Vampire Cultivation Notes

Chapter 112 Du Suo Canghai Sea Area

I'm currently reading Chapter 112, "Crossing the Vast Ocean," and I'm completely engrossed in it.

Since we can't get a ticket, having a nautical chart in hand will at least give us peace of mind.

As it has developed to this day, Qizhen Immortal City has shops that specialize in selling sea charts, but they are not located in Zitanfang.

Li Jieqing emerged from the archway and followed the trail, glancing around at the street where the nautical chart shops were located, not only looking at the shop's structure but also observing the people coming from the left and right.

"It's a proper shop, though..."

If Li Jieqing hadn't failed to find a legitimate way for independent cultivators to sell nautical charts, he really wouldn't have been willing to come here.

The proper things within these Seven Immortal Cities are basically all related to the Immortal Cities.

Shaking his head, Li Jieqing thought to himself that he was just a northern pioneer cultivator who came to the Seven True Immortal City to seek opportunities. He swept away the whisk that was shedding some feathers, and revealed a part of the magic power that he had been hiding, just like the way an ordinary rogue cultivator would half-conceal his cultivation.

Hiding something too well can arouse suspicion.

Li Jieqing displayed his cultivation level of the eighth level of Qi Refining before entering the shop.

"The customer means they need a nautical chart that allows them to go out to sea?"

"Yes."

"East or west?"

"This humble Taoist priest prefers one with a wider range of standards."

"I need to have my license checked."

"Is there such a rule? I didn't hear about it when I came."

"...Please wait a moment."

The shop assistant apologized and hurriedly went to another room to look for the person.

This situation becomes somewhat complicated.

Li Jieqing instinctively wanted to leave, but managed to restrain himself. He checked the tokens, but his eyes lingered around the shop.

This is similar to the main hall in Taipingfang Market that used to manage the rental space, except that the small magic arrays that shimmer with spiritual light are not for tidying up the cave dwellings and courtyards, but rather for marking the sea areas, reefs, and monster lairs surrounding Xiaoxin Island.

In Seven Immortal City, besides treasure hunting, hunting demons is also a major business, so the sea chart shop does quite well, with frequent visitors.

Li Jieqing wandered around the hall alone for a while and exchanged a few words with a group of customers who were heading east in search of something.

At this moment, the shop owner came out.

"Greetings, fellow Daoist."

"Greetings, shopkeeper. This humble Taoist is gazing at the moon."

Li Jieqing and the shopkeeper went to talk to each other.

As the shopkeeper walked, he secretly used the array within the shop to probe Li Jieqing's magical power.

Eighth level of Qi Refining?

The answer was neither good nor bad, but the shopkeeper breathed a sigh of relief, believing he had seen through Li Jieqing's true nature, and led Li Jieqing to the counter.

"Fellow Daoist, do you mean you want a sea chart that allows you to set sail and find other cultivation locations?"

The shopkeeper, sporting a small mustache and possessing shrewd eyes, chuckled and asked, "What brought you to this sudden idea? Have you already found a ticket for the treasure ship?"

Li Jieqing took out the bronze plaque from the Immortal City and shook his head, saying, "This is a misrepresentation. I only said that it would be best if the sea map was large and complete, not that we needed to go to sea very far."

"To be honest, shopkeeper, I have been in seclusion for many years and my magical power has not improved at all. Now that the Seven Immortals have opened the seas, I intend to take a trip to the surrounding waters."

"Oh...no wonder, that servant deserved to be beaten."

The shopkeeper examined the stone tablet and found that the magical power on it was the same as that Li Jieqing had simulated with the Thousand Illusions Mask, which was pure Taoist magic. The magical power on the bronze tablet also matched the records of the Immortal City.

Yes, there's nothing wrong with the cards.

The shopkeeper stroked his beard and smiled, handing back the stone tablet, seemingly believing the explanation. After all, since the establishment of Seven True Immortal City, there have been quite a few cultivators every year who, due to their cultivation difficulties, ventured out to sea for a gamble.

Li Jieqing was also smiling, but inwardly he was cursing.

