40: Chapter 40 Icefield Market

Beiyuan, located at the extreme north of the Tiannan Continent, is frozen all year round with bone-chilling winds like knives. The environment here is far harsher than that of the Southern Region and the Central State, and the Spiritual Qi is also relatively thin and violent. However, precisely because of this, it has nurtured many unique, resilient, and even ice-attributed Heaven And Earth Treasures, and has also shaped the fierce, direct, and somewhat xenophobic temperament of the Beiyuan Cultivators.

At the border between Beiyuan and the Xingluo Sea Area, there is a strange sea area surrounded by countless glaciers, ice floes, and frozen islands, known as the 'North Sea'. The sea conditions here are complex, filled with ice fog all year round, with surging undercurrents and many fierce sea beasts that have adapted to the extreme environment. However, in the depths of the North Sea, there is a peculiar place that is not completely governed by any power, yet attracts countless merchants, Cultivators, adventurers, information brokers, and even desperadoes from the entire Tiannan Continent and other regions—the North Sea Market.

The North Sea Market is not a fixed city, but a vast, chaotic yet vibrant temporary trading area formed from countless glaciers, ice caves, and even large ice floe ships and abandoned ancient warships. It has no fixed administrators; only a few long-standing 'Market Councils' composed of major chambers of commerce, powerful Loose Cultivators, and even some hidden forces maintain the most basic order—prohibiting large-scale fighting and forced buying or selling in the core trading area of the market. As for the outskirts of the market and beyond its boundaries, it is a realm of naked survival of the fittest, where killing for treasure is a common occurrence.

This is a paradise for fencing stolen goods, a hub for information, and a trading ground for all kinds of shady treasures, Cultivation Techniques, slaves, and even certain forbidden arts. As long as you can afford the price and pay the cost, you can buy almost anything you want here, and find out any news you wish to know—provided you have the life to leave with the goods and information.

After leaving the qingming boat, Lin Wan did not return directly to the Southern Region. Instead, he oriented himself and headed all the way north, crossing the vast Xingluo Inner Sea and Middle Sea. After spending more than a month traversing the ice plains and snowy ridges of Beiyuan's outskirts, he finally arrived at this legendary 'lawless land' on a bitterly cold evening.

Even before drawing close, one could feel a strange atmosphere in the air—a mixture of freezing cold, bloodlust, desire, and countless chaotic scents. In the sky, escape lights of various colors darted back and forth, some grand and upright, others sneaky and suspicious. On the sea surface, spirit boats and ice ships of various sizes, and even tamed giant sea beasts, threaded between the floating glaciers, flying all sorts of flags representing their respective forces and Origins.

Lin Wan restrained his aura, keeping his cultivation level at the Early Stage Golden Core. He changed into an inconspicuous grayish-white hooded cloak to ward off the cold, covering most of his face and his signature grayish-white hair, and stepped onto a crude ferry built from the bones of a giant ice beast that was headed to the core area of the market.

After paying an 'entry fee' of ten Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, the ferry slowly sailed into a relatively calm bay surrounded by countless massive glaciers amidst the grinding sound of the ice beast's bones. This was one of the core trading areas of the North Sea Market—'Ice Valley Bay'.

On both sides of the bay were steep glaciers into which countless caves and platforms had been manually carved. Atop the glaciers, all kinds of bizarre buildings were constructed: gorgeous ice-crystal pavilions, rough stone and wooden huts, tents hung with tattered animal skins, and even nests built directly from the skeletons of large sea beasts. Countless Cultivators bustled between these structures like ants, hawking and trading. The clamor of voices, the bargaining in various languages and dialects, the neighing of Spirit Beasts, and even the occasional short-lived scuffles that were quickly suppressed, formed a grotesque, wild, and vibrant picture.

The air was filled with a mixed scent of Spirit Medicine, Ore, blood, sweat, and cheap rouge.

