Immortality Cultivation

Fang Hao had changed into a plain, nondescript Face and was wearing an inconspicuous blue cloth shirt. Blending into the bustling crowds of the Heavenly Capital, he felt like a drop of water merging into the ocean—at ease!

He looked left and right, finding everything fresh and new. Being at the foot of the Emperor’s throne was truly different!

The street was wide enough for eight carriages to run side by side, and the shops on both sides were increasingly grand, selling everything—Spiritual Plants, Medicinal Pills, Magical Artifacts, Talismans... it was dazzling.

Of the people walking on the street, seven or eight out of ten carried fluctuations of spiritual power. Although most were low-level Cultivators at the Qi Refining or Foundation Establishment Stage, the sheer number was staggering.

"Damn, it’s lively!" Fang Hao sighed internally. This was infinitely better than that backwater corner of the West Province.

While wandering, he pricked up his ears to listen to the idle chatter of those around him, wanting to learn more about the situation in the Heavenly Capital.

As he walked, a commotion came from ahead, with a large crowd gathered around. Fang Hao squeezed over to take a look, and good heavens, it was a fighting arena!

The platform was built very high, and a large flag was planted on it with the four gold-stamped characters "Sun Family Recruiting Talent" written in a bold, sweeping calligraphy, exuding an air of arrogance.

On the platform, a man wearing Sun Family attire with a Face full of flab was just kicking a challenger off the stage, earning cheers from the crowd. The man’s cultivation was not weak; he was at the Great Perfection Foundation Establishment stage, with a body tempered through hard training, looking like someone not to be trifled with.

"Sun Family?" Fang Hao’s heart skipped a beat. Truly, enemies often cross paths; he could even run into his rivals while just strolling down the street!

He quickly pulled the brim of his hat down, hunched his neck, and wanted to take a detour. Better to avoid trouble than to invite it; he did not want to be targeted by the mad dogs of the Sun Family again.

Having just squeezed out of the crowd and walked two steps, he heard people in a nearby teahouse talking loudly:

"Have you heard? A few days ago, the Ninth Princess brought back a young Cultivator from outside and arranged for him to stay in the Listening to Rain Pavilion! It’s said that Your Highness is extremely polite to him!"

"Really? Who is that important? To be personally hosted by the Ninth Princess?"

"His background is unclear, very mysterious! Some say he might be a successor from some reclusive Sect, while others say he might be a powerful Loose Cultivator that Your Highness met outside..."

"Heh, no matter his background, to be valued by the Ninth Princess means his future is boundless! Now, in the Heavenly Capital, who knows how many eyes are watching the Listening to Rain Pavilion!"

Fang Hao’s steps faltered, and he cursed silently. Mu Fenghua had meant well by arranging for him to stay in the Listening to Rain Pavilion, but now, this had pushed him to the forefront of the storm! It would be hard to keep a low profile now! Who knew how many factions were secretly inquiring about him!

He quickly accelerated, moving away from this place of trouble. Turning around a few street corners, he arrived at a more prosperous area. The shops here were clearly higher-end, and the cultivation of the people coming in and out was generally much higher. Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators were seen everywhere, and occasionally, he could even sense the aura of a Golden Core Cultivator.

Fang Hao saw a grand pharmacy with an extraordinary air, hanging a plaque that read "Hundred Herbs Pavilion," and moved by an impulse, he walked in. The shop was spacious and bright, with the scent of herbs filling the air. The clerks were all Cultivators at the Late Stage of Qi Refining, and their service was courteous.

"This guest, what do you need?" a clerk greeted him.

"Hmm, I’m looking at herbs," Fang Hao lowered his voice. "Do you have the Pill Formula for the Grade 4 Medicinal Pill ’golden spirit pill’? Or related herbs?"

When the clerk heard it was a Grade 4 Medicinal Pill, his attitude became even more respectful: "Guest, please wait a moment. Grade 4 Pill Formulas are rare treasures; I cannot make the decision. I will ask the manager to come and speak with you."

Before long, an old man with a goat beard and sharp eyes, at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage, walked over and cupped his hands: "Old man’s surname is Qian, and I am the manager here. You want the Pill Formula for the ’golden spirit pill’?"

"Correct, do you have it?" Fang Hao asked.

