Chapter 284: Haoyue Immortal City
Shang Deyi’s cultivation had improved since they first met, but he was still only in the Qi Cultivation Late Stage.
In fact, his Spirit Root was quite good—Upper Grade Peak. Having been born into a Foundation Establishment Immortal Cultivation Clan, he began his Cultivation relatively early and even practiced an Upper Grade Cultivation Technique.
This was why he had been able to reach this realm as a teenager.
However, the Shang Family’s earlier decline had severely impacted his Cultivation. Fortunately, over the past six months or so, his progress had picked up speed again.
After the Shang Family established itself in Half Moon Oasis, numerous Loose Cultivators and Qi Cultivation Clans flocked to join them. This brought in a significant amount of Spirit Stone revenue for the Shang Family. Although most of it went to Zhang Chi, the family still received a considerable share.
With a steady source of income, Shang Deyi could naturally afford to spend some of his Spirit Stones on Cultivation.
However, Zhang Chi usually never interfered in the Shang Family’s affairs. On the rare occasion that something was needed, he would simply send a message with instructions, never summoning him over.
Even when the Shang Family offered to send beautiful women to wait on him, Zhang Chi hadn’t shown his face, simply sending a message to refuse the offer.
So, when Zhang Chi summoned him today, he couldn’t help but feel apprehensive.
He ran through all sorts of possibilities in his mind but couldn’t come to any conclusion.
"Come with me to Golden Wind Oasis. I’m going to register for the contest over the Tier Three Spiritual Land."
Zhang Chi immediately stored away the Eye of the Spirit Spring and his other belongings, even taking down the array, before walking out of his cave mansion.
Apparently, he had no intention of ever coming back.
Over the past year, Shang Deyi and the Shang Family had performed well, so he had no intention of changing partners.
"What?"
Shang Deyi was stunned. He wondered if he had misheard, or if Zhang Chi was just joking.
WHOOSH!
But Zhang Chi didn’t repeat himself. With a wave of his hand, a black Magical Treasure Flying Boat instantly appeared in the sky.
This was none other than the Hidden Demon Flying Boat, which he had long since modified to be much faster than before.
With another flick of his sleeve, Zhang Chi brought Shang Deyi aboard the Flying Boat, which then shot toward Golden Wind Oasis at lightning speed.
"Is this a... a Magical Treasure Flying Boat? S-Senior... are you actually a Golden Core... Master?"
Shang Deyi was utterly dumbfounded.
His Cultivation might have been low, but as a Cultivator from the Endless Desert Sea, he wasn’t completely ignorant.
The difference between a Magical Artifact and a Magical Treasure was so vast that it was impossible for him to fail to distinguish them.
Furthermore, its flight speed was absurdly fast—faster than anything he had ever experienced—and clearly beyond the capabilities of any Magical Artifact.
"That’s right."
Zhang Chi gave a slight nod.
"Congratulations on your recovery, Senior."
Shang Deyi fell silent for a long moment before finally accepting this reality and offering his congratulations.
He clearly assumed Zhang Chi must have been injured in a battle, which was why he had been pretending to be a Foundation Establishment Cultivator and lying low with the Shang Family.
At the same time, he couldn’t help but feel incredibly excited, his voice trembling slightly as he spoke.
He finally understood. By cooperating with Zhang Chi—or rather, by becoming his subordinate—the Shang Family had struck gold.
No wonder Zhang Chi had told him he would one day feel fortunate for the decision he had made.
And that day had come far sooner than he ever anticipated. The surprise had arrived in a manner that beggared his imagination.
If Zhang Chi really seized a Tier Three Spiritual Land, even the worst one, the Shang Family’s fortunes would soar.
The Shang Family would have no shortage of Tier Two Spirit Vein Cave Mansions. They would have so many, in fact, that they could rent the surplus ones out.
Nurturing new Foundation Establishment Cultivators would become effortless for the Shang Family. Even surpassing the Feng Family would only be a matter of time.
---
Zhang Chi simply nodded without saying anything. Shang Deyi’s thoughts and reactions were exactly as he had anticipated.
