Well No. 73, Xiangjie

Li the Elder was a type that Hansu had never encountered before—adaptable and resilient, capable of shameless antics when necessary, yet generous, enthusiastic, and dignified when making friends. So that day, he lost not because he underestimated her, but because his vision was too narrow. Had he invited allies earlier, the outcome might have been entirely different.

He had many friends. As the saying goes, like attracts like and people form their own circles. His companions were much like himself, of humble origins, clawing their way up step by step. Some excelled at seeking rare herbs, others brokered deals, or, like him, specialized in robbing passing cultivators.

All in all, these people traveled far and wide, knew the routes well, and were well-connected. They might not know much about major events, but rumors and secrets spread fastest among them.

Li the Elder was a shrewd man. That day, when Hansu said, “I won’t kill you, nor will I mutilate you. I don’t want your things; I only need you to help me with a few tasks,” he perked up immediately, as if his injuries were nothing, sprang to his feet, and spread his hands, “Ah, you should’ve said so earlier. Isn’t this just a case of the flood rushing into the Dragon King’s temple—family not recognizing family. Whatever you need, as long as I, Li, can manage it, just say the word.”

This led to the gathering at the teahouse.

Excitedly, Li the Elder arranged for everyone to meet at the only teahouse in the small town. Hansu generously booked the entire second floor, setting up numerous restrictions. While Li the Elder went downstairs to greet guests, the Lord Immortal appeared.

Hansu, trying hard to maintain the demeanor of a sage, stared at the suddenly appearing Rong Ling, unable to suppress her astonishment.

Rong Ling silently turned his face away. Her original face, rosy and round, was adorable—why must she disguise herself as a dull, yellow-faced woman? With her naturally stoic expression, she looked quite unattractive, and with her mouth agape, she looked even more foolish. It was painful to the eye…

“Lord Immortal, why… have you come out?” Hansu stammered, inwardly complaining that true sages should operate behind the scenes.

Rong Ling, unable to say “because you’re unreliable,” simply didn’t answer. He brushed invisible dust from a chair and sat by the window.

Ignored, Hansu could only follow and sit beside him, feeling a bit melancholic. Why did every man she encountered act like a lord? She wished she could escape the fate of being a mere follower…

Soon, Li the Elder brought up four or five friends. Hansu went to lift the restrictions for them, and upon returning, found that the Lord Immortal had somehow disguised himself as a late-stage Golden Core cultivator.

Li the Elder, seeing the newcomer, showed not the slightest surprise, as if he had already guessed there was a master behind Hansu.

He behaved and didn’t ask, and Hansu was wise enough not to introduce him. She led the group to the table, then retreated behind Rong Ling.

The first to speak was one of Li the Elder’s friends, Zhu Chuang. Zhu Chuang was a minor leader in the loose cultivator alliance of Jingxiang Realm, and among the group, he had some status—so it was best for him to open the conversation. “What matter brings you to such lengths to seek our brothers?”

“What is the current situation in Jingxiang Realm? I hope you can enlighten us,” Rong Ling didn’t expect Hansu to speak, and took the lead himself.

The room was tightly sealed by Hansu’s layers of formations, like an iron barrel— even a Nascent Soul cultivator would find it nearly impossible to overhear their conversation. Thus, as the sun slanted low, the group pocketed their payment and departed, satisfied.

Li the Elder was among them; as he left, Hansu lifted his restriction.

The method used to restrain Li the Elder was taught by Lord Immortal Rong Ling. Hansu felt conflicted—her cultivation methods were his, so she ought to call him “Master.” But he never accepted her as a disciple, and to force the title felt like unabashedly clinging to a powerful leg. Yet the Lord Immortal always taught her advanced secret techniques suited to her dual ice-fire spiritual roots…

Hansu was lost in these irrelevant thoughts, staring off into space. Rong Ling, meanwhile, frowned lightly, tapping the table with his fingers, seemingly pondering the matters discussed.

Even minor figures have their specialties. Beyond what everyone knew, Hansu learned many secrets from them. As for the current structure of Jingxiang Realm, much was now clear. Unlike Luoxing Realm, divided among five great sects, Jingxiang Realm was family-based. The largest cultivation families controlled all resources, including Hansu’s mother, Daoist Hengbo’s, own clan.

Yet, there was still not a clue about the events two millennia ago. Where had they all gone?

Rong Ling, though not skilled in divination, was a terrestrial immortal with some ability. Yet, no matter how he tried to deduce, everything remained blurred. Regarding himself, them, and even the girl before him, there was no information at all. He secretly divined the other people in the room earlier, and could see through them completely. Could it be…

Rong Ling glanced at Hansu. Now, only the two of them remained, and she had shed her disguise. The recent journey had clearly given her more experience; her body was growing, too. If at their first meeting she resembled a thirteen or fourteen-year-old maiden, now she looked sixteen or seventeen—charming and beautiful.

Her skin was fair and delicate, her eyebrows arched like new moons, and her eyes were large and round. Even in a dazed state, they were as clear as water. Her thick, curling lashes fluttered occasionally, as if they could tickle one’s heart.

She had grown taller, no longer a child, with her figure becoming distinct.

Rong Ling, face flushed, turned away, silently berating himself. How could he suddenly notice such things? Surely, his injuries had unsettled him.