Lin Wan followed the crowd off the ferry and stepped onto the solid ice. A cold sensation came from beneath his feet, but to him, who possessed a Minor Achievement Five Elements Spirit Body and had been reshaped by the power of the Void Realm, this bit of chill was negligible. His gaze calmly swept across his surroundings, silently memorizing the layout of the market, the main faction symbols, and several locations that were obviously information hubs or large commercial firms.

His goals were clear: First, to inquire about news of 'Ten-Thousand-Year Sinking Silver', preferably to buy it directly. Second, to learn the latest intelligence regarding the 'Guixu Sea' and the 'Five Elements Hall', especially the movements of various factions. Third, if conditions permitted, to purchase some local specialties of Beiyuan—spiritual items that could assist in Cultivating ice and water-attribute Cultivation Techniques—to balance the Five Elements in his body and prepare for a potential entry into extremely cold environments in the future.

He first walked toward the branch of the 'Duobao Pavilion' in the North Sea Market, which Feng Yushu had mentioned in his memory as having auctioned Ten-Thousand-Year Sinking Silver before.

Duobao Pavilion was a top-tier commercial firm with a deep background spanning the five major domains, and its branches were everywhere. In a place like the North Sea Market, the branch of Duobao Pavilion was exceptionally grand. It was an octagonal pavilion seven stories high, constructed entirely of ten-thousand-year profound ice and a kind of warm white jade. With its carved beams, painted rafters, and flashing spiritual light, it stood out like a crane among chickens amidst the crude buildings. At the entrance, four guards with auras at the Late Stage Foundation Establishment stood solemnly, their sharp eyes scanning the incoming and outgoing crowd.

Lin Wan paid an extra 'capital verification fee' (to prove his purchasing power) before he was allowed to enter the first-floor hall. The hall was spacious and bright, lined with counters displaying a dazzling array of various Medicinal Pills, Magic Treasures, Materials, and Cultivation Techniques, all brimming with Spiritual Qi. There were many Cultivators coming and going, but most were well-dressed and had extraordinary auras, clearly possessing some wealth.

He walked directly toward the area marked 'Rare Materials'. The receptionist was a female Cultivator dressed in a green dress, with a pleasant face and a cultivation level at the Middle Stage Foundation Establishment, maintaining a polite yet neither humble nor pushy attitude.

“What does this Fellow Daoist need?” the female Cultivator asked with a smile.

“Do you have Ten-Thousand-Year Sinking Silver?” Lin Wan got straight to the point, his voice slightly low through his hood.

Hearing this, a flash of surprise crossed the female Cultivator's eyes, but she quickly recovered her composure: “Ten-Thousand-Year Sinking Silver? This item is a core material for refining top-tier water and ice-attribute Magic Treasures, or setting up certain ancient cold-attribute grand Formations, and is extremely rare. Our pavilion indeed had it in stock, but it was auctioned off at an astronomical price to a mysterious guest during the 'Northern Nether Auction' twenty years ago. Currently, we do not have it in stock.”

As expected. Lin Wan's heart sank slightly, but he was not surprised. Such treasures could only be encountered by chance and not sought after.

“Are there any other channels to obtain it? Or when will the next auction be?” Lin Wan asked.

“Such treasures appear entirely by chance. Our pavilion is also continuously collecting them, but there is no definite news for now. As for the auction, the next 'Northern Nether Auction' will be held in three years, and similar treasures might appear then, but we cannot guarantee it,” the female Cultivator said. “If Fellow Daoist is in urgent need, you might as well inquire at 'Ice Soul Tower', 'Wanzhen Workshop', or... the 'Black Market'. However, those places are a mixed bag where truth and falsehood are hard to distinguish, so you must be very careful,” she kindly reminded him.

The 'Black Market' was the true underground trading place of the North Sea Market, located in the deepest and most chaotic ice cave area of the market. There were no rules there, only strength and luck, and it was also a trading ground for all kinds of contraband, stolen goods, and shady news.

“Thank you.” Lin Wan nodded, left a few Mid-Grade Spirit Stones as a tip, and turned to leave.

