Lin Feng made no attempt to conceal his aura. He nodded openly, his tone calm and even. "I just broke through."
Zi Yuan closed the ledger in her hands. Her expression remained composed and natural, without much surprise, and she merely nodded lightly. "Steadier than I expected, and a little faster, too."
She paused briefly, then said, "Mr. Xuanwei came to Return to the Ruins City two days ago. He only stayed a short while before leaving. Before he left, he specifically entrusted me with something for you. He said that, given your progress, you should have a use for it soon."
With that, she turned and took a long object wrapped in layers of coarse hemp cloth from behind the counter. The fabric was plain and thick. Supporting it firmly in her palm, she handed it to Lin Feng.
Lin Feng reached out to accept it, his fingertips brushing the rough hemp cloth and its plain, unadorned texture. He slowly unwrapped the bundle, revealing a short staff, black from end to end, lying quietly within.
The staff was short enough to hold in one hand. Its entire length was dark and dull, without gilded accents, ornate carvings, or fierce patterns of slaughter. Only fine, shallow, ancient-looking lines wound along its grain, arranged layer upon layer, understated and timeless, as though formed by nature itself.
He gripped the shaft in one hand and gave it a gentle test. Its weight was just right, fitting his palm exceptionally well. A warm, enduring, steady, gentle power lay dormant inside it. It was neither fierce nor overbearing and possessed no offensive or lethal power whatsoever. Instead, it resembled a quietly flowing wellspring of spiritual power, nourishing gently and flowing without end—a rare spiritual implement for supporting cultivation and stabilizing one's Dao foundation.
Lin