Chapter 80: The Road to Immortal Emperor, Starting with a Visit to a High-class Brothel

Heishan's booming voice yanked Li Tiezhu out of his daydream about home.

He rubbed his reddened eyes and hurried after Si Chen out of the ship's cabin.

Heishan stood at the bow of the vessel, his bear-like nose twitching as he sniffed deeply, then tilted his head in puzzlement. "Smells nice, but… kind of strange."

Li Tiezhu sniffed along with him, and his expression instantly became a spectacle — shock, sudden realization, and the particular embarrassment unique to young men.

As a modern youth who had grown up in the age of information overload, he recognized the scent immediately.

"Th-this is…"

That's right. The scent of rouge and powder.

Rich, sweet, and cloying, it drifted on the breeze and blanketed the entire city below.

Si Chen gazed downward. Beneath them lay an extraordinarily prosperous city, its pavilions and towers far more colorful than those of other cities, its streets teeming with people.

Their Mystic Vessel hovered in the air just outside the city walls, drawing the stares of numerous Cultivators and Mortals below, who pointed and murmured among themselves.

A Mystic Vessel was not something lower-ranked Cultivators or Mortals got to see every day.

"Let's head down." Si Chen spoke and guided the Mystic Vessel into a slow descent, landing it in a quiet spot outside the city. Heishan and Chifeng exchanged a glance and naturally took on human form.

After stowing the Mystic Vessel into his Storage Ring, the group made their way along the main road toward the city gate.

Two Cultivators stood guard at the gate, chatting idly. One of them happened to glance up and catch sight of Si Chen. He froze for a moment, then his expression shifted — he immediately straightened up and bowed respectfully.

"Greetings, Senior Si Chen!"

In today's Cultivation World, who didn't know this fearsome figure ranked third on the Qingxuan Rankings? What's more, word had spread far and wide that the earth-shattering tribulation lightning over the Demon-Subduing Sea had been caused by none other than this very person breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm!

Si Chen smiled and returned the salute with a cupped-fist bow. "Greetings, Fellow Daoists."

The two guards clearly hadn't expected someone of his stature to be so approachable. They were momentarily flustered, overwhelmed by the unexpected honor, and hastily insisted they were unworthy of such courtesy.

Once Si Chen and his companions had walked away, one guard immediately pulled out his communication jade talisman, his voice trembling. "Quick! Report this at once! Senior Si Chen, ranked third on the Qingxuan Rankings, has arrived at our Baihua City!"

* * *

The moment they entered the city, even Si Chen noticed something… peculiar about this place.

On both sides of the main street stood elegantly decorated buildings, and many women in brightly colored, figure-flattering attire stood at the doorways, smiling warmly and beckoning to passersby.

Their voices were soft and honeyed, their eyes dancing with a natural allure.

"Oh, dear Immortal Master, won't you come in for a sit~"

"My, what a handsome young gentleman~"

Every one of the women wore a radiant smile, showing particular enthusiasm toward the men who passed by.

Heishan's bear eyes went wide and glassy, and he grinned from ear to ear. "The people here… are really friendly!"

Li Tiezhu's mouth twitched. He lowered his voice. "M-Master, Uncle Heishan… this place, it… it's not exactly respectable."

"Why isn't it respectable?" Si Chen looked at the women with a puzzled expression.

Their smiles seemed genuine, their words sincere — they were even more enthusiastic than Wang Yan had been.

He remarked with genuine admiration, "The people of this city have quite an honest, wholesome character. Very warm and welcoming. Excellent."

Chifeng understood a bit more than Heishan, but he was still a demon at heart, and the intricacies of human customs hadn't fully revealed themselves to him yet.

He swished his rear end and put on an air of profundity. "I, for one, find the… atmosphere here rather unique. Quite distinctive."

He even sniffed theatrically to emphasize his point — only to be choked by the thick cloud of perfume powder and let out a loud sneeze.

Li Tiezhu nearly choked on his own breath.

It was hopeless. All three of them had absolutely no idea what kind of place this was!

He quickly grabbed Si Chen's sleeve before he could walk any further, lowering his voice even more. "Master, this is a High-class Brothel!"

"A High-class Brothel?" Si Chen mused. "Rather an elegant name."

"El-elegant?!" Li Tiezhu was stunned, and sweat broke out on his forehead in a panic. "Master… this is… it's that kind of place! Where women… entertain guests and charge money for it!"

Heishan heard this and decided the kid must have a screw loose. "So they charge money — what of it? What restaurant doesn't charge money for food?"

"It's not that kind of charging money!"

Li Tiezhu's face had gone completely red. "It's… it's where they keep guests company drinking and chatting, and then… and then spend the night with them!"

Si Chen nodded in sudden understanding. "Ah, I see. Those women must work very hard then, not getting any rest through the night."

Li Tiezhu: "……"

He felt like he was about to suffocate.

While they were talking, a few more women gathered around them, each one beaming with a flower-like smile.

"My, you're so handsome, young master!~"

"Would you like to come in and listen to some music?~"

Swept up in their enthusiasm, Si Chen nodded and made to follow them inside.

