074. Sect of Sword Cultivators

Originally, Lingyu believed herself to be flush with cash, but upon arriving in the Immortal City, she realized she was still far from wealth. The treasures she had picked up at Baishui Temple were nothing special here; during her strolls, she had seen that even if she sold them all, they would fetch only a hundred or so spirit stones at best. No wonder Cheng Yue's storage pouch was filled solely with spirit stones—apparently, the so-called treasure she’d found was, in his eyes, little better than trash.

Her main fortune consisted of the spirit stones in that pouch, but she had already spent most of them purchasing a spiritual sword and refining talismans. After buying a household registration and lending some to Luo Yun, she had just over a thousand left. Compared to the monthly income of a qi-refining cultivator, which was only twenty or thirty spirit stones, it seemed a considerable sum; but then again, a single Qi-Gathering Pill cost ten spirit stones, so it wasn’t a lot after all.

“I need to make money…” Lingyu muttered.

But before that, she had to find out how the Lingcang sects recruited disciples. If joining a sect truly suited her, she would have to focus on cultivating her strength over the next six months.

Unconsciously, night had fallen, and Abi had yet to return. Lingyu grew uneasy—surely that scatterbrained demon hadn’t gotten into trouble? With the map, she shouldn't have gotten lost. Besides, there was a soul contract between them; if something serious had happened—like death or severe injury—Lingyu would have sensed it. She felt nothing, so Abi’s safety should be assured. But why was she taking so long?

Growing more anxious, Lingyu called a word of notice to Fan Xianshu and prepared to go out in search of Abi.

She had just reached the door when it banged open; Abi entered, hugging a large basket. Seeing Lingyu, she asked curiously, “Oh? Are you going out?”

Lingyu nearly choked on her own breath.

Oblivious, Abi bustled over, eager to display her spoils. Lifting the big basket, she exclaimed, “The City of Cultivators really lives up to its name! Just look—these vegetables are dense with spiritual energy. Eating them will be incredibly nourishing!”

Lingyu patted her chest, swallowing down her irritation. “What happened? Why are you back so late?”

“You told me to go shopping! Where's the kitchen?”

Lingyu pointed the way and called after her, “Does it really take you that long to buy a few things?”

“Oh, well, I’m not familiar with the roads yet—” Abi began, but as she was speaking, she pulled a large cabbage from the basket and accidentally snagged a blue cloth pouch. Instantly, a clatter of objects scattered across the floor.

Lingyu focused her gaze, and the next moment her face was thunderous. “Abi!”

“What’s wrong?” Luo Yun, just emerging, hurried over at the commotion.

Lingyu pointed at the brightly colored, sparkling fragments rolling everywhere. “You were gone all this time just to buy these?”

Abi shrank back. “I… I…”

Lingyu took a deep breath. Calm down… Calm down… This foolish demon!

After a moment, her eyes widened. “What are you standing there for? Go cook!”

Abi drooped her head. “And these…”

“Pick them up and give them to me!”

“But…”

“Say another word, and you’ll never see them again,” Lingyu threatened.

Abi immediately shut her mouth, quickly gathering the items and returning them to the blue pouch, then reluctantly handed it over.

Lingyu turned to go back to her room but paused. “How much did you spend on them?”

Abi looked at her and timidly raised one finger.

One spirit stone. Not too bad, Lingyu thought, though her veins twitched at the thought. She’d only given Abi three spirit stones total, and a third of it was wasted on useless trinkets! Why did this fool have no resistance to shiny things?

“What are these stones?” Luo Yun asked, curious. “They’re quite pretty.”

“Just low-grade ores,” Lingyu said, tossing them into her storage pouch and glaring at Abi. They were attractive but of little value—otherwise, even Abi wouldn't have gotten a whole pouch for a single spirit stone.

Realizing she’d caused trouble, Abi put all her effort into preparing an exquisite meal. The three dined contentedly, so much so that the other two tenants abandoned their meal reservations and paid spirit stones to join their table.

The night passed peacefully. The next morning, the three left Abi at home and went about their business.

Luo Yun was out seeking work—his pockets were empty and he was in urgent need of money. Fan Xianshu planned to get a feel for Feilian City, observe how cultivators lived here, and inquire about the sects’ recruitment. Lingyu, meanwhile, went to buy household goods—she dared not send Abi shopping again, as who knew what impractical items she might bring back next.

In the upper realm, jade seemed especially cheap. Feilian City, from its walls to its houses, was built from a kind of stone called greenridge jade. Furniture shops offered plenty of jade pieces as well, with ordinary greenridge jade being inexpensive, while the pricier items boasted more features—flame jade for fire cultivators, waterdrop jade for water cultivators, and so on. Lingyu wasn’t fussy; she bought simple furniture, some jade bottles and boxes, and picked up miscellaneous items at the general store before heading home.

Back at the house, she sent Abi to arrange the furnishings and buried herself in her books. She read voraciously, so lost in study that time slipped away unnoticed.

By the time Luo Yun and Fan Xianshu returned, Lingyu had devoured more than half her stack of books. Cultivators possessed exceptional memory; what was impossible for mortals—absorbing pages at a glance—was a simple feat for them. That was why bookstores sealed most of their volumes: otherwise, a cultivator could flip through and remember everything, leaving nothing to sell.

