When I Lay Flat, the Female Lead Panicked - Chapter 18

Chapter 18: Fengtian City

After reporting the situation in An Family Village to the sect via a paper crane and confirming that she would bring Luo Xiaoxiao to participate in the Tianyan Sect’s recruitment, Wen Nanshu and her companions quickly headed to a bustling city under the direct jurisdiction of the sect—the city closest to the Tianyan Sect.

The Tianyan Sect holds its recruitment every five years. The number of people who come to participate is immense, in the tens of thousands, and they come in droves.

However, the path to immortality is a matter of fate. Out of these tens of thousands of people, very few are ultimately qualified to enter the Tianyan Sect.

This is because the “Immortal Gate,” the initial trial for the Tianyan Sect’s recruitment, can easily weed out 95% or more of the candidates.

To enter the Tianyan Sect, one must pass through the Immortal Gate. Therefore, the city Wen Nanshu and the others brought Luo Xiaoxiao to was the only city with an Immortal Gate entrance—Fengtian City.

Coinciding with the recruitment season, the city was bustling with people, and all the inns were overflowing.

People came and went, and the city was exceptionally lively. Because of the eye-catching sect uniforms and their stunning looks, Wen Nanshu and her companions had been attracting a high number of gazes since they entered the city. Sometimes, it was so exaggerated that wherever they walked, a path would automatically open up for them, no matter how crowded the street was.

This celebrity-like feeling wasn’t the only reason people were so eager to enter the Tianyan Sect. Just having the identity of a Tianyan Sect member was an honor.

Luo Xiaoxiao was not affected by the enthusiastic stares of the surrounding crowd. Her curious gaze took in the lively scenes of Fengtian City. Like a curious child who had never traveled far from home, she found everything new and exciting.

Due to its close proximity to the Tianyan Sect and the direct or indirect protection it received, the public order and grandness of Fengtian City’s buildings were top-notch.

Looking around, the streets were lined with elegant and distinctive shops, dazzling people with their variety.

There were equipment shops, herbal stores, weapon shops, pawn shops, auction houses, tea houses, and restaurants.

Everything you could and couldn’t think of was here. The resources were so abundant that they even attracted cultivators and merchants from other sects to come here to purchase goods.

This scene, in her era, would be comparable to the prosperity of a major metropolis.

“This is probably your first time in a city primarily for cultivators, isn’t it, Xiaoxiao?” Ningyu asked softly as she walked beside Luo Xiaoxiao.

“Yes!”

Luo Xiaoxiao was fascinated by the spirit ships, immortal swords, and spirit beasts occasionally flying over Fengtian City. She nodded excitedly and answered honestly.

“Back where I’m from, I’ve never seen such magical things before.”

At this moment, Luo Xiaoxiao could truly feel that she had entered the world of cultivation. It was so magical!

Seeing Luo Xiaoxiao’s interest, Ningyu gently ruffled her hair and said softly.

“Since you’ve decided to embark on the path of cultivation, I think you should also understand some basic information about the cultivation world.”

“Mhm, thank you, Sister Ningyu.”

Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Ningyu. Although Luo Xiaoxiao knew a lot about the cultivation world’s settings from the book, what she read was often just a simple overview. It was far less clear than what a “native” resident knew.

Thinking this, Luo Xiaoxiao looked at Ningyu with a serious expression, ready to listen, and waited for her to speak.

Seeing Luo Xiaoxiao’s earnest demeanor, Ningyu didn’t delay and softly began to introduce the cultivation world.

“I’ll tell you about the more complex things later. For now, I’ll just give you a simple overview of the more common information about the cultivation world.

As everyone knows, the ultimate goal of cultivation is for a mortal with spiritual aptitude to continuously cultivate, absorb the spiritual energy of the world, strengthen their dao heart, and break through their own realm to ultimately ascend to godhood.

If a mortal without spiritual destiny wants to cultivate and become a god by themselves, it would be incredibly difficult, a fool’s errand. As for those with a spiritual destiny, cultivation depends on two things: personal comprehension and the resources of an immortal sect.

In today’s world, most cultivation resources are in the hands of the major immortal sects. Currently, the seven major immortal sects, including the Tianyan Sect, are well-known in the cultivation world and can help mortals cultivate and provide them with immortal techniques.

In order of strength, they are:

The Tianyan Sect, who can calculate the heavens. The Myriad Sword Sect, where myriad swords return to the heavens. The Vastsea Pavilion, where vast seas are measured. The Phantom Sound Pavilion, whose zither music intoxicates the years. The Cloud Immortal Sect, with immortal boats on a sea of clouds. The Nine Heavens Gate, whose swords point to the stars. The Ink Ethereal Valley, whose artistic conception is like poetry and painting.

These immortal sects all have their own unique secret cultivation techniques. Of course, besides the well-known ones I’ve mentioned, there are also some low-profile sects, like the Medical Immortal Valley, the Black Armor Sect, the Joyous Sect, and the Myriad Buddha Sect, which are not on the list but whose strength should not be underestimated.”

Seeing that Luo Xiaoxiao was listening attentively, Qiutong added.

“Besides the major cultivation sects your Sister Ningyu mentioned, the three great human empires and the three realms outside our domain also have a strength that should not be underestimated.

Especially the three great empires. All of the human race on this continent is under their jurisdiction. Under their rule, they have vast territories, a large population, and control over many resources.

Many powerful cultivators are directly under their command and are at their beck and call.”

“The three great empires?”

Like a good student, Luo Xiaoxiao listened while carefully recalling the background information about them from The Prideful World.

