Chapter 78: Dark Night Murderous Intent

The Myriad Treasures Pavilion is the largest trading house in Black Rock City, and it is rumored to have the backing of a major family from the Imperial Capital. The building is five stories tall, constructed from precious iron sandalwood and green gold stone, with flying eaves and bracket sets that give it an extraordinary presence, making it stand out in this rugged border city. At the entrance, two beautiful female cultivators with Foundation Establishment early-stage cultivation stand as greeters, wearing professional, sweet smiles.

As soon as Lin Xuan stepped inside, a rich concentration of spiritual energy—a mixture of scents from spiritual herbs, minerals, talisman paper, and the spiritual radiance of magic treasures—rushed toward him. The interior space is vast and bustling with people, even more lively than the Hundred Knowledges Pavilion. The first floor is a public area, filled with countless counters and shelves displaying an dazzling array of elixirs, talismans, materials, and low-grade magic treasures, where many loose cultivators and low-level cultivators linger.

A sharp-witted clerk immediately came up to greet him. Sensing the unfathomable aura on Lin Xuan (though Lin Xuan had restrained it, that composed demeanor was clearly extraordinary), the clerk’s smile became even more enthusiastic: "Welcome, senior, to the Myriad Treasures Pavilion! What does senior require? This one can guide you."

Lin Xuan’s gaze swept across the first floor, and he said indifferently, "I need to purchase some items for dealing with toxic miasma and breaking restrictions, as well as high-grade elixirs. Let’s go directly to the upper floors."

The clerk’s eyes lit up, knowing a big customer had arrived, and he hurriedly bowed, saying, "Senior, please follow me. High-grade items are all on the third floor and above."

Following the clerk up the stairs, which were reinforced with arrays and as smooth as a mirror, they arrived directly at the fourth floor of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion. The environment here was suddenly much quieter and more elegant, partitioned into several independent areas by screens, with dedicated attendants serving spiritual tea. The items on display were clearly several grades higher, glowing with precious light and exuding intense spiritual energy.

A manager wearing brocade robes, with a clean-shaven face and Golden Core late-stage cultivation, stepped up quickly, waved his hand to dismiss the clerk, and personally attended to Lin Xuan.

"This humble one is surnamed Qian, the manager of this floor. Greetings, fellow Daoist. May I ask how to address you?" Manager Qian was all smiles, his eyes shrewd.

"Surnamed Lin," Lin Xuan reported his surname.

"So it is Fellow Daoist Lin." Manager Qian did not press further and went straight to the point, "I heard you require items for dealing with toxic miasma and restrictions, as well as high-grade elixirs; you have come to the right place. Our Myriad Treasures Pavilion has just received a batch of fine goods, prepared for the needs of the Southern Wilderness."

He led Lin Xuan to a counter and began to introduce them in detail:

"To deal with the dense miasma of the Southern Wilderness, the 'Miasma-Avoiding Elixir' is the top choice. Our pavilion has superior, middle, and inferior grades. The inferior grade can resist outer miasma for two hours, the middle grade for six hours, and this superior Miasma-Avoiding Elixir is refined primarily with five-hundred-year-old 'Clear Heart Jade Lotus.' It not only resists miasma in the core area for twelve hours but also has the miraculous effect of clearing the heart and eyes to resist illusions." Manager Qian pointed to several jade bottles as he spoke.

"Thirty pills of the superior Miasma-Avoiding Elixir," Lin Xuan said without hesitation. The Ancient Southern Wilderness is treacherous; one must not skimp on preparations in this regard.

Manager Qian’s smile grew even wider: "Good! Fellow Daoist Lin is straightforward! Each bottle contains ten pills and sells for five hundred middle-grade spirit stones; three bottles total one thousand five hundred middle-grade spirit stones."

Lin Xuan nodded; this price was quite fair.

