Chapter 106: Chapter 106: Redeeming Rewards

Jinhuai Prefecture City, the capital of Nanlin Road.

Since the fall of Mozhou Road, the city had become much livelier than before. Merchant caravans from all directions gathered here, either heading to the ports of Shang’an Prefecture to set sail or continuing north.

The city’s most famous landmark was Jinhuai Lake, which took up a third of the urban area. Countless scholars and refined guests had left behind widely celebrated poems here. Among the lake’s attractions, the three most famous were its flower boats. The "Seven Southern Wonders"—all of them—were gathered on these three vessels, drawing the admiration and longing of countless worldly souls.

Wang Ping returned to Nanlin Road but didn’t hurry back to Qianmu Temple. Instead, he first came to Jinhuai Prefecture City. He was currently standing on the shore of Jinhuai Lake, watching the scholars and guests drinking and making merry in the center of the lake, as well as the women dancing gracefully on the prows of the boats.

Such a life seemed so spontaneous and beautiful, but on the boats, there were also timid and cautious boatmen. The gracefully dancing women looked lovely, but in the Inspiration Realm, their spirits were in a perpetually negative state.

On the shore, vendors shouted their wares with all their might, bowing and scraping to every passerby. Their spirits were constantly stretched to a breaking point, as if they might collapse at any moment.

The lines of inspiration they formed coalesced into a world, making them look like puppets on strings—a truly chilling sight.

"Why trouble yourself over these people?" Yu Lian said.

"You’re right. One who has left the mortal world shouldn’t worry about those still in it." Wang Ping turned and saw two men, as elegant as jade, sparring with longswords on a distant bridge. They were trading blows back and forth as the surrounding crowd cheered them on.

The emotions of this crowd were positive. Among them were vendors, street thugs, and scholars.

The two men were street performers. Their seemingly perilous duel was nothing more than a sequence of pre-rehearsed moves. The organizer was quite savvy; the dueling men were first-rate in both looks and build, and their fighting styles were as graceful as a dance.

Wang Ping watched for a short while before heading toward the Daoist Scripture Hall in the city.

The internal layout of the Daoist Scripture Hall in Jinhuai Prefecture City was almost identical to the one in Changwen Prefecture City, with a main hall, an upper gallery, an Inner Court, and a small courtyard in the back for administrative work.

Wang Ping had come to apply for a Dao Field at Baisui Lake in Wudao Prefecture. After stating his purpose, a Qi Cultivator led him to the administrative offices in the rear courtyard.

It was a small courtyard similar to Wenyang Taoist’s, but the Qi Cultivators here weren’t as timid and cautious as those in Changwen Prefecture.

The door to the main building opened, and Wang Ping saw an old man in a green Daoist robe. His hair and beard were completely white, and his face was a web of deep wrinkles. Such an appearance was rare among Entering Cultivators. People like this were either near the end of their lifespan or had achieved Foundation Establishment too late in life.

However, this man didn’t seem to be at the end of his life. Within him, Wang Ping could sense a familiar Wood Spirit. Everyone knew that a Wood Spirit could keep a person looking perpetually young. This meant the Daoist had his own peculiar tastes.

"This humble Daoist is Zi Luan. I’m temporarily in charge of the Daoist Scripture Hall in Nanlin Road."

The old Daoist introduced himself with an easygoing and humble attitude, a stark contrast to Xuanhe Daoist’s indifference. His smile was like that of a kindly neighborhood grandfather. After smiling, he looked at Wang Ping and said, "I’ve heard my disciple speak of you."

"Changqing pays his respects, Daoist Zi Luan." Wang Ping immediately bowed and then asked, "May I ask who your esteemed disciple is?"

"Hongchen!"

"Oh... So you are Fellow Daoist Hongchen’s master. Greetings, Senior." Wang Ping bowed again.

"Please, have a seat." Zi Luan pointed to the seat on his right, the kindly smile on his face not diminishing in the slightest.

