Su Yuan's carriage still attracted considerable attention.
Many people glanced in their direction while whispering among themselves.
A middle-aged man dressed relatively well stepped forward from the crowd and approached from a distance, bowing respectfully: "I am Wang Fugui, the town chief of Xishui Town. Might I ask what instructions the exalted immortal has for us?"
"What are you all doing here?" Su Yuan glanced toward the riverside where a tall platform stood.
"Esteed immortal must be unaware - in half a day, it will be the Dragon King Festival that occurs once every four years on the Tonggu River! We're preparing the sacrificial ceremony! Since you've co from afar, would you be interested in observing the rites?" Wang Fugui chuckled.
Su Yuan's eyes flashed: "How did you know I ca from afar?"
"The three prefectural cities, dozens of major cities, and thousands of towns along the Tonggu River are all preparing for this Dragon King Festival. Since you're unaware of this event, you must have co from over ten thousand li away," Chief Wang explained.
Su Yuan nodded in understanding: "I'll co observe later. First I'll rest in town."
Wang Fugui quickly waved to soone in the crowd.
A chubby young man ca running over.
The town chief patted his shoulder: "This is my son. Please feel free to ask him for anything you need. I must continue overseeing the ceremony preparations - I beg your forgiveness."
Su Yuan waved his hand: "No matter, go attend to your duties!"
Wang Fugui repeatedly apologized and bowed before carefully retreating.
Su Yuan could tell Wang Fugui had traces of crude Qi Refining cultivation, barely reaching the first layer - just barely qualifying as a cultivator.
The chubby young man before him had actually reached the third layer of Qi Refining, though his cultivation thod was equally rudintary.
Cultivation techniques in the Immortal Realm couldn't possibly be worse than the mortal world - this could only an the transmission of techniques here was strictly controlled.
"Exalted immortal, this lowly one is Wang Xingye. I know every corner of our town."
"Mm, lead the way then. Show around town," Su Yuan said.
"Right away!"
Wang Xingye jogged ahead as the ox cart followed him into town.
A strange light flashed in Su Yuan's eyes, instantly revealing the fortune energy of heaven and earth before him.
The entire town was covered by a thin layer of crimson fortune clouds - ordinary clouds with a strand of fortune energy connecting to sowhere distant.
At the town center, the governnt office was enveloped in orange fortune energy, with a small seal floating among the clouds protecting the building.
This wasn't particularly surprising.
What did surprise Su Yuan were two larger fortune clouds on either side of the governnt office - one crimson like the rest, but the other actually yellow in color, which greatly interested him.
Pointing left, Su Yuan asked: "What special building is there?"
Wang Xingye imdiately replied: "That's the Earth God Temple."
"And there?" Su Yuan pointed the other direction.
"That's the Dragon King Temple!" Wang Xingye answered carefully.
Su Yuan nodded in understanding.
"Let's visit both," Su Yuan said.
"Of course! Please follow , exalted immortal!"
Wang Xingye first led Su Yuan outside the Tonggu Dragon King Temple. Though Su Yuan didn't enter, the temple's grandeur was evident even from outside - towering halls, independent courtyard walls, multiple ornate buildings with lavish decorations and patterns, and two majestic stone carvings flanking the entrance. Many humans could be seen inside offering incense with utmost reverence.
After a glance, Su Yuan said: "Let's go to the other one."
Soon they arrived near the Earth God Temple - a lonely, humble structure dwarfed by comparison.
While larger than surrounding houses, the Earth God Temple was less than one-tenth the size of the Dragon King Temple.
Its plain exterior revealed a simple earthen idol inside, with only a couple townspeople casually offering incense without particular devotion.
Seeing this, Su Yuan seed thoughtful.
He turned to leave without entering.
After Su Yuan departed,
within the Earth God Temple,
a kindly elderly figure erged from the earthen idol.
"This remote town actually has cultivators visiting," the aged Earth God murmured as he observed Su Yuan's group's cultivation levels.
"Seven fish demons at early-middle Qi Refining (simplified as Refined Spirit realm), and one ox demon at early Refined Spirit stage. How dare this cultivator directly command demonkind?"
The Earth God's expression changed to one of alarm.
When he tried examining Su Yuan himself, it was like viewing flowers through fog - indistinct.
Just as he grew suspicious, the human cultivator suddenly turned his head.
Their gazes t across the distance through buildings.
Su Yuan smiled slightly and nodded in greeting before turning away.
The Earth God looked shocked - he hadn't sensed any divine consciousness. How had the cultivator detected his observation? He'd been using his divine domain perception which shouldn't be detectable!
The Earth God hesitated, clearly conflicted.
Under Wang Xingye's guidance, Su Yuan settled in a courtyard.
