Chapter 425 - 422: Guu Chang Wanderer

Chapter 425: Chapter 422: Guu Chang Wanderer

Dongli Residence.

An elegant teahouse that had been open for less than thirty years, it had now become the most popular gathering place for Cultivators in Zengguang Immortal City.

The customers in the main hall were primarily Foundation Establishment Cultivators, while the private rooms on the second and third floors were exclusive to Core Formation True Men.

For a walk-in customer, a single cup of Spirit Tea cost thirty Spirit Stones. Paired with a few plates of dried fruits and snacks, the price of around fifty Spirit Stones was enough to make any Qi Refining Cultivator flinch.

At first, disciples of Celestial Punishment Peak often gathered here. Later, as more and more Core Formation True Men began to meet and converse here, it gradually became the most high-end establishment in the Immortal City.

For outside Cultivators who wanted to attend the auction, the best place to find a VIP of the Immortal City to provide a recommendation and guarantee was Dongli Residence.

Gradually, this even gave rise to the profession of Broker, specializing in pulling strings and helping people build connections.

Of course, all of this was inextricably linked to the fact that the owner of Dongli Residence was the most favored disciple of True Monarch Yuan Mo.

As for the status of a Zengguang Immortal City VIP, every Nascent Soul Major Sect in the Northern Domain was allocated several slots.

Additionally, slots were also distributed to attract certain Loose Cultivator Honored Guest Elders, as well as powerful Cultivators who resided in the Immortal City long-term but were unwilling to become official members.

For a VIP of the Immortal City, recommending an outside Cultivator for the auction was merely an incidental benefit.

The main perks included being able to attend any auction without an appointment, borrowing up to two hundred thousand Spirit Stones from the Immortal City interest-free without collateral, and requesting assistance from the Immortal City when facing difficult problems... There were even exclusive purchasing channels open only to VIPs, filled with Treasures that were hard to find in the Cultivation Realm.

These various privileges made it a point of pride for ordinary Cultivators to become a VIP of the Immortal City.

"Senior, this is Dongli Residence. After you tell the Guest Officer your requirements, someone will help arrange an introduction."

The young loiterer gazed at Dongli Residence, which was nestled behind a Jade Bridge, flowing water, and swirling white mist, his face a complex mixture of fear, envy, and longing.

’Su Wuming’ tossed him a Spirit Stone and walked into Dongli Residence, an establishment that occupied a vast plot of land in the priceless inner city purely for the sake of adding to its style.

"And how should I address you, Senior? I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure. Is this your first time at our Dongli Residence?"

A middle-aged Guest Officer hurried forward, wearing a smile that was warm but not fawning.

To be a Guest Officer at Dongli Residence, a place bustling with High-Tier Cultivators, required a keen eye and exceptional social skills as a bare minimum.

Even with the establishment’s formidable backing, if trouble broke out every other day requiring the owner to step in and clean up the mess, what would be the point of paying them such high salaries?

Jiang En had worked at Dongli Residence for over ten years and had already saved up a good sum of Spirit Stones. His current goal was to become a Steward within thirty years, which would qualify him to purchase a Realm-Breaking Elixir for the Foundation Establishment Stage, allowing him to attempt a breakthrough to the Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment.

He dealt with hundreds of Cultivators every day, but Core Formation True Men were still a minority. Gaining one more Core Formation customer meant that a Guest Officer’s personal resources had increased by another fraction.

He had been greeting regular customers and wandering through the main hall, but the moment he saw an unfamiliar young man whose Cultivation depth he couldn’t discern step into Dongli Residence, Jiang En went right up to him.

"I’ve long heard of the Immortal City’s great name. I wish to attend the upcoming auction and have come to find a few VIPs to recommend and vouch for me."

’Su Wuming’ nodded, his gaze sweeping across the main hall. Dozens of tables were bustling with activity, all surrounded by Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

"In that case, Senior, please head upstairs to a private room. As it happens, Guu Chang Wanderer is meeting with friends and entertaining guests up there today... Senior Guu Chang has extensive connections and loves to befriend fellow Daoists. He often helps even junior Cultivators who come seeking his aid."