Wang Ping did as he was told and sat down. Unlike in Mozhou Road, Zi Luan was the only one in this courtyard. As soon as he was seated, he heard Zi Luan say, "I am already aware of your purpose here. Given your merits in Mozhou Road, Baisui Lake can indeed be designated as your Dao Field. However, Wudao Prefecture cannot be given entirely to Qianmu Temple... Another Fellow Daoist requires Upper Yang Mountain for their Dao Field."

"I will defer to your judgment, Daoist," Wang Ping said, showing no sign of protest.

"Excellent!"

Zi Luan laughed heartily and said, "You may even know your new neighbor."

Hearing this, Wang Ping put on a look of curiosity and asked reflexively, "Oh? And who might that be?"

"Daoist Xuanhe’s disciple, Wenhai!"

"..."

Wang Ping’s mind blanked for a moment when he heard the name. According to the information he had, this person was supposed to be a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

Zi Luan explained, "Wenhai just became an Entering Cultivator a few days ago. To continue staying at the Mozhou Road branch of the Daoist Scripture Hall would give people reason to talk. After looking around, he chose Upper Yang Mountain and used all his exchange points to claim it as his Dao Field."

On the surface, Wang Ping accepted this explanation, but inwardly, all sorts of thoughts flashed through his mind.

’The most important question is, only those ranked fifth or higher are qualified to select a Dao Field. Wenhai just became an Entering Cultivator, so there’s no way he could have secured the fifth rank. But I’m not stupid enough to ask that question here.’

The rest of the conversation was just meaningless pleasantries. After less than fifteen minutes, Wang Ping found an excuse to take his leave. The relevant documents would be sent to Qianmu Temple after being processed by the Daoist Scripture Hall.

Not long after Wang Ping left, Hongchen entered the room. He didn’t look to be in a good state. His beard was untrimmed, his hair was carelessly tied back with a coarse strip of cloth, and he was wearing a loose Cultivator’s Robe—the kind one only wears when alone. It all made him look very slovenly.

"Have you thought it through?" Zi Luan asked after his disciple entered the room.

"I have. As they say, one step behind, always behind. If I continue cultivating the Taiyan Talisman, I’ll just be asking for trouble. I plan to switch to the Essence Wood Technique. Even though its limit is only the Third Realm, but..."

Hongchen said with a bitter smile, "People like us are fated to only ever reach the Third Realm anyway."

"It’s good enough that you’ve come to this realization. The Third Realm positions for Wood Spirits will be full within two hundred years. When that time comes, the various Lords will surely have their disputes. That will be our opportunity. Do you... understand?"

"Yes, Master, I understand. I will do everything in my power to support you in ascending to the position of Lord," Hongchen replied quickly.

"Good. Don’t provoke Changqing. He has a greater purpose..."

Upon hearing this, Hongchen looked at Daoist Zi Luan, cupped his hands, and said, "Master, what use is a flower raised in a greenhouse?"

Zi Luan was taken aback for a moment, then a slight smile appeared on his face. "You’re not wrong," he said. "However, you need to understand that some things are a two-way street. What you can do, others can do as well. As is customary, I will recuse myself from your conflicts. Do you... understand my meaning?"

"Yes, Master. I understand!"

...

Wang Ping returned to the main hall of the Daoist Scripture Hall. He first checked his exchange points—he had over six thousand—then requested a private room to slowly browse the Spirit Gathering Arrays for sale.

「Half an Hour Later...」

Wang Ping returned the booklet detailing the Spirit Gathering Arrays. When the Qi Cultivator in charge enthusiastically asked if he had found one he liked, he shook his head in regret.

Most of the ready-made Spirit Gathering Arrays were of a standard design. Since Wang Ping also planned to forge several complementary Sealing Arrays, they simply weren’t compatible. ’Looks like I’ll have to forge the Spirit Gathering Array myself,’ he mused. At the same time, he requested the catalogs for Gathering Spirit Arrays, hoping to select a suitable design to forge himself.

But after looking through all of them, he still couldn’t find one he liked.

He had no choice but to give up for now, deciding to ask about it at the next gathering at Sanhe Temple.

As Wang Ping walked out of the Daoist Scripture Hall and was about to look for an inn to rest, he heard a familiar voice cry out, "Senior Brother!"