As they moved deeper into the city, Ye Zichen discovered that the closer they got to the city center, the denser the population was. In the flower gardens near the city center, there were people sitting on every available surface. Moreover, as night fell, an endless stream of people flowed into the gardens.
When Wu Di noticed that Ye Zichenās apparent confusion, he took it upon himself to explain,
āTemporary residence permits donāt include housing. If you want a place to rest, you need to go to an inn or tavern. However, for most people, just living in the city is difficult enough already. The secondary expense of an inn or tavern isnāt something they can bear. People without much money have no choice but to do this.ā
As he spoke, the two of them reached a small house, its four walls surrounding a courtyard. It wasnāt particularly large, but in Black Ox Town where an inch of land cost an inch of gold, it was still clearly above average.
āSenior, this one is my home.ā
Beneath countless envious gazes, Ye Zichen followed Wu Di inside. Although his home wasnāt particularly well-located, having their own residence was those homeless peopleās dearest ambition.
The courtyard was essentially entirely undecorated. Instead, the entire yard was filled with spirit grasses.
āSenior, please forgive the mess.ā
In Wu Diās eyes, staying here at his house was beneath this mighty senior. His courtyard was filled with spirit grasses and there was essentially no space to move around. It might very well displease this senior.
āIsnāt this rather good, though? At least youāve got your own space to live. Little bro, I hadnāt realized you were doing so well for yourself in Black Ox City. You even have your own private residence! When I first got here, I saw several peak spiritual body cultivators and even some human immortals who obviously had no long-term place to stay.ā
In response, Wu Di laughed self-deprecatingly. āIām just borrowing my familyās prestige. There are three great families in the Thirteenth District: the Liu Family, the Wang Family, and the Wu Family. Iām from the Wu Family.ā
āI hadnāt realized you were the son of a noble family.ā
āWhat āson of a noble family?ā The Wu Family has already lasted for countless generations. Its descendants are already well over ten thousand. Ordinarily, main-branch clansmen all live in the Thirteenth Districtās Raging Flame City but Iām nothing but a side branch clansmen. At the very least, the blood of the Wu Family flows through my veins. Thatās why I can afford a place to live in Black Ox City. Also, my situation is comparatively sensitive. I trust you wonāt laugh at me; in truth, Iām the current clan headās son. However, I was born to a servant-girl.ā
As he explained his status, Wu Diās expression grew somewhat bitter. It was thanks to this āsensitiveā status that his clansmen had mocked and disdained him from a young age.
Fortunately, after his coming-of-age ceremony, heād been sent to Black Ox City and thus, was separated from the main-branch clansmen. Moreover, he lived in seclusion even after moving here in order to avoid askance looks from Wu clansmen stationed in Black Ox City.
In truth, his status was like a scar on his psyche. Heād never once discussed it with others. However, he felt that Ye Zichen was different from the other lofty figures heād encountered. Wu Di was willing to talk about his troubles with him.
āIf I were an ordinary member of a side-branch, Scarface and the others wouldnāt have dared attack me. Although the Axe-Gang is powerful, the Wu Familyās history in the Thirteenth district is long and they have an extensive intelligence network. However, due to my unusual situation, they know my father pays no attention to me. Thatās why they dared attack and steal my treasures.ā
āWhen mother passed away, she told me not to hate my father. But how can I not hate him? If he hadnāt been so heartless, my mother wouldn't have died.ā
Wu Diās eyes were bloodshot. His fists clenched and his entire body trembled uncontrollably.
He would never, ever be able to forget watching her die, nor could he forget the way heād knelt before the gates of the Wu Family for over ten days purely for the sake of burying his motherās remains in the familyās ancestral hall.
But what did that father of his say? āA maidservant was unworthy of the Wu Familyās ancestral hall!ā
Who could imagine what it had been like? Beneath a mighty downpour, a gaunt youth, eyes blazing with hate, had carried his motherās corpse to the mass graves outside Black Ox City and dug her a grave with his bare hands.
After all that, how could he not hate?
