In the Myriad Cave Island, fifth rank cultivators could open neighbourhoods, and this senior Ruan was exactly the one that opened the neighbourhood Fu Xian resided in. If it wasn't a new neighbourhood and empty, someone like Fu Xian would never get such a good opportunity.
"Haha, little Fu, no need to be so nervous! Fifty years ago, when you applied to join my neighbourhood, initially I was sceptical. But the inn owner had ensured me that you had rented his room for a long time and always paid on time, and the general affairs manage told me that you had talent in talisman drawing, so in the end, I didn't mind inviting you.
Now just fifty years later, you have become an origin light cultivator! Those little guys will be very happy to be able to buy talisman from you.
After all, our own production in the immortal city is rather low, and specific talisman are difficult to buy. With a talisman master directly by our side, it should be easier!"
"Senior, you are exaggerating! This junior Fu is very untalented and only achieved origin light when he was three hundred years old! My talent in talismanic arts is very low!" he said humbly, hiding his elation for meeting senior Ruan!
After all, this senior had welcomed him. Although at that time, he only saw him once and didn't have any chance to talk, he had been resolute in his cultivation ever since, also partially to pay back the kindness he enjoyed!
"Haha, no need to be humble. Being able to draw a third-grade talisman as a foundation building cultivator is proof of your talent! It's because you had this ability that the city opened the right to purchase breakthrough items to you.
Do you know how many internal members the city has?
They manage and protect the whole city, while we are just residents. We only have to pay taxes on time and they'll not care about us. It's a simple business relationship. Only in rare cases or at higher stages will they give you additional benefits!
Since you're able to buy it from the internal channel, it means they see potential in you, at least to reach the fifth stage.
As for you being three hundred years old, heh, it's nothing. How many people are late bloomers? Especially among crafting arts masters, it's normal to grow slower than others.
Now that you reached the third stage, the price of talisman will rise steeply, especially since we don't have as many talisman masters in the city as alchemists and weapon refiners.
Don't think lowly of yourself!
Alright, that's all. It seems you're going to the general affairs hall. As per the common rules, they will loan you a cultivation art, and I, as your neighbourhood leader, will take the responsibility of introducing to you the new stage of cultivation.
The next neighbourhood gathering is in a month, at my residence on the ninth hour of the evening. Arrive an hour before, I will teach you a few basics then."
"Thank you, senior, for taking care of me!" Fu Xian bowed once more.
This senior was extremely kind, comparing him to the other fifth-rank cultivators he saw, this one was not only kind but also attentive even though he was relatively young and talented for his stage.
It's said he's just over a thousand years, although he's been in the fifth stage for five hundred years, there are rumours he's about to breakthrough to the third minor stage in the fifth stage!
He might not know what the third minor stage was, but it was definitely a leap in strength and proves that this senior Ruan was likely a genius for his cultivation stage!
As Fu Xian saw the senior off, he thought to himself 'Each genius differs! Some are aloof, some are arrogant, and some are warm and kind. Though considering the senior's strength and this place, he's probably just as decisive and ruthless as others. His kindness is probably only for his neighbourhood and friends.'
Fu Xian knew that neighbourhood leaders benefited from their neighbours.
After all, Senior Ruan could only have a single fifth-stage spiritual vein in his residence. But with many fourth and third stage veins around, his residence will inevitably grow slightly, at least from low-grade to middle-grade.
On top of that, every cultivator comprehends spiritual inspirations, and the aura passively spreading from their self is the aura of dao. In a neighbourhood, the aura of dao is usually gathered in the main residence, where the neighbourhood leader resides!
Although it's difficult to guess the inspiration of a person based on their dao aura, senior Ruan probably felt a new source of dao aura, and since he was experienced and many stages above him, senior Ruan probably guessed that the aura was of a high quality!
This was why he specially came out, greeted Fu Xian, and told him a few kind words.
Even though Fu Xian understood this, he didn't feel it was wrong.
'Only a mother can give endless love, everyone else will have limited kindness, and strangers will not give you anything for free. Since Senior Ruan accepted me and allowed me to stay in such a high-rank environment during the foundation building stage, it's normal that he benefits from my breakthrough.
Anyways, it's not like the dao aura he absorbs is essential.'
Just like a person breathes in and out, the dao aura absorbed by the centre of the neighbourhood formation was barely a single percent of what he gave off, something he couldn't keep even if he wanted.
The reach of dao aura was limited: the first ring was his direct surroundings, which was the temple, mostly his meditation room. The second ring was high near surroundings, which was the whole manor. The third ring of aura dissipation was the environment around the second ring as well as everywhere he went and stayed for a few hours.
You can't control everything and it would be greedy to force it, so he didn't mind. Anyways, he knew that proper members of the neighbourhood could visit the main residence's Dao Aura Hall once a year for an hour!
A single dao aura wouldn't aid him, but so many will definitely give him inspiration!
This opportunity would cost him dearly and here he basically got it for free!
Soon he arrived at the end of the road, the end of his neighbourhood.
Generally, you could only move around your own neighbourhood and a few gathering places on the Myriad Cave Island. The roads are special and various side paths lead to different places, they have been altered by space, so they appear to be gradual even though they differ a lot.
At the end of a neighbourhood's road, there is an intersection with eight different roads, each marked by a sign.
These roads led to the eight other islands.
Although there existed bridges between the islands, in fact, most people wouldn't take this path, they were more like chains connecting the islands.
This road network was the easiest way of commute, the core of the road being in the Myriad Cave Island. After all, this island was the largest and most populated, countless people passing through everyday. The most important though is that most people living on the Myriad Cave Island were formal residents, so they enjoyed this additional advantage.
Normal residents that lived in inns, for example, couldn't visit all islands. They could only move between the Market Island, Joy Island, Battle Island and a few places on Cave Island.
Fu Xian had visited every of the islands already.
The most important, Ascendance Island, was not easily accessible though. When entering, he had to pay an entrance fee of contribution points.
So, he could only look at the island from outside, wishing to enter and experience a bit of the dao aura.
Unfortunately, it was too expensive.
After all, dao aura comes from people. Once they disappear, the aura won't be formed, and the aura left there will gradually be absorbed by nature. There is a formation to gather the aura on each island, but this doesn't mean the aura will be remain permanent, once absorbed by a cultivator, it would still disappear.
So, this aura of seniors who ascended the immortal realm was the highest and most important resource of the immortal city.
To get just a whiff, he would have to sell his soul and work for a thousand years. It was simply not made for them!
He had heard a fourth-rank cultivator say once that he would pay to visit there before advancing. Apparently, many people saw it as breakthrough medicine.
Now that he thought of this, if he could stay in there for even just a minute, he would probably improve his own foundation by leaps and bounds!