27: Chapter 27 Azure Water Cave

The five elements sword pressed against Black Shark's throat, its cold Sword Qi making his skin prickle with goosebumps. The shadow of death descended, feeling almost tangible.

"True Lord Bishui? Who is that?" Lin Wan's gaze was calm, betraying no emotion.

"True Lord Bishui is... is a Nascent Soul Loose Cultivator who dominated the Xingluo Sea Area three hundred years ago. He was renowned for his water-element Cultivation Technique. With his Bishui True Method, it was said he could transform rivers and command all waters; his Divine Ability was vast. Later, he passed away in a secret location in the Inner Sea, leaving behind his Immortal Cave and Legacy. Every sixty years, the Restriction of the Immortal Cave weakens, allowing those fated to enter and explore. However, the location is extremely hidden and guarded by powerful Restrictions, so even if ordinary Cultivators learn of it, they can hardly enter." Black Shark spoke rapidly, fearing that if he were too slow, the tip of the sword would pierce him.

"How do you know this? And why tell me?" Lin Wan asked.

"Junior... Junior once saved a mortally wounded Cultivator in my youth. That person claimed to be a descendant of True Lord Bishui. Before passing away, he gave Junior a broken 'bishui token', saying it was a token for entering the outer Restrictions of the Immortal Cave, and told me the general location of the Immortal Cave. Junior has always wanted to go and explore, but that place is located in the 'Turbulent Sea Area' on the border between the Inner Sea and the Outer Sea. It is not only extremely dangerous, but also occupied by a Golden Core Great Demon. Junior's cultivation is insufficient, and I dared not venture there lightly. But Senior's cultivation is profound, so you would certainly be able to go!" Black Shark said hurriedly, while using his remaining left hand to tremblingly retrieve from a hidden Storage Pouch at his waist a palm-sized, broken token that was pale blue, shaped like a water droplet, and had faint water ripple patterns flowing on its surface. He held it above his head with both hands and offered it to Lin Wan.

Lin Wan took the token; it felt cool and smooth to the touch. As his Divine Sense swept over it, he felt that the interior of the token indeed contained a pure and lively water-element Spiritual Qi. Its structure was complex and profound, not like an ordinary object. More importantly, when he held this token, he faintly felt a kind of weak resonance coming from the southeast in the distance.

"Where is the location? When does the Restriction weaken? What treasures are in the Immortal Cave?" Lin Wan put away the token and continued to ask.

"The location is near the 'Misty Reef' deep in the Turbulent Sea Area. The Restriction... according to that person, the next weakening will be in one year, lasting for three months. As for what specific treasures are in the Immortal Cave, Junior does not know, but the Immortal Cave where a Nascent Soul True Lord passed away must contain important treasures. Cultivation Techniques, Medicinal Pills, Magic Treasures, and even... items to extend Lifespan might all exist!" Black Shark looked at Lin Wan longingly and added, "Junior's every word is true; I would never dare to deceive Senior! I only beg Senior to spare my life. Junior is willing to be a beast of burden for Senior and serve you faithfully!"

Lin Wan pondered. True Lord Bishui, a Nascent Soul Loose Cultivator, water-element Cultivation Technique... it sounded like it indeed had some value. He was currently suffering from unhealed injuries, a damaged Foundation, and reduced Lifespan; he was in need of an Opportunity. If he could find the Legacy of a Nascent Soul True Lord in this overseas land, he might be able to find treasures to repair his Foundation and replenish his Lifespan. Moreover, the one-year period would also give him just enough time to recover from his injuries and improve his strength.

As for whether what Black Shark said was true or false, it still needed to be verified. This bishui token should be genuine. However, the specific situation of the Immortal Cave might have been concealed.

"I can spare your life," Lin Wan said slowly. Amidst Black Shark's surprised gaze, the tip of his sword shifted and tapped onto his Dantian. A condensed strand of Five Elements Spiritual Qi, mixed with a trace of Sword Intent, instantly submerged into his body, planting an extremely hidden yet incomparably overbearing Restriction deep within his Golden Core and Divine Soul.

