I Outworked the Entire Cultivation World

Chapter 614: Chapter 562: Zhuge Family

The Zhuge Family Land is located at the easternmost part of Meihua Village, behind a natural Illusion Array, and from a high vantage point, one can only see a vast expanse of red plums blooming, resembling clouds cascading into rivers, splendid and fragrant.

Jiang Yuebai followed Zhuge Ziqian into the Mei Forest and realized there was more than meets the eye deep within.

The Zhuge Family is divided into the outer city and inner city. The outer city with its blue bricks and white tiles is like a tranquil and prosperous small town on the river, crisscrossed with water channels, similar to Meihua Village, except it is home to the Zhuge Family’s Outer Sect disciples and non-family apprentices.

The outer city is semi-open; those who have business or other dealings with the Zhuge Family may freely enter the outer city.

Passing through the outer city, the first thing that comes into view is a lush bamboo forest. The wind rustles the bamboo leaves with a soft sound, and the bamboo scent is serene, but Jiang Yuebai suddenly feels tense.

The seemingly calm bamboo forest gives her the impression of hidden danger.

With a smile, Zhuge Ziqian said to Jiang Yuebai, "This bamboo forest is also a natural Great Array, and the path into the city changes every three months. There are hidden mechanisms everywhere here, and even a Nascent Soul Cultivator must leave something behind if they rashly intrude."

Jiang Yuebai tensed her mind, secretly memorizing the route Zhuge Ziqian took her through, wrapping around this bamboo to the left and that bamboo to the right, very complex.

After walking for about a quarter of an hour, the two finally exited the bamboo forest, and a grand, tall arch-shaped city gate came into view. Jiang Yuebai had to tilt her head back entirely to see the top of the gate and the pitch-black shiny cannon barrels protruding from the city towers.

The city wall encircled the entire inner city, and every ten feet, there was a mechanical heavy cannon, the dark cannon mouths facing in all directions. If an enemy were to invade, the firepower would be sufficient to cover everywhere without blind spots.

Besides the mechanical heavy cannons, Jiang Yuebai saw guards stationed every ten steps and posts every five steps; all were black-armored puppets holding long spears, with iron eagle puppets even taking off periodically for patrols on the city towers.

It was apparent that these iron eagle puppets were not only capable of reconnaissance but also served as airborne offensive weapons.

The defense was so tight that Jiang Yuebai had never seen it before. Had Songfeng City of the Heavenly Spear Realm been built like this back then, fear is the demon clan would have been blown dead no matter how many came.

Zhuge Ziqian approached the city gate, raised his token, and a faint light flashed across the city gate plaque etched with the word ’Zhuge’. The closed city gate rumbled as it opened up a gap.

"Fellow Daoist Wangshu, please."

Jiang Yuebai walked through the city gates with Zhuge Ziqian, feeling the intricate gears on the gate behind her, making her scalp tingle.

Those gears and linkage devices penetrated the city walls on both sides, making Jiang Yuebai feel the entire inner structure of the walls was mechanized; she wondered what the walls would turn into if attacked.

With such rigorous armament, even a Divinity Transformation Cultivator wouldn’t dare to trespass the Zhuge Family’s inner city.

Jiang Yuebai stepped precisely where Zhuge Ziqian stepped, fearing a wrong move would trigger a mechanism and a rain of spears and arrows would turn her into a sieve.

They traversed a long passageway, the sunshine chased away shadows over their faces. Jiang Yuebai’s eyes widened in awe at the scene, the likes of which she’d never seen anywhere else in the cultivation realm.

Everywhere she looked, there were towering columns made of mechanisms and gears, arranged in plum blossom stake positions, standing amidst the flowing river, interconnected with sturdy chains, supporting a magnificent city in the air.

The sound of machinery moving was incessant, stirring emotions within Jiang Yuebai, who walked with her head held high, continuously turning to view her surroundings behind Zhuge Ziqian.

On the chains between the mechanical columns, various puppets swiftly skated by, transporting goods. In mid-air, puppet wood birds carried messages back and forth among the palaces.

Amidst the rumbling, a gigantic armor a hundred feet tall stepped over beyond Jiang Yuebai, casting a large shadow that made Jiang Yuebai seem tiny.

Atop the armor sat a Golden Core Stage Cultivator, dressed in the Zhuge family’s black attire with ornamental vigor.

This large armor, let alone Bai Jiuyou, even Jiang Yuebai’s eyes gleamed with interest, compelled to take another look.

