Volume One, Chapter Five: The Fate of the Wandering Cultivator in Windridge City

Within Fengling City, the streets thronged with people, and Su Haoming moved swiftly among them, his steps light and purposeful. Before setting out, he had deliberately changed into a somewhat worn blue cloth robe, a crumpled cloth pouch hanging at his waist, and a patch of unknown fur slung over his shoulder. To any onlooker, he looked every bit the impoverished wandering cultivator, braving wind and rain for a few low-grade spirit stones.

This attire was his carefully prepared camouflage.

“Tch, after wandering around the outskirts of Fengling City for over a decade, I barely met any decent female wanderers—either they were unattractive or had dubious intentions,” Su Haoming muttered to himself. “Looks like I have to dive into the crowds. This time, I have a clear target: head straight for the gathering place of wanderers.”

He glanced left and right like a fox hunting its prey, confidently turning into a more secluded alley that reeked faintly of mildew.

Fengling City was unlike the ethereal sect strongholds atop the mountains. It was a chaotic mix, filled with countless wanderers lacking connections or backgrounds.

Here, they had spontaneously formed a unique ecosystem: barter markets, small gatherings to share cultivation insights, and even a few inns and teahouses where wanderers drank, boasted, and exchanged information.

Su Haoming asked around, specifically targeting those with weathered faces and modest cultivation levels. Eventually, he found a three-story building named “Qingyun Tower” nestled in an inconspicuous corner of the western district.

It was said to be the most frequented spot for wanderers in the west, a place teeming with all sorts, known for its reliable information. If he wanted to find a suitable female wanderer, this was the best bet.

In front of Qingyun Tower, the crowd buzzed with activity. Many cultivators came and went, most with modest cultivation—primarily in the Qi Refining stage.

Su Haoming struggled through the crowd and stepped inside, immediately hit by a mixture of sweat, cheap pill fragrance, and faint spiritual energy.

Before him lay a spacious yet noisy main hall, surrounded by rough wooden tables and chairs, nearly all occupied. The constant hum of conversations filled the air.

“Fellow cultivator, are you alone?” a sharp-eyed young attendant in a gray short jacket approached, glancing over Su Haoming’s worn robe without disdain.

“Yes. Are there any seats available?” Su Haoming replied casually.

“Of course, there’s a spot by the window on the second floor. Please, follow me,” the attendant said warmly, leading the way.

Climbing the creaking wooden stairs, Su Haoming observed carefully. The cultivators inside Qingyun Tower were indeed as rumored—of generally low aptitude, mostly in mid to late Qi Refining stage, with foundation establishing cultivators being rare.

This suited him perfectly. Lower cultivation meant a more urgent need for resources, and without strong backing, the likelihood of someone willing to join forces with him—a seemingly decent wanderer—to pursue a shared future increased markedly.

“Please, take a seat here,” the attendant said, guiding him to a small two-person table by the window.

Just as Su Haoming was about to sit, a sudden uproar erupted beside him, loud enough to drown out the entire floor’s usual noise.

“You Chu family! Take your Golden Spirit Sect people and get out! Qingyun Tower belongs to our Qingyun Sect!” a coarse voice bellowed.

“What a joke! Claiming a public teahouse as your turf? What exactly is your Qingyun Sect? You have no right to monopolize this place!” came a retort, equally defiant.

Su Haoming turned toward the noise. On the other side of the second floor, two groups faced off in a tense standoff, the atmosphere thick with hostility.

One side numbered over a dozen, all clad in uniform blue robes, clearly members of an organization.

The other had only six or seven, dressed more raggedly but with fierce, imposing expressions. Their leader was a middle-aged man with a resolute face.

“Hah, wanderers banding together and creating sect rivalries?” Su Haoming raised an eyebrow, amused but mostly indifferent.

The attendant, accustomed to such scenes, lowered his voice and quickly explained, “Sir, you might not know, but this is an old rivalry between the Qingyun Sect and the Golden Spirit Sect. The Qingyun Sect has held sway over the western district for years, acting like local bullies. The Golden Spirit Sect emerged only recently, growing rapidly. They constantly clash over territory and resources.”

Su Haoming nodded noncommittally and sat down absentmindedly, tapping his fingers lightly on the table.

The petty squabbles of these low-level wanderer factions bore him no concern. His mind was solely focused on finding a suitable female cultivator to complete his system tasks and improve his pitiful cultivation.

Noticing his disinterest, the attendant tactfully withdrew.

But no sooner had he left than the dispute escalated sharply, with the sounds of chairs crashing.

“Chu Tianhe! This is your final warning—take your people and leave, or don’t blame Duan Yuanba for showing no mercy!” the blue-robed middle-aged man slammed the table, standing and glaring fiercely.

“Duan Yuanba, stop bluffing! Don’t think numbers make you superior. Today, Golden Spirit Sect’s disciples came here to tell everyone that Qingyun Tower isn’t your private backyard!” Chu Tianhe, the stern-faced man, stood his ground, sneering.

Just as tensions reached a breaking point, a woman stepped forward from the Golden Spirit Sect’s side, her voice icy and clear:

“Duan Yuanba, I heard you recently got lucky and acquired an extraordinary pill refinement secret. Hiding it away is pointless—why not share it with everyone?”

Her words were like a splash of cold water on hot oil. The second floor fell noticeably quieter as all eyes turned sharply toward Duan Yuanba and the woman.

Su Haoming was taken aback. A pill refinement secret? His heart skipped a beat. Could it be the very same Nascent Soul stage pill refinement insights he had just drawn from his system? What a coincidence! Then again, that knowledge was useless to him now—more of a burden than a boon. Perhaps stirring up trouble and approaching this woman who spoke out might be a good opportunity.

Duan Yuanba’s expression flickered, his eyes darting nervously, but he forced a calm voice: “Lin Feixue, stop spreading baseless rumors!”

“Whether I’m lying or not, you know the truth yourself,” Lin Feixue scoffed, her tone laced with mockery. “A few days ago, you got a pill refinement secret from a mysterious cultivator, supposedly penned by a Nascent Soul master. Half of Fengling City’s wanderer circles know about it. How long do you think you can keep it hidden?”

Su Haoming took the chance to scrutinize the woman closely.

She appeared just over twenty, dressed in simple white robes, with a slender figure and delicate, refined features. Yet her brows carried a cold aloofness, warning strangers to keep their distance. In terms of appearance and that frosty demeanor, she was exactly his type—a promising potential partner on the path.