Abi laid out dinner in the main hall, and after the three had eaten, they shared their news.

“I asked around. It’s true—the Lingcang sects will be recruiting disciples in half a year,” Fan Xianshu said, accepting the cup of tea Abi handed him and nodding in thanks. He produced several silk scrolls from his storage pouch. “Here’s some information. Take a look for yourselves.”

Lingyu and Luo Yun each took a set and read carefully.

Lingyu already knew from her reading that the world they inhabited was called the Cangming Realm—Cang as in the vast sea, Ming as in the deep abyss. According to the Brief History of Cangming, most of the realm’s surface was covered by the endless Canghai Sea. At its center ran a fathomless chasm, the Ming Abyss, splitting the realm in two. The abyss was so deep its bottom was shrouded in darkness, its mysteries unknown.

The Ming Abyss divided Cangming into two halves: to the east were the Great Wild and Tian’a, collectively called Eastern Ming; to the west lay Lingcang, the Grand Dream Marsh, and the Xingluo Sea, known as Western Ming.

Eastern Ming was primarily the domain of the demon clans, while Western Ming belonged to humans.

The Xingluo Sea lay in the lower right of Western Ming, bordering the Ming Abyss, with the Grand Dream Marsh to its west and Lingcang Continent to its northwest. Compared to Xingluo and the Dream Marsh, Lingcang was vast beyond measure, teeming with people and resources.

Due to differences in terrain and environment, the three regions developed distinct systems. The islands of Xingluo Sea were scattered, making it a haven for rogue cultivators; the Dream Marsh, with its perilous landscape, fostered powerful clans; Lingcang, boundless and rich, was home to innumerable sects.

Of the three, Xingluo Sea was the most free, the Dream Marsh the most disciplined, but Lingcang held the greatest power.

In Lingcang, the number of sects was almost beyond counting, but could generally be divided into branches of Daoism, Buddhism, Confucianism, martial arts, and demonic cultivation. There were seven great Daoist sects, five major demonic sects, four Buddhist temples, two Confucian academies, and one martial school.

The seven great Daoist sects were: the True Splendor Immortal Sect, Purple Cloud Sword Sect, Taibai Sect, Supreme Intent Sect, Red Mist Palace, Huayang Sect, and Langfeng Sect. The five major demonic sects were the Seven Kill Valley, Senluo Hall, Netherworld Sect, Wailing Ghost Mound, and Bone Temple. The four Buddhist temples were Guanhui Temple, Lifeborn Temple, Gui’an Temple, and White Deer Nunnery. The two Confucian academies were Imperial Wind Academy and Sincere Heart Pavilion. The martial school was Xingtian Gate.

These sects controlled the finest spiritual veins in Lingcang, each boasting millennia of heritage and generations of great figures. Among cultivators, they were revered as sacred places.

Though Lingcang, the Dream Marsh, and Xingluo Sea each had their own ecosystems, they were not isolated. The Lingcang sects regularly recruited disciples from the other two regions, while rogue cultivators from Lingcang and the Dream Marsh often sought refuge in Xingluo Sea. Conversely, once the cultivation clans of Lingcang or Xingluo reached a certain scale, they would be required to relocate to the Dream Marsh.

Every ten years, the Lingcang sects would send recruiters to Xingluo Sea. The next such event would be in six months, with eight sects confirmed to attend: the Daoist Purple Cloud Sword Sect, Taibai Sect, Supreme Intent Sect, and Red Mist Palace; the demonic Senluo Hall and Netherworld Sect; the Buddhist Guanhui Temple; and the martial Xingtian Gate.

Lingyu’s heart stirred as she saw the Taibai Sect on the list. Cheng Yue was a disciple of Taibai, and she still held his disciple token. In the lower realm, she had already set her sights on joining the Taibai Sect, but upon seeing another sect’s name on the scroll, her mind wavered.

She pointed to the scroll and asked, “Xianshi, is this Purple Cloud Sword Sect a sect for sword cultivators?”

“That’s right,” Fan Xianshu replied. “The Purple Cloud Sword Sect is the foremost sword sect in Lingcang, said to descend from the Patriarch of Swords, Lord Ziying. They follow the pure sword cultivation path. Only sword cultivators are accepted—no exceptions.”

Lingyu had never heard of this so-called Patriarch Ziying, but she couldn’t help feeling drawn to the Purple Cloud Sword Sect. Wasn’t joining a pure sword sect the dream of every sword cultivator?

“You want to join the Purple Cloud Sword Sect?”

Lingyu nodded without hesitation. “I prefer the master-disciple tradition. If I can join a sword sect, that would be ideal.”

Fan Xianshu nodded lightly and turned to see Luo Yun gazing at the words “Purple Cloud Sword Sect” with a look of yearning on his face.

So, he was a sword cultivator too!

“It seems Brother Luo also wants to join the Purple Cloud Sword Sect,” Fan Xianshu remarked.

Luo Yun snapped out of his daze, a little embarrassed, but did not deny it.

“Well then, you can sign up together when the time comes. The Lingcang sects don’t judge by cultivation, only by talent and temperament. You both have a good chance.”

“And you, Xianshi?” Lingyu asked.

“Me?” Fan Xianshu replied vaguely. “I’ll decide after I’ve seen more.”

PS: Woke up feeling dizzy today, seems like a cold is coming on, so just updating one chapter…