227: The City of Ebb Tide, the Secret of Return to Ruins

One sword severed ten thousand zhang of sea, and Laws retreated.

Shen Yuanmo's understated yet utterly domineering sword strike completely shattered the Dao Hearts of the Cultivators from the Four Seas Alliance.

When Shen Yuanmo's figure disappeared into the sky, the people on the ship were still slumped on the deck.

Gazing at the terrifying sword mark that remained unhealed for a long time, their eyes held nothing but the joy of surviving a disaster and a bone-deep fear.

They didn't even dare to linger here, immediately turning their ship around and fleeing this unforgettable sea region at top speed, in a state of utter disarray.

Shen Yuanmo had long since forgotten about this.

To him, it was merely brushing away an annoying speck of dust.

He traveled eastward for several days, and then, a vast, boundless black island, like an ancient beast dormant on the sea, appeared at the horizon.

The island was entirely composed of dark basalt, and upon it stood a colossal, rugged and majestic city by the sea.

Countless ships of all sizes shuttled through the harbor, and the clamor of human voices was clearly audible even from tens of miles across the sea.

Black Wind Island, Tide-Falling City.

This city was named after a wondrous phenomenon.

Every full moon, the ten thousand zhang raging tides here would completely recede, revealing the mysterious seabed beneath the city, which connected to the Endless Abyss.

At that time, countless rare treasures from the deep sea would appear, attracting bloody competition from Cultivators in all directions, hence the name 'Tide-Falling'.

Shen Yuanmo concealed his aura, suppressing his cultivation fluctuations to that of an unremarkable Early Golden Core Stage, and mingled behind a blood-soaked Loose Cultivator who had just returned from a raid, ascending this legendary city of sin.

The moment he stepped through the city gate, a strong scent, a mixture of blood, strong liquor, sea saltiness, and exotic spices, surged towards him like a tide.

The city was even more chaotic than he had imagined, yet it possessed a wild vitality.

On the wide street, a shark-finned strongman, having bumped into someone, was currently cursing at a Cultivator with giant crab pincers right in the street, spitting everywhere.

The next moment, the two of them were arm in arm, walking into a nearby tavern from which the aroma of wine wafted, as if the previous conflict had never happened.

Here, there were no Immortal Dynasty Laws, no clan hierarchy.

The only rule was the fist.

Shen Yuanmo's Divine Sense spread silently throughout the entire city like mercury seeping into the ground, instantly discerning its layout.

The City Lord was a Half-step Soul Transformation Elder of the Four Seas Alliance, who had been in seclusion for many years and was the stabilizing force of this city.

Below the City Lord was a council composed of various forces, maintaining a fragile balance.

Shen Yuanmo had no interest in this.

His goal had been clear from the start.

He walked through the bustling streets, teeming with all sorts of people, and went straight to the city center.

A magnificent nine-story pavilion, entirely carved from deep-sea blue crystal, came into view.

Tide Listening Pavilion.

The largest and most authoritative intelligence trading place in Tide-Falling City, and even in the surrounding hundreds of thousands of miles of sea. It is rumored that as long as one can afford the price, one can buy the location of a Deity Transformation Stage Mighty One's Immortal Cave, or the whereabouts of a lost Dao Artifact... Shen Yuanmo stepped into the pavilion.

In the main hall, voices buzzed as countless Cultivators gazed at huge crystal light screens, browsing the scrolling bounties and intelligence.

He paid no attention, walking directly to a counter at the very back, set up specifically for large transactions.

"I want to see your Pavilion Master."

Shen Yuanmo's voice was flat as he spoke to a Late Golden Core Stage old man who was dozing behind the counter.

The old man's eyelids twitched, his cloudy gaze swept over Shen Yuanmo's Early Golden Core Stage cultivation, then glanced at his simple blue robe, and a hint of impatience surfaced on his face.

"How can the Pavilion Master be seen just because you wish to? If you have business, just tell me."

Shen Yuanmo did not argue with him.

