Chapter 465: Water Cloud State—Water Cloud Immortal Capital

The Taihu Spirit Realm boasted a well-developed water system, with crisscrossing rivers and lakes resembling a chessboard. Its convenient transportation network facilitated frequent exchanges between regions, significantly boosting commercial prosperity.

The Azure Cloud Sect, one of the Seven Orthodox Sects, was situated west of the North Rupture Mountains and south of the Endless Ice Plain. It governed five states. Water Cloud State was the largest among them, known for its abundant waterways. For six months of the year, it was shrouded in mist and fog, with water vapor permeating the air, creating an ethereal, dreamlike atmosphere akin to a fairyland. For this reason, it was also known as "Cloud Dream Lake."

The state capital was named Water Cloud Immortal Capital. The city spanned hundreds of kilometers and had a permanent population of nearly ten million, a scale typical of the Taihu region. In contrast, cities in Chiyuan with just hundreds of thousands of residents were already considered major metropolises. The vast population difference between the two regions led to many distinctions, particularly evident in their lifestyles.

The people of Water Cloud, from humble peddlers to high-ranking nobles, always moved with a sense of urgency, appearing perpetually busy. Even street vendors shouted at the top of their lungs, fearing pedestrians wouldn't hear them. While the market was bustling and somewhat chaotic due to the crowds, it also possessed a rich, lively atmosphere. It developed with a sense of order amidst the disorder, far from being completely disorganized.

If Chiyuan's cities adopted mixed living for immortals and mortals in imitation of Taihu, it was to cultivate more suitable young individuals with spiritual roots. After all, places with spiritual veins are rich in spiritual energy. It could be described as a place that nurtured exceptional individuals; children born here had a significantly higher chance of possessing spiritual roots than those born in areas without spiritual veins. Consequently, the number of cultivators naturally surged over time.

If the mortals of Water Cloud City could be described merely as busy, then its cultivators were practically born beasts of burden, almost every one of them sporting prominent dark circles under their eyes. They appeared mentally and physically exhausted, as if they hadn't rested in a very long time. Qi Condensation cultivators occupied the exploited lowest rung, while Foundation Establishment cultivators, though slightly better off, still belonged to the middle-lower class in Water Cloud Immortal Capital. Only Core Formation cultivators enjoyed a significantly better life; they were the ones who could truly establish themselves in the city.

Upon arriving in a new place, the most crucial step was to understand the number of powerful individuals residing there. Wang Yu, adhering to the philosophy of "great hermits hide in the city," decided to immerse himself in the mortal world. This way, he wouldn't remain aloof for too long and lose sight of his original aspirations.

Water Cloud Immortal Capital was divided into a core zone, an inner city, an outer city, and shantytowns. The status of these four areas could be determined by the quality of their spiritual veins. The core zone boasted multiple fourth-tier spiritual veins, where the City Lord's Mansion was situated. Three Nascent Soul stage experts, all from the Azure Cloud Sect, were permanently stationed there. The inner city contained around twenty third-tier spiritual veins, allowing Core Formation cultivators to establish themselves. In the outer city, spiritual veins were more scattered, and due to the high population density, their radiating range was quite limited. Most Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment cultivators resided within the spiritual veins' limited reach, creating a tiered circular zone with varying spiritual energy concentrations, from high to low. The shantytowns were predominantly home to mortals or low-level Qi Condensation cultivators who had offended others. They were the poorest and most distressed areas.

At this moment, Wang Yu entered the marketplace directly through the South Gate and found himself momentarily stunned. The vibrant human touch of the mortal world, as they say, best soothes the ordinary heart. Cultivators, too, were still mortals, far from truly detaching from the mundane world. They could not live in isolation, nor had they achieved true immortality or timelessness. Ultimately, they were still just mortals.

