Yanfeng City

"Young master, there's news!"

Lin Tie strode into the courtyard, excitement spilling into his voice.

Lin Chen lowered his sword. Lightning flashed across its blade and vanished. He looked at Lin Tie. "No rush. Tell me slowly."

"Yes." Lin Tie steadied himself.

"A few days ago, the Lesser Origin Sect on Azure Mist Mountain offended some powerful figure. Its gates were breached overnight. Not a soul in the entire sect survived."

"The Lesser Origin Sect?" Lin Chen searched his memory. "That third-rate sect known for refining pills?"

"That's the one. Anyone capable of wiping out a sect so cleanly must possess unfathomable strength, though their identity remains unknown."

Lin Tie continued, "But here's the important part. Though the Lesser Origin Sect was destroyed, that mysterious expert didn't take all the treasures it had amassed over the years. Bold martial artists who came afterward carried off what was left behind, and some of it has found its way into the markets of Yanbian City, the city closest to Azure Mist Mountain."

As he spoke, Lin Tie took a dark-gray invitation of unusual material from his robe and presented it with both hands.

"In half a month, Yanbian City will hold an auction. According to the list that's been circulating, one of the lots is the Soul-Nourishing Jade. It was carved from century-old warm jade and can nourish the soul."

"The rules for this sort of auction are unusual, too. Entry is by invitation or introduction only. Attendees must wear masks or cloaks, and no one may project their spiritual sense. Violators will be expelled."

Lin Chen accepted the invitation and ran a fingertip over its subtle pattern, weighing the matter swiftly.

Each time he studied the Sword Diagram, it drained his mind so thoroughly that he needed a full seven days to recover. With the Soul-Nourishing Jade, he could grasp Sword Intent sooner.

Lin Chen pondered in silence:

When I tried to break through from the tenth level of Body Tempering to the Spirit Martial Realm, my base chance was only fifty percent. By the time I reach the Tenth Level of the Spirit Martial Realm and attempt the Profound Martial Realm, it'll likely be even lower.

And Father hasn't reached the Profound Martial Realm himself. He obviously can't help me like he did before. I'll have to break through on my own.

But if I can grasp Sword Intent and wield my Tenth Level Spirit Martial cultivation with a higher understanding of the Sword Dao, then turning that power against the bottleneck should make my breakthrough to the Profound Martial Realm as natural as water flowing into a channel.

Lin Chen recalled what he knew about Yanbian City.

It was a city of several hundred thousand people.

Unlike ordinary cities, Yanbian City was a major stronghold under the direct authority of the Great Qian Dynasty. Its city lord was appointed by the imperial court to hold the region and deter threats from every direction, so safety within its walls was naturally much better.

Looks like I'll have to make the trip. All these years of grinding monsters while AFK have left me with plenty of Spirit Stones, not to mention a heap of Spirit Herbs and pills I can't use. This is the perfect chance to clear them out. It should be enough to win the Soul-Nourishing Jade at auction...

The thought flashed through his mind, but his tone remained even.

Lin Chen put away the invitation and nodded to Lin Tie. "I understand. You may go."

"Yes, young master!"

Lin Tie turned and left, a flicker of delight rising in him at having completed his task.

Once Lin Tie was gone, quiet returned to the courtyard. Only the autumn wind rustling through the leaves remained.

Lin Chen gazed at the drifting clouds on the horizon, resolve settling in his eyes. "I must get the Soul-Nourishing Jade."

Two days later, Lin Chen quietly left the Herb Garden on the pretext of entering seclusion to cultivate. He told only Elder Lin Song, who was in charge, and kept the news from everyone else.

Dusty from several days on the road, Lin Chen arrived at Yanfeng City.

He looked up. The walls rose more than ten zhang high, their gray surfaces marked by years of wind and rain, claw marks left by charging beasts, and dark-red bloodstains.

Above the gate, the two characters for Yanbian seemed to radiate a grim, murderous air.

At the gate, guards in matching black leather armor, long sabers at their waists, strictly inspected everyone passing through. Martial artists also had to pay a hefty entrance fee.

A city governed by the dynasty really does have a different air about it.

Lin Chen made his assessment, moved forward with the crowd, paid the required silver, and entered without trouble.

Inside, the city was more bustling still. The main street was five zhang wide, broad enough for several carriages to travel abreast. Shops lined both sides: restaurants, inns, weapon shops, apothecaries, and everything else one could need.

First, find a merchant guild to sell off what I don't need and get enough Spirit Stones for the auction. Then find somewhere to stay.

With his plans settled, Lin Chen followed the crowd deeper into the city.

He was walking along the main street when hurried hoofbeats and cries of alarm suddenly sounded ahead.

"Out of the way! All of you, move! Are you blind?"

Two tall, magnificent horses, red from head to hoof, came galloping from the far end of the street, pulling a carriage at breakneck speed.

People scrambled aside, sending the street into chaos.

"Careful, miss!"

A young woman ahead of Lin Chen stumbled in fright. He stepped forward and caught her.

"Are you all right?" Once the horses had thundered past, Lin Chen released her and stepped back half a pace.

The young woman was still shaken, her cheeks pale. She looked up at Lin Chen. When she saw his face clearly, the pallor swiftly gave way to a blush. She lowered her head and spoke in a voice as faint as a mosquito's hum.

"Thank you for helping me, sir."

"It was nothing." Lin Chen waved it off, then asked, "Doesn't Yanbian City have patrols to keep order? How can someone race horses through the streets like that?"

After collecting herself, the young woman explained:

"The city used to be quite strict. But for some reason, a great many unfamiliar martial artists have arrived lately. The patrols are short-handed, so the streets have become a little disorderly."

There was helplessness in her voice.

Lin Chen understood. The Lesser Origin Sect's legacy was quite a lure. With people from every walk of life gathering here, some were bound to be unruly.

"I see." Lin Chen nodded, then asked, "By the way, miss, do you know which merchant guild in the city has the best reputation? I have a few things to sell."

The young woman tilted her head, thought for a moment, and answered earnestly.

"If you want a fair and reliable deal, sir, try the Four Seas Merchant Guild's branch in the west of the city. They have branches throughout the Great Qian Dynasty, and they've always claimed honesty comes first and wealth second."

"The Four Seas Merchant Guild?"

Lin Chen raised an eyebrow. He had heard the name before. It was a merchant powerhouse spanning the Great Qian Dynasty.

"Thank you for the advice, miss." Lin Chen cupped his hands in thanks.

"I should be thanking you, sir." The young woman hurriedly returned the gesture, her cheeks reddening further and her voice growing softer.

"If you hadn't been there just now, I'm afraid I would have..."

"Sir, if you wouldn't mind, could you... come to my home for a cup of tea? Please let me offer you a small token of thanks."

The more she spoke, the lower her head sank, until her voice was almost inaudible.

Tea?

Lin Chen's gaze sharpened at once. He refused with righteous firmness.

"You're too kind, miss, but I still have important matters to attend to and wouldn't wish to impose. Let's part here. Until we meet again."

With that, Lin Chen strode away without hesitation, leaving only the sight of his dashing back before he disappeared down the street.