The Immortal’s "White Moonlight" Reborn - Chapter 67

Cang-wang Realm, Cang-hai Domain.

A long time ago, this was the territory of dragons. However, history recorded several cataclysmic disasters that swept through the land. The dragon race failed to survive those trials, eventually vanishing into the long river of history.

Later, most land-dwelling demon tribes of the Cang-hai Domain migrated to the Origin Spirit Domain, while more and more humans settled here. For a period, relations between humans and the aquatic demon tribes were dire; the two sides fought for many years until a peace treaty was finally signed centuries later. To commemorate this reconciliation, the Dragon Gate Festival was established on the anniversary of that peace.

Legend had it that during the festival, aquatic demons would use a secret method left by the dragons to summon the Dragon Gate. Any creature that leaped over the gate would transform into a dragon. Countless water-dwellers looked forward to this day with bated breath, but the success rate of the ritual was abysmal. Over tens of thousands of years, the recorded successes could be counted on one’s fingers.

Despite the odds, the fervor of the aquatic tribes remained undiminished. Like the phoenix, a dragon was a terrestrial immortal from birth, their lineage was a shortcut to divinity. Successful transformation meant the gates of the Supreme God Realm had been knocked wide open.

Thus, every year, countless water demons flocked from every domain, waiting for a chance that was perhaps less than one in ten thousand.

Jiaoyue City was the start and end point of the celebration and the closest landmass to where the summoning ritual took place. If the summoning failed, the Kings of the Water Tribes would drive dragon carriages through the sky over the city, scattering “blessings” over several towns before returning to Jiaoyue City.

These blessings consisted of spiritual fragments from the deep sea, highly beneficial to both humans and demons. Consequently, even if the Dragon Gate didn’t appear, visitors never left empty-handed.

The only downside was that the Cang-hai Domain became excessively crowded, especially Jiaoyue City. Finding a place to stay was nearly impossible. Humans and demons alike resorted to using various magical artifacts to create temporary shelters. For those without such tools, enterprising merchants set up stalls to rent or sell portable living spaces.

On the streets of Jiaoyue City, vendors hawked their wares magical artifacts, spiritual objects, and cultivation manuals. Most were common goods; finding a true treasure required a keen eye.

At the mouth of an alley, a drowsy stall owner felt two shadows block his sunlight. He opened his eyes to see two female cultivators so beautiful they seemed to outshine the sun itself.

One was as cool and distant as the moon, the other as warm and gentle as jade. Standing together, they projected an aura of perfect harmony.

To the stall owner, however, the most important detail was that their clothing and accessories were high-grade artifacts. They were clearly from a wealthy clan or a major sect—customers who wouldn’t be short on cash.

He immediately rolled off his lounge chair as the gentler-looking woman began browsing a pile of shells on his stall. He hurried to introduce them: “These are Dragon Pearl Shells! I risked my life to dive into an underwater secret realm to get them! They only grow on dragon veins! These are top-tier items. Even though they’re just shells now, feel them, they still pulse with dragon-vein spiritual energy. Their medicinal value is untouched…”

The owner praised the shimmering shells to the heavens. The residual spiritual energy was indeed convincing; a less experienced cultivator might have fallen for the ruse.

“A-Que, do you like them?” Seeing Wen Xiwu look at the shells for so long, Yun Heng assumed she liked the pretty trinkets and prepared to pay.

“Didn’t I promise the little ones a gift when I left?” Wen Xiwu picked up a shell. It was translucent with two or three colors swirling inside, quite lovely. “I wasn’t sure what to buy, but these shells would make great decorations for their nests. I’ll buy some and see if they like them.”

Back at Cloud Mist Mountain, the birds had been heartbroken to see her leave. Every time she stepped outside, she was swarmed by clinging feathers, so she had promised to bring them back gifts.

The stall owner’s smile widened. Using “Dragon Pearl Shells” as nest decorations? These two were definitely loaded. He decided to hike the price.

“Owner, how much for these?” Wen Xiwu asked softly, looking like someone who wouldn’t know how to haggle.

“These… are the finest quality. I won’t ask for much, one top-grade spiritual stone per shell. If you want the whole lot, give me a hundred stones, or one Immortal Stone. There are over two hundred shells here; since you’re my first customers today, I’ll count this price as a favor between friends.” The owner looked pained, as if he were truly taking a massive loss.

“One top-grade stone per shell?” Wen Xiwu chuckled softly. “One mid-grade stone for the whole lot. Do we have a deal?”

Ten mid-grade stones equaled one top-grade stone, and a hundred top-grade stones equaled one Immortal Stone. The owner had asked for an Immortal Stone, and Wen Xiwu had countered with a single mid-grade stone. The drop was staggering.

The owner’s eyes bugged out. “Are you here to cause trouble?”

