Chapter 543: Speculations and The Sale of Immortal City

“I see a bit of unfamiliarity between you two fellow Daoists. Are you perhaps from another land?”

At this moment, the lady in the purple palace dress next to Meng Wuhen spoke up.

“To tell the truth, my wife and I aren’t cultivators of the Southern Wilderness. We accidentally entered a forbidden area, which brought us here.”

“Upon hearing about the situation in Da Mengze, we decided to come and hunt demons to gather resources.”

Lu Changsheng explained with cupped hands.

Jiang Kingdom’s Golden Core cultivators are all well-known.

Claiming to be a Jiang Kingdom cultivator wouldn’t be reasonable.

Claiming to be from surrounding countries could also expose a flaw.

It’s better to directly claim that the two of them are from the Northern Plains cultivation world.

After all, Hong Lian had already mentioned some information to him about the Northern Plains.

Moreover, Hong Lian could cover this matter, ensuring there were no flaws.

“Hmm?”

Immortal Wuhen and Immortal Yunmeng were visibly shocked upon hearing this.

“So, you two fellow Daoists are from another cultivation world?”

“We’ve only read about such crossings between realms in ancient records. Never thought we’d actually encounter one.”

Though the two were skeptical about the claim, they didn’t voice any doubts, showing only slight surprise.

“Meeting you folks today must be fate. Please come to our Immortal City of Da Mengze for a visit and rest for a few days. We can enjoy tea and discuss Dao together.”

“Moreover, since you’ve been hunting demonic beasts for a while, you must have quite a collection of materials. Our Immortal City can handle those for you.”

Immortal Wuhen offered with a friendly and polite expression.

Lu Changsheng pondered for a moment and then exchanged a glance with Hong Lian, replying, “We will gladly accept your hospitality.”

Although their exact stance was unclear,

The other party showed goodwill, and Lu Changsheng was willing to befriend them.

After all, they would come back to Da Mengze for demon hunting in the future.

It’s inevitable to have dealings with these two city lords.

So befriending them and maintaining rapport has many benefits, even conveniences.

As for whether the other side harbors ill intentions…

Even if the two of them are quite exhausted, ordinary Golden Core cultivators wouldn’t stand a chance.

After arriving at the Immortal City of Da Mengze, Meng Wuhen and his wife seemed to avoid suspicion and arranged for Lu Changsheng and Hong Lian to stay in a luxurious inn.

Shortly after, the two parties enjoyed tea, discussed Dao, and exchanged cultivation knowledge amiably.

During the conversation, the two were quite curious about the previous cultivation world of Lu Changsheng and Hong Lian, asking many questions.

But with Hong Lian’ presence, there were no flaws, dispelling all suspicions from the couple.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Lu Changsheng inquired about the detailed situation of Da Mengze.

For instance, how deep is it dangerous, any precautions when hunting demon kings, any taboos, and the distribution map of the demon kings.

Faced with these questions, Meng Wuhen and his wife didn’t hesitate to give Lu Changsheng detailed information about Da Mengze.

It included relatively safe island routes in Da Mengze as well as multiple dangerous forbidden zones in the deep sea area and demon king information.

Even though Lu Changsheng and Hong Lian were unafraid of Third-Tier Demon Kings, such intelligence was still very important.

“We’ve talked so much. We shouldn’t disturb you two anymore.”

“Regarding material processing, I’ll have someone come later to assist you. If you have any needs, you can use this token to find me.”

“If you two Daoists need a Cave Dwelling for cultivation, you can also use this token to go to the core Cave Dwelling area.”

After a long time, Meng Wuhen and his wife stood up to say their goodbyes and presented a token with the characters ‘Dameng’ engraved on it.

“Thank you for your trouble.”

Lu Changsheng and Hong Lian responded courteously.

After the couple left, Hong Lian raised her fair hand, drawing a beautiful arc, and set up a barrier in the room.

Then she turned to Lu Changsheng, saying, “Young Master, these two are not simple. They might not even be cultivators of the Jiang Kingdom or the Southern Wilderness.”

“Oh? Why do you say that?”

Lu Changsheng was a bit surprised, unsure of how Hong Lian had figured it out.

“Their Spiritual Energy aura isn’t ordinary. It seems independent, yet it is perfectly integrated, their energies blending seamlessly together. This indicates a top-tier Dual Cultivation Method, and both of them are likely in the late Golden Core stage.”

