I Was Forced to Marry a “Trash” Cultivator, But She Turned Out to Be a Reborn Empress!

Chapter 229: Honored Guests in Azure Nether City

The walls of Azure Nether City towered a hundred zhang into the sky, a monolithic barrier constructed entirely from cyan jade spirit bricks. Faint, shimmering array patterns flowed across the surface like veins, pulsing with defensive power.

At the city gates, the crowd was dense, weaving together like a living tapestry. Foundation Establishment cultivators were as common as grass, and Golden Core experts were far from rare. Occasionally, a streak of brilliant light would tear across the sky above—a Nascent Soul cultivator passing through—causing the low-level cultivators below to stop and bow in reverence.

Xu Tian led Shen Xian and Qiu Ruoli through the gates, his chest puffed out with a touch of pride.

“Senior Wang, this way, please. The Heaven-Reaching Chamber of Commerce owns a private villa in the western district. If it pleases you, you are welcome to stay there for a few days.”

Shen Xian nodded slightly. “I’ll trouble you, then.”

The streets were lined with shops displaying a dazzling array of goods—spirit herbs, Dharma Treasures, and talismans filled every window. The air itself carried the medicinal fragrance of alchemy pills, mixing with the rhythmic ringing of hammers from distant forging workshops. The entire city felt alive, breathing in the rhythm of cultivation and commerce.

Before long, the group arrived at a magnificent estate.

A golden plaque inscribed with “Heaven-Reaching Chamber of Commerce” hung above the vermilion main gates, guarded by two late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Seeing Xu Tian, the guards snapped to attention. “Elder Xu!”

“Inform the President immediately,” Xu Tian commanded, his voice deep. “Tell him distinguished guests have arrived.”

Moments later, a middle-aged man in brocade robes strode out to meet them. He moved with the weight of a mountain—the suffocating Pressure of a cultivator at Nascent Soul Perfection.

His gaze swept over Shen Xian, calculating and sharp, before instantly melting into a warm, enthusiastic smile.

“I am Su Wuya, President of the Heaven-Reaching Chamber of Commerce. Fellow Daoist Wang, thank you for safeguarding my caravan through the wilderness!”

He had already received Xu Tian’s transmission and knew exactly what this young man was capable of.

Shen Xian offered a faint, polite smile. “President Su is too kind.”

Su Wuya stepped aside, gesturing for them to enter. “Fellow Daoist Wang, please come in! I have already ordered a spirit feast prepared. Do us the honor of joining.”

Passing through a series of opulent courtyards, they arrived at an elegant flower hall. A white jade table groaned under the weight of spirit fruits and rare delicacies. Maidservants stood silently in the shadows, holding ewers of fine wine.

Qiu Ruoli watched coldly from the side. They’re certainly spending a fortune, she thought. They clearly see this ‘Evil Cultivator’ as a valuable asset.

“Fellow Daoist, please, take the seat of honor.” Su Wuya personally poured a cup for Shen Xian. The liquid was amber and viscous, glowing with inner light. “This is the Chamber’s treasured Thousand-Year Spirit Marrow Brew. Please, have a taste.”

Shen Xian lifted the cup and took a sip. A rush of pure, refined Qi exploded in his chest.

“Good wine,” he praised.

It was impressive—even better than the Shen Family’s own Drunken Immortal Wine. If that brat Wang Yu were here, he’d probably chain himself to the table and refuse to leave.

Su Wuya’s eyes flashed with a hidden light. He leaned forward slightly. “I heard Fellow Daoist Wang slew the Six-Winged Ghost Mosquito Emperor with a single sword strike. Truly admirable. I wonder… what are your plans now that you’ve arrived? If the Chamber can be of any assistance, simply say the word.”

He could tell these two were extraordinary. Xu Tian had reported they came from a reclusive sect. If he could form a connection—perhaps even persuade them to help with that matter—his chances of success would skyrocket.

Shen Xian toyed with his wine cup, a half-smile playing on his lips. “There are indeed some matters I would like to ask President Su about…”

“Please, speak freely,” Su Wuya encouraged.

Shen Xian kept his tone casual. “President Su, are you familiar with the Ice Soul Immortal Sect?”

