53: Falling Star Island! A city of sin!

Three days later, the western part of the Chaotic Star Sea.

A massive island, perpetually shrouded in gray mist, appeared on the horizon. No birds flew above the island, only occasional streaks of cold, gloomy light.

This was Falling Star Island.

Legend has it that an ancient meteor fell here, causing the island's magnetic field to be chaotic, restricting Divine Sense, and making it rich in various rare Ores.

Due to its remote location and harsh environment, it gradually became a gathering place for Loose Cultivators, Robber Cultivators, and demonic Cultivators. It was the largest black market in the Chaotic Star Sea, and the only place where the Five Elements Sect's influence couldn't penetrate.

Gu Yang, wearing a tattered black robe to conceal his conspicuous Glazed Crimson-Gold muscles, blended in with a group of Loose Cultivators and landed on the island.

His current condition was not good.

The Thunderous Qi left by Venerable Thunder Sword was like maggots clinging to bone, constantly damaging his Meridians. Although the Primordial Indestructible Golden Body had astonishing recovery capabilities, this kind of Dao Injury required a lot of time or high-grade Medicinal Pills to heal completely.

Moreover, he was out of money.

All his previous Spirit Stones had been used up on his journey and recovery, and now his pockets were cleaner than his face.

"First, let's go into the city and deal with that trash."

Gu Yang arrived at the black market's trading area.

There were no shops here, only individual stalls set up on the roadside. Most of the stall owners were masked, their eyes vigilant, and their stalls displayed various Magical Artifacts and Medicinal Pills of unknown origin, and even Cultivator heads that were still dripping blood.

Gu Yang found a corner and poured out the belongings of the Robber Cultivators he had killed earlier.

Several Low Grade Flying Swords, some low-level Talismans, and a few bottles of unknown Medicinal Pills.

"Boss, do you buy junk?" Gu Yang called out.

A scrawny old man at a nearby stall glanced over and sneered:

"This junk still smells of blood; it's clearly from murder and robbery. This kind of merchandise is everywhere on Falling Star Island and isn't worth much. I'll give you five hundred Spirit Stones for the whole lot."

"Five hundred?!"

Gu Yang's eyes widened. "That's too dark! This Flying Sword alone is worth more than five hundred!"

"Sell it or don't sell it." The old man sneered. "On Falling Star Island, being able to exchange it for Spirit Stones is a skill. If you don't sell it, you'll be robbed as soon as you turn left out the door."

Gu Yang endured it and still sold them.

There was no other way; a single penny could stump a hero. He urgently needed healing Medicinal Pills.

Holding the pitiful five hundred Spirit Stones, Gu Yang wandered around the black market and found that prices here were ridiculously high. A common "Spring Return Pill" cost one hundred Spirit Stones, while a "Thunder Dissolving Pill" for thunder-element Dao injuries was as high as ten thousand Spirit Stones per pill!

"This is highway robbery!"

Gu Yang gritted his teeth. It seemed that a quick recovery was impossible; he could only slowly wear it down with his Physical Body.

Just as he was about to leave, he passed an inconspicuous stall.

The stall owner was a strange person wrapped entirely in black cloth, with only a dark, scrap-iron-like fragment displayed in front of him.

[Ding! Detecting special metal reaction!]

The System's notification sound suddenly rang out.

[Discovered Fourth-Tier Spirit Material — evil-warding divine iron (fragment)! Properties: Possesses extremely high resistance and weakening effects against Five Elements Spells, making it an excellent Material for forging Dao-breaking Magic Treasures!]

"evil-warding divine iron?"

Gu Yang's heart stirred. What he lacked most now was resistance to Spells, especially penetrating thunder Spells. If he could get his hands on this divine iron, and even integrate it into his Golden Body... He squatted down, pretending to casually pick up the iron piece: "Boss, how much for this scrap metal?"

"Ten thousand Spirit Stones. No bargaining." The strange man's voice was hoarse and grating.

