Fox Shadow Follows

Bibo City is less of a city and more of a massive, chaotic maritime fortress.

It was not built on land, but rather constructed from countless massive, unrecognizable ancient tower ships, Yao Beast skeletons, floating islands, and even imprisoned icebergs, all forcibly spliced and bound together by thick metal chains and magic, floating on the outer edge of the Gui Xu Sea Eye.

There is no unified order here, only the Law of the jungle where the strong prey upon the weak.

Major factions carve out their own territories, and daily struggles, killings, and trades play out here.

The air is thick with the smell of the sea, the scent of blood, the odor of inferior Spirit Wine, and the energy fluctuations emitted by various rare treasures, creating a unique and dangerous atmosphere.

A streak of light landed on one of the largest piers, which looked as if it were made from the skeleton of a whale.

The light faded, revealing the figure of Nightmare.

He continued to suppress his cultivation to the Early Nascent Soul Stage, his aura concealed by the techniques of The Netherworld Book of Life and Death to appear even more obscure and profound, as if he were merely an ordinary demonic Cultivator seeking adventure.

Yet, the cold indifference occasionally flashing through his deep eyes, which seemed to perceive life and death, caused some of the prying gazes in the shadows to subconsciously avert their eyes.

He paid a few Void Crystals as an entrance fee and stepped into this city of chaos.

The streets were narrow and crowded, flanked by crooked shops and stalls, with the sounds of hawking, arguing, and fighting endlessly filling his ears.

The races were diverse; besides the Human Race and the Yao Race, one could also see the "Sea Spirit Race" with azure skin, the "Abyssal Race" covered in scales, and even elemental beings and mechanical Puppets.

Nightmare had a clear goal: he first found a tavern that looked well-informed—the "Star-Shattering Tavern".

The tavern was murky and filled with smoke, with the cacophony of various languages being spoken.

Nightmare sat in a corner and ordered a cup of "Soul-Scorching Wine," a local specialty that could slightly resist the erosion of the Void Realm, while his Divine Sense, like an invisible net, quietly spread out to capture useful information.

"...Have you heard? The Black Flood Dragon Gang and the Mad Shark Society are at it again, fighting over a newly discovered small Void Crystal vein..."

"...Tsk tsk, that final auction item, the sea chart, I heard the starting bid is this much! Damn it, that's robbery!"

"...Those bastards from the 'Sea Hook Gang' have been very active lately; it seems they are looking for someone..."

"...Be careful, it's not peaceful outside the city. Yesterday, a team went out to collect 'Void Moss' and none of them returned. It's said they saw the shadow of a 'Ghost Ship'..."

"...Insider news: the auction might feature more than just the sea chart. It's rumored there are 'good things' brought out from the depths of the Sea Eye..."

Fragmented information converged.

The Sea Hook Gang (the outer periphery of The Fisherman) was indeed tracking his whereabouts; the news of the auction was confirmed, and it seemed there were unexpected surprises; furthermore, the Gui Xu Sea Eye seemed to be even more unsettled recently.

Just then, there was a commotion at the entrance of the tavern.

Several Cultivators wearing the attire of the Sea Hook Gang and looking arrogant walked in, led by a middle-aged leader with a scar on his face who was at the Middle Nascent Soul Stage.

Their gazes swept over the people in the tavern like hawks, as if they were searching for something.

The noise in the tavern quieted down significantly, and many people lowered their heads, not daring to meet their gaze.

Nightmare sneered inwardly, remaining calm and simply drinking silently.

The scarred leader's gaze swept over Nightmare, pausing for a fraction of a second, but finding nothing unusual, he moved on.

They seemed to have a specific target.

They circled the tavern, questioned the bartender, and finding nothing, left while cursing.

Nightmare noticed that after they left, the bartender secretly sighed in relief, though a flicker of barely perceptible resentment flashed in his eyes.

It seemed the Sea Hook Gang was also rampant and unpopular here.

He put down his glass, walked up to the bartender, and flicked a few high-quality Void Crystals over.

The bartender's eyes lit up, and he tucked them away nonchalantly: "Fellow Daoist, what can I do for you?"

"I'm looking for some information," Nightmare's voice was hoarse. "Who is the Sea Hook Gang looking for? In the upcoming auction, besides the sea chart, is there anything else special?"

The bartender lowered his voice: "I don't know who the Sea Hook Gang is looking for, but they've been like mad dogs lately, checking very strictly, especially focusing on new, high-cultivation strangers."

"I heard that one of their Elders and many elites suffered a huge loss in the depths a few days ago; it seems their altar was even taken out by someone, so they are furious right now."

Nightmare understood; it seemed he had caused quite a stir last time.

The bartender continued: "The auction is hosted by the 'Four Seas Chamber of Commerce'. The official finale is that sea chart, which is said to mark an unexplored Sea Eye ruin—dangerous, but potentially holding a great Opportunity."

"However, there is gossip that there is a real final item: a 'Black Stone Tablet' found on a 'Ghost Ship'. It's engraved with incomprehensible ancient text that even the Chamber of Commerce people can't study, but it is incredibly hard—even a Deity Transformation Cultivator can barely damage it at all..."

A Black Stone Tablet? Ancient text?

