Chapter 3: New Empyrean City

In the Celestial Realm, mountains are everywhere and below the mountains are the desolate mists. Few cultivators would be found below or near the desolate mists as the spiritual energies were sparse and unsuitable for cultivation.

Most powerhouses and powerful cultivation sects are actually found on the tall peaks of the spirit mountains that are rich in spirit energies.

Only the profound beasts would be found below the desolate mists and the profound beasts would often attack the mountains in waves known that was known as the desolate incursions.

New Empyrean City was a huge walled city that was situated on the tallest mountain range, covering many peaks and there were numerous citadels that could be seen. At the same time, the city was situated on a rich mountain vein of spiritual force that could aid the cultivators to progress in their cultivation.

Hence, it was also a city of a hundred celestial clans and various powerhouses that were constantly vying against one another for prestige and influence over the city and its surrounding mountains

There were four prominent celestial clans that were the powerhouses of New Empyrean City and were constantly opposing one another with their many intrigues and rivalries. These four prominent celestial cultivation sects were the Heavens Ridge Villa, Flying Armament Sect, Clear Sky Pavilion and the Solitary Manor.

Lu Qingyun was looking a little sheepish because he had never seen so many people in his entire life before. He had imagined himself losing his way in the celestial mountains but never in an ocean of people before. Just looking at the many street signs and the noisy moving traffic were enough to give him a big headache.

Suddenly a pleasant voice greeted him, "Master Cultivator, are you new to the city. Do you need any help?"

Lu Qingyun turned around and saw that it was a well groom man who was greeting him with a smile. This man appeared to be a mortal for he was not able to sense any cultivation core within him.

He gave a weak smile, "Indeed I do need some help. But I am not a Master Cultivator and is merely a low level cultivator."

The well groom man gave an amicable smile, "Since we are fated to meet and I'm also free, why don't I be your guide? Where are you going?"

Lu Qingyun hesitated for a while as he began to ponder.

The truth was that he had not really decided where to go yet. After all, there were more than a hundred sects alone in New Empyrean City and he had no idea which one to go first to try his luck of becoming a protege of that cultivation sect.

"You don't trust me?" The well groom man asked curiously.

Lu Qingyun immediately replied as he snapped out of his stupor, "It is not that." He was actually embarrassed to say that he had no particular destination.

So he quickly said as he remembered that Celestial Meixue had said that he would join her cultivation sect, "I am visiting the Heavens Ridge Villa. Do you know where it is?"

The well groom man had immediately turned pale as he stammered all of a sudden, "I…do…please allow me to take you there."

Lu Qingyun was perplexed when he had seen the change that was on his countenance, "Is something wrong?"

The well groom man quickly returned a smile as he said politely, "Oh no. It is just that I am a little surprise, that's all. After all, the Heavens Ridge Villa is one of the four most powerful powerhouses in the city. May I know why you are going there? You know someone there?"

Lu Qingyun replied with a soft sigh, "Actually I am just trying my luck to be a cultivator there. This is actually my first time in this place."

The well groom man seemed to relax when he had heard him as he laughed heartily, "I see. There are indeed many young practitioners that are always trying to join the big four celestial cultivation sects here. Surely mister, you must be a celestial expert?"

Lu Qingyun smiled weakly, "Actually I am only a First Realm Cultivator. I do not dare to profess as an expert. By the way, my name is Lu Qingyun."

This was the truth.

As Lu Qingyun followed the well groom man, he soon learnt that his name was Xiao Renjie and that he ran a small business in the city.

"Brother Qingyun," Xiao Renjie smiled. "It is so good to be acquainted with a powerful cultivator such as yourself. Sometimes I wish that I am able to cultivate like you do and live as long as the heavens and the earth."

Lu Qingyun could only give a weak smile. It was not true that every cultivator was able to live a long life. Only when one could reach the Enlighten Celestial Level or as a Third Realm Cultivator, only then would their aging be slowed down and their life span would also increase at the same time. At the Immortal Celestial Level or the Fourth Realm, the cultivator would no longer age and their life span would increase tremendously.

As for Lu Qingyun, he was only a First Realm Cultivator that was at the middle practitioner level. He still had a long way to go.

Xiao Renjie asked him, "Brother Qingyun, are you good with the sword?"

Lu Qingyun laughed awkwardly, "Actually my sword is just for decoration and I am not good with it. In fact, I don't even have a profound art for a sword practice."

As they turned into a small alley, Xiao Renjie began to smile wickedly at him and Lu Qingyun had suddenly found surrounded by six men who had swords in their hands.

It did not take a genius for Lu Qingyun to realize that he had been led into an ambush by this Xiao Renjie…

He asked, "Brother Renjie, what is the meaning of this?"

Xiao Renjie was smirking, "Haven't you guess already? We are robbing you. This place is our territory. You can shout all you want but no one will be able to help you. Although you have a sword in your hands, it is useless against us."

Lu Qingyun was smiling weakly as he took a glance at the men that had surrounded him. They seemed to be really good with their swords and one of the six men was even a Second Realm Cultivator.

