Isn't This a Game? Why Are You All Cultivating for Real!

Chapter 73: Chapter 73: A Surprisingly Grand Ideal

They only had a brief exchange.

Once Lü Rongyu and the others had left, Lin Yuyu asked curiously, "Are those the disciples from the Medicine Sect and Taohua Sect, the ones next to the Feique Sect mentioned in the guides?"

Zhen Weida nodded. "Yes, but I don’t know how Wu Dahu and his group got in touch with them."

Lin Yuyu noticed that Zhen Weida’s words implied he was clearly familiar with veteran players like Wu Dahu. Anyone who could return from First Mountain at this point had to be a veteran player.

So she asked, "Wei Da, you know those veteran players?"

Zhen Weida cleared his throat. "Yes, we know each other in real life. They were the ones who recommended I try to get this game. Thank heavens I managed to."

’As for that embarrassing business of falling off a cliff and dying earlier, he would never admit to that.’

"We saw Han Tian’s stream and just decided to try our luck and join the fun," Lin Yuyu said. "I never thought we’d actually get a spot. And this game is so realistic, it’s just incredible! Our country’s technology has gotten so advanced!"

Shuitan’s eyes narrowed.

’Our country’s technology is nowhere near this level...’

As he had walked here, he’d noticed this game was just as Han Tian’s stream had shown.

Not a single flower or blade of grass on the path was a duplicate.

In most games, models are repeated to save resources, but this world was so vast, so real.

’It’s not like a game at all...’

’Even if it is, why create a game world like this?’

’It must have a reason for its existence.’

’And that reason lies with the Sect Master, Song Jiulai.’

Unfortunately, the players didn’t have much contact with the Sect Master right now.

The players preferred to develop freely, and no one would go out of their way to find out where the Sect Master might appear. Shuitan could only go with the flow.

***

"We’ve arrived at Liu Xian City."

With those words, the disciples of the Feique Sect and Taohua Sect saw the silhouette of Liu Xian City in the distance.

Song Jiulai saw it too.

Her eyes widened instantly.

Liu Xian City... At this moment, Song Jiulai finally felt like a country bumpkin seeing the big city for the first time.

They were flying high in the sky, but they could still see the massive city-state appearing and disappearing amid the clouds and mist in the distance.

Above the city-state floated several buildings of various designs.

As they entered the range of Liu Xian City, a surge of purer, denser Spiritual Energy washed into Song Jiulai’s body.

The sensation was incredibly pleasant. Even Su Huanli commented, "Every visit to Liu Xian City is a rare, enjoyable moment. The Spiritual Energy here is just so dense. I heard that in the Ten Thousand Immortals Sect’s Sect City, the Spiritual Energy is dozens of times denser than Liu Xian City’s. I can’t even imagine what kind of lives the cultivators there must lead."

A cultivator like Su Huanli, who had just entered the Foundation Establishment Stage, couldn’t help but have a trace of envy in her tone.

Song Jiulai’s gaze shifted back and forth between the buildings floating in the sky above Liu Xian City.

Her eyesight was much better now, and she felt like something on them was flashing, and every so often, something would pop out.

’Could those be Teleportation Arrays?’

Song Jiulai whispered to Su Huanli, "Senior Sister Su, does Liu Xian City have Teleportation Arrays?"

Su Huanli nodded. "Of course it does. Otherwise, with so many cultivators on the Yunzhou Continent, it’s impossible for every sect to travel in advance. We just happen to be close by."

"So you don’t use the Teleportation Array because you’re close?"

Su Huanli shook her head and lowered her voice even more. "First of all, we can’t afford to build a connecting Teleportation Array back home. Besides, teleporting just this distance costs ten Mid-grade Spirit Stones."

Song Jiulai sucked in a sharp breath and complained to the System in her mind, ’Damn, what a ripoff!’

’Isn’t this just a travel toll?’

The System tsked. "That’s how badass these monopoly sects are. They can afford to build Teleportation Arrays, and you can’t. The Spirit Stones needed just to construct one cost a fortune. Any sect powerful enough to build them is definitely going to make their money back."

"..."

’Damn them!’

’We can’t afford it. In the early game, players are outrageously poor. One trip wouldn’t just bankrupt you—you don’t even have enough to qualify for bankruptcy in the first place.’

’Looks like I’ll have to honestly focus on developing infrastructure in the future.’

’Forget high-speed rail for now, but I can still hope for something like a regular train.’

’Why am I so obsessed with building roads? Because building roads ensures safety. It’s better than having to bum a spot from another sect just to go anywhere, like we’re doing now.’

’The problem is, those early trains cause too much pollution. I hope the players will get into the spirit of research and invent a pollution-free train first...’

"Please halt here and present your Sect Tokens."

As they flew closer, the magnificent form of the giant city-state appeared before them. At that moment, a male cultivator suddenly materialized.

Song Jiulai couldn’t look away.

Because after so long on the Yunzhou Continent, she had finally seen a true Sword Cultivator.

Yes, a Sword Cultivator.

She had seen all sorts of Flying Magical Treasures, but seeing someone arrive via Sword Control, riding a pure Flying Sword, actually moved Song Jiulai a little.

Moreover, he had appeared in the blink of an eye, so fast that none of the other cultivators could even react.

Standing on a Flying Sword that radiated a soft glow, the cultivator had a cold expression and exuded an extremely powerful pressure. Even Song Jiulai felt an uncomfortable sensation, as if her throat was being squeezed.

For this was the Realm-suppressing aura of High-level cultivators.

This cultivator before them was at least at the Golden Core Stage.

Su Huanli and the others obediently landed and put away their Flying Magical Treasures.

Knowing nothing, Song Jiulai naturally followed behind them. To avoid causing trouble out of ignorance, she did her best not to look at or ask about anything.

’I’ll ask my questions after this cultivator leaves.’

After checking the group’s Sect Tokens, the cultivator nodded and left them with a single sentence: "The Immortal Sacrifice Ceremony is limited to seven days. After seven days, please return to your respective sects."

With that, his figure vanished with a WHOOSH.

The instant the Flying Sword disappeared, it not only kicked up a fierce gust of wind.

Song Jiulai also faintly heard a sonic boom from the extreme speed.

"..."

’Isn’t that a bit of an exaggeration?’

Once they confirmed the man was gone, everyone began walking toward the city gate. Song Jiulai was a little confused by the seven-day limit. "Is there a time limit for entering this place?"

Su Huanli nodded. "The major sects don’t allow outsiders to stay. Only during special events like this do they welcome disciples from other sects. The other way is to pay Spirit Stones to stay. After all, if you’re not from here, you naturally aren’t allowed to enjoy the dense Spiritual Energy."

Shui Ping came up beside them and shrugged. "Oh well. We small sects just have no rights."

Su Huanli chided her in a low voice, "Shui Ping, don’t talk nonsense in front of Liu Xian City."

Shui Ping wrinkled her nose again.

Song Jiulai lamented to the System, ’Class monopoly is truly terrifying. Just you wait.’

System: "Wait for what?"

Song Jiulai: "Sooner or later, I’ll have the players build roads all the way here. We’ll see if Liu Xian City chooses to connect to our railway then!"

System: "..."

’What a grand ambition you have.’