Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan Chapter 1857 - 1397: Identity (Part 2)

"Naturally! However, such a thing comes with a price."

"Let us find a more suitable location to discuss the specifics."

"This way!" The man appeared thrilled, clearly surprised by the other's decisiveness, and immediately began to lead.

As they walked, he took note of the local mortals. Their healthy complexions suggested that their standard of living was likely quite high.

Regrettably, the Dayan Dynasty was wedged between the Daqian and Great Zhou Dynasties. Its growth had been systematically suppressed, and it seemed to have reached its inevitable ceiling.

Unless one of those two giants fell into internal chaos and suffered a massive decline in power, the Dayan Dynasty would never find the momentum needed to rise.

"We have arrived!"

They navigated through a cramped alleyway until they stood before a crumbling courtyard. The man knocked using a specific rhythm, explaining, "Do not let this simple exterior deceive you; the interior holds much more than what meets the eye."

Li Zhirui offered a polite nod and a smile, though he secretly thought that the place looked less like a simple residence and more like a total ruin.

Still, the guide was telling the truth; there was indeed a hidden world within the courtyard!

By utilizing a Secret Technique at the entrance of a false mountain, they descended into a massive underground cavern. The area was bustling with people moving in and out of various storefronts.

It was obvious that a sophisticated underground black market had been established here.

'It is no wonder they can produce falsified identity documents and harbor fugitives; a powerful patron must be backing this operation to handle such risks.'

"The goods you seek are inside. I will take my leave here." Following the man’s directions, Li Zhirui was left in front of a nondescript shop.

He felt no fear. Given his actual Cultivation level, not only was this black market trivial, but the entire Dayan Dynasty posed no threat to him.

He stepped over the threshold with a composed and leisurely stride.

"Are you here to acquire identity proof?"

Entering this small city had been effortless and lacked any formal inspection—a local quirk not found in other regions.

Typically, the more vital a city was, the more rigorous its defenses would be!

"Indeed," Li Zhirui replied with a nod. "Will this identity proof reveal any flaws if it is scrutinized?"

"Absolutely not!"

The man grinned. "Provided the client can pay the fee, they could walk into the capital of the Daqian Dynasty without a single problem."

"And what is the price for such a service?"

A flicker of greed crossed the man’s eyes, but he kept his expression neutral and professional. "Please follow me to the elegant room; a specialist will discuss the details with you."

"Lead the way." Li Zhirui followed closely behind.

Inside the elegant room sat a stern, plain-looking middle-aged man. Upon seeing the newcomer, he asked, "Are you seeking the highest tier of identity proof?"

"I am."

"The price is three Human Immortal Rank Spiritual Objects, or two Spiritual Objects from the Human Dao Hundred Schools." The man stated his terms without hesitation.

Spiritual Objects from the Human Dao Hundred Schools typically referred to items like Great Confucian inscriptions or original poetry that had gained fame throughout the State Domain.

The former was easy for Li Zhirui to produce, but he lacked the latter, as he was not a native of the Southern Domain.

The price was surprisingly steep. For an ordinary Individual Immortal cultivator, such a cost might be impossible to meet.

To maintain his cover, he did not produce the items immediately. Instead, he feigned hesitation for a moment before asking, "Is there any room for a discount?"

"The price is fixed; I cannot change it. I trust the client will not make things difficult for me," the man replied with a firm, cold smile.

"Very well." With a heavy sigh of feigned regret, Li Zhirui reluctantly handed over three Human Immortal Rank Spiritual Objects.

The man gave him a deep, searching look but said nothing. He swept the items away and said, "This is your voucher. The client must now provide a name, date of birth, and a portrait."

"Understood."

The biographical details were easily fabricated. For the portrait, the man took out a sheet of high-quality rice paper and a fine brush. After studying Li Zhirui’s features, he quickly sketched a likeness that perfectly matched his current disguised face.

Even Li Zhirui was impressed by the artistry. "Excellent skill!"

"I appreciate the compliment. Forging the identity proof will take time. Please return in five days to collect it."

"I will." Li Zhirui nodded and stood up to leave.

Once he was gone, the man whispered to himself, "A disguised face... it seems he is involved in something significant, and..."

He recalled the question the stranger had asked but decided to stay silent, as it was none of his business.

... After exiting the shop, Li Zhirui found a decent inn and paid for a high-grade room for five days while he waited.

He did not remain idle during this time. Instead, he used the opportunity to research the current state of the Southern Domain, focusing on the Human Dao dynasties.

He spent a fair amount of Spiritual Objects to acquire various records and scrolls.

In the Southern Domain, Spirit Stones were not the primary currency; many smaller vendors preferred the coins minted by the regional dynasties.

These texts provided Li Zhirui with a much deeper understanding of the Southern Domain’s landscape.

Following centuries of growth, the Southern Domain was now dominated by three major powers: the Daqian, the Great Zhou, and the Great Xia Dynasty.

Small nations like the Dayan Dynasty were scattered between them to serve as buffer zones, ensuring the great powers were never directly adjacent.

If war ever erupted, these small territories would serve as the battlegrounds, keeping the destruction away from the major dynasties' heartlands.

Daqian was the most powerful, followed by Great Zhou, with Great Xia being the weakest of the three.

Furthermore, all three dynasties had reached the limits of their expansion.

Lately, rumors of an impending world war between the three giants had become common.

However, Li Zhirui suspected that they would exercise restraint. The Southern Domain was dangerous; beyond the human borders, the Ten Thousand Spirit Race and the Devil Race were waiting for a moment of weakness.

A massive civil war would only serve the interests of those alien races.

As an outsider, he was curious to see how the three dynasties would solve their stagnation. Most likely, they would focus on internal Cultivation and slow, steady growth.

He also found information regarding the Devil Race and the Ten Thousand Spirit Race.

Because the Human Dao dynasties had won easy victories in the past, pushing the alien races into the Extremely Southern Land, the literature was heavily biased and portrayed them as inferior.

Li Zhirui saw this as a dangerous trend. Such arrogance would only lead to them underestimating a future threat.

... Five days later, Li Zhirui returned to the shop with his voucher.

"It is finished, honored guest. One moment, please." The clerk verified the voucher, bowed, and went to retrieve the document.

He soon returned, presenting the identity proof with both hands. "Here is your custom order, sir."

"Very good." After a thorough inspection to ensure everything was in order, Li Zhirui stored the document and walked out.

With his new identity secured, Li Zhirui was ready to begin his journey through the Southern Domain.