Chapter 645: Suitable for Both Old and Young
Wangchuan Immortal City.
No sooner had Sun Lingtong passed through the city gate than he was stopped.
“I am the guiding officer. First, congratulations to all of you for passing the examination of the Mirror of Karma and entering Wangchuan Immortal City.”
“As long as you pass through the gate, you are considered newcomers of our Wangchuan Immortal City!”
The guiding officer was a middle-aged man with a friendly smile. “First, let me give everyone an entry jade token.”
He handed Sun Lingtong, the old man, and the others each a jade token.
Sun Lingtong accepted the jade token. With a sweep of his spiritual sense, he immediately understood its details: this jade token was extremely ordinary, merely a crudely made magical artifact used to indicate one’s identity.
The guiding officer said, “Being able to join Wangchuan Immortal City is no easy matter. This jade token is a brand-new starting point. Everything in the past can vanish like smoke. Here, you may adopt a new name and begin anew.”
“Of course, keeping your original name is also fine.”
“There is only one point. The jade token only allows one chance to engrave your name. Once the name is set, it cannot be changed.”
Sun Lingtong and the others listened carefully, remaining silent.
The guiding officer continued, “After engraving your name, you may take your jade token and go to places such as the Fire Grain Warehouse to collect cultivation resources one by one.”
“These supplies will vary in amount according to each person’s situation. Please do not find it strange.”
“For instance, the cultivation resources you can receive will be the most abundant.”
As he said this, the guiding officer looked toward Sun Lingtong, the smile on his face widening a little. “Here are several visiting cards. Some prominent figures within our Immortal City wish to befriend a good person like you. They specifically entrusted these cards to the guiding officers.”
Sun Lingtong knew that he was once again benefiting from Ning Zhuo’s mother.
Under the illumination of the Mirror of Karma, rosy clouds had surged around him, with blue-white radiance spreading outward, revealing a life of great goodness and virtuous character. Thus, the moment he entered the city, he received preferential treatment and courtesy.
Yet Sun Lingtong did not accept the visiting cards. “Being treated like this isn’t only because I’m a good person, is it?”
“I’m quite curious—what exactly are these people seeking?”
The guiding officer first praised Sun Lingtong’s clarity of mind before explaining, “That involves the policies of our Wangchuan Immortal City.”
“Anyone who wishes to enter the Immortal City must pass the test of the Mirror of Karma.”
“According to the results of the test, newcomers are divided into several tiers. The worst tier manifests threads of black-blood light. Such people must perform hard labor to cleanse their sins and undergo further inspection.”
“The middle tier displays turbid light. Although they have committed sins, the crimes are not severe, and they still possess goodwill and the intention to reform. Such newcomers will be supervised by the Purifying Karma Office. They must perform various karma-cleansing labor tasks. Once they accumulate enough merit, they may apply for inspection. If they pass, they will gain personal freedom and no longer be supervised.”
“The upper tier shows pure light. Only those with a clean past or very minor faults manifest such auspicious radiance. Such newcomers can be directly registered and become ordinary citizens of the city.”
“And the highest tier is people like you, sir. Those who possess merit and have performed great deeds of goodness. Once you enter the city, you receive the best treatment. You may take any task without restriction. Everyone respects and envies you. This is not something ordinary people can achieve through effort alone—it requires a truly great and benevolent heart.”
Sun Lingtong listened carefully and asked again, “What else?”
A flash of sharp light passed through the guiding officer’s eyes as he finally revealed the key point.
“In the City Lord’s Mansion, a certain task has been posted for a long time. Only those with great benevolence and merit upon them have the ability to accomplish it. Anyone who succeeds in completing this task will receive special favor from the Lord of Wangchuan Prefecture and be granted high office and generous rewards.”
Only then did Sun Lingtong understand.
Because of a trace of aura left by the Buddhist Doctor Meng Yaoyin, he had been marked as an exceptionally good person.
This identity was extremely advantageous within Wangchuan Immortal City. The real reason was that the Lord of Wangchuan Prefecture had something he desired. Under his rule, such great good people naturally became part of the upper ranks of Wangchuan Immortal City.
The prominent figures behind these visiting cards were paying respect not to Sun Lingtong himself, but to his future high-ranking identity—and the resources and connections that would come with it.
Sun Lingtong pondered for a moment. “I joined Wangchuan Immortal City simply to start over and live freely on my own. I don’t wish to be entangled in too many troublesome matters.”
“I’ll go take a look around first.”
After all, he had come into the city to stir up trouble. Thus he bid farewell to the guiding officer and the old man.
The guiding officer still wanted to accompany him and continue the introductions, hoping to build a friendly connection, but Sun Lingtong politely declined.
The guiding officer could only watch him leave eagerly, reminding him before parting, “You’ve just arrived and may not know the latest situation. Although the commotion has been suppressed, I still want to warn you—do not go to the City Lord’s Mansion for the time being.”
“Earlier, a demonic cultivator was extremely arrogant. Confident in her strength, she forcibly broke through the city gate and charged straight into the City Lord’s Mansion.”