Nightmare's heart stirred, and he thought of the stone tablet at the Third Observation Post.

Could there be a connection between the two?

"When does the auction start? What qualifications are needed?"

"Tomorrow night at the hour of the Rat (midnight), it will be held on the 'Treasure Ship' of the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce."

"You need to pay 100 High-Grade Spirit Stones or an equivalent value as a deposit to get an entry token."

The bartender looked around and lowered his voice further: "If you want to go, Fellow Daoist, it's best to change your identity; they are checking strictly lately."

Nightmare nodded, tossed a few more Void Crystals to the bartender, and turned to leave the tavern.

He needed to obtain an entry qualification and required a suitable identity.

After inquiring a little in the city, he found a "suitable" target: One-Eyed Owl, an Early Nascent Soul Stage Loose Cultivator with a notorious reputation who specialized in robbing lone Cultivators. He had recently lucked out and gained some benefits from the outer periphery of the Sea Eye, just enough money to buy an entry token for the auction.

This person's whereabouts were uncertain, but he would go to the "Dragon Gambling Den" in the west of the city every night to gamble heavily.

Nightmare arrived at the west of the city, where a crazy casino had been built from the skull of a massive Yao Beast.

It was bustling inside, with all kinds of gambling methods: betting on the results of Void Beast hunts, betting on the intensity of Sea Eye storms, and even betting on how long a Cultivator could last outside.

Soon, at a bone table for betting on big/small, he found One-Eyed Owl, who was fat-faced, blind in one eye, and gambling with a flushed face.

Nightmare didn't act immediately; instead, he stood in the distance, like the most patient hunter, waiting quietly.

Until late at night, when One-Eyed Owl lost his last Spirit Stone, cursed while walking out of the Dragon Gambling Den, and turned into a dark alley, preparing to do a "job" to win back his losses...

A black shadow swept past behind him like a phantom.

One-Eyed Owl didn't even have time to make a sound; he only felt a numbness in his back, a cold and dead force instantly eroded his Nascent Soul and Divine Soul, and his consciousness fell into eternal darkness.

Nightmare skillfully took off his Storage Pouch, found the entry token engraved with the words "Four Seas," and used the "Vitality Plunder" from The Netherworld Book of Life and Death to devour his remaining essence, Qi, and spirit, converting it into a wisp of pure energy to replenish himself. Then, he flicked a poisonous fire from his fingertips, turning the corpse to ash and scattering it into the sea of the Void Realm below.

The whole process was clean, neat, and silent.

After finishing all this, just as he was preparing to leave the alley, he suddenly felt something and abruptly looked up into the depths of the alley's shadows.

There, he saw a small fox the size of a palm, with silver-white fur tinged with a faint pink hue, sitting and tilting its head, looking at him curiously with eyes like pure purple crystals.

It was the "Phantom Cloud Fox" that he had met twice before in the Cloud Dream Great Marsh and the Flowing Cloud Ruins!

It had actually followed him all the way here?!

Nightmare's pupils constricted, and he was extremely shocked.

He had come to the vicinity of Bibo City directly through the teleportation array of the Lost Village; how did this little fox cross such a vast distance to find him so precisely?

The Phantom Cloud Fox seemed to see through his surprise; it lightly jumped down from the corner of the wall, walked elegantly to him, raised its little paw, pointed at him, then pointed at itself, and let out a "chirp," as if saying, "I'm following you for sure."

Nightmare frowned.

This little guy had extremely high intelligence, and it seemed to have no malice toward him; in fact, it had repeatedly shown goodwill.

But the timing and manner of its appearance were too strange.

He tried to communicate with it using his Divine Sense: "Why are you following me?"

The Phantom Cloud Fox blinked its purple eyes and transmitted a vague thought filled with dependence and affection, mixed with a hint of fear and confusion about the surrounding environment, as if it regarded him as its only reliance.

Nightmare pondered for a moment.

This little fox was extremely fast and had a gifted talent for illusions; perhaps it could be somewhat useful?

Moreover, it seemed to be able to ignore many Restrictions and Formations; perhaps it could help him do something at the auction...

"You can follow me, but you must be obedient. Otherwise..."

A trace of cold warning flashed in Nightmare's eyes, and a wisp of Annihilation Death Qi was slightly released.

The Phantom Cloud Fox was so scared that its fur stood on end. It hurriedly nodded, rubbed against his pant leg in a fawning manner, and then turned into a streak of silver light, skillfully darting onto his shoulder and finding a comfortable position to lie down, as if that had always been its exclusive seat.

Nightmare: "..."

Forget it; having an extra companion beast didn't seem bad, at least the Treasure-Seeking Spirit Weasel seemed to like it.

He took his newly acquired "little brother," walked out of the alley, and merged into the chaotic night of Bibo City.

At tomorrow's auction, he would see what that Black Stone Tablet really was.

He also felt that beneath the seemingly chaotic appearance of Bibo City, the undercurrents were becoming increasingly turbulent.

The Sea Hook Gang's search, the mysterious auction items, and this Phantom Cloud Fox of unknown origin by his side...

It seemed an invisible net was slowly tightening.

But he was not afraid at all.

He was no longer the same person he used to be.

Whoever came, if they wanted to plot against him, they had better be prepared to suffer the backlash!