"Ah—!" Black Shark let out a miserable scream, feeling his Golden Core in excruciating pain as if his Divine Soul were being torn apart. A sense of fear and submission originating from his Soul welled up.

"This is the 'Five Elements Soul Restriction'. Your life and death are within a single thought of mine. If you dare to have ulterior motives, or if what you said is untrue, with a single thought from me, you will suffer Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering. Do you understand?" Lin Wan said coldly.

"Un... Understand! This subordinate understands! This subordinate would never dare to betray Master!" Black Shark endured the excruciating pain and hurriedly kowtowed, not daring to have the slightest ulterior motive again. He was originally a person who feared death and swayed with the wind. Now that his life and death were in the hands of another, how could he dare to resist?

"Get up. Gather your men, clean up the battlefield, and hand over all the wealth of the Black Shark Bandits on the island, as well as your own assets, entirely to Island Master Chen Song to be used as compensation and relief. From now on, you will follow Island Master Chen Song's orders and atone for your crimes through service. If you perform well, I may remove your Restriction in the future," Lin Wan said.

"Yes! This subordinate obeys!" Black Shark, as if granted amnesty, scrambled to his feet. Enduring his pain, he went to clean up the aftermath, scolding the remaining bandits who had fled and were now cowering as they gathered back together.

At this moment, the battle within the manor had completely subsided. The survivors of the Chen Family, Liu Family, and Wang Family looked at this scene, all dumbfounded, as if in a dream. The notorious Black Shark Bandits, their leader heavily injured in one move and taken as a slave, their underlings either dead or surrendered. Just who on earth was this Senior Lin?

Chen Song clutched his chest, blood at the corner of his mouth, and with Chen Hai's support, walked in front of Lin Wan and bowed deeply: "Senior... Senior Lin, for the grace of saving our lives and protecting the island, Chen Song will never forget this!"

At this moment, he already regarded Lin Wan as a Senior expert of the Golden Core Realm or even a higher Realm. To casually heavily injure a Late Stage Foundation Establishment and plant such a terrifying Restriction—how could such means be achieved by an ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator?

Liu Mang also struggled to crawl out of the ruins; he was not lightly injured, but his life was not in danger. At this moment, he also looked at Lin Wan with an expression of reverence. Alchemist Sun was even more agitated; Alchemists often felt even greater reverence for those with powerful strength.

"Island Master Chen Song, there is no need for such formalities. Lin just happened to be here. Now that this matter is settled, I must ask Island Master Chen Song to arrange the aftermath." Lin Wan waved his hand, not taking credit. He intervened partly to repay the favor of being taken in, and partly as a deterrent to facilitate his future foothold here.

"Senior, please rest assured, leave everything to this old man!" Chen Song said hurriedly, then ordered everyone, "Quickly, treat the wounded, clean up the battlefield, and collect the bodies. Senior Lin, please return to Tingzhu Pavilion to rest first; this place is filthy, and I dare not disturb Senior's peace."

Lin Wan nodded, not staying any longer, and turned back to Tingzhu Pavilion. The subsequent trivial matters would naturally be handled by Chen Song and the others. He needed time to digest what he had gained today and carefully study that "bishui token".

Returning to Tingzhu Pavilion, he closed the Formation. Lin Wan sat cross-legged, took out the bishui token, and examined it carefully.

The material of the token was neither metal nor wood, seemingly jade but not jade, pale blue like water, and felt warm and smooth to the touch. The water ripple patterns on it faintly had Spiritual Light flowing, slowly changing according to some mysterious pattern. He probed deep with his Divine Sense and could feel that the interior of the token contained an extremely complex and exquisite water-element Restriction, which was completely different from the Restrictions of ordinary storage Magical Artifacts or tokens; it was more like a "key," or rather, a part of some great Formation.

"System, scan this token."

[Ding! Detected special item: bishui token (broken).]

[Item Description: Token for outer Disciples of the ancient water-element Sect "Bishui Palace". With this token, one can enter the restricted area on the periphery of Bishui Palace. The token is broken and its functions are incomplete; it can only enter the outermost layer.]

[Item Quality: Third Rank High Grade (broken).]

