Chapter 390 ·Meeting Yun Yao in Sea Abyss City

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Fog Sea of Tongtian.

After ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍leaving Five Dragon Island, Lin Chang’an did not head directly to Sea Abyss City. Instead, he first came to the Fog Sea of Tongtian.

On ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍an island saturated with dense yin energy, a violent disturbance erupted. After the time it took an incense stick to burn, the tremors finally ceased.

“Master, ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍everything has been taken care of.”

The ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Wind-Chirp Bird flew over with a Sinister Spirit Demon Core clutched in its beak, speaking excitedly while wearing an unmistakable expression of asking for credit.

Lin ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Chang’an naturally understood what the Wind-Chirp Bird was thinking. He smiled helplessly and waved his hand.

“Alright, you can have this Sinister Spirit Demon Core.”

“Gulp!”

The moment it heard it was allowed to eat it, before Lin Chang’an had even finished speaking, the Wind-Chirp Bird let out a loud swallowing sound.

It swallowed the Demon Core in one gulp, as though afraid Lin Chang’an might change his mind.

Only after everything had become irreversible did the Wind-Chirp Bird finally beam with delight under Lin Chang’an's speechless gaze.

“Thank you, Master.”

In the distance, the Azure-Horned Ox snorted loudly after witnessing the scene. Its bovine face even curled into a theatrically mocking sneer, seemingly ridiculing the Wind-Chirp Bird for being so gluttonous.

“You stupid ox, what's with that expression?”

“Moo! Moo!”

“You gluttonous stupid ox. No matter how much I eat, I won't nearly eat myself to death.”

The Wind-Chirp Bird's reopening of old wounds immediately made the Azure-Horned Ox widen its eyes as it mooed furiously in protest.

Meanwhile, upon seeing the two seniors arguing once again, the Two-headed Tiger merely lowered its head and lay down in boredom. It had clearly long since grown accustomed to this sight.

“Master.”

The Sword Attendant acted as though she had seen nothing. She sheathed the longsword still flickering with lightning in her hand before respectfully stepping forward.

“Mhm. This place has been mostly cleaned out. There are only the last two locations left.”

Lin Chang’an held the map of the Fog Sea of Tongtian that he had personally drawn, marking it with his Spirit Brush.

Since he was preparing to leave this place, he naturally could not waste the locations where Sinister Spirits had gathered over the years, all discovered by the Sinister Spirit Two-headed Tiger.

While he was at it, he could clean them out and collect a batch of cultivation resources.

Although the total value of these materials was considerable, compared to his plans for Nascent Soul treasures, it amounted to nothing more than a fraction.

“Roar!”

A hoarse roar echoed through the air as Lin Chang’an calmly put away the map and looked behind him at the three Yin Fiend Corpse Puppets.

After years of cultivation, all three Yin Fiend Corpse Puppets had reached the Mid Third-rank. Unfortunately, advancing them any further had become exponentially more difficult.

Thinking of this, Lin Chang’an secretly sighed.

If Yin Fiend Corpse Puppets were truly so easy to cultivate, the Mystic Yin Divine Sect would have long since mass-produced corpse puppets.

Even so, the advancement speed of these three Yin Fiend Corpse Puppets was already considered impressive.

The main reason was the exceptional corpse-nurturing environment of the Fog Sea of Tongtian, combined with the enormous quantity of resources they had been fed.

Another factor was that they had advanced by consuming their own potential. Otherwise, they could never have progressed so quickly.

After all, they were merely corpse puppets. There was no need to worry about exhausting their future prospects.

Unlike the Spirit Pets he raised, which could not recklessly devour anything lest they permanently overdrew their potential.

“Ling'er, once we've wiped out the final two strongholds, we'll head to Sea Abyss City.”

“Yes, Master.”

Afterward, Lin Chang’an, accompanied by the Sword Attendant and his two Spirit Pets, sped deep into the Fog Sea of Tongtian to carry out the final harvest.

The Wind-Chirp Bird had been hidden away for so long that it had been suppressing its excitement for ages. Now that it finally had the chance to let loose, it indulged itself to its heart's content.

...

Three months later.

Sea Abyss City.