“Earlier, when they heard we were from the Northern Plains cultivation world, that Immortal Yunmeng seemed to let out a sigh of relief, as if worried or afraid of something.”

“Their questioning also included subtle probing, indicating they had some knowledge of the Northern Plains cultivation world.”

“These signs all suggest that these two are not simple and may harbor secrets.”

Hong Lian, wearing an elegant white dress, spoke gracefully.

In her previous life, she was a Nascent Soul True Lord, so her experience far exceeds that of Lu Changsheng.

And with a Nascent Soul Soul, she could observe the subtle emotions, expressions, and even soul fluctuations of the two.

“Worried or afraid?”

Lu Changsheng was slightly surprised, asking, “Do you think they came from another country or perhaps another cultivation world to avoid some disaster?”

Although he possessed the Taiyi Soul, he hadn’t noticed anything odd about the two.

He only felt that they were extraordinary, not ordinary Golden Core cultivators.

“That possibility cannot be ruled out. In any case, we should be cautious.”

Hong Lian smiled faintly.

“Hmm.”

Lu Changsheng nodded, suddenly feeling that the cultivation world was full of schemers.

The Qingluan Immortal City’s Immortal Qingluan had been rumored to be severely injured every few decades.

Yet mysteriously, after disappearing for more than ten years, she returned having broken through to the Nascent Soul stage.

Now, the normally low-key Lord and Lady of the most reserved Immortal City of Da Mengze were not just in the mid-Golden Core stage, but in the late Golden Core stage!

They had once had achievements in repelling Late-Stage Golden Core cultivators.

Now with both in the late Golden Core stage, wouldn’t they possess the power to overpower other late Golden Core cultivators and even contend with Nascent Soul cultivators?

“As long as they don’t have ill intentions, their background doesn’t concern us.”

Lu Changsheng narrowed his eyes slightly.

He came to the Immortal City of Da Mengze to earn a living and wasn’t interested in their secrets.

Meanwhile…

Meng Wuhen and his wife returned to their palace Cave Dwelling.

“Husband, do you think the information about those two is genuine?”

Immortal Yunmeng asked her husband, looking at him.

“They may indeed be from the Northern Plains cultivation world, but they are definitely not newcomers to this place.”

“When we first came here through the ancient teleportation array, it took us a full three years to eliminate the foreign aura and integrate ourselves into this world’s environment.”

“Their cultivation is higher than ours was back then, yet they show no sign of the Northern Plains world’s foreign aura. This means they have lived in the Southern Wilderness for quite some time.”

Meng Wuhen’s eyes were deep and calm as he spoke.

“Also, one of them is in the mid-Golden Core stage, and the other in the early Golden Core stage, yet they possess a late Third-Tier Spirit Pet. This is simply unimaginable and impossible!”

“I suspect their cultivation was at the peak of the Golden Core stage before an encounter with spatial turbulence caused a backlash, leading to their cultivation levels falling.”

“Otherwise, this situation is unexplainable. Moreover, how could a mid-stage Golden Core and early-stage Golden Core dare to hunt demons this way, treating Da Mengze’s deep sea like their backyard?”

Meng Wuhen sat down at the table with his wife, pouring a cup of tea, and said, “Meng’er, do you remember over ten years ago, a mysterious cultivator appeared in the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range, hunting demon kings? Some even speculated that Bai Feng Immortal died at his hands.”

“Husband, do you think this Daoist Wang and Daoist Li may be those mysterious cultivators?”

As the lords of the Immortal City of Da Mengze, their information network was very well-informed.

They knew that over ten years ago, a Golden Core cultivator caused quite a stir while demon hunting in the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range.

“In the entire Jiang Kingdom’s cultivation world, those with such power, daring to hunt demon kings like that, are very few.”

“I’ve never heard of Wang Lin or Li Muwan before. They seem to have just popped out of nowhere, so this can’t be ruled out.”

Meng Wuhen’s eyes were deep like the ocean, flickering with a formless light.

The couple’s cultivation methods made their spiritual senses sharper than normal, even giving them a kind of sixth sense.

Although this sense could be tricked and obscured, it sometimes allowed for extremely accurate judgments.

“But by the looks of it, they didn’t come here for us and don’t seem to have any ill intentions.”

Immortal Yunmeng softly said.

“That’s hard to say. We can use the Thousand Autumn Mirror to find out.”

Meng Wuhen glanced at his wife, reaching out his hand, and their fingers intertwined.

