Realm and require study and practice. Joining forces to receive a salary... time waits for no one, and the Ascension Conference is imminent; joining a force has too many constraints."

Lin Wan pondered for a moment, and an idea formed in his heart.

"Go to the 'Fighting Platform' and take a look. It can earn me Immortal Crystals and also allow me to understand the fighting styles and strength levels of Cultivators in the Immortal Realm, preparing me for the Ascension Conference."

The "Fighting Platform" is a legal place in Donghua Immortal City for Cultivators to spar, fight, resolve grudges, and even fight to the death. On the Fighting Platform, there are powerful protective Formation, which can ensure that the aftermath of the battle does not affect the outside world. Cultivators can fight publicly on the Fighting Platform; the winner can obtain the bets placed by the opponent or the rewards provided by the Fighting Platform. Some powerful Cultivators can even set up a ring to accept challenges and win generous rewards.

"I'll go to the Fighting Platform!"

Lin Wan left "Tingyu Pavilion" and, following the map in the "Donghua Immortal City Guide," walked towards the "Fighting Platform" in the west of the city.