Staying Alive Cautiously in the Celestial Realm and Becoming the Strongest

Ten Thousand Cultivators City, Qiong Jade Pavilion.

In the elegant room on the ninth floor, Wang Chen and Qiu Haoran sat facing each other in conversation.

It was upon the cordial invitation of the steward of the North Mountain Cave Mansion that Wang Chen had come to this famous Soul Dissipation Cave.

Soul Dissipation referred naturally to the dissipation of Spirit Stones.

It was said that this grand pavilion started with a consumption of five hundred Spirit Stones at the entrance. Inside, it had everything from wine, beauty, wealth, to delectable dishes and precious drinks, stunning beauties, and exceptional songstresses, which could easily empty the Storage Bags of its guests.

But anyone who had visited the Qiong Jade Pavilion would not be disappointed.

This was Wang Chen's first visit, and it certainly was an eye-opener for him.

He declined the songstresses and beauties that Qiu Haoran had invited and only ordered a pot of Cloud Mist Spiritual Tea.

After finishing a cup of the Spiritual Tea, Qiu Haoran stopped beating around the bush and directly asked, "Taoist Friend Wang, now that you have advanced to the Purple Mansion Realm, what are your plans for the future?"

Future plans?

Wang Chen had a strategy in place; his plan was to earn some more Spirit Stones in Ten Thousand Cultivators City and exchange them for several Purple Mansion Tier Cultivation Techniques through the Four Seas Commerce Association or the Myriad Treasures Pavilion.

For instance, the most important main Cultivation Technique to focus on—the Innate Five Elements Skill!

The Innate Five Elements Skill was the advanced technique of the Five Elements Skill, also born from the Ancient Immortal Sect Kunlun Sect's paramount cultivation legacy, the "Taiyi Origin Mixed Right Skill" that directly pointed to the Great Dao.

It was said that as early as ten thousand years ago, the "Taiyi Origin Mixed Right Skill" was split by Power Men into four Cultivation Techniques, corresponding to Qi Cultivation, Purple Mansion, Golden Core, and Nascent Soul.

Among them, "Five Elements Skill" and "Innate Five Elements Skill" were the most widely spread and were not the secret ultimate teachings of any Major Sects, so as long as one was willing to spend Spirit Stones, acquiring the "Innate Five Elements Skill" would not be a problem.

Originally, the "Innate Five Elements Skill" could have been exchanged for in the Inner Sect Scripture Pavilion of the Cloud Sun Sect, but unfortunately, at that time, Wang Chen did not have enough Merit Points, and besides, the "Innate Five Elements Skill" was a Cultivation Technique that could only be practiced at the Purple Mansion Realm.

So he missed out.

Purchasing through the commerce association would inevitably mean getting severely overcharged.

Moreover, the price of Purple Mansion Tier Spells was also high and incomparable to Qi Cultivation Techniques.

But he couldn't forgo learning them.

Otherwise, if he faced cultivators of the same tier without mastering Purple Mansion Tier Spells, he would be at a significant disadvantage!

Wang Chen estimated that he would need to earn another hundred thousand or so Spirit Stones to meet his needs.

"I plan to stay in Ten Thousand Cultivators City for a while longer,"

Wang Chen replied, "First, I'll consolidate my realm, and then take it one step at a time after that."

Qiu Haoran gave a slight smile before asking, "Taoist Friend Wang, do you know how many Purple Mansion cultivators there are in Ten Thousand Cultivators City?"

Wang Chen shook his head—he really had no idea.

Qiu Haoran raised two fingers.

"Two hundred?"

"Two thousand!"

The answer Qiu Haoran revealed caught Wang Chen by surprise.

He had not expected the number of Purple Mansion cultivators in Ten Thousand Cultivators City to be so high; considering that the Cloud Sun Sect had only two hundred obvious Purple Mansions among a hundred thousand disciples back then.

The Purple Mansions in Ten Thousand Cultivators City being ten times that of the Cloud Sun Sect really was quite inconceivable!

Moreover, there was another issue: among the two hundred Purple Mansions of the Cloud Sun Sect, there were three Golden Cores.

With two thousand Purple Mansions in Ten Thousand Cultivators City, there was only one Golden Core!

The proportions were completely out of whack!

Qiu Haoran clearly noticed the confusion in Wang Chen's eyes and said with a smile, "You must find it very strange that Ten Thousand Cultivators City, with its two thousand Purple Mansions, only has one True Person as sovereign, right?"

