Sang City: A Map and a Manager

Chi Qiu’s strength had undergone a qualitative leap, yet this advancement came with a cost. Her pouch now contained a paltry sum of spirit jade, with only ten pieces remaining.

She had intentionally held onto these ten pieces, for she was on the verge of entering Zhengyang Commandery. Beyond the dense jungle and across a stretch of untamed wilderness lay Sang City, a small urban center boasting a population exceeding a hundred thousand.

Within such a city, cultivators were a common sight, and spirit jade served as their universal hard currency for all transactions. Naturally, when venturing out alone, having some wealth on hand was essential for peace of mind.

Though Chi Qiu also possessed fifty top-grade spirit pills, their value far surpassed that of spirit jade, by several dozen times over.

However, these items were simply too precious. Chi Qiu dared not reveal them casually, for she understood the principle of ‘never flaunt your wealth’ better than anyone.

On the second day after her cultivation breakthrough to the Spirit Nourishing Realm, Chi Qiu departed from the wooden house she had inhabited for nearly two months, setting her course directly for Sang City.

Her speed was astonishing. In just a single day, she emerged from the jungle, traversed the wilderness, and officially stepped into Zhengyang Commandery.

This stretch of wilderness presented a complex and varied landscape, featuring mountains, rivers, and forests. Only three major roads offered a semblance of safety.

While ordinary folk rarely dared to venture into this untamed expanse, a few daring merchants were willing to risk it. These merchants typically gathered several convoys, numbering in the thousands, before embarking on their journeys.

Such large merchant caravans often employed cultivator escorts and carried a formidable array of weapons, which served as their primary assurance for traversing the perilous wilderness.

Chi Qiu had already consulted her map. Given that all three main roads were considerably far from her current location, she opted to forgo them entirely. Instead, she chose the most direct path straight to Sang City.

Unlike the relative safety of the jungle, this area demanded heightened vigilance. Chi Qiu significantly reduced her traveling speed, becoming much more cautious.

Relying on years of accumulated experience from her wanderings, coupled with the expanded range of her indigo flower sea after entering the Spirit Nourishing Realm, she finally arrived outside Sang City five days later, without incident. She then seamlessly entered the city.

A thousand years ago, Sang City was merely a small village with a population just barely exceeding a hundred. At its heart stood a massive mulberry tree, dozens of zhang in height.

Beside this venerable tree lived a cultivator who called himself Sang Jushi. Throughout his life, his greatest affection was reserved for the mulberry tree.

Sensing his end nearing, he wished to be buried beneath its branches, and in his final days, he vowed to protect the villagers for a time.

Under the cultivator’s benevolent protection, the small village not only survived but thrived in this perilous wilderness. Other nearby villages and tribes, hearing of the cultivator’s guardianship, flocked to settle within its borders.

Decades later, Sang Jushi ascended, and the village had blossomed into a small town with a population exceeding ten thousand. To honor his memory, the townspeople filled it with mulberry trees and renamed it Sang Town.

Centuries of gradual development followed. Merchants discovered the town’s potential as a vital relay station between Zhengyang Commandery and the Imperial City, leading to extensive road construction and further expansion of the town’s scale.

In a mere ten years, the town’s population surged past a hundred thousand, transforming it into Sang City. The Daqi Dynasty subsequently dispatched cultivators to serve as its City Lords.

Chi Qiu surveyed her surroundings. The recent history of Sang City had been recounted to her by a local elderly man.

She had merely intended to ask a local for directions to the city’s largest shop, but to her surprise, the old man had engaged her in a lengthy conversation.

Perhaps it was her striking appearance and approachable aura now. In her previous male form, few would have willingly approached her.

Initially, after successfully cultivating the Moon Gaze Treasure Canon, her temperament had been gradually shifting towards that of an ‘ice beauty,’ a development she welcomed. Since her body could not be reverted, a colder demeanor would mitigate many unnecessary troubles.

