63: empty stone

Three days later, at noon, in a private booth on the second floor of the most prestigious 'Listening Waves Teahouse' in Qinglan City.

Seated by the window, Green Feather wore a moon-white long robe, his posture relaxed yet naturally carrying an air of transcendence.

His fingertips toyed with a white porcelain teacup, his gaze indifferently sweeping over the bustling market below, a hint of weariness between his brows.

Mortal cities, after all, were devoid of Spiritual Qi and filled with turbid air; staying for long felt quite uncomfortable.

Steward Wu sat nearby, quietly introducing local customs and scenery, while constantly observing the expression of this Sect Disciple.

Slight footsteps came from the staircase.

A young scholar dressed in ordinary green robes with a plain face slowly walked up to the second floor.

His aura was merely at the Muscle realm, his steps steady, and his gaze calm. He casually fiddled with a grayish-white stone with natural spiral patterns, as if playing with it.

Green Feather's gaze, which had been casually sweeping by, suddenly froze as it passed over that grayish-white stone!

As an Inner Sect Disciple of the Xuan Yun Sect, his knowledge was extraordinary.

That stone looked ordinary, but it carried faint fluctuations of spatial Spiritual Qi, something definitely not found in common jade!

It resembled the 'kong yun stone' recorded in ancient texts as being born at spatial nodes!

How could such a spiritual object appear in the hands of a mortal scholar in the Muscle realm? And be toyed with so casually?

Curiosity rose in Green Feather's heart, but his face remained impassive, though his gaze couldn't help but linger for an extra moment.

The green-robed scholar seemed to notice his stare, looked up, and met Green Feather's eyes. He froze for a moment, then gave a slightly shy but polite smile and nodded in greeting.

He then sat at a nearby empty seat, placed the grayish-white stone on the corner of the table, ordered a pot of clear tea, and looked out the window as if admiring the scenery, his fingers unconsciously stroking the spiral patterns on the stone.

Steward Wu also saw Lin Mo, his heart jumping as he recognized him immediately.

He hadn't expected Lin Mo to appear in this manner at this time.

Seeing that Green Feather seemed interested in the stone, his lips twitched, but he ultimately chose silence, merely raising his teacup to hide the flicker of emotion in his eyes.

Green Feather's fingers tapped gently on the tabletop.

Although he was following his Revered Master's orders 'not to cause trouble,' there was no harm in asking about a suspected spiritual object he happened to encounter.

Thinking this, Green Feather stood up and slowly walked toward Lin Mo's table. Seeing this, Steward Wu had no choice but to follow.

"Greetings, brother," Green Feather's voice was clear as he cupped his hands.

Lin Mo seemed to only then snap back from the scenery outside, hastily rising to return the greeting: "I am honored. And Your Excellency is?"

"I am Green Feather, traveling through this area. Seeing the unique patterns on the stone in your hand, I was curious and took the liberty to disturb you. I wonder if I might have a look?" Green Feather went straight to the point, his eyes falling on the grayish-white stone.

A perfectly timed look of surprise and wariness appeared on Lin Mo's face, and he subconsciously pulled the stone closer to himself.

"This? It's just a stubborn stone I picked up by the East Sea. It looked special, so I kept it to play with. It's not anything valuable."

"By the East Sea?" Green Feather's eyes brightened slightly. "Was it the Far East Sea region?"

"Indeed."

"A few days ago, I was traveling east with a merchant fleet when we encountered a storm. I drifted to a deserted island and was lucky to survive."

"I saw several similar stones on the beach of that island. I thought they were interesting, so I brought one back," Lin Mo said in a plain tone, with a hint of lingering fear.

"A deserted island?" Green Feather pressed, "What did the island look like?"

Lin Mo took on a look of recollection: "The sky was dark, so I couldn't see clearly."

"I only remember the island was mostly black reefs with sparse vegetation. The sound of the waves was also strange, muffled. These stones were near the tide line; many had been washed up."

Green Feather and Steward Wu exchanged a glance. Black reefs, strange waves, dark sky—these characteristics were very similar to the East Sea anomaly area Elder Zhou had mentioned the other day!

"Could you tell me the general location of that deserted island?" Green Feather's tone was calm, but the probing intent in his eyes grew stronger.

Lin Mo looked troubled: "This... drifting at sea, I lost my sense of direction long ago. I only remember heading east from Qinglan City for about seven or eight days by boat before losing our way after the storm."

"It was pure luck that I drifted to that island. I really can't say for sure where it is."

