The Azure Cloud Nine Islands Immortal City had deep origins and traces back to the immortal realm beyond the world.
Its nine islands are connected through bridges, flying over the sky on an azure cloud. Each island is unique and has its own purpose – the Divine Creation Island, where creation arts are practiced, the focus being alchemy and weapon refining.
Myriad Cave Island, a huge mountain that had countless cultivation "caves", where cultivators up to the sixth rank reside.
The All Affairs Island, where the Central General Affairs Hall and the connected Mission-, Exchange- and Security-Halls can be found.
Following are the most popular islands: Great Battle Island, on which there are various arenas for battles and bets, and the Vast Market Island, a market that encompassed everything, where you could buy nearly everything up to the sixth stage, and even occasionally get items of higher stages at the various auctions held throughout the years.
Another popular island, which is more enjoyed by middle-aged cultivators, is the Myriad Enjoyment Island, said to offer every kind of entertainment.
Lastly, there are the three key islands of the immortal city: Azure Cloud Island, the inheritance ground of the immortal city, containing the Great Azure Cloud Library can be found, housing endless inheritances spanning many branches.
Divine Cloud Island, the residence of the cultivators of seventh and eight stage cultivators, each with their own miniature world to live in.
Finally, there is the most important of all: the Ascension Island! Here, cultivators of the ninth stage, Transcendence cultivators, feel the laws of heaven and earth and ascend to the immortal realm!
Every few ten thousand years, a cultivator ascends from this island, enhancing the heritage of the Ascension Island and the whole city!
It's said that among all the top forces in the world, the Azure Cloud Nine Islands Immortal City is among the peak in producing transcendence cultivators.
After all, as a rogue cultivator immoral city, it gathers countless resources, but it is also a space of people killing each other and robbing everything!
Those that can survive up to that point have experienced countless disasters and are unaffected by minor trials to ascend.
In addition, any cultivator willing to ascend on this island is welcome – there is no restriction… except for the fact that they may not leave the island if they do not ascend.
Fu Xian, at this moment, exited a cave on the Myriad Cave Island "I have to say, even though renting this breakthrough cave was extremely expensive, it was definitely worth it!
Whoever says it's a waste of resources is very ignorant!"
He had spent a total of one year in preparing his breakthrough inside, then sixth month to stabilise, and another three months to adapt to his strength.
Fortunately, he had paid for two years in advance, so he took this chance and cultivated for the last three months, enjoying the fourth-grade spiritual vein underneath the cave, cultivating extremely fast, especially since he had just advanced.
"Now that I think about it, I broke through at the advanced age of three hundred, which is over fifty years beyond the lifespan of a foundation building cultivator.
It was extremely worth it to cultivate lifespan enhancing arts and consume various pills and elixirs! Now I'm truly a late bloomer!"
He felt happy as he walked down the path.
The caves were aligned close next to each other, this space was designated for breakthroughs from the second to third stage, so each cave was rather small and the spiritual power consumption was calculated, which is why it seemed a bit cramped for a cultivation environment.
Fu Xian soon reached the end of this road.
There, he saw a young man sitting and handling a booklet, occasionally writing a few things.
He could barely see a few words like "Person XXX hasn't broken through for three years, there is a possibility of death" afterward, he seemed to flip another booklet that looked like a calendar, where he marked a time around a month later.
Seeing this, Fu Xian understood the matter.
In this environment, with abundant spiritual power and resources, the time it would take to breakthrough was generally between one month and three years.
Most cultivators paid for two years, since the lease would automatically extend for an additional year if you haven't left just yet.
Those that take over three years are very rare kinds of low-level talents that fight for the 1% chance of breaking through. But in the eye of most people, they weren't "underdogs" but merely talentless who wouldn't reach any higher stage.
After all, even Fu Xian, with his low talent, only took around a year to break through. Considering this, it can be seen that those that take over three years likely break through without any materials, just blank going through with the little hope.