However, after successfully cultivating the divine ability ‘Blooming Life,’ Chi Qiu’s aura had undergone another profound transformation. She had once meticulously examined her reflection in a bronze mirror. While the color of her eyes and long hair remained unchanged, much of the inherent coldness in her brows and gaze had vanished.

Fortunately, despite his loquacious nature, the old man had indeed pointed Chi Qiu toward the largest shop in Sang City. Bidding him farewell, Chi Qiu set off in the direction he indicated.

True to the old man’s words, Sang City was indeed filled with mulberry trees. At its very heart stood a colossal mulberry, approximately a hundred zhang tall.

Even Chi Qiu, having just entered the city, could discern it from a distance. She surmised that this monumental tree likely marked Sang Jushi’s final resting place.

Before long, Chi Qiu located her destination: a three-story pavilion standing prominently on the east side of the main road.

The pavilion soared to a height of about seven zhang, its exterior coated in vibrant vermillion lacquer. Flanking the entrance, a pair of majestic bronze qilin stood guard, while three golden characters, written in elegant, flowing script, adorned the plaque above: “Treasure Pavilion.”

Chi Qiu’s sole purpose in visiting this establishment was to acquire a map—one sufficiently large in scope and meticulously detailed. Her previous map was too crude and failed to encompass most of Zhengyang Commandery.

Since she had decided to travel extensively within Zhengyang Commandery, it was imperative to procure a more comprehensive map.

Daqi commanded a vast territory; an ordinary person could not traverse even a thousandth of a single commandery in a lifetime. Thus, only cultivators typically invested in large-scale maps.

The larger the map, the more intricate and time-consuming its surveying became, making such a detailed document far from inexpensive.

Adjusting the brim of her bamboo hat, Chi Qiu stepped into the Treasure Pavilion, its interior echoing the striking vermillion of its exterior.

Immediately upon her entry, a smiling attendant approached, inquiring, “Welcome to our Treasure Pavilion. We offer everything from fine silks and satins to cosmetics and gold and silver jewelry. May I ask what the young lady wishes to purchase?”

Chi Qiu merely raised an eyebrow. It seemed the attendant had mistaken her for a young lady from a wealthy family.

Chi Qiu shook her head, choosing not to argue. Instead, she spoke with a faint voice, “I wish to purchase a map, a highly detailed one.”

The attendant paused, startled by her request. They then meticulously re-examined Chi Qiu’s attire and demeanor. Drawing two steps closer, they asked in a hushed tone, “Esteemed guest, might I inquire if you are a cultivator?”

Having worked in the Treasure Pavilion for many years, the attendant possessed a naturally sharp eye. While initially swayed by Chi Qiu’s refined aura into believing she was a young lady of means, a closer inspection revealed otherwise.

Noticing the sword at Chi Qiu’s waist and a wisp of blue hair peeking from beneath her bamboo hat, the attendant immediately concluded that Chi Qiu was no ordinary person.

Chi Qiu nodded. ‘Cultivator’ was the term mortals used to refer to cultivators. In the eyes of mortals, cultivators were almost omnipotent, hence their reverence as ‘Immortals.’

“This humble one was unaware of Immortal’s true identity just now. If I have offended you, please forgive my presumption,” the attendant said, immediately lowering their posture, fearful of having slighted an Immortal.

“It’s no matter. Does this Treasure Pavilion have the map I seek?” Chi Qiu considered telling the attendant to stop calling her ‘Immortal,’ but ultimately decided against it. She would simply buy her map and leave; there was no need for further words.

“Indeed, Immortal. Please follow me to the third floor.” The attendant dared not delay, promptly leading Chi Qiu upstairs.

“Immortal, please enter through this door. Someone inside will assist you,” the attendant stated as they escorted Chi Qiu to the third floor, before respectfully departing.

Chi Qiu stepped through the door on the third floor. Inside, an old man was comfortably seated on a long bench, engrossed in a thick book with a green cover.

Upon seeing Chi Qiu enter, he promptly set his book aside and rose to greet her.