Next, he went to 'Ice Soul Tower' (a major local chamber of commerce in Beiyuan) and 'Wanzhen Workshop' (another cross-domain chamber of commerce). The answers he received were much the same; neither had it in stock, though both expressed they could keep an eye out for him and would notify him if there was any news (requiring a deposit).

It seemed that it would be difficult to obtain Ten-Thousand-Year Sinking Silver through normal channels in the short term. He could only pin his hopes on the Black Market, or... find a way to search for clues himself, or even personally explore the perilous lands where this item might be produced. However, the latter was time-consuming, laborious, and fraught with danger.

Leaving Wanzhen Workshop, Lin Wan pondered for a moment and decided to try his luck at the 'Black Market' first, while also gathering news about the Guixu Sea.

The Black Market was located in the deepest part of the market, in a natural maze-like underground ice cave complex known as the 'Hundred Ghosts Ice Caves'. The light here was dim, the chill was heavier, and the air was filled with a faint, unsettling aura of coldness and decay. The ice cave passages were intricate like an anthill, with 'stalls' of various sizes carved on both sides, covered only by animal skins or tattered cloth, or simply with a cloth spread directly on the ground. Most of the stall owners hid their heads and tails, their auras cold and their eyes shifting. Most of the passing customers were the same, maintaining a wary distance from each other, keeping their voices extremely low during transactions, or communicating via Divine Sense.

The items traded here were even more diverse and... bizarre. There were blood-stained, dim-glowing fragments of ancient Magic Treasures, unknown Yao Beast inner cores or Materials sealed in jade boxes but faintly emitting ominous fluctuations, bone fragments and Jade Slips recording incomplete or evil Cultivation Techniques, and even... Cultivators and Yao Beast slaves bound by Restrictions, their eyes numb or filled with hatred, displayed there like goods with clearly marked prices.

Lin Wan walked through the dim ice caves, his gaze beneath his hood calmly sweeping past one stall after another, while spreading out the sharp perception granted by the Void Dao Seed to capture the chaotic stream of information drifting in the air.

There was indeed plenty of news about the 'Guixu Sea'. Almost every information stall was peddling various hard-to-verify 'Guixu Sea maps', 'secrets of the Five Elements Hall', 'whereabouts of the Void Dao Seed', 'keys to the Secret Realm', and so on, at high prices and with wild exaggerations. Lin Wan listened to a few, and most were just chasing shadows or even making things up entirely just to cheat people out of Spirit Stones.

However, in a corner, before the stall of an old man curled up in tattered animal skins, looking weak as if he might freeze to death at any moment, Lin Wan stopped in his tracks.

On the old man's stall, there were only a few ordinary-looking black stones covered in ice frost and a tattered compass covered in copper rust, seemingly salvaged from the sea. He neither hawked nor solicited customers, but simply closed his eyes, appearing to be dozing off.

But Lin Wan's perception told him that this old man was not simple. He had an extremely subtle aura that seemed to blend with the surrounding ice, and his cultivation... was at least at the Mid-stage Golden Core, or even higher. Moreover, those few black stones were not ordinary items either; they were raw Ores of 'Profound Yin Cold Iron'. Although not as good as Ten-Thousand-Year Sinking Silver, they were still decent fourth-tier water and ice-attribute Artifact Refining Materials.

More importantly, on the old man's tattered compass, Lin Wan faintly felt an extremely weak, ancient, and strange spatial fluctuation related to the void five elements token, or rather, to 'Guixu'.

“How much for this compass?” Lin Wan squatted down and picked up the tattered compass, which felt icy and heavy in his hand.

The old man's eyelids lifted slightly, revealing a pair of cloudy eyes that seemed capable of seeing through people's hearts. He glanced at Lin Wan and said hoarsely, “One hundred thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, non-negotiable.”

One hundred thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones was equivalent to ten million Low-Grade Spirit Stones! For a tattered compass, it was simply an astronomical price.

