Immortality: Raising an Ant Queen to Cultivate by increasing stat points

Chapter 534: Chapter 526 Elm Money Immortal Tree

The jobs available within Elixir City were numerous, whether it was being a street vendor, gathering and selling herbs, or even working as a butcher, a prostitute… as long as one was diligent and steadfast, there was no worry about failing to make a living.

It was precisely because of such a high degree of inclusiveness that Elixir City’s population grew year after year.

The city expanded time and again.

The true core area of Elixir City could accommodate about five million people in total. But now, the actual population of Elixir City had long surpassed ten million.

This was a city that was truly ungoverned.

Or perhaps it would be more apt to call it a city beyond the reach of any governing body. The Hundred-Tempering Immortal Sect did not interfere, other sects also refrained from involvement, and individual powerhouses likewise dared not meddle in the affairs of Elixir City.

So, with such a vast population and without any sects or factions to manage it, how was it possible that Elixir City could develop so well?

This necessitates mentioning the Pill Alchemist Association of Elixir City.

It is an unofficial organization, yet respected by pill alchemists around the world as a ‘court.’

All top-tier pill masters wanting to be conferred titles must come to Elixir City to exchange knowledge and gain the recognition of the Pill Alchemist Association before being bestowed their titles.

The operation and management of Elixir City, in fact, were enforced by the Pill Alchemist Association.

Or rather, the Pill Alchemist Association had been forced into business over the years.

Pill alchemists earn considerable incomes and are, one and all, proudly unyielding. They were actually not inclined to manage such mundane and complicated civilian affairs. But if they didn’t, given that Elixir City fell under no jurisdiction and had a vast population, without a leading organization stepping forward to take charge, things would quickly devolve into chaos.

Thus, the folks at the Pill Alchemist Association could only be forced into business, taking responsibility for managing the big and small matters of the entire Elixir City.

These people, who immersed themselves in the art of elixir crafting, naturally were one hundred eighty times unwilling to divert a portion of their energy and time to manage civilian affairs. With the time and effort, they could instead be researching alchemy and medication techniques, perhaps even achieving a greater level of mastery.

Therefore, in an effort to save themselves the trouble, they came up with a brilliant solution.

They established an extremely harsh covenant for the citizens of Elixir City, and anyone who dared to violate it would be subject to the most severe punishment.

For example, if there was a private fight within the city, even if the two parties were just playing around, they would be expelled from the city and forbidden from entering Elixir City for a hundred years.

Speaking of the most stringent rule in Elixir City, it would be the protection of the city’s ancient structures and trees.

If anyone dared to damage even a piece of bark on the ancient pine at the city gate, at the very least they would be expelled from Elixir City, never to enter again. More severe consequences included the forfeiture of one’s cultivation and expulsion from the city. If the situation were severe enough, it was even possible to be executed on the spot.

A high-ranking Immortal Master from the Hundred-Tempering Immortal Sect once damaged an ancient pine at the entrance of Elixir City.

Before he could even flee, he was slain on the spot by one of Elixir City’s powerhouses. Even as this Immortal Master begged for mercy, citing his affiliation with the Hundred-Tempering Immortal Sect, it was to no avail.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Afterwards, everyone expected that the Hundred-Tempering Immortal Sect would be thunderously furious and seek vengeance for their fallen member.

Contrary to expectations, not only did the Hundred-Tempering Immortal Sect not trouble Elixir City, but they also warned all their disciples to take it as a lesson and strictly adhere to the city rules of Elixir City.

Since then, no one dared to act recklessly in Elixir City.

Whether they were disciples of an Immortal Sect, descendants of an Immortal Master, or a profligate son of some major family, once they were in Elixir City, they truly had to act subservient: even if they were dragons, they’d have to coil themselves up, and if they were tigers, they’d have to crouch down.

“Carriages are not allowed into the city?”

Qin Niu saw a large stone stele at the roadside, inscribed with eye-catching red characters.

“Over there is a place where you can deposit carriages. Although carriages cannot enter the city, horses and beast pets can be brought in.”

