A few breaths after Lin Sheng disappeared into the distance, the sky above the devastated mountain range rippled, as though an invisible hand had disturbed the surface of a calm lake. The distortion spread outward in a widening circle before a figure stepped through the warped space, his arrival accompanied by a faint fluctuation that caused the surrounding spiritual Qi to momentarily lose its natural rhythm. He wore the robes of a senior manager of the Myriad Dao Pavilion, the same man who had personally negotiated the exchange with Lin Sheng and arranged the delivery of the Five-Coloured Divine Stone.
However, he was not alone.
A second figure emerged from the spatial ripple behind him, a woman whose elegant robes fluttered gently despite the absence of wind. Her silver-white hair fell down her back like a cascade of moonlight, and her beautiful face carried a composure that seemed entirely at odds with the destruction surrounding them. She swept her gaze across the shattered mountain peaks, the enormous crater left by Lou Guyang's earlier attack, and the traces of blood and demonic Qi still lingering in the air, quickly piecing together what had happened.
The battle had ended only a short while ago, yet its aftermath was already enough to tell them how fierce the confrontation had been. The mountain range had been devastated, several ridges had collapsed, and the residual fluctuations of Golden Core power remained scattered throughout the surrounding space. More importantly, the traces of Yin Qi left behind by the destroyed Rank 4 ghost had not completely dissipated, leaving a faint, unpleasant chill that even the surrounding spiritual energy had yet to wash away.
The manager examined the battlefield for a moment before turning towards the woman beside him, his expression becoming somewhat complicated.
"Pavilion Mistress, was this partly why you insisted that I establish a relationship with Lin Sheng?"
The woman did not answer immediately. Instead, she looked towards the distant horizon, where the last traces of Lin Sheng's aura had already become difficult to distinguish from the surrounding spiritual energy. Only after several breaths did she withdraw her gaze and respond calmly.
"Partly, yes."
The manager's eyebrows rose.
The Pavilion Mistress continued, "When I first encountered him, I could not accurately determine his strength. His concealment method was exceptionally refined, and even when I examined him with my divine sense, I could only perceive fragments of what he was deliberately allowing me to sense. Had I relied entirely on my perception, I might have underestimated him considerably. However, something about his aura did not sit right with me, and I decided to trust my instincts."
She paused briefly, her expression growing more thoughtful.
"It seems my instincts were correct. His concealment method almost fooled me, but he was still unable to hide the full extent of his strength once he began fighting seriously."
The manager stared at her.
For a moment, he wondered whether he had misunderstood her words, but the Pavilion Mistress's expression remained perfectly calm, leaving no indication that she was joking.
She was a Nascent Soul True Monarch, an existence whose divine sense had undergone a profound transformation after successfully advancing beyond the Golden Core Realm. Her perception was far more powerful than that of an ordinary Golden Core cultivator, and she had spent countless years dealing with powerful experts from various factions. Even when encountering cultivators whose cultivation surpassed her expectations, she could usually determine the approximate depth of their foundations through careful examination.
Yet she was now admitting that Lin Sheng's concealment method had nearly deceived her.
The manager's expression gradually became solemn.
"Pavilion Mistress, are you saying that he concealed his strength so effectively that even you could not see through it?"
"Not entirely." She shook her head. "I could sense that his physical foundation was extraordinary, but I could not accurately judge its limits. There is a difference between recognising that someone is powerful and understanding just how powerful they are. Before today's battle, I knew that he was not an ordinary cultivator, but I had not expected him to possess such a terrifying physical foundation."
Her eyes narrowed slightly as she recalled the fluctuations she had sensed from a distance.
"An early-stage Golden Body cultivator capable of destroying a peak Golden Core expert in direct combat is already unusual, but his control over his strength is even more interesting. He did not waste his movements, nor did he rely on a complicated technique to achieve a simple result. Every action served a purpose, and when he decided to kill Lou Guyang, he did so without allowing his opponent another opportunity to escape."
The manager fell silent.