Wang Chen nodded, "Please enlighten me, friend."

"The answer is actually quite simple,"

With a hint of wistfulness in his smile, Qiu Haoran continued, "Because no Purple Mansion cultivator can condense a Golden Core in Ten Thousand Cultivators City. Anyone who wants to break through must leave this place."

Wang Chen's heart stirred, "To where?"

Qiu Haoran replied, "West Sea Spirit Domain!"

As expected!

This really was a convergence of different paths to the same end.

Through an in-depth conversation with Qiu Haoran, Wang Chen learned that the pattern of Ten Thousand Cultivators City could only accommodate one Golden Core. For a cultivator at the complete level of the Purple Mansion Realm seeking a breakthrough, the best method was to head to the West Sea Spirit Domain in search of opportunities.

Once these Purple Mansion cultivators left, very few would return.

A minority of Purple Mansion cultivators, after successfully solidifying their Golden Core in the West Sea Spirit Domain, would often join the West Sea Sect.

But solidifying the Golden Core is much more difficult than the breakthrough to form a mansion; it consumes a staggering amount of resources. Many Purple Mansion cultivators, knowing that solidifying the Golden Core was beyond their reach, would spread their branches and leaves within Ten Thousand Cultivators City.

Ending their lives there.

Add to this the Loose Cultivators from the Outer Domain who breakthrough to the Purple Mansion tier and settle into Ten Thousand Cultivators City every year.

Day by day, year by year, this accounts for the over two thousand Superiors!

"We, of the Purple Mansion, although superior..."

A tinge of bitterness flashed in Qiu Haoran's eyes, "But the competition is also exceptionally intense."

None who cultivated to the Purple Mansion Realm were ordinary.

Even if the Golden Core was out of reach, not many truly gave up.

The Purple Mansion initiates, intermediates, and experts, being at a higher tier naturally afforded them the power to suppress others and wield more influence and prestige.

Influence brings resources, and with resources, one can enhance oneself.

However, resources are always limited, and power tends to concentrate in the hands of the few. The open conflicts and covert struggles of the fifty-seven Purple Mansion families, and the calculations and schemes within the families, are beyond the imagination of ordinary people!

"Taoist Friend Wang, if you wish to advance further, going it alone will not suffice."

Qiu Haoran earnestly said, "Our Qiu Family has always been open to recruiting talent. If you are willing, I can introduce you to our family. In terms of treatment, we shall treat everyone equally, without any shortchanging."

So that's what this is all about!

Wang Chen pondered for a moment, then replied, "I understand, Taoist Friend Qiu, I will seriously consider it."

Wang Chen did not believe the other party was just trying to scare him with empty threats. With more than two thousand Purple Mansion cultivators in one city, one could imagine how intense the competition was. Without power or influence, how could one surpass the Purple Mansion families?

You should know that a Purple Mansion family could have as few as one or two, to as many as five or six, even up to a dozen Superiors!

The Qiu Family certainly had the sincerity to attract talented individuals, and Qiu Haoran was not making empty promises, "No problem, as long as you are willing to join, I can take charge of allocating a cultivation Cave Mansion to you!"

The fifty-seven Purple Mansion families each had a variable number of cultivation Cave Mansions, one of the most valuable resources of the family.

They were not easily available to outsiders.

But to recruit Wang Chen, a young Purple Mansion cultivator with boundless potential, Qiu Haoran was willing to go all out.

It's worth remembering that when Wang Chen broke through to form his mansion, he caused a heaven and earth phenomenon!

He was completely worth the bet.

Cultivation Cave Mansion!

Despite Wang Chen having no intention of joining a Purple Mansion family, Qiu Haoran's generous offer indeed moved him.

In the past, Wang Chen spent a significant portion of the Spirit Stones he earned from crafting Talismans on renting a Cave Mansion. And for the Cave Mansion he rented for his breakthrough, he spent seven thousand Spirit Stones!

How many Spirit Stones could be saved with one free cultivation Cave Mansion?

Wang Chen decided not to think about it, afraid that he might truly be tempted.

"Your generous offer, I, Wang, will bear in mind!"

Qiu Haoran also knew that it was impossible for his few words to make Wang Chen make such an important decision.

The Purple Mansion cultivator smiled serenely and said, "Then I will await the good news."

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The first update is here.