Chapter 821 - 320: Who Stole Their Souls
"Whenever one desires, greed inevitably arises."
...
The glow of lanterns and the bright moon illuminate Changning City’s nightscape, resembling a silver river on the ground.
Countless cultivators make a living, strive, enjoy, and seek here. The thriving Spirit Stone Market has made this place the greatest Immortal City ever. Here, with spirit stones, almost anything can be achieved.
People always say that the imperial throne is occupied by a ruler, while the immortal throne is dazzled by the radiant spirit stones.
Here, what’s ruling people is not the Shangjing regime centered on the Immortal Emperor, but the endless pursuit of a better life.
And that better life is built upon piles of spirit stones.
From the cultivation of the Immortal Dao, to status and honor, down to food, clothing, housing, and transportation, without exception.
After a busy day, the purification boy Li Changhao steps out from the back door of the luxurious restaurant "Immortal Fish Tower," right next to Shengyi Square, the most bustling area of Changning City, where the "World’s First Tower," Illusion Immortal Tower, stands.
Gazing at the Immortal Tower standing tall amidst the magnificent palaces, Li Changhao’s eyes reveal endless hope.
Within this hope, past images flicker.
His hometown is a remote border county called "Du Ke" in the Shangjing Immortal Dynasty. His family, while not the top in Du Ke City, is quite reputable, with an elder in the Divinity Transformation Stage holding the fort.
As the most talented among the younger generation of his family, he naturally received exceptional attention.
He did not disappoint, breaking through to the Golden Core at the age of twenty-nine, becoming a cultivator in the Nascent Soul Realm.
Afterward, the family pooled all resources to buy him a twenty-year temporary residency permit in Changning City, hoping he would carve out a path for the family’s future development.
At thirty, with hope and aspirations, he came to Changning City.
He was energetic, confident, and firmly believed that with hard work and diligent cultivation, he would create a beautiful life of his own in Changning City.
Upon arrival, he soon discovered that everyone around him was just like him.
Carrying the hopes of their families or sects, they came to this great Immortal City.
They encouraged one another, helped each other, progressed together, believing firmly they would contribute to the great future of the Shangjing Immortal Dynasty, becoming essential members.
Until... the family’s support could no longer cover the costly Grotto Heaven rental fees or sustain the daily expenses needed for cultivation.
Seeing their peers rapidly advancing in cultivation, they dared not fall behind, gritting their teeth, and went to the Heaven and Earth Bank to sign the Xiangji Loan.
Yet eventually, they found that the spirit stones they earned could not repay the Xiangji Loan.
They had to sacrifice some of their cultivation time to seek more labor, earning more spirit stones.
But spirit stones seemed like water, impossible to grasp.
Even if they spent most of their rest and cultivation time working for spirit stones, life did not become better. Day after day, it was always the same.
They wanted to give up, but upon seeing the letters spent hundreds, if not thousands, of low-grade spirit stones sent from home. Seeing the greetings and concerns from parents and elders inside...
They gritted their teeth once more, searching for the next opportunity to earn spirit stones.
But where did all the spirit stones go?
They all turned into beams of light, used to illuminate this great Immortal City.
Li Changhao gazes at the towering Illusion Immortal Tower, his eyes full of longing. Upon arriving in Changning City, he had heard people describe Illusion Immortal Tower.
Rumor has it that every girl inside is a goddess and beauty, each capable of ranking within the top ten thousand of the fairy list.
Not only are they beautiful, but they are also skilled in various arts, even talented in cultivation.
Back then, the fellow cultivators around him all aimed to win the favor of the girls from Illusion Immortal Tower. It seemed to be the best reward for their achievements as cultivators and men.
He was no different.
Numerous times passing by the entrance of Illusion Immortal Tower, he silently cheered himself up.
In the fifth year in Illusion Immortal Tower, due to a fortunate opportunity, he finally had extra money to visit Immortal Tower.
Though only in the outer courtyard, able only to observe the splendid performances of the goddess beauties from afar.
That was undoubtedly the happiest day in his twenty years at Illusion Immortal Tower.
Because the girls at Illusion Immortal Tower, with their exquisite smiles and melodic voices, said to him,
"We are very grateful for your preference."
What a beautiful scene.
Recalling that day, Li Changhao’s heart still surges.
But soon, his face is covered with gloom.
Because, in less than a month, his twenty-year temporary residency permit will expire. And he has no spirit stones to renew it, having spent most of his energy merely sustaining livelihood here.
When the temporary residency expires, where should he go?
Return to the hometown, Du Ke County?
Li Changhao cannot imagine how he should face the family. The family gave it their all for him, but what has he given back to them?
In fact, he feels he is not the worst.
Three years ago, Li Changhao personally witnessed a friend unable to repay the Heaven and Earth Bank loan, taken by the bank to his family. Heard that to repay the loan, it almost cost half of the family.
Since then, Li Changhe completely lost contact with that friend.