Several nearby Cultivators who noticed the commotion here showed sneers or disdainful expressions, thinking this old guy had gone mad for money.

Lin Wan's expression remained unchanged. A tiny wisp of spiritual energy, which fused the Five Elements Returning to Ruins and the power of the Void Realm, was quietly injected into the compass from his fingertip.

“Buzz...”

The compass emitted an extremely faint buzz that only Lin Wan could hear. A bit of the copper rust on its surface peeled off, revealing a corner of an even older and more complex scale. A tiny speck of light flickered extremely weakly, pointing... southeast, faintly aligning with the general direction of the 'Guixu Sea' sensed by the void five elements token!

There is indeed something strange about it! This item might really be related to the Guixu Sea, or even the Five Elements Hall!

“What is the Origin of this compass?” Lin Wan asked.

“I don't know. It was retrieved from an ancient shipwreck in the sea. This old man only knows that it is related to 'Guixu'. Buy it or not, it's up to you.” The old man closed his eyes, speaking no further.

One hundred thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones was also a huge sum for the current Lin Wan. Most of the Spirit Stones on him came from the spoils of killing Elder Huo Yan, Black Shark, and others previously, as well as some gains from the Secret Realm, totaling only tens of thousands of Mid-Grade Spirit Stones. Unless he produced some precious treasures, such as void crystal essence or star gold, to trade, but doing so would undoubtedly expose himself and invite trouble.

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"How much is the information regarding the Ten-thousand-year-old Deep Silver worth?" Lin Wan changed the question.

The old man lifted his eyelids again, a flash of shrewd light passing through his murky eyes: "Do you have Ten-thousand-year-old Deep Silver?"

"I need it," Lin Wan said.

The old man stared at Lin Wan for a moment, then slowly said: "Ten-thousand-year-old Deep Silver... thirty years ago, there was indeed a piece. It was auctioned off by people from the 'Ice Soul Palace' at the 'Northern Nether Auction'. It is said that it was used to refine a Sect-protecting treasure called the 'Mysterious Ice Sea-Suppressing Seal'. Whether it still exists now, or if it has already been used, is unknown."

Ice Soul Palace? It is one of the hegemonic Sects of the Northern Plains, its strength not inferior to the Qingyun Sect. Moreover, many in their Sect Cultivate ice-attribute Cultivation Techniques, so they naturally highly value such ice and water-attribute treasures as the Ten-thousand-year-old Deep Silver. Obtaining the Ten-thousand-year-old Deep Silver from them would be a hundred times more difficult than buying it on the open market.

"Are there any other clues? For example, where might it be produced?" Lin Wan pressed further.

"Ten-thousand-year-old Deep Silver can only possibly form in the extremely cold deep sea or earth veins, having been tempered by ten thousand years of ice pressure, water spirits, and the energy of the earth veins. Within the Northern Plains, the most likely places to produce it are the 'Northern Nether Abyss' and the 'Ten-thousand-year Mysterious Ice Cave'. However, both of these places are absolute dead zones among dead zones; even a Nascent Soul True Monarch would be in danger of falling if they entered. Moreover, even if it exists there, it has long been controlled by major powers like the Ice Soul Palace and the Xuanming Sect, making it difficult for outsiders to get their hands on it," the old man shook his head.

Northern Nether Abyss, Ten-thousand-year Mysterious Ice Cave... Lin Wan noted these two names down. It seems that if he wants to obtain the Ten-thousand-year-old Deep Silver, he will likely have to take a trip to these dead zones. Furthermore, he will very likely have to clash with the hegemonic powers of the Northern Plains.

"I want this compass. But I do not have enough Spirit Stone on me. How about exchanging it with this item?" After a moment of hesitation, Lin Wan took a jade box from his bosom and opened a small gap. Inside was a small piece of "Seven-Star Moon-Companion Grass," which was left over from when he exchanged for the Earth Fire Heart-Melting Iron at the Feng Family's Duobao Pavilion; it was about three hundred years old. This grass is a water and wood-attribute Spiritual Plant, which has decent value for Cultivators in the Northern Plains who Cultivate ice and water Cultivation Techniques, and it is not as eye-catching as void crystal essence or star gold.