Sensing the youthās mood, Ye Zichen reached out and patted him on the shoulder. Hands still tightly clenched, Wu Di spoke once more, āI heard that thereās a river on the border between the God and Yao realms: the River Styx. Beneath it, thereās a place called āHades.ā All the souls of the departed are recorded there. Iāve always fantasized about becoming an unparalleled expert, entering the River Styx, finding my motherās soul, and bringing her back to life. But itās ridiculousā¦.. Iām almost thirty years old and I've still yet to even breakthrough to human immortal.ā
āEvery mighty expert started out weak and grew one step at a time. Donāt give up. So long as you have the conviction to become an unparalleled expert, you can definitely do it.ā Ye Zichen patted Wu Diās shoulders comfortingly, then arched his brows. āYou mentioned Hades earlier, so Iād like to ask you: do all souls wind up there?ā
āThis junior has only heard stories. I dare not guarantee that the River Styx or Hades even exist. However, while working as an attendant at a tavern, I overheard two earth immortal seniors mention the RIver Styx. Thatās why I remember it.ā
āSo thatās how it is!ā Ye Zichen knit his brows and nodded. He glanced back at the youth, āthen do you know how I can get to the Yao Realm?ā
āSenior, surely you donāt intend to seek out the River Styx?ā Wu Di was stunned, but quickly realized heād overstepped his bounds.
āGoing to the Yao Realm ought to be rather difficult. Weāre in the extreme north while the Yao Realm is all the way in the south. If you want to go there, the prerequisite is that you have to first reach the Divine Mountain of the South. As for what you need to do from there, this junior canāt say for sure.ā
āThen do you know about the āSea of Innocence?āā
Before he got here, Ye Zichen had never expected he'd be lucky enough to wind up directly in the Yao Realm. Besides, given his meager strength, it would still be extremely difficult to find any trace of Xia Keke even if he really did make it there.
In truth, going to the Yao Realm wasnāt particularly urgent. However, heād just recalled the Wish God.
Back when heād sent him back to the God Realm, the Wish God mentioned a āSea of Innocence.ā If Ye Zichen could find the Wish God, he might very well be able to quickly and easily locate Xia Keke.
āThe Sea of Innocence? Of course I know! The water dividing our seventy-two districts into four great districts comes from the Sea of Innocence!ā
āReally?ā
āReally.ā Wu Di nodded certainly and said, āIāve heard the Divine Mountain overhead is actually a giant sea. That sea is none other than the Sea of Innocence. The water from the Sea of Innocence flows down from the Divine Mountain. Thatās why we have it here.ā
All of this could be considered common knowledge. Wu Di didnāt understand why this senior was even asking these sorts of questions.
When Wu Di mentioned the Divine Mountain, Ye Zichenās delight instantly faded. He didnāt even need to question it; the Sea of Innocence the Wish God mentioned was definitely on that mountain. However, he was currently standing on the ground below.
Heād noticed the Divine Mountains as soon as heād arrived. Heād tried flying towards them onceā¦.
He discovered that no matter how high he flew, the mountain only seemed to fly further and further away. It didnāt stop moving until he did.
It always seemed as if it were clearly just within reach, yet at the same time, impossibly far away.
But as the old saying goes, āan impatient man canāt eat hot tofu.ā Although Ye Zichen was someone disappointed, he kept his emotions under control. With a calm smile, he pulled out a spatial pouch and tossed it at Wu Di.
āDonāt tell me youāre too ashamed to accept this. You said you wanted to become strong, didnāt you? In that case, you shouldnāt give up any possibility of improving your strength. These origin spirit stones are enough to break through your shackles and let you become a human immortal. Take it.ā
Wu Diās eyes reddened. He grit his teeth and accepted the pouch, then knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Ye Zichen three times.
āSenior, Iāll never forget your great kindness, not even when Iām old and toothless!ā
āI still donāt know your name.ā
āThis junior is called Wu Di!ā
If you find any errors ( Ads popup, ads redirect, broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.