“She has currently been intercepted and is trapped within the formation of the City Lord’s Mansion.”
“Sir, if you wish to take that task from the City Lord’s Mansion, there’s no need to rush.”
Sun Lingtong’s heart stirred at once. He wondered whether this demonic cultivator might be an opportunity. After all, he had come to Wangchuan Immortal City to cause trouble and sabotage things, but he was alone and limited in strength.
The Buddhist Doctor Meng Yaoyin had advised him to let everything follow its natural course.
Sun Lingtong kept this firmly in mind and could not help but think, “If I hear about the demonic cultivator and take the initiative to approach the City Lord’s Mansion, does that count as ‘following the natural course’?”
The guiding officer advised him not to go, but Sun Lingtong harbored ulterior motives. Of course he would head there immediately.
On the surface, he bade farewell to the guiding officer and also parted from the old man.
“The old man has some foundation.”
“Since he wants to start a new life in Wangchuan Immortal City, there’s no need for him to go with me.”
“If something happens, it would be bad if I implicated him.”
Sun Lingtong had been able to enter the city largely thanks to the old man’s help. He remembered that kindness and did not want to involve an innocent person.
Wangchuan Immortal City was dominated by white and green tones. The atmosphere was peaceful. Passersby yielded to one another politely, wearing smiles.
Sun Lingtong’s destination was clear—the City Lord’s Mansion.
He slipped into a narrow alley and gradually displayed the true skills of an excellent disciple of the No-Void Sect. Silently infiltrating forward, he soon reached the City Lord’s Mansion. He discovered the main gate tightly closed, the restrictions on it fluctuating strongly, while squads of Yin soldiers continuously patrolled outside the tall walls.
Sun Lingtong used a magical artifact to probe slightly and immediately sensed concealed spiritual sense and the operation of detection formations.
“That demonic cultivator earlier was too high-profile. She charged straight into the city, triggering full alert. Sigh…”
“The City Lord’s Mansion is too heavily guarded. With only my Foundation Establishment cultivation, how could I possibly sneak in?”
Just as Sun Lingtong was feeling troubled, a carriage came galloping toward the mansion.
The driver lashed the reins to keep the horses running at high speed while shouting, “Quickly open the mansion gate! My lord has urgent official business that must be handled immediately!”
The guards immediately raised their weapons, but the next moment, the formation outside the City Lord’s Mansion opened automatically.
White light flashed from the carriage, revealing the aura of the Lord of Wangchuan Prefecture.
“Ah, this is an order personally issued by the Lord of Wangchuan Prefecture!”
“Open the gate quickly.”
“Clear the road!”
The guards’ expressions changed drastically as they immediately complied.
“What a great opportunity!” Seeing this scene, Sun Lingtong’s eyes widened, bursting with brilliant light.
Although he knew this move was extremely risky, Sun Lingtong did not hesitate. At this moment, he directly gambled with his life.
He activated his theft technique, concealing himself as much as possible. When the carriage passed by, he used the shadow by the wall, rolled once, and then climbed onto the underside of the carriage.
The wheels rumbled as the carriage raced forward, passing directly through the mansion gate and charging into the City Lord’s Mansion.
“I’m in!” Sun Lingtong clung tightly to the carriage’s undercarriage, feeling exhilarated. “Sneaking into the City Lord’s Mansion isn’t that hard after all.”
“Hahaha!”
“This is thrilling.”
Sun Lingtong’s eyes gleamed, saliva gathered in his mouth, and his entire body tingled with excitement.
The carriage turned through several corners inside the mansion, clearly familiar with the roads. Many guards and attendants along the way hurriedly stepped aside.
“Whoa!”
Finally, the driver pulled the reins sharply, causing the four fine horses to rear up. The carriage stopped abruptly.
A cultivator jumped down from the carriage, his face filled with urgency. He muttered repeatedly, urging himself, “Quick, quick, quick!”
He ran to a door and began forming hand seals. After quite some time, he finally succeeded in opening it.
Meanwhile, the driver had already calmed the horses and began checking the carriage.
As soon as the door opened, the cultivator rushed inside without looking back, casually pulling the door closed behind him.
“The process to open this door is so complicated. This must be an important place within the City Lord’s Mansion,” Sun Lingtong thought.
The two doors quickly closed, leaving only a gap wide enough for one person.
Sun Lingtong had already hidden within the bushes beside the doorway. At this moment, he leapt up and slipped silently into the room through the gap—dangerously close.
The door shut with a sound.
The cultivator hurried forward, and Sun Lingtong followed closely behind.
Inside the room were rows upon rows of bookshelves, all filled with jade slips.
“Could this be the library of cultivation techniques?” Sun Lingtong’s interest immediately dropped somewhat.
Both he and Ning Zhuo were not lacking in excellent cultivation techniques.
“Even if I sell them for money, it’s still good,” Sun Lingtong comforted himself.
“Here, here. Yes, this one!” The cultivator, sweating profusely, searched frantically through the shelves. Soon he found his target. Overjoyed, he immediately reached out to grab it.