"As for breaking restrictions, I have three recommendations here." Manager Qian led him to the other side, "This 'Restriction-Breaking Talisman' was drawn by a Nascent Soul stage talisman master and is highly effective against most low-grade restrictions and incomplete ancient restrictions. This 'Void-Peering Mirror' is a flawed imitation of the ancient magic treasure 'Heaven-Peering Mirror,' but it can still reveal some hidden restriction nodes and energy flows. Finally, this 'Five Elements Barrier-Breaking Shuttle' is a one-time-use magic treasure; once activated, it can forcibly tear through most restriction light curtains below the Nascent Soul stage."

Lin Xuan pondered for a moment. Both the Restriction-Breaking Talismans and the Five Elements Barrier-Breaking Shuttles were consumables, so he bought twenty of each. Although the Void-Peering Mirror was a flawed item, its function was unique, so he bought it as well. These few items cost nearly two thousand middle-grade spirit stones.

Next were the elixirs. Lin Xuan directly requested the best healing elixir, the "Life-Creation Elixir," the "Heaven-Returning Elixir" for rapid recovery of spiritual power, and the holy antidote "Ten Thousand Spirit Detox Powder." He purchased a sufficient quantity of each, costing another three thousand middle-grade spirit stones.

Even with Lin Xuan’s substantial wealth (having looted many opponents in the secret realm, plus the "inheritance" from Jin Dan), this shopping spree made him click his tongue slightly. The path of cultivation—wealth, companions, techniques, and land—with wealth at the forefront, was indeed true.

"Does Fellow Daoist Lin need anything else? Our pavilion’s refining materials and technique jade slips are also quite complete." Seeing Lin Xuan’s lavish spending, Manager Qian’s enthusiasm grew even more.

Lin Xuan felt a stir in his heart. He did indeed need some high-grade refining materials to enhance the potential of his natal magic treasure, and he also needed to find classics or insights regarding the Dao of Chaos and spatial laws. However, he knew well the principle that holding a jade ring invites trouble; revealing too much wealth and demand here was not a wise move.

"That will be all for now," Lin Xuan said indifferently, taking out the corresponding middle-grade spirit stones to complete the transaction. Middle-grade spirit stones are a hundred times more precious than low-grade ones and are usually used in large quantities only in transactions between Nascent Soul cultivators. This move of his made Manager Qian even more convinced that he had an extraordinary background.

"By the way, Manager Qian, does your pavilion purchase items?" Lin Xuan asked as if casually. He had many magic treasures and materials in his storage ring that he had obtained from opponents in the secret realm—items he could not use or whose origins might be problematic—and this was a perfect opportunity to dispose of them.

"We do! Of course we do!" Manager Qian said hurriedly, "Our pavilion’s prices are absolutely fair."

Lin Xuan took out several magic treasures of decent quality but with obvious characteristics, as well as some spiritual materials that were not too rare. After careful appraisal, Manager Qian offered a reasonably fair price and offset a portion of the spirit stones.

The transaction completed, Lin Xuan stored the items in his Dust Ring and prepared to leave.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, please stay a moment." Manager Qian suddenly lowered his voice and handed over a purple-gold token, "This is the VIP token of my Myriad Treasures Pavilion. With this token, you can enjoy a ten percent discount at any branch of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion within our dynasty and participate in some internal auctions. If you have any further needs in the future, feel free to come find this Qian."

Lin Xuan took the token, knowing this was the other party showing goodwill. He nodded and turned to head downstairs.

By the time he left the Myriad Treasures Pavilion, it was already dusk. The sunset over the border city was exceptionally magnificent, dyeing the entire Black Rock City in a shade of red gold.

Lin Xuan did not return directly to the residence arranged by Yue Qingtian. Instead, like an ordinary cultivator, he walked unhurriedly along several main streets in the city. Seemingly strolling, he was actually familiarizing himself with the city’s defense layout, while his spiritual sense, like the most precise detector, kept an eye on the "tails" behind him.

Sure enough, from the moment he began his massive shopping spree at the Myriad Treasures Pavilion, several faint auras had been trailing him. Some were curious, some greedy, and there even seemed to be... the unique, cold aura of the Nether Sect.

