Chapter 518: Chapter 512: Impressions from India
In the Xianling City inn, the middle-aged keeper, who had been incessantly clicking the abacus beads, suddenly stopped without notice.
The inn montarily plunged into a brief silence before bursting into uproar.
Most of the geniuses from around the world, young gentlen all, appeared complex and confused, visibly disturbed.
To them, the na Si Chen was rely the subject of idle post-dinner chit-chat about the Shifang City damsel’s privately kept handso paramour, tinged with disdainful condescension.
Moreover, to beco the City Lord of Xianling City, one must carry the Immortal Bloodline. Historically, no guest cultivator had ever replaced their master to rule the city.
An absurd thought suddenly arose in everyone’s minds.
Had the Empress been montarily confused and made so kind of mistake?
On the other side of the city wall, Lan Youdie, clad in silver Light Armor, was just considering how to cleverly ensnare that handso but luckless dead man’s paramour.
At this mont, the shining, prominent characters on a towering stele struck her like a hamr, shattering her minor sches into debris.
She was dumbstruck, unable to comprehend how this young gentleman had beco the City Lord.
Yun Rong, having ordered a pot of old wine from the inn, placed a silver ingot on the counter, and lifted her head to glance at the elegant loft of the upper floor, “Truly bizarre and curious indeed.”
The Empress, with a divine vision that could see through heaven and earth, could undoubtedly discern the identity of the corpse demon youth.
Yet, despite this, he had been chosen by the Empress.
The innkeeper flicked the silver ingot back into his own pocket, touching his small mustache and smiling, “The Empress has her profound reasons. After finishing this pot, Sister, you better prepare well.”
Upon hearing this, Yun Rong raised her eyebrows in surprise, “Is the Sect Master coming to Xianling City?”
The innkeeper smiled, “Given that this City Lord is exceptionally chosen by the Empress herself, the Sect Master naturally wishes to offer sincere congratulations at the succession ceremony.”
The people in the inn poured out, filling the Divine Path densely.
So questioned, so cheered, others praised, and yet others began heated debates over this implausible outco.
Those who praised were mostly the cultivators saved by Baili An, but their voices were subdued since their own masters were not chosen, making it an uncomfortable mont.
Compared to the incessant noisy crowd, Baili An looked towards the towering stele, his expression serene.
Suddenly, within his desolate and blank life, the sought-after Immortal Tears seed suddenly less significant than he had imagined.
Having been in the city for a while, it was now early spring unawares.
The Seal Keeper Qing Xuan, holding the Changze City Seal, passed over the 3,000 long steps among the Divine Path and arrived at the inn’s entrance, her voice clear and sweeping across the city, “Its cover like the sky, its bearing like the earth. This is Xianling, with Changze Seal as the city’s paramount artifact, the artifact and na cannot be falsified.”
She lifted the Changze City Seal high, her expression solemn, “Please accept this seal in the na of Si Chen!”
Shenbao Zhenren glanced at Baili An, saying, “This is good news; why can’t you appear happier?”
Baili An said nothing, took out the Glazed Umbrella, opened it, and started walking towards the downstairs area.
Su Jing followed closely.
Shenbao Zhenren didn’t show intentions to follow. Suddenly recalling sothing, he called towards his back, “Every new ruler of Xianling City during their selection is allowed to choose an Immortal Artifact from the armory. If possible, I hope you choose a sword.”
Descending from the inn’s staircase, the keeper wasn’t like the uncontrollably excited crowd but rested his chin on his hand, practicing wild cursive scripts on a piece of xuan paper with a brush.
Baili An glanced briefly and found the characters crude, rugged, and disarrayed, unbearable to look at.
He shook his head quickly, redirecting his gaze, approached the inn’s entrance, and respectfully greeted the female official Qing Xuan.
Qing Xuan caught a glimpse of the dense crowd out of the corner of her eye, then considered the unusually calm youth before her. His dark eyes seed laden with thoughts, devoid of any joy.
She assud the sudden appearance of his na as City Lord, along with the lack of any clear cause or connection, naturally led to resentnt and hostility from others.
Qing Xuan said, “A gentleman accommodates others extensively, while petty people harbor jealousy. Since this seal is transferred directly from my hands, you don’t need to worry unduly.”
Baili An, at a loss for how to respond to this skewed consolatory statent, simply bowed his head in silence.
Disliking n’s dispassionate deanor, Qing Xuan didn’t say more, simply stating, “Follow into the hall.”
Each succession of the Xianling City Lord was overseen by Qing Xuan as the ceremonial officer, inviting dignitaries from all directions, while the City Lord was required to enter the hall in advance.
This ti was exceptional as the Empress herself presided within the city.
Baili An nodded in agreent.
Qing Xuan gave a sideways glance at the woman in white following behind him, her gaze subtly sweeping over the withered vines on their bodies, a hint of surprise apparent in her eyes, though not overtly displayed.
She calmly stated, “This is a sea demon vine, requiring Geng tal Energy to dissolve. The succession ceremony must not be delayed. It seems necessary to trouble the Young Sect Master of the Taixuan Sect to accompany us.”
…
…
This was Baili An’s second visit to the inner court of Xianling City.
As he walked past a corridor corner, he couldn’t help but recall Yun Rong, the Heart Demon. Puzzled, he wondered how a heart demon could freely enter and leave this Holy Palace.
With this doubt, he was placed in a main hall by officer Qing Xuan.
This main hall also included a smaller hall, presumably considering his current awkward situation with Su Jing, specifically arranged for them.
Qing Xuan briefed him on so basic night banquet etiquette and procedures before leaving soon after, placing the City Lord’s robe on him and informing him to change into it. At the first night watch, an official from the inner hall would lead him to the banquet.
Su Jing had been quiet all the way, even entering the coveted Holy Palace as if it was a simple cabin, composed and ditative.
After dressing in the City Lord robes, Bai An stepped out from behind the screen and counted the days since he had left the Bronze Gate—it had been three days.
During these days, he had brought Ji Ying’s remains back to his frigid alley courtyard for burial. As for Ji Ying’s ghost spirit, having received a share of spiritual essence from the Pici Bird’s Xu Seal, it could now reside peacefully within Xianling City, watching over Ji San.
Xianling City, unlike the mortal places, was extraordinarily tolerant towards ghost cultivators and death spirits. Unless it was a malicious resentful spirit, there was no purposeful execution or expulsion.
The news of Fang Geyu’s death did not escape Lin Yuan and Lin Guiyuan. That night, Lin Yuan sat by the Long Lake in a daze. At dawn, with red eyes, she told Baili An she wanted to return to Kongcang Mountain.
And Lin Guiyuan chose to stay within the Wandao Immortal Alliance, continuing to refine Ghost Cultivation Talismans for the people there.
He ntioned that a day would co when his presence would be needed, but that day was not now.
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