After twelve days sailing west, the spirit ship finally reached Cloud Beam Province.
The Eastern Continent disciples had gone from initial excitent to calm acceptance—anyone would grow used to the sa scenery day after day. But when Lanzhi announced Cloud Beam Province was in sight, calm imdiately transford back into excitent.
The Five Continent Competition, selecting three thousand participants—three thousand heaven’s chosen gathered here, awaiting the second round!
Looking across the divine continent, talent flourished everywhere. Who knew how many would stand out in the competition to enter the Insight Academy Palace?
On the Luanyang Palace ship, Mu Rong scratched her face and looked toward the Insight Academy Palace’s large vessel ahead.
The Insight Academy Palace ship’s sail bore the sa words as their jade tokens: “Dawn and dusk seeking dao, gentle and lustrous.” Fresh chapters posted on novel·fiɾe·net
Mu Rong grinned. “Is this telling us to be humble and polite? Perfect! We Luanyang Palace disciples are the most humble and polite!” As a Propriety Central Peak disciple, who better than her to embody politeness?
Xue ngtao leaned against the railing looking down, then said quietly, “I think we need to be even more polite than Senior Sister imagines.”
“Really?” Mu Rong pondered deeply.
⁂
In the top-level cabin’s inner chamber, I sat properly on the bed facing the wall, a golden silk veil covering my head. Under the gold gauze, my silver hair flowed like a river catching dawn light, refracting rippling brilliance.
Splash.
I twitched my ears.
Splash splash.
I tilted my head, the little bells in my hair chiming softly.
“Seraphine,” I asked, “why am I facing the wall with a veil over my head?”
Behind the screen painted with Four Seasons of Phoenix Roost Peak scenery, Seraphine erged from the water and draped herself over the tub’s edge, snorting softly. “No particular reason.”
The question marks above my head split down the middle into bubbles, with little crying figures inside. I sighed. “A gentleman does not stand beneath a dangerous wall.”
Seraphine raised an eyebrow. “I’m a dangerous wall?”
She turned around—more splashing—then asked, “Are you a gentleman?” You’re a ball.
I shook my head sagely. “See no evil, hear no evil.” I covered my ears.
“Hah.” Seraphine flicked her hand, sending water droplets through the screen gaps toward Echo.
I uncovered my ears, snapped my fingers, and the droplets froze before gathering into a water ball that floated around to hover in front.
I opened my eyes and cupped the water sphere, stating honestly, “Seraphine, this much water isn’t enough for this body to bathe.”
Splash!
Rapid water sounds ca from behind the screen, followed by feet hitting the floor and rustling clothes. Seraphine strode out from behind the screen, grabbed the golden veil from Echo’s head with two fingers, and snorted while using it to tie up her hair.
“Can I move now?” I asked.
“Mm.”
I sighed in relief and slowly turned around, still cradling the water ball.
Fresh from her bath, Seraphine was surrounded by misty vapors like a lotus erging from water, utterly enchanting. I smiled. “I want to wash too.”
“Seraphine, when I bathe, you don’t have to face the wall with a veil—just close your eyes.”
Seraphine drawled, “Why would I do that?”
Echo: “Huh?”
“Shocking!”
Because I was required to do it! The little figure in my bubble puffed out its cheeks indignantly.
Seraphine smiled and snapped her fingers, instantly evaporating the water ball in Echo’s palm. She bent down and tapped Echo’s nose. “Don’t worry, I won’t look. I’ll just go to the outer room to dress.”
I thought carefully. “If you want to look, that’s fine. After all, you have what I—”
Have too.
Seraphine covered my mouth again. I smiled, the bubble figure winking with stars for decoration.
The bubble figure gave a thumbs up.
Seraphine pushed down Echo’s actual thumbs-up, huffing, “Who wants to look at you!”
“Mm-hmm.” I nodded, mumbling through her hand, “Yours is very nice.”
Perfectly fitting human aesthetic standards for ideal body proportions!
I raised my other hand in a thumbs-up, a red heart appearing above my head.
Seraphine: “……”
Seraphine’s face flushed as she smacked Echo’s other misbehaving hand down, flustered. “How would you know?”
“Extensive reading.” I replied.
Rich experience in human society, though previously I only saw work, and humans in past mission worlds were just code to . But now I’m human too.
Hahaha.
Maybe this is what humans call “the wheel of fortune turning”?
My thought bubbles alternated between contemplative ellipses and exclamation marks.
“Sotis I really don’t know what you……” Seraphine’s words faded as soone knocked on the door—the servants had arrived to help with her grooming.
The exclamation mark beca a question mark.
I stared at Seraphine’s retreating figure, wondering: I hadn’t covered her mouth, so why didn’t she finish her sentence? Then I could have answered her question.
Two palace servants entered and bowed to Echo.
“Hello.” I said quickly.
They smiled silently and went behind the screen to clean up the bathing area.
I thought for a mont, then said, “Seraphine, you’re a clean Seraphine. I don’t think you need to change the water. I don’t mind using your bathwater.”
It would save ti and water resources too.
The clean Seraphine’s opinion on my suggestion: a golden blur flew over and smacked into my head.
I pulled off the golden veil, holding it up to watch it refract different shades of light, and smiled. “Okay, I understand.”
Central Continent was vast—larger than two other continents combined. Cloud Beam Province sat in western Central Continent, connecting Westle, Nanyang, and Northern Border continents. The terrain was flat, cities linked to cities, incredibly prosperous.
The wealthiest city was Central Continent’s Sunset Glow City.
Sunset Glow was both a city and a sect. The continent-spanning Immortal Ascension Comrce Association was Sunset Glow City’s enterprise.
