190: Chapter 190: A Great Harvest, Heading North to Chaos

As his Divine Sense swept over the several Storage Rings, even with Lin Wan's steady Heart-Nature, his eyes couldn't help but light up. The wealth of the Xuan Yin Sect's Young Sect Master was indeed extraordinary.

Young Sect Master Yin Wujiu's Storage Ring had an extremely vast space, almost equivalent to a small Immortal Cave. Inside, there was a dazzling array of items, with mountains of immortal crystals piled up. At a rough estimate, there were at least a million Low Grade immortal crystals, tens of thousands of Medium Grade immortal crystals, and even dozens of High Grade immortal crystals emitting rich immortal spiritual energy! This was definitely a massive sum of wealth, enough to support a medium-sized Sect for several years. Aside from the immortal crystals, there were also large amounts of rare Ores, Spirit Medicines, Medicinal Pills, Talismans, Jade Slips, and so on, neatly organized into different categories.

Lin Wan focused his attention on those Jade Slips and several treasures with extraordinary Auras.

Within the Jade Slips, most were various Cultivation Techniques and secret arts of the Xuan Yin Sect, such as the 'Xuan Yin Ghost Evil Art', 'Ten Thousand Ghosts Soul Devouring Method', and 'Nine Underworlds Soul Refining Art'. All of them were insidious and vicious Demonic Path Cultivation Techniques. Lin Wan glanced over them and paid no further attention; these techniques did not align with his Dao, and forcibly cultivating them would bring more harm than good. However, there were a few Jade Slips recording the geography of the Immortal Realm, anecdotes, and Heaven And Earth Treasures, as well as some Jade Slips containing insights on Alchemy, Artifact Refining, and Formations, which were quite valuable and could expand his horizons.

However, what interested Lin Wan the most was a pitch-black Jade Slip, made of a material that was neither metal nor jade, with fine ghost patterns on its surface. This Jade Slip was placed separately in a cold jade box, clearly of great importance. As Lin Wan's Divine Sense entered, he immediately felt a cold Divine Soul Restriction; if forcibly cracked, the Jade Slip would self-destruct.

“A Divine Soul Restriction? Interesting.” The corner of Lin Wan's mouth curled slightly. If it had been before, he might have found it troublesome. But now, under the nourishment of the Chaos Dao Seed, his Divine Soul had long since undergone a complete transformation, becoming powerful and condensed, far surpassing those of the same realm. Moreover, the power of Chaos could encompass all things, and could also erode and dissolve all techniques.

With a thought from Lin Wan, an extremely minuscule yet incomparably pure wisp of Chaos Qi, like the finest needle tip, gently pierced into the Jade Slip's Restriction.

“Sss...”

Like a hot knife through butter, that seemingly complex and cold Divine Soul Restriction was like paper in front of the Chaos Qi, easily pierced and dismantled. The information within the Jade Slip was presented before Lin Wan without reservation.

“Xuan Yin Sect Secret Scroll: Records of Chaos Ruins Exploration.” The opening line lifted Lin Wan's spirits. Sure enough, Young Sect Master Yin Wujiu had not lied completely; the Xuan Yin Sect was indeed secretly exploring the Chaos Ruins!

This Jade Slip recorded in detail the Xuan Yin Sect's exploration records, analyses, and speculations over the past hundreds of years regarding that area on the periphery of the Chaos Ruins (which was the northeastern meteorite belt of the Broken Star Abyss that Young Sect Master Yin Wujiu had mentioned), as well as their several attempts to open the ruins' Restriction and the reasons for their failure. It mentioned that the Restriction at the entrance of the ruins was extremely ancient and powerful, suspected to be a remnant from the ancient Chaos era. It could devour and bounce back all energy attacks and possessed the characteristic of space-time Chaos. Forcible attacks were not only ineffective but would instead trigger a backlash from the Restriction, potentially even drawing unpredictable dangers.

The Xuan Yin Sect had tried various methods, including corroding it with filthy and poisonous substances, sacrificing living souls and essence blood, and even using a damaged ancient magic weapon to forcibly bombard it. However, they failed to open the Restriction and instead suffered heavy losses. In the end, they speculated that opening the Restriction might require meeting specific conditions, such as at a specific time (like when a certain celestial phenomenon occurred) or using a specific method (such as power with the Chaos attribute, or a specific 'key').