[Related Information: Detected that the token contains faint spatial coordinates, pointing to the target "Bishui Palace Ruins," about thirty thousand li from the current location. The outer Restriction of the ruins is in a periodic weakening phase, expected to enter a weakening trough in one year and two months, lasting for about three months.]

Bishui Palace? Token for outer Disciples? Not True Lord Bishui's Immortal Cave? Lin Wan's heart stirred. It seemed the information Black Shark obtained had been distorted or passed down by word of mouth, losing its truth. However, this Bishui Palace sounded like some ancient water-element Sect, and the value of its ruins was probably greater than the Immortal Cave of a Nascent Soul Loose Cultivator! After all, a Sect ruin often meant more systematic Legacy, richer resources, and more complete knowledge of Formation Restrictions.

Moreover, the location the token pointed to was the "Bishui Palace Ruins," not "True Lord Bishui's Immortal Cave." Could it be that True Lord Bishui only obtained a partial Legacy of Bishui Palace and used it as a basis to open up his Immortal Cave? Or perhaps True Lord Bishui himself was a successor of Bishui Palace?

Regardless, this was a great Opportunity. An ancient water-element Sect ruin might hold unexpected gains for him, as he cultivated the Dao of the Five Elements. Especially since he was currently severely injured and urgently needed water-element Spiritual items to nourish his Meridians and Golden Core, and even more so needed the potentially existing treasures to repair his Foundation.

"Thirty thousand li, located in the Turbulent Sea Area at the border of the Inner Sea and Outer Sea... the Restriction weakens in one year and two months..." Lin Wan noted down this information. The time was still quite sufficient, enough for him to recover from his injuries and make some preparations.

He put away the bishui token and took out several Storage Pouches he had obtained from Black Shark that had not yet been handed over. As a pirate leader who had dominated for many years, Black Shark had substantial assets. Lin Wan's Divine Sense swept over them; besides a large amount of Medium Grade and Low-Grade Spirit Stones, common Medicinal Pills, Talismans, and Materials, there were several good items.

A Second Rank Medium Grade defensive inner armor, the "Black Turtle Armor," which was not badly damaged and could be used after some repairs. A bottle of Third Rank Low Grade "Blood Soul Pill," which could quickly replenish Qi and blood, was somewhat useful for him as he suffered from a loss of vital essence. Several pieces of high-quality Artifact Refining Materials. What interested Lin Wan the most was a Jade Slip recording Black Shark's Cultivation Technique—the "Black Water True Art," as well as several vicious Spells that were the Black Shark Bandits' trump cards, such as "Blood-Dissolving Poison Mist," "Wave-Splitting Slash," and "Ghost Shadow Evasion." The technique was only Profound Rank Low Grade and tended to be sinister, so it was useless to him, but some of the power-channeling methods and movement techniques could be used for reference to cope with the complex overseas environment.

He put away the things he could use and planned to hand over the remaining wealth to Chen Song later, to be used for rebuilding the island and for relief. Since he had decided to reside here temporarily, he naturally had to manage this place into a solid rear base.

In the following days, New Moon Island was busy. Cleaning up the ruins, treating the wounded, pacifying the residents, counting the spoils of war, and absorbing the remaining forces of the Black Shark Bandits (who had been forcibly incorporated by Black Shark and were now scattered and integrated into the three families). Chen Song, Liu Mang, and Alchemist Sun were so busy they didn't have a moment to rest, but their reverence for Lin Wan grew with each passing day. The residents of the island regarded Lin Wan as a deity; even when passing by Tingzhu Pavilion, they would hold their breath and quiet their voices, not daring to speak loudly.

Lin Wan stayed indoors, healing his injuries while organizing his thoughts and planning for the future.

The threat of the Black Shark Bandits was temporarily lifted, and he had unexpectedly obtained clues to the Bishui Palace Ruins. Currently, he needed to recover from his injuries as soon as possible and improve his strength to cope with the exploration a year later. In addition, he needed to gain a firm foothold in the Xingluo Archipelago and establish a relatively safe stronghold that could provide resource support. New Moon Island might be a good choice.

