13: Ask Star City

Gu Changan carefully observed this outstanding Cultivator, who had a hairpin radiating a yellow treasure aura stuck in his hand!

He held a longsword radiating a yellow treasure aura in his hand, and wore a magic robe radiating a yellow treasure aura on his body!

Wrapped around his waist was a belt with 7 gemstones, which also radiated a yellow treasure aura!

Finally, even his golden boots radiated a yellow treasure aura!

Furthermore, he wore 4 rings on his 10 fingers!

All of which also radiated a yellow treasure aura!

Gu Changan gasped. Had he encountered a second-generation official? Or a second-generation rich kid?

He was covered in Magic Treasures from head to toe, but judging by his explanation, he was likely a second-generation rich kid who didn't go out often.

At this moment, a Fellow Daoist nearby hurriedly bowed to the second-generation rich kid, "Many thanks to this Fellow Daoist for clearing up our confusion. I am truly grateful!"

The second-generation rich kid seemed pleased and nodded, "Let me tell you! I have been to all 13 of these cities!"

"Except for the largest, Wenxing City, each of the other 12 cities has a seven-zhang-tall mysterious copper star-observing platform erected in its center."

"Suspended at the top of the platform is a 'Star-Suppressing Pearl.' During the day, it collects sunlight and transforms it into a pale golden flowing light, while at night, it draws in starlight and condenses it into silver threads."

"The twelve flowing light silver threads interweave into a net in the air, wrapping perfectly around Wenxing City—this is the 'Wenxing Great Formation.'"

"When the net of the 'Wenxing Great Formation' circulates, the entire city is covered by a translucent Star Power barrier, causing even passing spirit birds to instinctively fly around it."

"Only Cultivators holding a 'Star Token' from the Tianji Pavilion can open a temporary passage through the barrier."

"I am untalented, but I happen to possess one 'Star Token'!"

At this time, sighs and sounds of envy emanated from those around once again.

The corners of the second-generation rich kid's mouth curled up involuntarily.

Gu Changan once again realized the vastness of this world.

The flying boat landed at a docking point outside the city.

Gu Changan and the others spent one Spirit Stone to enter the city. Inside, there was an overwhelming number of tall buildings, and Cultivators with terrifying pressure could be seen everywhere.

Gu Changan felt like it was his first time entering a city; he couldn't look at enough things.

Upon entering the city gate, there was a main road 20 zhang wide, paved with green jade stone, which was very clean and tidy.

The buildings on both sides of the street were mostly pavilions of three stories or more, with the ground floors mostly being shops, each hanging different banners.

Some had banners shaped like gold ingots, some had banners shaped like a Pill Furnace, and some had banners shaped like a longsword.

Gu Changan could roughly distinguish what they were selling!

Passing Cultivators either hovered in the middle of the street on their swords or walked about to pick out goods.

Some low-level Disciples who accidentally bumped into people hurriedly offered a "Qingxin Pill" as an apology, and there were no disputes.

At the end of the main road was the inner city, where the buildings appeared even more imposing.

In the center of the inner city was the "Wenxing Hall," which was the stronghold of the Tianji Pavilion in Wenxing City.

Outside the hall stood four "Star Guards" in silver armor all year round, all of whom were at the Late Golden Core Stage.

They wore "Star-Patterned Swords" at their waists, with the patterns of the Wenxing Great Formation carved on the scabbards. Whenever a Cultivator trespassed, the scabbards would light up with red light, drawing on the surrounding Formation power to trap the person.

On both sides of the inner city were distributed "Cultivator Immortal Caves" and "Marketplaces."

The Cultivator Immortal Caves here mainly utilized the Wenxing Great Formation to provide starlight for Cultivation.

The Marketplaces were more Advanced trading venues, designated by the Tianji Pavilion, but most of the items traded here were for the Golden Core Stage.

There were also pavilions nearby, where high-quality items for the Golden Core Stage were traded!