As the first rays of morning sunlight fell, the marketplace grew even livelier, filled with the aroma of steaming buns, rich soy milk, silky white tofu pudding resembling snow, and fragrant mutton vermicelli. Wang Yu, who had long forgotten his last meal, suddenly felt his appetite stirred. He rubbed his Sea Heart Ring and searched through its countless treasures for a considerable time, only to find no ordinary silver or gold, which left him with a sudden feeling of regret. He wouldn't be afraid of being laughed at if he told anyone. A dignified Demon Lord, unable to eat mortal food – this ironically highlighted Wang Yu's strong moral principles regarding mortals. Why exacerbate the already difficult lives of ordinary people? Conversely, if it were a shop run by cultivators, could a few bites truly bankrupt them?

Just as Wang Yu turned to leave, a clear voice suddenly rang out. "Hey," it said, "you're dressed quite well. Why don't you have money for breakfast? Let me treat you!"

Wang Yu turned his head to look. Amidst the bustling crowd, a girl stood out. She wore a blue-pink, cloud-patterned "Thousand Water Skirt" and had her hair styled in a "Cross Drooping Cloud Bun." Her exquisite features and clear, bright eyes left a profound impression at first glance. If such a face belonged to a courtesan, it would undoubtedly captivate all who saw her. Yet, on an unmarried maiden, it strangely evoked a sense of impropriety, like a courtesan not adhering to proper conduct. Wang Yu instantly looked at her with curiosity.

"Treat me? Really?" he asked.

"Of course."

The girl was accompanied by two delicate and refined maidservants. Wang Yu could sense their spiritual energy, identifying them as martial maids in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. He concluded she must be a wealthy young lady from at least a Core Formation family. Being new to the place, and despite being in seclusion for healing, Wang Yu saw no reason to deny himself. Furthermore, social anxiety was not an issue for him. "Eat!" he thought.

"First, a bowl of mutton vermicelli to taste," Wang Yu began, "three beef pancakes from over there, a serving of sweet, savory, and spicy tofu pudding, ten meat-filled buns, and also that glutinous rice chicken… this red date steamed cake… and that..."

The girl was a bit displeased. It wasn't that she couldn't afford it, but it seemed the man was taking excessive advantage of her kindness. It was too much. She immediately walked over to Wang Yu and poked his arm with her finger.

"Hey," she said, "you're as thin as a bamboo pole. You're ordering so much; can you finish it all?"

"Just tasting it for novelty," he replied. "If you made me eat it every day, I wouldn't be able to."

Soon after, the food arrived, dish by dish. The small square tables lining the street were quickly filled. Wang Yu ate with both hands, devouring the buns with astonishing speed, as if a starving ghost had been reincarnated. Little did she know, he was reminiscing about the meals he had as a spirit slave. The buns in Water Cloud Immortal Capital… weren't as good as those at Cold Blood Peak.

Then, when he moved on to other dishes, his pace slowed considerably, indicating he was genuinely savoring them. However, after a few bites, Wang Yu's brows furrowed. His senses were too keen; he could detect various "flaws" in the food. If he truly wanted to satisfy his appetite, he would need to find proper spiritual cuisine. This time, however, he was simply enjoying the human touch, and in no time, everything on the table was eaten clean.

The girl's eyes widened in astonishment. "You eat so much, but you're so thin! How do you do that?" she exclaimed.

"It's a matter of physique," he replied. "Miss, do you need anything else?"

"No... nothing."

"Then I'll take my leave. Thank you for your hospitality."

Seeing Wang Yu about to depart, she quickly asked, "How should I address you?"

"We met by chance; there's no need to dwell on names," he replied. "If fate allows, I'll tell you next time."

With that, Wang Yu, in his snow-white robes, vanished into the crowd. The two martial maids beside the girl remarked indignantly, "Miss, this man is so arrogant."

"Exactly! Why did you treat him to food? We haven't even finished our business at the shop yet."

The girl merely arched a delicate brow. "What do you two know?" she countered. "His demeanor doesn't fit with the people of Water Cloud. He must be from out of town, and very likely a cultivator."