The spiritual energy from their combined Golden Core power flowed together, fusing seamlessly.

“Buzz!”

An ancient mirror, adorned with simple patterns and exuding a serene, spiritual light, appeared.

Its surface was smooth like water, seemingly able to reflect the essence of all things, with inscribed ancient symbols that looked like records of the Dao’s eternal truths.

However, just as Meng Wuhen began to calculate information about Lu Changsheng and Hong Lian, he felt a strong resistance and abruptly stopped the calculation as a sense of unease welled up.

Yet, even so, his face paled suddenly.

“This!”

At that moment, not only he but his wife beside him also looked aghast.

They knew that their cultivation method was extraordinary, and they also had the Thousand Autumn Mirror, a divination treasure!

But just now, the instant they began, they felt their lifespan begin to burn away.

“These two are definitely not ordinary. They must have a treasure that shields them from heaven’s secrets, and their luck is strong, their destiny profound!”

Meng Wuhen let out a long breath, his face serious as he spoke.

This initial calculation further confirmed his suspicions.

These two are not in the early or mid-Golden Core stages!

Even without a treasure to block heaven’s secrets, their strong luck alone created significant resistance!

“Husband, these fellow Daoists Wang and Li have mysterious and extraordinary backgrounds. Since we are about to leave, why not sell Immortal City of Da Mengze to them? It would also provide an additional way out for Xuanyuan in the future.”

“If they are foreign cultivators, they must be lacking in spiritual lands right now. Selling them the Immortal City of Da Mengze would be far better than handing it to the Heavenly Sword Sect.”

Immortal Yunmeng’s face was still a bit pale from the earlier situation.

“Since our previous efforts to select a husband failed, Xuanyuan isn’t capable of managing and holding the city. Selling it to them isn’t a bad idea.”

“But we still need to see if they are interested and whether this will bring trouble to Xuanyuan.”

Meng Wuhen’s eyes were deep and composed, his pupils flickering with a faint light.

The next day, while Lu Changsheng and Hong Lian were meditating.

An elder arrived, claiming to be sent by the city lord to process materials for the esteemed guests.

Upon hearing this, Lu Changsheng didn’t hold back and tossed several Storage Bags filled with materials to him.

In the past, selling and purchasing such materials required multiple trips.

But now, under a disguise and with the backing of Meng Wuhen and his wife, there was no need to be so cautious.

However, most of these Storage Bags contained materials from Second-Tier demonic beasts.

The elder took the Storage Bags and, after checking with his Divine Sense, couldn’t help showing a surprised expression.

“Honored guests, there are many materials here. It will take some time to appraise and calculate their value. Would you prefer to rest in our Immortal City’s Chamber of Commerce, or should we notify you after the appraisal is completed?”

The elder spoke respectfully, already vaguely guessing the extraordinary status of the two.

“Let’s go to your Chamber of Commerce. I also need to purchase some materials.”

Lu Changsheng, dressed in a dark robe, exuded an invisible authority as he and Hong Lian left their room.

After arriving in a VIP room at the Chamber of Commerce, the elder gathered several treasure appraisers to calculate the value of the materials and inquired about what materials the two needed.

Half a day later, Lu Changsheng and Hong Lian left the Chamber of Commerce.

“Tsk, as expected of the most powerful force in the Immortal City, their efficiency was much better.”

Lu Changsheng was very pleased with today’s service.

They didn’t lower the purchase price, and even offered discounts on the materials they sold.

Although if he slowly processed the materials back at his own Market, the profits might be slightly higher.

But in his view, it was much better to get everything settled in one go.

Moreover, many of the sea products required secondary processing and couldn’t be stored for too long.

The two didn’t return to the inn but instead used the token to go to the Cave Dwelling area in the center of the Immortal City of Da Mengze.

Normally, these Cave Dwellings aren’t up for rent or sale.

But with the token from the Immortal City of Da Mengze and Meng Wuhen’s instructions, the manager allowed them to use a normally reserved Cave Dwelling.

However, the Spiritual Energy in the Cave Dwelling was quite average, just barely reaching the standard of lower Third-Tier.

For Lu Changsheng and Hong Lian, it was just passable.

“If this couple is indeed in the late Golden Core stage, doesn’t that mean their Cave Dwelling should have at least upper Third-Tier spiritual veins?”

Lu Changsheng pondered.

For late Golden Core cultivators, lower Third-Tier spiritual veins are insufficient and would affect their daily cultivation.

