When she followed Linglong through the small city floating among the clouds, Hua Jian truly experienced what it meant to be the center of attention.
Almost everyone’s gaze turned toward them. Those eager looks made Hua Jian feel uncomfortable all over.
Even the Spiritual Civet cradled in her arms could not take it anymore and tried desperately to burrow into her clothes.
“How about you walk by yourself? Shiqi and I really cannot handle this,” Hua Jian whispered to Linglong while hugging her arms.
Shiqi nodded vigorously at her side. She felt exactly the same.
Being a big star was completely incompatible with her personality.
She would rather honestly remain a little mouse hiding in the gutter.
Linglong looked helplessly at the two of them, then glanced at the Senior Sisters who kept casting friendly looks her way.
She had no good solution either.
Both sides mattered to her. She could not exactly chase the Senior Sisters away.
“I will reapply a disguise spell later. It should be a little better,” she said, choosing a compromise.
She was so eye-catching mainly because her dragon horns and tail were impossible to ignore.
After all, she was the only Little Dragon Girl in the world. Her rarity was completely maxed out.
Once those non-human traits were hidden, the only noticeable feature left was her white hair, which was far less conspicuous.
Not every Senior Sister stationed at Jade Pool had time to stare into Linglong’s eyes.
As long as they did not look too closely, she was not that easy to recognize from afar.
White hair was not rare in the cultivation world. Some people even dyed their hair white on purpose. Linglong’s hair no longer stood out so much.
After flying on clouds to the busiest residential area of the station, Linglong quickly found an empty spot and reapplied her disguise spell.
Once the spell took effect, the results were immediate. Jade Pool disciples at a bit of distance could no longer recognize Linglong at a glance.
At close range, however, being recognized was still unavoidable. For example, once the three of them entered the restaurant they had chosen, Linglong was identified again.
This was a large restaurant located near the center of the residential area. As soon as Linglong brought her two friends to the front desk, a Senior Sister there recognized her instantly.
Fortunately, the Senior Sister was tactful and did not call out Linglong’s identity.
Instead, she winked like a thief and whispered, “Junior Sister Linglong? Come with me quickly. You are lucky today. There are still a few private rooms available.”
As she spoke, she slipped out from behind the counter and stealthily led the three of them upstairs.
The restaurant was enormous, yet it was anything but quiet. Nearly every visible seat was occupied by Jade Pool disciples eating.
There were even girls wearing uniforms from other sects, which showed that the Jade Pool station was not as closed off as one might think.
Following the Senior Sister into a small private room on the third floor, Hua Jian was first stunned by the luxurious decor, then startled again when the menu was handed to Linglong.
“What would you like to eat, Junior Sister Linglong? I can give you a discount.”
The menu was clearly freshly written that day and listed many things Hua Jian had never heard of.
For example, meat from Spirit Beasts at the Ling King Realm, all kinds of Spiritual Flowers and Lingcao.
It made one wonder just how wealthy Jade Pool really was, to be able to put such things on the table.
One look at the prices nearly made Hua Jian’s heart stop. A single meal here could bankrupt her outright.
“Just some ordinary dishes will do. We cannot handle anything too extravagant,” Linglong said calmly.
She marked a few items and handed the menu back.
The Senior Sister glanced at it and let out a bell-like laugh.
“You are very modest, Junior Sister.”
Linglong had chosen not the obviously expensive dishes, but various small snacks unique to Jade Pool.
For ordinary people, eating only these would not be healthy, but for cultivators it was no issue.
To maintain daily bodily functions, one could simply eat a staple pill.
Those were even cheaper than normal meals, though they had virtually no flavor.
Cultivators did not eat to fill their stomachs, but to enjoy taste.
Once the Senior Sister left the room, Hua Jian finally had time to ask Linglong about the place.
“So the Saint Sect has shops like this too?”
Shiqi nodded hard beside her. She thought the same.
In their impression, Saint Sect cultivators should have long achieved Bigu and transcended mundane needs.
Eating should not matter that much. Yet judging by the restaurant’s business, it was thriving.
“And there are so many cultivators from other sects. I thought only Jade Pool disciples would be here,” Hua Jian continued.
She had already seen disciples from all four other Saint Sects, even from Tiandao Sect.
“This is the inner city of Ascension City. Disciples of the Saint Sects see each other all the time. Visiting each other is common,” Linglong said, sitting upright.
She had fully entered her Saintess persona and did not dare relax.
Saint Sect cultivators were still people. Those who could stay long-term in Ascension City were especially human in temperament.