“Greetings, fellow Daoist. What may I assist you with here at the Treasure Pavilion?” The old man stroked his grizzled beard and bowed slightly as he inquired. “This old man’s name is Ding Shi, and I am the manager of this Treasure Pavilion.”

Chi Qiu fixed her gaze upon him. Though Ding Shi’s hair and beard were entirely white, his face was full and his spirit vibrant. It was clear he was a cultivator who had transcended the mortal realm, though his specific cultivation level remained unknown.

“Elder Ding, I have come to acquire a detailed map of Zhengyang Commandery,” Chi Qiu replied, cupping her fists in a respectful but unyielding manner.

“Ah, yes, yes, yes! I have three maps here, fellow Daoist, please take a look.” Ding Shi cheerfully led Chi Qiu to a bookshelf. After rummaging for a moment, he produced three thin, white beast hides and presented them to her.

“These are maps of Zhengyang Commandery. The beast hide is crafted from the skin of a White Water Rhino, making it incredibly resilient. The maps inscribed upon them will not fade, even if cut by a blade or scorched by fire. These are for you to examine. The prices are determined by their level of detail: this one is thirty spirit stones, this one is eighty spirit stones, and the last one requires one hundred and sixty spirit stones.” As Chi Qiu lowered her head to inspect the maps, Ding Shi slowly explained.

Chi Qiu nodded, scrutinizing the maps. After a brief consideration, she returned them to Ding Shi. “I’ll take this one,” she said, her finger indicating the map priced at one hundred and sixty spirit stones.

“Fellow Daoist truly has a generous hand! This old man will fetch it for you right away.” Seeing Chi Qiu immediately purchase the most expensive map, Ding Shi’s face lit up with a wide smile. He took the maps back from Chi Qiu and, after a thorough search through the bookshelf, retrieved a meticulously folded beast hide.

Chi Qiu, in turn, retrieved two pieces of spirit jade from her robes. Officially, the Daqi imperial court valued spirit jade at one hundred spirit stones per piece.

However, due to its rarity and faster absorption rate, few were willing to part with spirit jade, causing its market price in civilian bazaars to typically hover around one hundred and ten spirit stones.

“Please take a look, fellow Daoist.” Ding Shi unfolded the beast hide, which, like a large quilt, spread out to cover the floor, measuring approximately seven chi in both length and width.

“We have refined this White Water Rhino hide to be as thin as a cicada’s wing. Though the map is large, it folds down to the size of a palm, making it exceptionally convenient for travel.”

Chi Qiu gazed at the map, nodding with satisfaction, then handed the spirit jade to Ding Shi.

“Spirit jade, you say? Let me examine these pieces, fellow Daoist…” Ding Shi accepted the spirit jade, scrutinizing them carefully. “The quality of this spirit jade is exceptionally high. One piece alone is worth one hundred and thirty spirit stones. I owe you one hundred spirit stones in change.”

Ding Shi pocketed the spirit jade, secretly pondering the exchange. He couldn’t help but feel that Chi Qiu must have an extraordinary background to so casually offer such high-quality spirit jade.

Chi Qiu, of course, was unaware of Ding Shi’s thoughts. She merely mused on the truly exceptional quality of the spirit stones bestowed by the Daqi imperial family, then worried whether she could even carry the hundred spirit stones she would receive as change.

“Elder Ding,” Chi Qiu began, “I plan to travel a great distance. Please use the excess spirit stones to procure some necessary travel supplies for me. If there’s any surplus after that, you may return it.” Although Chi Qiu could carry a hundred spirit stones, she preferred not to journey with a large pouch of them. Moreover, her previously purchased travel gear and clothing were significantly worn, making this an opportune moment to acquire higher-quality replacements.

“No problem at all, leave it to this old man,” Ding Shi affirmed with a nod. He turned to depart but suddenly recalled something, pausing to face Chi Qiu once more. “Fellow Daoist, have you come to Sang City for the Mulberry Picking Festival?”