Upper Third-Tier spiritual veins would be best.

Having cultivated spiritual veins himself, he knew how difficult it was to raise a lower Third-Tier vein to an upper Third-Tier one.

But this also confirmed that the couple of the Immortal City of Da Mengze was not simple.

Lu Changsheng released the Spirit Eye Spring from his Heaven and Earth Binding Shadow Belt, sitting down with Hong Lian to meditate and recover, preparing to venture into the depths of Da Mengze again.

With the information Meng Wuhen provided and the recently acquired Third-Tier Ni Chang Grass, he also had a new goal in mind.

A few days later, Lu Changsheng and Hong Lian said their farewells to Meng Wuhen.

“Pardon my rudeness, but are you two fellow Daoists now wandering cultivators without a spiritual land or place to anchor?”

Immortal Yunmeng looked at the two and suddenly asked.

“The two of us stumbled upon this place by chance and have no spiritual land or place to settle for now.”

Lu Changsheng responded straightforwardly.

“How do you feel about our Immortal City of Da Mengze?”

Immortal Yunmeng continued.

“It’s naturally an excellent place. However, we’ve grown used to being free and unrestrained, with no intention of joining any forces.”

Lu Changsheng thought the other party was inviting them to join the Immortal City of Da Mengze and politely declined.

“Daoist Wang, you misunderstood. I meant that, perhaps, you may be interested in our Immortal City of Da Mengze?”

Immortal Yunmeng smiled slightly as she spoke.

Lu Changsheng’s heart skipped a beat, but he maintained his composure and responded, “Daoist Yunmeng, what do you mean?”

“My husband and I have been cultivating here for 237 years and have now reached a bottleneck. We plan to go out and seek opportunities.”

“If we leave, this Immortal City will undoubtedly attract others to fight for it. So we were preparing to sell it to one of the Four Great Immortal Sects.”

“But since we got along so well with you two, if you and Daoist Li are interested, we would prefer to sell the Immortal City of Da Mengze to you first.”

Immortal Yunmeng said with a gentle smile.

Lu Changsheng and Hong Lian exchanged glances.

They hadn’t expected that the Immortal City of Da Mengze’s couple, like Immortal Qingluan, were preparing to leave.

Not only that, but they planned to sell Immortal City of Da Mengze!

It seems the two of them were different from Immortal Qingluan. Once they left, they wouldn’t return.

“I heard that the two of you have a daughter. Shouldn’t this Immortal City be left for her to manage?”

Lu Changsheng asked in a neutral tone.

Naturally, he was interested in the Immortal City of Da Mengze.

Due to the war for new territory, the current situation in the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range was complicated.

If he could control the Immortal City of Da Mengze, he could send his Foundation Establishment children there for training.

Moreover, all three of the Jiang Kingdom’s Immortal Cities were massive behemoths in wealth!

They provided a continuous stream of income that could significantly ease his family’s financial burden and also gather resources and Natural Treasures for himself.

As for the challenging task of guarding the Immortal City, Lu Changsheng was fairly confident.

His family now had three Golden Core cultivators: himself, Hong Lian, and Meng Xiaochan.

The combat power of the Golden Core stage wasn’t lacking, with both the Golden-Winged Roc and the Thousand-Faced Fox Puppet.

That level of strength was more than enough to defend the Immortal City of Da Mengze!

However, one issue remained: the price the other party would ask for the Immortal City!

A Second-Tier spiritual land alone was worth 100,000 Spirit Stones!

The price of a Third-Tier Immortal City couldn’t even be measured in Spirit Stones.

“Our daughter is mischievous and might not be able to hold the Immortal City. Besides, she’ll eventually need to go out and seek training opportunities.”

Immortal Yunmeng sighed slightly as she spoke.

The couple had deep emotional ties to the Immortal City of Da Mengze, having managed it for so long.

If possible, they naturally hoped their daughter could take charge and rely on the city’s resources to cultivate all the way to the peak of the Golden Core stage.

But their calculations revealed that the right partner for their daughter hadn’t appeared, and their daughter herself was somewhat resistant.

“Might I ask how you two plan to sell it? What’s your asking price?”

Lu Changsheng pondered, unable to resist the temptation of the Immortal City.

After all, it’s a rare opportunity. Missing out on this would be a huge loss.

A Third-Tier Immortal City like this, once the word got out, not just the Four Great Immortal Sects but even Golden Core loose cultivators from other countries would rush to purchase it.