He had not witnessed every exchange with his own eyes, but the traces left behind were sufficient to confirm the terrifying outcome. Lou Guyang had been a peak Golden Core cultivator, a renowned Grandmaster Alchemist who had spent centuries accumulating resources and refining his foundation. Although his cultivation had remained stagnant at the threshold of the Nascent Soul Realm, he was by no means weak, and the five divine ability seeds within his True Core gave him an unusually broad range of combat methods.
Yet he had died here.
The manager slowly turned his attention towards the distant mountains, where the final traces of blazing spiritual energy were fading away.
"What a monster."
He shook his head before looking towards the direction in which Lin Sheng had departed.
"Judging from the remaining traces, he also took the Yin Ghost Core from that Rank 4 ghost. I could still sense its Yin Qi when we arrived, but the core itself is gone. The flames he used must have possessed an astonishingly powerful Yang property, strong enough to burn away the Yin Qi that sustained the ghost while leaving the core intact."
His expression became increasingly amazed.
"Rank 4 ghosts are troublesome even for Golden Core cultivators, particularly those formed by devouring countless souls. Their Yin Qi is difficult to eliminate, and their spiritual attacks can interfere with an opponent's divine sense. Yet Lin Sheng destroyed one so quickly that it barely bought Lou Guyang any time to escape. Whatever method he used, its Yang properties must have been extraordinary."
The Pavilion Mistress remained silent.
Her attention was still fixed on the direction Lin Sheng had taken, and although her expression revealed little, the faint interest in her eyes had become more pronounced.
After waiting for a while without receiving a response, the manager followed her gaze.
"Pavilion Mistress, would you like me to invite him back? We have already established a business relationship with him, and considering what happened today, there may be an opportunity to strengthen it further."
The woman finally sighed.
"The younger generation really is beginning to surpass the old."
Her words were delivered with a faint trace of amusement, but the manager immediately understood that she was referring to more than Lin Sheng's physical strength. For a cultivator who had reached the Nascent Soul Realm, the most interesting aspect of Lin Sheng was not merely his ability to kill a peak Golden Core expert. It was the potential implied by such strength at his current stage of cultivation.
An early-stage Golden Body cultivator who possessed the combat strength to threaten the limits of Rank 4 had an extraordinary future ahead of him, provided he survived long enough to realise it.
The Pavilion Mistress turned towards the manager.
"There is no need to invite him back. He already noticed us when we arrived."
The manager's expression changed.
"He noticed us?"
"Naturally." She gave him a brief glance. "Do you believe that someone capable of concealing his strength from my divine sense would fail to notice two people appearing near the battlefield? His perception is far more sensitive than you imagine, and he deliberately left before we could approach him because he had no reason to remain here."
The manager looked slightly embarrassed.
He had assumed that their arrival had been concealed sufficiently by the spatial distortion, especially since they had appeared only after Lin Sheng had already departed. He had not considered the possibility that the young man might have detected them before they even arrived, much less understood that one of the newcomers was a Nascent Soul True Monarch.
The Pavilion Mistress continued, "Besides, even if we wanted to catch up with him, we would have to put in some effort. Have you paid attention to the speed he displayed while pursuing Lou Guyang?"
The manager thought back to the residual traces of wind and thunder scattered across the sky, then nodded.
"He was using a Rank 4 talisman, wasn't he? I could sense the fluctuations of both attributes, and the patterns left behind seemed consistent with a high-grade movement talisman."
"That is correct. It was a Wind and Thunder Wing Talisman, and from the traces I examined, I suspect he was the one who drew it."
The manager's eyes widened.
"Personally drew it?"
"Most likely. The talisman patterns were exceptionally stable, and the interaction between the wind and thunder attributes was handled with considerable precision. Of course, I cannot confirm that he was the one who refined every part of the talisman, but its quality suggests that he understands its structure far beyond the level of someone who merely purchased it."
She looked towards the distant horizon again.
"More importantly, the speed he achieved with it had already approached the Nascent Soul level."
The manager was visibly stunned.
Nascent Soul True Monarchs possessed an innate ability to warp space, allowing them to cross enormous distances without relying entirely on ordinary flight. That ability was one of the most significant differences between them and Golden Core cultivators, because it allowed them to travel in ways that ordinary cultivators could neither imitate nor easily pursue.