Su Wuya’s hand paused in mid-air. A flicker of surprise crossed his face. “Fellow Daoist refers to… the Ice Soul Immortal Sect of the Sky Dome Sacred Land?”

“Exactly.” Shen Xian’s gaze sharpened. “How much do you know about them?”

So, it was confirmed. The Ice Soul Immortal Sect was in the Sky Dome Sacred Land. According to Xu Tian, that Sacred Land ranked fifth among the Ten Great Sacred Lands.

“I don’t know much,” Su Wuya admitted. “I only know that they follow the doctrine of ‘Education Without Discrimination.’ As long as a talent is outstanding, they will recruit them, regardless of race or background.”

The Ice Soul Immortal Sect was a first-rate power within the Sky Dome Sacred Land, but not quite at the apex. Consequently, cultivators from other regions knew little about their internal workings.

Shen Xian’s eyes turned cold.

He knew exactly why they were so “inclusive.” They weren’t looking for disciples; they were harvesting Hosts for Demon Souls.

“President Su,” Shen Xian continued, “how far is the Sky Dome Sacred Land from here?”

Beside him, Qiu Ruoli’s eyes narrowed.

Throughout their journey, Shen Xian had never revealed his true objective in the Northern Region. Now, the pieces were falling into place. Is he planning to join them? she wondered.

Su Wuya shook his head. “The distance between Sacred Lands is vast. Even crossing to the nearest one would take decades, perhaps a century of flight. And the journey is fraught with perils that can claim even a Nascent Soul life.”

Shen Xian frowned.

The Northern Region was massive, dwarfing the other three regions combined. According to ancient texts, the further north one went, the purer the spiritual energy became. If the Sky Dome Sacred Land ranked fifth, it was likely extremely far from their current location in the seventh-ranked Dao Xuan Sacred Land.

“Is there another way?” Shen Xian asked.

Su Wuya gave him a meaningful look. “If Fellow Daoist Wang is in a hurry, there is the cross-Sacred Land teleportation array.”

Shen Xian’s eyes lit up. “Where is it?”

“In Dao Xuan Holy City,” Su Wuya said, followed by a wry smile. “However… the array connecting Azure Nether City to the Holy City only opens once a year. The next window is five months away. And…”

He lowered his voice to a whisper. “For a trans-Sacred Land teleportation, the cost is one million High Grade Spirit Stones per person. Ordinary cultivators cannot afford it even if they save for ten lifetimes.”

Most cultivators were born, lived, and died within the boundaries of a single Sacred Land. Only the mega-sects had the resources to move between them.

Shen Xian blinked.

One million High Grade Spirit Stones?

That was an astronomical sum. It was equivalent to several years of the entire Shen Family’s gross profit.

It made sense—activating a formation capable of warping space across such distances consumed mountains of resources. But Shen Xian didn’t have that kind of cash on hand.

Yet, time was critical. He couldn’t spend a hundred years flying to the Sky Dome Sacred Land.

I need money, Shen Xian realized. A lot of it.

Seeing Shen Xian fall silent, Su Wuya sensed an opening. He smiled smoothly. “Fellow Daoist Wang, to be frank… the Chamber recently discovered a Secret Realm.”

He leaned in closer. “It is rich with ancient resources and natural treasures. If you are willing to join our expedition team, the Chamber will provide a substantial signing bonus. Furthermore, anything you find inside the realm belongs entirely to you.”

It was a calculated offer. He had emphasized the cost of the teleportation array specifically to dangle this solution in front of Shen Xian.

Shen Xian, however, didn’t bite.

“President Su is thoughtful,” Shen Xian said calmly. “But I have just arrived and wish to settle down first before considering any expeditions.”

He needed money, yes. But he wasn’t desperate enough to jump blindly into an unknown “Secret Realm” on the word of a merchant he had just met. High rewards always came with high risks.

Besides, he didn’t need to risk his life to get rich.

He was a Rank 5 Artifact Refiner.

In a place as wealthy as Azure Nether City, making money with his hammer would be child’s play.

A flash of disappointment crossed Su Wuya’s face, but he hid it quickly. “A pity. But I will not force you. Please, stay in this villa as long as you like. Consider it a small token of gratitude for saving my people.”

He raised his cup again. “If you change your mind about the Secret Realm, let me know.”

“I will,” Shen Xian nodded.