The Jade Slip also included a relatively detailed star map, marking the specific location of that meteorite belt, as well as descriptions of the characteristics of the 'Crouching Ox' shaped meteorite and the surrounding environment. From the star map, that area was indeed located on the periphery of the Chaos Ruins, but it was already very close to the core danger zone of the Chaos Ruins. The environment was extremely harsh, dense with spatial rifts, ravaged by chaotic currents, and inhabited by various bizarre Vicious Beasts, making the danger level extremely high.

“It seems Young Sect Master Yin Wujiu did not lie to me; at least the parts about the ruins' location and the troublesome Restriction are true,” Lin Wan thought to himself. “Chaos Ruins... ancient ruins... Chaos Qi... regardless of whether it's true or false, it's worth a trip. Since I Cultivate the Dao of Chaos, perhaps that Restriction is not impossible for me to crack.”

Aside from this Jade Slip, Lin Wan also discovered three decent-quality Immortal Artifacts from Young Sect Master Yin Wujiu's Storage Ring. One was a Low Grade Immortal Artifact-level black soft armor named the 'Xuan Yin Gloomy Scale Armor'. It was light, thin, and tough, able to protect its master automatically, offering good defense and a certain level of resistance against Divine Soul attacks. Another was a Medium Grade Immortal Artifact-level black flying shuttle named the 'Ghostly Shadow Void Evasion Shuttle'. It was extremely fast and could conceal one's Aura, making it a Sharp Weapon for traveling and escaping. The last piece was a palm-sized, pitch-black token shaped like a ghost claw, named the 'Xuan Yin Token'. It was not only a symbol of identity but also seemed to be a special keepsake. Its specific use was unknown, but since it was kept close to Young Sect Master Yin Wujiu's person, it was surely extraordinary.

“This Xuan Yin Token...” Lin Wan toyed with the bone-chilling, ghostly token, faintly sensing a strange spatial fluctuation within it, as if it was connected to a certain place. “Perhaps it will be useful in the future, I'll keep it for now.”

Although the Storage Rings of the other Heavenly Immortal Early Stage and Earth Immortal Perfection Cultivators could not compare to Young Sect Master Yin Wujiu's, they still added up to a significant amount of wealth, containing various immortal crystals, Materials, Medicinal Pills, and Magic Treasures. Lin Wan kept what was useful, and as for the useless ones or those with obvious Xuan Yin Sect markings, he destroyed them all with Chaos flames, leaving no trace behind.

“A bountiful harvest indeed.” Lin Wan organized everything and put them into his own Storage Ring (he had previously used a common Storage Pouch but had long since replaced it with a larger-capacity Storage Ring). Especially those million immortal crystals and various rare Materials, they were enough for him to use for a long time and support the initial growth of the Chaos Dao Seed.

“It's time to leave.” Lin Wan glanced at this Void Realm where the fierce battle had just taken place. Although the traces had been cleared, there was no guarantee that the Xuan Yin Sect did not have other tracking methods. Delaying no further, he chose a direction, and his body transformed into an almost imperceptible grey stream of light, blending into the chaotic Void Realm and quietly escaping toward the Chaos Ruins.

He did not use Young Sect Master Yin Wujiu's 'Ghostly Shadow Void Evasion Shuttle'; after all, that was a signature Magic Treasure of the Xuan Yin Sect and could easily expose him. His own Chaos Evasion Art was created by combining the Five Elements Evasion Art with Chaos dao rhyme. Although its speed might not match specialized flying Immortal Artifacts, it excelled in stealth and flexibility. Moreover, it consumed Chaos Immortal Energy, which gave it greater endurance.

The Chaotic Star Sea was vast and boundless. From Lin Wan's current position, the journey to the Chaos Ruins located in the far north of the Immortal Realm was extremely distant, requiring him to cross several dangerous areas and territories of major forces. Lin Wan did not plan to use teleportation arrays, as that would easily expose his whereabouts. He intended to keep a low profile and sneak all the way, tempering himself while traveling, digesting the gains from this Breakthrough, and at the same time searching for clues about Chaos Qi.