As a result, Nascent Soul cultivators rarely needed to rely solely on their flying speed when travelling long distances. Even those who possessed excellent movement techniques would generally prefer to use spatial movement when circumstances allowed, as it was both more efficient and far more difficult for ordinary cultivators to match.
Yet the Pavilion Mistress was saying that Lin Sheng's speed, while relying on a movement talisman, had already approached that level.
"That fast?" the manager asked, still struggling to accept the assessment. "Even though he was using a talisman, his speed was already close to that of a Nascent Soul True Monarch?"
"His movement speed, yes. That does not mean he possesses the ability to warp space, nor does it mean that his overall strength is equivalent to ours. There is a considerable difference between travelling quickly and fighting at the Nascent Soul Realm, and I have no intention of confusing those two matters."
Her voice remained measured.
"Nevertheless, the fact that he can achieve such speed while still at the early stage of the Golden Body Realm is remarkable. If he continues to advance at his current pace, his future achievements may exceed what many people expect."
The manager finally understood why she had shown such interest in Lin Sheng from the beginning.
The Myriad Dao Pavilion dealt with powerful cultivators every day, and it had established countless relationships with sects, families and independent experts throughout the Eastern Region. Most of those relationships were based on mutual benefit, but occasionally the pavilion encountered someone whose potential made it worthwhile to invest in a long-term connection before that person's influence became widely recognised.
This Daoist was clearly such a person.
The manager's expression grew serious as he cupped his hands.
"Pavilion Mistress, I understand. I will ensure that our future dealings with him remain favourable."
The Pavilion Mistress nodded.
"See that you do. The Daoist is willing to conduct business with us, and that alone is sufficient reason to maintain a good relationship. He has already demonstrated that he possesses resources we value, whether those are his Hundred Yuan Origin Pills, his knowledge of formations or the treasures he has managed to acquire. If we continue treating him fairly, there is no reason why our relationship cannot develop further."
She paused, and the faint smile on her face disappeared.
"However, do not mistake his willingness to conduct business for weakness. He concealed his strength for a reason, and he clearly prefers to avoid unnecessary attention. Do not attempt to investigate his background too aggressively, and under no circumstances should anyone consider using force to obtain his resources. If he discovers that the pavilion intends to take advantage of him, we may lose a valuable partner, and the consequences could be considerably more troublesome than the gain would justify."
The manager bowed again.
"I will remember your instructions."
"Good."
The Pavilion Mistress looked over the battlefield one last time, her gaze passing across the ruined mountain range and the lingering traces of demonic Qi.
"Lou Guyang was foolish enough to sacrifice everything for a treasure he believed would help him advance. Let his fate serve as a warning to anyone who thinks that greed can compensate for poor judgement."
With that, she turned around.
The space behind her rippled once more, and she stepped into the distortion without the slightest hesitation. The manager followed closely, and within moments, the two figures disappeared, leaving the devastated mountain range to the wind.
---
Meanwhile, Lin Sheng had already travelled a considerable distance from the battlefield.
The Wind-Thunder Wing Talisman carried him across the sky at astonishing speed, its immense wings beating behind him as wind and lightning intertwined to propel his body forward. Mountains and rivers passed beneath him in rapid succession, and the clouds were torn apart by the pressure of his movement, leaving a long trail of disturbed spiritual energy that gradually faded as he continued towards a more secluded region.
Only after he had crossed a great distance did Lin Sheng finally reduce his speed.
The wings of wind and thunder folded behind him, and he descended towards a remote mountain ridge before hovering above a stretch of forest. He did not immediately land, however, instead spreading his perception across the surrounding region and examining the auras that remained within its range.
After confirming that nobody was following him, he turned his attention backwards.
His perception extended towards the distant battlefield, passing over the mountains and valleys until it reached the region where he had sensed the two unfamiliar presences. The traces of those auras were already faint, but he could still recall the peculiar fluctuation that had accompanied their arrival, particularly the way the surrounding space had warped before the two figures appeared.
Lin Sheng's expression became thoughtful.
"A Nascent Soul cultivator."
He let out a quiet sigh.
