Chapter 102: Ten Thousand Treasure Secret Pavilion

The aftermath of the destruction of the Shadow Tower stronghold was still shaking the underground world of the Imperial Capital, and Lin Xuan's fierce name and deterrent power were growing day by day. But he did not indulge in this, and the next day he quietly went out again, aiming straight at the Ten Thousand Treasure Tower's secret stronghold in the Ghost Market.

According to the clues provided by the thin old man in the Dark Hall, the Ten Thousand Treasure Tower's black market stronghold was located deeper in the Ghost Market, in a complex mine shaft labyrinth called the "Snake Cave." The passages here were intricate, filled with poisonous insects and miasma, and ordinary cultivators did not dare to go deep easily.

Relying on his powerful spiritual sense and the "Eye of Truth," Lin Xuan easily avoided many natural traps and man-made restrictions, and finally stopped in front of an inconspicuous stone wall covered with moss. There was a secret rune on the stone wall that was almost integrated with the rock texture.

He took out the Dark Hall token and shook it slightly at the rune. The strange spatial fluctuation emitted by the token resonated with the rune, and the stone wall rippled like water, quietly opening inward, revealing an entrance that could only accommodate one person.

Stepping into it, the scene before him was completely different from the outside. This was an elegantly decorated, brightly lit quiet room, with a faint scent of sandalwood in the air and abundant spiritual energy. A middle-aged steward wearing the iconic brocade robe of the Ten Thousand Treasure Tower, with a kind face but shrewd eyes like a fox, had been waiting here, and his cultivation was also at the Mid-Stage Soul Formation.

"Honored guest, sorry for not welcoming you from afar. This old man's surname is Qian, and I am the steward here." The middle-aged steward bowed with a smile, his gaze sweeping over Lin Xuan, and after sensing the unfathomable aura, his attitude became even more respectful. Those who could find this place with the Dark Hall token were by no means ordinary people.

"Steward Qian." Lin Xuan nodded slightly and went straight to the point: "I heard that your place recently received a batch of special 'stolen goods', some of which carry the scent of 'Ghost Soul Grass', and the source seems to point to the direction of the Imperial Mausoleum Forbidden Zone. I am very interested in this batch of things."

A flash of surprise flashed in Steward Qian's eyes, but he quickly returned to normal and smiled: "The honored guest is indeed well-informed. There is indeed a batch of goods, sent by a few unfamiliar faces a few days ago. The things are a bit thorny, carrying heavy evil death energy and... a trace of Ghost Soul Grass scent that is not easy to detect. According to the rules, it is inconvenient for us to disclose the source, but the things are indeed here."

He led Lin Xuan to the side of the quiet room, where several trays covered by restriction light curtains were displayed. On the trays were some magic treasures, some broken jade slips, and some strange ores.

Lin Xuan swept his spiritual sense and was immediately attracted by an ore about the size of a fist, pitch black, but with natural silver spots like stars on the surface. The aura emitted by this ore had a faint sense of the same origin as the Starfall Token (Star Iron) in his hand! More importantly, it indeed retained a trace of the cold soul power mark unique to Shadow Tower assassins—"Ghost Soul Grass"!

"It's this!" Lin Xuan was certain in his heart; the news from the Dark Hall old man was indeed true! This ore was likely brought out by Shadow Tower assassins from the nest near the Imperial Mausoleum Forbidden Zone!

He remained calm, pointed to the ore and several other magic treasures that also carried evil death energy: "What is the price for these?"

Steward Qian took a look and quoted a considerable price. Lin Xuan did not bargain and paid the spirit stones directly. For the key clue to confirm the core nest of the Shadow Tower, this expense was worth it.

After putting away the ore and magic treasures, Lin Xuan did not leave immediately, but asked seemingly casually: "Steward Qian is knowledgeable, do you know the origin of this kind of ore? I see that it contains a trace of weak star origin, which is quite strange."

Steward Qian saw Lin Xuan was so straightforward, his mood was great, he stroked his beard and pondered: "To tell the honored guest, we have not been able to fully identify this ore either. But its characteristics are quite similar to the 'Netherworld Star Marrow' recorded in ancient books, which is only formed in extremely yin places and nourished by pure star power all year round. And around the Imperial Capital, the places that satisfy both the conditions of extremely yin and being nourished by star power... are only a few places like the Imperial Mausoleum Forbidden Zone and 'Star-Falling Lake'."

Netherworld Star Marrow! Lin Xuan recorded this name. This coincided with his judgment.

"So it is, thank you for the teaching." Lin Xuan cupped his hands. "In addition, does your place have any news or items about 'Star Core', 'Zhou Tian Star Technique', or ancient star inheritances?"

Steward Qian heard this, and a look of embarrassment appeared on his face: "What the honored guest asks for are all things hard to find in the world. Star Core is condensed from star origin, which is hard to come by. Zhou Tian Star Technique is a legendary technique that has long been lost. As for ancient star inheritances... our building currently has one item that may be related to stars, but its origin is unknown, its efficacy is unknown, but the price is extremely high, and no one has asked about it."

"Oh? What is it?" Lin Xuan became interested.

Steward Qian took out a simple bronze box. After opening it, inside was a piece about the size of a palm, with irregular edges, as if it were a fragment of some kind of artifact. The fragment was dark gold, and the surface was covered with dense, ancient star runes smaller than mosquitoes. These runes seemed to be flowing extremely slowly, exuding an extremely obscure yet incomparably pure star Dao rhyme.