He gently placed a seemingly unremarkable Storage Pouch on the counter made of ten-thousand-year-old cold jade.

His movement was very light, not making a sound.

The old man sneered, about to wave him away.

At this moment, a wisp of pure Spiritual Qi, almost solidified, faintly seeped out from the opening of the Storage Pouch.

Just a wisp!

Instantly, the Spiritual Qi density in the entire counter area sharply surged!

The Late Golden Core Stage old man's impatience and disdain instantly froze on his face!

He was as if an invisible hand had choked his throat, his eyes fixed on the Storage Pouch, his pupils contracting violently!

As a manager of the Tide Listening Pavilion, he had handled countless millions of High-Grade Spirit Stones!

But no Spirit Stone had ever possessed such domineering, such pure Spiritual Qi!

This... this is... a Top-Grade Spirit Stone!

That was a strategic hard currency that only Spirit Transformation True Monarchs could possess, usually appearing only in high-level transactions!

Just one was enough to drive a Nascent Soul old monster mad!

And this person in front of him casually threw out a whole pouch!

The old man behind the counter, who had been drowsy moments ago, now had eyes wider than copper bells, his impatience and disdain completely vanished, replaced by a ghastly shock and terror.

He stood up tremblingly, scrambling out from behind the counter, and bowed ninety degrees deeply to Shen Yuanmo, his voice trembling.

"Se... Senior! This Junior was blind and failed to recognize a great master! You... please wait a moment, this Junior will go inform the Pavilion Master right away!"

Before he finished speaking, an old and powerful voice gently drifted down from the ninth floor, clearly audible to everyone.

"No need."

"With such a distinguished guest arriving, this old man should greet him personally."

The moment the voice fell, an old man in a gray Daoist robe, with white hair and a youthful face, appeared before Shen Yuanmo without warning.

The terrifying pressure of a Late Nascent Soul Stage was released and then immediately withdrawn, but it had already made all the Cultivators in the main hall feel as if they had fallen into an ice cave, their hearts trembling.

The Pavilion Master of Tide Listening Pavilion, Tide Listening True Lord!

Tide Listening True Lord's gaze did not linger on the Storage Pouch, but instead fell upon Shen Yuanmo.

His deep eyes, which seemed capable of discerning all things, suddenly flashed with surprise and doubt the moment he saw Shen Yuanmo clearly.

He couldn't see through him.

This person was like an abyss, like a prison!

No matter how he probed with his Divine Sense, it was like a clay ox entering the sea, unable to even stir a ripple.

This feeling, he had only experienced when facing a true Spirit Transformation True Monarch!

"Fellow Daoist, it is noisy downstairs, please come upstairs for a chat."

Tide Listening True Lord did not dare to be negligent in the slightest, personally stepping aside and making a 'please' gesture towards Shen Yuanmo.

Shen Yuanmo's expression remained unchanged; he retrieved his Storage Pouch and followed Tide Listening True Lord to the highest floor of the pavilion.

On the ninth floor, within an elegant secret chamber.

Tide Listening True Lord personally brewed a cup of thousand-year 'Calming Tea' for Shen Yuanmo, his posture extremely humble.

"May I ask what kind of intelligence Senior requires upon your esteemed visit?"

Shen Yuanmo picked up the teacup, took a light sip, and went straight to the point.

"The most detailed sea chart of the Endless Sea, including all dangerous areas, Secret Realms, and the distribution of major forces."

Tide Listening True Lord nodded, this was reasonable.

"Also," Shen Yuanmo put down the teacup, and calmly uttered two words.

"Guixu."

Boom!

The moment these two words were spoken, Tide Listening True Lord's mind was struck as if by a bolt of Nine Heavens divine lightning!

The hand holding the teapot froze in mid-air, and the perfectly maintained respectful expression on his face completely shattered, leaving only shock and disbelief.

"Senior... you are going to Guixu?"

His voice was as dry as if it had been abraded with sandpaper.