“Chaos Ruins... Gui Xu...” While flying, Lin Wan recalled the information from Master Tianjizi's Jade Slip and the Xuan Yin Sect Secret Scroll. The Chaos Ruins were said to be transformed from Chaos fragments left behind during the creation of heaven and earth. Its interior was filled with violent chaotic currents and broken Laws, making it incredibly dangerous, yet it also harbored relics and Opportunities from the Chaos era. As for Gui Xu, it was the legendary end of the world, the final destination of all things, a place where everything would eventually return to nothingness, even more mysterious and dangerous than the Chaos Ruins.

“Master Tianjizi said that my Karma lies in the Chaos Ruins and also in Gui Xu. The Xuan Yin Sect has also discovered a suspected ancient ruin on the periphery of the Chaos Ruins... Is there a connection between them?” Lin Wan had a faint feeling in his heart that this trip to the Chaos Ruins would probably not be peaceful. However, the Dao of Chaos was inherently a Heaven-Defying act. If he wanted to grow quickly and obtain Chaos Qi, the Chaos Ruins was a place he could not bypass. Moreover, he had a vague premonition that there might be clues about his life origins there, or at least, some sort of connection to the Chaos Dao Seed within his body.

Calming his mind, Lin Wan stopped overthinking and focused on traveling. He circulated the 'Turtle Breath Hidden Shadow Art' to its limit, completely concealing his Aura, looking just like an inconspicuous meteorite floating in the Void Realm. At the same time, his Divine Sense spread out like spilled mercury, staying alert to any movement in the surroundings.

A few days later, Lin Wan finally left the chaotic and violent core region of the Chaotic Star Sea and entered the relatively stable periphery. There were still countless stellar fragments and chaotic energy flows here, but compared to the core region, it was much safer. Occasionally, the escaping lights of other Cultivators could be seen, most of them in a hurry and wary of one another.

Lin Wan did not make contact with anyone, maintaining a low profile as he continued to fly north. He planned to first head to the nearest large Cultivator city to the Chaotic Star Sea—'Beichen City'—to rest there briefly, gather the latest news about the Chaos Ruins, and see if he could purchase some Chaos-attributed Materials or related information.

Another half-month passed, and in the Void Realm ahead, a towering and magnificent city, resembling an ancient giant beast crouching, appeared in Lin Wan's vision. The entire city was forged from grey-black Star Iron. On the thousand-foot-tall city walls, there were countless traces of swords and sabers weathered by time, as well as complex Formation runes, exuding an ancient, heavy, and solemn Aura. Above the city, a massive light-blue barrier enveloped it, with runes flowing upon it, clearly a powerful city-protecting grand array. Around the city, countless escaping lights went in and out. There were Human Race Cultivators, as well as those of the Yao Race and Demon Race, and even some bizarre-looking, powerful foreign races, making the place extremely bustling.

This was Beichen City, a military stronghold and trade hub located on the northern border of the Immortal Realm. Because it was close to dangerous lands like the Chaos Ruins and Gui Xu, it attracted countless Cultivators who came to explore, seek treasures, and hunt Vicious Beasts. It had also become a distribution center for the flow of information and resources, a place where dragons and snakes mingled, with intricately complex forces.

Lin Wan landed his escaping light in a secluded meteorite belt a hundred miles away from the city, revealing his figure. He retracted most of his Aura, suppressing his cultivation to the Earth Immortal Late Stage, and used the 'Turtle Breath Hidden Shadow Art' to slightly alter his appearance and temperament, making himself look plain and unremarkable, just like an ordinary Loose Cultivator. After doing all this, he flew unhurriedly toward Beichen City's gates.

At the city gates, guards clad in standard black armor with fierce Auras stood watch, checking the identities of the entering and exiting Cultivators and collecting entry fees. The lowest cultivation level among these guards was Earth Immortal Early Stage, and the squad leader even had a cultivation of Earth Immortal Perfection, showing just how powerful Beichen City was.

Lin Wan lined up to enter the city, paid an entry fee of ten Low Grade immortal crystals, received a temporary identity jade token, and successfully entered the city.

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Upon entering the city, a wave of bustling noise rushed toward him.

