The moment Lin Mo appeared beside Lin Shuan—
the atmosphere around Star River Inn changed completely.
Many cultivators immediately connected the dots.
Lin Mo.
Sect Leader of LinJian Sect.
A famous sword cultivator.
A respected expert throughout Da Cang Empire.
And now—
he was standing beside Shuan Hao.
Not merely standing beside him.
Protecting him.
Supporting him.
Treating him like someone important.
Countless eyes widened.
"So Shuan Hao belongs to LinJian Sect?"
"That must be it!"
"No wonder he possesses such talent!"
"LinJian Sect..."
"It makes sense!"
The weaker cultivators instantly became nervous.
Meridian Tracer experts.
Soul Spark experts.
Even some low-level Form Shapers.
They began retreating one after another.
Their courage disappeared immediately.
With Lin Mo and Xuan Ling present—
who would dare provoke trouble?
Soon—
only the truly powerful remained.
Form Shapers.
Immortal Seeds.
Hidden experts.
And several mysterious cultivators who had attended the auction.
Their gazes remained fixed upon Lin Shuan.
Greed still existed.
Curiosity still existed.
The auction's treasures were too shocking.
Far too shocking.
One Immortal Seed stepped forward.
His eyes narrowed.
"Young Friend Shuan Hao."
"The disturbance inside this inn..."
"Who is cultivating?"
Another expert immediately added,
"And where did those ancient herbs come from?"
A third spoke coldly.
"The Golden Spirit Fruits."
"The ninety-thousand-year herb."
"The Heaven Rank techniques."
"Such treasures do not appear from nowhere."
More and more voices followed.
Questions.
Suspicions.
Demands.
The pressure gradually increased.
Inside the inn—
Yan Feng Luo immediately stood.
"Damn it."
"They're bullying Brother Shuan."
"I'm going out."
But before he could move—
an old hand landed upon his shoulder.
Tai Gu Chen.
The ancient expert slowly shook his head.
"Stay here."
Yan Feng Luo frowned.
"But—"
Tai Gu Chen interrupted him.
"If he truly requires our help..."
"We will move."
"But until then..."
"Our appearance will only create greater chaos."
Yan Feng Luo gritted his teeth.
Yet eventually—
he sat back down.
Outside—
Lin Shuan calmly faced dozens of experts.
His expression remained indifferent.
He was about to answer—
when suddenly—
something changed.
BOOM!
Frost Luo Essence exploded once again.
The entire district trembled.
Countless cultivators froze.
Another breakthrough?
Everyone instinctively looked toward the cultivation chamber.
The Frost Qi became denser.
Colder.
Sharper.
Then—
a powerful aura surged upward.
Six-Star Immortal Seed!
The pressure shook the surrounding buildings.
Han Xue Long slowly opened his eyes inside another cultivation room.
His breakthrough had completed.
Five-Star Immortal Seed.
Six-Star Immortal Seed.
The crowd fell into complete shock.
One Immortal Seed breakthrough was already terrifying.
Now there were two?
Someone swallowed hard.
"Those treasures..."
"They really worked..."
Immediately—
many experts looked toward Lin Shuan.
Their eyes became hotter.
Greedier.
More dangerous.
Several thoughts surfaced simultaneously.
Capture him.
Interrogate him.
Force the secret from him.
At that exact moment—
Xuan Ling moved.
Whoosh!
The Xuan Yun Sect Leader appeared directly before Lin Shuan.
His white robes fluttered.
His expression remained calm.
Yet his actions clearly displayed his position.
He was standing with Lin Shuan.
Not against him.
The crowd immediately became more cautious.
Even if Lin Mo was only a Seven-Star Form Shaper—
his sword comprehension rivaled Immortal Seeds.
And Xuan Ling himself was a genuine Three-Star Immortal Seed.
Neither was easy to provoke.
Yet—
the situation continued escalating.
Three more figures appeared.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Three enormous auras descended from the heavens.
The sky darkened.
The surrounding experts became serious.
Six-Star Immortal Seed.
Six-Star Immortal Seed.
Seven-Star Immortal Seed.
The strongest among them wore dark robes.
His eyes resembled cold stars.
The moment he appeared—
even Xuan Ling's expression changed.
Because he recognized him.
Mo Canghai.
A notorious wandering expert.
Seven-Star Immortal Seed.
One of the strongest independent cultivators within Da Cang Empire.
A terrifying existence.
The surrounding crowd immediately retreated.
No one wished to stand between such monsters.
Mo Canghai calmly descended.
