Chapter 1011

Paid a hefty entry fee in Spiritual Stone, passed through the massive meteorite city gate guarded by Ascendant Bright Sect cultivators and lined with detection arrays, a tumultuous, chaotic reek of sweat, sea stench, cheap tobacco, blood, and various energy potions hit him.

The streets of Star Fall City are narrow and crowded, almost no flat ground visible; most are stone steps or walkways carved along the meteorite terrain. Architectural styles vary widely: there are stone houses carved from meteorite caves, wooden towers built on massive skeletons, and also modular buildings gleaming with metallic luster, full of Ascendant Bright Sect style.

Stalls line both sides of the street, hawking all sorts of strange and wondrous items: exotic ores from the deep sea, foul-smelling demon beast materials, eerily colored potions, rust-speckled fragments of magical implements, and even low-grade demonic creatures caged, their eyes fierce.

The crowd is a mingling of fish and dragons. Burly mercenaries covered in scars; shifty-eyed smugglers hurrying about; the Ascendant Bright Sect's peripheral patrol in uniform, strutting with arrogance; sorcerers cloaked in black robes exuding a yin chill; plus some oddly dressed folk clearly from other seas or continents… The air reeks of naked desire, vigilance, and the sense that conflict could erupt at any moment.

Han Wuxian blended into the crowd without a change in expression, heading straight for the city center where information was most concentrated—the Falling Star Plaza. His divine sense spread like invisible feelers, cautiously eavesdropping on surrounding chatter and filtering useful information.

"... Have you heard? Fighting broke out again over at Black Reef Island! The Blood Shark Gang and the Iron Anchor Society are clashing over a newly discovered minor star‑marrow vein, and quite a few have died!"

"Hmph, petty squabbles. The real big news is at the Deep Abyss Arena! Word has it that next month an Inner Gate steward of the Ascendant Bright Sect will come to pick promising seedlings—this is a chance for a carp to leap over the dragon gate!"

"Tch, don't dream. The Ascendant Bright Sect has high standards; without some special skill you'd just be cannon fodder. But… I heard this recruitment is tied to searching for something?"

"Shh! Watch your tongue! You think you can randomly guess Ascendant Bright Sect affairs? Careful—disaster comes from the mouth!"

"Lately the seas have been uneasy; patrol units have been reinforced. Word is that something big happened at the edge of the Boundless Sea—a Nascent Soul‑stage abyssal terror‑toad was slain!"

"Real or fake? Who could have such power? Could it be an Elder of the Ascendant Bright Sect who made the move?"

"Not likely… according to a drunken brother from the patrol, the residual power at the scene is weird—like light… yet like starlight… altogether very uncanny!"

Hearing the discussion about the Boundless Sea and the terror‑toad, Han Wuxian felt a slight tremor in his heart, but his steps did not falter. The Ascendant Bright Sect had indeed taken notice! Moreover, they were interested in the nature of that "purification and starlight" power. For him, it was both a risk and perhaps… an opportunity?

Arriving at Falling Star Plaza, it was even more bustling. At the plaza's center stood a huge black meteorite pitted with impact craters, said to be the origin of this city. Around the meteorite were packed taverns, tea houses, information exchanges, and mission boards. The air was fragrant with spiritual food and an even stronger scent of trade.

Han Wuxian entered the busiest, noisiest "Conch Tavern". Inside, voices rose in a din, smoke swirled. He chose a corner seat, ordered a pot of the cheapest "seaweed tea", and listened silently.

"... Latest news! The Shattered Star Guild will hold an auction three days from now at the Starlight Pavilion! Rumor has it the highlight is a broken star‑disk brought up from the depths of the Ancient Star Ruins, containing spatial mysteries!"

Han Wuxian's heart stirred: Ancient Star Ruins? One of the locations marked on Qinghe Immortal Maiden's star map!

"... The Ascendant Bright Sect has issued a first‑order wanted poster! A bounty on the capture of Gray Mist Yanluo and his followers! Those who provide solid leads receive ten thousand High-grade Spirit Stone and a spot as an Outer Gate disciple of the Ascendant Bright Sect! Those who kill or seize him… the reward is unimaginable!"

Gray Mist Yanluo! Han Wuxian's grip on his teacup tightened slightly.

"Hey, with a bounty like that, brave souls will surely appear! I heard the top‑tier hunter squads Shadow Fang and Night Owl have taken the job and are scouring the entire sea region. Even if Gray Mist Yanluo is formidable, could he withstand a hunt by the whole Dongxing Sea Region?"

"Hard to say… that fellow appears and disappears like a ghost, his pot‑magic methods are eerily strange! Not long ago, rumor had it that near the Northern Frosty Ravine, an Ascendant Bright Sect patrol vanished without a sound, leaving only a thin veil of gray mist at the scene."

"Hiss… that's pretty uncanny; that bounty won't be easy to claim…"

The talk about Gray Mist Yanluo made Han Wuxian's heart feel heavy.

The Ascendant Bright Sect has poured in such resources—Yan Xirou's situation is probably a million times more dangerous than he imagined! He must quickly find a way into the Ascendant Bright Sect's core region, whether for the Star Sea Map or for…

He set down a few Spiritual Stone, rose, and prepared to leave the tavern to seek more information from a specialist information dealer about the Ascendant Bright Sect's recruitment and the "Ancient Star Ruins star‑disk".

Just as he reached the doorway, a stocky, thick‑faced brute with a vicious sea‑star tattoo on his neck, accompanied by several similarly ill‑meaning lackeys, swaggered up to block the exit. The thug gave Han Wuxian a brazen once‑over, and when he saw the seemingly ordinary but actually exceptional storage pouch at his waist, a flicker of greed flashed in his eyes.

"Hey, newcomer?" the stocky brute snarled, flashing a mouthful of yellow teeth as a strong reek of liquor and sweat hit him, "Do you know the rules? In my Sea Star Gang's turf you gotta pay the 'peace money'!"

His lackeys behind him also started clamoring, ill‑intentioned eyes surrounding Han Wuxian. Other patrons in the tavern either lowered their heads pretending not to see or wore a look of "let's watch the show"; nobody dared step forward.

Han Wuxian's brows furrowed slightly. He didn't want trouble, especially in this dragon‑and‑snake mixed place, and he certainly didn't want to reveal his strength and draw the Ascendant Bright Sect's attention. Bearing it, he lowered his voice: "I'm new here, unaware of the local rules—how many Spiritual Stone do I need?"

"Heh heh, you're wise for a kid!" the stocky brute gloated, wiggling his five short, thick fingers, "Not much—five hundred low-grade Spiritual Stone! Pay up and I'll guarantee your safety in Star Fall City!"

"Five hundred low-grade Spiritual Stone? That's outright robbery! Enough to keep an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator going for months!"

A cold glint flashed in Han Wuxian's eyes and was gone. His injuries hadn't healed, his spiritual power flowed sluggishly; dealing with these few—at most late‑stage Foundation Establishment thugs who rely on brute force and numbers to bully—wouldn't be hard, but if he fought, the commotion would surely be large, likely drawing unwanted attention, especially any possible Ascendant Bright Sect informants.

He forcibly suppressed his anger, took out a small bag containing several dozen low-grade Spiritual Stones from his storage bag, and handed it over: "I only have these on me; please do me a favor."