Chapter 100: The Ghost Market Secret Pact

The trip to the Imperial City contained a huge amount of information, giving Lin Xuan a clearer understanding of his own situation and the pattern of this realm, but also making him feel a heavier pressure. The meeting with the Imperial Lord was more like the beginning of a tacit transaction and cooperation.

Not long after returning to Qingyun Cottage, the visiting card of the Third Imperial Prince Huangfu Hao was officially delivered, inviting him to meet at the "Drunken Immortal Tower," the largest restaurant in the Imperial Capital.

Lin Xuan did not refuse. Since he wanted to cooperate with the Imperial Family to explore the Star-Gazing Platform, it was necessary to contact this Imperial Prince who represented the Imperial Family in advance and discuss the details.

On the top floor of the Drunken Immortal Tower, in the "Cloud Gazing Pavilion" private room.

The view here was excellent, and one could overlook most of the prosperity of the Imperial Capital. Huangfu Hao had been waiting here for a long time. He was not wearing his Imperial Prince casual clothes today, but a moon-white brocade robe, which lacked some Imperial majesty and had more of the romantic and suave air of an aristocratic son, but the noble air and confidence that were faintly visible between his brows could not be covered.

Seeing Lin Xuan come alone (Saintess Yun Yao stayed in the cottage), Huangfu Hao stood up to welcome him, with a just-right enthusiastic smile on his face: "Brother Lin, sorry for the presumptuous invitation, please sit down quickly!"

"Third Highness is too polite." Lin Xuan cupped his hands in return and sat down calmly.

After the maid served the spirit tea and snacks, she retreated quietly, leaving only the two of them in the private room.

Huangfu Hao personally poured tea for Lin Xuan and went straight to the point: "The Imperial Father must have already talked to Brother Lin about the Star-Falling Lake Star-Gazing Platform. To tell Brother Lin, this matter concerns the future of the Imperial Dynasty and also the potential threat of dealing with the 'Abyss of Ruins'. Hao is duty-bound."

Lin Xuan took a sip of tea and said lightly: "Your Highness, just speak straight. For the cooperation, what are the terms?"

"Brother Lin is straightforward." Huangfu Hao put down the teapot, his expression becoming serious. "The appearance of the Star-Gazing Platform, although there is opportunity, the risk is also huge. The Star Palace will never sit by and watch outsiders step into the outskirts of its Mystical Realm, and factions like the Shadow Tower and the Zhao Clan will inevitably move upon hearing the news, and may even attract other hidden old monsters. We need to work together to gain something."

"The Imperial Father ordered me to go with you, one is to represent the Imperial Family, and second is to provide help as much as I can. I have a team of secret guards under my command, all of whom are good hands who can fight ten, and they can be responsible for the outer perimeter warning and deal with the small fry. In addition, the records about the Starfall Mystical Realm and the Star-Gazing Platform in the Imperial Dynasty's secret treasury will also be shared with Brother Lin."

Lin Xuan nodded. The Imperial Family's support in intelligence and manpower was indeed what he needed. "Yes. After entering the Star-Gazing Platform, how to act?"

"According to ancient books, the core area of the Star-Gazing Platform has powerful restrictions, and it is difficult to enter unless you are proficient in the Star Dao or carry special tokens. Brother Lin carries Chaos, and has the 'Starfall Token' in hand, so the core area will naturally be led by Brother Lin." Huangfu Hao's tone was sincere. "What I need is the ancient records and techniques that may exist in the Star-Gazing Platform regarding stabilizing the Star Tower or restraining the magic energy of the Abyss of Ruins. As for Brother Lin's personal opportunity, Hao will never covet it."

This condition was quite sincere, clarifying their respective goals and avoiding internal strife.

"Yes." Lin Xuan agreed. "However, Your Highness needs to restrain your subordinates, and all actions must listen to my orders. If there is an emergency, I have my own judgment, and no questioning is allowed."

His tone carried an unquestionable strength. Cooperation was fine, but the leading power must be in his own hands.

A flash of strange color flashed in Huangfu Hao's eyes, but he quickly returned to normal and smiled: "It should be so. Brother Lin has extraordinary strength and rich experience, so Hao will naturally follow Brother Lin's lead."

The preliminary cooperation framework was thus set.

After talking about the business, the atmosphere became a little more relaxed. Huangfu Hao asked seemingly casually: "Brother Lin is new to the Imperial Capital, how do you feel? If there is anything you need, just speak up."

"It's okay." Lin Xuan's tone was flat. "It's just that there are some flies, a bit noisy."

He was naturally referring to the constant harassment from the Zhao Clan and the Shadow Tower.