Noticing Wang Xingye's hesitant deanor, Su Yuan asked: "Is sothing the matter?"
Wang Xingye imdiately knelt with a thud: "This lowly one has long yearned for the immortal path. eting you today, I beg you to accept as your disciple."
Su Yuan raised an eyebrow: "Aren't you already cultivating?"
Wang Xingye quickly explained: "I practice the Basic Breathing Technique - just fundantal breathing thods that can't progress beyond the third Qi Refining layer."
"Oh? You never joined a sect?" Su Yuan asked.
"A sect? I once attended an immortal sect's disciple selection a thousand li away, but my aptitude was insufficient to enter," Wang Xingye said dejectedly.
Su Yuan's eyebrow rose - an upper-grade spiritual root counted as insufficient aptitude?
Seeing Su Yuan lost in thought without answering, Wang Xingye showed disappointnt.
Su Yuan said: "Taking disciples isn't necessary. I have a thod I can teach you, but you must devoutly worship the Big Dipper afterward. Are you willing?"
"Willing! Absolutely willing!" Wang Xingye was overjoyed.
Su Yuan nodded and extended a finger toward Wang Xingye's forehead when-
"Exalted immortal, please wait!" ca an urgent voice.
Looking down, Su Yuan saw an old Earth God erge from the ground, bowing respectfully.
Wang Xingye's expression soured at the interruption, but when he saw who it was, he froze in shock - this elderly man looked exactly like the Earth God idol!
Su Yuan regarded the Earth God with interest. At rely fourth-stage power, he wasn't impressive, but his divine position intrigued Su Yuan.
"And you are?"
"This humble one is Zhou Jicheng, current Earth God of Xishui Town, responsible for safeguarding this area."
"Why stop from transmitting techniques?" Su Yuan asked.
Zhou Jicheng took a deep breath: "Demons dominate here. The western mountains outside town teem with them. They don't normally attack thanks to my protection, the imperial seal's deterrence, and the Dragon King Temple's influence. But if humans cultivate profound techniques, their enhanced essence and spiritualized flesh beco targets, attracting demonic attention. I fear I couldn't protect the town then!"
Wang Xingye was stunned - he'd never known this was why techniques were so hard to obtain.
"Are humans so weak here?" Su Yuan frowned.
The Earth God sighed: "Humans are indeed a powerful race in the Immortal Realm - no demon dares act in core territories. But this is the borderlands - caution is necessary!"
He glanced at Su Da and others, hesitating to speak further.
Su Yuan waved dismissively: "No need for concern."
In truth, Su Yuan was well-versed in these matters from extensive reading about the Immortal Realm's general situation. But book knowledge paled compared to firsthand experience.
What really mattered was fa points!
Checking his fa level, it still hadn't reached 2.
"What's the strongest demon nearby?" Su Yuan asked.
"At least early-stage Refining Void to Dao realm!" the Earth God said gravely.
Su Yuan nodded.
He pointed, sending a starlight into Wang Xingye's forehead.
Wang Xingye thrilled as a complete Seven Stars inheritance appeared in his mind!
"Thank you for this technique, exalted immortal!" Wang Xingye kowtowed reverently.
"This..." Earth God Zhou Jicheng looked utterly perplexed.
"You may leave," Su Yuan said.
Wang Xingye happily withdrew while the Earth God sighed inwardly.
Without explanation, Su Yuan continued inquiring about local demons - a nearby spirit mountain housed a Three-Tailed Cat demon clan whose patriarch was at least Refining Void to Dao realm!
The four maids thoughtfully prepared tea, spirit fruits, and snacks.
Their conversation lasted half a day.
Outside town,
Wang Fugui solemnly led the townspeople in beginning the ceremony!
"Xishui Town has prepared three hundred adult spirit livestock, three hundred millennium spirit herbs, three hundred jin of rare spirit ores, three hundred jun of spirit rice, and three hundred premium spirit stones! We humbly offer these to the Dragon King!"
"May the Dragon King bless Xishui Town with peace and favorable weather!"
Tens of thousands of townspeople knelt toward the platform.
Su Yuan frowned slightly at the sight.
Invisible incense energy and fortune power rose from each person, condensing into a red-yellow cloud containing the essence of hundreds of thousands.
Suddenly,
a cloud drifted over the Tonggu River, revealing glimpses of a several-hundred-ter-long four-clawed Dragon King within.
Passing Xishui Town, it inhaled sharply, consuming all offerings along with the gathered incense and fortune energy.
Casually exhaling so of its own energy over the town, the Dragon King marked his territory - like an animal urinating to claim ground, serving only as warning without real protection.
Noticing unfamiliar spiritual energy as he passed, the Dragon King instinctively looked toward that courtyard.
For a mont, Su Yuan and the Dragon King locked eyes.
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