"By the way, Senior, to participate in the contest for the Tier Three Spiritual Land, you need two Golden Core Honored Guest Elders. Senior, would you like to change the Shang Family’s name to the Zhang Family? It’s just a name, after all. My family and I would have no objections."
"If you wish to establish your own clan, Senior, I will do everything in my power to help, and the Shang Family can become a vassal to the Zhang Family. What’s more, our family has many beautiful young women who could help you start a family and continue your line."
It took Shang Deyi a good while to calm down. He had immediately recalled the restrictions for the contest and taken the initiative to come up with a solution for Zhang Chi.
In his eyes, this was likely what Zhang Chi wanted to do all along.
This course of action held no real disadvantages for the Shang Family, so he had absolutely no objections.
After all, Zhang Chi was a trustworthy person. He hadn’t mistreated the Shang Family just because he was powerful.
Becoming a vassal of the Zhang Family was far better than becoming a vassal of the Feng Family.
The Zhang Family would help the Shang Family develop alongside them, whereas the Feng Family would simply devour them and use them as fuel for their own growth.
This was precisely because Zhang Chi was so powerful that he had no need to absorb them to grow stronger.
"No need to go to all that trouble. I can’t be bothered to establish a clan," Zhang Chi said with a faint smile.
He had to admit, Shang Deyi had matured a great deal over the past year.
"What do you mean, Senior?"
Shang Deyi was rather puzzled.
ROAR!
Just then, a roar echoed from the heavens. A colossal Flying Spirit Beast descended, positioning itself above the Magical Treasure Flying Boat and blocking out the sky.
"Is that... a Tier Three Spirit Beast? Is that your Spirit Pet, Senior?"
Shang Deyi’s eyes widened once more.
The Spirit Beast was none other than Flying Dragon No.1.
Even though it wasn’t deliberately exuding its powerful might, its terrifying aura alone made Shang Deyi tremble under the immense pressure.
Zhang Chi, on the other hand, despite being a Golden Core Late Stage cultivator, had used the Divine Concealment Technique. He had perfectly concealed his powerful aura, so he didn’t put any obvious pressure on Shang Deyi.
"That’s right. With him, we should have enough, right?"
Zhang Chi smiled faintly. With a wave of his hand, Flying Dragon No.1 soared back into the sky.
Before it left, however, Flying Dragon No.1 deliberately let out a roar at Shang Deyi. The beast only flew away triumphantly after the force of the roar had bleached the color from Shang Deyi’s face and made his hair stand on end.
Fortunately, it was just Flying Dragon No.1 teasing Shang Deyi. The sound was loud, but it caused no real harm.
Since Shang Deyi was unharmed, Zhang Chi couldn’t be bothered to intervene.
"Yes. With you, Senior, plus this... Senior Spirit Beast, that’s more than enough to register."
Shang Deyi nodded hastily. Though he had been miserably toyed with, he didn’t dare voice a single complaint.
In fact, he was even a little overwhelmed by the honor.
It meant that this Senior Spirit Beast had deigned to notice a junior like him, which could only be a good thing.
Zhang Chi said no more. Shang Deyi, however, remained in a daze, feeling as though he were trapped in a dream.
In truth, Zhang Chi could have simply had Flying Dragon No.1 carry both of them.
But Flying Dragon No.1 would clearly be unwilling to carry a junior like Shang Deyi, and Zhang Chi couldn’t be bothered to force his Spirit Beast just for Shang Deyi’s sake.
Besides, in Shang Deyi’s current state, riding on Flying Dragon No.1’s back would be dangerous, and Zhang Chi would have to go through the trouble of protecting him.
Soon after, the Flying Boat left Half Moon Oasis behind and arrived over Golden Wind Oasis.
This time, however, Zhang Chi didn’t go to Black Origin Immortal City. Instead, he headed directly for an Immortal City called Haoyue Immortal City.
This Immortal City was larger, more bustling, and of a higher rank than Black Origin Immortal City; in fact, Black Origin was just one of the hundreds of Immortal Cities under its jurisdiction.
Above Haoyue Immortal City was Golden Wind Immortal City, the largest Immortal City in all of Golden Wind Oasis. It was said that a Nascent Soul Powerhouse was permanently stationed there.