Divine Pillar Mountain also housed a Tier Three Spiritual Vein.

Numerous great families and Loose Cultivators had carved out manors, palaces, and Cave Mansions on this majestic peak, forming a complex and loosely-knit alliance.

Divine Pillar Immortal City was situated at the summit of Divine Pillar Peak. Its streets were wide and crisscrossed in a complex grid. Immortal Towers, palaces, and the mansions of great families stood in dense, orderly rows.

The city was dotted with tall, verdant ancient trees where Spirit Birds danced and gathered, adding to the historical depth of this city of Cultivators.

In the airspace near the Immortal City, a great number of Cultivators came and went. Some rode beams of Escape Light, while others traveled on Magical Artifacts or mounts.

Before the four main city gates, multi-colored glints of spiritual light rose and fell in a constant, dazzling display of prosperity.

The skies above the Immortal City were protected not only by a City Defense Array, but also a No-fly Array and a Grand Array that prohibited conflict.

If a Cultivator were to use a Flying Escape or activate a Magical Artifact or Divine Technique within the city, they would trigger the Grand Arrays, which would descend with a restrictive light to suppress and bind the offender.

Coupled with the patrols organized by the city’s major families, who patrolled day and night, even a Life Talisman Cultivator had to abide by the local rules upon arrival.

When Divine Pillar Mountain came into view, Fang Cheng put away his Flying Boat ahead of time. After putting on a disguise, he transformed into a beam of azure Escape Light and shot straight toward the north gate of the Immortal City, where he landed.

Outside the city lay a boundless, surging sea of clouds. The bright sun shone down, causing the clouds to roil and churn, their wispy tendrils dancing in the air—a truly refreshing sight.

The Immortal City’s gate was towering and majestic, and the gatehouse atop it was ornate and elegant. A hidden aura of the Life Talisman Realm emanated from within the tower, clearly belonging to the Cultivator garrisoned there.

Below the gate, ten armor-clad Sensing Realm cultivators stood guard, holding long halberds with solemn expressions.

Two ten-foot-tall Pixiu statues flanked the gate. Any Cultivator wishing to enter the city had to toss three Spirit Stones into the mouth of one of the statues.

Otherwise, they would be blocked by the halberd-wielding Cultivators. If the commotion grew large enough, the Life Talisman Cultivator from the gatehouse would also make an appearance.

Under the watchful eyes of the halberd-wielding Cultivators, Fang Cheng casually took out three Lower-Grade Spirit Stones, placed them in the Pixiu’s mouth, and calmly walked into the Immortal City.

The wide, clean, bluestone streets were bustling with pedestrians. Shops lined both sides, their dazzling array of signs a feast for the eyes.

Most of the Cultivators in the city were in the Sensing Realm. Fang Cheng suppressed his aura slightly, revealing only a Late-stage Sensing Cultivation, and began to stroll leisurely through the streets.

Occasionally, a Life Talisman Cultivator would appear, always riding in a Spirit Beast Chariot. They would parade grandly down the main thoroughfare, and upon reaching their destination, someone would enthusiastically greet them and escort them into a shop.

He noticed that the shops along the Immortal City’s main road were mostly two or three-story pavilions, though some taller ones reached five, six, or even eight or nine stories. All were quaint and distinctive in their own way.

Nearly all the great families of Divine Pillar Mountain had established villas within the Immortal City. Aside from the shops and the small courtyards rented by Loose Cultivators, the rest of the city was comprised of the manors and estates of these families.

Fang Cheng wandered through the city. Before long, he found a shop and went inside to sell the storage bags he had acquired from the ruined tower in the Myriad Phenomena Immortal Sect, along with all the Spirit Talismans, medicinal pills, and spiritual materials he no longer needed. He received over two hundred thousand Spirit Stones in return.

While he was at it, he also asked about Dao Pattern Spirit Jade, but after several shops came up empty, he couldn’t be bothered to ask anymore.

Half a day later, he found an inn called Yuelai Inn. He ordered a table of Spiritual Cuisine, gave a few instructions to the waiter, and then began to eat and drink by himself, enjoying the meal while observing the worldly affairs of the cultivation city outside his window.

Soon after, a graceful woman in a simple dress with delicate features approached. She came to his table, performed a respectful curtsy, and asked softly, "Are you Senior Brother Suanni?"

Fang Cheng looked up and saw that although the woman appeared delicate and frail, with a slender figure, her aura was remarkably dense. She possessed a Ninth-Layer Sensing Cultivation.

This had to be the Inner Sect Disciple who had found a trace of the Thousand-Faced Insect.

"Have a seat."

He nodded slightly and gestured to the seat opposite him.

The woman studied Fang Cheng with curiosity for a moment before speaking. "Inner Sect Disciple Yun Feiyu, it’s an honor to meet you, Senior Brother."

Only after speaking did she gracefully take her seat.

Yun Feiyu was silent for a moment. Just as she was about to speak, she saw Fang Cheng raise a hand, signaling for her to remain quiet.

She froze, startled. Following Fang Cheng’s gaze out the window, she saw a black-robed Cultivator standing in a corner across the street. A Spirit Cat, its fur as black as jade, was perched on his shoulder. The cat’s eyes were fixed intently on Fang Cheng.

Seeing that Fang Cheng had noticed them, the man and cat immediately turned and left.

Fang Cheng withdrew his gaze and casually savored the dishes on the table. He asked with a smile, "It seems Divine Pillar Immortal City has quite a few Tribulation Cultivators?"

He had also been a Tribulation Cultivator back in Netherworld Valley. The moment he sensed someone spying on him and turned to look, he could tell with a single glance that the other person was in the same line of work!

Moreover, that person had also hidden their Life Talisman Realm cultivation.

Yun Feiyu was quite reserved in Fang Cheng’s presence. Hearing his question, she replied, "According to the City Lord’s Mansion, no Tribulation Cultivator dares to show their face within a thousand-li radius of Divine Pillar Mountain."

At the same time, she thought to herself, ’This Senior Brother must really be from the Law Enforcement Hall. He truly is one of the Ten Fiends. Rumor has it they’re all paranoid and suspicious of everything...’

Fang Cheng chuckled but remained noncommittal. He changed the subject, saying, "Let’s not talk business just yet. We can speak in detail upstairs after we eat."

...

The black-robed Cultivator turned into a small alley and walked briskly, soon arriving before the gate of a courtyard.

He formed a hand seal for a Spell, chanted a few incantations to disable the courtyard’s restrictive wards, and pushed the gate open to enter.

In the tranquil courtyard sat a man and a woman, playing a board game.

The man was dressed in splendid robes and had an extraordinary air about him. He was quite handsome, with a subtle hint of authority in his expression.

His opponent was a delicate and beautiful young woman.