Huangfu Hao understood and pondered: "The Zhao Clan is powerful and deeply rooted. Because of the death of their direct descendant, they have deep resentment toward Brother Lin. The Shadow Tower is like a maggot on the bone, which is even more troublesome. Although the Imperial Father has the intention to restrain them, the Imperial Family cannot interfere too much in some dark actions. Brother Lin still needs to be more careful."

He paused and lowered his voice: "However, I do know a place that might help Brother Lin temporarily solve some small troubles, and even... find some more accurate news about the core stronghold of the Shadow Tower."

"Oh? Where?" Lin Xuan raised his eyebrows.

"Ghost Market." Huangfu Hao spat out two words, a flash of light in his eyes. "The Ghost Market on the surface is mixed with fish and dragons, but the real core transactions and intelligence are all carried out in the 'Dark Hall'. There are the most well-informed information peddlers in the Imperial Capital. As long as the price is right, there is no secret they don't know. Even... you can post missions."

Lin Xuan's heart moved. The Ghost Market he went to before was just the outskirts. This "Dark Hall" sounded like the real underground core.

"Your Highness has a way?"

Huangfu Hao smiled slightly, took out a token as black as ink, engraved with strange runes, and pushed it to Lin Xuan: "This is the entry token for the 'Dark Hall'. Only by holding this token can you enter the Dark Hall to participate in auctions and secret talks. At the hour of the Rat tonight, by the 'Blood Spring' in the deepest part of the Ghost Market mine shaft, someone will meet you."

Lin Xuan took the token, which felt cold to the touch. Sweeping it with his spiritual sense, he could feel a strange spatial fluctuation. "Why is Your Highness helping me?"

"Brother Lin is a partner, and even more a possible help to deal with the great catastrophe in the future. Helping you is also helping the Imperial Dynasty, and helping myself." Huangfu Hao said frankly. "Moreover, the enemy of an enemy is a friend. The Zhao Clan... in some things, is not of one mind with the Imperial Family."

These words were meaningful. Lin Xuan looked at Huangfu Hao deeply. This Third Imperial Prince was not as simple as he appeared on the surface.

"Thank you, Your Highness." Lin Xuan put away the token.

"Brother Lin is too polite." Huangfu Hao raised his glass. "I wish us a happy cooperation, and in three months, the trip to Star-Falling Lake will be a success!"

The two drank the spirit tea in their cups and talked for a while, mainly Huangfu Hao introduced some of the latest trends of various factions in the Imperial Capital and people who needed attention, while Lin Xuan mostly listened.

Leaving the Drunken Immortal Tower, the lanterns were already lit.

Returning to Qingyun Cottage, Lin Xuan played with the Dark Hall token, and he had already made a decision in his heart.

He must go to the Dark Hall. Not only to obtain accurate news about the Shadow Tower, but also to purchase some special items to deal with the dangers that might appear in the Star-Gazing Platform. At the same time, perhaps he could find other clues about the Star Iron (Starfall Token) and the "Zhou Tian Star Technique."

At the hour of the Rat, the moon was hidden and the stars were sparse.

Lin Xuan quietly left Qingyun Cottage again, dived into the night, and headed straight for the abandoned mine shaft in the West City.

Familiar with the road, he entered the Ghost Market and walked straight to the "Shadow Zone" in the deepest part. According to Huangfu Hao's description, the so-called "Blood Spring" was not real spring water, but a red puddle formed by the long-term condensation of underground evil spirits and dark blood, which never solidified and was the sign of the entrance to the Dark Hall.

Passing through the more chaotic and dangerous area, Lin Xuan finally saw the "Blood Spring" exuding a strong bloody and evil aura at the bottom of a huge rock wall crack that looked like it had been split by a giant axe. The spring eye was only a zhang in radius, the blood water rolling, bubbling, making one feel nauseous.

Beside the spring eye, a figure shrouded in a black cloak, with an aura as cold as a corpse, stood silently, as if merging with the surrounding shadows.

Lin Xuan took out the Dark Hall token.

The cloaked person raised his head, and there were two scarlet lights under the hood. He glanced at the token, nodded silently, then turned around and cast a complex hand seal toward the rolling Blood Spring.

The center of the Blood Spring immediately rotated, forming a whirlpool, and deep in the whirlpool, a portal exuding ghostly light could be vaguely seen.

The cloaked person stepped aside, signaling Lin Xuan to enter.

Lin Xuan did not hesitate, took a step, and threw himself into the Blood Spring whirlpool.

After a short feeling of suffocation, as if passing through viscous blood, the view suddenly opened up.

He appeared in a huge and empty underground hall. The dome of the hall was embedded with skulls emitting pale light, and the surrounding walls were rough rocks, burning with green ghost fire. The air was filled with a cold, chaotic, and greedy aura even worse than the outside world.

