Chapter 233   State Guqing, Leng Ran

State Guqing.

Fenghe Canton. After a long journey, Xu Ning finally arrived at Fenghe Canton with Gray.

‘State Wansheng is too big!’

Xu Ning sighed.

On the way, Xu Ning discovered that in State Wansheng, the area of a canton might be larger than a state in the Abyss North, and the population was higher too.

“No wonder there are so many top masters in State Wansheng. With such a population base and such a high-quality cultivation environment, it would be abnormal if there are not many top masters.”

Xu Ning had a rough understanding of the overall environment of State Wansheng.

Like the Abyss North, the population here also mostly gathered in cities.

The Imperial Court managed states, cantons, and counties by setting up officials.

In the city, everyone had to strictly abide by the laws of the Imperial Court, otherwise even a dao realm master would be punished.

Even when a dao realm master injured an ordinary person, they had to pay compensation.

Therefore, compared to the Abyss North, the living environment of ordinary people in State Wansheng was relatively stable.

But outside cities, the Imperial Court rarely intervened in the disputes of the martial arts world.

Of course, if an unofficial sect attacked an official sect certified by the Imperial Court, or damaged the interests of the Imperial Court in other ways, they would be surrounded by the Imperial Court’s troops.

“Gray, how do you feel after coming to State Wansheng?”

Xu Ning asked Gray, who was lying on his shoulder.

“The spiritual energy is strong, it feels good!”

Gray was a little excited.

Although the dependence of demon beasts on spiritual energy was not as high as that of humans, dense spiritual energy could still also stimulate their bloodline, which was beneficial to their strength.

“When I find Senior Leng Ran and obtain the Swallow Heron Sect’s treasury, we will find a place to settle down. At that time, we will release Xu Hujun and Cyan. In this environment, their chances of breaking through to the dao realm are quite high.” Xu Ning said.

Soon, the two arrived at a county city.

The size of this county city was about the size of dozens of Kangyun County.

“Let’s enter the city and find out where Senior Leng Ran is.”

Wan Ye had only told Xu Ning that after coming to Fenghe Canton, he could ask for Leng Ran’s whereabouts.

Wan Ye only knew the approximate location of Leng Ran. He didn’t know where Leng Ran lived in seclusion exactly.

Strictly speaking, Wan Ye and Leng Ran were not close.

However, before the former sect master of the Swallow Heron Sect died, he told Wan Ye that if there was a chance to rebuild the Swallow Heron Sect, he should find Leng Ran.

Soon, Xu Ning successfully entered the county city.

‘In this county city, the weakest patrolling soldiers are in the high level of the mortal realm, and the leading soldiers and officers are all in the void realm.’

Xu Ning learned that in State Wansheng, ordinary county magistrates, county governors, and high-level officials in other counties were all in the mid levels or even high levels of the void realm. The weakest among the canton governors was a dao realm master, while the most powerful state overseers were in the mid levels or even high levels.

When a special situation occurred in the administrative field, these masters in charge had the power to control the entire situation.

A single administrative state taken out from the Imperial Court’s system was the configuration of a top sect in State Wansheng.

“To the restaurant.”

A restaurant was usually the most crowded and frequented place in the martial arts world.

He could easily obtain some information here.

Xu Ning chose the best restaurant in the county city. This kind of restaurant was usually reserved for powerful warriors or even martial artists. Here, they could eat demon beast meat and dishes cooked with spirit medicine and spirit herbs. Eating a meal here could improve one’s cultivation.

The payment method for this kind of restaurant was mainly in medicinal pills. In State Wansheng, Pure Source Pills were still the basic currency of powerful martial artists.

Ordinary restaurants provided ordinary food and settled the bills with gold and silver.

“Esteemed guest please!”

Xu Ning walked into the restaurant and a fragrance assaulted his nostrils.

He glanced at the waiter and noticed that he was in the mortal realm ninth stage.

Xu Ning found a place to sit down.

“Isn’t it a waste of talent for a mortal realm ninth stage to be a waiter here?”

Xu Ning was not in a hurry to order food. He just chatted with the waiter.

“Our restaurant is the most prosperous restaurant in the county. Even some dao realm masters will rest here when passing by. In this kind of place, although we are just doing odd jobs, we receive a lot of income.”

The waiter was good at talking. “Our income is all in martial arts resources. As long as I practice martial arts hard and have enough resources to support me, maybe I can break through to the void realm one day. At that time, I can find a better job.” The waiter’s realm was low, so he didn’t know that Xu Ning was also a dao realm master.

“Good ambition.”

Xu Ning smiled.

He could sense that the people in State Wansheng had a stronger desire for martial arts.

Of course, this was normal.

In the Abyss North, the living environment of powerful warriors and ordinary people was divided, but in State Wansheng, it was different. In a city, an ordinary person that you passed by could actually be a void realm martial artist.

This kind of close and real contact would make ordinary people have a greater desire for martial arts.

Afterwards, with the help of the waiter, Xu Ning ordered a few delicacies.

The ingredients for these delicacies were relatively precious.

Xu Ning calculated the price. The total price of these delicacies was two and a half Pure Source Pills.

“Wait a moment.”