The old man's Divine Sense swept over the jade box, and a look of surprise flashed in his eyes; he clearly recognized this grass. He pondered for a moment and nodded: "Agreed. The compass is yours."

The transaction was completed. Lin Wan put away the worn-out compass, did not linger any longer, turned around, and left the dark market.

Obtaining the compass was an unexpected joy. However, the clues for the Ten-thousand-year-old Deep Silver pointed to the Ice Soul Palace and the two great dead zones; the situation was not optimistic. As for intelligence regarding the Guixu Sea, he had not been able to obtain anything more valuable in the dark market. It seemed he would have to find a way himself.

After leaving the dark market area, the sky had completely darkened. Various colors of light lit up in the market; there were Night-luminescent Pearls, Formation spirit lamps, and some shops even hung strange glowing Ores or Yao Beast organs, illuminating this ice valley in a bizarre and grotesque manner, like a ghost realm.

Lin Wan found a relatively clean ice cave inn with simple Formation protection and settled in. He needed to organize his thoughts and plan his next steps.

Just as he was in the quiet room, once again studying the worn-out compass and attempting to stimulate it with more Qi to explore its mysteries, a sudden commotion and hurried footsteps erupted on the street outside the inn, interspersed with several sharp shouts and the explosive sound of shattering ice crystals.

"Stop! The Ice Soul Palace is apprehending a wanted criminal; bystanders, stand back!"

Ice Soul Palace? Lin Wan frowned, put away the compass, and quietly extended his Divine Sense.

He saw on the street a team of Cultivators wearing uniform snow-white attire with ice crystal snowflake patterns embroidered on their chests, their auras cold and chilling. They were holding Magic Treasures, surrounding a gray-robed old man who was covered in blood, his aura withered, and was staggering as he fled. The old man seemed to be severely injured, his escape light scattered; several times he tried to break through the encirclement, but he was forced back by the joint efforts of the Ice Soul Palace Cultivators.

The watching Cultivators retreated one after another, fearing they would bring trouble upon themselves. The Ice Soul Palace had a massive influence in the Northern Plains and acted tyrannically; no one dared to easily provoke them.

"Old Ghost Mo! Hand over the 'Xuanming True Water' and the 'Northern Nether Sea Chart', and we will spare your life! Otherwise, we will extract your soul and refine your spirit, ensuring you never reincarnate for all eternity!" the leading Mid-stage Golden Core Cultivator from the Ice Soul Palace shouted sternly, a long ice crystal sword in his hand radiating a cold light.

Old Ghost Mo? Xuanming True Water? Northern Nether Sea Chart?

Lin Wan's heart stirred. Xuanming True Water is a supreme treasure of the water element, containing a trace of the Innate Law of Water, which would be of great benefit to his cultivation of the Five Elements, especially the water element path. And the Northern Nether Sea Chart... could it be a sea chart recording the detailed situation of the "Northern Nether Abyss"? If that were truly the case, its value for his exploration of the Northern Nether Abyss and search for the Ten-thousand-year-old Deep Silver would be immeasurable!

The gray-robed old man who was surrounded was exactly the same old man who had sold the compass in the dark market during the day! His aura was even more withered than it had been during the day, and there was a deep ice crystal sword wound on his chest that reached the bone, continuously emitting cold air; he was clearly severely injured. He coughed up blood and hissed: "Lackeys of the Ice Soul Palace! The Xuanming True Water was obtained through my own Opportunity, and the Northern Nether Sea Chart is a family heirloom; why should I hand them over to you? If you want them, you will have to step over my corpse!"

