Chapter 239

Chapter 239: Old Acquaintance?

This magnificent giant city was still as imposing and majestic as ever.

It covered a vast area of hundreds of li, and the entire giant city was enveloped by a Third Level formation, emanating an extraordinary aura.

In the sky, whooshing sounds came one after another, with magical artifacts, flying boats, Spirit Beasts, and streaks of light dazzling the eyes like a fairyland had been entered.

A continuous stream of cultivators gathered towards the city gate—people of all kinds, strong and weak, their footsteps hurried as if eager to enter the Immortal City without delay.

Zhou Luo followed Yao Wu to the enormous city gate entrance.

This time, since he had come alone, he had to register information.

"Friend Zhou, I will take my leave first. Take this communication talisman, if you encounter troubles in the city, you can find me." Yao Wu handed over a talisman.

She already had an identity in the Immortal City, so no additional registration was needed.

"Fate permitting, we will meet again." Zhou Luo put away the message talisman and said.

This woman surely knew how to repay kindness.

On the way here, to repay his life-saving kindness, Yao Wu had already given him a mid-grade Gu insect, and now she had given him a message talisman.

The two parted ways.

Zhou Luo followed the flow of people to a room at the Immortal City gate to register information, pay spiritual stones, and incidentally obtained an identity token for entering and exiting the Immortal City.

By this time, he had shaved off his beard and restored his original appearance.

Although more than twenty years had passed, his appearance remained unchanged as if time could not leave a mark on him.

Moreover, looking young and harmless, it easily made people lower their guard, and if encountered robbery or killing, he could still take them by surprise.

Even using his original face, he did not need to worry about being recognized.

Because even if recognized, with the ninth level of Qi Refinement and Little White, he did not fear anyone.

All the more because he had always lived a secluded life, cultivating discreetly, and his only enemies were probably the Lu Family, which was busy with war.

At this critical moment, the Lu Family had no leisure to bother with him.

After entering the Immortal City, Zhou Luo headed straight for the Tian Xia Restaurant in the inner city.

Since he was seeking materials, a place to stay was certainly needed.

At times like this, the Tian Xia Restaurant was the best choice.

He took out a VIP token, and Zhou Luo temporarily settled at the restaurant.

Currently, on his person, the Foundation Establishment materials included two main ingredients and thirteen auxiliary herbs.

These were basically accumulated gradually over the years.

However, the Foundation Establishment Dan required three main ingredients and thirty-one auxiliary herbs.

This meant he still needed to find one more main ingredient and eighteen auxiliary herbs.

In the next few days,

Zhou Luo kept moving around the inner city, inquiring everywhere about information on Foundation Establishment materials.

But unexpectedly, these Foundation Establishment materials were so hard to find.

Ignoring the main ingredient, the Jade Spirit Mushroom, just for the auxiliary herbs, he had scoured large and small shops everywhere yet managed to find only three types.

Indeed, materials related to the Foundation Establishment Dan were exceedingly scarce.

After all, this was a potion capable of altering one’s fate. Setting aside the numerous cultivators at the ninth level of Qi Refinement across the Immortal City, within the Lin Family alone, many were awaiting the Foundation Establishment Dan to establish their foundation.

Thus, whether for main or auxiliary ingredients, all were incredibly difficult to locate.

After a fruitless and arduous search, Zhou Luo finally learned from a shopkeeper that several materials would mature in about seven to eight years.

Beyond that, for other materials, one might only hope for large-scale auctions to be held years later, or to wait another decade or two—beyond which rare opportunities might still arise.

After all, every dozen years or so, one or two batches of Foundation Establishment materials emerged; whether one could obtain them depended entirely on skill.

Between certain upcoming materials, the Immortal City’s large-scale auction, or the long wait ahead—each shattered Zhou Luo’s initial plans.

Originally, he intended to stay briefly before heading home to continue dual cultivation and child-rearing.

