Transmigration: The Peerless Immortal Husband

In Gu Yao and his companions’ understanding, the once-prosperous Shifang City had been a flourishing hub. However, after the rise of Alchemist’s Cauldron City and a catastrophic war that left much of Shifang City in ruins, the city, even after reconstruction, could never regain its former glory. While Alchemist’s Cauldron City was developing rapidly, it still had a long way to go—perhaps another decade or two—before it could match or even surpass Shifang City at its peak.

Yet, the Jiangyun City before them was leagues ahead of even Shifang City in its prime. Astonishingly, among the famous cultivation cities on Qianhao Continent, Jiangyun City was considered unremarkable. Gu Yao, Tian Feirong, and the fatty youth were secretly astounded, feeling much like villagers stepping into a bustling metropolis for the first time. No wonder the cultivators from Changxian Sect always acted so arrogant when they visited Tianlin Continent, looking down their noses at others.

Yan Xun extended a sincere invitation to Chi Changye and his companions to visit the Yan family, but Chi Changye politely declined. Reluctantly, Yan Xun left his contact information, telling them to reach out to the Yan family if needed. Afterward, the group parted ways at the city gates. Even after the Yan family had walked quite a distance, Gu Yao could still sense a lingering, reluctant gaze in their direction, prompting him to wrinkle his nose in annoyance.

“Let’s go. We’ll find a place to stay and familiarize ourselves with the environment before making any plans,” Chi Changye said, patting Gu Yao lightly on the head.

“Alright,” Gu Yao replied.

“Brother Chi, are there many Golden Core cultivators here?” Tian Feirong transmitted the question to Chi Changye.

Chi Changye responded, “There are several auras here that are no weaker than those of Golden Core cultivators—and that doesn’t include those who are concealing their presence entirely.”

This revelation immediately deflated Tian Feirong and the fatty youth, who had been feeling overly confident. Back on Tianlin Continent, young cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage were rare, and their recent surge in numbers was largely due to increased resources. Having spent so much time there, listening to the praise of others, they had inevitably started to grow complacent.

Now, thinking about how Golden Core cultivators on Qianhao Continent might outnumber Foundation Establishment cultivators on Tianlin Continent, and considering the existence of even more powerful Nascent Soul masters, any inflated sense of confidence they had quickly deflated. The weight of this realization pressed down on them. A decade-long agreement had already passed a year and a half, and along the way, they had encountered many young Foundation Establishment cultivators. Gu Yao and his companions gradually curbed their curiosity. Chi Changye glanced at the three of them, the corners of his mouth curving slightly. This was nothing unusual—there was always a higher mountain.

The four of them were not lacking in spirit stones, so they found an inn and rented an entire courtyard. However, the prices here were noticeably higher than on Tianlin Continent.

Although they had tasted some local spirit fruits and snacks provided by the Yan family on the ship, Foundation Establishment cultivators no longer needed to eat, and Qi Refinement cultivators often relied on fasting pills during their training trips. As such, the ship had not provided regular meals. Once settled, the four headed to the inn’s attached restaurant and ordered a full table of dishes, indulging heartily.

Chi Changye discreetly moved the dishes Gu Yao enjoyed closer to him and mentally noted the ingredients used, thinking he might try making them in the future.

While they were feasting, back at the Yan family, someone was reporting on the four guests to Yan Xun. After hearing the report, Yan Xun said to the family head seated at the main position, “Patriarch, based on what we’ve learned, they indeed seem like cultivators traveling for experience and training. They also seem unfamiliar with Jiangyun City, which suggests they’ve never been here before.”

The Yan family head replied, “You make a good point. However, since they have no intention of joining the Yan family, it’s better to maintain friendly relations with them.”

“Yes, Patriarch,” Yan Xun agreed. In his opinion, if the four had agreed to join the Yan family, it might have raised suspicions about their motives, making the family question whether they had ulterior intentions. Furthermore, the four were clearly not ordinary rogue cultivators. Their auras were dense, their spiritual energy well-refined, and their foundations exceptionally solid. It was likely that the force behind them rivaled the Yan family’s own strength. Trying to recruit them into the family would have been laughable.

“By the way, I heard that Mu An from the Mu family was taken as a personal disciple by a Nascent Soul elder of the Tailuo Sect. The Mu family and that boy Mu An must be quite lucky,” the Yan patriarch remarked. Though his expression showed some displeasure, there was no denying his envy. If a Yan family member were ever accepted by a Nascent Soul elder, it would undoubtedly call for a grand celebration.

“So I’ve heard,” Yan Xun replied dryly.

“Enough. Even so, the Yan family isn’t so easily bullied. A Nascent Soul elder from the Tailuo Sect isn’t likely to interfere in disputes among lesser family powers.” The Yan patriarch waved his hand dismissively. Though he envied the Mu family’s fortune, who could say that the Yan family wouldn’t be next?

Meanwhile, Gu Yao and his companions, having eaten their fill, sat by a window listening to the gossip shared by the cultivators in the restaurant’s main hall below. The information they gleaned here was far more abundant than what they had gathered on the ship.

“Did you hear? Mu An from the Mu family was taken as a personal disciple by a Nascent Soul elder of the Tailuo Sect. That’s really something! If only I could become the disciple of a Nascent Soul master someday.”

“Keep dreaming—that’s faster!”