Who would have thought that a battle with Lou Guyang would attract the attention of a Nascent Soul True Monarch? He had already expected the death of a peak Golden Core cultivator to cause some commotion, especially considering Lou Guyang's reputation as a Grandmaster Alchemist, but he had not expected someone at that level to appear so quickly.
Fortunately, he had left without hesitation.
Even if the Nascent Soul cultivator had no intention of attacking him, there was no reason for him to remain near the battlefield and invite unnecessary trouble. His current strength was extraordinary for a Golden Core-level cultivator, but he had no intention of testing it recklessly against someone who had already reached the next major realm.
If the other party proved hostile, he could respond accordingly. If the gap in strength turned out to be too great, he would retreat rather than risk his life over a conflict that had nothing to do with his original plans.
Lin Sheng had never believed that courage meant refusing to acknowledge danger.
A cultivator who survived long enough to reach the higher realms had to understand when to fight, when to retreat and when to avoid becoming involved in a conflict that offered no meaningful benefit. There was little honour in dying merely to prove that one was unafraid, especially when a sensible retreat could preserve both one's life and the opportunity to grow stronger.
After confirming that he had not been followed, Lin Sheng finally relaxed.
At least he had not left empty-handed.
He reached into his storage treasure and retrieved a storage ring, turning it between his fingers as a faint smile appeared on his face.
Lou Guyang had spent centuries accumulating wealth, and although the elderly alchemist had undoubtedly consumed a considerable portion of his resources while attempting to advance towards the Nascent Soul Realm, his remaining possessions were still substantial. As a peak Golden Core cultivator and a Grandmaster Alchemist, he had access to resources that ordinary cultivators could hardly obtain, and even a portion of his accumulated wealth was enough to make the effort worthwhile.
Lin Sheng released his perception into the storage ring.
The first thing that caught his attention was the large collection of Spirit Stones stored inside. There were high-grade Spirit Stones, substantial quantities of middle-grade Spirit Stones, and several smaller containers holding other valuable resources that could be exchanged for additional wealth. After examining the contents carefully, Lin Sheng's smile grew wider.
"This should be enough."
He had already been considering acquiring another round of divine ability inheritances, but the cost of obtaining genuine divine abilities was substantial. Such inheritances were not ordinary cultivation manuals that could be purchased casually from a shop, and even when a suitable ability appeared at an auction or private exchange, the price could rise considerably if several Golden Core cultivators recognised its value.
A divine ability could influence a cultivator's combat strength for centuries, and a suitable inheritance might even determine the direction of their future cultivation. Naturally, the people who possessed such things were reluctant to exchange them cheaply, while those who wanted them were often willing to pay a considerable price.
Lin Sheng had already acquired two fully formed divine ability seeds, Five Elements Profound Light and Yin-Yang Treasure Robe, but he was still interested in expanding his options. The more suitable divine abilities he could obtain, the more choices he would have when preparing for the next stage of his external cultivation, provided that the abilities complemented his existing foundation rather than creating unnecessary complications.
With the Spirit Stones contained in Lou Guyang's storage ring, he could finally afford another round of exchanges without exhausting the resources he had carefully preserved for his future plans.
He continued examining the contents.
There were several bottles of medicinal pills, a collection of rare spiritual materials and a number of jade slips containing alchemical records. Some of the materials were clearly intended for high-grade pill refinement, while others appeared to have been collected for research into the medicinal properties of rare ingredients. Lin Sheng did not examine every item in detail, but he separated the more valuable resources from the ordinary ones and made a mental note to inspect them properly when he had more time.
Then he discovered the pill formulas.
Several jade slips contained complete Rank 4 pill formulas, while others recorded variations of existing recipes, including adjustments to the refining process and notes about the interactions between difficult medicinal ingredients. Lin Sheng's eyes brightened slightly as he examined them, particularly when he realised that some of the formulas were not widely circulated among ordinary alchemists.
These were valuable gains.
A Rank 4 pill formula was not merely a recipe. It represented the accumulated experience of an alchemist who had spent years, sometimes decades, experimenting with different medicinal ingredients, refining their proportions and discovering the conditions required to produce a stable result. Even a formula that appeared simple on the surface could contain subtle details that made the difference between a successful refinement and a ruined batch of precious ingredients.