Five days later, Chen Song finished dealing with most of the miscellaneous tasks and personally came to visit Tingzhu Pavilion, with Black Shark following behind. Black Shark's injuries had stabilized, and he was respectful in front of Chen Song, showing no trace of ferocity.

"Senior Lin, the matters on the island have been largely handled. In this battle, seventeen of our three families' Cultivators were killed, and over twenty were seriously injured. Over a hundred island residents were killed or injured. As for the Black Shark Bandits, over twenty were killed by Senior, and over thirty were captured; all have been properly dealt with. The seized wealth has been tallied, and this is the list; please look it over, Senior." Chen Song handed over a Jade Slip, his attitude increasingly respectful. After this battle, he had completely come to regard Lin Wan as his backbone.

Lin Wan took the Jade Slip and scanned it with his Divine Sense. The list enumerated the seized Spirit Stones, Medicinal Pills, Magical Artifacts, Materials, etc. The quantity was not small; for a small island, it could be called a massive fortune. He didn't look long and handed the Jade Slip back: "Use these assets for the relief of the dead and injured, rebuilding the island, and improving the island's defenses. Island Master Chen Song, make the arrangements yourself."

"This... Senior, this battle depended entirely on Senior turning the tide; these assets should rightfully belong to Senior." Chen Song was terrified and fearful.

"Since I am on the island, I am a part of the island. Only when the island is safe and secure can I Cultivate with peace of mind. No need to say more." Lin Wan waved his hand and looked at Black Shark, "Black Shark, how did you deal with your underlings?"

"Reporting to Master, those underlings are mostly desperate scoundrels, but many were forced by circumstances or abducted to the island. This subordinate has scattered them, selected thirty who were relatively honest, and incorporated them into the island's guard team, under the command of Island Master Chen Song. The rest who were restless have already been... dealt with." Black Shark answered hurriedly.

"Hmm. Since you have submitted, you must follow the rules of the island. Island Master Chen Song, I will leave Black Shark for you to manage. He is familiar with pirate tactics and maritime conditions, and might be of some use," Lin Wan said.

"Yes, I will strictly follow Senior's instructions." Chen Song accepted, secretly delighted. With the addition of Black Shark, a Late Stage Foundation Establishment (although still seriously injured), and his men, New Moon Island's strength instantly jumped to the top tier of the Outer Sea. As long as they didn't provoke the Golden Core forces of the Inner Sea, they would be sufficient to protect themselves.

"In addition, the island's Formation is too weak. I will find time to rearrange a set of defensive Formations for the island. The Materials will come from the seized spoils," Lin Wan added. He wanted to gain a foothold here, so he naturally had to build this place into an impregnable fortress. With his attainment as a Third Rank Formation Master (derived from the Formation insights exchanged from the System and his own understanding of the Five Elements), combined with the overseas environment, it would not be a big problem to arrange a Formation capable of resisting short-term attacks from an Early Stage Golden Core.

Chen Song was even more overjoyed and thanked him repeatedly. If the island had a powerful Formation, its safety would be greatly improved.

"There is one more thing." Lin Wan looked at Chen Song, "I need to go into seclusion here for a period of time to recover from my injuries. During this period, all matters on the island will be decided by you. Additionally, I need you to help me collect some things."

"Senior, please just give your orders!"

"First, collect all intelligence, maps, and rumors regarding 'True Lord Bishui,' 'Bishui Palace,' as well as the 'Turbulent Sea Area' and 'Misty Reef.' Second, collect clues for Spiritual items that can repair the Golden Core Foundation, replenish Lifespan, or nourish the Divine Soul; regardless of their grade or attribute, I want to know about them. Third, collect Fourth Rank or higher water-element or wood-element Spiritual items, or Heaven And Earth Treasure containing the power of the Five Elements. Fourth, find a reliable Artifact Refiner of at least the Third Rank; I have some Materials that need to be processed." Lin Wan listed four requirements in a row. The first two were in preparation for the Bishui Palace Ruins, while the latter two were for his own recovery and the subsequent improvement of the five elements sword.

