After that silent confrontation at "Hundred Flavors Hall," Tang Xiaoqi clearly felt that the gazes cast from around him had lost some of their previous disdain, and gained some exploration and caution. He did not care about these, calmly finished the meal, then left the restaurant with the still-excited Zhao Tiezhu.
Walking on the bustling Starlight Avenue, Zhao Tiezhu was still immersed in the earlier excitement, lowering his voice, unable to hide his worship as he said: "Senior! You were too amazing just now! That guy is a figure on the 'Hidden Dragon List'! And you just scared him away like that! He did not even get to drink his wine, haha!"
Tang Xiaoqi glanced at him, saying indifferently: "A small matter, not worth mentioning. The real contest is on the arena." He paused, then continued: "'Clouds Come Inn' is good, but with people coming and going, too noisy, not conducive to quiet cultivation. We need to find a more secluded cave dwelling as a foothold before the assembly begins."
Zhao Tiezhu upon hearing this immediately nodded like pounding garlic: "Senior is right! I will listen to Senior in everything!"
The two walked along Starlight Avenue toward the west side of the city. According to information learned earlier from the inn's steward, besides those luxurious inns and major forces' residences in Tian Shu City, there were also temporary cave dwellings available for rent specially prepared for rogue cultivators and small sect disciples who came to participate in the assembly or stay long-term. These cave dwellings were mostly distributed in the city's outer areas, though spiritual energy concentration was not as good as those suspended immortal mountains and large sect strongholds in the core area, it was still far more dense than outside, and the environment was relatively quiet.
The further west they walked, the suspended buildings on both sides of the street gradually became sparser, and the style tended to be unified, mostly ancient gray-rock towers or cave dwelling entrances constructed in simple styles. The number of cultivators here was noticeably fewer, and their auras varied, clearly mostly people like them who came to find temporary lodging.
Soon, they found an official institution with a sign hanging that read "Cave Heaven Rental Office." This was a stone hall occupying a considerable area, with people constantly coming and going.
Entering the hall, inside was a spacious great hall, with huge light curtains hanging on the walls, clearly marking information about cave dwellings available for rent in different areas with runes, including location, spiritual energy grade, supporting facilities, and most importantly - price.
Tang Xiaoqi's gaze swept over the light curtain, his heart also could not help but marvel at Tian Shu City's prices.
The simplest cave dwellings on the outermost perimeter, with spiritual energy only slightly stronger than outside, required ten upper-grade spirit stones per day in rent!
Better ones, standard cave dwellings located on small spiritual vein branches, cost as much as fifty upper-grade spirit stones per day!
And those fine dwellings located at better spiritual vein nodes, with independent small courtyards, basic spirit-gathering arrays and protective restrictions, started at one hundred upper-grade spirit stones per day!
As for those high-grade cave dwellings comparable to small blessed lands, with spiritual energy dense as fog and powerful restrictions, the prices were astronomical, easily hundreds or even thousands of upper-grade spirit stones per day, simply not something ordinary cultivators could afford.
Zhao Tiezhu looked at that long string of dizzying numbers on the light curtain, his mouth open wide enough to fit a goose egg, counting on his fingers his entire family fortune, even the worst cave dwelling he could not afford for half a day, immediately withering like an eggplant touched by frost, mumbling: "My goodness, this is not renting a room, this is robbery..."
Tang Xiaoqi, though having considerable wealth (multiple fortunate encounters, plus support from Qingxu Temple and the alliance), also felt somewhat pained seeing these prices. But he knew deeply that the place of cultivation was crucial, especially on the eve of the assembly, a quiet and spiritually rich environment had an irreplaceable role for adjusting state and consolidating cultivation.
He pondered briefly, pointing to a cave dwelling information on the light curtain marked as "Bing Character Area, Number Seventy-Six." This cave dwelling was located at the end of a small spiritual vein in the city's west, spiritual energy grade marked as "medium-low," with a tiny courtyard and basic protective restrictions, daily rent was eighty upper-grade spirit stones. The price was not cheap, but still within his acceptable range, and the location was relatively quiet.
"This one, rent for ten days first." Tang Xiaoqi said to a deacon in charge of reception behind the counter.
That deacon raised his eyes to look at Tang Xiaoqi, seeing his aura peaceful, clothes ordinary, but eyes clear and steady, unlike an ordinary rogue cultivator, so he did not ask much and skillfully processed the formalities: "Bing Character Seventy-Six cave dwelling, ten days, total eight hundred upper-grade spirit stones. This is the control jade token, please keep it safe. The facilities in the cave dwelling and how to use the restrictions are all explained in the jade token. Must renew before expiration, otherwise restrictions will automatically close."
Tang Xiaoqi readily paid eight hundred upper-grade spirit stones and received that jade token carved with complex patterns. This expense was enough to make a small sect hurt to the bone, but for the upcoming assembly, he thought it worth it.
Taking the control jade token, following directions, the two left the rental office and walked toward the Bing Character Area in the city's west.
The Bing Character Area was located on the western edge of Tian Shu City, close to those towering dark golden city walls. The buildings here were even sparser, and the environment even more secluded. One by one, gray stone cave dwellings were scattered like stars among rolling hills and sparse spiritual trees, far apart from each other, connected by white jade paths.
Finding Bing Character Seventy-Six, the cave dwelling entrance was an unassuming stone door hidden behind a patch of emerald green bamboo. Tang Xiaoqi injected spiritual power into the control jade token, which shot a beam of light onto the stone door, and the stone door silently slid open, revealing a downward passage behind.
Walking in, the view suddenly opened up. The interior of the cave dwelling was much more spacious than it appeared outside, clearly using space expansion techniques. Entering was a living room several zhang across, with complete furniture, and lighting runes embedded in the walls. On the left was a cultivation quiet room, with a simple spirit-gathering array carved on the floor, currently slowly drawing spiritual energy from the underground spiritual vein, making the spiritual energy concentration in the quiet room noticeably higher than outside. On the right was a bedroom for rest. Deepest inside was a tiny courtyard fenced with bamboo, in the courtyard was a small spiritual spring bubbling with spiritual energy-bearing water, and beside it a small patch of spiritual field where spiritual herbs could be planted.
The entire cave dwelling was simple, yet fully functional, with everything it should have. Most importantly, it was quiet enough. The heavy stone door and built-in protective restrictions were enough to block most interference from the outside.
"Great! Senior! This is much better than the inn!" Zhao Tiezhu excitedly looked around, especially loving that small courtyard and spiritual spring.
Tang Xiaoqi also nodded with satisfaction. Though not a small expense, this environment was indeed suitable for quiet cultivation. He put away the control jade token and said to Zhao Tiezhu: "Before the assembly starts, we will stay here. You can rest in the side room, or cultivate in this courtyard, do not wander around, especially do not go provoke trouble again."
"I understand! Senior rest assured!" Zhao Tiezhu patted his chest guaranteeing.
After settling in, Tang Xiaoqi entered the cultivation quiet room. He sat cross-legged at the center of the spirit-gathering array, feeling the spiritual energy several times denser than on Starlight Avenue, slowly closing his eyes.
Renting a cave dwelling was not just for a place to stay, but even more for having a world of one's own, undisturbed, in this gathering of wind and clouds, in order to adjust state, digest the experiences of recent days, and greet that upcoming "Wan Xiang Wen Dao Assembly" in the most perfect posture!
He knew, these eight hundred upper-grade spirit stones were just the beginning. The upcoming assembly was the real test of strength and foundation. He must seize this final time to make himself stronger!