Jiang En said quickly, feeling that this Core Formation senior’s problem could be easily resolved.

"You must have heard of Guu Chang Wanderer, right? He’s a Tier Four Brewmaster and a great senior at the Mid-Stage Core Formation!"

"I’ve heard of him. Please lead the way, young man."

’Heard of him? I’m quite familiar with him, actually.’

After Ge Cang achieved Nascent Soul and the Sect became a Nascent Soul Major Sect, the dossiers on Bai Zichen’s desk listed Guu Chang Wanderer as the second most valuable Core Formation True Man to recruit.

He was ranked just behind Master Zhu, the Supreme Elder of the Danxia Sect and an Alchemy Master.

Of the three great Loose Cultivators of the Liang Country Cultivation Realm, Huang Ping Wanderer—whose true identity was a renegade disciple of the Celestial Star Sect—had grown greedy and died at his hands.

Golden Sun Wanderer had a despicable character and a terrible reputation, with a history of forgetting his principles at the sight of profit and backstabbing his companions.

Even if he had offered his services, the Qingfeng Sect wouldn’t have accepted him as an Honored Guest Elder.

Guu Chang Wanderer, however, was different. He was a famously good-natured person in Liang Country, his Brewing Technique was superb, and he had successfully recreated a Tier Four Ancient Spirit Wine.

With several types of Spirit Fruit having gone extinct and four or five ingredients from the recipe missing, he had spent years of research improving the formula.

He used currently available Spirit Fruits as substitutes and revived the Tier Four Spirit Wine.

The Spirit Wine’s effects still achieved over eighty percent of the Ancient Technique’s recipe, making him the foremost Brewer in the entire Northern Domain.

At the same time, he loved to teach others and build good relationships.

No matter which Sect or what Realm a Cultivator was, if they came to him for help, he would offer guidance and even a financial gift.

Among the Loose Cultivators of Liang Country, Guu Chang Wanderer’s prestige was extremely high.

Among the Cultivators who had received his favor, some had already successfully reached Core Formation, which further spread his fame.

Naturally, the Qingfeng Sect wanted to recruit such a figure.

This was due both to his strong influence among Loose Cultivators and his status as a Tier Four Brewmaster.

Although it wasn’t a popular skill, the wide variety of Spirit Wines could still provide numerous benefits to Cultivators, like the Ice-Fire Dragon Blood Wine that Bai Zichen had once drunk.

From a certain perspective, the Brewing Technique was like a weaker version of Alchemy; both involved using Heaven and Earth Spiritual Objects and transforming them into something directly useful to Cultivators.

However, its effects were inferior to Elixirs in all aspects, and the complexity and time required for brewing far exceeded that of alchemy, so it was naturally not as sought-after as the Alchemy Dao.

Unfortunately, the Cultivators sent by the Qingfeng Sect had searched for Guu Chang Wanderer several times without success. He never expected this Core Formation Cultivator to appear in Zengguang Immortal City, apparently even residing here.

Several private rooms on the east side of the second floor had their sound-insulating barriers removed, forming one large, spacious chamber.

A long, jade-green table was lined with a row of stone stools. On the other side, a Spiritual Spring flowed past, with several schools of koi swimming about.

Several Cultivators were seated at the gathering. At the head sat an elderly man, smiling and sitting upright in his seat.

The others were all in various states of repose.

There was an unrestrained Cultivator who had loosened his Daoist Robe, downing cup after cup of the Spirit Wine before him.

There was a young lad leaning back in his seat, crumbling pastries to feed the koi in the spring.

There was a square-faced middle-aged man who was standing straight, pumping his fist and speaking with passionate fervor about something.

And there was a Female Cultivator in a palace-style dress. With no makeup, her features were simple and elegant. While not a peerless beauty, she had a cool and noble temperament that gave her a distinctive air.

"Senior Guu Chang, this senior is new to the Immortal City and wishes to attend the auction, so he has come specifically to visit you."

Jiang En gently tapped the Jade Plate outside the private room and announced their purpose.

If it had been any other Core Formation True Man, he definitely wouldn’t have dared to bring someone up directly.

