Chapter 701: Chapter 245: Void Fluctuations (Part 3)
...
"Zha, it’s been a long time since I last saw you."
"Damn it, last time, I was ambushed by the Ancient Demon, spent months recovering before I healed."
...
"I heard the Lei Family has another exceptionally talented genius. At just seventeen, they’ve already broken through to Foundation Establishment, truly incredible!"
"Oh, Lei Shuotong, her talent is indeed astonishing."
"Huh, how do you know that?"
"I happened to be on duty at the Observatory when she showcased her talent years ago; I recruited her."
...
All sorts of voices fell into Lin Zheyu’s ears.
The cultivators’ exchanges often include important matters that are isolated by Spiritual Sense transmission, while ordinary matters are discussed like regular conversations.
Even though Lin Zheyu could only eavesdrop on these seemingly trivial matters, he was very pleased.
These small talks greatly helped Lin Zheyu understand the cultivators.
The dishes soon arrived.
Lin Zheyu listened to others chatting as he ate the cultivators’ delicacies, paired with the legendary Spirit Wine, feeling his taste buds awaken.
This food, worth several Spirit Stones, is truly extraordinary.
The dishes contained abundant energy, entering with a smooth but not greasy sensation, soft as silk, crunchy, juicy, or creamy smooth.
Gulp—
The Spirit Wine flowed down, the warm liquid unfurling on my tongue, followed by an intoxicating feeling.
The wine swirled in the mouth, leaving a silky sensation on the tongue, releasing a rich and complex flavor.
As the wine slipped down the throat into the abdomen, a wonderful feeling spread, and Lin Zheyu was invigorated, experiencing a refreshing sensation from inside out.
"Great wine!"
Lin Zheyu couldn’t help but praise.
This Spirit Wine, worth a piece of Spiritual Sense, was far beyond the mundane wines Lin Zheyu had consumed before.
...
"The Ascension Conference is about to begin. Are you planning to participate?"
A few dozen meters away from Lin Zheyu, a beautiful woman questioned her companions.
Their discussion caught Lin Zheyu’s attention, bringing him back from savoring the wine.
"Ascension Conference?"
Lin Zheyu’s eyes brightened.
Just the name suggests the conference’s significance; likely it is a grand event in the cultivation world.
The voices of several people continued to reach Lin Zheyu as he casually continued sipping his wine, focusing all his attention on them.
"I won’t participate." The companion next to her shook her head.
"Why not participate? Your alchemy skills among the younger generation are top-notch, you might as well try for a good ranking." The beautiful woman said with confusion.
"I have no chance; my power is too weak to refine strong elixirs." The companion shook her head and sighed softly.
"You’re skilled in arrays; you should participate, and I’ll come cheer for you." The woman smiled and said.
"Yes, I’ve signed up."
"Earning a promotion quota is too difficult. If I can’t join the Celestial Craft Pavilion this time, relying on my family’s strength, I won’t be able to obtain a quota."
The beautiful woman sighed.
"You’re thinking too far ahead; we’re only at Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, not even Foundation Establishment, let alone Golden Core."
"Now, with the Great Wei’s undercurrents, there are ample opportunities for merit; you’ll eventually accumulate enough contributions to exchange for a promotion to Golden Core quota."
The woman smiled and said.
Their conversation turned to gossip among companions.
Lin Zheyu couldn’t help but shake his head.
’Already cultivators, yet still fond of gossip. Can’t they discuss more useful news?’ Lin Zheyu mumbled to himself, shaking his head helplessly.
He spent a whole day in the tavern, hearing various news that gave him a rough impression of the cultivation world.
The current cultivation world is led by the Great Wei Royal Race.
Below the Great Wei Royal Race, the strongest are the eight great families and four sects.
The Lei Family that Lin Zheyu knew was just a small family, not among the eight great families.
"The immortal path indeed has issues!"
Leaving the tavern, Lin Zheyu thought to himself.
In the tavern, cultivators talked mostly about the Ascension Conference.
According to them, making a mark at the Ascension Conference can help one join important organizations in Great Wei, such as the Celestial Craft Pavilion or Observatory.
Once inside, earning contributions becomes much easier.
The accumulated contributions can be exchanged for cultivation resources, Divine Power crystals, or even promotion quotas for Golden Core!
Yes, promotion quotas for Golden Core!
"Promoting to Golden Core requires a quota; if one can’t get the quota, does it mean that even sufficient strength can’t lead to promotion?"
Lin Zheyu pondered silently.
This situation where one’s power progression is controlled by others rather than oneself is not an experience Lin Zheyu desires.
His last lingering thought for cultivation vanished upon hearing this news.
...
Leaving the tavern.
The sky darkened somewhat, and bright lanterns lit up in the market.
Grotto Heaven itself doesn’t have a distinction between day and night, but the habit of day-night is deeply rooted, leading to day-night division through artificial intervention in Grotto Heaven.
The market was lively at night, perhaps even livelier than during the day.
Lin Zheyu continued to stroll through the market.
Passing by Seven Skill Pavilion, Lin Zheyu went in.
It was mainly a shop selling Magical Artifacts; entering it revealed dazzling displays of various Magical Artifacts.