"So what if he's a cultivator?" one maid retorted. "There are easily over a million cultivators in Water Cloud."

"Our Dou family is quite formidable too; we have more than ten Core Formation cultivators!"

"Oh, come on, let's go," the girl said, waving them off. "I'm not discussing this with you anymore."

"The Dou family of Xishan?" Hidden in the crowd, Wang Yu mused. He hadn't expected to encounter the Dou family so soon. Could he possibly have some karmic connection with them? As for his words to Yin Gui about slaughtering the Dou family to appease her, that had merely been a jest. It wasn't meant to be taken seriously; Yin Gui mostly wanted him to attend the ancestral worship in her place. She, too, naturally had parents and relatives, and it was indeed proper to pay them a visit.

Of course, Wang Yu's main priority remained healing. After all, Water Cloud Immortal Capital was an orthodox city, and as a demon cultivator with a dark past, it was unwise to casually expose his powers. Furthermore, he currently needed ample time to absorb the resources he had accumulated.

While contemplating, Wang Yu first exchanged some low-grade spirit stones for mortal currency. He then entered a custom clothing shop, intending to purchase some ordinary clothes for disguise. However, when the shopkeeper heard Wang Yu wanted multiple complete sets of clothing, he repeatedly shook his head, declaring that Wang Yu was wildly mistaken. The turnaround time wasn't that quick; it would take at least seven days. Wang Yu said nothing, merely pulling out a lump of gold. The shopkeeper then shook his head, declaring that *he* had been wildly mistaken and that the clothes could indeed be finished before nightfall.

He spent the entire afternoon with an agent looking for a house, eventually finding a decent two-courtyard dwelling on the edge of the outer city. It bordered the shantytowns, meaning security was only average. Should a major incident occur, Water Cloud Immortal Capital's protective array would not extend to this area—a significant drawback for both ordinary citizens and cultivators. For Wang Yu, however, this was an invaluable advantage. It made it easy for him to slip away at any time or to leave the city to attend to other matters.

Disguised as a mortal, Wang Yu moved in that very day. Given the immense number of cultivators in Water Cloud Immortal Capital, Wang Yu assumed many would have already dug underground quiet rooms. So, instead of digging one himself, he set up a wondrous Feng Shui array in a side room. This array was primarily to mask his aura and demonic essence fluctuations. After all, his cultivation didn't rely on the external environment; his system could steadily advance his demonic essence growth in the background.

His energy was first directed towards comprehending mystical abilities and secret techniques: specifically, the Zhou Tian Star Condensation Arrow Technique, the Thunderfire Celestial Pivot Secret Technique, and the Gui Xu Concealing Heaven Curse. These three techniques could be quickly mastered and offered a cultivation advantage, unlike others such as the Dragon Emperor Fist, Ice Prison Demonic Seal, or Immortal Spirit Body, which required extensive time for comprehension. It wasn't worth dedicating time to these long-term abilities at the moment.

The Prajna Heart Sutra was also brought to the forefront of Wang Yu's cultivation plan, as his mental cultivation had been stagnant at the "Third Stage: Immaculate Realm" for a considerable time. After his Asura Dharma Intent integrated years of accumulated killing intent, it was currently at the minor completion stage. To reach full mastery, a mere seven cultivation slots were far from sufficient. Therefore, he had to prioritize his tasks. Three fundamental cultivation technique slots were essential. The Netherworld Demonic Dragon Art and the Ancient Soul Manual occupied two of them. The remaining two empty slots were prioritized for secret techniques. Wang Yu immediately began cultivating the Gui Xu Concealing Heaven Curse and the Chains of Heaven. He was comprehending both void-related profound techniques simultaneously.

