Ninth In the World

Lightning leaped up and flapped its beautiful wings. Then, it swaggered toward the newcomer and sized them up. Its gaze made it seem as though it was appraising goods.

After looking for several minutes, Lightning coughed and drawled, “You are right. I am the boss here. What is your name? Why have you come here?”

In truth, Lightning itself did not know what it was looking at. The only thing it knew was that this person was a very beautiful male cultivator in luxurious clothing.

This male cultivator, who did not seem to mind Lightning’s reaction, smiled and said, “My name is Jing Xihua, and I wish to rent a room here. Is that okay?”

Lightning sat down and leaned back. By copying Di Jiu’s manner of speaking, it said, “Not anyone can stay at this hotel. Some people are already staying here, and they are all top-notch experts of the universe… Eh? You’re injured? So you came here to seek shelter.”

As it was speaking, it noticed that Jing Xihua was injured. Blood was dripping down from his waist. Jing Xihua’s cultivation level did not seem to be low. It actually appeared to be higher than the Primordial Chaos Realm. The fact that he was unable to heal from his injuries showed that the injuries were not as simple as they looked.

Jing Xihua smiled and replied unhurriedly, “I just have some minor injuries, which is why I’m seeking a place to recuperate. If you agree, I intend to rent a room for a few days. Otherwise, I will find some other place. Of course, if you’re concerned about my enemy, I will understand if you are unwilling to let me stay here.”

Lightning chuckled. “Tell me, who is your enemy? Why did y’all start fighting?”

Lightning had had no one to chat with for a very long time, so it was very eager to speak. Jing Xihua’s attempt to agitate it had fallen on deaf ears.

Jing Xihua, who seemed to be a person with great patience, drawled, “This conversation seems to be becoming longer. Should I narrate everything to you slowly?”

“Wait, no.” Lightning leaped into the air again. “You cunning fella, you almost made me get scolded. Tell me, how much do you know about the Mountain Gaze Forbidden Zone? Say whatever you know. The more, the better.”

Lightning only reacted after hearing Jing Xihua say this conversation was becoming long. It wanted to find out more information on the Mountain Gaze Forbidden Zone, not gossip. If the Head came out and discovered that it was being idle, it would end up in a sorry state. The Head had told it before that there had once been a Little Tree and a Black Fire who had both been discarded by the Head on a low-level plane because they had been slow and useless. Lightning did not want to follow in their footsteps.

Jing Xihua looked at Lightning and asked, “Boss, do you want me to narrate how I sustained my injuries or talk about the Mountain Gaze Forbidden Zone? I only have the strength for one of the two. I will need to rest afterward. Otherwise, my injuries might worsen and I will die.”

Lightning waved one of its wings dismissively. “Talk about the Mountain Gaze Forbidden Zone and I will guarantee that you will not die. When you’re done, I’ll let you rest. You can tell me about other things once you have rested to your heart’s desire. If you provide me with a good story, I will give you a cup of tea.”

Jing Xihua, who did not take the cup of tea mentioned seriously, cupped his fists and said, “The Mountain Gaze Forbidden Zone did not exist originally. Before the Creation War happened, this region had been under the Jia Liang Mountain. After the Creation War, many places collapsed on the Jia Liang Mountain. It was a mess, as numerous experts battled here. The Jia Liang Mountain still exists but has lost its former glory.”

“Not bad, not bad. Great story,” Lightning praised Jing Xihua as it poured a cup of tea for him.

In truth, Jing Xihua was not paying any attention to the tea. However, when the tea leaves were boiled, a starry sky Dao rune aura dispersed from the tea, making him feel calm even without drinking it.

Jing Xihua stared at this cup of tea in astonishment and could not help lifting the cup to his lips and taking a sip.

He captured an even more peaceful aura. At that moment, he seemed to be situated in a completely peaceful world, experiencing the quietest moment since he had started cultivating.

Jing Xihua could not help but take another sip. The Dao rune aura automatically appeared in his intent once again. This tea contained a faint, natural life-force aura.

He lamented, “A starry sky exists within the tea, and one feels silence within the universe! Good tea! This is truly good tea.”

After just two sips, he could feel the pain of his injuries diminishing. The Dao runes that had caused his wounds were still present, but he finally felt calm.

Lightning pretended to express its disdain. “This is considered good tea? I usually drink tea that is a million times better than this. This tea is used to welcome ordinary guests.”

Jing Xihua cupped his fists. “May I ask what kind of tea this is? Who is capable of refining such tea?”

He ignored Lightning’s claim that there was better tea than the one he was drinking, for he did not believe it. After speaking with Lightning, he knew that it was not reliable at all. However, he could not possibly demand that its owner come out.

Anyone who could open a hotel in this place would certainly be extraordinary.

Lightning chuckled and replied arrogantly, “I drink this tea every day, but it is something you cannot afford. I can tell you that it is called Starry Sky Tea. As for the name of the person who refined it, you are not qualified to know it. Alright, continue your story.”

“Yes,” Jing Xihua said with more seriousness now. “During the Creation War, it is said that the Creation Gate was opened and numerous experts entered it. No one knows what happened inside the gate, and neither do I. When the war was over, the Creation Gate was closed, but many cultivators continued flocking over here. The reasons they did so included trying to gain insight into the Dao runes here, seeking some lost top-notch Dharma treasure, or understanding what the Creation War is all about.”

“Then what is the Creation War?” Lightning asked out of curiosity.

Jing Xihua shrugged. “I don’t know either.”

Lightning snorted in disdain. “This means that you know.”

Jing Xihua ignored it and continued his tale. “Because many people came here, a temporary market was formed. The crowd continued growing, and this place became increasingly livelier. At the time, anyone who wished to find quality items would come to the Mountain Gaze.”

“So why is it in this state today?” Lightning inquired.

Jing Xihua shook his head again. “I don’t know. I only know that a problem came up in the Mountain Gaze Market and the laws suddenly became chaotic. People with weaker cultivation levels were killed, while the stronger people could not survive for long. It is said that only a handful escaped from the Mountain Gaze Market. Later on, the entire mountain collapsed and no one dared to come here anymore. This is because anyone who came would be sucked into the chaotic nomological space and would have no chance of escaping.

“Due to how scary this place is, few people will come here. When no one came anymore, this nomological chaotic place turned into a natural restriction, so people can enter it but no one has ever left. An expert came here and erected a ‘Mountain Gaze Forbidden Zone’ notice outside to warn people.”

Lightning was no idiot. Upon hearing that, it looked at Jing Xihua cunningly. “You most likely escaped to this place because you intend to escape into the Mountain Gaze Forbidden Zone. It seems that the person you offended is quite powerful.”