The guard captain, unable to extract any information about the location of the Martial Kingdom from his subordinates, turned back to question Ye Qin, "What evidence do you have to prove you came from the Martial Kingdom?" Ye Qin, having been needlessly ridiculed by the guards, felt a surge of suppressed annoyance, yet remained helpless. After some thought, he recalled that when he was in Zhuqi County, he had obtained a secular travel permit allowing passage through towns within the Martial Kingdom, under the guise of being an apprentice from the Herb Gathering Hall. Since he intended to venture out and see the world, requiring passage through secular towns, he had kept the permit all along.

This secular nation's permit, at least, served as tangible proof of his origin. He retrieved a crumpled, folded piece of yellow paper from his satchel. The guard captain took it, glancing at the travel permit valid for secular towns, noting the official seal of a Martial Kingdom official stamped upon it.

He paid little attention to whether it was forged; after all, forging one would hardly necessitate traveling all the way to the distant Martial Kingdom for a simple permit. Having verified Ye Qin's origin and noted his surname, the guard captain retrieved a blank Immortal's Travel Token from his desk. With an extremely sharp small knife, he delicately inscribed the characters "Martial Kingdom Ye Clan" on the back of the token.

After completing the registration record, he tossed the Immortal's Travel Token to Ye Qin, collecting ten gold leaves for material costs. The guard captain added instructions, "Remember not to lose this token. If anything happens in the city, it will be needed to confirm your identity during inspection.

Alright, you may enter now." Ye Qin's background was clean and his origin straightforward. Having registered his identity at the city gate, he was issued his own Immortal's Travel Token, granting him entry into the city. "I came with him, and I don't have an Immortal's Travel Token.

I am from the Nan family of Pingzhou in the Martial Kingdom. The token is with my father, but he is dead." Nan Zhongjie squeezed out from behind Ye Qin, his face haggard, hands and feet unsure where to go. "Nan family of Pingzhou, Martial Kingdom?

Have you registered and held an Immortal's Travel Token before?" "Yes, I have." "I see. Since you have registered before, let me check." The guard captain slowly flipped open a thick volume on the desk—a genealogy of cultivating families from various nations—and began to search. After quite some time, he finally found the small nation of the Martial Kingdom on an inconspicuous page near the middle.

He confirmed that a Nan family did indeed exist there. "The Martial Kingdom does have such a Nan family. However, since your family is finished, you are now considered a rogue cultivator and must apply for a new Immortal's Travel Token.

Take your token and go in." Ye Qin covered the ten gold leaves required for Nan Zhongjie's Immortal's Travel Token. Once the entry procedures were complete, they entered Immortal Fate City together. Upon entering, Nan Zhongjie lowered his head and smiled wryly, "Brother Ye, all the expenses on this journey have been yours; I am truly ashamed.

In Immortal Fate City, one cannot take a single step without money. I have none on me and must quickly find work. Many shops and establishments in the city need cultivators like us—tending alchemy furnaces, feeding exotic birds and beasts, gathering materials—all can earn good coin.

Brother Ye, would you like to search for work with me? I'm somewhat familiar with the city's layout." Ye Qin had his own plans. He smiled faintly, "You go ahead.

I still have some funds and am not in a hurry to find work. I'll first stroll around the city to familiarize myself with the environment, then consider these matters." "Very well, Brother Ye. Take care of your business.

We are not that far apart in Immortal Fate City; we'll surely meet again." Nan Zhongjie bid farewell to Ye Qin and, being rather knowledgeable about the city's affairs, hurried off to find remunerative work. Ye Qin parted ways with Nan Zhongjie and stood near the entrance inside the city. Seeing the main streets teeming with cultivators, like carp crossing a river, he sighed inwardly.

The number of cultivators he saw in Immortal Fate City far exceeded all those he had encountered on the entire journey to reach it. Many here were low-level cultivators in the first to third levels of Qi Condensation, while mid-level cultivators in the fourth to sixth levels were visible everywhere. There were also quite a few high-level cultivators at or above the seventh level of Qi Condensation, though they appeared only occasionally.

Perhaps because most cultivators originated from the secular martial world, the street layout of Immortal Fate City bore a distinct similarity to secular towns. However, the scale was grander, the ambiance loftier, and even the ground was paved with large slabs of smooth, flat green rock. "Move aside, move aside~!" On the wide main thoroughfares of Immortal Fate City, carriages belonging to cultivating families frequently sped past.

Banners bearing inscriptions like "South Liang Nation, Lü Clan," "Wulan Nation, Xue Clan," and "Great Ji Nation, Tang Clan" stood upright on the vehicles, often escorted by dozens of cultivators at the fourth or fifth level of Qi Condensation or higher, moving with imposing majesty. The lower-level cultivators on the streets automatically gave way when these powerful cultivating families passed, daring not to obstruct the path. The cultivators from these prominent families, seated in their carriages, held their heads high, their gazes upon the surrounding low-level cultivators filled with blatant contempt and dismissal.

Ye Qin also stood by the roadside with the other low-level cultivators. He frowned, his gaze fixed intently on these imposing processions, a sense of urgency rising within him. At the fourth level of Qi Condensation, he was utterly insignificant compared to these powerful clans, and even compared to ordinary mid-level rogue cultivators.

He needed to familiarize himself with the environment quickly and commence cultivation as soon as possible. He lingered for a moment by the city gate, deciding first to explore the markets and various shops within Immortal Fate City to see what spiritual herbs, spirit stones, and other spiritual materials were available, as well as to gauge the prices of various goods. After all, he would be rooting himself in Immortal Fate City for long-term cultivation; understanding which items were most beneficial to his progress was paramount.

As he looked around the city gate, he noticed an old Daoist priest. He wore a rumpled grey robe, sported two whisker-like tufts of beard, had a conspicuous dog-skin plaster stuck to his forehead, and wore an expression of cunning joviality. He carried a wooden frame basket on his back and was actively soliciting passersby among the cultivators, trying to sell the items in his carrier.

However, almost everyone who passed either scoffed or paid the dog-skin Daoist priest no mind. The old Daoist priest spotted Ye Qin lingering near the gate, seemingly contemplating which direction to head into the city. His eyes lit up with delight, and he eagerly hefted his heavy basket, trotting over towards Ye Qin.

He performed a quick salute, "This humble Daoist offers greetings. Fellow Daoist seems unfamiliar with Immortal Fate City; is this your first visit?" Ye Qin was just about to leave the gate when he heard someone running towards him and was slightly startled. He turned to see a rather amusing-looking old Daoist priest, though his cultivation was only at the first level of Qi Condensation.

Ye Qin asked expressionlessly, "May I ask who you are, esteemed sir?" The old Daoist priest quickly clasped his hands together, "This humble Daoist is an expert from beyond the mundane. Do not be deceived by my slightly low cultivation; I am omnipotent and omniscient in Immortal Fate City, possessing countless treasures awaiting the destined buyer. Furthermore, this humble Daoist is most eager to assist fellow Daoists like yourself who have just arrived.

Whatever questions you have, or whatever help you require, this Daoist can resolve your doubts and offer meticulous assistance. My fees are very reasonable: a divination costs only ten gold leaves, a potential assessment is also ten gold leaves, and gathering intelligence is priced according to its value. If you wish to purchase anything, this Daoist's wares are quite comprehensive, and I can also recommend the most cost-effective shops in the city.

Satisfaction is absolutely guaranteed!"