Compared to the floating city, the Moluo Sacred Tower was like a bustling metropolis next to a backwater village.
The spiritual energy was far richer. Mortals living within the Moluo Sacred Tower could nearly double their lifespans.
During this time, Qi Yuan had been continuously cleansing his body with immortal spiritual energy, rendering his skin increasingly fair, translucent, and crystalline.
Of course, this snowy complexion was completely different from Ning Tao's cool alabaster tone; his looked more like immaculate, spotless purity.
Beside him, Jiang Lingsu stared wide-eyed. "I want to become a Yin God too!"
Looking at Qi Yuan, she felt envy alongside a pang of self-consciousness. After all, her skin really was not as good as his now.
"Now that we're here, cultivate properly." Qi Yuan tapped Jiang Lingsu on the head.
The trio arrived at one of the levels of the Moluo Sacred Tower, called Jiyu Heaven.
This level was the most bustling in the entire tower, harboring the largest number of foreign cultivators. Many sacred grounds from other heavens, as well as those native to the Fifth Heaven, maintained outposts here.
The region inhabited by the Moluo Clan was rich in Miluo Light. This light held immense value, capable of expanding a Divine Domain; for Yang God Heavenly Venerables, it also offered great utility, seemingly connected to projecting upon the myriad heavens.
As such, those major factions had all established bases among the Moluo Clan, stationing personnel to harvest Miluo Light.
Strolling through Jiyu Heaven now, streaks of light flashed across the sky from time to time, radiating formidable auras.
Amidst the massive city, Qi Yuan and his companions wove through the streets, expressions calm. This great city served as the central hub of Jiyu Heaven, housing the outposts of sacred grounds across various heavens.
"Mount Futu really lacks class. They don't even have an outpost here," Qi Yuan remarked.
"Ahem, Mount Futu is merely a sacred ground from the Second Heaven. It's... quite normal not to have an outpost here," Shen Wushen said with an awkward smile.
Mount Futu had only a single Yang God, who was merely in the Heavenly Position Realm. How could they possibly stretch their reach into the domain of the Moluo Clan?
"Looks like I'll need to pick a stronger faction to join this time," Qi Yuan pondered aloud.
Wandering aimlessly around the Moluo Sacred Tower was ill-advised, as it easily drew unwanted attention—especially since the major things he planned to do later would inevitably attract the notice of some Yang Gods.
Casually joining a faction as a guest elder would not only let him sponge free food and lodging, but if his hard work and talent caught the eye of a wealthy sugar mommy at the realm of Great Ultimate Reason, that would be pure bliss.
On top of that, joining a faction would make it easier to settle his junior sister and Shen Wushen.
At this moment, Qi Yuan stood upon a pavilion, gazing at a wall in the distance. The wall was plastered with numerous "recruitment notices," beneath which gathered crowds of cultivators.
"Mount Xuanyun recruiting three Yin God guest elders. Great Venerables preferred, stipend negotiable. Also recruiting several Purple Mansion laborers; ten years' stipend is one immortal jade."
"Yuxian Gate recruiting Purple Mansion consecrated elders..."
"Taihuang Palace recruiting consecrated elders. Cultivation requirement: Mythological..."
"Black Demon Abyss..."
Qi Yuan's gaze rested on Taihuang Palace's recruitment notice. Thinking it over, he decided it was better to keep his distance from that person in Taihuang Palace for now.
"Four sacred grounds from the Sixth Heaven maintain outposts here in the Moluo Sacred Tower. The rest are mostly from the Fifth Heaven. As for the Fourth Heaven and below, there are even fewer," Shen Wushen chimed in, eager to assert his presence.
After Qi Yuan had scoffed at him earlier for not acting like an Upper Realm native, he felt compelled to show off his familiarity with the place. He was still quite knowledgeable about those illustrious powers of the Sixth Heaven.
"What do you think of the Black Demon Abyss?" Qi Yuan asked casually.
