Chapter 102: The Secret Cabinet of Myriad Treasures

The aftershocks of the Shadow Tower stronghold being razed continued to ripple through the imperial capital's underworld, and Lin Xuan's fierce reputation and deterrent power grew with each passing day. Yet, he did not indulge in this; the next day, he quietly went out again, his target set on the secret stronghold of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion in the Ghost Market.

According to the clues provided by the gaunt old man from the Dark Palace, the Myriad Treasures Pavilion's black market stronghold was located deeper within the Ghost Market, in a complex labyrinth of mine tunnels known as the "Snake Den." The passages here were intricate and crisscrossed, filled with poisonous insects and miasma, and ordinary cultivators would not dare to venture deep inside easily.

Relying on his powerful spiritual sense and the Eye of Truth-Breaking, Lin Xuan easily avoided numerous natural traps and man-made restrictions, finally stopping before an inconspicuous, moss-covered stone wall. On the stone wall was a hidden rune that blended almost perfectly with the rock's texture.

He took out the Dark Palace token and waved it slightly toward the rune. The strange spatial fluctuations emitted by the token resonated with the rune, and the stone wall rippled like water, quietly opening inward to reveal an entrance only wide enough for one person to pass through.

Stepping inside, the scene before him was like a different world from the outside. It was an elegantly decorated, brightly lit quiet room, with the air filled with a faint scent of sandalwood and abundant spiritual energy. A middle-aged manager wearing the iconic brocade robe of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion, with a kind face but eyes as shrewd as a fox, had long been waiting here; his cultivation base was also at the mid-stage of Nascent Soul.

"An honored guest has arrived, my apologies for not welcoming you sooner. This old man is surnamed Qian, and I am the manager here." The middle-aged manager bowed with a beaming smile, his gaze sweeping over Lin Xuan, and especially after sensing that unfathomable aura, his attitude became a few degrees more respectful. Anyone who could hold a Dark Palace token and find this place was certainly no ordinary person.

"Manager Qian." Lin Xuan nodded slightly and got straight to the point, "I heard that your establishment recently acquired a batch of special 'stolen goods,' and some of the items carry the scent of 'Ghost Grass,' with their origin seemingly pointing toward the direction of the Imperial Mausoleum restricted area. I am very interested in this batch of items."

A flash of surprise crossed Manager Qian's eyes, but he immediately returned to normal and laughed, "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 items are a bit thorny, carrying a heavy aura of yin-evil death and... a trace of Ghost Grass scent that is not easily detected. According to the rules, it is inconvenient for us to disclose the source, but the items are indeed here."

He led Lin Xuan to the side of the quiet room, where several trays covered by restrictive light barriers were displayed. On the trays were a few magic treasures, some broken jade slips, and several peculiar ores.

Lin Xuan's spiritual sense swept over them, and he was immediately attracted to one ore about the size of a fist, pitch-black all over, yet with natural silver spots on its surface like stars. The aura emitted by this ore had a faint sense of being from the same source as the Star Meteor Token (Star Iron) in his hand! More importantly, it indeed retained a trace of the extremely faint, cold soul-power imprint unique to the "Ghost Grass" of the Shadow Tower assassins!

"It's this one!" Lin Xuan was certain in his heart; the Dark Palace old man's information was indeed true! This ore was very likely brought out by the Shadow Tower assassins from their nest near the Imperial Mausoleum restricted area!

He remained calm and pointed to that ore and several other magic treasures that also carried the yin-evil aura: "What is the price for these few items?"

Manager Qian took a look and quoted a hefty price. Lin Xuan did not haggle and paid the spirit stones directly. For a key clue to confirming the location of the Shadow Tower's core nest, this expense was worth it.

After putting away the ore and the magic treasures, Lin Xuan did not leave immediately, but asked seemingly casually: "Manager Qian is knowledgeable and broad-minded; do you know the origin of this kind of ore? I observe that it contains a trace of faint star origin, which is quite peculiar."

Seeing Lin Xuan so straightforward, Manager Qian was in a great mood, stroked his beard, and pondered: "To be honest with the honored guest, we have not been able to fully identify this ore either. But its characteristics are quite similar to the 'Nether Star Essence' recorded in ancient books, which only forms in places of extreme yin that are also nourished by pure star power year-round. And around the imperial capital, the only places that satisfy both the conditions of extreme yin and being nourished by star power... are the Imperial Mausoleum restricted area and the 'Star Fall Lake,' among a few others."

Nether Star Essence! Lin Xuan noted this name. This coincided with his judgment.

"So that's how it is, I have learned much." Lin Xuan bowed, "In addition, does your establishment have any news or items regarding 'Star Cores,' the 'Zhou Tian Star Art,' or ancient star-related inheritances?"

Upon hearing this, Manager Qian showed a look of difficulty on his face: "What the honored guest asks for are all things hard to find in this world. A Star Core is condensed from the origin of stars and is something to be encountered but not sought. The Zhou Tian Star Art is even more of a legendary cultivation technique, long lost. As for ancient star inheritances... this pavilion currently does have one item that might be related to stars, but its origin is unknown, its efficacy is unknown, and the price is extremely high, so no one has ever shown interest."

