CHAPTER 559: CHAPTER 442 TIANMANG PALACE’S RECRUITMENT AND CHOICE_2

"This time, the ’Quliang Ancient City’ will undoubtedly be something the Ekong Country Master is determined to contest for."

Lei Xin had connections with many Immortals and had heard a lot of information from them regarding Enlightened Ones, City Lords, Country Masters, Ancient Cities, and so forth. This greatly expanded Chen Jichuan’s knowledge as someone new to this realm.

Fourth-order Peak cultivators are called ’Enlightened Ones’.

Enlightened Ones can establish dominion over Hanging Mirror Ancient Cities, and each of these cities can extend one’s lifespan by ten thousand years.

"Enlightened Ones."

"Hanging Mirror Ancient City."

"Ten thousand years of extended life."

As Chen Jichuan processed this information, an involuntary chill crept into his heart.

Back then, if his calculations were not mistaken, all 48,000 small worlds leading to the Hanging Mirror Sea were encompassed within the ’Mysterious God Scroll.’

And the power that wielded this ’Mysterious God Scroll’ was a faction known as the ’Hanging Mirror Immortal Palace.’

They filtered geniuses from the small worlds and placed Ancient Cities across the Hanging Mirror Sea to assist these Enlightened Ones in extending their lifespans, increasing their chances of advancing to the Fifth Order.

What exactly was their true scheme?

Like the ’Quliang City Lord’ or other ascenders of the past, after they ascended, did they enter the ’Hanging Mirror Immortal Palace’ or—

"In the small worlds, Divinity Transformation Stage cultivators in their later years all tend to enter the Mysterious Realm, becoming lost within it and turning into ancient beasts."

"And what about these ascenders?"

Chen Jichuan did not dare to think deeper; he buried the thought in the depths of his heart.

...

They discussed the ’Quliang City Lord’ for quite a while.

Eventually, Lei Xin brought up the main topic.

He looked at Chen Jichuan and asked, "Mr. Jiangg, now that you’ve just arrived in the Hanging Mirror Sea, do you have any plans?"

"Plans?"

"Naturally, my priority is earning Spirit Crystals. The Tianmang Realm is impoverished, and I’ve arrived here with nothing to my name."

Chen Jichuan replied self-deprecatingly.

These words resonated with Lei Xin, who nodded and said, "The Tianmang Realm is just a small world. Many of its regions are separated by Mysterious Realms, making travel even for Fourth Realm Divinity Transformation cultivators challenging. Resources are incredibly scarce, making cultivation a difficult endeavor."

Lei Xin continued, "The Hanging Mirror Sea is rich in resources. However, for small-world ascenders like us in the Divinity Transformation Realm, venturing out alone would mean facing endless hardships. It’s not much better compared to staying in a small world. Hence, some senior cultivators from the small worlds gathered ascenders to form alliances, greatly improving the situation."

Hearing this, Chen Jichuan understood Lei Xin’s intent.

Sure enough, Lei Xin then looked at him and said, "The cultivators emerging from our Tianmang Realm are now divided into two factions. One is the ’Tianmang Palace,’ which currently has nine Immortals. The other is the ’Flying Dragon Immortal Sect,’ which has five Immortals. When I first arrived at the Hanging Mirror Sea, I joined the Tianmang Palace. Since you’ve also come from the Tianmang Realm, the Tianmang Palace would be honored to welcome you."

Clearly, Lei Xin was trying to recruit Chen Jichuan on behalf of the ’Tianmang Palace.’

Coming from the same small world.

With decent talent and potential.

A person like this would never be unwelcome in any faction. For groups rooted in the Tianmang Realm, such as the Tianmang Palace or the Flying Dragon Immortal Sect, they were especially eager to draw in every ascender from the small world.

As Lei Xin mentioned, surviving in the Hanging Mirror Sea isn’t easy. Banding together is the righteous way.

"The headquarters of the Tianmang Palace is in the ’Tianmang Ancient City.’ Among its nine Immortals, three are Second Realm Immortals. Two of them serve as generals under the ’Tianmang King,’ wielding considerable power."

Zheng Jun, nearby, added this information.

The Tianmang Palace and the Flying Dragon Immortal Sect selected cultivators who had ascended from the Tianmang Realm.

The entire Tianmang Realm spanned thousands or even tens of thousands of Panlong Mountain-like regions. Even if each region produced a single Divinity Transformation cultivator every hundred thousand years, the output of the Tianmang Realm would result in approximately one ascender per few years into the Hanging Mirror Sea.

The lifespan of an Immortal is 48,000 years.

On a cyclical basis, within 48,000 years, the number of Divinity Transformation ascenders emerging from the Tianmang Realm likely numbered in the thousands or even tens of thousands. With such a large base, it made sense that this era saw 14 Immortals across the Tianmang Palace and Flying Dragon Immortal Sect, demonstrating far higher advancement ratios than the norm of Third Order cultivators breaking through to the Fourth Order.

And this only accounted for those joining these two factions.

Some independent cultivators, travelers within the Hanging Mirror Sea or those leaving Tianmang Ancient City, must have also achieved breakthroughs to the Fourth Order.