“Speaking of the Mu brothers, they’re as different as night and day. Mu An showed his talent for cultivation at a young age. When the Tailuo Sect was recruiting, he was admitted and worked his way up from an outer disciple to an inner disciple, and now to a personal disciple. It wasn’t an easy journey. But his younger brother, Mu Quan, only knows how to act arrogant and overbearing, relying on the family’s status. Now that his brother is a disciple of a Nascent Soul master, Mu Quan must be even more insufferable.”

“I heard that Mu Quan has his eyes on Miss Yan Yuchen of the Yan family. The Mu family head even proposed a marriage alliance to the Yan family, but they refused. I wonder if the Yan family will compromise this time.”

“Hmph, Mu Quan really dares to dream. Does he think the Yan family’s sisters are so easy to win over? If he had even a fraction of his brother’s ability, this marriage proposal would have been settled long ago. But he’s just incapable,” they overheard.

Gu Yao and his companions were listening intently upstairs. In Jiangyun City, aside from the Yan family and the Mu family, another prominent local power was the Chen family. Of course, these were only the local forces. As for the backgrounds of the businesses and external powers, that was something Gu Yao and his group couldn’t understand at their current level.

Although the Tailuo Sect was the strongest force in this region, there were still many other sects and family powers standing tall. Many young talents had emerged from these forces, and plenty of gossip surrounded them.

Yan Yuchen from the Yan family had recently been very troubled. Mu Quan was one of her suitors, but in the eyes of the Yan family, a person like him daring to think about one of their precious sisters was ridiculous. He was like a toad wanting to eat a swan’s meat—completely overestimating himself.

Originally, Yan Yuchen hadn’t paid much attention to Mu Quan and ignored his every move. Even though he had an elder brother in the Tailuo Sect, that didn’t matter to her since the Yan family also had people within the sect. However, after returning from a training trip, she heard that Mu Quan’s older brother, Mu An, had been chosen by a Nascent Soul elder to be their disciple. Mu Quan had then boldly declared that he wouldn’t marry anyone else but her, and if she refused, he would have his brother intervene.

Yan Yuchen was furious. To make matters worse, some people within the family were even gossiping about it. In her frustration, she went out with Yan Yuyin to clear her mind.

Unfortunately, things only got worse. She began to suspect that someone in the family had leaked information to Mu Quan, or that Mu Quan had someone keeping an eye on the Yan family’s movements. Before long, she and Yan Yuyin were stopped by Mu Quan and his lackeys.

Many cultivators in this region were handsome and elegant, but Mu Quan was a different case. He was overweight and awkward, with a face that made people recoil. He carried a fan, swishing it arrogantly, as he approached, “Yan family sisters, what a coincidence! We must be fated to meet. If there’s anything you want to buy, don’t worry, I’ll cover it all. I have plenty of spirit stones!”

Mu Quan was rich and ostentatious, making Yan Yuchen’s face turn red with anger. Her status in the Yan family wasn’t comparable to Mu Quan’s. He was the son of the family head, and although he was useless, he still had plenty of resources and spirit stones, allowing him to forcefully cultivate to the Foundation Establishment level. On the other hand, Yan Yuchen wasn’t from the direct lineage, so she had to fight for resources with other younger members of the family. She didn’t have the same easy access to resources that Mu Quan enjoyed.

“Who said we’re fated? Don’t think I don’t know how you found me! Get out of my way!” Yan Yuchen snapped.

Mu Quan shook his head arrogantly, “Yuchen, why don’t you see things clearly? It’s better to accept the reality now. You’re going to marry me, no matter what. Once I, Mu Quan, make an announcement, who else would dare to marry you? Shopkeeper, bring me that Feathered Rainbow Dress! I’m giving it to Yuchen!”

Mu Quan shouted to the shopkeeper in the nearby Immortal Destiny Pavilion. The Feathered Rainbow Dress, made from a hundred different types of feathers, was exquisite and favored by many female cultivators. However, it was also very expensive, which was why no one had bought it yet.

Yan Yuchen was so furious she could barely speak. With Mu Quan making such a bold declaration, how could she ever face anyone in Jiangyun City again? “You… You…”

“Hey, Mu!” Yan Yuyin’s temper was much fiercer than Yan Yuchen’s. Seeing how Mu Quan was bullying her sister, she jumped out and pointed at him, shouting, “Don’t even look in the mirror to see if you’re worthy of Yan Yuchen! Get as far away from her as possible! Yan Yuchen already has someone she cares about, so you, Mu Quan, better stay far away!”

Mu Quan, who had been smiling with pride, immediately turned cold when he heard those words. His face darkened, and he said with a menacing tone, “Who? Who dares to compete with me, Mu Quan, for a woman? Who in Jiangyun City dares to take someone from the Mu family?”

Yan Yuchen’s heart skipped a beat when she heard this. She quickly pulled Yan Yuyin aside, realizing that Yuyin was about to reveal who she had meant. But that wasn’t the right thing to do. “Yuyin, stop. Mu Quan, give up. I’ll never marry you. I’m telling you, I, Yan Yuchen, will never marry anyone. Yuyin, let’s go back!”

The Yan family didn’t plan to stay any longer, and the Mu family couldn’t stop them. Mu Quan waved his hand, signaling for his lackeys to let them go. As he watched their retreating figures, his face grew even darker. “Go, find out who that bastard is that Yan Yuchen likes. How dare he compete with me for a woman? Dig deep if you have to, but I want him found.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

Not long after, the details of Yan Yuchen’s recent movements were delivered to Mu Quan.