Walker Of The Worlds

2745  The Grand Teleportation Tower

The Grand Teleportation Tower was a marvel of both architecture and magical engineering. From a distance, it appeared as a slender spire piercing the heavens, a beacon of shimmering blue against the vast sky.

However, as one approached, its true scale became apparent—it was not only towering but also immensely wide, spanning nearly five hundred meters in diameter. It was less of a tower and more of a colossal fortress disguised as one.

Each of its exterior tiles, a mesmerizing shade of cerulean, was forged from the shells of Blue Coral Armored Lobsters—a material so prized that a single shell could be fashioned into armor capable of withstanding the strikes of a Fifth Tribulation Stage immortal.

To clad an entire structure in such rare material was a display of wealth so outrageous that it bordered on arrogance. This alone spoke volumes about the vast resources of the Shanxi Empire.

But this was merely the surface. Beneath its gleaming exterior, the towerʼs very framework was a treasure unto itself. The internal pillars, massive and unyielding, were sculpted from Robust Abyssal Ocean Corals, materials found only in the deepest, most treacherous marine trenches.

These corals were known for their indomitable strength, capable of withstanding the crushing weight of the ocean depths, making them one of the few materials worthy of supporting a structure of this magnitude.

To further solidify its grandeur, the entire tower was etched with hundreds of millions of intricate runes, each one humming with latent power. These runes wove an unbreakable array of protection around the tower, shielding it from natural disasters, enemy attacks, and even the wear of time itself.

Yet, the most astonishing feature of the Grand Teleportation Tower lay beneath its foundation. Unlike traditional teleportation arrays that relied on vast amounts of external immortal stones, this tower was built directly above a unique Oceanic Immortal Qi source vein.

The energy coursing through this vein was inexhaustible, providing an unending flow of power to sustain not only the teleportation functions but also the towerʼs formidable defenses. It was a self-sufficient powerhouse, a relic of unparalleled ingenuity.

Lin Mu stood at the entrance gate, eyes wide with awe. The more he observed the structure, the more he realized that no amount of description could have prepared him for its magnificence.

”It truly is a masterpiece,” Lin Mu murmured, his gaze tracing the glowing runes that pulsed faintly like a beating heart.

”It is, indeed,” Daoist Chu agreed. ”This is one of the very few teleportation arrays in existence in this part of the Western Immortal Court that barely requires external immortal stones to function. It wouldnʼt be surprising if this single tower accounted for five to ten percent of the capitalʼs entire income.”

”That much?” Lin Mu was taken aback.

”Of course,” Daoist Chu affirmed. ”Thanks to its endless energy source, the teleportation array can be operated nearly nonstop. Many worlds—even those slightly off the Jui World route—choose to connect through this array simply because it can reach farther than any other. Jui World is renowned for its connectivity. From here, one can travel directly to at least two hundred different worlds.”

”How many can the Rust Sky World connect to?” Lin Mu asked, realizing he had never looked into this before.

”Just eighty,” Daoist Chu replied.

”More than twice as many... Thatʼs incredible,” Lin Mu admitted.

”Of course, that also means the waiting lines are... well, just look.” Daoist Chu gestured forward, making Lin Mu take in the sheer number of people.

A massive queue of at least three hundred individuals stretched before them, winding its way through the registration area like an endless river of travelers. Merchants, cultivators, and scholars all stood in patient anticipation, some with entire caravans of goods, others accompanied by mighty beasts.

”And this is just the registration line, isnʼt it?” Lin Mu asked, noticing an even larger and busier gate on the other side.

”Yes. Most of these people are booking their travel at least a year in advance,” Daoist Chu explained.

”A year?!” Meng Bai nearly choked. ”Does that mean weʼll be waiting here that long too?”

Daoist Chu chuckled. ”Of course not. Weʼll be taking the express route.”

”Does that cost more?” Meng Bai asked hesitantly.

”That depends on the world youʼre heading to,” Daoist Chu replied. ”For standard travel, people book a year in advance to get a more affordable rate. But since weʼre leaving immediately, weʼll be paying quite a bit extra.”

”How much are we talking?” Meng Bai asked, suddenly feeling nervous.

”For a normal booking to Osteri World, it would cost about fifty to sixty thousand high-grade immortal stones. But for express travel?” Daoist Chu paused for a moment, doing a quick calculation. ”Roughly one hundred and twenty thousand high-grade immortal stones.”

Thud!

Meng Bai dropped to the ground in shock.

”O-one hundred and twenty thousand... high-grade immortal stones?!” His vision swam.

”Come on, get up,” Daoist Chu sighed, pulling the young man back to his feet. ”Relax, youʼre not the one paying for it.”

”Still...!” Meng Bai was reeling. Even though he had seen the wealth they had obtained from the River Bending Axe Sect, this amount still seemed astronomical.

”Donʼt worry, your master is rich,” Daoist Chu smirked, nudging Lin Mu. ”Even if he were broke, heʼd just need to take on a few missions. At worst, he could go hunt some high-level beasts and make it all back in a day or two.”

Meng Bai blinked. He suddenly recalled how Lin Mu and Little Shrubby casually devoured entire herds of beasts, and how the kitten-turned-liger playfully dragged hundreds of corpses into their camp for fun.

ʼYeah... With their abilities, it really wouldnʼt be an issue at all,ʼ he thought to himself.

After a couple of hours of waiting, their turn finally arrived.

”Please proceed to the third counter,” the attendant at the entrance informed them.

Lin Mu nodded and stepped forward.

”Welcome,” the clerk at the desk greeted them. ”Where would you like to travel, and how many passengers?”

Was too sore after gym to write earlier

Grand_Void_Daoist