He sneered inwardly and deliberately walked toward the Xicheng area, where there were fewer people. That area was mostly dilapidated residential houses and abandoned workshops, becoming desolate at night.

When the last glimmer of daylight was swallowed by the horizon and darkness shrouded the earth, with only a few scattered lights flickering in the wind, Lin Xuan turned into a dead-end alley.

The depths of the alley were piled with debris and smelled of mold. He stopped, turned slowly, and said calmly, "Following for so long, aren't you tired?"

In the shadows, like ghosts, four figures emerged silently.

They were exactly the Nether Sect scouts he had seen at the Hundred Knowledges Pavilion during the day! The leader was still that gaunt-faced Golden Core late-stage middle-aged cultivator, and the other three were also of Golden Core mid-stage cultivation. They spread out in a fan shape, blocking the alley’s exit, exuding a sinister aura that merged with the surrounding darkness.

"Your spiritual perception is quite sharp, Excellency." The gaunt cultivator spoke hoarsely, green light flickering in his eyes, "We mean no harm; we just wish to ask you a few questions."

"Questions?" Lin Xuan stood with his hands behind his back, his figure appearing somewhat blurred in the heavy night, "Is it about the Nether Sect? Or about... the Ruin Abyss Demonic Sense?"

The four men’s expressions changed drastically! They did not expect Lin Xuan to directly expose their origins and purpose!

Murderous intent surged in the gaunt cultivator’s eyes: "You really do know! Who exactly are you? What is your relationship with that Jin Dan? Where is the Demon Lord?"

"Who I am is not important," Lin Xuan’s tone remained flat, "As for the whereabouts of the demon, isn't your Nether Sect the most skilled at tracking? Why ask me?"

"You seek death!" the gaunt cultivator shouted sharply, "Take him! Soul-search him!"

Before the words had faded, the four figures erupted simultaneously! Thick Nether ghost energy surged from their bodies, transforming into four pitch-black, sharp-toothed ghost claws that lunged at Lin Xuan from different directions with shrill, ghostly shrieks! Where the ghost claws passed, the air seemed to freeze, and black frost instantly condensed on the walls.

This was the Nether Sect’s combined attack technique, "Nether Ghost Claws." With the four of them joining forces, the power was enough to rival the full-force strike of a Nascent Soul early-stage cultivator!

Facing this siege that would have instantly killed an ordinary Golden Core cultivator, Lin Xuan merely raised his right hand slightly.

There was no brilliant spiritual light, no massive momentum. He simply pressed his fingers together like a sword, a point of chaotic radiance flickering slightly at his fingertips, and slashed forward as if casually.

"Chi—"

A fine gray line, as if capable of slicing through space, appeared out of thin air.

The four ferocious Nether ghost claws, the moment they touched the gray line, were like ice under a scorching sun—silently breaking, dissolving, and annihilating! Even the sinister ghost energy contained within them was completely reduced to nothingness by that chaotic power!

"What?!"

The four Nether Sect cultivators’ pupils contracted sharply, their faces filled with horror and disbelief! Their combined attack technique had been broken by the other party so nonchalantly?

However, before they could make their next move, Lin Xuan’s figure vanished from where he stood like a ghost.

In the next instant, he appeared like a teleportation in front of a Golden Core mid-stage cultivator on the left. The cultivator only saw a pair of eyes as deep as the starry sky, then felt a chill at his brow, and his consciousness plunged into total darkness.

Lin Xuan’s fingertip pressed against his brow, and chaotic spiritual power instantly surged in, annihilating all his life force.

His figure flashed again, appearing behind another Golden Core mid-stage cultivator. The cultivator turned in terror, only having time to see a palm covered in faint chaotic energy press against his dantian energy sea.

"Puff!"

Like a bursting bubble, his Golden Core, along with his soul, was shattered by that single palm!

In the blink of an eye, two Golden Core mid-stage cultivators had fallen!