The wide streets were spacious enough for ten carriages to travel side by side. On both sides of the street, shops stood in rows, with all kinds of restaurants, inns, Medicinal Pill pavilions, Artifact Refining workshops, Materials shops, and intelligence agencies, offering everything one could need.

Pedestrians rubbed shoulders, and the sounds of hawking, bargaining, and discussions were endless. The air was filled with a mix of scents from various Medicinal Pills, Spirit Materials, and Yao Beasts, intermingled with a faint, lingering trace of blood and Evil Qi, revealing the chaotic and dangerous nature of this city.

Lin Wan strolled down the street, his Divine Sense quietly sweeping across the area. He discovered that the cultivation levels of the Cultivators in the city varied greatly, but the overall level was significantly higher than that near the Tianshu Immortal Palace.

Earth Immortals were seen everywhere, and there was no shortage of Heavenly Immortals. He could even occasionally sense a few obscure, deep, and abyss-like Auras; those were experts at the Late Stage or even the Peak of the Heavenly Immortal realm!

Moreover, the composition of the Cultivators here was extremely complex, with the Human Race, Yao Race, Demon Race, and various peculiar races mixed together. They were distinct from one another, yet wary of each other, creating a rather tense atmosphere.

"It truly lives up to its reputation as a massive border city near the Chaos Ruins, a place where hidden dragons and crouching tigers reside." Lin Wan felt a secret shudder in his heart and more carefully restrained his Aura, trying his best not to attract attention.

He first found an inconspicuous but clean inn in the city to stay at. The name was quite ordinary, called "Peace Inn."

The innkeeper was an old man with a kind face whose cultivation was only at the Nascent Soul Stage. He was respectful toward Lin Wan, this "Late Stage Earth Immortal" Loose Cultivator, and arranged a quiet, superior room for him.

After settling in, Lin Wan did not go out immediately. Instead, he set up a Restriction to isolate the room, then took out a blank Jade Slip to reorganize and annotate the star map from the Xuan Yin Sect Secret Scroll regarding the ruins on the outskirts of the Chaos Ruins, along with his own analysis, ensuring nothing would go wrong.

Afterward, he began to meditate and regulate his breathing, adjusting his state to its Peak. In this chaotic Beichen City, where dragons and snakes mixed, danger could be encountered at any time, so he had to remain vigilant.

After finishing his meditation, it was already evening. Lin Wan changed into an ordinary gray Daoist robe, left the inn, and merged into the endless stream of people on the street.

He did not immediately go to the large trading firms or well-known intelligence agencies to inquire about news of the Chaos Ruins, as that would be too easy to attract attention. Instead, he first wandered around the city to familiarize himself with the environment, while paying attention to the conversations of the Cultivators in the teahouses and taverns along the street, hoping to hear some useful information.

"Have you heard? Three days ago, the 'Black Wind Bandits' robbed another caravan heading to the Chaos Ruins. It is said that even with a Middle Stage Heavenly Immortal retainer guarding it, they couldn't escape and were completely wiped out!"

"Hmph, those scum of the Black Wind Bandits only dare to scavenge on the outskirts of the Chaos Ruins. If they really entered the depths of the Chaos Ruins, they wouldn't even know how they died! I heard that last month, three Heavenly Immortal Elders of the 'Iron Blood Alliance,' leading over a dozen elite Earth Immortals, entered the depths of the Chaos Ruins to search for 'Chaos Crystals.' In the end, only one severely injured Elder escaped back, and he had gone mad, shouting all day that 'the gray mist eats people' and 'the shadows have come alive'..."

"Chaos Crystals? Those are good things! Containing a trace of Chaos Qi, they are supreme treasures for both Cultivation and Artifact Refining! It's a pity that the depths of the Chaos Ruins are too dangerous. Space cracks, Chaos turbulence, and eerie Vicious Beasts are one thing, but I've heard there are also places where space and time are disordered; once you go in, you can't come out!"

"Indeed! However, high risk brings high reward. I heard that a few days ago, someone found a fragmented ancient Jade Slip near the 'Broken Star Abyss' on the outskirts of the Chaos Ruins. It recorded a lost ancient secret technique, and they sold it for an astronomical price!"

