"Big Brother, Blackfire is a bit special and can't be left outside. But I don't mind staying out here, I want to broaden my horizons..." Seeing Joe Di agree to let Moria Lane stay outside, Sprout quickly spoke up.
Sprout was originally just an old tree root that gained a sliver of fortune and awakened its intelligence. To most immortals, such tree roots are countless and not worth noticing. If Sprout hadn't met Joe Di, he probably would've spent his whole life in Celestia, living out his years in obscurity.
"Alright, Blackfire, you go into the True Spirit World." Ignoring Blackfire's resentful gaze, Joe Di sent Blackfire directly into the True Spirit World.
Joe Di still hadn't figured out what exactly Blackfire was, only that its origins were extraordinary. If it were an ordinary creature, being able to tear open the void would be impossible.
Such an extraordinary fiend beast, even if others didn't know its origins, could tell it was special.
......
"First time at Outer Crucible City?" As Joe Di and Moria Lane approached the city gates with Blackfire, a guard stopped them.
Joe Di quickly clasped his fists and replied, "Yes, it's our first time here."
The guard said indifferently, "If you're staying long-term in Outer Crucible City, the fee is ten thousand top-grade immortal crystals per person per year, paid at least every three years. If you're just stopping over for less than three days, the entry fee is one thousand top-grade immortal crystals per person."
Joe Di thought to himself how expensive it was, but he had plenty of immortal crystals on hand and couldn't be bothered to haggle, so he handed over three thousand immortal crystals to the guard.
Seeing that Joe Di didn't haggle, the guard nodded and handed over three jade tokens to Joe Di. "Next time you come, just present the jade token—each entry will only cost one hundred top-grade immortal crystals per person."
Joe Di figured that once he left Outer Crucible City, he probably wouldn't come back. Still, he put the three jade tokens into an ordinary ring.
"Big Brother, so many people..." As soon as they entered the Void City, Sprout exclaimed in surprise.
Actually, there weren't that many people here—compared to regular cultivation cities, there were far fewer. But Sprout and Blackfire had spent years wandering the void, barely seeing any people at all. In contrast, it felt crowded now.
"Senior Brother, although this place doesn't have the violent aura of the void and the space is much gentler, I just don't really like it." Moria Lane sighed.
Joe Di nodded; he also felt a sense of oppression in this void city. He didn't plan to stay long. As he was about to look for an Information Pavilion to ask around, he spotted a large sign: Outer Crucible City Trade Pavilion.
Joe Di stepped into the grand hall. In the center, a massive array screen displayed various trading information. There were also notices for team recruitment.
"Fellow Daoist, please wait..." Joe Di called out to a middle-aged cultivator in grey robes.
This was a Great Yi Immortal. He glanced at Joe Di, and seeing he couldn't discern Joe Di's cultivation, he asked, "What do you need, fellow Daoist?"
"I wanted to ask, do you know of Cauldron Haven?" Joe Di quickly inquired.
The man in grey shook his head. "I'm not sure, I've never heard of it."
After speaking, the grey-robed cultivator turned and left, clearly not interested in chatting further with Joe Di.
It seemed there was no special connection between Cauldron Haven and Outer Crucible City. If there were, Joe Di figured he could have asked anyone and gotten an answer. So he went to the task board in the Trade Pavilion—since Cauldron Haven wasn't famous, he'd post a task himself.
"Wait..." As Joe Di approached the task posting window, before he could ask, someone called out to him.
He was stopped by an early-stage Immortal Lord, who cupped his fists to Joe Di and said, "Fellow Daoist, I quite like your beast companion. Would you consider parting with it?"
Joe Di looked at the Immortal Lord in surprise. If Blackfire were here, he could understand such a comment. But Sprout had neither talent nor ability—yet this person claimed to like Sprout very much.
Although Sprout wasn't much help to Joe Di now—almost none, in fact—Joe Di had no intention of abandoning him. "Sorry, I don't plan to sell my beast companion."
"Oh, that's fine. Where are you planning to go?" The Immortal Lord seemed to be asking casually. He didn't seem to care whether Joe Di parted with Sprout or not.
"While I was in the void, I heard of a cultivation city called Cauldron Haven, said to be full of opportunities. I want to check it out, but I don't know its exact location, so I'm here to post an inquiry." Joe Di was searching for Cauldron Haven, so he didn't mind sharing it with this person.
"You're going to Cauldron Haven?" The Immortal Lord looked at Joe Di in astonishment, clearly incredulous.
Joe Di's heart stirred. "You know Cauldron Haven?"
The Immortal Lord laughed. "You asked the right person. Not only do I know Cauldron Haven, I also know how to get there."
