"This is the Cultivation World?"
Passing through layers of mist and stepping onto a street paved with bluestone, Li Chen looked around, finding everything new and curious.
On both sides of the street were shops and pavilions.
There were Lingfu Shops, Scarlet Rice Shops, Hundred Treasures Pavilions, Zhenxiu Restaurants, Goddess Towers, Thousand Refinement Pavilions, and many more.
Additionally, some people sat on the ground, setting up stalls and hawking their wares, selling a dazzling array of miscellaneous items.
Water Exquisite walked ahead, heading straight for the center of the Yin Mountain Market.
Li Chen keenly noticed that many people on the street looked at Water Exquisite with a hint of awe.
Linglong Fairy held a significant Jianghu status in the Yin Mountain Market!
Li Chen's eyes flickered; he knew he had met a truly noble person, but he wondered about the Linglong Fairy's cultivation level.
"The Yin Mountain Market was jointly established by several Cultivation Families from Blackwater Province, built upon a second-tier Spiritual Vein."
"Many Loose Cultivators gather here."
"These Loose Cultivators are mostly lawless individuals; be careful when dealing with them in the future."
Linglong Fairy walked ahead, seemingly in a good mood, and proactively introduced some common knowledge of the Cultivation World to Li Chen.
Looking at the young girl's small figure, Li Chen silently committed every word she said to memory.
"You have a Nine-Rank Spiritual Root. Without the support of a Family power or encountering an Opportunity, you will likely remain stuck in the early stage of Qi Refining for your entire life, unable to make any further progress in cultivation."
"After you've been in the Cultivation World for a few years, you'll realize that there's nothing wrong with staying in the Mortal world as a Mortal."
"Everyone dreams of Immortal Ascension, but in the vast Nanhua Cultivation World, how many have truly achieved Immortal Ascension in the past ten thousand years? Cultivate, Cultivate, but in the end, it's still just a handful of yellow earth, at most living a few more years than Mortals."
The young girl's tone was dismissive, with a hint of mockery in her voice.
Li Chen subconsciously asked, "Linglong Fairy, does Nanhua Cultivation World refer to the Cultivation World we are in?"
The young girl turned, her eyes becoming inexplicably deep, "The place we are in is just the most remote part of the Nanhua Cultivation World."
"There are fifty-six countries in Nanhua, and Yan Country is located on the border of Nanhua. Beyond Yan Country, the world is vast."
"Moreover, Nanhua is just a corner of the Human Realm…"
"Never mind, why am I telling you all this."
The young girl seemed to have thought of something, and her mood became low, losing interest in talking to Li Chen.
Li Chen dared not ask more, silently following behind the young girl, constantly observing his surroundings, wanting to quickly integrate into the Cultivation World.
"Young Miss, you're back."
The Divine Pill Pavilion, with its golden bricks and green tiles, was grand and imposing, topped with a giant gourd.
The pavilion stood in the central area of the Yin Mountain Market, the tallest among many pavilions.
Along the way, among the pavilions Li Chen had seen, only a few, such as the Thousand Refinement Pavilion, Hundred Treasures Pavilion, and Goddess Tower, could compare to the Divine Pill Pavilion.
On the first floor of the Divine Pill Pavilion, there weren't many people coming and going.
An old man walked down from upstairs, looking at the young girl with concern, his eyes also containing a hint of awe.
Li Chen stood behind the young girl, eyes downcast, not daring to speak.
"Steward Fu, how has business been lately?"
The young girl casually pulled up a chair, crossed her legs, and her expression was quite indifferent.
The old man glanced at Li Chen, and that glance made him freeze.
"Steward Fu, this person is someone I met outside the Yin Mountain Market. I saw that his Dao-seeking heart was very firm, so I brought him to the Divine Pill Pavilion to be an odd-job worker."
The old man's gaze moved away from Li Chen, and he softly mumbled, "No wonder! No wonder!"
"Little Han, take this young brother to see Alchemist Chen; let him be an apprentice odd-job worker for Alchemist Chen."
"Yes."
An oval-shaped Little Fatty walked forward, about seventeen or eighteen years old, looking at Li Chen with envious eyes, "Brother, please."
Li Chen nodded, giving Little Fatty a friendly smile.
"My name is Han Mao, Big Brother, what is your name?"
In the backyard of the Divine Pill Pavilion, Little Fatty became lively, his rat-like eyes shining brightly as he repeatedly scrutinized Li Chen.
"Brother, what is your relationship with the Pavilion Master? How is it that the Pavilion Master personally brought you here?"
Li Chen's eyes flickered slightly, and he asked calmly, "Linglong Fairy is the Pavilion Master of the Divine Pill Pavilion?"