As things stood, he now needed to settle long-term.

He prepared for the worst: staying a decade or two. With his longevity, opportunities would come.

But staying at inns made no financial sense.

Though wealthy, such extravagance over ten-odd years was wasteful.

He planned to rent a place and act patiently.

That way, arising auxiliary or main ingredients could be pursued immediately.

Residing within the inner city would be ideal—rich in spiritual energy and near merchants.

That day he departed the Tian Xia Restaurant and walked toward a property agency within the Immortal City, seeking housing.

Perhaps Lin Xi could even join him, merging dual cultivation and child-rearing seamlessly.

Though since attaining the ninth level of Qi Refinement, his success rate hadn’t been very high.

This kind of thing really depended on fate.

As Zhou Luo turned into an alley, a hand abruptly shot toward him from behind. He pivoted sideways, narrowly dodging.

Instantly he glanced back: a man in white robes.

Sharply defined features, strikingly handsome; messy long hair draped over his shoulders, lending a wild aura.

"Wang Lang?"

Zhou Luo instantly recognized him—Lin Xin’s former fiancé and the unlucky so-and-so struck flying by his father’s slap.

That spurner’s shameless presence left strong memories; unexpectedly, he reappeared now.

"Ha ha ha—Zhou Luo! You do know me!" Wang Lang laughed boldly.

This "groom-thief" remained etched in his mind all these years. Spotting the "taker" on the street emboldened him to approach.

Zhou Luo sized him up: after two decades, this guy had matured; his boyish edge vanished, yet the untamed spirit seemed unchanged.

"You need something?" Zhou Luo questioned uneasily.

Although he knew this person, it was only a brief encounter, and they shared no deep friendship.

“Tsk, tsk, over twenty years have passed, and you haven’t changed at all, otherwise I really might not have recognized you.” Wang Lang didn’t answer, just sighed with emotion.

Then he laughed and said, “I came to thank you.”

“Thank me?” Zhou Luo was a bit confused, as he didn’t seem to have helped the other party.

But Wang Lang nodded heavily: “Back then, if it weren’t for you stepping forward bravely and marrying that Third Young Lady of the Lin Family, I probably would have been tied to the Lin Family for life.”

He didn’t like Lin Xin.

Not just because he had no feelings for her, but also because he was wild by nature and disliked restraint.

If he had truly married into the Lin Family, he would have lost his freedom, so that day he had dared to argue with his father.

Later, while confined, he learned from his mother that the Third Young Lady of the Lin Family had married someone else.

This delighted him immensely; the moment he thought about breaking free from the shackles and gaining liberty, he felt deeply grateful toward the one who married away the Third Young Lady of the Lin Family.

So, as soon as the confinement ended, he couldn’t wait to go thank that person.

After many inquiries, he found out that the one who married Lin Xin was called Zhou Luo, and he acquired a portrait of him.

But since Zhou Luo had always lived in seclusion while in closed-door training, Wang Lang, though wanting to thank him, never got the chance.

Finally, to avoid his family, he came to Immortal City.

He stayed there for over ten years.

After hearing the whole story, Zhou Luo then realized.

More than ten years ago, he had indeed heard that a man named Wang Lang was looking for him.

At the time, he assumed it was someone seeking revenge, so he chose to simply shut his door and not meet him.

He hadn’t expected it was to thank him.

That truly surprised him.

“Actually, you didn’t have to do this,” Zhou Luo said.

“How could I not? I, Wang Lang, have always repaid grudges and favors; you’re my benefactor, so I must show proper gratitude.”

“I had no chance before, but now that I do, I naturally can’t let it pass.”

Wang Lang said seriously.

After speaking, he tried to grab Zhou Luo, but was dodged.

He didn’t feel embarrassed and kept smiling as he said:

“Come on, I’ll treat you to a meal at Zhen Cui Lou, the best restaurant in Immortal City, even better than Tian Xia Restaurant.”