Joe Di was delighted. It was as if he'd searched high and low only to find it with no effort at all. He'd gotten information about Cauldron Haven so easily, and this person even knew how to get there.
Joe Di's excitement was fleeting, but the Immortal Lord noticed. He added, "You must be lucky. Countless cultivators want to go to Cauldron Haven, but can only wait here. The immortal ship to Cauldron Haven passes through Outer Crucible City only once every three years. Some people wait years for it. The next ship to Cauldron Haven will arrive in half a month, but the boarding point isn't here."
"Where is it?" Joe Di had just asked when he saw a nearby Great Yi Immortal glance at the Immortal Lord in surprise, then shake his head and turn to look at the array screen's tasks.
"It's one of Outer Crucible City's docks—Drakeport. But the fare to Cauldron Haven isn't cheap." The Immortal Lord's tone grew serious.
Joe Di turned to the window and asked, "Excuse me, is Drakeport far from here?"
In truth, Joe Di was just confirming whether the dock really existed.
The cultivator inside glanced at Joe Di and replied indifferently, "Half a day's journey."
"How many immortal crystals does it cost to go to Cauldron Haven?" After confirming Drakeport, Joe Di cupped his fists and asked the Immortal Lord.
"Ten million top-grade immortal crystals—per person. If you have a Pocket World, your companions can enter it." This time, the Immortal Lord didn't speak aloud, but transmitted the message to Joe Di.
Joe Di lowered his head, as if considering the Immortal Lord's words, but his divine sense observed the Immortal Lord watching his reaction closely. Joe Di's divine sense was far stronger, so the other party didn't notice.
Joe Di nearly slapped his own forehead. He'd been so focused on Cauldron Haven that he hadn't noticed how coincidental things seemed.
Thinking of this, Joe Di transmitted a message to the Great Yi Immortal who had shaken his head before. "Friend, someone just told me how to get to Cauldron Haven, but you seemed to shake your head. Do you know Cauldron Haven? If you do, I'm willing to pay one hundred thousand top-grade spirit stones for the information..."
The Great Yi Immortal gave Joe Di a surprised look, then glanced mockingly at the Immortal Lord who'd spoken with Joe Di. This Immortal Lord didn't know his limits, trying to scheme against a major immortal.
In his eyes, if Joe Di could transmit a message without the Immortal Lord noticing, it meant Joe Di's cultivation wasn't lower than his own.
"A million—that's the rule here." The Great Yi Immortal said mysteriously, then turned and left.
Joe Di quickly cupped his fists to the Immortal Lord. "Thank you, I'll think about this price."
With that, Joe Di hurried after the Great Yi Immortal.
"Actually, I know a few people. If you really want to go, I can help you get a discount on the ticket." Seeing Joe Di about to leave, the Immortal Lord quickly stopped him.
Joe Di chuckled. His concern had led him astray—now he realized the Immortal Lord's earlier words were somewhat false.
"No need, I'll decide later." Joe Di waved his hand.
Seeing Joe Di was determined to leave, the Immortal Lord shrugged. "If you want to reconsider, just call me. We hit it off, so I'll give you a discount—consultation fee is only nine hundred and fifty thousand top-grade immortal crystals."
Joe Di frowned at the Immortal Lord, his tone unfriendly. "What do you mean by that?"
The Immortal Lord's face darkened. He pointed to a nearby sign. "Check the rules of Outer Crucible City—consultation fees start at a million top-grade immortal crystals. You've asked me more than three questions, so it qualifies as a paid inquiry."
Joe Di glanced at the sign. Sure enough, that rule was listed. There were various provisions for important information, and it applied to the pavilion. In other words, the official consultation fee was this amount.
"Now this is the default price—whether you ask the Trade Pavilion or an individual, it's the same." Seeing Joe Di's displeasure, the Immortal Lord added.
Only then did Joe Di realize why the Great Yi Immortal said a million was the rule. The million-crystal consultation had become the default price in Outer Crucible City. People only paid for truly important questions. He'd been tricked because he didn't know the rule.
"Of course, I admit I have a stake in introducing people to the immortal ship to Cauldron Haven—I get a commission. If you still board, I get the commission and won't charge you the consultation fee." The Immortal Lord offered Joe Di an out.
Joe Di took a deep breath, trying to suppress his anger. "In that case, can I speak to my other friend first?"
"No. The rule in Outer Crucible City is that you must finish your transaction with me before you can consult or trade with anyone else." The Immortal Lord said coolly.
So it's all just black-market rules in Void City. Joe Di smiled at the Immortal Lord. "If that's the case, I'll save some crystals. Lead the way—I'll go with you to board the immortal ship to Cauldron Haven."