The Wen Clan of the Starfall Empire, the Si Clan of the Dark Underworld Empire, and the Qi Clan of the Northern Desert Empire.

Wen Nanshu was the former crown princess of the Starfall Empire before she entered the Tianyan Sect, a position of unparalleled nobility.

“The three great empires are the Starfall Empire, the Dark Underworld Empire, and the Northern Desert Empire.”

Taking over from Qiutong, Ningyu continued to explain to Luo Xiaoxiao.

“These empires have survived and grown powerful through thousands of years of historical change. It is rumored that the reason these empires were able to survive the ancient primordial era and exist to this day is that the imperial rulers were chosen by heaven and were protected by ancient divine beasts.

The direct descendants of their legitimate bloodline even possess a divine beast bloodline that defies the heavens, making their cultivation twice as effective. However, the probability of this bloodline awakening is extremely low. I haven’t heard of any royal family members with such a bloodline awakening in years.”

Divine beast bloodline…

Luo Xiaoxiao’s gaze subconsciously darted to Wen Nanshu, who was walking beside her. She muttered to herself.

Wen Nanshu has it, and it’s a super pure one at that. And I remember Wen Nanshu’s divine beast bloodline seems to be the final form of a dragon’s evolution in mythology, the winged creation dragon—the Hantian Yinglong.

Its bloodline is noble, and its combat power is extremely strong. In the mid-to-late stages of The Prideful World, as Wen Nanshu’s bloodline awakened, it was an absolute trump card that defied the heavens!

As Luo Xiaoxiao recalled Wen Nanshu’s hidden cheat, she continued to listen to Ningyu’s explanation about the three realms.

“As for the three realms, they are the demon realm, the ghost realm, and the demon beast realm.

The demon realm, or Demon City, is a land of darkness, a terrifying and eerie world.

Countless demons and fallen cultivators live and thrive here. Demonic beings run rampant, and it’s a place of constant change and unpredictability, making it hard to guard against. However, I’ve heard that there’s a civil war in the demon realm now. But it’s still not to be underestimated; it’s extremely dangerous.

The ghost realm, or the Ghost Domain, is the place where a person’s soul goes after death. It is the turning point of the cycle of life and death.

Normal people cannot set foot there. It holds countless mysterious things and secrets. Only a very few powerful cultivators or messengers of the underworld can enter, making it a place of great mystery.

The demon beast realm, or Demon Capital, is filled with demon beasts of various strange forms and extraordinary abilities.

They can transform into human form and speak like humans. They have their own unique culture and belief systems, and their relationship with the human and immortal realms is complex and intertwined. I’ve heard that the current demon emperor is mysterious, low-profile, and his strength is particularly great.”

“Besides these, there are also…”

Ningyu explained the cultivation world in great detail. Qiutong and Cangruo would occasionally add a few sentences.

As they walked and talked, Luo Xiaoxiao was still completely engrossed in the conversation until they reached the largest and most extravagant inn in Fengtian City—the Full Moon Tower.

At the same time, a small paper crane flew into the inn from a distance, landing in Wen Nanshu’s palm.

Then, a spiritual message gently entered Wen Nanshu’s sea of consciousness, reporting its content.

Her forward steps came to a halt. After hearing the message, Wen Nanshu promptly informed her junior sisters.

“My master sent a message saying that the three elders hope for their core disciples to return to the Tianyan Sect as soon as possible after arriving in Fengtian City, as there is an important matter to discuss.”

“Ah, so sudden?”

Cangruo, who was just about to take Luo Xiaoxiao to eat a big meal, stopped in her tracks. She looked conflicted, then at the girl with a hint of regret, and said helplessly.

“Sorry, Xiaoxiao, my master wants me to go back. And I expect that once I go back, I won’t be able to leave the sect for several days. I probably won’t be able to take you to the exam…”

“It’s okay. I’ll be fine. The matter is important, so go back quickly.”

Seeing Cangruo’s disappointed and guilty expression, Luo Xiaoxiao smiled gently and advised her considerately.

“Nanshu, I’ll leave Xiaoxiao to you.”

Qiutong patted Wen Nanshu’s shoulder in trust. She took out her spiritual sword from her storage bag and lightly jumped onto it.

“Xiaoxiao, I’ll come to find you after I’ve dealt with the sect’s affairs. Good luck with the exam.”

Ningyu reached out and took Qiutong’s hand. She jumped onto her spiritual sword, gave Luo Xiaoxiao a little wink, and her beautiful eyes were filled with encouragement.

“Okay~” After waving a warm goodbye to the beautiful women, she looked at Wen Nanshu, who hadn’t left and was quietly waiting for her.

Perhaps because Qiutong, Ningyu, and Cangruo were there earlier, and there wasn’t a good atmosphere for it. Now that they were gone, and it was just the two of them, Luo Xiaoxiao was uncharacteristically nervous.

Especially since the scene of Wen Nanshu approaching her against the light and reaching out her hand to ask her if she wanted to go with her had been playing on a loop in her head recently.

It was just… hehe, a little embarrassing.

Wen Nanshu’s cold eyes slowly reflected the girl’s adorable figure. She naturally reached out her hand to Luo Xiaoxiao, her voice gentle.

“Let’s go. I’ll take you to your room.”

“Okay~”

Luo Xiaoxiao looked at the fair, jade-like hand reaching out to her, her face showing a hint of shyness. But she thought to herself that hesitation would lead to defeat, and if she hesitated, she wouldn’t have a hand to hold.

Luo Xiaoxiao didn’t hesitate. She happily took her hand. After all, she had already hugged her and acted shamelessly. And this time, Wen Nanshu had offered her hand first. What reason did she have to refuse?