There were far fewer people here than outside, but each one had a powerful aura, at least at the Early-Stage Soul Formation, and most of them covered their appearances, keeping a vigilant distance from each other. In the center of the hall was a circular stone platform, which seemed to be used for auctions or displays. Around it were some independent stone rooms isolated by restrictions for secret talks.

This was the real dark core of the Imperial Capital—the Dark Hall!

Lin Xuan's appearance did not attract much attention; those who could come here were not simple characters.

His gaze swept across the audience, and he quickly locked onto a thin old man leaning in the corner with a wooden sign that said "Selling all kinds of secrets, price negotiable" in front of him. The old man's aura was only at the Mid-Stage Soul Formation, but his eyes were bright, revealing shrewdness and cunning.

Lin Xuan walked over.

"Fellow Daoist, what news do you need?" The thin old man raised his eyelids and asked lazily.

"Shadow Tower, besides that stronghold in the Shadow Zone of the Ghost Market in the Imperial Capital, are there any other core nests? Specific location." Lin Xuan asked directly, his voice processed by spiritual power, sounding a bit hoarse.

A flash of light appeared in the old man's eyes: "News about the Shadow Tower? This is a hot potato. As for the price..." He stretched out five fingers.

"Five thousand mid-grade spirit stones?" Lin Xuan raised his eyebrows.

"No, fifty thousand." The old man grinned, revealing yellow teeth. "And, I don't guarantee it's absolutely accurate, but it's eighty percent true."

Lin Xuan didn't talk nonsense, directly took out a storage bag containing fifty thousand spirit stones and placed it on the table.

The old man swept it with his spiritual sense, a satisfied smile appeared on his face, he quickly put away the spirit stones, and lowered his voice: "That place in the Shadow Zone is just a front. The real core is on the edge of the 'Imperial Mausoleum Forbidden Zone', under a deserted tomb-keeper village. There is a secret teleportation array leading directly to the outer domain, and it is also the place where their highest-level assassins train and hibernate."

Imperial Mausoleum Forbidden Zone?! Lin Xuan's heart shook. That was the place where the Imperial Family buried the emperors of past dynasties, heavily guarded, and shrouded in powerful dragon energy and restrictions. The Shadow Tower actually dared to set up a nest there? It was truly under the lamp! No wonder it was extremely difficult to discover.

"Source of information?" Lin Xuan asked.

"It's inconvenient to disclose this." The old man chuckled. "However, if Fellow Daoist wants to confirm, perhaps you can go to the 'Ten Thousand Treasure Tower's' stronghold in the black market to see. They recently received a batch of 'stolen goods', among which some things carry the unique 'Ghost Soul Grass' scent of Shadow Tower assassins, and the source... seems to be in that direction."

Ten Thousand Treasure Tower? Lin Xuan recorded this information.

"Also, about the recent movements of the Star Palace, especially news about the 'Starfall Token', how much do you know?" Lin Xuan asked again, pushing over another bag containing twenty thousand spirit stones.

The old man's eyes were even brighter, and he quickly put away the spirit stones: "The Star Palace has been very active recently, seemingly collecting a large number of treasures containing star power, especially ancient star core fragments. About the Starfall Token... it is said that the Star Palace is also frantically searching for it internally, and this thing seems to be the key to opening a key ruin. There are rumors that a strange treasure will appear in Star-Falling Lake three months later, which may be related to this. More specifically, I don't know."

This information cross-referenced with what Lin Xuan knew.

After purchasing the required news, Lin Xuan did not linger, went to the stone platform area in the center of the Dark Hall to see the secret auction that was going on, and bought a bottle of "Clear Spirit Jade Liquid" that could temporarily strengthen spiritual sense and resist illusions, and several high-grade "Restriction-Breaking Talismans" for the Star-Gazing Platform.

After doing all this, he did not linger, followed the induction when he came in, found the exit, and left this dark place.

Returning to Qingyun Cottage, Lin Xuan digested the gains of tonight.

The location of the Shadow Tower's core nest was an extremely important piece of information. Imperial Mausoleum Forbidden Zone... the dragon energy and death energy intertwined there, and the environment was complex, which was indeed an excellent place for concealment.

"Ten Thousand Treasure Tower's black market stronghold..." Lin Xuan pondered, perhaps he could go there to explore again and confirm the authenticity of the news.

There were nearly three months left before the Star-Falling Lake Star-Gazing Platform appeared, and he had enough time to prepare, and at the same time, he had to start dealing with some annoying "flies".

The Zhao Clan, the Shadow Tower... it was time to make them pay a greater price.

In Lin Xuan's eyes, cold light began to rise. ===== CHAPTER 101 =====