"Stubborn and unyielding! Kill!" A flash of murderous intent appeared in the Mid-stage Golden Core Cultivator's eyes, and the long ice crystal sword transformed into a beam of white light, piercing straight toward the old man's heart! Other Ice Soul Palace Disciples also attacked simultaneously; ice cones, ice spears, and ice storms instantly engulfed the old man.

The old man let out a miserable laugh, seemingly knowing that there was no hope of escape. A trace of determination flashed in his eyes; instead of dodging, he took out a primitive small gourd, which seemed to be carved from cold jade, from his bosom and yanked the stopper out!

"Let's die together! Xuanming True Water—Explode!"

An indescribable torrent of deep blue water, cold to the extreme yet carrying an aura of endless deathly silence and destruction, surged out from the gourd. It instantly expanded, transforming into a deep blue cold wave that covered dozens of zhang in radius, sweeping crazily in all directions! Wherever it passed, the air froze, the ice surface shattered, and even space itself seemed to be on the verge of freezing and collapsing!

"Not good! Retreat quickly!" The Ice Soul Palace Golden Core Cultivator's expression changed drastically; he hastily withdrew and retreated, simultaneously summoning an ice shield to protect his body.

The other Ice Soul Palace Disciples reacted slightly slower and were grazed by the edge of the deep blue cold wave. They immediately let out shrill screams, their protective Spiritual Qi shattering like paper. Their bodies were instantly covered in a thick layer of ice crystals shimmering with a ghostly blue light. Their vitality was rapidly extinguished, and they turned into ice statues, only to be shattered into a sky full of ice powder under the impact of the cold wave!

Even the Mid-stage Golden Core Cultivator's ice shield was flashing erratically under the impact of the cold wave, and cracks appeared on its surface. He let out a muffled groan, blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, and he was blasted away.

Self-detonating the Xuanming True Water! This Old Ghost Mo was actually so determined!

The terrifying cold wave indiscriminately swept through the entire street; even the inn where Lin Wan was staying was affected, its defensive Formation shaking violently, and cracks appearing on the ice walls.

However, at the very moment the deep blue cold wave erupted, everyone's vision was blocked, and their minds were seized—

Lin Wan moved.

A silvery light flashed slightly from the Void Dao Seed at his brow, and his entire person transformed into a distorted phantom. Ignoring the terrifying cold wave that froze everything (the Void Dao Seed's control over space and energy gave him extremely strong resistance and penetrability against this type of large-scale energy attack), he instantly appeared beside Old Ghost Mo, who was at the center of the self-detonation, having been backlashed by the cold wave and was on the verge of death.

"You..." A flash of astonishment passed through Old Ghost Mo's murky eyes, which then turned into understanding and a faint glimmer of hope.

Lin Wan didn't say a word; he grabbed his tattered collar, and at the same time, his other hand reached out into the air, scooping up the cold jade gourd—which no longer had a stopper and seemed to still contain a little deep blue liquid inside—as well as a leather scroll that had fallen from the old man's bosom.

"Void—Shift!"

The silver light flashed again, and their figures instantly vanished from the spot.

The next moment, they had already appeared hundreds of zhang away, in the shadows of another remote ice alley.

"Pfft—" Old Ghost Mo sprayed another mouthful of blood mixed with ice shards, his aura even weaker, but a glimmer of vitality ignited in his eyes. He grabbed Lin Wan's arm tightly and hissed: "Th...thank... you... The Northern Nether Sea Chart... is yours... In the gourd... there is still... one drop... of Xuanming True Water... Origin... I give... give it to you... I only beg you... to bury... this old man... in the... Northern Nether Abyss... outskirts... The Ice Soul Palace... will not let you go... You... be careful..."

His voice was intermittent, and his aura was rapidly fading.

Lin Wan quickly transferred a wisp of gentle Five Elements Returning to Ruins Spiritual Qi into his body to protect his heart meridians, and then took out a few healing Medicinal Pills and stuffed them into his mouth. However, Old Ghost Mo's injuries were too severe, and he had forcibly detonated the Xuanming True Water; he was already at the end of his rope, and there was no saving him.

