Chapter 244: Scammer
Teleportation Arrays, especially those used for ultra-long-distance travel.
The average Cultivator couldn’t withstand the pulling sensation of their first time.
Just as the Guiding Disciple had said, there was even a risk of death.
Of course, it was like how a surgery with a near-one-hundred-percent success rate is still officially stated as ninety-nine percent.
Such cases were extremely rare.
But discomfort was very common. It was extremely severe for those in the Qi Refinement Realm, and slightly better for those at the Foundation Establishment Stage.
The symptoms didn’t lessen the more you used them; you just gradually got used to it.
The higher one’s cultivation, the smaller the effect.
Shen Hai’an and his friend, Ye Guancang, were already at the Golden Core Stage and teleported frequently, so they were accustomed to it.
But these three before them...
Three in the Qi Refinement Realm.
Ye Guancang, beside him, also remarked, "Interesting."
’Are they concealing their cultivation?’
But everyone who came to the Dragon Frost Swamp was assessed by the Sea View Sect. Could they have slipped past the Sea View Sect’s people?
Honghuang and An Xiu hadn’t yet noticed they were being watched.
But Song Jiulai’s Sea of Consciousness was open, and her awareness was now exceptionally sharp. Moreover, she had a system to tip her off.
System: "It seems we’ve been noticed."
’...Damn it!’
She had reacted so quickly.
Feeling the probing gazes, she didn’t turn her head.
Instead, she followed the other Cultivators, pretending her legs were weak as she stepped out of the Teleportation Array.
Some Cultivators threw up; others were fine.
As they stepped out of the Teleportation Array, someone nearby shouted, "This batch is from the Sea View Sect? Come over and register!"
The person shouting about registration was in a simple, hastily constructed pavilion outside the array, which looked something like an office.
A disciple was standing guard there.
But although this disciple was young, he had the cultivation of the Golden Core Stage.
’Just as I thought. In this era, Golden Core cultivators from Major Sects are everywhere.’
Song Jiulai followed the crowd to register, and only then did the probing gazes disappear.
Shen Hai’an and Ye Guancang were just borrowing the Sea View Sect’s Teleportation Array. They didn’t need to register and left directly.
As they were leaving, Shen Hai’an glanced back. Ye Guancang then said, "There are always a few unexpected ones mixed in. Perhaps they’re from another Major Sect."
The Yunzhou Continent was vast, filled with all sorts of Cultivators. Who could say they weren’t from a Major Sect, traveling incognito?
They weren’t ones to meddle, and wouldn’t insist on observing someone just because they seemed a little off.
"That’s not it." Shen Hai’an wasn’t paying much attention to Song Jiulai; he was just reminded of two other people. After a moment, he shook his head again. "Forget it."
They had a mission to attend to here in the Dragon Frost Swamp.
"Let’s head into Xuanwu City first."
Meanwhile, after Song Jiulai, Honghuang, and An Xiu finished registering,
they found that the Jade Token had completely transformed into a mark stuck to their hands.
This Jade Token was not only a pass but also a monitoring device.
After all, the Sea View Sect had paid a price to transport people here. How could they let them just sneak away?
If any precious spirit materials were discovered, the Jade Token would record and report it.
Once a month, the Jade Token would heat up on schedule. At that time, the Cultivators would have to obediently hand over all the materials they had found.
If one died in an accident, that was fine too. The Jade Token would report the location to the Sea View Sect, and their people would come over.
Then, whatever assets or inheritance you had would be collected by them.
"Capitalists! These guys are absolute capitalists!"
Honghuang grumbled after registering.
Song Jiulai saw that everyone around her had more or less recovered, so she casually went over to greet Honghuang. "Brother Honghuang, where are you guys planning to go?"
It was a rather presumptuous question, and even Honghuang wouldn’t answer it directly.
He just chuckled and said, "We still have to wait for someone."
Mu Qiu had already sent a message. She was in the next batch and would be arriving soon, and she had asked Honghuang to wait for them.
When first arriving in a strange place, it was better to team up with a group.
Hearing this, Song Jiulai feigned a bit of regret. "Well, I’ll head in first then. We’ll meet again if fate allows."
’I can’t very well brazenly say I’ll stay and wait with them, can I?’
Besides, she was just teasing Honghuang and the others. If they actually grouped up, the slightest move on her part could easily expose her.
Honghuang smiled and waved. "Goodbye, Brother Li."
So, Song Jiulai entered the city by herself.
Outside the city before her, she saw a massive stone stele.
Two words were carved on it: ’Xuanwu City’.
The so-called Xuanwu City was named as such simply because legend had it that a Black Tortoise once appeared here. Later generations built the city to commemorate it.
As for a Black Tortoise now, or even one with its bloodline...
...you couldn’t even dream of seeing one.
But compared to other places, the Spiritual Energy in Xuanwu City wasn’t particularly dense.
The city was grand, with a completely different style from the Sea View Sect.
Except for the massive Xuanwu Tower overhead, the city was filled with a chaotic jumble of Exotic Beast statues, but the beasts here were all spiritual beasts.
The variety of storefronts was dazzling.
There were shops selling Magic Treasures, Elixir Pills, and even spiritual beasts.
It was said that this place was once just a transit station, but it later developed to its current scale.
But with no centralized management, there wasn’t much concern for aesthetics.
You just had to abide by the rule that Spells were also forbidden within Xuanwu City.
Song Jiulai was like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden, marveling at everything she saw.
Xuanwu City was filled entirely with Cultivators. There were no more mortals, as this was no place for them.
"Fellow Daoist, want to buy a map?"
Suddenly, a low, sneaky-sounding voice called out to Song Jiulai.
Song Jiulai turned her head and saw a quirky-looking female cultivator in simple clothes and a felt hat looking at her.
Song Jiulai thought of a word.
’Scalper.’
"What map?"
"A map of the Dragon Frost Swamp, of course. Is this your first time here, Fellow Daoist?"
The female cultivator tugged her felt hat down and launched into her sales pitch. "Beyond Xuanwu City, the Dragon Frost Swamp has three other city-states, each separated by a great abyss. The tens of thousands of miles of territory between them are all part of the Dragon Frost Swamp, filled with countless minerals and treasures. As a first-timer, Fellow Daoist, how can you possibly get to know all this without a map?"
Song Jiulai didn’t waste words. "How much for one?"
The female cultivator held up a number with her fingers. "You’re a straightforward one, Fellow Daoist! And you’re in luck, we have a special discount right now. It’s only ten Mid-grade Spirit Stones!"
The people who came here weren’t exactly poor. You couldn’t judge the low-Level Cultivators by the standards of a poor place like the Feique Sect. Who knew? Maybe they were from a Major Sect.
Song Jiulai said, "Goodbye. I prefer to explore on my own!"
"Hey, hey, hey, wait, Fellow Daoist! Look, I can tell you’re a free spirit. We’re running a promotion right now. Eight! How about eight Mid-grade Spirit Stones?"
Just as she finished speaking, two passing Cultivators exclaimed with excitement.
"Xuanwu City is just as magnificent as the legends say! Since it’s our first time, let’s go get a map."
"Okay."
Song Jiulai: "..."
The female cultivator: "..."
The system chuckled, "This is the first time I’ve seen someone dare to try and scam you."
The woman met her gaze for a second, then beat a hasty retreat and slipped away.