The Second Realm Cultivator seemed to be their head as he gave a broad grin at Xiao Renjie, "Good, you have even net us a cultivator this time. I wonder what wondrous treasures that he has with him."

Xiao Renjie greeted back with a smile, "Master Hao. It is my pleasure to serve you. I've never seen anyone as gullible as him. Don't forget my share of the loot!"

Lu Qingyun gave a soft cough to attract his attention as he said coolly, "Well, since you want to take my life then don't blame me for being ruthless."

Master Hao took a look at Lu Qingyun as he roared with laughter, "Brat, who are you kidding? You are just at the first realm only."

Lu Qingyun smiled as he looked at Xiao Renjie, "Did you ask him where I am going?"

Master Hao stared at Xiao Renjie for an answer and Xiao Renjie muttered, "He says he is going to the Heavens Ridge Villa…but he is only going there to enrol as a protégé. There is nothing extraordinary about his background and moreover he is alone."

Lu Qingyun nodded and looked at Master Hao, "He got the first half correct but not the second half. I am there at the invitation of a Celestial Meixue. Should I come to harm then she will not spare any of you!"

Master Hao laughed loudly, "I've never heard that there is any Celestial Meixue from the Heavens Ridge Villa. Brat, are you trying to pull my leg?"

All the other men were also laughing jovially as well.

Lu Qingyun: …

He had thought that he could at least frighten them off with the name of a Fifth Realm Cultivator but they had actually never heard of her before.

In all the celestial cultivation sects, anyone that could reach the Fifth Realm and become a golden celestial was a powerhouse and it was hard not to know their names.

Did Celestial Meixue lie to him? But for what?

At this moment, he really could not figure it out nor did he have the time to do it now for he was clearly in danger.

Lu Qingyun said weakly, "The name of Celestial Meixue is not for the likes of ignoramus to know. Since I have the confidence to enrol with the Heavens Ridge Villa, do you think that I'm a weak and good-for-nothing cultivator?"

To prove his swordsmanship, he had unsheathed his sword to display a difficult stroke for them to appraise. But no sooner had he unsheathed his sword, he had accidentally lost his grip on it and his sword had flown over and landed on the other side of the alley…

Lu Qingyun was stunned because it seemed that he had actually lost his practice. The last time that he had actually wielded his sword was six months ago…

Master Hao, Xiao Renjie and the rest of the men were all roaring with laughter. They had never seen such a comedy before. At first they had really thought that Lu Qingyun was really a hidden celestial expert but to think that he would actually lose his sword even before the fight could begin…

Lu Qingyun was now caught in the most awkward situation of his short life…

Had his two bluffs been successful, he may be able to avert from this calamity. But he had never expected that they would not know any Celestial Meixue and that his sword would fly off due to his lack of practice.

As Master Hao laughed, he had secretly tightened his grip on his sword as he suddenly aim to strike Lu Qingyun down…

His attack was swift but Lu Qingyun's hand was even swifter as he struck a palm at Master Hao's chest and had sent him to fly to the other end of the alley, stunning all the onlookers with astonishment…

And Lu Qingyun had even seized the sword of this Master Hao.

His movements were too quick.

Master Hao was not dead but he was unable to move either. It seemed that he had suffered quite a bad injury to his ribs.

Left with no other choice, Lu Qingyun had displayed the Formless Shadow Fist that his old master had taught him. He really did not want to fight until he had no other choice.

The Formless Shadow Fist was a divine martial skill that could strike quickly. Although his cultivation level was low but it was enough for him to deal with most First and Second Realm Cultivators. Moreover although this Master Hao was a Second Realm Cultivator but his foundation was quite weak.

Xiao Renjie shouted to the rest of the men, "Everyone, attack him at the same time! He doesn't know any sword profound art!"

Immediately, all the men were attacking Lu Qingyun from all sides.

But Lu Qingyun calmly swung his sword and fell all of them with a single stroke, stunning everyone.

In just a blink of an eye, all the men were groaning painfully on the ground as Lu Qingyun had struck them real hard.

Xiao Renjie was in great disbelief as he rolled on the ground, "I've thought that you say that you are bad with the sword?"

Lu Qingyun sighed softly, "Compared to the real masters, I'm really not good."

Xiao Renjie: ...

With that Lu Qingyun had politely bowed with his hands to all the fallen men that did not even dare to get up and he said to them, "I am in a little hurry so please pardon me…"

He then retrieved his own sword slowly and sheathed it back to his scabbard before walking unhurriedly away.

Until he had disappeared from the alley, none of the onlookers had dare to move…

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Author Note:

1. Although this story may read like a non harem but it actually isn't.

2. I am still sorting the concept art for the maidens. Put Like if you want to vote for your favorite concept art.

3. The MC is overpowered but he will start off naive as he has been living in isolation and he is like a blank piece of paper. The start of the story covers his circumstances of being a true cultivator.

And no, the start isn't about the MC being bullied by everyone and secretly obtain a profound treasure, then become a cultivator. It is about the Villainess and the MC.