Shen Wushen's expression turned solemn as he replied, "Every top sacred ground in the Sixth Heaven has its own unique strength. The Black Demon Abyss's strength lies in its vast number of Yang God Heavenly Venerables in the realm of Great Ultimate Reason. As for exactly how many, this junior has no idea. Because of that, the factions within the Black Demon Abyss are tangled and complex, with many of them actively hostile toward one another. Even so, the Black Demon Abyss firmly ranks among the top ten great factions of the Sixth Heaven."
"So many white moonlights?" Qi Yuan's eyes lit up, though he quickly calmed down. He had not even met them yet; regarding them as white moonlights felt improper, as if cheapening the concept.
Just then, a refined-looking cultivator leaned in from the side, a hint of arrogance in his eyes. "Fellow Daoist, you must hail from a lower heaven. Becoming a guest elder of the Black Demon Abyss isn't nearly as simple as you think."
This cultivator was named Ji Buping, a native of the Fifth Heaven who harbored a sense of superiority toward cultivators from the lower realms. Thus, when speaking to Qi Yuan, he deliberately emphasized the words "lower heaven."
"Fellow Daoist has a sharp eye. I accidentally entered a secret realm in the Second Heaven and ended up here without enough immortal jade to return home. I have no choice but to find some work to earn travel expenses," Qi Yuan replied. "May I ask... what makes becoming a guest elder of the Black Demon Abyss so difficult?"
This was the persona he had set up for himself: an elder from Mount Futu.
"The Black Demon Abyss is an extremely xenophobic sacred ground that values bloodline above all else," Ji Buping explained. With a flick of his hair, he casually revealed a black mark beside his ear. "See this? Even in the Black Demon Abyss of the Sixth Heaven, my bloodline would suffice to earn me the position of... a deacon. Unfortunately, without a Heaven-Traversing Jade, I can't reach the Sixth Heaven."
Ji Buping yearned deeply for the Black Demon Abyss of the Sixth Heaven and wanted nothing more than to slip away and settle there. In his eyes, with his level of bloodline, he could live in lavish luxury once he arrived.
"I don't have a Heaven-Traversing Jade either," Qi Yuan sighed in commiseration.
Ji Buping continued smugly, "The bloodline of the Black Demon Abyss is one of the most precious in the Sixth Heaven. They classify lineages from Grade One to Grade Nine, with Grade One being the highest and Grade Nine the lowest. Unworthy as I am, I possess a Grade Four bloodline—just a hair shy of an upper-grade bloodline. What a shame my mother's bloodline was somewhat lacking."
With that, Ji Buping looked at Qi Yuan with a sigh. "You have no Black Demon Abyss bloodline in you, so you can't become their guest elder." Though he sighed, his tone was laced with condescending pride.
Right then, an amused voice rang out: "Who says he can't join the Black Demon Abyss?"
A woman clad in purple robes appeared, her figure supple and graceful. Most striking of all, however, were the two horns atop her head, bearing an uncanny resemblance to the Bull Demon King's and looking practically indestructible. She looked at Qi Yuan, a sharp glint flickering in her eyes.
Seeing her arrival, Ji Buping looked astounded. Unable to discern her identity or cultivation, he was filled with immense wariness.
"Handsome fellow Daoist, how about exchanging contact slips?" the purple-robed woman said in a rather flirtatious tone.
Qi Yuan blinked in mild surprise. Was he being asked for his WeChat? Truly, being handsome was such a burden.
"I rarely give out my contact information on the first meeting," Qi Yuan said demurely, maintaining a traditional, reserved demeanor.
"Give it to me, and I'll help you become a guest elder of the Black Demon Abyss!" the purple-robed woman said, amusement dancing in her eyes.
Qi Yuan's nose did not grow longer, which proved she was telling the truth.
"Sister Horns, here is my contact slip. Just note my name down as... Blood Robe!" Qi Yuan did an instant about-face.