By this calculation, the ratio truly wasn’t low.

For these geniuses, time and resources were paramount, and joining the Tianmang Palace wasn’t a bad choice.

Had Chen Jichuan been unremarkable, this would’ve been his decision as well.

But with skills and plans of his own, along with doubts about the internal dynamics within the Tianmang Palace and the cohesiveness of its nine Immortals, he found the faction’s limited protective capacity under generals of the Tianmang King insufficient for a Fourth-order Alchemist like himself. It also failed to fully unleash his true potential.

"I’ll think about it."

Chen Jichuan politely declined.

"As expected."

Lei Xin nodded, sensing Chen Jichuan’s reluctance but showed no signs of offense.

After all, when Lei Xin had initially joined the Tianmang Palace and returned to Shuofeng City later, five of his fellow ascenders from the Tianmang Realm hesitated at first. Two had directly refused. Yet, over time, as they realized the hardships of surviving in the Hanging Mirror Sea, four of the five eventually chose to join.

With shared origins from the same small world, one could never predict the future trajectory.

Even if Chen Jichuan ultimately didn’t join the Tianmang Palace, Lei Xin wasn’t going to make an enemy unnecessarily.

He tactfully shifted the conversation and began discussing various matters about the Hanging Mirror Sea, helping Chen Jichuan gain a better understanding of this realm.

Zheng Jun chimed in with light-hearted remarks.

Soon, the earlier awkwardness dissipated entirely.

The atmosphere grew warm and amiable once again.

...

The next day.

Chen Jichuan left his cave dwelling and headed straight for the North City.

Over the past two months, he had gathered considerable information about the Shuofeng Domain Master, analyzed it, and concluded that this individual operated with principles, had a chivalrous spirit, and forged connections far and wide. Many Immortals who frequented the Shuofeng Domain seemed to share a rapport with the Domain Master.

This was sufficient.

"It’s merely an avatar. Even if I’ve misread someone, the losses are manageable."

After preliminary investigations, Chen Jichuan made up his mind.

When Lei Xin tried to recruit him for the Tianmang Palace yesterday, Chen Jichuan had already decided to seek out the Shuofeng Domain Master instead.

Compared to the Tianmang Palace, governed by nine Immortals with likely interwoven factions, Chen Jichuan preferred the Shuofeng Domain, where the Domain Master ruled unchallenged.

The Domain Master’s power was also significantly more formidable.

There was nothing to hesitate about.

So, early this morning, he made his way to the ’Shuofeng Domain Master Mansion’ in North City.

"Fourth-order Alchemist Jiangg Xian, here to pay respects to the Shuofeng Domain Master. I request to be announced."

Upon reaching the mansion, Chen Jichuan directly stated his identity as a Fourth-order Alchemist, so as to avoid being turned away due to his Third Realm Divinity Transformation cultivation level.

"A Fourth-order Alchemist?"

"Master, please wait a moment!"

The guards outside the mansion, experienced and tactful, dared not dismiss Chen Jichuan’s cultivation level after hearing this. One invited him into the front hall to sit, while another hurried inside to report.

Shortly after he had taken his seat,

a handsome young man clad in white strode in grandly. Before his arrival, his hearty laughter already filled the air: "Master Jiangg, your presence in my Shuofeng Domain is truly an honor."

The newcomer was none other than the Shuofeng Domain Master.

Name: Zhang Pei (Shuofeng Domain Master)

Age: 30,086

Cultivation: Dharma Body Realm, Later Stage of Peak Phase

...

"Jiangg Xian greets the Domain Master."

Chen Jichuan bowed with cupped fists. His discerning gaze quickly assessed the Domain Master’s cultivation, setting his heart at ease. A Nine-Pattern Immortal and the ruler of an entire region—provided this individual harbored no malicious intent, sheltering a Fourth-order Alchemist like him would pose no problem.

"Master, no need for such courtesy."

The Shuofeng Domain Master was indeed a charismatic figure. His mannerisms exuded warmth, leaving one with a sense of being bathed in spring sunlight and unknowingly fostering goodwill.

While Chen Jichuan appraised the Shuofeng Domain Master, the Domain Master was also observing Chen Jichuan.

He was genuinely thrilled.

To have a Fourth-order Alchemist voluntarily come to his doorstep was a stroke of fortune. Upon noticing this alchemist’s cultivation, he was initially surprised but quickly understood and nodded inwardly, thinking, "A clever man."

While the Shuofeng Domain Master plotted in his mind, his expressions remained calm. He invited Chen Jichuan to take a seat as the host-guest roles flipped, and then asked, "May I ask, Master, where is your Immortal Homeland?"

"Master is too kind."

"Before, I cultivated in the Tianmang Realm and arrived in the Shuofeng Domain just over two months ago."

Chen Jichuan replied.

"Oh?"

"A small-world cultivator!"

"That explains it! That explains it!"

The Shuofeng Domain Master suddenly understood.

If he was from a small world, then everything made sense. Otherwise, the sudden appearance of a previously unheard-of Fourth-order Alchemist with third-realm cultivation might have seemed suspicious.

As this realization settled, he grew even more respectful.

...