98: All the sword embryo materials are complete, and I met Liu Qingshuang by chance.

Materials Area —

He quickly found the last three crucial Materials needed to refine his Natal Flying Sword, “Startling Thunder”:

A century-old Lightning-Struck Wood Heart, containing pure lightning power, serving as the core sword embryo for the Flying Sword, imbuing it with lightning attributes and the ability to dispel evil. Exchange requires: 1500 Contribution Points.

Deep Sea Sinking Silver, incredibly tough and extremely corrosion-resistant, when integrated into the sword body, can significantly enhance the Flying Sword’s strength and toughness. Exchange requires: 1200 Contribution Points.

Essence of Sharp Metal, formed from a trace of Geng Metal Origin, incredibly sharp, when integrated into the blade, can make the Flying Sword cut through metal like mud, doubling its armor-piercing capability. Exchange requires: 1000 Contribution Points.

Total cost: 3000 (Spirit Nurturing Art) + 1800 (Puppetry Art) + 1500 (Lightning-Struck Wood Heart) + 1200 (Sinking Silver) + 1000 (Essence of Sharp Metal) = 8500 Contribution Points.

Looking at his identity Jade Slip, which instantly shrunk to only 0 points, Lin Feng not only felt no heartache but was instead filled with a tremendous sense of satisfaction!

These were the cornerstones for him to establish himself and advance on the path to greater strength!

He carefully placed the Jade Slip of “Spirit Nurturing Art” emitting moonlight Qi, the Jade Slip of “Elementary Puppetry Art Detailed Explanation” containing precise diagrams, and the three precious Materials shimmering with spiritual light, deep within his Storage Pouch.

Stepping out of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion and standing on the bustling streets of Guiyuan Island, Lin Feng looked up at the sky. The sea breeze was still salty, but blowing on his face, it carried an unprecedented sense of freedom and ease.

The Positioning and Guiding Art had been removed, and the urgently needed Cultivation Technique and Materials were acquired. With this matter concluded, the center of the storm was no longer relevant to him.

It was time to go back.

The streets were packed with people, even more crowded than when Lin Feng arrived, and the air was filled with the tension and restlessness of an impending major battle. Flying Swords bearing various flags frequently took off and landed, and Cultivators in different Sect robes hurried along, their conversations revolving around the “Demon Extermination Order,” “True Demon Sea Battle Situation,” and the increasingly approaching “Beast Tide.” Lin Feng tightened his grip on the Storage Pouch containing precious supplies, preparing to summon his Qingfeng Thorn to leave this troubled place.

“Lin…Fellow Daoist Lin?!”

A clear, trembling female voice, filled with an incredulous surprise, came from not far beside him.

Lin Feng paused his steps and looked over. Amidst the crowd, he saw a slender female Cultivator in a light green flowing cloud robe quickly walking towards him. Her face was beautiful and refined, with a hint of fatigue between her brows, but her bright eyes were now filled with excitement and disbelief. It was none other than Liu Qing霜, the Alchemist from Hundred Herbs Sect, who had once fought alongside him on Qianshan Island!

“Daoist Friend Liu?” Lin Feng was also quite surprised, not expecting to meet an old acquaintance here.

“It really is you!” Liu Qing霜 quickly walked closer, a thin layer of mist even appearing in her eyes, her voice filled with the excitement of surviving a disaster, “That day…that day, if Fellow Daoist Lin hadn’t sacrificed yourself to lure away those three terrifying demonic creatures, I…Zhao Tieshan, Wu Ming, and I would never have been able to escape with Senior Iron Sword! My life, Qingshuang’s life, was saved by Fellow Daoist Lin!” As she spoke, she curtsied deeply to Lin Feng, her posture extremely sincere.

Lin Feng quickly stepped aside, reaching out to offer a supportive gesture: “Daoist Friend Liu, you overstate it! The situation was critical then, we were just in the same boat. I also just narrowly escaped. It’s truly fortunate to see Fellow Daoist safe and sound.” His tone was calm, not taking credit.

“Narrowly escaped?” Liu Qing霜 straightened up, shaking her head with a bitter smile, her beautiful eyes filled with lingering fear, “Fellow Daoist Lin doesn’t need to be modest. How terrifying were those three monsters demonized by True Devilish Qi? With the strength of a pseudo-Purple Mansion, fearless of death, and Devilish Qi that corrodes everything! We fled a long distance in our Flying Shuttle, and could still hear their roars…If Fellow Daoist hadn’t lured them away, even if just one of them pursued us, our small Flying Shuttle would definitely not have been able to withstand it!” She paused, her tone incredibly sincere, “This life-saving grace, Qingshuang and the Liu Family will never forget!”