Heishan cheerfully fell into step behind him. Chifeng sensed something was off, but he too was curious to see what made this "especially friendly tavern" so different.

"Don't! Don't go in!"

Li Tiezhu clung desperately to Si Chen's sleeve in one last stand. "Master, we really can't go in! A place like this… it's not appropriate for you!"

Heishan impatiently pried him off. "What's your problem, kid? The ladies are being so welcoming — what's wrong with going in for a sit? It's not like it'll cost you a pound of flesh!"

"It's just… we really can't go!" Li Tiezhu was on the verge of tears.

He had no way to explain the concept of "not suitable for minors" to two great demon lords and a master who knew nothing of the world.

Si Chen felt that Li Tiezhu was acting particularly strange today, and gave his shoulder a reassuring pat. "It's fine. Since we're here, let's experience the local customs and culture. Come along."

"It's all over, it's all over……" Li Tiezhu watched the scene unfold, his vision going dark.

Taking his master and two demon king uncles to a High-class Brothel? If word of this got out, he'd truly go down in history.

And so, the future Immortal Emperor of the Cultivation World, two demon kings, and a star stepped through the doors of Baihua City's grandest High-class Brothel — the Manyue Pavilion.

* * *

The interior of Manyue Pavilion was exquisitely decorated, fragrant incense curling through the air, the gentle sounds of strings and flutes drifting about.

The moment Si Chen stepped inside, he was surrounded by a flock of beauties.

These women had never laid eyes on a young man of such Transcendent bearing. They crowded around him eagerly — one offering tea, another presenting delicate pastries, all vying to attend to him.

"Please have some tea, young master~"

Si Chen accepted the teacup and gently inhaled the fragrance. "This tea has a clean, elegant aroma — it complements the fragrance the ladies are wearing quite nicely."

"What kind of music would you like to hear, young master? I would be honored to play a piece for you."

Si Chen accepted without hesitation and listened attentively as the woman played. When the last note faded, he offered his sincere praise:

"This piece carries a deep and lingering mood. Your technique is exquisite."

The woman's cheeks flushed faintly at the compliment, and she covered her smile with her sleeve. "You flatter me, young master. It is your own grace and appearance that are truly rare."

Si Chen glanced at her, then at the other women around him, and offered a genuine compliment: "All of you ladies have your own distinct charm. You are all very beautiful."

Li Tiezhu stood to the side, utterly dumbfounded.

His master, in a place like this, was completely at ease — chatting and laughing with the women, and every compliment he gave sounded so sincere and natural that the women only grew more delighted.

Over on Heishan's side, he had already struck up a roaring conversation with a few of the more spirited women. He waved a big hand and bellowed, "Bring out the best food and wine this place has to offer!"

He simply found these women's voices pleasant and their smiles sweet. He absolutely loved it here.

Chifeng likewise felt the women here were far more attentive than the staff at any ordinary tavern.

Even Red Bean was being constantly fed treats by the flock of beauties.

Li Tiezhu felt like a fretting old nursemaid.

Steeling himself, he squeezed over to Si Chen's side. Taking advantage of a moment when the women had gone to prepare fresh tea and snacks, he used the fastest possible speech, the lowest possible voice, and a generous helping of hand gestures to finally deliver the most comprehensive, detailed explanation of what a High-class Brothel actually was.

Si Chen listened, nodded thoughtfully, and his expression showed not the slightest trace of disgust or contempt.

Just then, a young woman in green robes returned carrying a fresh plate of pastries. Si Chen turned to her and asked gently, "Miss, working here day after day, greeting guests and seeing them off — are you content?"

The woman in green paused, clearly taken aback — it was the first time any guest had ever asked her such a question. "You jest, young master. Women like us are nothing but duckweed on the water. What does contentment have to do with us? We simply… endure the days."

The other women nearby heard this and chimed in with self-deprecating remarks of their own.

But Si Chen shook his head, looking at them with a serious expression. "In my eyes, all of you ladies have cultivated skills in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. You treat others with sincerity and warmth, and you earn your living through your own talents and hard work. That is worthy of respect. Please do not think so little of yourselves."

The women fell silent, exchanging glances with one another. Then a faint light seemed to flicker in the eyes of the woman in green.

She gave a graceful bow, her voice far more genuine than before. "Young master… you truly are a remarkable person. I is hearing words like these for the very first time."

Li Tiezhu stood nearby, listening, and couldn't help but feel a wave of admiration:

Worthy of being called Master. Even a visit to a High-class Brothel yields profound life philosophy. This level of character is truly unmatched.

But then he thought about his own future reputation, and the darkness closed in again.

— According to historical records, in his youth, the Immortal Emperor Li Tiezhu once boldly led his master and fellow uncles into a High-class Brothel, and thus began his legendary path of cultivation…

Taking advantage of a lull in Si Chen's conversation with the women, he quietly asked in his mind, "System, where exactly in the Eastern Region is Baihua City? Which faction controls it?"

[Locating… Baihua City, located in the southeastern part of the Eastern Region.]

[Primary industries: entertainment, commerce, intelligence.]

[Faction affiliation: … Harmonious Union Sect.]

Li Tiezhu immediately sucked in a sharp breath.

The Harmonious Union Sect?!