Island Master Chen Song noted down each of Lin Wan's requests one by one, then said solemnly, "Senior, please rest assured. This old man will certainly do my utmost to get everything done for you. I have heard a little about True Lord Bishui and the Turbulent Sea Area, and I can have Black Shark assist in gathering information. Spiritual items that can repair a Foundation or replenish Lifespan are extremely rare, but I will mobilize all the connections on the island to inquire in the Outer Sea and even the Middle Sea. As for fourth-rank spiritual items and an Artifact Refiner... I fear one would need to go to the Inner Sea, or even 'Qiandao City' (where the headquarters of the Thousand Islands Alliance is located, the most prosperous Cultivator city in the Xingluo Archipelago), to have a chance. However, I can send people to investigate, or it may be safer for you to go personally after your injuries have recovered."

"Hmm, go ahead and handle it. Inform me whenever there is news." Lin Wan nodded. He also knew that fourth-rank spiritual items and Advanced Artifact Refiners were indeed hard to find in the resource-scarce Outer Sea. Perhaps, once his injuries improved, he would really need to make a trip to that Qiandao City.

Island Master Chen Song and Black Shark respectfully withdrew.

Following this, Lin Wan once again entered a state of seclusion. With the Blood Soul Pills and other resources obtained from Black Shark, coupled with the nourishment from the island's Spiritual Vein, his recovery speed increased significantly.

A month later, his injuries had healed by sixty to seventy percent. His Dantian energy had recovered by about forty percent, and the cracks in his five elements sword core had been nourished by the medicinal power and his own Dantian energy, having mostly closed up, though their color remained dim. His Meridians were basically repaired and unobstructed, though still quite fragile. The depletion of his Origin and loss of Lifespan remained the same, but at least they were no longer worsening. His gray-white hair also failed to recover. His combat power had roughly returned to a level approaching the Early Stage of the Golden Core, but he was still unable to sustain the use of high-power Divine Abilities.

During this period, Island Master Chen Song successively sent over some information and items. Regarding True Lord Bishui, it was indeed as Lin Wan had expected: he was a Nascent Soul Loose Cultivator who had dominated the scene three hundred years ago. It was said that he had obtained an ancient Water-element Legacy, was skilled in controlling water, and had once been on good terms with several Golden Core alliance leaders of the Thousand Islands Alliance, but later disappeared without a trace, with rumors claiming he had passed away in the depths of the Turbulent Sea Area. Regarding Bishui Palace, there was very little information; only in an ancient travelogue was it mentioned that during the ancient period of the Xingluo Archipelago, there seemed to have existed a powerful Water-element Sect named "Bishui Palace," which was later destroyed in a catastrophe.

Island Master Chen Song also managed to obtain a map of the Turbulent Sea Area and the Misty Reef. Although rough, the general orientation was correct. It was a dangerous sea area covered year-round by dense fog and chaotic ocean currents; not only were there dense underwater reefs, but there were also powerful sea beasts and bizarre celestial phenomena, such that even Golden Core Cultivators dared not easily venture deep into it. The position sensed by the bishui token was right in the depths of that Misty Reef.

As for spiritual items to repair his Foundation or replenish his Lifespan, there was no definite news for the time being. He only learned that at the auctions on "Golden Cloud Island" in the Inner Sea, treasures such as "Local Origin Fruit" and "Blood Essence Date" occasionally appeared, but the prices were exorbitant, and competition was fierce. Fourth-rank Water-element and Wood-element spiritual items would also likely only be found in the Inner Sea. As for a third-rank Artifact Refiner, Island Master Chen Song did manage to find one residing on "Fire Melt Island" a thousand miles away; he was an eccentric solitary Loose Cultivator with decent Artifact Refining skills, but his fees were extremely high, and he did not easily accept jobs.

"It seems that, in the end, I still have to make a trip to the Inner Sea." Lin Wan mused. His injuries had stabilized, and it was time to go out and move about, gather resources, and further inquire about news of the Bishui Palace ruins.

He ended his seclusion and found Island Master Chen Song.

"I am going out for a trip to the Inner Sea. I have initially completed the setup of the island's Formation; this is the control Formation Plate and the incantation. This Formation is called the 'Little Five Elements Maze Formation,' possessing the combined effects of defense, concealment, and trapping enemies. When fully activated, it can withstand a Golden Core Early Stage Cultivator for half an hour. Cooperating with the Cultivators on the island, ordinary enemies will be nothing to fear." Lin Wan handed a palm-sized, pentagonal Formation Plate and a Jade Slip to Island Master Chen Song.