Her gaze swept over Lin Feng’s still somewhat worn Cultivation robe, a hint of concern flashing in her eyes: “Fellow Daoist Lin, is this…you just finished exchanging for what you needed?” She saw the brand new identity Jade Slip in Lin Feng’s hand.

“Precisely.” Lin Feng nodded frankly, “The mission is concluded, I received some contribution points and exchanged them for some healing and Cultivation items.”

“That’s good!” A bright smile appeared on Liu Qing霜’s face, “If Fellow Daoist Lin has no urgent matters for now, would you honor me with your presence? My Liu Family has a small Immortal Cave here on Guiyuan Island, not far from here. There’s no way to repay Fellow Daoist’s life-saving grace, but at least allow Qingshuang to offer a cup of clear tea, as a small token of gratitude? It would also be a good opportunity to discuss what has happened since we parted. The situation outside changes rapidly, I presume Fellow Daoist would also like to know a thing or two?”

Lin Feng pondered for a moment. He originally intended to return to Xuanlei Island immediately, but Liu Qing霜’s invitation was sincere, and he indeed needed to understand the aftermath of the Qianshan Island incident and the current situation in the Star Sea more thoroughly. The Liu Family, as an affiliated Family of the Hundred Herbs Sect, should have more informed news channels than ordinary Loose Cultivators. Furthermore, having just removed the Guiding Art and exchanged for precious treasures, he was feeling quite relaxed, so he wasn’t in a rush at this moment.

“In that case, I shall trouble Daoist Friend Liu.” Lin Feng nodded in agreement.

“Fellow Daoist Lin, please follow me!” Liu Qing霜’s face lit up with joy, and she led Lin Feng through several bustling but slightly crowded streets, arriving at a relatively quiet area of the island near the inner bay. They stopped in front of an elegant small courtyard with a few clusters of green bamboo planted and a faint scent of herbs lingering at the entrance. A nondescript wooden plaque hung at the courtyard gate, bearing the characters “Liu Lu.”

Opening the Restriction, they stepped into the small courtyard. The courtyard was serenely arranged, with several delicate pavilions scattered tastefully. The air was filled with a faint, fresh scent of plants, clearly indicating the presence of small Formations for gathering spiritual Qi and purification, isolating it from the outside clamor.

“My humble abode is simple, Fellow Daoist Lin, please don’t mind it.” Liu Qing霜 led Lin Feng into a simply furnished quiet room. The room’s decor was minimal: a table, a few chairs, a soft couch, and a landscape painting with a profound Concept hanging on the wall. A young female servant from the Liu Family served spiritual spring water and spiritual fruits before respectfully withdrawing.

The two sat down, host and guest. Liu Qing霜 gracefully and skillfully brewed tea with her delicate hands. She wasn’t using ordinary spiritual tea; the tea leaves were emerald green, shaped like sparrow tongues. When dropped into the jade pot and stimulated by the boiling spiritual spring water, they immediately released an indescribably refreshing and invigorating aroma that instantly filled the entire quiet room, making one’s spirit feel uplifted.

“This is ‘Clear Heart Bamboo Leaf Green,’ cultivated in my Liu Family’s medicine garden. Although not top-grade, it excels at clearing the mind and calming the spirit, and has some benefit for stabilizing one’s state of mind,” Liu Qing霜 said while pouring the tea.

The tea was clear and emerald green, with a subtle fragrance. Lin Feng took a shallow sip; a warm, gentle current flowed down his throat, and wisps of clear spiritual Qi penetrated directly into his Sea of Consciousness, relaxing his mind, which had been tense for many days, by several degrees. “Good tea!” Lin Feng praised sincerely.

Amidst the misty tea aroma, the two opened up their conversation.

Liu Qing霜 first recounted in detail her experiences after their separation: accompanied by Zhao Tieshan and Wu Ming, they fled for their lives in a Flying Shuttle, carrying the heavily injured and unconscious Iron Sword Shangren. Along the way, they encountered small groups of Demonic Cultivators and fierce Sea Yao Beasts several times, narrowly escaping danger. Fortunately, the reception team dispatched by Elder Zhao Yuanchen arrived in time, allowing them to safely reach the core island controlled by Starfall Gate. Iron Sword Shangren was immediately sent to a secret area of the Sect, where a Nascent Soul Old Ancestor personally stabilized his injuries. His life was not in danger, but his Origin was severely depleted, and he remained in a coma. Chen Hai, Elder Sun, and others also returned to their respective Sects or Families to report and recuperate.

