I Can Recognize Everything, But the Information is Wrong-Chapter 194 - 159: Meeting Zhou Shoufan Again
Seeing the man about to be intractably troublesome, the tea master was almost in tears.
But as it turned out, the man did not really intend to give the tea master a hard time. He turned his face towards Tian Lin and asked, "Friend, your attire doesn't seem like that of a local from Pingyang City. May I ask from where do you hail?"
At this time, the tea master stepped forward and whispered something to the man.
The man's gaze towards Tian Lin now betrayed a hint of surprise and uncertainty.
Tian Lin didn't care what the man was thinking and simply asked him, "Just now, the tea master mentioned that if one is a disciple of the immortal gate, they can use the Transmission Array for free as long as the county government can verify their identity. I wonder how this verification process is conducted?"
The man replied, "As a disciple of the immortal gate, the court naturally has corresponding registries."
Tian Lin further inquired, "What if the court's registry has no record?"
Upon hearing this, the man said, "Then one cannot be considered a disciple of the immortal gate and must still pay the fee required to use the Transmission Array."
Hearing this, Tian Lin fell silent. The cost required to use the Transmission Array was a bit steep, and he did not have that many Spirit Stones on him now.
He had no idea what exactly the affair with the stolen Dao Bell was all about since it currently sat atop Dao Seeking Mountain of the Yao Yue Sect.
But what was the cultivation level of the ancestor of the Yao Yue Sect?
In the eyes of ordinary cultivators, the ancestor of Yao Yue Sect was naturally a Golden Core powerhouse.
But in the eyes of those from the grand immortal gates, even though a Golden Core was not an ant, it was something that could still be killed with a slap.
What merit and ability did the ancestor of Yao Yue Sect possess that would allow him to steal the Dao Bell from the Wendaos Sect?
Therefore, it was likely that the fish demon allowed the ancestor of Yao Yue Sect to take the Dao Bell.
But the taking of the Dao Bell directly led to the northward migration of the Yao Yue Sect.
And the lands of the North Wilderness were far too distant from Pingyang City.
Even if Tian Lin were to travel by Sword Control, it would probably take ten years of his life. Not to mention, on this long and arduous journey, he didn't know how many dangers he might encounter while crossing mountains and rivers.
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"If I want to go to the Wendaos Sect, it would cost dozens of top-grade Spirit Stones. I just don't know whether earning these dozens of top-grade Spirit Stones is easy here in our Pingyang City."
After Tian Lin finished speaking, the man said, "These days, the number of cultivators is increasing, and earning Spirit Stones is becoming more difficult. May I ask what your cultivation level is?"
"I have recently entered the Foundation Establishment Realm."
The man said, "Predecessor truly has a heaven-gifted talent to have been noticed by the immortal gate. However, earning Spirit Stones doesn't rely on talent in cultivation, but on the Hundreds of Cultivation Skills. What skills might the predecessor possess?"
Tian Lin shook his head, "Besides cultivating at a faster rate, I have no particular expertise."
Upon hearing this, the man couldn't help but laugh dryly, "If you have no skill in the Hundreds of Cultivation Skills, and you wish to earn enough top-grade Spirit Stones, surely you don't plan to take up fishing in the sea like us?"
Tian Lin considered his advantages.
He wasn't afraid of diving into the sea, at least the waters of the Immortal Sinking Pond didn't scare him.
Provided he didn't venture deep into the sea, he was confident in close combat even against one or two fish demons in the near-shore areas.
"How much can one earn from fishing?"
Seeing that Tian Lin was seriously contemplating the feasibility of earning Spirit Stones through fishing, the man laughed, "Predecessor needn't ponder it. With your cultivation level, if you only catch some fish near the shore, the Spirit Stones you earn in one day won't even be enough to buy Spirit Rice.
But if you fish in a place a li away (approximately 500 meters), not to mention the dangers, I fear without fishing experience, even if by some stroke of luck you encounter a Five Elements Serpent, you would still let it slip away."
"I've heard that every part of a Five Elements Serpent is a treasure."
The man was at a loss for words for a moment and could only nod, saying, "Indeed, a grown Five Elements Serpent is worth an entire top-grade Spirit Stone."
According to the exchange rates, one Mid-grade Spirit Stone is worth a hundred Low Grade Spirit Stones, while one top-grade Spirit Stone is worth ten thousand Low Grade Spirit Stones.
It was clear, then, how valuable a grown Five Elements Serpent could be.
Tian Lin asked the man, "If I wish to go out to sea to fish, do I need to obtain permission and join a particular faction?"
Seeing that Tian Lin was stubborn, the man could only say, "Since predecessor is a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, you can reside within the Inner City. There's no need to join any faction; simply get a Tribute Token from the Tong Family, and you can enter and exit Immortal Sinking Pond to fish for free."
After chatting for a few moments, Tian Lin bowed to the man and then bid farewell.
According to the man, what was once Pingyang County a thousand years ago has now been renamed to Pingyang City.
Outside of Pingyang City, in the uninhabited mountainous regions, traveling by Sword Control presented no issues.
But it was best not to fly on the sword when approaching the city, as there were many workshops and even prohibited areas.
To avoid prying eyes, these workshops and prohibited areas are surrounded by no-fly zones.
Tian Lin followed the man's instructions and entered the city first, then at the county government, he exchanged for an Identity Token.
Although he no longer counted as an immortal disciple, as a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, he was treated differently.
After the government authorities confirmed Tian Lin's cultivation level, they issued an Identity Token for him.
For this Identity Token, Tian Lin spent five Low-Grade Spirit Stones.
As the tea master said, today's 'Pingyang County' is much more impressive than Pingyang County of a thousand years ago.
Not only has a huge city wall been built, but the population has also become much denser.