Island Master Chen Song received it as if it were a precious treasure, moved to tears. With this set of Formation, the safety of New Moon Island would be greatly guaranteed.

"Senior, you are heading to the Inner Sea? Does this old man need to send someone to accompany you, or prepare a ship?" Island Master Chen Song asked.

"No need. I will go on my own. The affairs on the island will still be managed by you. I have already instructed Black Shark, and he will not dare to act rashly. If there is an urgent matter, you can transmit a message to me through this Talisman." Lin Wan handed Island Master Chen Song another specially made communication Talisman, which could transmit a one-way message within a thousand miles.

"Yes, this old man understands. Senior, please take care on your journey." Island Master Chen Song respectfully saw him off.

Lin Wan did not delay any longer. He left New Moon Island, identified the direction, transformed into an inconspicuous cyan streak of light, and sped off toward the Inner Sea.

He did not fly at full speed, but instead maintained the speed of an ordinary Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivator, traveling while observing the customs and practices of the sea areas along the way, familiarizing himself with the flight habits and taboos of overseas Cultivators.

In the Xingluo Outer Sea, islands were scattered like stars in the sky, most with thin Spiritual Qi, inhabited by small Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment families and Loose Cultivators. On the sea surface, fishing boats catching low-rank sea beasts or harvesting seaweed could be seen from time to time, as well as some small spirit boats traveling between islands. There were often disputes between Cultivators, but they were not of a large scale.

As he ventured deeper, the concentration of Spiritual Qi gradually increased, and the islands that appeared became larger and larger, with stronger architecture and Cultivator auras on them. Occasionally, medium-sized spirit boats flying the flags of various families could be seen shuttling between the islands; those were the merchant ships of major powers in the Inner Sea.

Five days later, Lin Wan had entered the edge of the Inner Sea. Ahead, the outline of a huge island appeared. The island was oval-shaped, nearly a thousand miles long from east to west, and slightly narrower from north to south. The island had verdant peaks and was brimming with Spiritual Qi, far incomparable to the small islands of the Outer Sea. Above the island, streaks of flight light could faintly be seen coming and going, and at the port, several large multi-story ships that were a hundred feet long, gorgeously decorated, and shimmering with spiritual light were docked.

This was one of the famous Cultivator gathering places in the Inner Sea—Golden Cloud Island. It was also the place Island Master Chen Song had mentioned before, where rare spiritual items were occasionally auctioned.

Lin Wan lowered his altitude and descended toward the island's largest port city, "Golden Cloud City."

Before even getting close, he could feel the hustle and bustle and the rich Spiritual Qi coming from the city. At the city gate, there were Cultivator guards wearing uniform armor with cultivation at the Qi Refinement Late Stage, conducting simple checks and collecting fees from those entering the city. The entrance fee was ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones per person.

Lin Wan paid the Spirit Stones and successfully entered the city. The streets in the city were wide, paved with smooth bluestone, and lined with shops on both sides, with signs and banners of all colors. Medicinal Pill shops, Magical Artifact shops, Talisman shops, Material shops, inns, restaurants, and even gambling houses and brothels—everything was available. Pedestrians were like a weave of fabric, and there were many Cultivators; those in the Qi Refinement Stage made up the majority, but Foundation Establishment Cultivators could also be seen everywhere, and he could even occasionally feel the obscure auras of one or two Golden Core Cultivators sweeping by.

Lively, prosperous, yet also harboring hidden dangers. Lin Wan could feel many ill-intentioned gazes sweeping over him, this "new face," especially lingering on his gray-white hair and his seemingly unimpressive aura.

He did not care, walking leisurely along the street, but his Divine Sense quietly spread out, collecting useful information. He needed to first find a place to stay, then inquire about news of the auction, as well as the whereabouts of that third-rank Artifact Refiner.