Shen Yuanmo did not answer, merely looked at him calmly.

This calm gaze, however, made Tide Listening True Lord feel a pressure like mountains collapsing and seas roaring.

He forcibly suppressed the turbulent waves in his heart, forcing a smile that was uglier than crying onto his face.

"Senior, you may not know, but this Guixu... is the greatest Opportunity that appears once every three thousand years in our Endless Sea, and also... the greatest graveyard!"

"Legend has it that it was formed from the Immortal Cave of an ancient Immortal after their demise, containing the secret of ascending to Immortality in a single step."

"But because of this, it contains ancient Restrictions that can easily slaughter Soul Transformation Cultivators! There are also ancient malevolent souls with lingering grievances, who regard Nascent Soul Cultivators as mere weeds!"

Tide Listening True Lord's eyes flickered with deep-seated apprehension.

"To be frank, Senior, below Soul Transformation, entering means nine deaths and one life, absolutely no exaggeration!"

"Every time Guixu opens, the top forces of the entire Endless Sea will emerge. The Four Seas Alliance, Jade Wave Palace, Sea Overturning Sect, and even those reclusive ancient sea clans, will send their strongest Cultivators to contend for that sliver of Immortal fate."

He paused, then, with an extremely solemn tone, revealed a piece of information that caused Shen Yuanmo's eyes to slightly stir.

"And by my calculations, the next opening of the Guixu Divine Palace is... within a year!"

Within a year.

Shen Yuanmo's fingertip tapped lightly on the table.

The timing was just right.

"Compile all intelligence regarding Guixu, as well as the major forces you mentioned, including the strength, Cultivation Techniques, and commonly used Magic Treasures of their leaders, and provide it to me."

Shen Yuanmo's tone was devoid of emotion, yet it carried an unquestionable will.

Tide Listening True Lord's thoughts raced.

This person's strength is unfathomable, and his goal is Guixu; he clearly intends to enter the fray and contend. It would be better to do him a favor.

In an instant, Tide Listening True Lord made his decision.

"Yes, Senior."

He dared not delay, immediately taking out several Jade Slips shimmering with different lights from his Storage Ring, and presented them with both hands.

Shen Yuanmo took them, and with a sweep of his Divine Sense.

A massive flood of information poured into his mind.

The Alliance Master of the Four Seas Alliance, Early Soul Transformation, his Cultivation Technique is domineering, and he is proficient in combined attack Formations.

The Jade Wave Palace Mistress, Early Soul Transformation, her 'Song of the Green Sea Tide' can stir the tides of heaven and earth, killing invisibly.

And the most mysterious Sea Overturning Sect's Old Ancestor, who had been in seclusion for many years, was actually a... Mid-stage Soul Transformation Cultivator!

This person was also publicly recognized as the strongest on the surface for this Guixu contention!

"Mid-stage Soul Transformation, huh..."

Shen Yuanmo withdrew his Divine Sense; not only was there no solemnity on his face, but a faint arc even curved at the corner of his lips.

It seemed to be getting interesting.

He had just slain a Mid-stage Soul Transformation Nine Nether Demon Lord, and now another one appeared.

Just right, to let him see what difference there was between a Mid-stage Soul Transformation of the orthodox Immortal Dao and that Demon Path Colossus.

He put away the Jade Slips and stood up to leave.

Tide Listening True Lord quickly stood up to see him off, hesitated for a moment, but still couldn't help but remind him: "Senior, the Old Ancestor of the Sea Overturning Sect is said to have a capricious temperament and kills as he pleases. If you encounter him in Guixu, please... be extra careful."

Shen Yuanmo's steps did not falter, only leaving a flat statement that slowly echoed in the secret chamber.

"If he doesn't provoke me, then so be it."

"If he does, I'll just kill him."

As his voice faded, his figure had already disappeared outside the Tide Listening Pavilion, leaving Tide Listening True Lord alone, standing dumbfounded, his face full of horror, unable to recover for a long time.