Little Fatty Han Mao puffed out his chest, his tone becoming proud, "Linglong Fairy is not only the Pavilion Master of the Divine Pill Pavilion, but also the Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Talisman Pavilion, and one of the only few Foundation Establishment cultivators in this Yin Mountain Market."
"It is said that Linglong Fairy also has businesses in Nanshan Bazaar in Yun Province and Taihu Bazaar in Ping Province."
"Linglong Fairy is not yet thirty, and she is already at the Foundation Establishment cultivation. Even the true disciples of the Purple Void Immortal Sect are far behind our Linglong Fairy."
Li Chen opened his mouth, momentarily stunned.
Little Fatty's eyes were inexplicable, and he looked at Li Chen with a fawning smile, "Li Dage, you have caught the eye of Linglong Fairy. When you become successful in the future, please don't forget to help your little brother."
Li Chen gave a self-deprecating smile and did not answer Little Fatty.
He had indeed had great luck, encountering this beautiful and kind Linglong Fairy, being brought into the Yin Mountain Market, and even being arranged to be an apprentice odd-job worker for an Alchemist in the Divine Pill Pavilion.
As for other things, Li Chen dared not think too much.
He, Li Chen, was merely a Mortal who had not yet embarked on the Immortal Path, and moreover, had a Nine-Rank Spiritual Root; there seemed to be nothing about him worth the Linglong Fairy's designs.
Perhaps he resembled an old acquaintance of Linglong Fairy?
Li Chen rubbed his chin, recalling the startled expression of Steward Fu when he saw him earlier.
It seemed that only this explanation would account for Linglong Fairy treating him differently and bringing him to the Divine Pill Pavilion.
Li Chen also did not think too deeply about it.
For him now, overthinking was useless.
Little Fatty was still chattering incessantly, trying to find out the relationship between Li Chen and Linglong Fairy, but Li Chen remained silent.
In front of the exquisite courtyard, Li Chen tidied his clothes, feeling that Today's encounter was somewhat dreamlike.
"Li Dage, no need to be nervous."
"This Alchemist Chen has a very good temper."
Seeing Li Chen lost in thought, Little Fatty familiarly patted Li Chen's shoulder, offering comfort.
"Mortal?"
Li Chen finally met Alchemist Chen of the Divine Pill Pavilion.
In the quaint and elegant small courtyard, an old man in green robes reclined in the arms of a charming maidservant, while another maidservant was massaging his legs.
This Alchemist Chen was thin, with a flowing goatee under his chin, and was squinting at Li Chen.
Li Chen respectfully bowed, "This junior, Li Chen, greets Alchemist Chen."
Little Fatty Han Mao stood by, smiling obsequiously, "Old Chen, this is someone the Pavilion Master personally brought back. Steward Fu instructed that he be sent to you to be an apprentice."
Alchemist Chen's gaze swept back and forth over Li Chen, his brows tightly furrowed, and he spoke impatiently, "This old ghost Fu, at least send someone with cultivation; what's the point of sending a Mortal?"
"Always causing trouble for this old man."
"Forget it, forget it. Since he's someone the Pavilion Master personally brought back, and old ghost Fu has spoken, this old man can't very well refuse the Pavilion Master and old ghost Fu's Face."
"The fact that you're here to be an apprentice odd-job worker for this old man shows that your Spiritual Root isn't very good."
"Start with chopping wood and warming the furnace. Come find this old man Tomorrow."
Alchemist Chen impatiently waved his hand, casually dismissing Li Chen.
When Li Chen walked out of the Divine Pill Pavilion, he had a yellowed book, a bottle of Pigu Pill, and two Low-Grade Spirit Stones in his hand.
Little Fatty Han Mao accompanied Li Chen, his eyes full of envy.
The book was given by Steward Fu, an Elementary fire-attribute Cultivate method called Scarlet Flame Art.
The Pigu Pill and Spirit Stones were also given by Steward Fu.
According to Little Fatty Han Mao, the Divine Pill Pavilion did not provide accommodation for employees, unless they were Alchemists of higher status.
Li Chen could not live in the Divine Pill Pavilion and could only follow Little Fatty Han Mao to the shantytown to settle down.
On the top floor of the Divine Pill Pavilion, Water Exquisite watched Li Chen and Han Mao's departing figures, lost in thought, her eyes unknowingly misting over.
Steward Fu stood by, remaining silent for a long time, then mumbled, softly comforting her, "Young Miss, Master's talent is extraordinary; you don't need to worry about him."
Water Exquisite snapped back to reality, pursed her lips, "Steward Fu, Big Brother has been gone for over twenty years. When will he come back to see Linglong?"
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