Over the years, even bronze plaques have spawned unregistered residents of the Immortal City, yet Qi Zhen remains so vigilant about matters overseas on Xiao Xin Island.

Fortunately, I decided not to apply for a ticket. These days, even buying a nautical chart is strictly checked, let alone wanting to go to sea with a treasure ship.

"Could it be Fellow Daoist Wangyue?"

From the side passageway of the counter, in a separate room, a person came out following the sound.

Seeing that Li Jieqing was indeed at the counter, he smiled and said, "I recognized the name. When I came out, I found that it really is Brother Wangyue here."

"Fellow Daoist Jinwu?"

Li Jieqing's tone was one of surprise, and he wasn't faking it. He really hadn't expected to run into Jinwu Shangren, who had just been eliminated from the Youshe Sea, by chance today.

It is said that after the Venerable Jinwu donated the sacred land and sought refuge in the Seven Immortal Cities, he followed the tutelage of the True Man Baocheng.

So... this nautical chart shop is a property owned by Master Baocheng.

Li Jieqing understood a lot in an instant.

Seeing this, the shopkeeper dropped his forced smile and asked, "Do you two know each other?"

Master Jinwu laughed and said, "This is Fellow Daoist Wangyue, who pioneered the northern lands and roamed the Serpent Sea. His mount, a late-stage Wangyue Eel, is exceptionally fierce, and its skills make one feel ashamed of one's own inferiority."

"So they're from the Snake Sea."

The shopkeeper seemed to remember something and smiled, "Fellow Daoist Wangyue, please forgive me. It is my duty. The True Man instructed me to carefully examine the Sea Chart of the Vast Ocean and verify my identity when I produce it."

"Since you are a fellow cultivator who pioneered the Snake Sea and made great contributions to the Immortal City, this is quite fitting."

As he spoke, he took out a scroll of sea chart made of animal hide of unknown origin from his storage bag.

"That's not right. Once it's taken out, why would you take it back?"

The shopkeeper smiled and insisted on handing over the animal hide scroll.

Li Jieqing then accepted it, feeling a sense of relief.

At first glance, it seems like they're heavily guarded, but it turns out it's not all that serious after all.

Even though the Foundation Establishment cultivators have been reminding them day and night for over twenty years, the people below have still become lax and were willing to send out the sea charts just to do a personal favor.

Thinking about it this way, even if we wait another twenty years or so for the treasure ship tickets, the authorities will probably be quite relaxed by then.

Holding the animal skin scroll, Li Jieqing first apologized to the Golden Wutong Master, then exchanged spirit stones at the counter and offered a box of Blood Bamboo Juice, telling the shopkeeper to accept it with joy.

Once everything was settled, Li Jieqing put the animal skin roll into the storage bag he had specially prepared at his waist.

Heaven have mercy, I've lived for over a hundred years and this is the first time I've learned that the place I live in is called "Du Suo Cang Hai".

"An old friend has come to meet me; let me borrow this place for a while."

The Venerable Jinwu greeted the shop owner, then gestured for Li Jieqing to come inside for a chat.

Since Li Jieqing had already accepted the nautical chart, it would be conspicuous for him to refuse it now; it would be better to wait until things settled down smoothly.

So he simply followed without showing any unusual expression.

"It's been many years since we last met, and we've all aged considerably... I wonder how Brother Wangyue managed to leave the island this year?"

Stay indoors.

Master Jinwu took his seat and sighed deeply.

It is indeed a pity that when he met Li Jieqing in the secular world more than 20 years ago, he was young and handsome, and had successfully broken through the eighth level of Qi Refining at the age of 30. He was full of vigor and ambition.

Now, more than twenty years later, he is old and frail, his temples are gray, he has experienced too much, he built up and then abandoned his family business, and his youthful vigor is gone.

Li Jieqing, who was opposite Jinwu Shangren, naturally looked old at this moment, with wrinkles growing on his once middle-aged face.

"This humble Taoist priest is getting old."

Li Jieqing nodded vigorously.

He's over a hundred years old, and lately he's been less focused on his spiritual practice and has been indulging in too much drinking, making his skin look increasingly youthful under his disguise.