“You have the nerve to say that while trying to pass off worthless Snail-Pearl Shells as Dragon Pearl Shells for the price of an Immortal Stone?” Wen Xiwu toyed with a shell. “I offered a mid-grade stone because you cleaned them nicely. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be worth a single copper.”

Exposed, the owner looked embarrassed. Although Wen Xiwu’s tone remained gentle, he felt as if her voice contained tiny blades scraping at his soul.

“I recall the Lord of Jiaoyue City established a rule years ago: those selling counterfeit goods must pay ten times the asking price in compensation.” Yun Heng’s cold voice made the owner shiver. Her voice didn’t feel like tiny blades; it felt like an icy hand tightening around his throat.

Long ago, many humans and demons had used the festival to scam visitors. Jiaoyue City had been chaotic until the current City Lord took over and enforced strict order.

“Or would you prefer to settle this privately?” Wen Xiwu pointed toward the alley behind the stall with a half-smile.

There was an unwritten rule here: conflicts were settled either “publicly” or “privately.” Publicly meant going to the City Lord for justice. Privately meant the two parties settled it themselves, usually through force—as long as they didn’t cause too much of a scene.

The owner had specifically chosen a spot near the dark, windowless depths of the alley. It was a perfect place for a private settlement.

“No, no! A mid-grade stone it is! I’ll pack them up for you and throw in a little extra.” The owner waved a hand behind his back toward the shadows in the alley, then smilingly handed the package to Wen Xiwu.

As the two women turned to leave, a dark glint flickered in his eyes.

City Lord? That person is a paper tiger these days and can’t threaten us. But these two seem to have noticed my backup in the shadows. They aren’t weak; better to let them go for now.

“Senior Sister, didn’t you say the City Lord doesn’t allow trouble on her turf? A man like that… he’s clearly scammed others before. He openly set an ambush, and the City Lord does nothing?” Wen Xiwu could smell a faint scent of blood and resentment from that alley. Someone had died there recently.

When they first arrived, they had felt the city’s atmosphere was off. Vendors were shouting, but few people stopped to look; everyone seemed in a hurry, unwilling to linger on the streets.

Wen Xiwu noticed similar setups in several corners of the city. This was a far cry from the orderly Jiaoyue City of legend. The scenery was beautiful, but a layer of gloom now hung over it.

“I haven’t been in contact with her for a long time. The message I sent recently went unanswered.” Yun Heng’s voice grew somber. Jiaoyue City was the City Lord’s life’s work; she wouldn’t let it fall into disarray without reason. Yun Heng’s first thought was that something had happened to her friend.

“Why don’t we visit the City Lord’s Manor?” Wen Xiwu suggested. She knew the City Lord was a friend of her Senior Sister, and Yun Heng wouldn’t be able to rest until she checked.

Yun Heng nodded after a moment’s thought. “Let’s go.”

They visited the manor, but the word from the staff was that the City Lord had been injured in an underwater secret realm and was currently in closed-door cultivation. All city affairs, including the festival, had been handed over to her juniors.

Perhaps because the juniors lacked the authority to command respect, the city was showing signs of instability.

The butler asked if they had other business. After hearing about the stall owner, he solemnly promised to report it.

By the time they returned to the street, the stall and the owner were gone. Passersby whispered that he had been taken by the City Lord’s men. At the same time, more patrols appeared, wearing the insignia of the manor.

Order seemed restored, but Yun Heng’s expression remained tense. It wasn’t the right time for a deep investigation; she needed to get her Junior Sister settled first before trying to contact the City Lord through other means.

“A-Que, let’s go to our lodgings first.” Yun Heng guided Wen Xiwu away from the crowd.

“Can we actually find a room?” Wen Xiwu asked doubtfully. She had heard that inns were booked months in advance for the festival.

“The City Lord kept a room for me at the local tavern,” Yun Heng explained.

At the largest tavern in Jiaoyue City, owned by the City Lord, the waiter apologized, saying they were full. But when Yun Heng produced a jade pendant, the waiter’s eyes widened, and he nearly blurted out a formal title.

“Immort—cough. The room the Lord reserved for you has been empty. But… it is the only one left. Can you two share?” the waiter asked respectfully.

The staff knew what that jade pendant represented. The Immortal Sovereign Yun Heng had never actually used it before; the manager had even joked that the City Lord had made up a friendship with an Immortal in her dreams.

Yet here she was!

“A-Que, it’s very crowded. I’m afraid I’ll have to trouble you to squeeze into one room with me.” Yun Heng looked at Wen Xiwu with a seemingly “difficult” expression.

Since it was the only room left, there was no other choice.

However, Wen Xiwu didn’t see “difficulty” in her Senior Sister’s eyes—she saw a tiny spark of joy. With a helpless smile, she realized how easy it was to read Yun Heng’s little schemes. Given the circumstances, she could only indulge her.

“Then let’s stay together,” Wen Xiwu agreed, catching the flash of a grin that Yun Heng could no longer hide.

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