Upon a closer look, she found something intriguing: the large armor seemed to be composed of small armors with different features, though the assembling method was unfamiliar to her, sparking curiosity.

"Fellow Daoist Wangshu?"

Jiang Yuebai snapped back, realizing she had stopped, absorbed in watching.

"Sorry."

Seeing Jiang Yuebai’s bright eyes filled with curiosity, Zhuge Ziqian smiled subtly, recalling Senior Sister Wuchen saying Fellow Daoist Wangshu had a pure and clear heart, completely different from that Chenzhou Demon Head.

"When Fellow Daoist Wangshu formally joins the Zhuge Family, except for the restricted areas, you may explore all inner city areas."

Jiang Yuebai nodded, smiling, her palm a bit warm and clammy, eager about the prospects.

Learn, learn, learn—she wanted to learn all of this and someday build such a city for the Heavenly Interence Sect, ensuring its eternal, no—ten thousand-year, million-year resilience!

Above, the palace group formed a dome, safeguarding the structures distributed along the riverbanks of various islands, interconnected by corridors, aligned with the Array Dao.

Zhuge Ziqian introduced to Jiang Yuebai that those above were home to the Zhuge family’s Golden Core Stage and higher-level cultivators.

There were also the five major ’Mechanical Institutes’, ’Map Making Institute’, ’Armor Making Institute’, ’Secret Academy’, ’Pharmacist’ and other main halls of the Zhuge family.

Beneath, centered around a central plaza, were the living and study areas for the Zhuge family’s Inner Sect Foundation Establishment disciples and Qi Refining disciples.

The teaching methods for family disciples were unlike those in a sect but closely resembled those of a school; the family has never distinguished between direct and collateral lines.

All disciples and elders entering the Inner Sect, whether surnamed Zhuge or not, can choose any elder’s lessons to attend freely.

Likewise, the teaching elders can be either from the Zhuge family or of other surnames, exchanging contributions and resources from the Zhuge family monthly based on lesson quantities.

Just by Zhuge Ziqian’s casual introduction, Jiang Yuebai felt their system was perfect and fair, no wonder they prospered endlessly in the Eight Immortals River Basin and even throughout the Nine Rivers Realm.

"...Speaking of, the Zhuge family’s current development resulted from the guidance of a close friend of the Zhuge family’s ancestor, so the Zhuge family has always adhered to the principles of ’wide opening of talents path and speech path’; those with abilities willing to join the Zhuge family are treated with the utmost sincerity."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuebai asked, "Free accommodation for Nascent Soul Cultivators in Meihua Village is because of this?"

Zhuge Ziqian nodded, "Correct, to forge goodwill and leave a good impression."

"That’s truly admirable, at least back then, I thought your Zhuge family was very generous," Jiang Yuebai said with a smile.

Shouts came from the plaza ahead, Jiang Yuebai looked up to see many Zhuge family Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining disciples spread across the plaza.

Some were controlling armors in battle, others practicing Divine Sense Control of objects.

Quite a few disciples attempted to use their Divine Sense to lift a stone lock at the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer; there were more of these disciples than those maneuvering armors.

Zhuge Ziqian followed Jiang Yuebai’s gaze and said, "The Yin Yang Family’s Dao is incredibly powerful, virtually capable of controlling anything, but it’s exceedingly difficult to cultivate, requiring innate talent besides indispensable acquired practice. Many disciples initially aim for the Yin Yang Family, yet most end up reluctantly switching to armor mastery."

"Apart from the first-generation family head, who excelled in dual paths, only less than twenty individuals have been part of the Yin Yang Family since ancient times, and very few reach their pinnacle in this Dao."

"Currently, among the Yin Yang Family in the Zhuge Family are only Senior Brother Zhuge Ziyin at Late-Stage Nascent Soul and Senior Sister Cicada Spirit at Mid-Stage Nascent Soul. By the way, what’s your focus, Fellow Daoist Wangshu? Which path do you wish to study upon joining the Zhuge Family?"

Jiang Yuebai smiled and said openly, "I’ve never specialized in the Puppetry Path, but I do have some aptitude. My aim this time is to see if I can become part of the Yin Yang Family."

Upon hearing this, Zhuge Ziqian raised his eyebrows in surprise, but didn’t undermine or doubt her wishes. He simply smiled and said, "Then Fellow Daoist Wangshu’s examination today may be somewhat challenging. Please, go ahead, the family head and elders have already gathered."