Staying Alive Cautiously in the Celestial Realm and Becoming the Strongest-Chapter 721 - : The City of Commerce and Traders

Chapter 721: Chapter 721: The City of Commerce and Traders

Wang Chen couldn’t possibly have arranged for a high-tier Golden Core to vouch for him on short notice; thus, he actually had no other choice.

Since it had already gotten dark, the Household Registration Office of Thousand Star Immortal City located in Welcoming Immortals Town only conducted business during the day. Therefore, after having dinner with Pei Yan, he planned to return to where he was staying and apply the next day.

As it turned out, Wang Chen walked for over an hour on his way back.

In the same small town, the way back certainly wasn’t far; it was just that the nights in Welcoming Immortals Town were even more bustling and lively than the days, which delayed Wang Chen’s pace.

The bustling streets were crowded with people, and the shops and pavilions on both sides of the road were all open. Hanging under the eaves of each house were lamps made of Luminous Stones for lighting, casting the night market in white, light yellow, orange, light pink, and deep purple lights—a picturesque scene.

Pubs, brothels, gambling houses, teahouses, theaters, bathhouses…

...

A full display of the worldly hustle and bustle!

What Wang Chen had not expected was that there were even barbecue stalls here.

These barbecue stalls were almost identical to those in his previous world, with charcoal fires in the barbecue slots covered by a metal grid, and the vendors skillfully laying out various skewered ingredients on top, brushing on sauces while flipping them.

Next to the barbecue stalls were tables and benches set up where patrons could either take their skewers to go or sit down and order a couple of cups of bamboo tube rice wine, chatting and feasting to their heart’s content!

When Wang Chen first saw this scene, he almost thought he had traveled back in time!

He couldn’t help but stop in front of a barbecue stall and spent a few dozen Spirit Stones on a big handful of fragrant grilled skewers.

Then he squatted by the roadside, munching on skewers.

Just to experience that once yearned-for feeling.

Unfortunately…

There was no cumin.

Beyond the barbecue stalls, there was also an open-air free market in the town.

Anyone who paid a fee could set up a stall in the market to sell and exchange a variety of goods.

Wang Chen took a stroll around the market.

Even though he didn’t buy anything, he felt a kind of relaxed happiness that he hadn’t felt in a long time!

As a result, he got back to his rented place quite late.

But he made it back before the curfew and didn’t miss the two-hour window.

That night, Wang Chen slept very soundly.

The next morning, Zi Ling brought him breakfast.

A large bowl of Spirit Rice porridge cooked just right, two Wuxiang Spiritual Poultry Eggs, and three different pickled dishes, made Wang Chen feel that the twenty Low Spirit stones a day in rent were well worth it.

The young landlady obviously had a knack for cooking, as Wang Chen polished off the breakfast clean, still wanting more.

Right after breakfast, Pei Yan arrived.

The young man took Wang Chen to the Household Registration Office of Thousand Star Immortal City set up in Welcoming Immortals Town.

It was quite nonsensical to Wang Chen that, although he had arrived early, the office had yet to start handling business, yet inside it was already as crowded as a sea of people—a sight of heads as far as the eye could see!

Then Pei Yan helped him get a queuing ticket, and the number was over five hundred!

How long would that take!

Pei Yan apologized, “I forgot to tell you, sir, there are always lots of people here at the office.”

If you want to get a ticket with a number near the front, you have to come and line up early in the morning.

Moreover, even with a ticket, if the people ahead of you don’t finish their business, all the later numbers are voided.

You have to come back the next day and queue up again.

Just as Wang Chen was feeling frustrated, an ordinary-looking middle-aged man came up to him and asked in a low voice, “Fellow Daoist, do you want to exchange for a different number?”

He opened his palm and shook it towards Wang Chen, revealing a number plate in his palm.

The number was nineteen.

Scalper Party!

Wang Chen felt a mix of amusement and annoyance inside, but outwardly he asked calmly, “How many Spirit Stones?”

The other party sized him up and then stretched out his left hand, opening all five fingers and shaking them.

Five pieces? Fifty? Surely he doesn’t mean five hundred!

Wang Chen, completely clueless about the going rate, didn’t respond directly but instead looked towards Pei Yan at his side.

The youngster did not let him down and immediately stepped up, “Uncle, you’ve got the wrong person; we can’t do that kind of business.”

The middle-aged man chuckled, “You must be the kid from the Pei family in Western Defense Head, right? Fine, in consideration of your old man, I’ll give it to you for one hundred Spirit Stones, not a stone less.”

Pei Yan scratched his head and glanced at Wang Chen, implying that it was up to him to decide.

The initial asking price was actually five hundred Spirit Stones!

Talk about daylight robbery!

In the end, Wang Chen hesitated for a moment, and Pei Yan mustered his courage to haggle, “Eighty!”

The middle-aged man glared at him and turned to disappear into the crowd.

The deal was off.

Now Pei Yan really scratched his head and said with embarrassment, “Upper Cultivator, I’m sorry…”

“It’s okay.”

Wang Chen patted his head and smiled, “Let’s wait a bit longer.”

Scalpers always come in droves; it was impossible for there to be only one.

Most importantly, through this little episode, he caught a glimpse of one of the significant features of Thousand Star Immortal City.

The city truly lived up to its reputation as a mercantile hub!

And Wang Chen didn’t have to wait long because the middle-aged man came back.

“Eighty it is then!”

So, Wang Chen exchanged eighty Low Spirit for a scalper ticket, swapping his own number card for the other party’s.

His ranking shot up from over five hundred to number nineteen in an instant!

Just as the two completed the transaction, numbers began to be called from inside the office.

Wang Chen understood why the other was willing to lower the price; if no one swapped with him, that number card would have become worthless.

Having obtained an early number, Wang Chen didn’t have to wait long.

When it was his number being called, he squeezed in and showed his number card to the Cultivator maintaining order on-site; Wang Chen was then led into a small room.

The official handling his case was a clerk from the Household Registration Office.

Once the clerk understood Wang Chen’s situation and needs, he smiled and said, “Fellow Daoist, our Thousand Star Immortal City openly welcomes talents from the Nine States; we are indeed very delighted to have a colleague with such exceptional gifts as yourself.”

He paused for a moment before continuing, “But rules are rules, and they cannot be easily broken by anyone; please understand.”

The rule in Thousand Star Immortal City was—Spirit Stones!

Cultivators like Wang Chen, who needed to transfer their registration, simply had to submit an application. Unless there was a major background issue, the application would generally be approved.

But there was a fee to pay.

This involved the household registration system of Thousand Star Immortal City.

This chapter is updat𝓮d by freēnovelkiss.com.

The citizens of Thousand Star Immortal City were divided into four levels: Jia, Yi, Bing, and Ding Grades. The lowest, Ding Grade, allowed free entry to and exit from the Immortal City and buying and selling various materials within the city, but it did not grant the right to reside or work.

The residents of Welcoming Immortals Town were essentially of Ding Grade.

The next level up, Bing Grade residents, could live and work in the Immortal City but were not eligible to own property or open shops!

That is to say, if they wanted to live in the city, they could only rent houses or stay in inns.

Yi-grade citizens did not face these restrictions and were considered true citizens of Thousand Star.

As for the highest Jia-grade citizens, they had the qualifications to enter the system—that is, to become officials!

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The first update is here.