After leaving Zhou Bo, Lin Yi did not immediately contact the Destiny Merchant Alliance. Instead, he changed direction and headed straight for a hidden White Tiger Captain outpost within the inner city.
In a quiet room deep within the outpost, Gu Hanshuang stood by the window in a green robe, leisurely sipping hot tea.
Hearing the movement, he slowly turned around, a faint, composed smile between his brows.
"Brother Gu, I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you this time." Lin Yi clasped his fists and got straight to the point.
"What trouble?" Gu Hanshuang waved a hand, his tone casual. "I happen to have a few Heavenly Palace Secret Realm slots left. Whoever I sell them to, I'm still selling them. Selling them to you carries a little more meaning for me."
As he spoke, he took out two Jade Tokens engraved with intricate runes from his Storage Ring and handed them to Lin Yi. Then he added, "But these are the last two slots I have. The rest must be reserved for the clan."
Lin Yi accepted the Jade Tokens, knowing they were credentials for entering the Heavenly Palace Secret Realm. Still, he raised a brow instinctively. "The Ancient Clan? Brother Gu, does your Ancient Clan lack Heavenly Palace Secret Realm slots as well?"
"We do. How could we not?"
Gu Hanshuang nodded, a trace of helplessness entering his voice. "Though I'm not from the Gu Family's main branch, I still bear the surname Gu. I have to contribute something to the clan. I can at least collect some compensation for the slots I sell you, but the ones given to those clan juniors are handed out for free, without taking a single coin."
The resentment in his words was practically overflowing. Clearly, he had long harbored grievances against