For Lin Sheng, who already possessed considerable knowledge of alchemy, such records could be useful in several ways. He could study the formulas to improve his understanding of the interaction between different medicinal properties, use them as references when refining unfamiliar pills, or preserve them for future transactions with the Myriad Dao Pavilion and other cultivators.
Unfortunately, the storage ring did not contain any genuine divine ability inheritance.
Lin Sheng searched carefully, examining the jade slips and other records to ensure that he had not overlooked something important, but the result remained the same. Apart from the Rank 4 pill formulas and the alchemical notes, there was nothing that resembled a complete divine ability legacy.
He was not particularly surprised.
Most Golden Core cultivators did not carry their most important divine ability inheritances around as separate collections of manuals. Once a cultivator had obtained a divine ability, they would generally cultivate it and gradually form a corresponding seed within their True Core, and after the process was complete, the ability itself became part of their cultivation rather than something that needed to be carried in a book.
Some factions preserved their divine ability inheritances through secret records, jade slips or special transmission methods, but those resources were usually kept within the sect or family, protected by formations and restrictions that prevented outsiders from accessing them easily. A cultivator who belonged to a major force might have access to such an inheritance, but that did not mean they would carry the original record with them whenever they travelled.
Lou Guyang was a Grandmaster Alchemist, not the leader of a sect that possessed an extensive collection of divine ability inheritances. His five divine ability seeds had been accumulated through his own cultivation and opportunities, and even if he had once possessed records related to those abilities, there was no reason to assume that he would keep them inside his personal storage ring.
The absence of divine ability inheritances was therefore understandable.
Lin Sheng closed the jade slip and continued searching.
Before long, he discovered another collection of resources, including several rare materials that Lou Guyang had apparently intended to use in future negotiations. Some were suitable for alchemy, others could be exchanged for longevity-related treasures or resources that might help stabilise his foundation before attempting the Nascent Soul breakthrough. Considering Lou Guyang's recent offer at the private trading banquet, it was not difficult to guess why he had accumulated such items.
The elderly alchemist had been trying to gather everything that might improve his chances of advancing.
He had sought a longevity item, offered a Rank 4 Epiphany Pill in exchange and continued searching for treasures that could strengthen his foundation, all while convincing himself that the Orthodox Alliance had deliberately obstructed his path. Now, after attempting to steal the Great Five Elements Fruit and killing several people in pursuit of his ambitions, he had lost his life, leaving behind the very resources he had intended to use to secure his future.
Lin Sheng could not help shaking his head.
Lou Guyang had been a peak Golden Core cultivator and a Grandmaster Alchemist, yet in the end, he had allowed his desire to advance into the Nascent Soul Realm to cloud his judgement. Rather than accepting that his foundation might not yet be sufficient, he had chosen to blame others, seek dangerous alliances and gamble everything on a treasure that he was unwilling to obtain through legitimate means.
The result was now plain to see.
Lin Sheng had not only obtained the Spirit Stones he needed, but had also acquired the alchemical formulas, rare materials and other valuable possessions that Lou Guyang had intended to use in future exchanges. He had gained them without spending a single additional Spirit Stone, and the Great Five Elements Fruit that Lou Guyang had tried to steal remained safely in his possession.
He had effectively obtained the treasures his opponent had spent so much effort gathering, all without having to bargain for them.
A faint smile returned to Lin Sheng's face.
"Not a bad harvest."
He stored the jade slips and materials away, then secured Lou Guyang's storage ring before turning his attention towards the distant horizon. Zhenyuan City lay far behind him now, and although the encounter had introduced an unexpected complication, it had also brought him a substantial amount of wealth and several resources that could prove useful in the future.
As for the Nascent Soul True Monarch who had apparently promised Lou Guyang protection, Lin Sheng would investigate the matter when he had a suitable opportunity. For now, he had no intention of allowing an unknown figure to distract him from his plans, especially when he had already obtained what he wanted from the Centennial Auction and the private trading banquet.