His gaze locked onto Lin Shuan.
Then—
without speaking—
he walked forward.
Toward Lin Shuan.
Toward Xuan Ling.
Toward Lin Mo.
Xuan Ling suddenly felt a chill.
The pressure behind him increased dramatically.
Instinctively—
he turned around.
Then froze.
Lin Shuan was gone.
Lin Mo was gone.
Both had vanished.
Completely.
The crowd exploded.
"What?!"
"When did he disappear?"
"Impossible!"
Even Xuan Ling's breathing stopped.
He was a Three-Star Immortal Seed.
Yet he had not noticed anything.
Not even the slightest fluctuation.
The crowd immediately searched.
Then—
someone pointed downward.
"There!"
Everyone followed the direction.
On a distant street—
a young man was casually walking forward.
Beside him—
walked Lin Mo.
It was Lin Shuan.
The entire city became silent.
Shock spread through every expert.
A Meridian Tracer.
A mere Meridian Tracer.
Had escaped beneath the nose of a Seven-Star Immortal Seed.
And even brought another person with him.
Xuan Ling felt his scalp turn numb.
This speed...
was terrifying.
Far away—
inside a small shop—
the Peak Immortal Seed expert hidden beneath black robes smiled faintly.
"What speed..."
"The name suits him."
Meanwhile—
Mo Canghai's face darkened slightly.
For the first time in years—
he felt embarrassed.
But after several breaths—
he laughed.
A calm laugh.
"Interesting."
"Very interesting."
He looked toward the distant street.
"Boy..."
"Your movement technique truly deserves praise."
"Now I want it even more."
Then—
his figure vanished.
At the same moment—
Lin Shuan sent elder Lin Mo away and
Lin Shuan's expression became serious.
Because Tian Wuchen had already warned him.
"He's coming."
"Three breaths."
"Left."
"Now."
Without hesitation—
Lin Shuan activated Lightning Immortal Path.
CRACK!
A bolt of lightning exploded beneath his feet.
His figure vanished.
Almost instantly—
Mo Canghai appeared where he had been standing.
His eyes narrowed.
Again?
The chase began.
Across rooftops.
Across streets.
Across towers.
Lightning flashed continuously through Cang Yue City.
The crowd watched with open mouths.
A Meridian Tracer.
Being chased by multiple Immortal Seeds.
Yet none could catch him.
The scene looked absurd.
Several experts gritted their teeth.
"Too fast."
"This brat is too fast."
Another roared,
"I refuse to believe a Meridian Tracer can maintain this speed forever."
High above the city—
the Immortal Seeds gradually spread apart.
They began forming a net.
Front.
Back.
Above.
Below.
Every direction.
Every escape route.
The city became a cage.
Mo Canghai's eyes suddenly narrowed.
This time—
he noticed something.
Every activation of Lightning Immortal Path consumed vitality.
A trace.
A tiny trace.
Yet he sensed it.
His expression changed.
"Foolish child."
"He's burning his own life."
Then—
he smiled.
"If that's the price..."
"Let's see how long you last."
Whoosh!
His figure accelerated.
Moments later—
he appeared directly before Lin Shuan.
The chase ended.
Lin Shuan immediately stopped.
For the first time—
he had been intercepted.
His breathing became heavier.
The pressure from a Seven-Star Immortal Seed descended like a mountain.
Around them—
the other Immortal Seeds arrived.
One after another.
The encirclement completed.
The crowd below held their breath.
Lin Shuan was trapped.
Yet unexpectedly—
he did not panic.
Instead—
he raised his right hand.
Frost Luo Essence gathered.
The surrounding temperature plummeted.
Then—
a weapon appeared.
A halberd.
Forged entirely from ice.
Forged entirely from Luo Essence.
The Immortal Seeds widened their eyes.
"A weapon?"
"He created it himself?"
Several experts who had witnessed the Empire Warriors Tournament remained calm.
But the newcomers were stunned.
Creating weapons from pure cultivation energy was no ordinary feat.
The crowd below became excited.
Shuan Hao.
Alone.
Against more than ten Immortal Seeds.
Who wouldn't watch?
But before the battle could begin—
an invisible pressure descended.
BOOM!
Lin Shuan's body immediately fell from the sky.
His knees bent.
His bones groaned.
Spiritual pressure.
Consciousness pressure.
An Immortal Seed had attacked.
Lin Shuan gritted his teeth.
Slowly—
he stood.
The crowd gasped.
Then—
his spiritual consciousness erupted.
Third Stage Consciousness Realm.
