Purple Iris Immortal City was one of the busiest cultivation cities in the entire South Sea Province.
Situated at the edge of the Eastern Region and facing the endless Southern Archipelagos, it served as the final stop for countless cultivators before they ventured across the sea. Every day, merchants, rogue cultivators, sect disciples and caravans flowed in and out through its enormous city gates, making it one of the richest cities in the province.
The city's influence wasn't built on military strength alone.
It was built on commerce.
Branches of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion, Listening Rain Pavilion, Wanfu Dao Pavilion and countless other organizations had established themselves here, creating a flourishing market where almost anything could be bought, provided one could afford the price.
Because of its unique location, Purple Iris Immortal City had also become the largest transportation hub leading toward the Southern Archipelagos.
Numerous spirit ships departed from its docks every month, while massive airships capable of crossing dangerous stretches of ocean arrived and departed on fixed schedules.
Of course, safety came at a price.
The commerce pavilions guaranteed the protection of every passenger during the journey, but purchasing a ticket required far more than spirit stones. Status, reputation and connections all played a role, especially during busy periods.
Fortunately...
Lin Sheng had never intended to queue like an ordinary cultivator.
After arriving in the city, he had already changed his appearance.
His physique had become slightly broader, his facial features rougher, and even his height had increased by several inches. Using precise control over his muscles and bone structure after reaching the third rank of body refinement, altering his appearance had become surprisingly easy.
Unless someone possessed an exceptionally powerful divine sense or specialized detection technique, nobody would recognize him.
Even the aura he released had been carefully suppressed.
Only enough of his strength leaked out to resemble an ordinary early Rank Two cultivator.
It was more than sufficient.
Inside one of the largest commerce pavilions in the city, a middle-aged manager personally came downstairs the moment he sensed Lin Sheng's presence.
The smile on his face was warm and respectful.
"Senior, please come this way."
He led Lin Sheng into a private reception room before personally serving tea.
"What service can our pavilion provide?"
Lin Sheng got straight to the point.
"I need a ticket to the Southern Archipelagos."
The manager's smile stiffened slightly before becoming apologetic.
"Normally, tickets for the next voyage would already be sold out. However..." He looked at Lin Sheng's concealed aura before smiling again. "...for a senior of your cultivation, arrangements can naturally be made."
Lin Sheng wasn't surprised.
Strength opened doors wherever one went.
The manager quickly retrieved a jade ledger before explaining the schedule.
"The next airship will arrive in seven days."
"Until then, you may rest within the city."
After finalizing the purchase, the manager hesitated briefly before adding, "Senior, if you have no urgent matters during the coming week, our pavilion will be hosting a large auction three days from now."
"There may be treasures that interest you."
Lin Sheng raised an eyebrow.
"What kind of treasures?"
The manager chuckled.
"The final catalogue remains confidential, but we've already confirmed several Rank Three spirit herbs, a few rare cultivation manuals, high-grade talismans and even some precious materials brought back from the Southern Archipelagos."
"Many influential figures from nearby provinces will be attending."
Lin Sheng nodded politely.
"I'll consider it."
After leaving the pavilion, he didn't think much about the auction.
At least...
Not yet.
His immediate priority remained reaching the Southern Archipelagos.
Still, with an entire week before departure, attending the auction wasn't a bad way to pass the time.
After finding a respectable inn and renting a secluded courtyard, Lin Sheng walked through the lively streets to familiarize himself with the city.
It didn't take long before another conversation caught his attention.
Several cultivators were gathered outside a teahouse, speaking in unusually hushed voices.
"...have you heard?"
"The Shadow Ghost Hall has struck again."
"Their targets this time were several geniuses from nearby provinces."
Lin Sheng's footsteps slowed almost imperceptibly.
Another cultivator clicked his tongue.
"They're getting bolder."
"I heard a Purple Palace expert tracked one of their branches a few weeks ago."
"What happened?"
"He died."
The surrounding listeners immediately fell silent.
The speaker lowered his voice further.
"They say the expert disappeared while pursuing them. Three days later, only his corpse was found."
Someone swallowed nervously.
"I thought they only hunted talented disciples."
The man shook his head.
"That was before."
"Now they're accepting assassination missions as well."
"As long as someone can pay the price..."
"They'll kill anyone."
A chilly silence spread through the crowd.
Even Lin Sheng's expression became slightly more serious.
It seemed the Shadow Ghost Hall wasn't merely a hidden organization targeting promising cultivators.
It had quietly evolved into something far more troublesome.
An assassin organization.
And judging from the fear on everyone's faces...
Business was booming.
....
Back inside his rented courtyard, Lin Sheng activated the room's isolation formation before sitting down cross-legged on the cultivation mat.
The bustling sounds of Purple Iris Immortal City gradually faded until only silence remained.
He closed his eyes and slowly circulated his cultivation technique.
Gang Qi flowed through his widened meridians like an endless river, far smoother than before. Ever since breaking through to the Spirit Platform Realm and successfully advancing his body refinement, the pure spiritual qi that had nourished his body had also pushed his internal cultivation forward. He had already been standing at the peak of the mid-stage Xuan Gang Realm, and the two breakthroughs had naturally brought him one step closer to the late stage.
Yet...
He had no intention of breaking through immediately.
His thoughts drifted toward the realm beyond.
Astral Gang.
The true peak of the Innate Qi Transformation path.
It wasn't a realm one could enter carelessly.
He still remembered the conversation he had with Elder Liang before leaving Dragon Yuan Mountain.
Unlike ordinary breakthroughs, advancing into the Astral Gang Realm required fusing one's Gang Qi with Astral Gang energy gathered from the heavens. The problem was that Astral Gang energy existed in countless forms. Some carried scorching flames, others freezing frost, destructive lightning, violent winds, metallic sharpness or even obscure attributes that few people understood.
Choosing the wrong one could ruin an entire lifetime of cultivation.
He recalled Elder Liang's explanation.
Only Golden Body or Golden Core experts possessed the ability to safely restrain Astral Gang energy and transport it for others. Ordinary martial artists simply ventured into dangerous regions where Astral Gang currents naturally formed and hoped fate smiled upon them.
Sometimes it did.
Most times...
It didn't.
If the Astral Gang energy they encountered happened to suit their cultivation technique, their breakthrough would proceed smoothly.
If it didn't...
They faced an impossible choice.
Forcefully change cultivation methods, risking backlash severe enough to cripple or even kill themselves, or abandon the breakthrough altogether and spend decades searching for another opportunity. Many martial artists chose the latter, only to exhaust their lifespan before ever finding compatible Astral Gang energy.
That was why so many Xuan Gang cultivators remained trapped at the peak of their realm until death.
Lin Sheng slowly opened his eyes.
"I won't leave something this important to luck..."
The Chip quietly projected several lines of analysis before him.
His current cultivation technique, martial intent and body refinement all leaned toward wind, lightning and yang attributes. If he intended to maximize his future potential, the Astral Gang energy he fused with had to complement those characteristics.
Otherwise, every point after Astral Gang would be affected.
Fortunately...
He wasn't an ordinary martial artist.
Others relied on chance.
He could rely on preparation.
If the suitable Astral Gang energy didn't come to him...
He would simply search until he found it. The Southern Archipelagos was vast, filled with dangerous environments and countless natural wonders. Somewhere within those islands, there was bound to be the Astral Gang energy he needed.
Until then...
Patience would be his greatest weapon.