This marked February of the eighteenth year of Wang Yu's existence as an Old Ancestor. It was somewhat surprising that he had left the Reversing Spirit Blood Sect less than two decades after achieving that status. Before entering seclusion, his demonic essence measured twelve thousand two hundred drops. If he continued cultivating at this rate, it would take approximately sixty-five years to advance to the fifth layer of the Nascent Soul stage. This speed was already considered rapid compared to other Nascent Soul cultivators, who often took centuries to achieve breakthroughs. Not to mention, he still had many Nascent Souls in reserve. He could readily use fourth-tier Human Pill techniques to refine them into Longevity Blood Infant Pills. Cultivating by consuming Nascent Souls was an utterly demonic practice. Performing such acts in Water Cloud Immortal Capital required extreme caution. As long as he avoided interacting with external spiritual energy, concealing his presence was relatively easy.

After several days of cultivation, Wang Yu recited the Prajna Heart Sutra daily, striving to counteract the influence of the Heaven Refining Intent, which proportionally weakened his demonic flames. Although his recovery was slow, it was steadily progressing. He also unexpectedly discovered a benefit: his physical body, caught in a struggle with the demonic flames, was in a peculiar state of constant destruction and recovery, much like the body tempering he experienced in the Burial Pit Secret Realm using malevolent energy. The only thing to be mindful of was the principle of "too much is as bad as not enough." Once his physical body fully recovered, Wang Yu would need to replenish a large amount of life essence; otherwise, he risked shortening his lifespan. The body-tempering effect of the Heaven Refining Demonic Flames was merely an unexpected bonus. It was still best to resolve the primary issue as soon as possible.

That day, a few sloppily dressed ruffians knocked on the door of Wang Yu's newly acquired residence. Wang Yu, in seclusion in his quiet room, sensed their clear intentions even before they could speak. In an instant, he realized the reason: "He displayed his wealth when buying the house..." He shook his head with a wry chuckle. High cultivation realms made one prone to carelessness; trivial amounts of gold and silver were insignificant to him but represented a vast fortune to mortals. "It seems my mindset needs to adapt," he mused, "otherwise, the concept of a 'great hermit hiding in the city' will just be a joke."

A moment later, two jujube trees appeared in the small courtyard. Uncharacteristically, Wang Yu didn't use his Ice Dragon Pill Flame; instead, he personally patted the soil firm, muttering to himself, "I hope next year you'll bear sufficiently sweet fruit."

Days turned into weeks as he settled into a leisurely pace of life. Since Wang Yu's cultivation didn't require meditation and the Prajna Heart Sutra could be practiced anytime, anywhere, he found himself with ample free time. To better integrate into local life, he purposely rented another shop nearby. He started a liquor business. By simply gathering some cogongrass from outside the city and melting in a few low-grade spirit stones or ordinary spiritual pills, he could produce excellent liquor. The liquor also had body-strengthening properties, and even if it was a bit pricey, business was excellent, attracting numerous regular customers. In just three months, he had earned several nicknames on the street: "Boss Wang," "Old Wang," "Brother Wine," and so on.

Occasionally, he encountered individuals looking to cause trouble. The increasingly luxuriant growth of the two jujube trees in his courtyard served as testament to these people's ultimate fate. A bit of mortal flesh and blood was too lacking in spiritual energy for him to even bother feeding to his zombies. Over time, the rumor spread that Boss Wang was protected by a cultivator. After all, a plain, thin man couldn't possibly have made those thugs and ruffians disappear. "He must have powerful backing!"

Three years later, at Wang's Grass Wine Shop, Wang Yu, now sporting a beard, appeared much sturdier, no longer having the frail appearance of a willow. His handsome features and considerable wealth attracted numerous matchmakers to his door. Being parentless and immensely wealthy, wasn't he a highly desirable catch? Wang Yu politely refused all of them; he was in seclusion for healing, not truly immersing himself in the mortal world. By then, his liquor shop employed two assistants who helped customers dispense and bottle wine. Wang Yu lay on a grand armchair, idly caressing a small teapot, basking in the warm spring sun, and leisurely enjoying his life.