Stationed together, interactions were inevitable. Moreover, the Saint Sects maintained surface harmony.
They could not possibly close their stations to one another.
So it was normal for disciples to wander between stations and experience different sect cultures.
You could see other Saint Sect disciples at Jade Pool, and likewise see Jade Pool disciples elsewhere.
“As for why there are restaurants, indulgence is not ideal, but the elders will not control it too strictly. Disciples who have no hope of ascension still need an outlet.”
“Besides, after valuable materials are taken from Spirit Beasts, the rest needs to be handled. Throwing it away would be wasteful. Using it as cooking ingredients can earn some Spirit Stones back.”
Only a few parts of Spirit Beasts were truly valuable. Compared to the whole body, they were a small portion.
So what to do with the rest? The simplest solution was to cook and eat it.
“Jade Pool is not even the liveliest. If you get the chance, you should visit Penglai. That is where it is truly bustling.”
While they spoke, the Senior Sister returned, placing three cups of differently colored juice on the table, then setting out the dishes Linglong had ordered.
As she did so, she smiled and said Jade Pool was nothing compared to Penglai.
A sect famous for Spirit Wine—one could easily imagine how lively its station must be.
It was probably a gathering of drunkards raising cups to the bright moon.
“Please enjoy. If you need anything, just ring the bell on the table. I will come immediately,” the Senior Sister said before leaving them alone again.
Hua Jian picked a juice that looked appealing and took a small sip. Sweet and sour, with a unique taste.
“What kind of juice is this? It is pretty good.”
“It is made from a Spiritual Fruit unique to Jade Pool. Even though the colors differ, the flavors are the same,” Linglong explained.
The pastries on the table were also Jade Pool specialties. The girls of this sect loved making small, delicate sweets.
Hua Jian tried a few. They were pleasantly sweet, though eating too many became cloying.
“I kind of want some meat,” she muttered softly, resting her chin on her hand.
Eating cake every day was not enough. She needed something hearty.
The Spiritual Civet pawed at the half piece of cake Hua Jian gave it and meowed in agreement.
Who fed cake to a cat? It was a carnivore.
“If you want meat, how about grilled horned sheep ribs?” Linglong immediately responded.
“Sure. I have no idea what these dishes taste like anyway.”
“They taste decent. I have had them before. The price is not too bad,” Linglong said while ordering.
Horned sheep were not Ling King Realm Spirit Beasts.
At most, they were ordinary animals raised in Spirit Energy-rich environments, with a bit of Spiritual Power in their meat.
Soon, the grilled meat arrived. Smelling the rich aroma, Hua Jian and her Spiritual Civet both looked like starving ghosts.
In almost an instant, the slab of meat larger than her face was completely devoured by the two of them.
Shiqi, who was still cutting her meat properly with a knife, stared in shock. Was that speed not a bit excessive?
“Meat really is the best,” Hua Jian said contentedly, rubbing her belly.
Although her true form was a flower, Hua Jian did not like vegetarian food.
After all, for a flower to eat plants was basically cannibalism, which was not great.
Ahem. Just take that seriously.
After eating, Linglong led the two of them out of the restaurant to their most important destination of the day—the cultivation chamber she had promised Hua Jian yesterday.
Compared to eating, cultivation was indispensable to a cultivator’s life. To provide better environments, the Saint Sects spared no expense.
The cultivation ground Linglong brought them to used a secret grand array to gather Heaven and Earth Spirit Energy, forming an artificial concentration zone.
The Spirit Energy was then diverted and refined into single attributes for absorption. Cultivating here was significantly faster than outside.
“Other Saint Sects have very different methods. For example, Jian Sect adds Sword Intent to their cultivation chambers to help sword cultivators,” Linglong explained as she led them into the massive structure.
This single cultivation ground was larger than the residential area they had just visited, showing how important cultivation was within the Saint Sects.
The main hall was filled with girls. Some were selecting items on large jade boards, others talking with the administrators.
It looked even busier than the living area. Hua Jian could hear people arguing over chamber usage.
“Using a cultivation chamber is not free. Disciples exchange Spirit Stones or sect contribution for time. Higher-level chambers cost more,” Linglong explained softly.
“Each disciple also has a monthly free quota. Outer disciples get less, inner disciples more. Direct Disciples like me hardly need to pay.”
Even in harmonious Jade Pool, there were strict hierarchies. Outer disciples could not compare to inner ones, and ordinary inner disciples could not compare to elders’ Direct Disciples.
This was true of all Saint Sects.
“Direct Disciples even have mandatory cultivation time. Failing to meet it results in punishment.”
