Qi Cultivation Starting from the Repair Panel - Chapter 727 - : 488: predicament

Chapter 727: Chapter 488: Predicament

Leaving the mountain stream where they had briefly stayed, Chu Zheng and Xue Qing did not travel far.

The two quietly sneaked into another slightly bustling mortal city, a thousand miles away from Iron Edge City.

This city was more than ten times larger than Iron Edge City, with the presence of cultivators being quite common. The crowds were dense, the traffic noisy, and the society was a mix of various walks of life, making it an excellent place for gathering intelligence.

The Xuanxiao Sect was the first trouble that needed addressing, akin to a sword hanging overhead, Chu Zheng had to quickly find out its details.

He knew well that in the cultivation world, the accuracy of information often determines life and death.

He knew quite a bit about ancient times, but most of the memory fragments were about the waves upon waves over the ages, with specific changes, shifts in powers within a Great Realm being too insignificant, thus had to rely on his own investigation.

Chu Zheng spent three days walking every corner of the city, listening in on cultivators’ dialogues in bustling teahouses, probing secret tales in underground black markets, and using invisibility techniques to enter secret places, flipping through records. The information gathered like a trickling stream.

Soon, Chu Zheng understood the general background of the Xuanxiao Sect.

The Xuanxiao Sect, across a vast area stretching tens of thousands of miles, had a formidable reputation, like a fierce tiger occupying a domain.

Its name frequently appeared in various places, making it easy to gather information about it, almost ubiquitous.

When this information eventually formed in Chu Zheng’s mind, it did not bring heaviness, but a sense of slight relief.

The Xuanxiao Sect’s strength was considerably weak.

The Xuanxiao Sect, revered as gods by the mortal realms within these tens of thousands of miles, with people speaking of them in hushed tones, was far weaker overall than he had estimated.

The strongest individual within the sect, verified by various information, was only in the Fourth Realm.

In Chu Zheng’s eyes, the Fourth Realm was merely an insignificant starting point on the long road of cultivation, a level that barely touched the surface of Heaven and Earth’s Laws.

In a major sect, someone of such cultivation would not even qualify to watch over the Sect Gate.

After all, the disciple guarding the sect gate cannot be just any ordinary disciple, especially in a major sect, this point is emphasized.

The strength of the disciples guarding the sect gate is often an important assessment of a sect’s reserve.

The first person a visitor meets is the sect gate disciple, which represents the sect’s face. Only the best among peers have the opportunity.

Under the Xuanxiao Sect, there are five mortal realms, with the Cangfeng Dynasty, where Iron Edge City is located, being just one of them.

These realms form its foundation, continuously providing fresh blood.

As for the other powers within the Xuanxiao Sect, except for that Fourth Realm ancestor, the rest are far from being noteworthy.

The so-called core elders and true disciples mostly remain in the Second Realm or Third Realm.

Those who reach Third Realm Perfection are almost nonexistent.

During this process, Chu Zheng also gained more understanding of the Great Realm he currently resided in.

The Near Immortal Realm is divided into Upper and Lower Realms, similar to the Great Immortal Realm.

In the Lower Realm, the Nine Heavens domains, Four Seas are divided, making up thirteen territories collectively.

The place they are now is relatively remote, near the West Sea, considered a part of the Wilderness.

“The Xuanxiao Sect is not a concern…”

Chu Zheng stood in the shadow at a busy street corner, silently muttering.

The trouble potentially brought by Xiao Yu’s death significantly diminished in his mind. Just give him two or three years, maybe even less, and he would safely cross into the Golden Core Realm.

After probing the depths of the Xuanxiao Sect, it felt like Chu Zheng had removed an invisible giant stone from his heart.

Chu Zheng didn’t stop there; he was still thinking about Iron Edge City. Xiao Yu’s death would surely cause some ripple effects. He needed to know if the Xuanxiao Sect had taken any actions there.

A few days later, Chu Zheng snuck back into Iron Edge City alone to gather some information.

However, in just a few days, the originally calm small city had undergone dramatic changes.

At the city gate, a new notice was posted, the ink not yet dry.

[Former Magistrate Feng Ling, neglecting duties, corrupt and violating the law, unforgivable crimes, is immediately demoted, stripped of title, confiscated property, executed, family exiled three thousand miles without pardoning their crime.]

Below the notice, citizens gathered, commenting and pointing.

Some clapped in approval, others sighed, but more displayed indifference and apathy.

Feng Ling’s outcome was not surprising, as the Xuanxiao Sect needed a scapegoat to quell anger, regardless of truth.

To the Immortal Sect, Feng Ling was merely an insignificant ant that could be crushed at any moment. His honor or shame, life or death, mattered to no one.

Chu Zheng quietly walked through the city; regarding Xiao Yu’s death, there seemed to be little news circulating among the populace, eerily quiet, with no trace of cultivator presence in Iron Edge City.

This unusual tranquility conveyed an unsettling atmosphere, making Chu Zheng somewhat perplexed; was Xiao Yu’s death considered insignificant?

Chu Zheng did not dwell on it, as there was no need overthinking.

“This place is not suitable to stay for long.”

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With his decision made, since Xuanxiao Sect remained inactive, he certainly not be foolish enough to provoke trouble. He would take Xue Qing and swiftly leave this troubled place, seeking a safer and more concealed location to cultivate and enhance his internal strength, which was the best strategy.

……

……

In the night darkness.

Two figures moved like wisps of smoke, blending into the vast night, quietly leaving Iron Edge City, disappearing into the thick mountains.