“Who’s there?!” The next moment, he suddenly turned around and spotted Sun Lingtong at the corner.
In an instant, Sun Lingtong’s hair stood on end. Alarm bells rang wildly in his mind as he sensed fatal danger.
This cultivator might appear ordinary, but that was only because his aura was suppressed to the extreme. Now that he acted, it was clearly the power of a Nascent Soul–level cultivator!
Thud.
Just as the cultivator was about to strike, he was ambushed and knocked unconscious.
Sun Lingtong, who had been on the brink of death, suddenly survived. The abrupt shift left him nearly unable to breathe, standing there in a daze.
The old man appeared and smiled at him. “Kid, why are you staring at me? I’m your lifesaver.”
The old man he had met earlier at the Forgetting Love Ferry had reappeared and had saved Sun Lingtong just in time.
Sun Lingtong snapped out of his shock but stepped back several paces, his face full of caution.
“Senior, just now you clearly used me to attract the target’s attention, then seized the opportunity to knock him out.”
“And at the city gate, you also used me to pass the Mirror of Karma inspection smoothly.”
“The earliest time was at the Forgetting Love Ferry. You did help me, but you also took the chance to praise Yun Xiao and Yue Yi, gaining appreciation and boarding the Empty Return Raft first!”
“Were you helping me—or using me?”
The old man laughed. “The kid is quite clever. No wonder you’re a junior of the No-Void Sect.”
Sun Lingtong froze. “Senior, you…”
The old man said nothing. Instead, his hands moved continuously, performing several theft techniques of the No-Void Sect—some signature moves, others secret techniques.
With the simplest method, he proved his identity.
The old man continued, “I am indeed from the No-Void Sect. My name is Zeng Jide. I’m the elder of your elders’ elders. Kid, your courage is enormous—hundreds of times greater than mine!”
“You knew nothing and still rushed into Wangchuan Immortal City… tsk tsk, that’s practically courting death!”
“I secretly protected you all the way. Especially when you clung to the underside of the carriage to sneak into the City Lord’s Mansion. Did you really think you managed that purely by your own ability?”
Sun Lingtong hurriedly bowed in thanks. “Senior Zeng, so you’re one of us! You saved my life—this kindness will forever be engraved in my heart.”
In his heart, he suddenly understood. This was why the Buddhist Doctor Meng Yaoyin had told him to let things follow their natural course—because a senior from his sect had been protecting him all along.
Sun Lingtong immediately changed his expression, ran before Zeng Jide, and directly knelt to kowtow.
Zeng Jide had been dead for a long time, yet his thieving nature had never changed. He loved stealing and did so in an extremely flamboyant style. He would even issue advance notices, allowing his targets to strengthen their defenses and artificially increase the challenge.
Zeng Jide’s theft techniques were astonishing, and he loved challenging difficult targets.
After discovering Sun Lingtong’s identity as a disciple of the No-Void Sect, he genuinely liked this junior.
“This kid’s courage is even greater than mine! Rare—truly rare.”
“His theft techniques are extremely proficient. Although he’s practicing the sect’s boy technique, the foundation of his body and soul is astonishingly strong. At such a young age, yet his base is so solid. Not bad—truly not bad!”
Sun Lingtong mainly cultivated the Upper Dantian. However, his body had benefited from the Fetal-Breath Spirit Vessel, while his soul foundation was even stronger, reaching the level of a million human souls.
The accumulation of such powerful soul strength relied entirely on the Heaven-Bestowed Talisman.
This talisman had originally come from Luo Si. It was arranged by the Gray Bone Elder for the destined savior. After Ning Zhuo learned about it, he voluntarily gave the Heaven-Bestowed Talisman to Sun Lingtong to use. Ning Zhuo himself had already elevated his soul to the level of a million human souls earlier by using four Nascent Soul–level treasures.
“Meeting here is fate. Kid, I’ll give you proper guidance. When you return to the living world in the future, just mention my good name more often.” Zeng Jide stroked his beard.
Clearly, he had a personality that loved showing off and basking in admiration.
Sun Lingtong asked, “Senior, what did you come to Wangchuan Immortal City for?”
Zeng Jide then explained how he had previously announced to the Lord of Wangchuan Prefecture that he would come to steal a treasure.
Sun Lingtong immediately raised his thumb and praised Zeng Jide’s thieving spirit.
This touched Zeng Jide’s proudest point. The old senior burst into laughter and asked Sun Lingtong many questions.
Sun Lingtong replied with a mixture of truth and lies, especially emphasizing his love of theft and pursuit of thrilling excitement. This made Zeng Jide even happier.
“Marvelous, marvelous!”
“No wonder I felt such affinity with you.”
“This time I will definitely take you to wreak havoc in Wangchuan Immortal City and make our names resound through the Netherworld together, hahaha!”
After this conversation, their relationship became extremely close.
Sun Lingtong walked to the unconscious cultivator and took the jade slip from his hand. With curiosity, he sent his spiritual sense inside.
His brows immediately lifted in surprise.
“Oh? This is Luo Si’s résumé record!”