What Linglong did not say was that their minimum time far exceeded the free time outer disciples received.
“The difference is that big? Do outer disciples not resent it?” Shiqi asked.
Linglong shook her head. “No. Even without chambers, Saint Sect conditions are far better than outside. That benefit applies to all disciples.”
In simpler terms, joining a Saint Sect gave you a fifty percent cultivation speed boost. Talented disciples could upgrade it further.
Most outer disciples accepted this. Many inner disciples had proven strength and earned better resources fairly.
“Talent and strength are your pass within a Saint Sect. With both, you enjoy treatment unavailable elsewhere.”
As she spoke, Linglong brought Hua Jian to the front desk and called out, “Senior Sister, card application.”
“Card application? If you lost your token, go downstairs—” The Senior Sister assumed an ignorant junior did not know where to replace an Identity Token.
Jade Pool chambers did not use cards. Identity Tokens deducted time automatically.
“It is an unlimited-time token for a guest.”
“What? That is not something I can—Junior Sister Linglong?” The Senior Sister finally looked up, shocked.
Jade Pool had issued very few such tokens. She had thought someone was joking, only to see the Saintess herself.
Being an inner disciple administrator, she recognized Linglong immediately.
“I know you are not joking, but I do not have the authority,” she said helplessly.
Such matters required a Venerable-level elder and approval from the main sect. Even the Saintess had to follow procedure.
“Do not think about unlimited time for now. But with your status, you can apply for an inner disciple-level token immediately,” she offered.
Even Direct Disciples could only apply for one such token for others, subject to approval.
“So who is it for?”
Linglong pointed to Hua Jian. “Her. Hua Jian.”
The Senior Sister nodded knowingly and handed Hua Jian a darker jade token.
“So this is who made our Saintess apply for such high privileges. Little Sister Hua Jian,” she said, smiling.
She then produced a wooden token. “As for this little one, a visitor token is fine, right?”
The contrast was obvious.
Shiqi was not upset. She knew the difference between herself and Hua Jian and was content to just see the place.
“Thank you, Senior Sister,” Linglong said politely and led them inside.
After they left, the onlooking girls rushed over, curiosity bursting.
“Senior Sister, who were they?”
“That dark token—we have never seen it!”
Annoyed, the Senior Sister waved her hand. Ling Emperor pressure filled the hall, silencing them.
“You cannot even recognize Junior Sister Linglong? Go wash your eyes.”
Cries of realization followed.
“She brought a super talented genius this time. Be careful. Do not scare Little Sister Hua Jian away,” the Senior Sister warned sternly.
The girls learned of Hua Jian’s feats from months ago.
Though her methods were debatable, her record was undeniable.
Putting themselves in her place, could they achieve the same? Unlikely.
“No wonder Wanling Sect wants her too. Do not scare her into going there.”
Understanding dawned. Sect rivalry was involved.
Jade Pool disciples had strong loyalty. Hearing Wanling Sect was competing for her stirred them up.
“Calm down. Do not overdo it and scare her,” the Senior Sister said.
“Understood!”
……
Hua Jian had no idea she was becoming a small celebrity. She was following Linglong into a spacious cultivation chamber.
“Wow, the conditions here are amazing,” she exclaimed.
She had expected a small room with a cushion. Instead, it was larger than her bedroom, filled with unfamiliar devices.
“Everything here is free to use. This is Soothe Spirit Incense,” Linglong said, lighting it.
A calming fragrance spread, making Hua Jian marvel at Saint Sect resources.
“These tools fix cultivation postures,” Linglong explained. “Most people do not need them.”
“Try it first. I will turn on the Spirit Energy,” Linglong said, tapping her token.
The scene felt almost sci-fi to Hua Jian.
“The chamber detects occupants. Without valid tokens or time, Spirit Energy stops.”
“Time cannot be transferred. You cannot freeload.”
“Shiqi’s visitor token has no time, so her usage deducts from ours,” Linglong added.
“My time is nearly unlimited, and yours will upgrade soon.”
Soon, Spirit Energy reached its peak. It was the densest Hua Jian had ever experienced.
Before she even sat down, cultivation visions appeared. Petals floated around her.
Her body began cultivating on its own.
“No wonder Saint Sects are full of Ling Kings and Ling Emperors,” she muttered, sitting cross-legged and circulating her Cultivation Method.
One try stunned her. Her cultivation speed doubled.
Spiritual Power surged like a flood through her meridians.
She had never experienced such exhilaration.
This was absurdly good.
She admitted her previous vision was too narrow.
For this feeling alone, she would fight her way into the Saint Sect no matter what.