“Talisman Master Lin, the Sixth Elder has gone to visit True Lord Lu. However, he left a voice transmission instructing that you simply wait in the city. He will return before the Secret Realm opens.”

Outside the main hall, a Foundation Establishment guard of Bihai Palace respectfully reported.

Whether in terms of cultivation or status, the man before him deserved the utmost respect.

“Many thanks.”

After arriving in Sea Abyss City, the first thing Lin Chang’an did was report to the Sixth Elder.

Upon learning the situation from the guard, he cupped his fists respectfully before departing.

“Master, as the Secret Realm is about to open, many cultivators from the various sects and factions under Bihai Palace have gathered in Sea Abyss City. I heard a trading gathering will be held soon.”

The Sword Attendant had already gathered the latest intelligence around the city while Lin Chang’an was paying his visit.

Lin Chang’an nodded without surprise.

Every time the Secret Realm opened, Bihai Palace would lead not only its own cultivators, but also numerous subordinate sects and affiliated forces into the Secret Realm.

“Let's find an inn first. We'll wait for the Sixth Elder to return.”

“Yes.”

Cultivators who stayed long-term usually sought cave abodes, but for temporary residence, inns were naturally the more convenient choice.

A short while later, the Sword Attendant found an inn not far from the Gathering Treasures Pavilion.

As a Late Core Formation cultivator carrying the Sixth Elder's Identity Jade Token, what he rented could hardly be called an inn room—it was an entire private courtyard.

Several days later.

“Finally, there's news.”

On this day, Lin Chang’an looked at the Voice-transmission Jade Talisman in his hand as his eyes flickered.

Yun Yao had sent him a message, asking him to meet her at the trading gathering.

“There are too many eyes here. Yun Yao deliberately chose to meet at the trading gathering. It seems her situation has become increasingly difficult as the Secret Realm's opening draws near.”

Even arranging a simple meeting had become so troublesome.

Lin Chang’an could not help growing more serious.

However, after thinking it over, if he were the Mystic Yin Ancestor, he also would not want unnecessary complications at such a critical moment.

“A trading gathering... It seems I really need to make a trip.”

His early arrival in Sea Abyss City to rendezvous would appear perfectly reasonable to outsiders.

Some would think he was currying favor with the Sixth Elder, while others would believe he was simply avoiding unexpected incidents.

Everything was completely logical, leaving no room for suspicion.

The only remaining issue was how the two of them would make contact during the trading gathering.

...

Half a month later.

The Gathering Treasures Pavilion Trading Gathering officially began.

Lin Chang’an entered the venue with the Sword Attendant as though he were already quite familiar with the place.

With the Secret Realm's opening approaching, he had also noticed changes throughout Sea Abyss City during this period.

Many cultivators had disappeared.

For example, Master Tan and Old Hu were nowhere to be seen. They were probably fulfilling their duties as members of Bihai Palace, stationed elsewhere to oversee important locations.

“So... the great turmoil is about to begin.”

Lin Chang’an pondered inwardly as a maid from the Gathering Treasures Pavilion led him into the trading venue.

Unlike previous gatherings, this venue was entirely different.

Instead of a common hall, it consisted of individual private rooms hidden within a specially arranged restriction formation.

“Fellow Daoists, this trading gathering uses private rooms concealed by a special formation. Unless one is a Nascent Soul cultivator, it is impossible to see through it.

“Therefore, regardless of what precious treasures you possess, feel free to bring them out. With the formation concealing your identity, your personal information will absolutely remain hidden.”

Beyond the private rooms, a silhouette appeared within the darkness.

It was the person in charge of the Gathering Treasures Pavilion, smiling warmly as he cupped his fists toward everyone.

“Haha! With Bihai Palace overseeing things, why would we have anything to worry about?”

“Exactly. Fellow Daoists, stop hiding your treasures. With chaos approaching, if you miss this opportunity, gathering again next time won't be nearly so easy.”

“Come, let this old man start first. Although this defensive Magical Artifact has suffered some damage, it's still a Mid-grade Third-rank Magical Artifact. Repairing it won't cost many Spirit Stones.”

With the formation concealing everyone, every voice emerging from the private rooms had been transformed into the same hoarse tone.

Lin Chang’an secretly nodded while carefully observing his surroundings.

The positions of all the private rooms corresponded to the Eight Trigrams, their operation leaving virtually no trace.