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

Manager Qian took out a bronze box with an archaic design. After opening it, inside was a palm-sized object with irregular edges, appearing to be a fragment of some kind of artifact. The fragment was dark gold, and its surface was covered with dense, ancient star runes finer than mosquitoes or flies. These runes seemed to be flowing extremely slowly, emitting an extremely subtle yet incomparably pure star Dao rhyme.

"This item was brought out by an adventurer who risked their life from the depths of some ancient battlefield ruin; it is suspected to be a fragment of a powerful star magic treasure. But the runes within it are too ancient and profound for anyone to interpret, and its power cannot be activated. Because its material is special and contains pure star power, it is priced at 100,000 medium-grade spirit stones," Manager Qian introduced.

100,000 medium-grade spirit stones! This price was enough to bankrupt many Nascent Soul cultivators!

But the moment Lin Xuan saw this fragment, the Chaos Dao Seed and the Star Core in his dantian trembled violently at the same time, conveying a longing even stronger than when he encountered the Star Meteor Token! This fragment was absolutely related to the inheritance of the Hunyuan Dao Ancestor, and even the higher-level Star Dao!

He suppressed the excitement in his heart and carefully scanned the fragment with his spiritual sense. Those flowing star runes, under the sensing of his Eye of Truth-Breaking and the Chaos Dao Seed, actually faintly verified some of the mysteries of the "Zhou Tian Star Art (Fragment)" in his mind, and even filled in some obscure parts!

"I'll take this item." Lin Xuan did not hesitate at all and directly took out spirit crystals (a higher-tier currency) equivalent to 100,000 medium-grade spirit stones to pay. After looting numerous opponents, especially Zhao Wuji and the Shadow Tower assassins, his current wealth was very substantial.

Seeing so many spirit crystals, Manager Qian's eyes went straight, and his attitude became even more attentive as he hurriedly handed the bronze box to Lin Xuan respectfully.

The transaction completed, Lin Xuan did not linger and quickly left the Myriad Treasures Pavilion secret cabinet.

Returning to Qingyun Cottage, he immediately entered the quiet room, set up layers of restrictions, and then impatiently took out the star magic treasure fragment and the Nether Star Essence.

He first picked up the Nether Star Essence, carefully sensed the "Ghost Grass" aura remaining on it, and tried to guide it with the "Star-Drawing Art." Sure enough, a trace of extremely faint, cold soul power was drawn out, faintly pointing to the north of the imperial capital—exactly the direction of the Imperial Mausoleum restricted area!

"The Shadow Tower's core nest is nine times out of ten on the edge of the Imperial Mausoleum restricted area!" Lin Xuan confirmed this point, and he had a plan in his heart. He would have to make a trip to this place sooner or later.

Subsequently, his gaze fell on the star magic treasure fragment. The object was heavy and cold to the touch, and the flowing star runes seemed to contain the supreme principles of the universe's birth and destruction.

He tried to inject his 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, weaving and combining in the air to form a more complex and profound phantom of a scripture! At the same time, a vast, ancient intent, as if coming from the primordial starry sky, poured directly into Lin Xuan's sea of consciousness!

"Zhou Tian Star Art: Core Chapter"!

What was recorded in this fragment was actually the lost core general outline and some key divine abilities of the "Zhou Tian Star Art"! It included how to condense the true "Zhou Tian Star Dharma Form," how to trigger the star power of the heavens to temper the body and refine the soul, and several powerful star-based offensive secret techniques!

More importantly, this core scripture connected perfectly with the fragments Lin Xuan had previously obtained and the "Star-Drawing Art" in the Star Meteor Token, completing the cultivation system and allowing his understanding of the Star Dao to instantly climb to a brand-new height!

"So that's it! The Hunyuan Dao Ancestor's star inheritance is not a single technique, but a complete system! The Star Meteor Token is the key, the 'Star-Drawing Art' is the gateway, the outer fragments are the foundation, and this core fragment is the true palace!" Lin Xuan's heart was suddenly enlightened, and he was ecstatic.

He immediately immersed himself in the comprehension of this core scripture. Under the guidance of the scripture, the Chaos Dao Seed and the Star Core operated more smoothly and efficiently, as if they had found their true backbone. His whole body was surrounded by starlight, as if he had transformed into a human-shaped star, producing a deeper resonance with the stars of the heavens in the dark.

Time passed rapidly in cultivation.

After an unknown amount of time, Lin Xuan suddenly opened his eyes, and it seemed as if countless stars were being born and dying within them. He slowly raised his hand, palm upward, his thoughts moving slightly.

In an instant, the starlight in the quiet room flourished! Countless tiny star light spots gathered and evolved above his palm, finally condensing into a three-inch-tall, solemn, and dignified Chaos Star Dharma Form surrounded by the phantoms of 365 main stars!

Although the Dharma Form was small, it exuded a supreme Dao rhyme that suppressed the heavens and evolved the myriad worlds! This was precisely the mark of entry recorded in the "Zhou Tian Star Art: Core Chapter"—condensing the Natal Star Dharma Form!

Although this was only the most elementary Dharma Form, and it was still far from the great completion of condensing the true Zhou Tian Star Dharma Form, it had already caused a qualitative leap in Lin Xuan's strength! His control over star power had skyrocketed, and the power of any divine ability related to stars he performed would be doubled!

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

He put away the Dharma Form, and his gaze turned toward the north again.

With his strength improved, the next step was to find the Shadow Tower's core nest and settle the score once and for all!