Seeking Immortality in a Bizarre World

Not allowed to carry any treasures or materials that seal Bizarre Demons?

Jia Ren encountered such a peculiar rule for the first time. Are there Bizarre Demons in Lingyuan City?! Do they control the cultivators in the city to prevent themselves from being sealed? No, that's not right. Normal cultivators aren't fools; they all know this place harbors Bizarre Demons and is extremely dangerous. They would only avoid it at all costs. How could they possibly deliver themselves right into a trap?! This matter reeks of strangeness.

"What other information do you have? Tell me everything you know!"

The Spiritual Power fluctuation of the Golden Core Stage burst forth. The guards, with only Foundation Establishment Cultivation, dared not offend Jia Ren.

"Lingyuan City was also known as Wish City," the guard explained. "However, since 'Wish Bizarre' is the name of a Bizarre Demon—a taboo—the city's name was eventually changed to Lingyuan City."

"The people of Lingyuan City are all attracted by the Wish Bizarre. By making a wish to the Wish Bizarre, one could break through bottlenecks and extend their lifespan. Lingyuan City is also known as the City of Miracles!"

"Elder, didn't you come to Lingyuan City to make a wish to the Wish Bizarre?"

Make a wish to Bizarre Demons?!

Bizarre Demons were sources of trouble that humans scrambled to avoid, fleeing as far as possible. The mere mention of "Bizarre Demons" was taboo. Every Bizarre Demon he had encountered had been malevolent, threatening human lives. If the Wish Bizarre could satisfy a cultivator's wishes, it was indeed unusual. Everyone has desires; few are exceptions. Longevity, Cultivation Level, top-tier Cultivation Techniques, Magical Treasures, Dao companions... If making wishes to the Wish Bizarre could satisfy these desires, no wonder a large number of cultivators gathered in Lingyuan City.

At this moment, Jia Ren understood why there were no mortals in Lingyuan City and why High-Order Cultivators gathered in droves. They must have gained power through the Wish Bizarre! Could I help Zhang Pengpeng resurrect through the Wish Bizarre? Could I obtain Cultivation Techniques or secret techniques to enhance my Life-bound Magic Treasure through the Wish Bizarre? If it could satisfy a cultivator's wishes, it was truly extraordinary and would definitely attract cultivators in droves.

Jia Ren's heart surged with the desire to enter Lingyuan City.

But no, there had to be a catch. Where in the world is there such a thing as unearned gains? If such a thing truly existed, the Town Demon Alliance and the forces of the Great Sects would have sealed it off, monopolizing the benefits and not letting Loose Cultivators take advantage gratis. Opportunities to get rich and treasures—when would ordinary cultivators ever have the chance to know about them? The disciples of the Great Sects are not kind-hearted. To make a wish to the Wish Bizarre, there must be a price to pay!

"What price must be paid for making a wish?" Jia Ren stared at the cultivator before him, trying to determine if he was lying.

"Elder, there are others waiting behind. Please don't make it difficult for me," the guard said with a troubled expression, gesturing towards the long queue behind Jia Ren.

The people in line behind him showed dissatisfaction, but out of fear of Jia Ren's Golden Core Cultivation, they dared not speak out.

"I appreciate the trouble you've taken, young friend." Jia Ren left the queue, a thoughtful look on his face.

There are Bizarre Demons in Lingyuan City, and one cannot bring treasures or materials that seal Bizarre Demons into it. If I were affected and contaminated by Bizarre Demons, I would have no power to resist. This place is enticing, yet too perilous... Resurrecting Zhang Pengpeng and obtaining secret techniques for Cultivation and Life-bound Magic Treasure enhancement are indeed important, but if it means risking my life, I must avoid it at all costs. Moreover, with Bizarre Demons granting wishes, the price to be paid is unknown.

Jia Ren left Lingyuan City, walking farther and farther away.

Should I leave just like this? The secrets of the Xuan Shui Sect's Secret Trove, the method of resurrection, the technique to enhance Cultivation via the Life-bound Magic Treasure, even the secrets of the Profound Realm Key—all could potentially be learned in Lingyuan City. My heart is unwilling to depart so easily. Should I risk sending an Insect External Incarnation? The price would be the loss of one such incarnation... Yet, if I could obtain the technique to enhance my Life-bound Magic Treasure's Cultivation, my progress would be immense. Sacrificing one incarnation is acceptable, especially since I still possess a large number of Sonic-Thief Mosquito Kings, enough to refine new Insect External Incarnations.