“That defensive Magical Artifact... the Blazing Flame Shield... Isn't that a treasure of the Blazing Fire Sect?”

As soon as someone threw out the first bait, whether by coincidence or arrangement, the very first item immediately drew the attention of many participants.

“The Blazing Fire Sect!”

Upon hearing that name, Lin Chang’an narrowed his eyes toward the item displayed on the stage.

It truly was a Magical Artifact from the Blazing Fire Sect.

The Gathering Treasures Pavilion had clearly put considerable thought into this trading gathering.

This arrangement allowed many items that ordinarily could not be shown in public to finally appear.

Of course, he would not foolishly believe that absolutely anything could be displayed.

After all, the so-called concealment formation remained under the control of its creators.

He was certain that if he displayed anything related to the Blood Fiend True Lord here, Bihai Palace would immediately become aware of it.

“Fortunately, Yun Yao and I prepared in advance.”

Although he still could not determine which private room Yun Yao occupied, the two of them had already arranged everything beforehand, so there was no need to rush.

Lin Chang’an calmly watched the trading session.

Perhaps because his horizons had broadened, or perhaps because he had inherited the Blood Fiend True Lord's treasure trove, many treasures that would once have tempted him now failed to stir much interest.

“With Late Core Formation cultivation, there are very few Spirit Items left that can increase my cultivation. As for these Magical Artifacts and treasures... I lack none of them.”

Watching one rare treasure after another appear, Lin Chang’an silently reflected.

His wealth now far exceeded that of ordinary Core Formation cultivators, making it only natural that most of these items no longer caught his eye.

Only a few thousand-year Spirit Herbs managed to arouse a little interest, and he successfully traded for them.

“Ling'er, if you see anything you like, feel free to bid. After this Secret Realm expedition, we probably won't be returning here anytime soon.”

Although the Sword Attendant was only at the Mid Core Formation stage, she devoted herself entirely to the Sword Path.

Furthermore, with Lin Chang’an supporting her, she had never lacked cultivation resources.

After carefully looking through everything, there truly was very little that interested her.

“Master, we've secretly purchased plenty of resources over the years. We aren't lacking in most things.”

More Magical Artifacts were not necessarily better.

After all, controlling Magical Artifacts in battle relied entirely upon one's Divine Sense.

Quality mattered far more than quantity.

“Void Spirit Stone. I don't need to explain the value of this rare Spirit Item, do I? I wish to exchange it for a sealed treasure, or an exceptionally high-grade yin-attributed Spirit Item...”

Just as Lin Chang’an was beginning to lose interest, one item suddenly appeared that astonished only a very small number of people present.

Most participants clearly looked utterly bewildered.

As the organizer of the gathering, the elder from the Gathering Treasures Pavilion smiled and explained the purpose of the Void Spirit Stone to everyone.

“The Void Spirit Stone is an exceedingly rare treasure. It is the finest material for forging independent spatial Magical Artifacts. Even Nascent Soul cultivators would be tempted by it...”

After hearing the explanation, many were startled.

But after thinking more carefully, they realized that even if Nascent Soul cultivators coveted it, that did not necessarily make it useful to Core Formation cultivators like themselves.

“A spatial Magical Artifact... those are incredibly rare.”

“More than rare. Every single spatial Magical Artifact is famous throughout the cultivation world.”

Most people marveled only at the legendary power of spatial Magical Artifacts.

There were quite a few Nascent Soul cultivators throughout the Beast Sea Region, yet spatial Magical Artifacts remained exceedingly scarce.

Every one of them possessed terrifyingly mysterious abilities.

At that very moment, however, a cold mocking laugh came from one of the private rooms.

“The Void Spirit Stone is certainly precious. But yours is only the size of an almond. What kind of Magical Artifact do you expect to forge with that?”

That single remark immediately reminded everyone.

In truth, even without the reminder, people had been captivated by the might of spatial Magical Artifacts rather than this tiny piece of Void Spirit Stone itself.

Who among them could forge such a treasure?

And even if they could, it remained far beyond their means.

“So it really is this item.”

Upon seeing the tiny Spirit Item displayed on the platform, Lin Chang’an revealed an expression of realization.