“Senior Iron Sword is blessed with good fortune and will surely recover,” Lin Feng said.

“I hope so,” Liu Qing霜 nodded, then her expression turned solemn as she began to describe the dramatic changes in the outside situation.

“Fellow Daoist Lin must have received the announcement from Starfall Gate. The news brought back by Elder Zhao was like pouring cold water into boiling oil! Celestial Star Pavilion was enraged, and the ‘Demon Extermination Order’ issued in conjunction with the three major Nascent Soul Sects far exceeded expectations!” Her eyes flickered with shock.

“The Demon Extermination Alliance swept through the Demonic Path’s outer strongholds with lightning speed, conquering all in its path! It is rumored that over ten Devil Heads of the Purple Mansion Realm alone have fallen in the past half-month! Countless secret lines and branch altars that the Demonic Path had painstakingly managed for years were uprooted! Now, among the Ten Great Demonic Sects, the main forces of the ‘Myriad Bone Cave,’ ‘Blood Soul Hall,’ ‘Yinsha Gate,’ ‘Corroding Heart Cult,’ ‘Blackwater Palace,’ and ‘Purgatory Sect’ – these six Sects – have been completely pushed back into their old lair, the ‘True Demon Sea’! A brutally fierce battle has erupted at the edge of the True Demon Sea!”

Liu Qing霜’s voice trembled slightly: “The ferocity of the battle is unimaginable! It is said that even Nascent Soul-level Grand Cultivators from both sides have personally entered the fray! A few days ago, a shocking battle erupted in the waters of ‘Shattered Star Island,’ near the edge of the True Demon Sea! The energy fluctuations swept across ten thousand miles! Some Cultivators saw from afar that the sky was torn apart, stars fell, and blood rained down! Afterwards, news spread…that ‘Blood River Old Ancestor,’ a long-famous Nascent Soul Old Ancestor of the Blood Soul Hall, was severely wounded in his Origin by ‘Raging Tide True Monarch’ of the Azure Waves Sect, and is suspected…to have fallen!”

A Nascent Soul falling! Lin Feng’s hand, holding the teacup, couldn’t help but tighten slightly. This was no longer a local conflict, but a surging tide that truly shook the balance of the Star Sea!

“The Demonic Path has really stirred up a hornet’s nest this time!” Liu Qing霜 sighed, “Inciting True Devilish Qi and polluting islands, this has touched the bottom line of all Righteous Path Sects, especially at such a sensitive time with the Beast Tide approaching! Celestial Star Pavilion’s stance is unusually strong. It is said that top-tier Sects from other sea regions are already paying attention to this matter, and there are even signs of envoys being dispatched. This great battle will absolutely not subside in the short term. The True Demon Sea has become the eye of the storm, a meat grinder!”

She paused, looking at Lin Feng, her tone filled with relief and lingering fear: “Speaking of which, we survivors from Qianshan Island have actually turned misfortune into a blessing. The Sects and the Alliance value us greatly, firstly because they need us to provide first-hand information about the True Devilish Qi, and secondly to calm people’s hearts. For someone like Fellow Daoist Lin, who rendered great service, you must have gained quite a lot of Contribution Points, right?” Her eyes held a benevolent smile.

Lin Feng smiled faintly, not revealing the exact amount: “I fortunately earned some hard-earned money and exchanged it for some urgently needed items.” He guided the conversation back: “What is the situation with the Beast Tide? Will the outbreak of the great battle affect the defense?”

Liu Qing霜’s expression became serious: “This is precisely what is most worrying! The Demon Extermination War has tied up too many high-end combat forces, especially the Nascent Soul Old Ancestors. And the signs of the Beast Tide…are becoming increasingly obvious!

Low-level Yao Beasts in the nearshore areas have become unusually active and restless, and incidents of attacks on Mortal fishing boats and Cultivators have surged.

Some Seniors skilled in observing celestial phenomena and the spiritual energy of the sea have asserted that the scale of this Beast Tide might be larger than expected, and its eruption time might also be earlier! Large islands near the front line, such as Guiyuan Island and Azure Wave Island, have already begun to forcibly requisition supplies and reinforce their defensive Grand Formations.”

She worriedly said: “Internal strife unresolved, external threats arriving…This Star Sea, I fear, is about to enter a period of turmoil.”