Bound for Yeonha Immortal City
A few days passed, swollen with dreams of the opportunities awaiting in Yeonha Immortal City. Finally, the day arrived to depart for the immortal city governed by the clan.
"Yaaawn."
Baek Cheong packed her things early in the morning and headed to the clan's Yeonmu-jang. In the center of the training ground stood a massive flying treasure in the shape of a towering cloud-piercing ship, exuding majestic grandeur. Dozens of laborers bustled about, tirelessly loading enormous crates into the ship's hold.
"Oh, Cheong's here."
Baek Muyeong, the head of the Baek Clan Merchant Group and Baek Cheong's uncle, greeted his niece with a hearty laugh. At Core Formation mid-stage, he possessed exceptional business acumen as a merchant.
"Uncle, it's been well with you? There's so much luggage."
"Hoho, this trip doubles as a routine transport for the merchant group's goods to the city."
Baek Muyeong smiled affably, but his voice boomed a bit, mindful of the surrounding eyes. Baek Cheong saw right through her uncle's intentions. Those large crates the laborers were sweating over were mere decoys to divert attention. The real purpose of this journey—and the true treasure—was likely the Five Elements Pill tucked away in a small jade vial hidden in his robes.
There was no need to poke her nose into the adults' complicated, secretive affairs, so Baek Cheong pretended not to notice and nodded.
"Well, looks like the loading's done. Time to set off."
Under her uncle's protection, Baek Cheong boarded the deck of the flying treasure. The hefty ship began to rise slowly into the air with a faint vibration.
"Whoa..."
An exclamation escaped Baek Cheong's lips. Having lived her entire life since reincarnating in this xianxia world confined within the Baek clan's walls, gazing down at the outside world from the skies filled her with awe. Towering jagged peaks piercing the clouds, silver rivers snaking along pulsing spirit veins, dense forests of spirit herbs. The vivid, majestic landscape of the mortal realm stretched endlessly below.
Baek Muyeong approached his niece, who was entranced by the view out the window, finding her adorable as he chattered on endlessly.
"That peak you see there is Thunderclap Mountain, where thunderbird beasts nest. Follow that river upstream and..."
Her uncle's kind explanations were appreciated, but Baek Cheong's inner thoughts differed slightly.
"Wow, really?"
Ah, I need to log into Moomyeongbang and dig up more opportunity info.
She had no chance to troll the forums amid her role as the uncle's constant conversation partner. Unable to rudely brush off an adult's goodwill, she forced agreeable responses to pass the time. The novelty of the scenery wore off quickly too. The view from the heavens was grand, but after a few hours of repeating mountains and rivers, boredom set in.
To Baek Cheong, pickled in the fiery reactions and floods of attention from even slight forum provocations, nature's scenery felt almost too peaceful.
Fortunately, the distance from the Baek clan's main residence to Yeonha Immortal City wasn't far. After half a day's flight slicing through clouds, the massive silhouette of the city walls finally emerged on the horizon.
"That's Yeonha Immortal City."
"Whoaaa!"
Following her uncle's pointing finger, Baek Cheong gasped once more. Impossibly long, heavy walls stretched without end, enveloped in layers of resplendent protective formations like a dome over the entire city. Within, ornate towering buildings packed densely, and countless cultivators and mortals swarmed like ants, forming a vast hub of life.
"All that's ours, right?"
Baek Cheong couldn't hide her excitement. Her status as the Baek clan's youngest daughter suddenly felt like tremendous power, filling her small chest with grandeur.
"Hoho, yes. It's managed and governed by our Baek clan. Strictly speaking, the myriad merchant groups and sects inside pay us land rents and taxes in exchange for protection."
The flying treasure passed through the city's protective formations and gently descended into the designated docking area. As the deck opened, three retainers who represented the Baek clan's interests and handled city defense emerged to greet them. The white-haired elder at the front was a Gold Core early-stage master, followed by a middle-aged man at False Core Formation and a promising young cultivator freshly entered Core Formation early-stage, all standing respectfully.
"The cultivators guarding the city are impressive."
"Haha, it's not some outpost—it's an immortal city, so only the capable can defend it. They're all loyal to the Baek clan and serve as the city's enforcers."
Baek Cheong listened to the explanation and disembarked under her uncle's protection. Meanwhile, she felt a secret swell of pride at the realm's powerhouses coming out to receive her personally.
The retainers gave Baek Muyeong brief greetings before bowing deeply and uniformly to Baek Cheong.
"Welcome to the city, young miss."
Curiosity and reverence mingled in the enforcers' eyes. Rumors of the genius girl who shattered her trash five-element spiritual roots to reach Qi Refining 4-star and earn the pill refiner's favor had spread far beyond the main residence, even to this city.
"I'm delighted to meet Yeonha Immortal City's enforcers."
Baek Cheong bowed shyly, and satisfied smiles spread across the retainers' faces. The young Core Formation early-stage cultivator stepped forward eagerly.
"We've heard all about you, young miss. I'm a close friend of Baek Gyu, so I heard about your astonishing achievements from the young master himself."
At the mention of her eldest brother's friend, Baek Cheong's ears perked up.
"You're Big Brother's friend! How's he doing?"
"Yes, his standing in Biun Sect has solidified recently. He's caught the sect leader's eye, earned the title Origin Infant Prodigy, and been taken as a direct disciple. And... that Geomun Immortal who was rude to the Baek clan before."
The young cultivator lowered his voice, spilling juicy gossip excitedly.
"The elder who fled in panic at your talent. He got pushed out in internal power struggles and lost all his influence. He tried forcing Baek Woo in out of desperation after losing faction fights, but with the Baek clan and Elder Gok against him, the sect abandoned him. Now he's demoted to managing spirit food fields on the sect's outskirts."
It was a refreshing tale of sweet revenge. The pathetic end of the arrogant elder who'd underestimated and dared threaten her clan. Baek Cheong cheered inwardly and opened her mouth for more details.
"Ahem! Don't dirty the young miss's ears with useless talk."
But the Gold Core enforcer cleared his throat sternly, rebuking the young cultivator. The youth scratched his head awkwardly and stepped back.
Ah, that gossip was getting good.
Baek Cheong felt a pang of regret but didn't show it. She turned her gaze to the dazzling cityscape unfolding below the docking platform. Perched high up, the interior view was panoramic. Crowds bustled energetically along wide, web-like roads. Shops selling all manner of spirit beasts and treasures lined both sides endlessly. Notably, not a single cultivator flew through the air.
"The city interior is under a no-flight formation, so flying treasures are strictly prohibited."
Baek Muyeong pierced her curiosity with an explanation. It was an essential measure to maintain order across the massive city.
"Save the sightseeing for tomorrow's patrol. Short trip or not, it's your first outing, so you're probably tired. Head to your residence and rest."
Baek Cheong nodded obediently and followed the retainers' guidance to the Baek clan's grand mansion in the city center. Not as lavish as the main residence, but a spacious, elegant chamber awaited, tastefully decorated. She sipped the warm tea prepared by the maids and promptly flopped onto the soft bed.
Sightseeing was fun, opportunity hunting exciting, but for a gallery ghost like her, nothing beat lounging like scrolling a smartphone—trolling Moomyeongbang was true healing.
"Any patrol opportunity guides?"
Baek Cheong rubbed her sleepy eyes, circulated her spiritual sense, and rummaged through Moomyeongbang's information board. But fatigue was unavoidable. Her relaxed body melted away, unable to resist the onrush of drowsiness, and she slipped into deep sleep.