Liu Xing was joking, but he still thought that it would take Chu Zen at least a full day to arrive at the outer sect gate. The Purple Moon Sect covers a large area, including several mountains and peaks, and has many gates, the closest one being the outer sect gate, while the furthest ones are the gates to the inner sect. There is also a gate from the outer sect to the inner sect that is located behind the Outer Hall, but let alone a mortal, even an outer sect disciple can't cross the gates.
Liu Xing begins to chat with Chu Zen. This kid is really expressive and really good at talking. The city below the sect is called Purple Shield City. Chu Zen said that a long time ago an inner disciple built a hut there, and over time more and more people gathered around the hut. This disciple also left a purple shield in the center of the town, saying that whoever could claim the shield would be guaranteed a place as an inner disciple. Chu Zen said that the purple shield finally found an owner a few weeks ago, a man with black hair that was so long and beautiful that from behind he looked like a woman.
Liu Xing asked how people live in the Purple Shield City. What kind of work is there in Purple Shield City, is there a doctor, and even asked if he knew about bacteria, which Chu Zen answered with a blank face. When he crossed over from earth to Liu Xing's body, he was already a disciple in the outer sect, and while Liu Xing is not from a big family, the Liu clan is a cultivator family.
Chu Zen said that there are many professions in the city. There's a farmer, a blacksmith, a shopkeeper, and many important jobs. The most interesting occupation is umbrella maker, hat maker, and a theater troupe that would occasionally hold a performance.
"Usually they would perform heroic stories of cultivators around the world, and although I like it, it's kind of repetitive. Most of the stories are like: a guy found a treasure, he saved a girl, and in the end one or two demonic sects were annihilated."
Liu Xing has never seen a live performance before, but he has read so many xianxia stories that he can relate to what Chu Zen said.
After several hours, Liu Xing stumbled upon a topic that interested him greatly.
"Although my father is sickly, he is still a good merchant and has many connections. A few years ago, my father managed to secure a sack of spirit rice from the Water Nation. This nation is really famous for their method of farming, where they plant the rice plant in the water instead of on the ground. My father sold that spirit rice so cheaply. At that time I was confused about the price, but now I understand that keeping the spirit rice would bring trouble because many people would want to get their hands on it, whether my father wanted to sell it to them or not."
Liu Xing nodded. "I understand. A long time ago, there was a guy in the outer sect who was lucky enough to get a pill that could triple his cultivation speed. That guy was robbed and beaten, and he almost died."
This poor guy is actually Liu Xing before he transmigrated. And even though he did not experience it himself, the memory is so vivid.
"Anyway, about the Water Nation, do you know about it? I happen to have some business there."
"I don't know much. I only know about their spirit rice farm, and I've heard that it's a beautiful country far away from here." Chu Zen pinched his chin. "Although I have heard from my father about a legend there."
"Oh, can I hear it?"
"Sure." He cleared his throat. "They say a long time ago, when the Water Nation was just a wilderness, there was a family that gave birth to a genius. This genius is Tang Wenjie, and she is so strong that she united several tribes and formed a nation. One day, a warlord heard about Tang Wenjie's plan to conquer his land, so the warlord prayed to the guardian beast from under the water. Some people said it was a dragon, some said it was a turtle, some said it was a snake, and some said it was a fish. The most important thing is that these guardian beasts agree to help the warlord, and they launch a counter-invasion against the nation. They fight for a month and create many lakes, rivers, water sources, and flood a large area. In the end, Tang Wenjie wins, and the guardian beast and the warlord die in the battle. Tang Wenjie was furious with the warlord's tribe, and she cursed the whole tribe, and they became ghosts. They said that the ghost is still in our world, waiting for revenge."
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Liu Xing tries to memorize the whole legend. Although there's no mention of the Lightning Ring that Yan Yu mentioned, there's still a possibility that this legend is related to the Lightning Ring.
"There is also a version of the story that says Tang Wenjie stole the method of farming on the water from the warlord because the warlord tribe lives in a lake, but I think it's false."
Chu Zen's story begins to drift from the legend and to speculate about how a farm can be built on the water. Liu Xing knows about hydroponics, and when Chu Zen heard about it, his eyes shone as if he had just heard the greatest secret in the world. He said he wanted to try this hydroponic method for his little garden.
Several more hours pass, and the sky turns orange. Chu Zen's feet begin to tremble, and Liu Xing offers to deliver this sack of rice himself while Chu Zen rests, but Chu Zen refuses. He says it is a matter of principle.
"If I don't meet the customer, how can I make sure the customer is satisfied with my service?"
Thus, their pace slowed down, but after the sun went down, they finally arrived at the outer sect's gate. There are two guards standing in front of the gate. They are disciples as well, and they have taken on the mission of guarding the gate. Usually they stand lazily, but now their backs are straight and their eyes are alert.
There's a man standing in front of the gate. This man is younger than Liu Xing, with his hand behind his back and a proud aura emanating from him. His eyes are sharp, as if he can easily cut through people, and his expression is aloof, as if the world must bow to him. Liu Xing knows his face. When he sees Yan Yu for the first time, he also sees his face in the crowd of new disciples. He doesn't know his name, but he can guess who he is.
"Senior Liu Xing, thank you for your help, but I have to carry the sack myself from now on!"
Liu Xing looked at the sack on his shoulder, nodded, and handed it back to Chu Zen. Chu Zen lifts the sack onto his shoulder and starts to walk respectfully towards the man.
Liu Xing watches the man, who is probably Shen Ye. One of the strongest new outer disciples of the sect and also a prince of the Phoenix Empire. He is wearing the cultivator robe provided by the sect, and a gold medal engraved with a phoenix dangles from his neck.
Chu Zen kneels in front of Shen Ye, puts down the sack of rice, and clasps his hand.
"This is the rice you ordered, esteemed cultivator Shen Ye."
Shen Ye looked at the sack. "Do you know how long I have been waiting?"
"My sincerest apologies! I delivered this sack of rice as fast as I could!"
"I said, do you have any idea how long I waited?" Shen Ye said. His eyes pierced Chu Zen, then he turned to a guard. "Tell me how long I waited."
"Yes, sir! At least fifteen minutes!"
"Did you hear that? I have been waiting here for over fifteen minutes! Are you not the one who said that you can deliver this rice on time, when the sun goes down?"
Chu Zen starts to pale, and Liu Xing knows that trouble is coming. He summons his gun and gets ready to jump if anything happens.
As he prepares himself, Liu Xing wonders: Did Chu Zen really promise to deliver the goods before sunset? That's quite a bold statement. Without Liu Xing's help, he would have had to carry the sack himself, and Liu Xing doubts that Chu Zen could have delivered it in time. Still, Liu Xing knows that Chu Zen is a smart kid. He probably thought the stairs weren't too long and the customer would be forgiving.
"You are wasting my precious time. You must be punished!"
"W-Wait, esteemed cultivator. I sincerely apologize for the delay, a-and to pay for it, y-you can get a big discount every time you shop at my father's store!"
When Shen Ye's expression did not change, Chu Zen's face was so pale that it looked like it was made of candle. "Then it's free. It's free! We'll give you free goods!"
"The punishment for making me wait is death!"
Shen Ye points his palm at the frightened Chu Zen, and Liu Xing knows that the situation is already out of control. Although Liu Xing has known Chu Zen for less than a day, he doesn't want him to be harmed.
Liu Xing steps between Chu Zen and Shen Ye.