Manager Qian sized Fang Hao up a few times and smiled: "To be honest, Guest, our pavilion does have the ’golden spirit pill’ Pill Formula recorded. However, this is a Grade 4 Pill Formula, which is valuable and requires 5,000 Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Furthermore, according to the rules, the Pill Formula can only be copied once and must not be spread externally."

5,000 Low-Grade Spirit Stones? Fang Hao calculated it in his mind; it was acceptable. He had substantial wealth and could afford it. "That’s fine, I’ll take one."

Seeing Fang Hao’s straightforwardness, Manager Qian’s smile widened: "You are straightforward, Guest! However, forgive me for being wordy, but even with the Pill Formula, gathering the herbs is no easy task. Especially the main ingredients, ’golden sap fruit’ and ’jade marrow ganoderma’, which are extremely rare. They usually only appear at large auctions or in some Secret Realms, and their prices are even more exorbitant."

Fang Hao nodded: "Thank you for the reminder, Manager. Let me see the formula first."

Manager Qian took out a Jade Slip and handed it to Fang Hao. Fang Hao probed with his Divine Sense; it was indeed the complete golden spirit pill Pill Formula. The required herbs, quantities, and refining techniques were all there, and it indeed required over a dozen precious herbs such as ’golden sap fruit’, ’jade marrow ganoderma’, and ’thousand-year stone milk’.

"Fine, I’ll take it." Fang Hao paid the Spirit Stones readily and received the copied Jade Slip.

"If you need herbs, Guest, our pavilion also has some in stock, though we are temporarily out of ’golden sap fruit’ and ’jade marrow ganoderma’. The other auxiliary herbs are complete," Manager Qian continued to promote.

Fang Hao thought for a moment and bought all the auxiliary herbs, spending over 1,000 Spirit Stones. He would have to find another way for the main ingredients.

Pocketing the Pill Formula and herbs, Fang Hao walked out of the Hundred Herbs Pavilion, pondering where to get the main ingredients. Auctions? He was new here and unfamiliar with the channels. Secret Realms? That was even further out of reach.

Just as he was thinking, he suddenly felt several obscure Divine Senses sweep over him, carrying a sense of inquiry.

"Targeted?" Fang Hao’s heart tightened, but he remained calm and continued walking forward. Those Divine Senses lingered, clearly tracking him.

"Damn it, the news must have leaked from the Listening to Rain Pavilion!" Fang Hao cursed internally. He quietly activated his Shadowless Evasion Technique, his figure flickering a few times in the crowd as he ducked into a bustling alleyway of miscellaneous goods nearby. With many people and eyes in the alley, he used the cover of stalls and the flow of people, twisting and turning, and soon shook off those Divine Senses.

"It seems this Heavenly Capital is truly perilous at every step." Fang Hao breathed a sigh of relief, not daring to wander aimlessly anymore, and prepared to head back.

Just as he walked out of the alley and arrived at a relatively quiet street, three men with a hooligan appearance and shifty eyes walked towards him, blocking his path. The leader was Scarface, at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage, and the other two were at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.

"Hey, kid, you look very unfamiliar. Where are you from?" Scarface squinted, sizing Fang Hao up with ill intent.

Fang Hao sneered internally; truly, the King of Hell is easy to meet, but the little devils are hard to deal with. He couldn’t be bothered with nonsense and released a sliver of his Middle Golden Core Stage Spiritual Pressure.

The Faces of Scarface and the other two turned deathly pale instantly, their legs went weak, and they almost knelt down! Only then did they realize that the seemingly ordinary guy in front of them was actually a Golden Core Stage Senior!

"Se... Senior, please forgive us! We were blind! We offended you! Please be magnanimous!" Scarface was terrified, his Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, bowing repeatedly before scrambling away with his two henchmen.

Fang Hao shook his head; there were such blind idiots everywhere he went. He delayed no longer and quickly returned to the Listening to Rain Pavilion.

Back in his small courtyard, he closed the door, took out the golden spirit pill Pill Formula, and studied it carefully again. The main ingredients were hard to get, which was troublesome. It seemed that if he wanted to Cultivate peacefully, he had to find a way to break the deadlock and integrate into the Cultivator circle of the Heavenly Capital. Hiding alone would not solve the problem.

"I must ask Mu Fenghua, or... see if there are other channels." Fang Hao had a plan in mind. This Heavenly Capital was a dragon’s pool and a tiger’s den, but also a place of opportunity! Since he had come, he couldn’t leave empty-handed.