BOOM!
The pressure shattered.
The crowd froze.
"Third Stage Consciousness Realm?!"
"At his age?"
Shock swept through the city.
But it wasn't over.
Two Six-Star Immortal Seeds stepped forward.
Their consciousness erupted simultaneously.
Then another.
Then another.
The spiritual pressure multiplied.
Lin Shuan's face turned pale.
His body trembled.
Blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.
One knee slammed into the air beneath him.
Crack.
Crack.
Crack.
Tiny fractures appeared upon his mask.
The pressure became unbearable.
The Immortal Seeds continued increasing it.
Lin Shuan felt his vision blur.
His consciousness wavered.
His body shook violently.
Like a lone mouse surrounded by countless cats.
The cracks spread.
One.
Two.
Three.
His mask was about to shatter.
At that moment—
something unexpected happened.
Inside his sleeve—
a crimson feather quietly melted.
Its existence dissolved.
Transforming into a crimson-golden drop.
The drop entered his body.
Silently.
No one noticed.
Not even Lin Shuan.
His consciousness had already become hazy.
Then—
the sky changed.
The sunlight vanished.
A moon appeared.
Snow erupted across the heavens.
An overwhelming pressure exploded throughout Cang Yue City.
BOOOOOOM!
Every Immortal Seed was pushed backward.
Even Mo Canghai staggered half a step.
The weaker experts were blasted away entirely.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Then—
everyone looked toward Star River Inn.
The chamber doors opened.
A figure emerged.
Blue-white robes.
Moonlit hair.
Frost surrounding her body.
Beautiful beyond mortal description.
Yet terrifying beyond imagination.
Han Qing Li.
Her eyes landed upon Lin Shuan.
Then upon the Immortal Seeds.
The surrounding temperature dropped another level.
Her voice echoed throughout the city.
"You dared injure him?"
The moonlight intensified.
"Do you no longer value your lives?"
BOOM!
Fourth Stage Consciousness Realm erupted.
The spiritual pressure swallowed the city.
Countless cultivators fell to their knees.
Even Immortal Seeds felt fear.
The crowd stared in horror.
"Seven-Star Immortal Seed!"
"Fourth Stage Consciousness Realm!"
"What monster is this girl?!"
Xuan Ling's expression completely froze.
His mind became blank.
Such talent...
Such cultivation...
Such power...
If this young woman wished—
she could destroy entire sects.
Far away—
the hidden Peak Immortal Seed slowly exhaled.
His eyes contained admiration.
"A heavenly daughter..."
"Princess Han Qing Li truly deserves to be called a goddess."
Meanwhile—
all pressure disappeared from Lin Shuan.
His exhausted body immediately collapsed.
Han Qing Li's eyes softened.
A trace of moisture appeared within them.
Instantly—
she arrived beside him.
Supporting him gently.
"Are you alright?"
Her voice became quieter.
"You protected me for fifteen days."
She looked directly into his eyes.
"Now..."
"It's my turn."
Lin Shuan laughed weakly.
Before he could answer—
another voice exploded.
"Finally!"
Yan Feng Luo leaped into the sky.
His battle intent erupted.
"Princess!"
"At last I've got a chance to fight!"
Behind him—
one aura after another appeared.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
The heavens trembled.
Immortal Seed experts emerged continuously.
Lei Yun Hua.
Xue Mei Yun.
Xue Han Yue.
Han Xue Long.
Lei Hao Tian.
Yan Feng Luo.
Han Lei Jun.
Lei Zhan Yu.
Tai Gu Chen.
One after another.
Their cultivation exploded outward.
Five-Star.
Six-Star.
Peak Five-Star.
Four-Star.
Six-Star.
The crowd became numb.
Ten Immortal Seeds.
Ten young & experienced Immortal Seeds.
Not one below Four-Star.
An army.
A force capable of founding an empire.
Even the hidden Peak Immortal Seed's expression changed slightly.
"This..."
"Will be troublesome."
The sky divided into two sides.
One side—
the gathered Immortal Seeds.
The hidden experts.
The greedy cultivators.
The opportunists.
The other side—
Lin Shuan and his companions.
Han Qing Li stood at the front.
Moonlight illuminating her figure.
Lei Yun Hua quietly arrived beside her.
The remaining youths formed ranks behind them.
The crowd below stared with wide eyes.
No one spoke.
No one breathed loudly.
Because everyone understood—
history was being written before their eyes.
And if a single spark appeared—
the battle that followed would shake the entire Da Cang Empire.