Just as the waiter was about to inform the kitchen to serve the dishes, Xu Ning stopped the waiter.

“I have something to ask you.” Xu Ning took out a Pure Source Pill.

This Pure Source Pill was only an ordinary quality Pure Source Pill, which he had obtained from the Jade Night Sect.

“Sir, please speak.”

The waiter’s eyes lit up when he saw the Pure Source Pill in Xu Ning’s hand.

His half a year’s worth of martial arts resources added up to the price of one Pure Source Pill.

“Do you know of a dao realm alchemist named Leng Ran near Fenghe Canton?”

Xu Ning asked.

“Master Alchemist Leng Ran?”

The waiter nodded and said, “Of course!”

The waiter even had a look of reverence in his eyes.

Those who could become master alchemists had to advance to the dao realm first, followed by mastering dao realm alchemy techniques. “You know? Where is she?” Xu Ning’s eyes lit up.

He thought he would have to search hard, but he didn’t expect to find out some information so soon.

This was the advantage of being in State Wansheng. A mortal realm warrior could also learn about a dao realm master.

If he was in the Abyss North, the difference in strength would be too great. He might not even have heard of the different cultivation environments.

“Master Alchemist Leng Ran lives in the Faint Bamboo Forest outside Luoxu County.” The waiter answered truthfully.

“The Faint Bamboo Forest outside Luoxu County…” Xu Ning remembered this place. “Thank you very much.”

Xu Ning handed the Pure Source Pill to the waiter.

“Thank you, sir!” The waiter was overjoyed.

The value of this Pure Source Pill was comparable to half a year of his savings.

The waiter guessed that the guest in front of him might be a powerful high level void realm martial artist. Otherwise, even a mid level void realm martial artist would rarely give out a Pure Source Pill.

Afterwards, the waiter went to the kitchen to push out the dishes. “This friend, are you also going to the Faint Bamboo Forest to find Senior Leng Ran and ask to be her disciple?”

Just when the waiter left, a voice came from behind Xu Ning.

Xu Ning turned his head and saw a refined man in his thirties.

Xu Ning could sense his true strength. He was a void realm seventh stage martial artist.

“Ask to be her disciple?”

Xu Ning raised his eyebrows. “I just want to visit Senior Leng Ran.”

“You are old friends with Senior Leng Ran?”

The man in the common seal realm asked.

Xu Ning thought about it and shook his head. “No.”

Although Xu Ning and Leng Ran had never met before, he was still the junior of an old friend. However, this matter concerned the rebuilding of the Swallow Heron Sect, so Xu Ning did not want to tell strangers.

“Since you are not Senior Leng Ran’s old friend, you will definitely not be able to meet

her.”

The common seal realm man shook his head and smiled.

“Oh?”

Xu Ning saw that the man seemed to know a lot about Leng Ran, so he took the initiative to invite him. “Why don’t you come and sit at my table?”

“Sure.”

The common seal realm man had not ordered yet, so he sat next to Xu Ning.

“I am Xu Ning, may I know your name?”

Xu Ning first introduced himself and asked.

“My name is Zheng Yiqing.”

The man cupped his fists. “Huh? This is your demon beast?” At this moment, Zheng Yiqing noticed Gray lying on the seat next to Xu Ning. “That’s right.”

Xu Ning responded.

“Your demon beast looks extraordinary…”

Zheng Yiqing also vaguely noticed Gray’s uniqueness.

The void beast bloodline was considered top-notch among the demon beasts in State Wansheng.

However, Zheng Yiqing did not continue to focus on Gray.

“Brother Xu, you are an alchemist, right?”

Zheng Yiqing asked. “You can guess?”

Xu Ning asked with a smile.

Zheng Yiqing waved her hand. “Those who take the initiative to find Senior Leng Ran must be alchemists. If they want to find Senior Leng Ran, they either want to be her disciple or to learn a few moves from her.”

“Brother Zheng, are you looking for Senior Leng Ran to be her disciple?”

Xu Ning guessed his intentions from Zheng Yiqing’s words. “I am indeed going to the Faint Bamboo Forest to become her disciple.”

Zheng Yiqing didn’t hide anything. “Senior Leng Ran only accepts disciples once every ten years, so of course I can’t miss this opportunity. As long as I can obtain recognition in Senior Leng Ran’s assessment, I can become Senior Leng Ran’s disciple and receive her guidance, allowing my alchemy skills to improve greatly.”

After Xu Ning heard this, he asked, “Are there a lot of people looking for Senior Leng Ran to be her disciple?”

“Of course!”

Zheng Yiqing said, “Not only is Senior Leng Ran proficient in both orthodox and miraculous alchemy techniques, but she also has a deep understanding in both of them. Her alchemy skills are famous throughout State Guqing.”

“It is also because of this that every ten years, there would be at least a hundred people who would come to become her disciple in admiration for her. And this number is only low because there is a requirement they need to reach to be accepted, otherwise the bamboo in the Faint Bamboo Forest would have been trampled to the ground.”

Zheng Yiqing’s tone was extremely exaggerated. “This is the third time I have come to be her disciple. In the previous two times, I didn’t pass the assessment. This time, I must succeed!”