"Broken Star Abyss? That place is not peaceful. Recently, it seems something is not right; there is often a gray mist permeating the area, and quite a few Cultivators who went in to explore have gone missing..."

In the teahouse, the discussions of several Cultivators reached Lin Wan's ears. His heart stirred. He sat down in a corner without changing his expression, ordered a pot of Spirit Tea, and listened quietly.

"Gray mist? Broken Star Abyss..." Lin Wan muttered to himself. The location of the ruins mentioned in the Xuan Yin Sect Secret Scroll was in an asteroid belt to the northeast of the Broken Star Abyss. It seems that place has indeed had unusual movements recently.

"Fellow Daoists, excuse me." Lin Wan held his teacup and walked over to the table of Cultivators who were discussing, showing a curious expression. "I am new here and have long yearned for the Chaos Ruins. I heard you mentioning the Broken Star Abyss just now; it seems quite mysterious. May I ask if you could tell me more about it?"

There were four Cultivators at that table, all with cultivation levels between the Middle Stage and Late Stage of the Earth Immortal Realm. They looked like Loose Cultivators who had been hanging around Beichen City for years.

Seeing that Lin Wan was just a strange "Late Stage Earth Immortal" Loose Cultivator and that his attitude was polite, one of the middle-aged Cultivators with a sallow complexion, who looked quite shrewd, sized Lin Wan up a few times and smiled: "Is the Fellow Daoist a newcomer? Want to go to the Chaos Ruins to try your luck?"

"Exactly. I have long heard of the great name of the Chaos Ruins and came specifically to see it. If I can find some Opportunity, that would naturally be even better." Lin Wan nodded with a smile, sat down, and poured tea for them. "I am Lin Feng, a mere Loose Cultivator. I ask for your guidance, Fellow Daoists."

"Easy to say, easy to say." Seeing that Lin Wan was "sensible," the sallow-faced Cultivator was happy to make friends, as having more friends meant more paths. "I am Huang San, and these are my brothers. If Fellow Daoist Lin wants to go to the Chaos Ruins, you must be fully prepared. That place is not a kind land."

"Brother Huang is absolutely right. I also know the dangers, so I want to inquire about more information, especially about the Broken Star Abyss. Hearing you mention it just now, it seems it hasn't been peaceful lately?" Lin Wan steered the conversation toward the Broken Star Abyss.

"Heh, it's not just not peaceful; it's downright evil!" A short, fat Cultivator nearby lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "That place, the Broken Star Abyss, is inherently dangerous, with many space cracks and 'Star Devouring Beasts' lurking about.

But for these past few months, I don't know what happened, but a gray mist often rises for no reason. That mist is extremely evil; Divine Sense cannot penetrate it, and if a person goes in, nine times out of ten, they won't come out! Even if there are occasional survivors, most are mentally confused, babbling nonsense about seeing ghost shadows or hearing strange sounds, and before long, they go mad or die.

Now, that area has almost become a restricted zone; those without some ability dare not go near it."

"Gray mist? Ghost shadows? Strange sounds?" Lin Wan's heart stirred. This description was somewhat similar to the "space-time disorder and Divine Soul confusion" phenomenon caused by the Restriction at the entrance of the ruins mentioned in the Xuan Yin Sect Secret Scroll. "Could it be that the Restriction of the ruins has undergone some changes, causing the gray mist to permeate?"

"Indeed!" Huang San took over the conversation and said, "Now, there are many rumors about the Broken Star Abyss. Some say it is an Immortal Cave of an ancient great expert appearing in the depths of the Broken Star Abyss, and the gray mist is the protective Formation of the Immortal Cave.

Others say that the Broken Star Abyss connects to some evil space, and the gray mist is the leakage of the Aura from that space. Some even say that a terrifying existence in the depths of the Chaos Ruins has awakened and is expanding its territory outward... In short, there are many different opinions, and it is hard to distinguish truth from falsehood."

"However," Huang San changed the subject and chuckled, "the greater the risk, the greater the Opportunity. The more evil a place like this is, the more likely it is that an extraordinary treasure will appear.

Look, recently, many large forces, like the 'Heavenly Wolf Society,' 'Four Seas Alliance,' and it is even said that the 'Ice and Snow Palace' and the 'War God Temple' have sent people to investigate; they are all eyeing the Broken Star Abyss!"

