Upon hearing the burly man’s words, the plump man secretly sighed in relief, thanked him with a smile, and then used his jade pendant to mark the floating light spot labeled “Four.”
Instantly, the original “Four” flickered and transformed into a “Five” as a wisp of green light merged into it.
This man had also set his sights on the prime spiritual land of “Emerald Swallowing Mountain,” intending to take a gamble.
Seeing the plump man’s choice, the other cultivators seated nearby all paled. Those who had harbored similar intentions immediately abandoned their plans.
After all, the plump man was a late-stage Deity Transformation cultivator, and in terms of cultivation alone, he undoubtedly overshadowed everyone else present.
Once the plump man made his selection, he leisurely returned to his seat, seemingly still considering other options.
However, his decision forced the remaining cultivators to make up their minds. Two more stepped forward, each selecting two secondary spiritual lands on “Celestial Harmony Mountain”—one already occupied, the other originally vacant.
Once these two made their choices, they promptly left without lingering.
The remaining cultivators frowned, clearly still undecided.
At that moment, Han Li suddenly rose from his seat and approached the purple-robed man.
The other cultivators were slightly taken aback.
After all, Han Li had only just arrived, and his swift decision naturally surprised them.
Han Li lightly brushed his storage bracelet, producing a pale white jade box, which he handed to the purple-robed man along with his jade pendant, smiling faintly.
The purple-robed man did not immediately take the box. Instead, he swept his gaze over Han Li and said indifferently, “I heard a newly ascended cultivator surnamed Han arrived in the city. Could it be you?”
“Senior is indeed well-informed. It is indeed this junior,” Han Li replied, inwardly wary but showing no outward reaction.
“In that case, Fellow Daoist Han must be selecting a cave abode for the first time. If so, there’s no need to pay any tribute. You may directly choose a spiritual land,” the purple-robed man said, offering Han Li a rare smile.
“Many thanks for Senior’s guidance!” Han Li was momentarily stunned but quickly chuckled and put away the jade box.
Hearing that Han Li was a newly ascended cultivator, the others all turned to look at him with peculiar expressions.
It seemed that ascended cultivators indeed held a unique status in Sky Abyss City.
The purple-robed man swiftly inspected Han Li’s jade pendant and nodded before returning it to him.
Without hesitation, Han Li waved his pendant over an unmarked spiritual land on the screen.
A wisp of green light shot out, and the character “One” appeared on the spot.
Those observing Han Li’s actions immediately erupted into murmurs upon seeing his choice.
Han Li had selected one of the least spiritual lands on “Emerald Swallowing Mountain,” the mountain with the poorest spiritual energy.
Given Han Li’s early-stage Deity Transformation cultivation, choosing this mountain range wasn’t particularly strange. However, while other unoccupied spiritual lands were available on the same mountain, Han Li had opted for the most inconspicuous and spiritually thinnest spot, leaving everyone puzzled.
The only advantage of this land was its vast size—spanning twenty thousand li, twice the area of other spiritual lands on the same mountain—compensating for its lack of spiritual energy.
Yet everyone knew that the quality of a spiritual land depended entirely on its spiritual energy. No matter how vast the land, if the spiritual energy was lacking, the spiritual herbs and ores would inevitably be scarce, and cultivation would be severely hindered.
“Are you certain about this choice? Once selected, you cannot change your cave abode for a hundred years,” the purple-robed man said, frowning after scrutinizing the marked spot on the screen.
“This junior has just arrived in the Spirit Realm and merely seeks a place to settle. I have no intention of competing with fellow Daoists. Though this land is inferior, it should avoid disputes,” Han Li replied calmly.
“If that’s your decision, so be it. Once marked, no one can alter it,” the purple-robed man said, giving Han Li a peculiar look before waving his hand dismissively, his tone returning to its earlier languor.
Unfazed, Han Li clasped his fists and returned to his seat, intending to observe further.
Another cultivator stood up, seemingly preparing to approach the purple-robed man to select a spiritual land.
But just then, footsteps sounded on the stairs, and a man ascended to the second floor without a servant guiding him.
The cultivators on the second floor all paled at the sight of this man—except for the highest-ranking plump man, whose eyes lit up as he greeted, “So it’s Fellow Daoist Weng! What brings you here to compete for a spiritual land?”
The newcomer was a blue-robed man with a forehead band, his eyebrows slanted upward and his eyes gleaming coldly, exuding an aura of ferocity.
“Heh, if Brother Jin can come to exchange cave abodes, why can’t I?” the man replied with a faint smile, sweeping his gaze over the plump man.
