Storms in the Inner City, Fate's First Stirring

The inner city of Zijing Main City.

Unlike the noisy, rough outer city, the inner city seemed a world apart. Its buildings were grander and more exquisite, and its streets were paved with smooth white jade. Instead of sulfur and blood, the air was filled with elemental energies of every kind, pure enough to liquefy, and clearly discernible rhythms of the laws. Far fewer figures walked these streets than in the outer city, but every one of them possessed a deep, steady aura, at least at the level of a Five-Star Fiend. Gods were everywhere, and Highgods were not uncommon. Occasionally, even a flash of prefect-level pressure could be felt, as vast as the starry sky and inspiring awe.

Lin Yinuo walked along the broad, quiet streets. The purple residence badge in his hand glowed faintly, keeping the inner city's ubiquitous monitoring formations from interfering with him. Following the directions, he arrived at the residence assigned to experts who had obtained permanent residency-a private courtyard in a secluded area, complete with a quiet cultivation chamber, an herb garden, and basic defensive formations.

The courtyard was not luxurious, but its surroundings were tranquil and its energy concentration extremely high. It was an ideal place for secluded cultivation.

I finally set foot here. This is the true heart of the Infernal Realm, where experts abound and opportunity coexists with danger.

After settling in, he did not immediately enter seclusion. Instead, he began familiarizing himself with the inner city. With his Asura Token and residence badge, he could freely enter most of its public areas, such as the library, trading district, and Law Comprehension Hall.

He first visited the inner city's library. Its collection far surpassed that of the outer city. It contained not only secret histories, geographical accounts of strange phenomena, and catalogs of races from the Infernal Realm and even other High Planes, but also cultivation insights and analyses of the laws left by many experts. There were even scattered references to Sovereigns, the Planar Battlefield, and Overgod Missions. Naturally, the more valuable a text, the higher the fee-in Inkstones or military merits-to consult it.

Lin Yinuo spent a considerable number of Inkstones consulting materials on Soul Mutation, the Four Divine Beasts clan, the Planar Prison, and Sovereign Sparks. Although most publicly available information was vague, it still gave him a clearer understanding of the road ahead.

Soul Mutation is extremely risky, but success brings limitless potential. The Four Divine Beasts clan is connected to the Azure Dragon Ring, and Linley will become involved with them in the future. I need to keep an eye on them in advance. Authority over the Planar Prison... perhaps I can enlist Bluefire's help. As for a Sovereign Spark... I may have to trigger the system's [Fate Check-In] to obtain a lead.

Next, he went to the trading district. The treasures circulating here were of a far higher grade than those in the outer city. Lowgod Artifacts were mere commonplace goods, Midgod Artifacts were frequently seen, and occasionally even Highgod Artifacts or rare natural treasures appeared. Inkstones were no longer the only medium of exchange; barter and the use of "military merits" from Sovereign armies were more prevalent.

Lin Yinuo sold some materials and God sparks he had no use for, exchanging them for large quantities of precious potions that enhanced magical power and the soul, along with several sets of advanced cultivation insights concerning the Laws of Lightning and the Destruction Rule. His wealth rapidly dwindled, but the resources he received were enough to sustain his cultivation for a long time.

One day, while he was in his courtyard's quiet chamber, attempting to incorporate his newly acquired insights into the Laws of Lightning into Thunder Shadow Void Escape to further increase his speed, the system notification that had been silent in his mind for some time suddenly rang out with a more distant, majestic cadence:

[Detected that the host has established a stable foothold in a core region of a High Plane. Strength and reputation have reached a new level. Ripples have stirred in the river of fate...]

[Prerequisite for [Fate Check-In] triggered!]

[Host, would you like to perform your first [Fate Check-In] now? Note: Fate Check-In opportunities are precious and are usually associated with major fate milestones or singularities. Rewards will far exceed those of regular weekly check-ins.]

Fate Check-In! It's finally here!

Lin Yinuo's heart jolted, and he answered without hesitation, "Yes!"

He sensed that this time, rather than drawing upon the surrounding energy, it was as though an invisible gaze had descended from an infinitely high, endlessly distant place, piercing layer upon layer of spatial barriers to settle upon him. This was the power of "fate"!

[Ding! Fate Check-In successful! Congratulations to the host for triggering the fate milestone [Asura's Honor] and obtaining an ultimate reward clue: [Star Chart of the Fall Site of an Earth-Type Lower Sovereign Spark (Incomplete)] and a special item: [Fake Hongmeng Spirit Pearl]!]

A vast, complex stream of information poured into Lin Yinuo's mind. It was an incomplete star chart marked with countless unfamiliar constellations and spatial coordinates. One dim star was prominently marked, with an annotation in ancient divine script beside it-Wutu's maternal source, where the spark returned to stillness. This was precisely the clue to the site where that earth-type Lower Sovereign Spark had fallen! Though the chart was incomplete and its directions vague, its value was immeasurable!

At the same time, a pearl about the size of a pigeon's egg appeared in his hand. Its entire surface was the color of primordial chaos, and currents of Hongmeng energy seemed to flow ceaselessly within it. The [Fake Hongmeng Spirit Pearl]! The system labeled it "fake," yet the trace of supreme, boundless, all-encompassing Hongmeng Dao resonance it contained made even Lin Yinuo's soul tremble! This was no offensive or defensive treasure. It was more like a "catalyst," a "credential," a... token pointing toward the system's ultimate origin!

A lead on a Sovereign Spark! And this Hongmeng Spirit Pearl... the system really is connected to Hongmeng Space! That word "fake" probably means it isn't a true Hongmeng spiritual treasure, but an imitation containing a trace of Hongmeng energy, or perhaps... a token for a trial?

After the immense surprise came a heavy weight of pressure. A Sovereign Spark was a supreme object that drove even countless Asuras and prefects mad! If this star chart were exposed, it would inevitably unleash a bloodbath across countless planes. And the existence of the Hongmeng Spirit Pearl involved ultimate secrets beyond this universe.

He carefully sealed the star chart's imprint in the deepest recesses of his soul and drew the Fake Hongmeng Spirit Pearl into his body, nurturing it alongside the Destruction Thunderblade.

Strength! I urgently need to increase my strength! Without enough strength, even knowing where the Sovereign Spark is would only mean doing all the work for someone else.

He classified his plan to seek the Sovereign Spark as his highest secret and buried it deep in his heart. His foremost task now was to break through to the God level as soon as possible and further deepen his comprehension of the laws and rules.

Just as he was digesting the enormous gains from the Fate Check-In, the doorbell outside his courtyard rang.

Lin Yinuo raised his brows slightly. He had no acquaintances in the inner city. His spiritual power quietly extended outward, revealing a warrior standing outside the gate in standard-issue purple armor, his aura unmistakably that of a Highgod. His armor bore a redbud flower emblem-the insignia of the army under Sovereign Zijing!

"Sir Lin Yinuo," the Highgod warrior said, his tone reasonably courteous but carrying the authority of a Sovereign's army, "the Sovereign's Emissary requests your presence. Please accompany me to Zijing Palace."

The Sovereign's Emissary?

Something stirred within Lin Yinuo. Is it because of my hundred consecutive victories, or... have they noticed something?

What must come will come.

He straightened his robes and opened the gate with a calm expression.

"Sorry for the trouble. Please lead the way."