"Heavenly Wolf Society? Four Seas Alliance? Ice and Snow Palace? War God Temple?" Lin Wan noted these names in his heart. He had heard slightly of the Heavenly Wolf Society and the Four Seas Alliance; they were two large forces active on the northern border of the Immortal Realm, with strong strength not inferior to some large Immortal Sects.

As for the Ice and Snow Palace and the War God Temple, they were top-tier super forces in the Immortal Realm, with a long history and unfathomable foundations. He did not expect them to pay attention to this place as well. It seems the anomaly in the Broken Star Abyss is causing quite a stir.

"With so many large forces intervening, wouldn't we Loose Cultivators not even get a sip of soup?" Lin Wan opportunely showed a "depressed" expression.

"Heh heh, that's not necessarily true." Huang San winked and lowered his voice, "Large forces have the goals of large forces; they are eyeing the core area, the big Opportunity that might appear.

We Loose Cultivators can wander around the periphery, pick up some scraps, or wait for them to open up the situation and follow behind to drink some soup. At worst, selling information to those large forces can also earn a sum, right?"

"Brother Huang's insight is excellent!" Lin Wan "suddenly realized" and cupped his hands, "Then, in Brother Huang's opinion, is it suitable to go to the Broken Star Abyss now? What do I need to pay attention to?"

"Go now?" Huang San shook his head, "The gray mist is thick right now, and the danger is too great. I advise Fellow Daoist to wait, wait for the gray mist to dissipate a bit, or wait for those large forces to go and scout the path first.

If you must go, you must be prepared with Magic Treasures and Talismans to resist Divine Soul attacks and deal with illusions. Also, it is best to travel in a group and look out for each other.

Oh, right, recently in the city, the 'Bai Xiao Pavilion' has been selling a special 'Clear Heart Jade Pendant.' It is said that it can to some extent resist the Divine Soul erosion in the gray mist. Although it is a bit expensive, for life-saving things, one must spend what is necessary."

"Bai Xiao Pavilion? Clear Heart Jade Pendant?" Lin Wan noted this down; this Bai Xiao Pavilion seemed to be one of the largest intelligence and grocery trading firms in Beichen City.

"Many thanks for your guidance, Brother Huang; it has truly enlightened me. This small token is not much, please have some tea, Fellow Daoists." As Lin Wan spoke, he took out a small pouch with about one hundred Low Grade immortal crystals and pushed it toward Huang San without changing his expression.

Huang San's eyes lit up, and he accepted it calmly, the smile on his face becoming even more brilliant: "Fellow Daoist Lin is too polite! If you have any matters in Beichen City in the future, just come find me, Huang San. I dare not say anything else, but my information is quite well-informed!"

After chatting for a few more sentences and inquiring about some of the rules, power distribution, and precautions of Beichen City, Lin Wan made an excuse that he had something to do, stood up, and bid farewell.

Leaving the teahouse, Lin Wan strolled along the street, organizing the information he had just obtained in his mind.

"Anomaly in the Broken Star Abyss, gray mist permeating, suspected to be related to that ancient ruin. Major forces intervening, the situation is complex. Clear Heart Jade Pendant, Bai Xiao Pavilion..." Lin Wan pondered, "It seems I must go to the Bai Xiao Pavilion first, take a look at that Clear Heart Jade Pendant, and by the way, inquire about more detailed information. Additionally, I also need to purchase some detailed maps of the Chaos Ruins, as well as supplies that might be needed."

Having made up his mind, Lin Wan did not delay any longer and walked toward the most prosperous area in the city. As the largest intelligence and grocery trading firm in Beichen City, the Bai Xiao Pavilion had branches all over the city, and its largest headquarters was located in the center of the city.

Half an hour later, Lin Wan arrived in front of a magnificent, nine-story pavilion built entirely of white jade. On the plaque of the pavilion, three large characters were written in a dragon-flying and phoenix-dancing style—Bai Xiao Pavilion.

The Cultivators entering and leaving were in an endless stream, with varying strengths of Auras, but without exception, they were all either rich or noble, or possessed considerable strength.

Lin Wan adjusted his robe and walked inside.