This man was a mid-stage Deity Transformation cultivator, yet he treated the late-stage plump man as an equal, which intrigued Han Li, prompting him to study the man more closely.
At their level of cultivation, each minor advancement represented a vast gap in strength. Of course, exceptions like Han Li—who possessed spiritual treasures and cultivated heaven-defying abilities like the Devouring Spiritual Heavenly Flame and the Magnetic Divine Light—were exceedingly rare.
The blue-robed man’s attitude suggested he had some hidden backing.
“Brother Weng jests. Your current cave abode occupies a first-rate spiritual land. Why exchange it?” the plump man said, stroking his plump chin with a hint of suspicion.
“I’ve recently begun cultivating a new secret technique that doesn’t require abundant spiritual energy but demands a vast territory. Otherwise, the process would be troublesome. Hence, I must temporarily switch spiritual lands,” the blue-robed man replied vaguely with a laugh.
“I see!” The plump man, surnamed Jin, nodded as if enlightened, though whether he truly believed it was anyone’s guess.
Han Li frowned slightly at their exchange but quickly composed himself.
The blue-robed man strode toward the purple-robed man, standing respectfully before him and saying, “Greetings, Uncle Jiao. My master sends his regards.”
“Regards? That old freak Ming would never say such a thing. But given that he’s already survived six major heavenly tribulations, the seventh will likely be his end,” the purple-robed man sneered.
The slant-browed man’s face flashed with embarrassment, but he quickly replied, “Indeed, my master has been in secluded cultivation for two hundred years, refining a spiritual treasure to withstand the next tribulation.”
“A spiritual treasure! It seems your master has luck on his side. The last one was destroyed resisting a tribulation, yet he’s already gathered materials for another. Perhaps he does stand a chance. Enough—I’m on duty and shouldn’t linger on this. Hurry and choose your land,” the purple-robed man said, his expression darkening as he cut the conversation short.
“As you command!” The slant-browed man bowed before scanning the map on the screen. When his gaze landed on a spot already marked with a number, his face darkened.
“Who would choose such a remote spiritual land on Emerald Swallowing Mountain? Brother Jin, since you were here, do you know who selected it?” The man, surnamed Weng, dared not question the purple-robed man but turned to the plump man instead, pointing at the screen. A white light spot appeared where he indicated.
The plump man’s expression turned peculiar at the sight, and he instinctively glanced toward Han Li.
Realizing the implication, the blue-robed man slowly turned and scrutinized Han Li.
“So it was you who chose this land?” Seeing Han Li’s early-stage cultivation, the man’s face twisted with arrogance, his voice icy.
“Does Fellow Daoist also fancy this place?” Han Li asked after a brief silence, his tone indifferent.
“Hmph, the secret technique I’m cultivating requires that very land. If you’re wise, you’ll relinquish it voluntarily. Otherwise, don’t blame me for showing no mercy in our duel,” the slant-browed man threatened openly.
Han Li was speechless.
To avoid conflict, he had deliberately chosen a spiritually barren location to steer clear of trouble in Sky Abyss City. His sole focus was cultivation, and he had no desire to provoke enmity that might hinder his pursuit of the Great Dao.
Yet despite his low profile, someone had still sought him out. The irony was not lost on him.
A flash of blue light flickered deep in his pupils as he glanced swiftly at the others.
The purple-robed man lounged lazily in his chair, eyes half-lidded, showing no intention of intervening. The remaining cultivators watched Han Li with barely concealed schadenfreude.
“Senior, if I relinquish this selection, may I choose another spiritual land?” Han Li asked the purple-robed man calmly.
“No. Spiritual lands are already scarce, and each person only gets one chance to compete for them. If you fail, you must wait a hundred years for the next opportunity,” the purple-robed man replied impassively, offering no leniency.
Han Li sighed softly.
Waiting a century to establish a cave abode was unbearable for him—he urgently needed to nurture spiritual herbs and refine batches of pills.
Just then, the slant-browed man sneered and added,
“Waiting a hundred years is better than having your cultivation forcibly regressed. If you refuse to heed my advice, heh…”
Han Li’s eyebrows rose at the threat, but instead of anger, he laughed.
“I cannot comply with your request. I suggest Fellow Daoist find another place to cultivate. I’d prefer not to sour relations with Brother Weng, lest I… accidentally overexert myself.”
Han Li’s words were delivered lightly, but their pointed defiance was unmistakable.
Everyone was stunned.
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