Chapter 553: Underground Black Market

Leaving the Kui Feng Academy, Chen Mu did not linger nearby.

Lu Zhangyao's memories had already given him a rough outline of the Jiuyou Sect and the stern defenses of the Mingyuan Secret Realm.

The plan to infiltrate the core by controlling low-tier disciples appeared too risky and inefficient due to the unpreventable soul prohibitions and strict verification procedures.

"It seems conventional routes cannot quickly approach the core of the Mingyuan Secret Realm."

Chen Mu materialized in the shadow of a secluded corner in the city, restoring his original cold demeanor and aura, his thoughts racing, "I need another path—or create chaos, lure the snake out of its hole, and slip in while they're distracted?"

Creating chaos was easy, but generating enough disturbance in the Jiuyou Sect's core area—where Wanxiang the Old Ancestor presided, prohibitions layered thick, and guards stood vigilant—without immediately drawing attention, and still precisely timing his infiltration, was extremely difficult.

"Perhaps I should start with the 'secret realm's anomalies'?"

Chen Mu recalled the vague information in Lu Zhangyao's memories.

Recently, the sect had strengthened the Mingyuan Secret Realm's defenses for unknown reasons; rumors spoke of anomalies deep within the realm.

If these anomalies truly existed and were linked to the Sword Soul, it would be a divine opportunity.

The Jiuyou Sect's increased defenses may well be to suppress or study these anomalies.

"If I can confirm the anomalies are tied to the Sword Soul, I might even secretly stoke them, creating greater commotion, forcing the Jiuyou Sect's high elders to focus more attention inward—thereby relaxing surveillance on the outer perimeters, especially certain hidden passages or weak defensive points…"

A bold plan gradually took shape in Chen Mu's mind.

But all of this depended on him getting closer to the Mingyuan Secret Realm, obtaining firsthand information about the anomalies, confirming their nature, and even attempting to establish a faint resonance or connection with the possible Sword Soul.

Deep within the Youming Mountains, where the Jiuyou Sect's main gate stood, was no place to be trifled with.

Though Chen Mu possessed Tiangong realm cultivation and the Four Seasons Martial Domain, he dared not guarantee he could move freely in such a dragon's den and tiger's lair.

He needed a more detailed geographical map of the Youming Mountains, especially regarding the Mingyuan Secret Realm's surrounding region, the flow of earth veins, and historical records of hidden passages never fully controlled—or abandoned—by the Jiuyou Sect.

Such information could not be easily bought at places like the Wuying Tower, nor known to lowly outer-disciples like Lu Zhangyao.

"Looks like I need to find the 'local snake' among the 'local snakes.'"

Chen Mu's gaze turned deeper into Heimeng City, to the region known as the "An Xu."

It was Heimeng City's true no-man's-land, gathering the most desperate outlaws, black market tycoons, information peddlers, and complex figures who harbored ill will toward the Jiuyou Sect—or had tangled ties to it—yet walked the edge of its rules.

There, if one could pay the price, one might acquire secrets touching the very fringes of the Jiuyou Sect's core.

Chen Mu altered his appearance again, this time becoming a black-robed old man with a sinister face, sharp eyes, and an aura hovering between Xiantian peak and Ditan's "Passing the Divine Bridge," his back burdened with a bulging leather sack, as if carrying priceless treasures—a lone cultivator—heading toward the An Xu.

The An Xu lay beneath Heimeng City, its entrance hidden, requiring passage through multiple checkpoints and payment of a hefty entrance fee.

Chen Mu, using his forged identity and perfectly timed silver notes, entered smoothly.

The underground space was vast, a labyrinth like an ant colony with passages everywhere.

Along both sides of the tunnels were caves carved into the rock walls, each bearing strange, bizarre signs, radiating even more eerie and dangerous energy.

The traded goods were more forbidden; some cave entrances even exuded faint traces of blood.

Chen Mu did not wander aimlessly; his spiritual sense, the moment he entered the An Xu, had already locked onto several locations with the most concealed auras and strongest cave protections.

These were likely the strongholds of the An Xu's top information peddlers or black market tycoons.

He chose one: a cave entrance marked by a black stone tablet with no writing, only an engraving of a closed eye.

According to the scattered information he had gathered, its owner, codenamed "Mingmu," was among the most well-informed, most expensive, yet relatively most rule-abiding figures in the An Xu.

Stepping into the cave, light abruptly dimmed, illuminated only by a few faint green lanterns.

The interior was small and sparsely furnished, containing only a stone table and two stone chairs.

Behind the table sat a figure shrouded in a wide black robe, face hidden beneath the hood's shadow, aura elusive and hard to grasp—but to Chen Mu, it felt at least at the Ditan level of "Seeing the Divine, Unbreakable."

"Guest, what brings you here?"

The black-robed figure, Mingmu, spoke, voice hoarse and dry like two rough stones grinding together.

"Buy information," Chen Mu replied succinctly, disguising his voice as aged and raspy.

"What information?"

"About the Mingyuan Secret Realm's recent anomalies, earth vein flows, and any possible unrecorded ancient passages."

Chen Mu spoke slowly, placing a small bag of jade-like stone tablets on the table, the opening slightly parted to reveal the pure spiritual light within.

The cave fell silent for an instant.

Mingmu's hidden gaze, seemingly piercing through the hood, lingered on Chen Mu for a moment.

"The information you seek is deadly," Mingmu's voice betrayed no emotion.

"Price is no issue."

Chen Mu produced another larger bag, filled with several high-quality "Xuanyin Jade Marrow," beneficial for Yin-cold cultivation methods.

He had picked them up casually while passing through the "Winter Palace" of the Four Seasons Secret Treasury.

Seeing the Xuanyin Jade Marrow, Mingmu's breath quickened slightly, then settled.

"Regarding the Mingyuan Secret Realm's recent anomalies, there are three credible rumors."

Mingmu spoke slowly, voice lowered, "First, about half a year ago, the Yin-Sha Tide in the 'Ming River' section of the realm surged abnormally, its force increasing by thirty percent and carrying a rare sharpness; several inner-disciples training nearby were wounded by invisible sword qi, their souls damaged."

"Second, two months ago, the soul energy spewing from the 'Soul Well' region occasionally carried a faint, peculiar rhythm—like it could summon ten thousand swords to sing—lasting only moments before vanishing."

"Third, an elder stationed at the secret realm faintly sensed extremely subtle spatial disturbances near the innermost layer of the realm—the heavily sealed 'Youming Palace'—suggesting increased activity of whatever is imprisoned within."

Chen Mu's heart stirred.

Ming River sword qi, Soul Well sword chime, Youming Palace spatial ripples…

All these phenomena pointed to the Rule of the Sword!

The Sword Soul very likely resided deep within the Mingyuan Secret Realm—perhaps even inside the sealed Youming Palace.

Could the recent anomalies be caused by changes in the Sword Soul, triggering some resonance or activation?