Nearby, Ji Buping's face shifted through several shades. He was skeptical of the purple-robed woman's claim. After all, the Black Demon Abyss prioritized bloodline above all; even an outpost recruiting guest elders to harvest Miluo Light required proper lineage.
The purple-robed woman raised an eyebrow slightly. "I like that title. Has a nice ring to it." She was referring to being called Sister Horns.
"Here's my medallion. Take it to the Black Demon Abyss, and you can directly become a guest elder." The purple-robed woman was exceedingly straightforward, handing over a jade plaque.
Upon seeing the jade plaque, Ji Buping's complexion shifted, and his posture involuntarily hunched over.
That jade plaque was pitch-black.
In the Black Demon Abyss, black signified supreme status. Only core figures were granted black jade plaques.
"Thank you, Sister Horns," Qi Yuan said happily.
No wonder people said good looks on their own were a hazard, but paired with anything else, they were an unbeatable trump card.
The purple-robed woman shifted her gaze to Jiang Lingsu, looking her up and down. "Is this your concubine?"
Her gaze resembled a television villain hitting on the female lead before casting a disdainful glance at the male lead.
Jiang Lingsu, who had been clinging to Qi Yuan's arm, felt thoroughly uncomfortable under that gaze. Hearing the woman's words, she felt both angry and strangely thrilled.
"Ahem... no, she isn't."
"Good. Aside from her big chest, she doesn't have much going for her anyway."
The purple-robed woman was blunt, direct, and utterly abrasive.
Jiang Lingsu's face flushed crimson instantly.
However, knowing they were in the Upper Realm, she could not lose her temper recklessly and cause trouble for her eldest senior brother.
Endure it!
Just endure!
"Lingsu is a very good person," Qi Yuan said gently.
Hearing this, Jiang Lingsu's anger dissipated by more than half.
"Interested in becoming my concubine instead?" The purple-robed woman stared at Qi Yuan, dropping another bombshell.
"Ahem, sorry, I don't swing that way," Qi Yuan flatly refused.
The purple-robed woman smiled playfully at him. "Oh, little man, you'll understand my power and charm soon enough!" She spoke just like an overbearing corporate CEO straight out of a melodrama.
With that, she winked at Qi Yuan, dissolving into a streak of light before vanishing.
"Young Master, was there anything special about that human cultivator just now?"
A voice transmission reached the purple-robed woman's ears, brimming with undisguised curiosity.
"He possesses the bloodline of our Black Demon Abyss, and... its purity is no lower than mine." Curiosity danced in the purple-robed woman's eyes. She held out her hand, revealing a mark on her fair arm. "The Motian Imprint flickered. He would make a fine concubine!"
"His bloodline is that noble?!" The purple-robed woman's Dao protector was thoroughly shaken. "How could such a bloodline have leaked outside the Black Demon Abyss? Which lineage is he from?"
The Dao protector was deeply bewildered. In the Upper Realm, the Black Demon Abyss was fanatically obsessed with bloodlines, even bordering on madness. If a newborn was found to possess an exceptionally precious bloodline, their family's social standing was instantly elevated to the pinnacle. What was more, even if such an infant remained a mortal, they enjoyed Mythological treatment within the Black Demon Abyss; once they reached the Yin God realm, they were treated on par with Yang God Heavenly Venerables.
It was terrifyingly extravagant. Because of this, the core bloodlines of the Black Demon Abyss almost never leaked outside.
A glint of surprise flitted through the purple-robed woman's eyes, for the Motian Imprint had failed to trace the origin of that handsome male cultivator's bloodline.
"It doesn't matter which lineage he's from. What matters is that I found him, so... he belongs to my lineage. Tell me, how should I woo him so he'll agree to be my concubine?"
"Well... with Young Master's charm and authority, winning him over will naturally be a breeze. Still, should this subordinate investigate his background and origin?" the Dao protector asked.
"No need." The purple-robed woman shook her head. "A pity I have to track down the Morning Star Jade Blood Beast; otherwise, I'd bring him back to the Sixth Heaven right now."
