Is It Reasonable for Me to Start a Sect at 12?

After hearing Liao Pantu's words, Lin Xiao immediately transferred all the spirit stones from his storage ring into his private storage.

He felt more secure with the system's private storage, confident that no formations or restrictions could take his spirit stones from there.

At that moment, the system helpfully chimed in his mind:

[The system's private storage is completely secure. No one except the host can detect or retrieve items from it. Please use it with confidence.]

Once inside the city, Lin Xiao was slightly taken aback by the scene before him.

The wide avenues were bustling with people, many riding strange spirit beasts. In the sky above the streets, many cultivators were leisurely flying on long, slender swords. From a glance, all those flying with sword techniques were Foundation Establishment cultivators.

The shops lining both sides of the street seemed no different from those in the mortal world, filled with various businesses.

However, when Lin Xiao looked closer, he noticed that the shops along the main avenue were selling rather mundane items—nothing high-end or flashy as he had expected.

These shops sold all kinds of materials, low-level demonic beast meat and hides, low-level pills, herbs, talismans, and formation diagrams.

Most of the shopkeepers and customers appeared to be at the Qi Refinement or Foundation Establishment stage.

He hadn't expected such practicality in the heart of a cultivation city.

Suddenly, Liao Pantu's voice echoed in his mind, "Don't underestimate these craft shops. Although they deal in low-level work, most of them have been passed down through generations, some for over a thousand years in Yuanling City. The shop owners may not be powerful, but their influence in this city is substantial. If you offend one of them, the entire street could turn against you. As the saying goes, 'Hell hath no fury like a small fry offended.' Unless your cultivation is as high as mine, at the Nascent Soul stage or above, you'd best avoid provoking them."

"I see. Thank you for the reminder, Senior," Lin Xiao replied, immediately losing interest in browsing the street. After all, he had access to a wealth of foundational techniques through the system and didn't need anything special from these shops.

He continued walking deeper into the city, occasionally glancing at the people flying above and asking Liao Pantu, "Senior, I thought using spells and spiritual power in the city was forbidden? How can these people fly here?"

"It's only fighting that's forbidden. Flying and similar activities are allowed."

After walking for two more streets, Lin Xiao suddenly heard a commotion behind him.

"Jiang Family Livestock Wagon coming through! Fellow Daoists ahead, please make way—make way!"

Turning around, he saw a middle-aged cultivator in Qi Refinement stage, dressed in a brown uniform, driving a cart pulled by two oxen.

These oxen were jet black, with four branching horns on their heads—clearly not ordinary cattle.

Inside a cage on the cart, restrained by a spell, were dozens of white, tender piglets, snuffling around with their soft noses.

Seeing this, Lin Xiao suddenly felt hungry.

These plump little piglets would surely make for a delicious roast.

The cultivators on the street, upon hearing the name "Jiang Family Livestock," immediately moved aside.

At that moment, Liao Pantu's voice sounded in Lin Xiao's mind again, "Oh, the Jiang family is still around? I thought they would have declined after all these years. Their spirit pigs are quite good. You should buy one later, and we'll take it to Xianxiang Restaurant to have it roasted."

After the cart passed, Lin Xiao agreed and asked, "Is the Jiang family well-known here?"

Liao Pantu replied, "In terms of power among the families in Yuanling City, the Jiang family doesn't rank in the top ten. But in terms of reputation, they're quite famous."

"Is there a story behind that?"

"Well, it's actually a bit boring. The Jiang family became famous because of a scandal. Back in the day..." As Liao Pantu spoke, he suddenly stopped and then said, "You're too young to be digging into such dirty gossip. Focus on cultivating and managing your sect!"

No matter how much Lin Xiao pressed him, Liao Pantu refused to continue.

With no other choice, Lin Xiao set aside his curiosity and asked, "Where are we headed now?"

Seeing that Lin Xiao had dropped the gossip, Liao Pantu finally responded, "We're going to Qixing Street. That's where the cultivators in Yuanling City gather."

Lin Xiao was puzzled, "Why there? What's so special about Qixing Street?"

"Of course, there's something special. Ah, it's hard to explain in a few words—you'll see when we get there."

Following Liao Pantu's directions, Lin Xiao walked for a while longer until he reached Qixing Street.

Upon arrival, he couldn't help but marvel at the sight of the bustling crowds. This place truly lived up to its reputation as the gathering spot for cultivators in Yuanling City.

Despite being called a street, Qixing Street looked more like a large plaza. No, it was more like the job market he had visited once in his previous life.

Amidst the dense crowds, he heard a variety of shouts:

"The Red Moon Secret Realm opens in three days! Our ten-man team needs three more members—join quickly!"

"Yuan Family Escort Service, reward of twenty spirit stones per person. Only fifteen spots available—first come, first served!"

"Buying ten Fire Rhino Beasts, alive! Five hundred spirit stones each!"

"Forming a team to capture Fire Rhino Beasts! Five-man team, hurry up—leaving soon!"

"Golden Secret Realm! Five-man team! Hurry, hurry!"

"The Wu family is hosting a banquet today at Xianxiang Restaurant, welcoming fellow Daoists from all over. If you have any special skills, come showcase your talents and become a valued guest of the Wu family—"

…

Now Lin Xiao understood why this place was the city's gathering spot for cultivators. It was like a real-life version of the public square channel.

Seeing Lin Xiao looking around curiously without asking any further questions, Liao Pantu couldn't help but transmit his voice again, "What do you think?"

Prompted by this question, Lin Xiao responded, "Senior, do you think I should join the group catching Fire Rhino Beasts? Five hundred spirit stones per beast!"

There was a pause before Liao Pantu finally replied from within the Soul Nourishing Pendant, "With no connections in the city, you'd be surrounded and robbed as soon as you caught the Fire Rhino."

Having cold water poured on his enthusiasm, Lin Xiao reined in his restless thoughts, "Alright."

It seemed that making money here wouldn't be as easy as he had hoped.

Putting aside his unrealistic money-making ideas, he began to seriously observe and gather information from the bustling area.