132: Chapter 132 Anomaly

"Straightforward!" Shopkeeper Qian counted out 360 Low-Grade Spirit Stones with a chuckle, then took a stack of purple-patterned paper and two jars of thunder-patterned cinnabar, stuffing them to Lin Xuan. "This is the cost of thirty sheets of purple-patterned paper and one jar of cinnabar, consider it my gift to you. If you have more Thunder Shield Talismans, Fellow Daoist, feel free to bring them over. The price is highly negotiable."

Lin Xuan took the Spirit Stones and Materials, nodding.

Shopkeeper Qian was someone worth associating with.

Just as he was about to put the items into his Storage Pouch, Shopkeeper Qian suddenly lowered his voice, leaning in to ask, "Fellow Daoist, I see that the quality of your Thunder Shield Talismans is better than most on the market. Do you have a special Talisman-making technique?"

Lin Xuan glanced at him and said nothing.

Shopkeeper Qian chuckled and waved his hand. "Alright, alright, I won't ask. I understand the rules of our trade. But Fellow Daoist, I must warn you—be careful running around out there alone. This sea area hasn't been very peaceful lately."

"Not peaceful?"

"A few days ago, there was a huge disturbance over by the Mist Sea." Shopkeeper Qian's expression turned serious. "Someone saw a Tier 3 Demonic Beast rush out of the mist, chasing after something. The commotion could be felt dozens of miles away."

Lin Xuan's heart skipped a beat.

A Tier 3 Demonic Beast.

Rushing out of the mist.

Chasing after something.

Who could be so unlucky?

"What happened after that?" he asked.

"Afterward? That thing chased for a bit and then went back, never coming out again." Shopkeeper Qian shook his head. "But after word of this spread, far fewer people have been going out to sea. Everyone is afraid of running into that thing."

Lin Xuan nodded and didn't ask further.

By the time he came out of Shopkeeper Qian's shop, it was almost dark.

The setting sun sank below the sea level, dyeing the horizon with a layer of dark red, as if someone had splashed a basin of blood across the sky.

Old Man Chen invited him to stay at his place.

"My home is just outside the market, not far." Old Man Chen pointed to the west. "The conditions are simple, so please don't mind it, Fellow Daoist Lin."

"Sorry for the trouble."

Old Man Chen's home was indeed simple.

Three stone rooms surrounded a small courtyard. The yard was piled with various items—fishing nets, wooden buckets, firewood, and several racks drying fish.

Chen Xiaoyan was busy in the kitchen, the pots and pans clattering loudly.

Chen Xiaohu squatted in the courtyard, holding a dagger, skinning a Black Thorn Beast. His technique was clumsy; after skinning for a long time, there was still quite a bit of meat clinging to the hide.

"Xiaohu, stop skinning and come in to eat!" Old Man Chen called out.

Dinner was very sumptuous.

A large pot of Black Thorn Beast meat was stewed, the broth thick and white, emitting a mouth-watering aroma.

There was also a plate of stir-fried seaweed, a bowl of cold jellyfish salad, plus a pot of home-brewed fruit wine.

Old Man Chen raised his wine cup towards Lin Xuan. "Fellow Daoist Lin, thank you for saving us today. Xiaohu's life was brought back by you. I, Old Man Chen, don't have much ability, but I toast you with this cup."

With that, he drained it in one gulp.

"It was just a small effort." Lin Xuan also drank a cup.

The fruit wine was not strong, sweet, and carried a faint fruity fragrance.

After a few cups of wine, Old Man Chen became more talkative, mostly repeating himself.

He began to ramble about his youth—how he came to Chenjiao Island, how he took a master, how he learned his trade, and how he endured until his current age.

"Let me tell you, Fellow Daoist Lin." Old Man Chen poured another cup of wine, his face already red. "Eking out a living on this sea is not easy. There are many Yao Beasts, few resources, and strange things happen often."

"Strange things?"

"It's about that sea area to the southeast I told you about." Old Man Chen lowered his voice. "Lately, the thunder light has been appearing more frequently. A couple of days ago, a brother who went out to sea came back and said he saw a huge vortex on the sea surface of that area from afar, with purple light flashing in the center of the vortex. He was so scared he turned around and fled. Even after running dozens of miles, he could still feel a pulling force behind him."

Lin Xuan put down his chopsticks and listened intently.

"What do you think that thing actually is?" Old Man Chen gulped down some wine. "An ancient ruin? Or some Yao Beast? No one knows. None of those who went to investigate ever came back."

"Then do you plan to go take a look?" Lin Xuan asked.

"Me?" Old Man Chen gave a bitter laugh. "With my meager cultivation, going there would just be seeking death. I still want to live for a few more years."

He put down his wine cup and looked at Lin Xuan, his gaze suddenly becoming serious.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, I advise you not to go either. Although your methods are good, that sea area is really no joke."

Lin Xuan nodded. "I know."

He naturally wouldn't say he had already been there once, let alone that he was almost swallowed by a Tier 3 Demonic Beast.

After three rounds of drinks, Old Man Chen spoke less and less, finally slumping onto the table and snoring.

Chen Xiaoyan brought over a coat and covered him with it.

"Brother Lin, please don't mind," she said apologetically. "My uncle is always like this when he drinks."

"It's fine." Lin Xuan smiled. "Sorry for the intrusion tonight."

"No trouble at all, no trouble at all." Chen Xiaoyan waved her hands quickly. "You saved my brother's life, we can't thank you enough."

Lin Xuan stood up and walked into the courtyard.

The night was already deep.

There was no moon, but the stars were very bright. Densely packed, they looked as if someone had scattered a handful of crushed diamonds across the sky.

The sea breeze blew from afar, carrying a salty and fishy scent, sweeping across the yard and causing the dried fish on the drying rack to sway gently.

Lin Xuan leaned against the courtyard wall, gazing toward the southeast.

That sea area where the thunder light appeared.

An ancient ruin?

Or something else?

He didn't know.

But intuition told him that the place was not simple.

Thunder light flashing from the seabed, a vortex on the sea surface, and those who went to investigate never returning.

All of this pointed to a single possibility—there was indeed something there.

Perhaps a ruin, perhaps a treasure, or perhaps some powerful Yao Beast.

No matter what it was, it was worth taking a look.

But not now.

Now he needed more preparation—more Talismans, more Medicinal Pills, and more intelligence.

Lin Xuan took out the largest sea spirit ginseng from his Storage Pouch, holding it in his palm to look at it.

Its golden body glowed with a soft halo under the starlight.

Perhaps, it was time to find an opportunity to use it.

Putting away the sea spirit ginseng, he turned and went back inside.

Old Man Chen was still snoring.

Chen Xiaohu had already gone to his room to sleep.

Chen Xiaoyan was tidying up the dishes.

"Brother Lin, your room is the one on the left." She pointed. "The bedding has been freshly changed. Rest early."

"Thank you."

Lin Xuan walked into the room and closed the door.

He did not sleep; instead, he sat cross-legged on the bed and began to Cultivate.

Circulating the Purple Heaven Divine Thunder Art, Thunder Spiritual Energy slowly flowed through his Meridians.

Although the concentration of Spiritual Qi here was low, his cultivation could not stop.

Accumulating bit by bit, there would eventually be a day of Breakthrough.

Outside the window, the sound of the waves came in waves.

Swoosh—swoosh—

Like someone repeatedly pouring water by his ear.

Lin Xuan closed his eyes and sank into Cultivation.

Tomorrow, he still needed to wander around the market to see if he could buy anything useful.