Chapter 308 - 2: Had Heaven not given birth to me, Zhong Ming, the Path of Cultivation would be an eternal night
Chapter 308: Chapter 2: Had Heaven not given birth to me, Zhong Ming, the Path of Cultivation would be an eternal night
The Flying Ship provided by Prince Qinghe was exceedingly fast. After just three days and nights, Zhong Ming and his party could already see the silhouette of Immortal Martial City in the distance.
WHOOSH—
Standing on the Jade Platform atop the Flying Ship, Zhong Ming gazed into the distance, his eyes flashing with astonishment. Immortal Martial City was so vast it beggared description. Countless ornate towers and jade-like palaces were packed together in dense rows, their upturned eaves and decorative corners adorned with Spirit Patterns. As he looked out under the sunlight, Zhong Ming saw that the buildings stacked layer upon layer, stretching to the very edge of a sea of clouds with no end in sight.
Countless more Flying Ships and treasure vessels filled the skies above Immortal Martial City, zipping back and forth like fireflies in the night or silver shuttles weaving a grand tapestry. It was a truly magnificent immortal vista.
’The real estate here must be insanely expensive.’
As a transmigrator, Zhong Ming’s first, instinctive thought upon seeing such a massive city was about its property values.
Fortunately, housing was a non-issue for Prince Qinghe.
Instead of heading to an inn or a posthouse, they made their way to a private, luxurious manor on the outskirts of Immortal Martial City—an estate owned by the Prince that covered a vast expanse of land.
As soon as he entered the manor, Zhong Ming was greeted by the sight of vermilion gates, jade steps, and rare flowers reflecting in the water. The Spiritual Qi here was so dense it seemed almost tangible. This was clearly a meticulously crafted immortal estate.
—Prince Qinghe wasn’t highly regarded because he held no real power, did not command a large army, and his own personal strength wasn’t overwhelmingly powerful.
But the House of Qinghe was never in decline. Even when being modest, Prince Qinghe referred to himself as a "rich and idle prince."
...
They had just arrived at the manor and hadn’t even had a chance to settle in when a clear, lively clamor erupted from outside, accompanied by a young girl’s sweet shout, "Qingyue, Qinglian, I’ve come to play with you!"
Before the voice had even faded, a slender young girl in a pale-yellow silk dress had already burst in with her retinue. The girl’s eyes were bright and spirited, her demeanor as lively as a sparrow.
"Qingque, you’re here too."
Seeing her arrive, Ji Qingyue immediately went to greet her with a smile. Meanwhile, Ji Qinglian came to Zhong Ming’s side and quietly explained the girl’s identity to him.
"This is Ji Qingque, the daughter of Prince Qinglin. Our families have always been on good terms, and Prince Qinglin is also a rich and idle prince. The True Form Map of the Mountain and River Dragon Veins you need is in her possession."
"I’ve been here for a long time." As she spoke, Ji Qingque casually handed an Ancient Scroll to Ji Qingyue. Then, her eyes dancing with excitement, she said, "I already know all the best places in Immortal Martial City! Come on, Qingyue, Qinglian, I’ll take you for a look around."
Hearing her excited invitation, neither Ji Qinglian nor Ji Qingyue responded. Instead, they both instinctively looked toward Zhong Ming, as if asking for his opinion.
"Hmm?!"
Seeing this, Ji Qingque’s eyes flashed with surprise.
She had a sharp mind and saw at a glance that the two sisters deferred to this seemingly ordinary young man.
But because of this, she was now completely baffled by Zhong Ming’s identity.
"Qingyue, who is this? Is he Qinghui? Chengping? Or Qingkang?"
Her question made Ji Qingyue smile. "None of them. He is Young Master Zhong Ming, a peerless prodigy recruited by my royal father. For this trip to Immortal Martial City, until Father arrives, we are all to follow his orders."
"Huh?"
At these words, Ji Qingque looked at Zhong Ming with even greater astonishment. The members of her retinue also stared at him, their faces showing their bewilderment.
None of them could understand how Zhong Ming, who looked perfectly ordinary and hadn’t even reached Foundation Establishment, was so highly valued by Prince Qinghe. Why, even the two Commandery Princesses had to defer to his command.
However, though everyone was inwardly confused, no one stepped forward to mock or provoke him.
They weren’t fools. They knew full well that anyone the House of Qinghe treated with such distinction couldn’t possibly be as simple as he looked.
Meanwhile, sensing the two princesses’ questioning gazes, Zhong Ming replied without a hint of hesitation.
"You two can do as you please. You don’t need to ask my opinion on everything. Just tell me where Master Luo Zhiwei’s residence is."
He only needed to complete one last item to achieve four instances of Breaking the Norms and advance his Cultivation. How could he possibly waste time on sightseeing at a moment like this?
Of course, he had no intention of restricting the two princesses, so he decided that they could go have fun while he went to find Master Luo Zhiwei alone.
However, the moment the words left his mouth, the two princesses rejected his proposal.
"No, I want to accompany you."
"Me too."
With that, both princesses turned to Ji Qingque, their expressions apologetic.
"Sorry, Qingque, we..."
"It’s no problem. Important matters come first." By now, Ji Qingque’s curiosity had completely eclipsed her desire for fun. Compared to playing around, she was far more interested in who Zhong Ming was and why two Commandery Princesses would hang on his every word and prioritize him in all things.
’Don’t tell me this is some drama about two women fighting over the same man?’
This curiosity kept her from leaving. Instead, she walked over to Ji Qinglian’s side, affectionately took her arm, and said, "Then I’ll come along too," while sizing up Zhong Ming with sparkling eyes.
And just like that, on their first day in Immortal Martial City, Zhong Ming’s group gained a "little tail."
Afterward, they boarded a short-haul Flying Ship used for transport within the city and headed toward Luo Zhiwei’s residence.
The Flying Ship was swift. In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, they had docked before a vast, simple, and solemn mountain gate—the Immortal Martial Daoist School.
"A Daoist School?" Zhong Ming raised an eyebrow.
Sensing Zhong Ming’s confusion, the knowledgeable Ji Qingyue immediately explained, "The Daoist Schools were founded by the Frost Moon imperial family, in alliance with the great noble houses, to act as a check on the power of the Major Sects. But because of opposition from the most powerful sects, the Daoist Schools, while established, have never managed to become very influential."