"Rest assured, I promise you," Lin Wan said in a deep voice.

The last glimmer of light in Old Ghost Mo's eyes dissipated, his hand slowly loosened, his head dropped, and his aura was completely extinguished.

A Cultivator of at least Mid-stage Golden Core had fallen just like that in this cold, dark alley.

Lin Wan sighed softly, put away the cold jade gourd and the leather scroll (Northern Nether Sea Chart), and then quickly searched Old Ghost Mo's body, finding his Storage Pouch and some miscellaneous items, which he collected as well. Then, with a flick of his finger, a speck of grayish flame landed on the corpse, instantly burning it to ashes, which drifted away with the wind, leaving no trace.

Having done all this, his figure merged into the shadows once again, and with a few flickers, he had completely distanced himself from the scene of the incident, disappearing into the depths of this chaotic and cold market.

From the direction of the inn came the furious roars of the Ice Soul Palace Cultivators and even more intense search movements. But all of this had nothing to do with Lin Wan anymore.

He found another more hidden, abandoned ice cave located inside a massive iceberg, set up multiple layers of Restrictions, and only then took out the cold jade gourd and the leather scroll.

The gourd felt ice-cold in his hand. Inside, there indeed remained a drop of deep blue liquid, about the size of a soybean, its color as deep as the night sky, yet seemingly containing a ten-thousand-year cold abyss; it was the purest Origin of the "Xuanming True Water"! This item had immeasurable value for his cultivation of the Five Elements, the tempering of the guixu sword, and even the future refining of water-attribute Magic Treasures.

And the leather scroll, when unfolded, was an extremely ancient and detailed sea chart drawn on the skin of some unknown Yao Beast. Using special pigments and runes, it marked the Outer Seas of the Northern Plains, especially the complex sea areas, ocean currents, icebergs, and hidden reefs near the "Northern Nether Abyss," as well as some dangerous Yao Beast nests, spatial rifts, and even... several markings suspected to be ancient ruins or natural treasure lands! Among them, next to one marking, was a small note that read "suspected deep silver mineral vein"!

"Northern Nether Sea Chart... it truly is genuine! And, it actually has a marking for a suspected deep silver mineral vein!" A flash of sharp light appeared in Lin Wan's eyes. This Old Ghost Mo was truly an old hand who had frequented the Northern Sea for years, to actually possess such a treasure. No wonder the Ice Soul Palace wanted to kill him to seize the treasure.

With this sea chart, his success rate in exploring the Northern Nether Abyss and searching for the Ten-thousand-year-old Deep Silver would greatly increase!

Although the process was dangerous and he had thoroughly offended the Ice Soul Palace, the gains were equally huge.

The Origin of the Xuanming True Water, the Northern Nether Sea Chart, and that mysterious, worn-out compass pointing toward the Guixu Sea.

"It seems that this Northern Nether Abyss is a place I must go," Lin Wan said, putting away the two treasures and looking out of the ice cave toward the boundless darkness and cold wind.

Before heading to the Guixu Sea, he needed to first repair the guixu sword. And repairing the guixu sword required the Ten-thousand-year-old Deep Silver. The Ten-thousand-year-old Deep Silver was very likely in the Northern Nether Abyss.

So, his next stop would be this dead zone of the Northern Plains—the Northern Nether Abyss.

However, the Ice Soul Palace must be frantically searching for the "culprit" who killed Old Ghost Mo and stole the treasures. He needed to be even more careful and leave the North Sea Market as soon as possible to head toward the Northern Nether Abyss.

After resting for a moment to recover the consumption from continuously performing the Void Shift, Lin Wan did not delay any longer. He quietly left this ice cave, like a ghost merging into the night, and crept toward the outskirts of the market, toward the port where countless ships of various sizes were docked.

He needed a ship, or an inconspicuous identity, to leave this place and head toward that even more dangerous, yet Opportunity-filled—Northern Nether Abyss.