Jade Terrace Mountain was massive. Though called a mountain, it was more like a mountain range made up of planets.
It had nine main peak cities, arranged from highest to lowest. In the middle was a wide plateau, which was probably the Jade Terrace itself.
Chen Xia stood at the ferry railing, gazing at the view.
The planets of Jade Terrace Mountain were far smaller than the Blue Sky Sword Sea, probably only a tenth of its size.
The ferry came to a stop at the dock in front of Jade Terrace Mountain. Other ferries and shuttles, big and small, were also docked here.
Cultivators aboard the ferry gradually disembarked and headed to the marketplace at the dock.
This was where the ferries rested and where cultivators traded. Many rare treasures could be found at the dock market.
Moreover, this was Jade Terrace Mountain's market, protected and governed by the sect. Violent clashes between cultivators were also largely prevented.
Cao Gao hurriedly approached Chen Xia and lowered his head respectfully. "The ferry needs to rest for a bit. Please be patient, Senior. I'll just step out for a moment and will be right back. It won't take long before we can set off again."
"Mm," Chen Xia nodded. "It's fine, go take care of your business."
Cao Gao hurriedly cupped his fists in salute. "Thank you for your understanding, Senior." Only after Chen Xia waved him off did Cao Gao dare to quietly shuffle away, flashing off into the distance with a movement technique.
Chen Xia somehow produced a bamboo hat and flipped it over his head with both hands, taking on the guise of a white-robed, broad-hatted wanderer before disembarking the ferry and entering the market.
The cultivator's market wasn't much different from the mortal realm's.
There were stalls set up, vendors calling out to passersby, and occasional hawkers, though they didn't always manage to make a sale.
Chen Xia strolled at a leisurely pace, listening to the cultivators' conversations. He bought a small jug of wine with spirit stones, gently swirling but not opening it to drink.
"The Young Sect Leader of Jade Terrace Mountain has broken through to the mid stage of the Mountain Moving Realm. He has hopes of entering the Blue Sky Sword Sea and becoming an outer disciple. If he can progress even further, he may even become an elder or formal disciple."
"Jade Terrace Mountain is really going to rise up. Nearby sects of similar standing will no longer be able to contend with it."
The chatter of cultivators drifted over.
"Not necessarily. Though few in number, outer disciples and formal disciples in the Blue Sky Sword Sea have little say. For Jade Terrace Mountain, it won't lead to a meteoric rise."
"That's why I feel that even if the Young Sect Leader becomes an elder in the Blue Sky Sword Sea, at most Jade Terrace Mountain can become a top-ranked medium-sized sect, not unmatched."
Other cultivators chimed in with dissenting perspectives, mostly conjectures about the various powers in the celestial domain, each fully expressing their own subjective guesses.
Whether capable or not, they still had to offer their judgements.
Chen Xia quite enjoyed listening in and sitting to one side hearing them boast. The wine in his jug remained untouched.
He didn't really drink, only buying the jug to pass time in his boredom.
The cultivators' discussions continued without cease, the vendors' hawking voices rising and falling.
Chen Xia narrowed his eyes and leaned back against a wall, lightly swinging the jug in his hand.
For a moment, it was as if he had returned to the past.
The vendor up ahead seemed to be hawking candied haws, calling out:
"Low grade spirit medicines, 300 spirit stones apiece!"
The out-of-place cry jolted Chen Xia back to the present. He leaned against the wall, staring blankly at the swaying jug in his hand. After a long pause, he shook his head and laughed softly.
"I really am drunk."
The jug remained unopened, the wine inside untouched.
Yet he was truly drunk.
Palm braced against the wall, Chen Xia slowly stood up, hooked the jug into his belt, tidied his somewhat disheveled white robes, and straightened the broad hat atop his head.
With light steps, unhurried, the white-robed figure plunged into the thick of the bustling marketplace.
Since he was already drunk, he would take his time sobering up.
On the main peak, the highest of Jade Terrace Mountain's peaks, Cao Gao waited outside the grand gates. Only after hearing sounds of acquiescence from within did he hurry to lower his head and step forward, greeting the seated figure respectfully.
"Cao Gao pays his respects to Young Sect Leader."
The shadowy figure seated on the dais rested his chin in one hand. Beside him, two beautifully dressed maidservants massaged and kneaded his shoulders.
"The amount of spirit stones has decreased over the years. Didn't you promise to give me thirty percent? "
The seated figure's voice was neither rushed nor impatient.
Cao Gao's body quivered. Hands cupped in salute, head lowered, he hastily responded,
"In recent centuries, there has been some upheaval in the celestial domain. Fewer people are taking the ferry, and transport contracts are hard to find. That's why the thirty percent for you has decreased."
"But in the past, what you gave me was always over 2,000 spirit stones. How is it now barely over 1,000?" The seated figure questioned again.
"Because the total...the total is less." Cao Gao quickly replied.
"Nonsense!" The seated figure suddenly roared and shot to his feet, berating angrily,
"Cao Gao, it seems you have no regard for life and death! In the past you obediently gave 2,000 spirit stones. Now, relying on your Mountain Moving cultivation base, you actually dare to secretly reduce what you give me!"
"No...no, Sir..." Cao Gao's voice was flustered as he waved his hands helplessly.
"Still trying to worm your way out of it!" The figure raged and in a flash appeared before Cao Gao, spiritual energy surging from his hand as he lashed out.
Slap! An extremely clear, resounding slap.
Cao Gao toppled to the ground, left with a bright red palm print on his face and blood dripping down. Yet he did not dare resist or stand, simply lying prostrate on the ground.
"Disgusting!" The figure spat and revealed his features - a handsome, pale face with an eerie red dot between his brows.
"I don't care about your business or any of your excuses. From now on, the spirit stones that reach me must be at least 2,000, otherwise your ferry business is finished for good. Understand?"
"Yes...yes," Cao Gao answered from the ground, the corner of his mouth bleeding slightly, his disheveled bangs covering the slap mark on his face.
"Get lost!" The figure impatiently waved his hand before striding back to his seat.
Cao Gao slowly got up without even daring to wipe the blood from his face. Cupping his fists, he bowed deeply to the seated figure.
"Thank you, Young Sect Leader."
His expression was obscured by messy locks, betraying nothing.
The seated figure grinned and waved his hand dismissively.
"You're just a Mountain Moving Realm cultivator. Others may think you're decent, but in my eyes, in Jade Terrace Mountain, you're nothing but a dog."
"Obedient dogs get bones. Disobedient dogs get beaten to death. That's how it is. You'd best know your place - a cultivator of a few thousand years yet still so ungrateful. Truly an embarrassment."
"Yes," Cao Gao nodded woodenly, raising his hand as if to wipe his sleeve before stopping himself and cupping his fists in salute instead.
That afternoon, Cao Gao descended from the main peak, bangs concealing his face, oblivious and empty-eyed.
Some live to see distant mountains and seas. Others simply live for the sake of living.