The gaunt cultivator and the remaining Golden Core late-stage cultivator were terrified out of their wits! They finally understood that the person before them was simply not someone they could contend with! This person was at least a Nascent Soul mid-stage, or even stronger!

"Run!" The two did not hesitate, retreating violently while activating their life-saving Nether Blood Escape Talismans. A burst of blood light exploded from their bodies, their speed increased sharply, and they were about to transform into blood shadows and flee.

"Since you've come, you might as well all stay."

Lin Xuan’s cold voice was like the pronouncement of the Grim Reaper.

He did not pursue, but simply opened his mouth and spat out lightly.

A tiny stream of light—Star Nether Ghost Light—that seemed to contain endless stars and the netherworld, shot out!

This Star Nether Ghost Light arrived before the others, its speed exceeding the limits of spiritual sense capture, instantly catching up to the two blood shadows.

There was no earth-shattering explosion, only a sense of absolute "sealing" and "annihilation" power spreading out.

The blood light seemed to freeze, instantly solidifying in mid-air, and then, along with the two Nether Sect cultivators within it, crumbled inch by inch like weathered sand sculptures, finally turning into the finest dust and dissipating in the night wind, leaving not even a trace of blood or a shred of soul.

From the start of the attack to the end, it took no more than two or three breaths. The four Golden Core stage Nether Sect scouts were completely wiped out, body and soul destroyed.

The alley returned to deathly silence, with only the faint sound of the night wind blowing through the debris, as if everything that had just happened was merely an illusion.

Lin Xuan stood in place, his aura steady, as if he had only done a trivial thing. He raised his hand in a beckoning gesture, and the four men’s storage bags and the two unactivated Nether Blood Escape Talismans flew into his hand. A sweep of his spiritual sense wiped away the imprints; inside, apart from some spirit stones, elixirs, and items unique to the Nether Sect, there was nothing of much value.

"Nether Sect... it seems you truly are like lingering ghosts." Lin Xuan’s eyes were cold. He had originally not wanted to cause extra trouble, but since the other party had actively sought death, he would not be polite.

After this battle, he had a clearer understanding of his own strength. The Chaos Dao Seed, combined with the Star Nether Ghost Light, was simply overwhelming against anyone below the Nascent Soul stage. Even an ordinary Nascent Soul early-stage cultivator, without special life-saving means, would likely struggle to survive a few moves under him.

He cleaned up the scene, ensuring no traces related to himself were left, and then his figure flickered, merging into the shadows of the night, and he left the dead-end alley silently.

About the time it takes to burn a stick of incense after Lin Xuan left, a blurred black shadow drifted into the alley like blue smoke. The black shadow carefully investigated the spot for a moment, seemingly sensing the residual, extremely faint chaotic annihilation power and the aura of the Star Nether Ghost Light, and its body trembled slightly.

"Such tyrannical power... it is definitely not something an ordinary Nascent Soul can possess. This person... who exactly is he?" The black shadow muttered to itself, its voice filled with a trace of uncertainty, "It seems the waters of this Black Rock City are deeper than imagined. I must report this immediately..."

The black shadow vanished rapidly, as if it had never appeared.

At this moment, Lin Xuan had already returned to the quiet courtyard arranged for him by the City Lord’s Mansion. He set up an isolation array and began to count his gains and digest the insights from the brief battle just now.

The trouble with the Nether Sect was temporarily resolved, but the trip to the Ancient Southern Wilderness would inevitably be even more dangerous. The Zhao family’s hidden arrows, the entanglement of the Nether Sect, the crises of the Ancient Wilderness itself, and the variables that might exist within that mysterious team...

The road ahead was treacherous, but his Dao heart was firmer than ever.

The Dao of Chaos is, by nature, about treading through thousands of tribulations to ascend to the absolute peak!

He closed his eyes, his mind sinking into his dantian, where the Chaos Dao Seed rotated slowly, breathing in and out the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, while also gestating infinite possibilities.

In ten days' time, he needed to make himself stronger.