“Lord Immortal, where are we going next?” Hansu, oblivious to Rong Ling’s state, asked.

“Jingxiang Realm.” “And don’t disguise yourself again.”

“Ah? Yes…”

Leaving the teahouse, the two headed south. Soon, they entered Jingxiang Realm.

As Daoist Hengbo had explained years ago, Jingxiang Realm differed greatly from Luoxing Realm in geography. From remote villages to bustling cities, wells of all sizes were everywhere. The buildings were scattered and exquisite. After two more days of flight, they reached Jingxiang Realm’s largest city, Lone King City, where Daoist Hengbo’s clan had been rooted for over twenty thousand years.

Hansu and her companion had chosen this city deliberately; according to Li the Elder and his friends, the most ancient and strictly inherited family in Jingxiang Realm was the Jiang Clan, Daoist Hengbo’s lineage. With over twenty thousand years of history, surely they knew more about that great war than any other.

Upon arriving at Lone King City, they stopped cautiously.

The city lived up to its name—its gates towered into the clouds, and the restrictions within were the strongest Hansu had ever seen. Even from outside, one could see a semi-transparent shield covering the city, runes flickering across it, indicating a powerful barrier.

Such cities with barriers were not rare; some restricted sword flight, some prohibited fighting, others simply defended against external threats. In any case, if you didn’t want trouble, it was best to enter through the gate and register. If you wanted to force your way in, that was another matter.

At the gate stood two high-level Qi Refining disciples.

Seeing a man and woman, both Golden Core cultivators, approaching, they exchanged glances but didn’t intervene. Rong Ling didn’t even look at them, walking straight in. Hansu hesitated, wanting to register, but seeing Rong Ling’s behavior, she resolutely followed.

Though the gatekeepers didn’t stop them, they sent a signal. Rong Ling casually glanced behind, unconcerned. Soon, a Nascent Soul elder arrived, riding a unique Jingxiang flying spirit beast—a Bluewater Serpent—and stopped beside them.

“Greetings, fellow Daoists. May I ask where you come from and where you are headed?”

Rong Ling glanced at Hansu, and she resigned herself to bow politely. “My friend and I have come from Luoxing Realm, seeking the Jiang Clan in Lone King City. Here is my token.” She handed over the Jiang Clan token her mother had given her.

“So you are a descendant of the Jiang Clan. Please follow me.” The elder, his face beaming after inspecting the token, summoned a spirit beast carriage and led them aboard.

Along the way, Hansu conversed happily with the elder, while Rong Ling remained silent, hands hidden in his sleeves, continuously divining.

Jingxiang Realm’s characteristics were even more pronounced in this city. The humid air brought gentle water spiritual energy, nurturing the body. Narrow alleys, wells of various sizes, moss spreading over damp stone paths—all spoke to the city’s uniqueness.

The Jiang Clan, the oldest family in the realm, occupied nearly a quarter of the city center.

In secular towns, the center is often defined by the magistrate’s office or the marketplace. In the world of cultivators, it is dictated by spiritual energy and veins. Spiritual energy and underground veins are vital for cultivators; sects and families always build above them. Thus, many great sects are found among famous mountains and rivers, owing to the rich spiritual veins below.

In Jingxiang Realm, due to its unique geography, the veins manifest as wells. The denser the wells, the richer the spiritual energy—such places are the strongholds of great families.

Cultivators here mainly possess water and wood spiritual roots; as the saying goes, local environment shapes its people.

This environment is unsuitable for alchemy, but they are adept at cultivating spiritual plants and extracting various spiritual energies directly from herbs to refine into elixirs—that is the Jiang Clan’s path to prosperity.

Yet, not all cultivators have water and wood roots; some need external resources like pills and ores. Thus, marketplaces gradually formed near the great families, selling outside goods. The Jiang Clan, like other families, followed this model.

Those with exceptional talent entered the clan’s core for cultivation, eventually becoming Nascent Soul or higher, supporting the family. These individuals focused solely on cultivation and combat, with all resources managed by kin—they needn’t worry about anything else.

Those with mixed roots and poor talent but with aptitude for medicine managed the pharmacy business, fulfilling their own cultivation needs while creating value for the clan. Those with spiritual roots but insufficient talent for advancement handled marriages, producing offspring with spiritual roots to ensure the clan’s continuation.

Those without spiritual roots or with truly poor talent became stewards, performing tasks commoners could handle.

Since people are ranked by spiritual roots and talent from birth, their access to resources differs accordingly. Those with water roots remain at the core, while those with gold and fire roots, dissatisfied with neglect, gradually left to seek fortunes elsewhere.

Daoist Hengbo’s family branch moved from Jingxiang to Luoxing Realm years ago. Though a collateral branch, their ancestors achieved great success, making the Jiang Clan in Luoxing famous for ten millennia. In the far more chaotic and impoverished Luoxing Realm, to hold a stable power under the great sects was no small feat. Thus, the Jingxiang main clan always regarded this branch with special respect.

This explained why the patrolling Nascent Soul elder was so deferential upon seeing the token, personally escorting them.

The Bluewater Serpent-drawn carriage was swift; Hansu and the elder barely exchanged a few words before arriving at the Jiang Clan’s gate, where clan members awaited their arrival.