"Ten thousand?!" Gu Yang almost dropped the iron piece. "Are you robbing me?! For just this piece of broken iron?"

"Those who know its value will understand. Those who don't, scram." The strange man ignored him completely.

Gu Yang felt immense hatred in his heart.

Ten thousand Spirit Stones, in the past, would have been just a snack for him. But now... Just as he was wondering if he should wait until night for a "zero-dollar purchase."

"This iron piece, this Young Master wants it."

An arrogant voice came.

A young Young Master, dressed in luxurious brocade robes and fanning himself with a folding fan, walked over, surrounded by a group of guards. He didn't even spare Gu Yang a glance, directly throwing out a Storage Pouch.

"Here are ten thousand Spirit Stones, keep the change."

The stall owner took the money and handed over the iron piece.

Gu Yang narrowed his eyes as he looked at the Young Master.

Young Master Duobao, the illegitimate son of Falling Star Island's Island Master, was a notorious profligate and a well-known fat sheep.

"Uh... this Young Master."

Gu Yang stood up, blocking Young Master Duobao's path, a signature, benign smile on his face.

"I saw this iron piece first."

"You?"

Young Master Duobao scrutinized Gu Yang's shabby attire from head to toe, then sneered:

"When this Young Master buys something, I never consider who came first, only who has more money. What, do you want to compare Spirit Stones with this Young Master?"

"No."

Gu Yang shook his head, clenching his fists, which produced crisp cracking sounds.

"I don't have money. But I have strength."

"I want to borrow some money from you, and incidentally... have you give me this iron piece."

"Courting death!"

The two guards behind Young Master Duobao instantly attacked.

Both of them were Golden Core Middle Stage masters, working in perfect coordination. From left and right, two flashes of saber light slashed directly at Gu Yang's face.

On Falling Star Island, daring to block Young Master Duobao's path was a capital offense!

"Too slow."

Although Gu Yang was injured, his foundation as a Golden Core Body Cultivator remained.

He shifted his feet slightly, dodging the saber blades, and his two large hands shot out like lightning, accurately gripping the wrists of the two guards.

Extreme Dao Force Field — Gravity Suppression!

Crack!

The two guards felt a sharp pain in their wrists; their bones were directly crushed, and the sabers in their hands clanged to the ground.

Gu Yang flung his arms, and the two men were thrown out like rag dolls, smashing heavily into the wall by the roadside.

Young Master Duobao's smile froze on his face.

"You... what do you want to do? My father is the Island Master! He's a Nascent Soul Ancestor!"

He retreated while conjuring a defensive Magic Treasure.

Gu Yang advanced step by step, ignoring the Magic Treasure's light shield, and directly reached out to grab.

Five Elements Great Millstone — Annihilation!

The Magic Treasure's light shield instantly shattered.

Gu Yang's large, iron-clamp-like hand seized Young Master Duobao by the neck, lifting him up like a small chicken.

"The Island Master is your father? What a coincidence, I love beating up rich second-generations the most."

Gu Yang skillfully stripped off Young Master Duobao's Storage Ring and snatched the evil-warding divine iron.

"Thanks, good Samaritan."

The surrounding Loose Cultivators were all dumbfounded.

Who was this person? How dared he rob Young Master Duobao on Falling Star Island? This was practically poking a hole in the heavens!

"Release my son!!"

Just then, a terrifying pressure erupted from the main mansion in the center of the island, instantly enveloping the entire black market.

A Nascent Soul Stage Old Ancestor! The Island Master of Falling Star Island!

"Damn it, I hit the kid, and now the old man's here."

Gu Yang's expression changed, knowing that it was not advisable to stay here long. In his current state, facing a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator would undoubtedly lead to death.

"Time to make a run for it!"

Gu Yang threw Young Master Duobao to the ground (using him as a temporary shield), turned, and fled, instantly disappearing into the intricate alleys.