She had come to the Moluo Clan from the Sixth Heaven specifically to pursue the Morning Star Jade Blood Beast. That extraordinary beast would be of immense help in elevating her bloodline.
Meanwhile, Qi Yuan held the pitch-black jade plaque, a grin across his face. "Turns out getting into the Black Demon Abyss is pretty easy."
Not far away, Ji Buping was consumed with jealousy, yet dared not show it, terrified of offending a grand figure from the Black Demon Abyss. Toward that faction, he had always felt profound reverence and yearning; to him, even a rat scurrying out from their halls was superior to ordinary folk.
"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist!" Ji Buping offered a sour word of congratulations before swiftly disappearing without lingering.
Beside Qi Yuan, Jiang Lingsu clenched her little fists in utter dejection. She sighed, "Eldest Senior Brother, you were right. I was being narcissistic. No spoiled young masters in the Upper Realm took a fancy to me to cause you trouble. Instead, a spoiled young mistress took a fancy to you and came looking for trouble with me. Is this what it feels like to be looked down upon and dismissed?"
It was the first time Jiang Lingsu had ever been treated like this, leaving her questioning her life choices.
"What's there to be afraid of? You're not the protagonist in a TV drama; things like that are rare occurrences," Qi Yuan said, shrugging. "Come on, let's head to the Black Demon Abyss outpost and freeload some food and drinks."
"No, I need to cultivate properly this time and strive to break into the Yin God realm!" Jiang Lingsu gritted her teeth, though her face quickly slumped into despondency. "Sigh, my talent is just too poor. The Yin God realm is so hard."
...
With the purple-robed woman's jade plaque, Qi Yuan faced no obstacles whatsoever in entering the Black Demon Abyss outpost and becoming a guest elder.
In fact, they did not even bother conducting a serious background check on him, saving Qi Yuan the trouble of using the Great Oblivion Heart Scripture to bluff his way through.
Inside the outpost, Qi Yuan ran into Ji Buping again.
Ji Buping looked quite awkward and felt even more jealous. With his Grade Four bloodline, he had only become a Profound-grade guest elder, whereas Qi Yuan, thanks to the medallion, was an Earth-grade guest elder—one rank above him.
This left Ji Buping thoroughly disgruntled.
Qi Yuan, however, did not care in the slightest.
Looking at Jiang Lingsu, a whimsical thought suddenly struck him. "Do you think I should slap on a tattoo sticker to pretend I have a high-grade bloodline?"
Qi Yuan had noticed that cultivators of the Black Demon Abyss always bore distinctive imprints, which served as emblems of their bloodlines. Whenever members of the Black Demon Abyss went outside, the Moluo Clan cultivators of the Moluo Sacred Tower treated them like honored lords. In a sense, Black Demon Abyss cultivators enjoyed the elevated status of privileged foreign dignitaries among the Moluo Clan. Now that Qi Yuan was half a privileged dignitary himself, wouldn't a tattoo sticker allow him to act completely unrestrained?
Due to the presence of the Taihuang Palace imprint, Jiang Lingsu could not stray too far from Qi Yuan. Consequently, the two shared a single cave abode, sleeping in separate rooms.
"What kind of mark? Where would you put it?" Jiang Lingsu asked eagerly.
"What do you think of a crescent moon? Right on the forehead?" Qi Yuan asked seriously.
"Sounds good to me."
"No, my face is too pale; I can't pull off Justice Bao," Qi Yuan said, shaking his head. Then, as if realizing something, a look of curiosity appeared on his face. "Actually, I probably don't need to fake it. There seems to be a bloodline similar to the Black Demon Abyss inside my body. Where did it come from?"
Qi Yuan was genuinely curious. When that purple-robed woman approached him earlier, he had known she wasn't so shallow as to be drawn purely by his face. After all, how could people in the Upper Realm be so brainless? So he had brazenly eavesdropped on her private conversation.
Chapter 408