Jia Ren waited for two days. Finally, the Insect External Incarnation from thousands of miles away returned.

He handed over the Evil-Warding Talismans, materials, and treasures to his true form, carrying only a pair of Wings of Annihilation, as well as Wind Thunder Talismans and Divine Wind Talismans. The Insect External Incarnation used the New Moon Illusory Face Technique to change its appearance and strode into Lingyuan City. This time, it carried no treasures or materials for sealing Bizarre Demons. Holding the Magatama handed to it by the guard, it encountered no abnormality and successfully entered Lingyuan City.

As soon as it entered Lingyuan City, it noticed something highly unusual.

The Spiritual Energy in the city is too dense!

Inside and outside Lingyuan City were like two different worlds. The Spiritual Energy far exceeded anything he had ever seen before. Looking up, the air was misty, a consequence of the overly dense Spiritual Energy.

How could this be possible? How could there be such a huge disparity in Nature's Spiritual Energy with just a wall separating them? At least a hundred, maybe a thousand times the difference in Spiritual Energy! Not on the same level!

Even if Lingyuan City had set up spirit-gathering and spirit-locking Formations, the disparity in Spiritual Energy could not possibly be so frighteningly large. Moreover, according to the information he had obtained earlier, Linyuan's Spiritual Energy had been tainted into Bizarre Demon Qi, all of which was sealed into the Black Abyss Well. With so many cultivators dwelling here, the Spiritual Energy shouldn't have been able to recover.

I mustn't absorb Nature's Spiritual Energy from unknown origins. Many places in Lingyuan City were odd; there was no guarantee that the city's Spiritual Energy wasn't problematic. Jia Ren didn't want to contaminate the Insect External Incarnation; it was best to err on the side of caution.

Now that he had entered Lingyuan City, the next step was to find the Xuan Shui Sect's Secret Trove and gather as much detailed information as possible about the Wish Bizarre. First, I'll observe Lingyuan City and gather information.

After entering Lingyuan City, he discovered many problems. Lingyuan City only saw people entering; very few departed. It seemed like the gaping maw of a deep abyss, greedily devouring the cultivators who entered, allowing no exit. The bizarre nature of Lingyuan City is definitely linked to the Wish Bizarre. The Wish Bizarre certainly has great restrictions; it couldn't possibly satisfy any and every wish. Sect Disciples are far superior to Loose Cultivators; they are better at using the Wish Bizarre and would not yield opportunities to Loose Cultivators. Not to mention anything else, take True Fire Palace for example. Lingyuan City is right on the edge of True Fire Palace's territory; they must be clear about the Wish Bizarre's capabilities. If one could simply wish for the Profound Realm Key, it would be easy to find my whereabouts. How could I possibly have lived peacefully until now? I would have been dead numerous times over.

"Golden Core Formation Pill, 100,000 Wish Coins."

"Still worried about forging a Magical Treasure? Casting Soldier Pavilion is here to ease your worries."

"Break Infant Pill, 1,000,000 Abyss Coins! Don't miss out, passersby!"

Not long after entering the city, the cries of street vendors interrupted his thoughts, causing him to seriously doubt his ears. Precious treasures that ordinary people struggled to obtain were now being hawked everywhere, with stalls lining the streets.

Stalls selling Golden Core Formation Pills?! That's simply outrageous!

The selling price was in never-before-heard Abyss Coins. A currency minted by Lingyuan City itself? It's hard to believe these could be used to purchase Golden Core Formation Pills and Break Infant Pills.

Jia Ren suspected there was something wrong with the Elixirs. He suppressed his thoughts and approached Heavenly Pill Pavilion, which was selling Break Infant Pills, and asked, "One million Abyss Coins. If I may ask, fellow Daoist, how can one obtain Abyss Coins?"

The store manager of Heavenly Pill Pavilion, a Late Golden Core Stage Cultivator who was only one step away from the Nascent Soul Stage, saw Jia Ren and couldn't help but smile. "Fellow Daoist is new to Lingyuan City, right?"