Someone who can't get breakthrough materials is either too weak, without courage, or not hard working enough. Such a person, regardless of their luck, didn't deserve special attention.
The young man pushing the lease for another month was already the limit of kindness the City would allow.
Fu Xian walked forward and coughed, attracting the attention of the young guy.
He instantly stood up, turned around and bowed "Greetings to senior! Congratulations on your advancement!"
Since he couldn't feel his presence until this person was close by, then this person was likely stronger.
Considering his workplace, he had long experienced such situations, so he had an instinctive reaction to this.
Fu Xian nodded as he smiled "You're still as diligent as two years ago! After such a long time, shouldn't you be switching posts? Is this post so rewarding?"
The young man, seeing Fu Xian so relaxed and approachable, still kept his head low, but he answered in an honest manner "Senior, most missions are tedious, here I can just sit, work a bit, and cultivate most of the rest of the time! Naturally, it's better!
Haha, I had to fight many senior brothers and sisters to get this spot, and if I don't apply to enter the cave one day, then I will never leave this spot!"
"Indeed, a fourth-grade spiritual vein, even though you can only use it partially, should support you very well!
Alright, here, this is my badge. Register my breakthrough, I will visit the affairs hall later."
As he said so, he took the badge that hung from his waist. It was see-through jade in the shape of a pearl, seemingly made of glass. In the centre of the badge, there was a small space, inside, nine islands were hovering around. This was his working permit in the Immortal City.
Without it, he wouldn't have a residence permit and couldn't live on the Myriad Caves Island, he would have to live in the inns on the Vast Market or rent a breakthrough cave.
Fortunately, Fu Xian had applied for it when he was a foundation building cultivator.
Usually this wouldn't be possible with his low cultivation and few achievements, but as a talisman cultivator, a rather left-behind creation art in the immortal island, he was allowed to apply earlier and was accepted, as long as he regularly took talisman crafting missions issued in the general affairs hall.
This was a special exemption. The lowest requirement for a citizenship on the Immortal City was the cultivation of an Origin Light cultivator. Fortunately for him, the Immortal City had a special program promoting talisman cultivators, a creation art lacking severely in the Immortal City.
Because of this, he got a temporary permit with the promise of a real permit once he advanced, which wasn't easy to obtain, since cultivation was only the lowest requirement.
In exchange, he had to take talisman missions in the mission hall, though he would be paid fairly. This small requirement was to make sure he put his focus on talisman and didn't pursue other paths after getting the working permit.
He was happy with this requirement and accepted the offer immediately.
These missions had allowed him to gather contribution points and gain various resources and inheritances to advance further on the path of cultivation!
The young man nodded and took the badge, putting it into a small box on his table.
Instantly, he recited a few spells and made various gestures, tapping on the table occasionally.
A moment later, he took out the pearl and handed it over, saying "Senior, your breakthrough has been registered. As per the rules, you will have to register formally in the general affairs hall by the next year.
Is there anything else I can help the senior with?"
Fu Xian shook his head and was about to leave, but then he stopped and tossed something back to the boy "Doing all this work is exhausting and it's not recommended to only partially focus on cultivation.
This is a Clear Heart Talisman, which clears your heart during your cultivation, removing any distracting thoughts.
You should use it for your cultivation, it would be best if you learned a special technique to ensure smooth cultivation, else you will be stuck to this desk forever."
After saying so, he left.
The young man, when he heard this, bowed even deeper "Thank you, senior, for imparting wisdom!"
Although he was an internal member of the Immortal City, he was just a minor shrimp, his role low.
He had no master and could only do things on his own.
Having a cultivator who advanced explain such a thing to him was a blessing, and he planned to take it seriously.
Fortunately, he knew the information of the senior and could visit him later as thanks – after all, the seemingly free Clear Heart Talisman, as he knew, was a top-grade second-grade talisman!