Cultivators come and go on the main streets, many of whom are at the Foundation Establishment; Tian Lin also saw quite a few.
Soon, Tian Lin found the old residence of the Tong Family by the street.
The Tong Family's old estate nearly occupied the entire street, located right at the center of Golden Core Lane, was the Tong Mansion.
And those who lived on the street adjacent to the Tong Mansion were either servants of the Tong Family or honorary guests and Tribute providers.
Tian Lin took his name card to the Tong Mansion, where the gatekeeper took the card and went into the estate. It took quite a while before he came out to invite Tian Lin to enter through a side door.
The person in charge of the old Tong Family residence was an elder at the mid-stage Foundation Establishment. He was also one of the elders of the Tong Family, responsible for some shops in Pingyang City and various transactions.
Upon hearing that Tian Lin wanted to serve as a Tribute to the Tong Family, this elder Tong had tea served and said from the top seat:
"Our Tong Family has indeed taken in many honorary guests and Tribute providers. Some educate our family's younger generation in Qi Refinement, and others guard our estate—may I ask what kind of Tribute provider you wish to be, friend Tian?"
"I, Tian, know nothing of the Hundreds of Cultivation Skills and have no experience in teaching the younger generation. I've only heard that serving as a Tribute for the Tong Family can allow one to go out to sea to fish, so I wanted to give it a try."
He was so straightforward that the elder Tong couldn't help but chuckle silently.
"If it's just for going out to sea to fish, the matter is rather simple. Friend Tian, you may first stay with our Tong Family, and in a while, I'll have someone send you a Tribute token. With this token, no one in Pingyang City would dare to trouble you.
If you wish to earn more Spirit Stones, you can also come to me, and I'll arrange a better job for you."
Tian Lin did not wish to stay with the Tong Family for long, nor did he want to be the Tong Family's enforcer.
He had been ready to spend money for the opportunity to go out to sea, but he did not anticipate that this Tong Family elder would be so easy to talk to.
Tian Lin immediately rose and expressed his thanks with cupped hands.
The elder Tong also lost interest in Tian Lin and instructed his servants to arrange accommodation for Tian Lin in a building facing the street.
The servant, with a Qi Refinement of the eighth layer, led Tian Lin out.
As they approached the West Courtyard near the outer court, Tian Lin once again heard lecture voices.
He couldn't help but stop and take a look inside, to see a dozen or so young students meditating in the courtyard.
The students were of various ages—some over ten years old, already sensible, and others merely four or five, thus not focusing on meditating.
Seeing Tian Lin's interest in the West Courtyard, the servant explained:
"Our Tong Family has a heritage of nearly two thousand years, and the collateral branches have bred many generations. As such, we have a vast number of disciples—this West Courtyard school is just one of the Tong Family's many schools."
Tian Lin was not particularly interested in the family education of the Tong Family, and he turned away to continue outside.
After passing through the side gate, he asked the gatekeeper, "What is the name of that teacher?"
The gatekeeper replied, "Ah, his name is Xing Bufan, and he has been serving in our household for over half a year. You might not guess from his young age, but he is already at the mid-stage Foundation Establishment."
Tian Lin nodded and praised, "The progression from the initial to the mid-stage Foundation Establishment is a significant threshold; many people never reach it in their lifetimes. This Brother Xing is so young, yet has reached the mid-stage cultivation—it's truly impressive."
"You, Immortal Master Tian, are not bad yourself."
The gatekeeper said, "I reckon you, Immortal Master Tian, are only about seventy years old? Given your talent, I would guess you'll reach the mid-stage Foundation Establishment within two hundred years."
Tian Lin laughed at the comment, feeling like the gatekeeper was cursing him.
But he had taken a Disguise Pill before entering the Tong residence, and even the Tong elder couldn't see Tian Lin's true face, so it was normal that the gatekeeper couldn't tell Tian Lin's real age.
They walked the rest of the way in silence, and eventually, Tian Lin was settled in a residence on Westward Lane.
Westward Lane was not far from the Tong residence, almost directly across the street.
Those who lived in this area were either the collateral descendants of the Tong Family or Tribute providers, scholars, and honorary guests invited by the Tong Family.
The residence arranged for Tian Lin by the Tong Family was not large, but it had a main room, side rooms, and a kitchen, all complete.
Most importantly, the Tong Family did not charge Tian Lin rent and even provided daily Spirit Rice.
After the servant handed over the keys to Tian Lin, he mentioned that the housemaids would arrive soon.
Tian Lin did not refuse and waited in the main room after the servant left.
"Zhou Shoufan plus Xing Shanping becomes Xing Bufan?"
Tian Lin tapped his fingers on the tabletop, finding it somewhat amusing.
He had not expected to come across Zhou Shoufan by serving as a Tribute in the Tong Family.
"Although Zhou Shoufan's father was once harmed by the Tong Family, without that incident, how could the Zhou Family's Ms. Zhou have married into the Zhou family?
By rights, Zhou Shoufan should be thanking the Tong Family for breaking off the engagement—never mind, in the end, it's none of my business. As long as I can go out to sea to fish and accumulate enough Spirit Stones, I'll be able to teleport to the Wendaos Sect."
The Tong Family servant did not keep Tian Lin waiting for too long, soon sending over two housemaids and two maidservants.
The two maidservants glanced at Tian Lin, their disappointment briefly flashing in their eyes.
Tian Lin smiled and said, "You two, one at Qi Refinement level six and the other at level eight, it's quite a waste to attend to an old man like me. I won't require you to serve inside the room; just help me clean the rooms from now on."
Upon hearing Tian Lin's words, the disappointment in the eyes of the two maidservants deepened.
The younger one was about to speak when the older one tugged at her sleeve. The younger one then reluctantly bowed along with her sister and crisply acknowledged the instructions.
