White Paper Immortal City.
Sun Lingtong had just passed through the city gate when he was stopped by someone.
"I am the Guiding Officer. First, congratulations to all of you for passing the Evil Mirror’s inspection and entering White Paper Immortal City."
"Once you’ve passed through the city gate, you become newcomers of our White Paper Immortal City!"
The Guiding Officer was a middle-aged man, with a kind smile on his face: "First, let me give each of you your jade token to enter the city."
He handed a jade token to Sun Lingtong, the elderly man, and others, one for each person.
Sun Lingtong received the jade token, and with a sweep of his Divine Sense, he understood: this jade token was very ordinary, merely a crudely made Magic Artifact used to show one’s identity.
The Guiding Officer said, "It’s exceptionally difficult for you all to join White Paper Immortal City. This jade token marks a brand-new start. Everything from the past can dissipate into smoke. Here, you can adopt a new name to begin anew."
"Of course, using your original name is also fine."
"Just one thing, the chance to engrave a name on the jade token comes only once, and after naming, it cannot be changed."
Sun Lingtong and the others listened carefully without showing expressions.
The Guiding Officer continued, "After engraving the name, you can take your jade token and go to places like the Fire Granary to collect your cultivation resources, one by one."
"These resources vary according to personal circumstances, so there’s no need to be surprised."
"For example, the cultivation resources you can receive are the most plentiful."
At this point, the Guiding Officer glanced at Sun Lingtong, his smile widening: "Here are a few invitations, from some prominent figures in our Immortal City, wishing to make your acquaintance. They specifically entrusted these to successive Guiding Officers for someone like you."
Sun Lingtong knew it was thanks to benefiting from Ning Zhuo’s mother’s influence.
Under the spectacle of the Evil Mirror, colorful clouds arose, and a blue and white glow appeared, revealing a life and character of great goodness. Thus, as soon as he entered the city, he was treated with preferential care.
But Sun Lingtong did not accept the invitations: "Being treated like this can’t be just because I am a good person, right?"
"I am curious about what these people seek?"
The Guiding Officer first praised Sun Lingtong’s clarity of thought, then explained: "This brings us to our White Paper Immortal City’s policies."
"Anyone wishing to enter the Immortal City must pass the test of the Evil Mirror."
"According to the results of the test, people are divided into several tiers. The worst emits strands of black-blooded light, needing to serve hard labor, atone for their sins, and then undergo inspection."
"The middle tier exhibits a murky light, signifying sin but not heavily, and they have good intent and desire for improvement. Such newcomers in the city are under the supervision of the Purification Department and often perform labor to cleanse their karma. Once accumulated sufficiently, they can apply for inspection. If passed, they gain personal freedom and are no longer supervised."
"The upper tier shows a pure light. Only those with a clean past or minor faults manifest such harmonious light. Such newcomers can register and directly become ordinary citizens."
"And the highest tier is people like you, sir. Those who have merits, having done great good deeds. Upon entering the city, they receive the best treatment and can take on any task without restrictions. Everyone respects and envies them. This isn’t something ordinary people can achieve through hard work; you must possess a truly great heart of benevolence."
Sun Lingtong listened carefully and asked again, "Is there more?"
A flash of insight appeared in the Guiding Officer’s eyes as he finally revealed the crucial point: "In the City Lord’s Mansion, there has long been a task released. Only those with a heart of great benevolence and merits can complete it. And historically, those who accomplished this task have been specially favored by the Lord of Wangchuan, granted high official positions and riches."
Sun Lingtong then realized.
It was because he was marked as a great benevolent person due to a surge of aura from Buddhist Doctor Meng Yaoyin.
This identity was very advantageous in White Paper Immortal City. The true reason was that the Lord of Wangchuan sought something under his rule, and such benevolent people naturally became the upper echelon in White Paper Immortal City.
Those invitations from various prominent figures were betting on Sun Lingtong’s future high status, and the resources and connections behind this status.
Sun Lingtong pondered: "I joined White Paper Immortal City simply to start afresh, to live freely alone, without getting entangled in too many troublesome matters."
"I’m going for a walk first."
He was indeed here to cause some ruckus, so he bid farewell to the Guiding Officer and the elderly man.
The Guiding Officer still wanted to follow him to continue the introduction and establish goodwill, but Sun Lingtong gently declined him.
The Guiding Officer had no choice but to gaze longingly, reminding Sun Lingtong before parting: "You’re new here and unaware of recent developments. Although the commotion has been concealed, I want to advise you not to visit the City Lord’s Mansion in the short term."
"Previously, a Demon Cultivator was extremely arrogant, overestimating her prowess, and forcibly broke through the city gate, charging all the way into the City Lord’s Mansion."
"She is currently being contained, trapped within the City’s Lord Mansion’s Array."
"Sir, if you wish to take on that task from the City Lord’s Mansion, there’s no need to rush."
Sun Lingtong’s heart stirred immediately, wondering if this Demon Cultivator might be the perfect opportunity. After all, he had come to White Paper Immortal City to stir things up, cause some disruption, but alas, he was alone and limited in power.
Buddhist Doctor Meng Yaoyin had advised him to let things happen naturally.
Sun Lingtong kept this advice in mind, now contemplating: "I’ve gained information on the Demon Cultivator, and approaching the City Lord’s Mansion, could this be ’letting things happen naturally’?"
The Guiding Officer advised him not to go, but with hidden intentions, he of course wanted to rush there.
On the surface, he bade farewell to the Guiding Officer and also to the elderly man.
"That elderly man has some depth."
"Since he wants to start a new life in White Paper Immortal City, there’s no need for him to be with me."
"If something happened, dragging him into it wouldn’t be good."
Sun Lingtong managed to enter the city, also thanks to the elderly man’s help. Sun Lingtong appreciated the kindness of the elder and didn’t want to implicate the innocent.