But Guu Chang Wanderer was different. This senior would sometimes, on a whim, even agree to see Foundation Establishment juniors, and he never turned away fellow Core Formation Daoists.

He had explicitly told the Guest Officers that if any Core Formation True Man came to visit, they could be brought directly to him.

Furthermore, he was generous, always paying the bill for gatherings at Dongli Residence and even bringing his own Spirit Wine.

"A friend from afar is a gift of fate. Please, Fellow Daoist, take a seat."

The elder at the head of the long table looked over with sharp eyes. Seeing the young man beside Jiang En had deep-set features, a chiseled jaw, and the Cultivation of an Early-Stage Core Formation, he spoke calmly.

’Su Wuming’s’ gaze swept over them. All five people at the table had Core Formation Cultivation. Aside from Guu Chang Wanderer and the uninhibited, drunken Cultivator, who were at the Mid Stage Realm, the other three were at the same Early-Stage Core Formation Realm he was displaying.

"I am Su Wuming. I have been traveling in the Eastern Domain and have only recently returned... I wished to witness the grand occasion of the Immortal City’s auction, only to find out about the requirement for a VIP recommendation. I ask for your generous assistance, Fellow Daoist Guu Chang, and I will surely repay the favor."

"A trivial matter, Fellow Daoist Su. Don’t give it a second thought... Master Qi and I are both VIPs of the Immortal City. We just need to find one more friend to meet the entry requirement. Leave this to me; I’ll have an answer for you before the auction late in the month."

Guu Chang Wanderer was just as the rumors said—enthusiastic and helpful. He agreed to the matter without even mentioning compensation.

"You’ve come at just the right time. The few of us don’t get to gather together often. Today, besides catching up and chatting, we’re also holding a small trade... If you’re interested, Fellow Daoist, you can join in. Perhaps you’ll find what you desire right here and won’t even need to attend the upcoming Immortal City auction."

"I’ll take you up on those auspicious words."

After ’Su Wuming’ took his seat, a wine pot and a triangular wine cup flew over to him on the long table.

The pot rose automatically and poured a stream into the cup, and a rich, fragrant aroma of wine instantly filled the air.

He raised the cup, toasted them from a distance, and downed the Spirit Wine in one go.

A fiery sensation traveled with the liquid, quickly spreading to his every limb. A flush of red appeared on his face, and the True Essence in his body felt like it was boiling.

A long moment passed before the aftertaste subsided, replaced by the fresh aroma of Spirit Fruit that welled up in his senses, making his mouth water.

"My Fire Toad Hundred Fruit Wine uses the heart’s Essence Blood of a Tier Three Fire Toad and a hundred types of Spirit Fruit. It’s fermented with my unique combination, goes through thirty-seven processes, and takes twenty-two years to brew to completion."

Seeing the newly arrived Core Formation True Man drink the Spirit Wine so readily, Guu Chang Wanderer smiled with satisfaction.

"This wine offers no benefits for Cultivation, save for one thing: it allows your body to experience the ultimate fruity aroma after the initial fire. Moreover, the fruity fragrance you experience is different each time you drink it, so it always feels new. Even a Nascent Soul True Monarch who drinks the Fire Toad Hundred Fruit Wine will experience this effect if they don’t deliberately suppress it with their True Essence."

"I see. It is indeed a fine wine."

’Su Wuming’ had drunk the wine so readily not only because he believed Guu Chang Wanderer wouldn’t tamper with it, but also because he had absolute confidence in his own physical body.

The higher one’s Cultivation, the stronger their immunity to various sensory stimuli.

Nascent Soul True Monarchs weren’t fond of indulging their appetites because most Spiritual Cuisine tasted as bland as wax in their mouths; they couldn’t perceive the slightest bit of flavor.

For the Fire Toad Hundred Fruit Wine to achieve this was already quite remarkable. Even if it had no other effects, it would be welcomed by Nascent Soul True Monarchs.

"I only regret that my Cultivation is insufficient! Otherwise, I would definitely have to brave that Lotus Secret Realm!"

The square-faced middle-aged man continued their previous topic, but he didn’t notice the expression of the Cultivator with the open Daoist Robe change as he poured himself another cup of Spirit Wine and gulped it down.