"Fellow Daoist, are you new to Golden Cloud City? Do you need a guide? For only five Low-Grade Spirit Stones, this one can take you to get familiar with all parts of the city, know the pros and cons of each shop, auction information, and even... some secret black market channels." A clever voice sounded beside him.

Lin Wan turned his head; it was a thin, small youth, about fifteen or sixteen years old, at the third level of Qi Refinement, with a refined face and flexible eyes, looking at him eagerly. This kind of "broker" was very common in Cultivator gathering places.

"Take me to the best inn in the city, one that is quieter. Then, tell me if there are any large auctions recently, as well as news about Master Huo of 'Fire Melt Island'." Lin Wan casually tossed out five Spirit Stones.

The youth caught the Spirit Stones, his eyes lit up, and his attitude became even more respectful: "Alright! Senior, please follow me! The best inn in the city is definitely 'Ju Xian Lou,' located above the Spiritual Vein in the east of the city, with a quiet environment and attentive service, but the price is not cheap; the cheapest quiet room costs fifty Low-Grade Spirit Stones a day. As for the nearest large auction, 'Wan Bao Pavilion' has a quarterly auction in three days, and it is said there are quite a few good things. As for Master Huo..." The youth lowered his voice, "Master Huo has a very strange temper; he spends all year in the Earth Fire Cave of Fire Melt Island refining artifacts and does not see outside guests. If you want to ask him to refine an artifact, you either need rare Materials that catch his eye, or... you must get a referral from his grand-nephew who serves as a deacon in the 'Thousand Islands Alliance'."

Ju Xian Lou, Wan Bao Pavilion auction, Master Huo's grand-nephew... The information was very useful.

"Go to Ju Xian Lou first." Lin Wan said.

"Alright, this way please, Senior!"

Under the guidance of the youth, Lin Wan passed through several bustling streets and arrived at a relatively quiet area in the east of the city. A seven-story pavilion with carved beams and painted rafters, filled with Spiritual Qi, stood before his eyes; it was exactly Ju Xian Lou.

After paying the room fee for ten days (five hundred Spirit Stones), Lin Wan checked into a high-class quiet room on the top floor. The quiet room was spacious and came with its own Spirit Gathering, soundproofing, and defensive Formations, with a Spiritual Qi concentration several times that of the outside, which was quite beneficial for his healing.

After sending the youth away, Lin Wan set up his own warning Restriction in the quiet room, and only then did he rest a little.

Three days later, the Wan Bao Pavilion auction.

Wan Bao Pavilion was the largest trading firm on Golden Cloud Island, with a deep background; it was said that it had connections with several Golden Core families in the Inner Sea. Its quarterly auction was a grand event for the Cultivators of the Inner Sea.

Lin Wan paid a deposit of one hundred Spirit Stones, received a cloak and mask that concealed his aura, and entered the auction hall. The hall was circular and divided into two levels. The lower level had ordinary seats, which were already filled with hundreds of Cultivators. The upper level had private boxes, isolated by Formations, prepared for VIPs and high-level Cultivators who did not wish to reveal themselves. Lin Wan's funds were limited, so he only sat in an inconspicuous corner on the lower level.

The auction began quickly, and one by one, Medicinal Pills, Magical Artifacts, Materials, and Cultivation Techniques were brought up to the high stage, sparking waves of bidding. Lin Wan was not very interested in most of the auction items; he just watched quietly, feeling the atmosphere and prices of the overseas auction.

Finally, when the auction reached the latter half, an auction item caught his attention.

"The next item, fourth-rank Low Grade spiritual item—'Millennium Water Jade Marrow'! This item is produced from deep-sea cold jade veins, formed after a millennium of nourishment by Water spirits, containing pure Water-element spiritual power. It can be used to refine Water-attribute Magic Treasures, and can also assist in cultivating Water-element Cultivation Techniques, and treat internal injuries caused by Water-element [attacks]. Starting bid, five thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones, each bid increment not less than one hundred!"

On the high stage, a maid brought up a jade plate, and in the plate sat a piece of jade the size of a fist, entirely azure blue, crystal clear, with water waves seemingly flowing inside, emitting a cool and pure Water-element Spiritual Qi. It was exactly the fourth-rank Water-element spiritual item that Lin Wan needed!