As a newcomer, Gu Changan only just understood these circumstances, and also learned that the Wenxing Grand Ceremony was only a preliminary screening.

Disciples who met the age requirements, had Spiritual Root Aptitude, or had powerful backgrounds could have the Opportunity to join the Tianji Pavilion.

Of course, the final examination was in Tianji City. As long as one passed the examination in Tianji City, one would officially join the Tianji Pavilion.

Gu Changan was somewhat impatient and followed the crowd to the central Wenxin Hall.

The Wenxin Hall faced 4 directions and had 4 main gates, with long queues forming beside each gate.

Gu Changan was still in the queue observing the situation inside the Wenxin Hall.

Before long, a Cultivator in silver armor came out to announce the rules.

"Conditions for participating in the Wenxing Grand Ceremony: 1. Age under 30. If one has a special skill, the age can be appropriately relaxed to 50."

"Special skills include: knowing Alchemy, Artifact Refining, or being able to set up Formations, or planting spiritual objects."

"2. Recruited Disciples must have at least Three Spirit Roots. If one has Four Spirit Roots or Five Spirit Roots, one can only become a Utility Disciple."

"3. The Tianji Pavilion values Destiny, and Cultivation values Opportunity. If one does not meet the conditions, one can spend 100 Spirit Stones to join the Tianji Pavilion, but one can only be recruited as a Utility Disciple."

After the silver-armored Cultivator finished speaking, a huge discussion began below.

"The Tianji Pavilion really knows how to do business. Even if you don't pass the test, you can still spend 100 Spirit Stones to join!"

"You say it lightly, do you know how much 100 Spirit Stones is?"

"We are currently in the Age of Dharma Decline; Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi is exhausted, and earning one spirit fragment is extremely difficult."

"100 Spirit Stones is 1,000 spirit fragments. Even if you don't eat or drink and save one spirit fragment a day, it would take 1,000 days, which is three years."

"Besides, with eating, drinking, and Cultivation, it would take 10 years if things go smoothly, and 20 years if things don't go smoothly, to save up 1,000 spirit fragments."

"You've lived half your life, and the Spirit Stones you finally saved up are just for a spot as a Utility Disciple?"

"That's why I say! Some people who have lived half their lives and still want to go Cultivate, if it's not out of passion, it's because they truly have some Luck and Opportunity."

"I hope we can pass smoothly this time!"

"I brought my nephew, he is 8 years old this year. I wonder if he has a Spiritual Root?"

"Relax, don't hold too much hope."

"People with Spiritual Roots are one in ten thousand. Even if you have a Spiritual Root, if it's not Three Spirit Roots, you're just going in to do odd jobs."

"That's still better than us Mortals!"

Listening to everyone's discussion, Gu Changan also understood the situation roughly!

When it was Gu Changan's turn, he was brought into a great hall.

The great hall was accessible from all directions, with 4 tall pillars supporting the entire building. The 4 pillars were carved with Dragons and Phoenixes, as well as unknown exotic beasts.

Gu Changan had no time to look around and was urged to go to the center.

In the center, there was a white stone pillar. An unknown Formation was carved on the ground, and the white stone pillar sat in the center of the Formation.

Someone nearby prompted, "Place your hand on the stone pillar and just relax."

Gu Changan began to follow the instructions. A burst of runes flashed on the white stone pillar, and he only felt a warm current enter his body from his palm.

Then it circled inside his body and finally flowed back onto the stone pillar.

Then the entire white stone pillar began to emit 5 colors of light, climbing up along the stone.

Finally, it climbed to two-fifths of the way up the stone pillar and then stopped.

The manager nearby said, "Low-grade Five-Element Spiritual Root. If you want to join the Tianji Pavilion, you can only be a Utility Disciple."

"If you agree, in 10 days there will be a flying boat to take you to Tianji City."

"If you do not want to join the Tianji Pavilion, you can leave directly."

"Next!"