"This item was brought out by an adventurer from the depths of an ancient battlefield ruin, suspected to be a fragment of a powerful star magic treasure. But the runes inside are too ancient and mysterious, no one can interpret them, and its power cannot be activated. Because its material is special and contains pure star power, it is priced at one hundred thousand mid-grade spirit stones." Steward Qian introduced.

One hundred thousand mid-grade spirit stones! This price was enough to make many Soul Formation cultivators go bankrupt!

But the moment Lin Xuan saw the fragment, the Chaos Dao Seed and Star Core in his energy center vibrated violently, sending out a stronger desire than when he encountered the Starfall Token before! This fragment was definitely related to the inheritance of the Primordial Dao Ancestor, and even the Star Dao of a higher level!

He suppressed the excitement in his heart and swept the fragment with his spiritual sense. Those flowing star runes, under the induction of his "Eye of Truth" and Chaos Dao Seed, faintly cross-referenced with parts of the "Zhou Tian Star Technique (Fragment)" in his mind, and even completed some obscure parts!

"This item, I want it." Lin Xuan did not hesitate at all, and directly paid with spirit crystals (a higher-level currency) equivalent to one hundred thousand mid-grade spirit stones. After looting many opponents, especially Zhao Wuji and Shadow Tower assassins, he was now very wealthy.

Steward Qian saw so many spirit crystals, his eyes went straight, his attitude was even more diligent, and he respectfully handed the bronze box to Lin Xuan.

After the transaction was completed, Lin Xuan did not linger and quickly left the Ten Thousand Treasure Tower Secret Pavilion.

Returning to Qingyun Cottage, he immediately entered the quiet room, set up heavy restrictions, and then couldn't wait to take out the star magic treasure fragment and the Netherworld Star Marrow.

He first picked up the Netherworld Star Marrow, carefully sensed the "Ghost Soul Grass" aura remaining on it, and tried to guide it with the "Star-Guiding Technique." Sure enough, a trace of extremely weak cold soul power was drawn out, faintly pointing to the north of the Imperial Capital—exactly the direction of the Imperial Mausoleum Forbidden Zone!

"The Shadow Tower's core nest is nine out of ten in the Imperial Mausoleum Forbidden Zone!" Lin Xuan confirmed this point and had a plan in his heart. This place, sooner or later, he had to go for a walk.

Afterward, his gaze fell on the star magic treasure fragment. This item felt cold and heavy to the touch, and the flowing star runes seemed to contain the truth of the birth and death of the universe.

He tried to inject Chaos spiritual power into it.

"Hum——!!"

The fragment suddenly erupted with dazzling starlight! Countless star runes seemed to come alive, detaching from the fragment's surface, intertwining and combining in the air, forming a more complex and profound scripture phantom! At the same time, a vast, ancient, and prehistoric star-sky intent poured directly into Lin Xuan's sea of consciousness!

"Zhou Tian Star Technique · Core Chapter"!

What was recorded in this fragment was actually the lost core general outline and some key magical powers of the "Zhou Tian Star Technique"! It included how to condense the real "Zhou Tian Star Dharma Image," how to trigger the star power of the heavens to refine the body and soul, and several powerful star attack secret techniques!

More importantly, this core scripture perfectly connected with the fragments he had obtained before and the "Star-Guiding Technique" in the Starfall Token, completing the cultivation system and allowing his understanding of the Star Dao to climb to a whole new level in an instant!

"So that's it! The Star Palace inheritance of the Primordial Dao Ancestor is not a single technique, but a complete system! The Starfall Token is the key, the 'Star-Guiding Technique' is the portal, the outer fragments are the foundation, and this core fragment is the real hall!" Lin Xuan's heart suddenly opened up, ecstatic.

He immediately immersed himself in the comprehension of this core scripture. Under the guidance of the scripture, the Chaos Dao Seed and Star Core operated more smoothly and efficiently, as if they had found the real backbone. Elder Xinghui swirled around him, as if he had turned into a human star, producing a deeper resonance with the stars of the heavens in the dark.

Time passed quickly in cultivation.

I don't know how long it took, Lin Xuan opened his eyes suddenly, and there seemed to be countless stars being born and dying in his eyes. He slowly raised his hand, palm upward, his heart moving slightly.

In an instant, starlight flourished in the quiet room! Countless tiny star light spots gathered and evolved above his palm, finally condensing into a three-inch-high, solemn, chaotic star dharma image surrounded by three hundred and sixty-five main star phantoms!

Although the dharma image was small, it exuded a supreme Dao rhyme that suppressed the heavens and evolved the worlds! This was exactly the introductory sign recorded in the "Zhou Tian Star Technique Core Chapter"—condensing the natal star dharma image!

Although this was only the initial dharma image, and it was still far from the great accomplishment of condensing the real Zhou Tian Star Dharma Image, it had already allowed Lin Xuan's strength to leap qualitatively! His control over star power soared, and the power of any magical power related to stars would be doubled!

"With this dharma image, combined with the Chaos Dao, my confidence in the Star-Gazing Platform trip three months later has increased by a few points!" Lin Xuan felt the surging power in his body, full of confidence.

He put away the dharma image, and his gaze turned to the north again.

Strength improved, the next step was to find the Shadow Tower's core nest and settle the account! ===== CHAPTER 103 =====