Chi Xing pointed towards a long row of buildings not far away.

Indeed, there was a sign for a carriage and large item storage facility. Moreover, there was more than one such facility; there were many.

“Brother Chi, please go and take care of the storage.”

Qin Niu had originally intended to let Xiao Qing handle this matter, and had in mind to train her abilities as well.

Only Xiao Qing seemed a bit off at the moment.

As the carriage approached Elixir City, she became somewhat distracted, her state of mind seemingly adrift.

Wang Wanyan helped her off the carriage and then glanced at Qin Niu, giving him a meaningful look.

“Xiao Qing, are you dissatisfied with the rock rat I bought for you?”

Qin Niu asked with concern.

“Not at all, the rock rat is very cute. Now that I’m familiar with it, it’s so much fun. And its teeth are incredibly sharp—it can even gnaw through iron bars. The rock rat you chose for me is just as good as those that cost tens of thousands of taels each.”

Ever since she had the rock rat, indeed, she showed her smile much more often.

And it took her only about three days to establish a mutual trust with the rock rat.

She was now able to command the rock rat to perform some simple actions.

“Do you have any troubles on your mind? Whatever it is, feel free to tell me. Though nominally we have a master-servant relationship, in reality, I’m your brother and it’s my duty to help you through your worries.”

Qin Niu sincerely said, looking into her eyes.

“Yes, I understand. Since I’ve been with my master, you have taken meticulous care of me. I have no other relatives in this world and have long considered Master, Sister Wan Yan, and Sister Cai Xian as my family.”

She nodded with force.

“I don’t know why, but as soon as the carriage neared Elixir City, I felt as though something was calling me—a very vague calling. Grandfather once told me that he found me. I can’t help but wonder if this calling is the call of kinship.

The Medicine King Sutra that I cultivate is also related to alchemy. Maybe my relatives are in Elixir City.”

She was both hopeful and a bit nervous as she spoke of these things.

Her feelings must be extremely complicated inside.

After all, she’s just a little girl of a bit over eight years old, not yet even nine.

“It’s fine, we’ll soon enter Elixir City, and when we do, I’ll accompany you to search for your relatives. If we really find them, it would be a great thing for you,” Qin Niu said, patting her head.

“Thank you, Master! If I do find my parents, I must ask them face to face why they were so heartless to abandon me in the open fields while I was still swaddled.”

Xiao Qing had suffered a lot over the years following ‘Grandfather’. Seeing other children her age pampered by their parents, she must have felt especially envious deep down.

Although Qin Niu took great care of her, and was very affectionate, he could not give the love of a parent.

“Perhaps they had their own difficulties. My fate is similar to yours; I was also abandoned by my parents when I was very young. But I never hated them. In this cruel world, no matter the reason they abandoned me, I can understand.

Over the years, I have seen through this world, through the human heart and nature; only being strong oneself is the true reality.

It’s better to rely on oneself than anyone else.”

Qin Niu and Xiao Qing could be considered to share a similar plight.

Born into a chaotic world, there were too many abandoned children like them.

“Husband, now that we are a wedded couple, if you truly have any hardships, I will be your stalwart support. Even if I have to be shattered to pieces, I will have no regrets,” Wang Wanyan said as she reached out and held Qin Niu’s hand with her tender grip.

“With a wife like this, what more could a husband ask for! As you said, we are now a family, you, Cai Xian, Xiao Qing, all are my family. No matter what fate befalls us in the future, we shall face it together,” Qin Niu declared and turned his gaze toward the Elm Money Tree that stood not far off.

“It’s said that this Elm Money Tree has lived for over ten thousand years, and its fallen leaves are treasured by people. Ordinary folks who take them home to steep in water say it can cure all kinds of diseases.”

These were things he had heard from others.

At this moment, there were quite a few people waiting under the Elm Money Tree, not for anything else, but to pick up its fallen leaves, flowers, and fruits.

Qin Niu led his wife and Xiao Qing toward the Elm Money Tree.

He could feel that the medicinal aura of the Elm Money Tree far surpassed that of the Ancient Banyan Tree by more than a thousand times.