It was indeed far too small for forging a spatial Magical Artifact.

Yet another secret record surfaced within his mind—the inheritance of the Sinister Soul Sect.

Using a Void Spirit Stone as the core and one's own flesh and bones as the medium, one could refine a Storage Secret Treasure.

“A Secret Treasure refined this way merges completely with one's own aura and can perfectly isolate any aura leakage.”

Lin Chang’an fell into thought.

The first thing that came to mind was his own extraordinary perception.

Since he possessed such an ability, others might possess similar methods as well.

Especially now that he carried numerous treasures from the Blood Fiend True Lord, as well as various materials taken from the Thunder Flood Dragon.

He had not forgotten that the Thunder Flood Dragon's elder brother, the Poison Flood Dragon, had already successfully assumed human form.

The cultivation world contained countless strange secret arts and unique constitutions.

For example, there were rumors of a Wood Spirit Body capable of naturally sensing Spirit Plants and Spirit Fruits, making it one of the greatest treasure-seeking constitutions imaginable.

“There are also countless bizarre secret techniques. Although the Blood Fiend True Lord is dead, if someone obtained even a portion of his flesh and blood, they could still detect his belongings within a certain distance through secret arts.”

For example, the Nascent Soul Magical Artifacts inside his Storage Pouch.

Although they were currently sealed inside jade boxes with talismans, who could guarantee there would never be an accident?

“Once this storage Secret Treasure is successfully refined, it will function as an independent spatial domain—a symbol of complete isolation. Even Nascent Soul cultivators won't be able to sense anything within it.”

Thinking this through, Lin Chang’an became genuinely tempted.

“It provides ample storage space, and because it isolates everything through spatial separation, even bloodline tracking secret arts won't be able to detect anything.”

If that were the case, even upon entering the Secret Realm and encountering numerous Nascent Soul old monsters, none of them would sense that he carried treasures belonging to the Blood Fiend True Lord.

“Fellow Daoist, I have here a Late Third-rank Sinister Spirit Beast King's Demon Core. It should qualify as a top-grade yin-attributed Spirit Item.”

Lin Chang’an immediately produced a High-grade Third-rank yin-attributed Demon Core, instantly attracting the attention of many people.

Compared to that tiny piece of Void Spirit Stone, the High-grade Third-rank Sinister Spirit Demon Core was clearly far more attractive.

“Fellow Daoist, do you have any more Sinister Spirit Demon Cores? I'm willing to pay a high price.”

“Indeed. Fellow Daoist, I also have...”

Demon Cores were universally accepted hard currency.

Whether for alchemy, artifact refinement, or cultivation, yin-attributed Demon Cores had extremely broad applications.

As for the almond-sized Void Spirit Stone, only three private rooms ultimately made bids.

In the end, Lin Chang’an emerged victorious.

Afterward, when numerous fellow Daoists privately contacted him, Lin Chang’an was not surprised.

“Fellow Daoists, I do still have two more Sinister Spirit Demon Cores, but they are both Mid Third-rank.

“After all, Sinister Spirit Beast Kings mostly dwell within the Fog Sea of Tongtian.

“With Divine Sense completely suppressed there, finding even a single Sinister Spirit Beast King requires an unknown amount of time.”

With his current strength, displaying this much wealth no longer worried him.

The greatest difficulty in hunting Sinister Spirit Beast Kings had always been locating them.

If their nests were known, countless cultivators would already have joined forces to hunt them.

Back then, Lin Chang’an had spent half a year searching the depths of the Fog Sea of Tongtian before finding just two nests.

And those had only been low-level Sinister Spirit gathering grounds.

One could easily imagine how difficult they were to find.

Only after obtaining the Sinister Spirit Two-headed Tiger had he finally achieved the luxury of fixed-location hunting.

The trading gathering continued.

Lin Chang’an exchanged his remaining two Demon Cores for various cultivation materials.

“Third-rank Great Demon Blackwater Turtle Shell. Suitable for refining Magical Artifacts.”

As the gathering proceeded, the moment a turtle shell appeared, Lin Chang’an quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Yun Yao had finally arrived safely.

This was the signal they had agreed upon beforehand.

Others might also possess Blackwater Turtle shells, but the unique markings engraved upon this particular shell were known only to the two of them.

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