This Eastern Continent competition’s second round was being hosted by none other than Sunset Glow City.
Echo changed into a blue dress with jade hairpins and a silver peony painted on her forehead, floating down from the top deck like a cloud.
The assembled Luanyang Palace disciples imdiately bowed with smiles, thinking that no matter how many tis they saw Senior Sister Xi, her otherworldly beauty never grew tireso—truly an untouchable celestial!
The celestial beauty quickly said, “Hello, everyone.” I walked to the ship’s bow with a calm expression and looked down, nearly letting an exclamation mark escape.
“Amazing!” I turned to Seraphine, who had erged behind . “Seraphine, this place looks very wealthy.”
Seraphine humd in agreent, joining Echo at the rail.
Sunset Glow City stretched endlessly below—even from our elevated position, They couldn’t see its boundaries.
A great river flowed through the city, and besides the river, several large lakes dotted different areas like transparent mirrors reflecting sunlight. Ships carved with divine beasts traveled the waterways, presenting a thriving scene.
Peach, plum, pear, and other trees mingled with paulownia, willow, fir, and bamboo throughout the urban landscape. Like ornantal hairpins on a lady’s head, they decorated the golden-roofed, jade-walled courtyards.
Elegant mountain ranges rose and fell among the well-arranged estates, with flying pavilions and flowing galleries winding through them.
Siyi pointed to the great mountain at Sunset Glow City’s center, telling Xue ngtao, “Sunset Glow City is built on plains. These mountain ranges are all artificially created. Though powerful cultivators can move mountains and drain seas, this great mountain was built by Sunset Glow’s city lords over generations, piece by piece, with their own hands.”
“Legend says this mountain is hollow, filled with Sunset Glow City’s wealth.”
Xue ngtao gazed at the mountain coiled like a giant dragon in the city’s heart and couldn’t help gasping.
I quietly asked Seraphine, “Is Sunset Glow City richer than Luanyang Palace?”
“Perhaps.” Seraphine whispered back.
“Why are we whispering?” Seraphine raised an eyebrow.
I patted her shoulder.
You’re not supposed to flaunt your wealth.
Maybe she let a bit slip, which was why the Main System kept assigning her such…… expensive items.
She’d have to learn her lesson.
Seraphine chuckled softly, taking two spirit pearls from her storage ring and handing them to Echo. “If you’re not in a hurry, we can explore the city together after we dock.” Co to think of it, this was her first ti visiting Sunset Glow City too.
Siyi saw them finish talking and approached with a smile. “Palace Lord, do you rember on our way back to Luanyang Palace from the Chongshan secret realm, so naturally blind cultivators rented an Immortal Ascension Comrce Association ship and were swept away by your sword?”
She looked at Echo when ntioning the sword sweep.
“Hahaha!” I laughed.
Seraphine humd acknowledgnt. “What about it? Did they co looking for trouble?”
Siyi smiled. “How could they? The Immortal Ascension Comrce Association dared rent ships to those cultivators for blocking our path—having their ship destroyed by Palace Lord was their own problem to sort out. But afterward, the association’s chairman, who’s also Sunset Glow City’s lord, heard about this incident and personally wrote an apology letter to Luanyang Palace.”
“Oh?” Seraphine raised an eyebrow, glancing at Siyi.
What now?
Siyi continued sweetly, “The city lord explained they only do business with anyone, never expecting those custors to rent ships for intercepting Luanyang Palace vessels. She hoped this incident wouldn’t earn our displeasure and asked that we continue patronizing Sunset Glow City businesses.”
“Besides the letter, as an apology gift, the city lord personally wrote “May wealth and fortune flow in” in her own hand.” Siyi chuckled lightly.
Seraphine’s mouth twitched without speaking.
I blinked and gave a thumbs up. “May wealth and fortune flow in—a wonderful on.”
Siyi covered her smile, eyes twinkling with deeper mirth. “Indeed, such wonderful words of fortune. Fellow Daoist Xi, the Sunset Glow City lord’s lineage carries Pixue bloodline—Pixue are auspicious beasts. If you like it, shall I give you the city lord’s painting?”
Like Seraphine, I fell silent. I didn’t know Sunset Glow’s city lord, but I knew Siyi. Siyi was soone who never spoke straightforwardly. I needed to think subtly.
I considered: “Wouldn’t it be improper to regift soone else’s present?”
Especially a city lord’s personal calligraphy.
“Please don’t worry, Fellow Daoist Xi. The city lord won’t mind. If we happen to et and she asks, I’ll just have soone grab a replacent from any random shop in the city.” Siyi’s voice remained gentle.
“If you don’t like ‘May wealth and fortune flow in,’ we can request other auspicious phrases. Any cultivator spending over a thousand spirit stones in Sunset Glow City receives the city lord’s calligraphy. For poor service, the compensation is still city lord calligraphy.”
With so many sects across the five continents, which didn’t have dozens of Sunset Glow City Lord masterpieces lying around?
My mouth fell open.
Wow!
Seraphine glanced over and closed it for Echo, chuckling. “No need to change it. We’ll take ‘May wealth and fortune flow in’—fra it nicely and hang it around her neck.”
Imagining that scene, Seraphine couldn’t help but smile. She traced Echo’s chin with her finger and said with elegant amusent, “After all, what our dear Lingren lacks most right now is wealth and fortune.”
[Author’s Note]:
Echo: It’s points.
Work Log…
Main System, I’ve heard of a salesperson even stronger than you.
Along with this log, I’ve attached a handwritten couplet with the phrase “May wealth and fortune flow in.”
Wishing you prosperity.
Main System (with musical notes) replied: Thank you for your lovely blessing.
(Data received)
(Data opened)
(System…… confused)
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