Green Feather frowned slightly. A seven or eight-day voyage to the east—the general range matched. His gaze fell back onto the grayish-white stone.

"This is no stubborn stone."

Green Feather slightly released a hint of the Spiritual Pressure unique to a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Though gentle, it made Lin Mo's 'face turn pale' as he showed a look of alarm.

"It is called a kong yun stone, formed from spatial power and pure Spiritual Qi over long ages."

"Although it's only Low Grade and of little use to mortal Martial Artists, for us Cultivators, it's a supplementary material for refining certain special Magical Artifacts or comprehending the path of space. It is of considerable value," Green Feather said slowly, watching Lin Mo's expression.

Lin Mo looked down at the stone in his hand in 'shock,' then looked at Green Feather in 'terror': "Immortal... Immortal Revered Master? This... this stone is actually so precious? I truly did not know!"

"No matter."

Green Feather waved his hand and withdrew his Spiritual Pressure. "Since you obtained it by chance, it is your Opportunity. I wonder if you would be willing to part with it? I am willing to exchange it for something suitable."

Hesitation and struggle flashed across Lin Mo's face, finally turning into a hint of determination as he handed the stone over with both hands: "Since the Immortal Revered Master recognizes this object, it must belong to its true owner."

"I dare not ask for an exchange, I only ask the Immortal Revered Master for some guidance. Does the origin of this stone mean that deserted island is unusual? Should I stay away from that sea area in the future?" His tone was earnest, filled with fear and a desire for knowledge.

Green Feather took the kong yun stone. It was slightly warm to the touch and the Spiritual Qi was pure; it was indeed the real thing.

The suspicion in his heart lessened slightly. If this youth really had a major problem, he wouldn't have handed over the stone so easily or asked such 'amateur' questions.

"That sea area is indeed not a good place." Green Feather weighed the stone and placed a bottle of Medicinal Pills on the table.

"These are Foundation Cultivation Pills, which will be of great benefit to your martial arts cultivation. Consider it an exchange. As for that deserted island... since you were lucky enough to survive, just forget about it."

"There are some places that mortals like you should not set foot in."

Lin Mo 'gratefully' accepted the pills and thanked him repeatedly.

Green Feather said no more, took the kong yun stone back to his seat, and began talking in low tones with Steward Wu, clearly having developed a strong interest in the 'East Sea deserted island'.

Lin Mo drank a few sips of tea with 'lingering fear,' left money for the tea, and hurriedly went downstairs to leave.

Walking out of the teahouse and turning the corner, all expressions on his face instantly vanished, replaced by calm.

Step one complete.

The kong yun stone had been delivered, and the relevant information had been revealed. The Xuan Yun Sect's attention would be temporarily diverted to the East Sea.

It was also time for Li Chongshan to receive his next 'gift'.

He sensed the network of Death Warriors.

Number Two sent a message: As planned, the secret meeting location and time between Li Chongshan and the remnant forces of the grasslands have been leaked to the Heavenly Supervision Department. Sikong Xuan has personally led men there.

Number Three sent a message: There is progress in the investigation of the peripheral merchant houses of the 'Blood Fiend Sect'. They have recently been purchasing large quantities of Yin-attribute medicinal Materials and essence blood, acting mysteriously as if preparing for some evil ritual.

Lin Mo's eyes turned cold.

Li Chongshan, the Heavenly Supervision Department. The Blood Fiend Sect, an evil ritual.

Perfect.

With a slight thought, he issued a new command to Number Four: "Anonymously send a copy of the list of Materials purchased by the Blood Fiend Sect's merchant house and their suspicious movements to Steward Wu of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. Make sure he finds it 'by accident'."

Let the Xuan Yun Sect also know that in this Qinglan City, besides the Seal and the 'key,' there are other things moving in the shadows.

With multiple parties balancing each other, only when the water is muddy is it easy to catch fish.

His figure blended into the crowd, walking toward the 'Nest'.

Next, he only needed to watch the situation unfold, wait for the reactions of all parties, and continue to strengthen himself and his forces.

The daily stacking of summons and Cultivation Feedback were his true Foundation.

Meanwhile, up in the teahouse, Green Feather was stroking the kong yun stone and said to Steward Wu, "It seems necessary to investigate that deserted island in the East Sea. While Revered Master goes to the Crimson Flame Mountain Range, I will go to the seaside to take a look. You make the arrangements."

"Yes," Steward Wu complied, but he sighed inwardly: With just a few casual words, this youth Lin Mo had diverted the Sect's attention elsewhere. With such schemes and boldness, no wonder the Boss values him so highly.