"Abyss Coins can be exchanged with Spirit Stones; one Spirit Stone can be exchanged for one Abyss Coin," the store manager said with a warm and friendly smile, eagerly explaining to Jia Ren. "You can also go to the Wish Bizarre to make a wish and obtain a large amount of Abyss Coins. That's the fastest way to earn money."

One Spirit Stone for one Abyss Coin? Spending 1,000,000 Spirit Stones to buy a Break Infant Pill?

That price... is not expensive! With Jia Ren's financial means, he could buy a Break Infant Pill without much effort.

He picked up a Break Infant Pill and a Golden Core Formation Pill to inspect them. He wasn't sure about the Break Infant Pill, but the Golden Core Formation Pill was certainly genuine.

His Insect External Incarnation suppressed the impulse to purchase them and cupped his fists towards the store manager. "Thank you for the reminder, fellow Daoist."

He turned and walked away without any hesitation. Many doubts in his heart remained unresolved.

How could the Great Sects tolerate people wantonly selling Nascent Soul Finishing Pills? And the price is so... cheap. A million Spirit Stones is not a small sum for a Golden Core Cultivator, but many Sect Golden Core Cultivators might still be able to gather that amount and purchase the rare Break Infant Pills. Many Sects have to rely on the Town Demon Alliance to obtain Thousand-Year Snow Lotus and Golden Core Formation Pills, risking confrontation with Bizarre Demons and being constrained by others. If they could easily obtain advancement Elixirs simply by coming to Lingyuan City to make a wish, why bother risking a fight with Bizarre Demons? When things seem abnormal, there must be demons at play. Could it be that the Elixirs have some unknown problems? I recall the Golden Core Formation Pills replicated by the Bizarre Mirror; they also had no detectable problems. Could the Golden Core Formation Pills here have the same issue?

BOOM!

Just at that moment, a powerful Spiritual Power fluctuation came through. In Zhenyuan Inner City, immense Spiritual Power converged to form a Spiritual Power funnel, and a Pill materialized from illusion to substance.

Is someone forming a Golden Core?!

Jia Ren and his Insect External Incarnation had both formed Golden Cores, and the Spirit Fish and Spirit Insects had also undergone transformations, so naturally, he was not unfamiliar with the phenomenon of core formation.

So, the Golden Core Formation Pills and Break Infant Pills are without problems? They can help cultivators achieve Golden Core. Then, where does the problem lie? He still had no clues.

The Insect External Incarnation passed by numerous medicine shops, Magic Artifact shops, and Talisman stores, which was quite an eye-opener. The medicine shops sold large amounts of Thousand-Year Spiritual Medicine, the Magic Artifact shops were filled with a dazzling array of materials for Magical Treasures, and there were even Ancient Treasures for sale. The Talisman stores were similar; Talismans for the Golden Core Stage and Nascent Soul Stage were also for sale at prices that weren't exorbitant.

What kind of paradise is this?!

Ordinary people seeing the scene within Lingyuan City would have been dazzled and eager to find the Wish Bizarre to make a wish. Jia Ren, however, only felt that the place was eerily abnormal, his caution growing by the moment. I need to learn more and understand the information, then make my move.

After walking around, he found no place to inquire about information, so he had to find Heavenly Fragrance Cloud Tower to ask for intelligence. Taverns were always the most well-informed places, absolutely the best place for gathering intelligence, second to none. Spending a few Spirit Stones to acquire the desired information shouldn't be difficult.

"Bring me a pot of Spring Tea Before Rain." He ordered a pot of Spiritual Tea, signaling his willingness to spend.

I've decided that until I can see the truth, I must not consume anything from this place. I need to be cautious.

Before long, a pot of Spring Tea Before Rain, costing 30 Abyss Coins, was brought to him. As the Insect External Incarnation saw the face of the Maid who came to serve, the words he was about to speak caught in his throat, and he stared intently at her.

"What does the Elder need? This servant will take her leave," Yun Niang said, frowning slightly. She gave a bow to the Insect External Incarnation and promptly turned to leave.

How could Yun Niang still be alive? Didn't she die because of the Five Elements Sect Cultivators? Yang Shengwu becoming a Demon Cultivator to seek revenge on the Five Elements Sect was also for this reason! Yun Niang couldn't possibly be alive; she died long ago! Unless... Yang Shengwu made a wish to the Wish Bizarre and resurrected Yun Niang!