"Five thousand one hundred!" "Five thousand three hundred!" "Five thousand five hundred!" The bidding voices rose one after another. Fourth-rank spiritual items were considered precious even among Golden Core Cultivators, especially Water-element spiritual items, which had a wide range of uses, so the competition was quite fierce.

Lin Wan did not bid immediately. He waited until the price was raised to eight thousand, and only two or three bidders remained, before he slowly spoke: "Nine thousand."

Raising the price by one thousand at once showed his determination to win. Those few bidders hesitated for a moment, and considering that there might be better things later, they gave up.

"Nine thousand Spirit Stones, sold!" The auctioneer struck the gavel.

Lin Wan bought this piece of Millennium Water Jade Marrow at the price of nine thousand Spirit Stones. Although the price was not low, it was of great benefit for him to recover his Water-element spiritual power and nourish his Meridians.

Several good treasures appeared subsequently, but Lin Wan did not make another move. His goal was clear, and his funds were limited.

The auction ended. Lin Wan handed over the Spirit Stones, got the Water Jade Marrow, and prepared to leave.

However, just as he walked out of the Wan Bao Pavilion gate and turned into a relatively quiet alley, three figures silently blocked his path.

All three were dressed in black, masked, with auras ranging from Foundation Establishment Middle Stage to Late Stage, staring at Lin Wan with unkind eyes, or rather, staring at the Water Jade Marrow he had just obtained in his arms.

"Friend, if you are sensible, hand over the item, and you can be spared from death." The leader of the black-clad men, with a hoarse voice, threatened.

Killing people to seize treasures was commonplace in this overseas Cultivation world. Lin Wan's "sickly" appearance, having also just bought a precious spiritual item, naturally made him a fat sheep in the eyes of some people.

Lin Wan stopped his steps, his gaze swept over the three, and he said calmly: "What if I say no?"

"Then die!" The leader of the black-clad men shouted sharply, and the three attacked simultaneously! One cast out a black banner, eerie with ghost energy; one threw several poisonous darts, with a fishy wind blowing in his face; the last one moved like lightning, holding a pair of poison-coated daggers, stabbing straight at Lin Wan's back. Their coordination was tacit, obviously accustomed to doing such foul deeds.

However, the one they were facing was Lin Wan.

Facing the incoming attacks, Lin Wan did not even draw his sword. He just raised his left hand, spread his five fingers, and pressed down vaguely toward the three.

"Five Elements, Suppress."

A heavy, viscous, terrifying pressure that seemed to be able to suppress a space instantly enveloped a radius of ten zhang, centered on Lin Wan! It was exactly the prototype of the Five Elements Sword Domain that he had initially comprehended! Although the range was small and extremely unstable, it was more than enough to deal with these three Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivators.

The three only felt their bodies suddenly sink, as if they had fallen into a quagmire; their spiritual power circulation became sluggish, the speed and power of their attacks greatly reduced, and terror appeared in their eyes simultaneously.

Without waiting for them to react, Lin Wan's right hand formed a sword finger, and he pointed three times in succession.

Three condensed Geng Metal Sword Qi, like the scythe of the Grim Reaper, instantly pierced through the centers of the three men's brows.

"Thud," "thud," "thud." The three corpses fell to the ground almost simultaneously, their eyes still filled with unbelievable terror. Until their deaths, they did not understand why this seemingly weak "sickly" man would have such terrifying strength.

Lin Wan did not even look at the corpses on the ground, waved his hand to collect the three men's Storage Pouches, and then flicked a wisp of flame, burning the corpses into ashes to destroy the evidence. His actions were crisp and neat, as if he had done it countless times.

After doing all this, he, as if nothing had happened, continued walking toward the other end of the alley, his figure quickly disappearing into the shadows.

In the overseas lands, the weak are prey to the strong. Since some people were looking for death, then he would fulfill their wish.

It was just that this Golden Cloud City, it seemed, was not a place to stay for long. After inquiring about news of Master Huo's grand-nephew, he would need to leave as soon as possible.

Lin Wan mused in his heart, his pace did not stop, blending into the bustling crowd in the city.