The sky gradually returned to normal.
The last traces of the celestial phenomena dispersed beyond the horizon, leaving behind only drifting wisps of five-colored spiritual mist that slowly dissolved into heaven and earth.
Lin Sheng calmly descended from the clouds.
His robes fluttered lightly in the sea breeze as he arrived before the floating corpses of the five Purple Palace cultivators.
None of them had expected their greed to become their death sentence.
Each corpse bore almost no external wounds.
Only after searching carefully would one discover that their Niwan Palaces had completely collapsed before their bodies were obliterated by the fused Wind Gangqi.
With a casual wave of his hand, the five storage bags floated toward him.
His Mental Perception swept through them one after another.
Several breaths later...
Lin Sheng's expression turned rather strange.
"...Poor."
His voice carried genuine disappointment.
These were Purple Palace cultivators.
Yet apart from several ordinary spirit artifacts, a handful of cultivation techniques, and several thousand mid-grade spirit stones divided among them, there was almost nothing worth mentioning.
Even their medicinal pills were ordinary recovery pills commonly sold throughout the Southern Archipelagos.
Not a single treasure capable of catching his eye appeared.
Crystal completed its scan almost immediately.
•[Total harvest calculated.
Mid-grade spirit stones: 8,460.
Purple Palace cultivation manuals: 3.
Rank Three spirit artifacts: 5.
Low-value miscellaneous resources: 147 items.
Overall evaluation: Low.]•
Lin Sheng silently stored everything.
He had expected more.
Then again...
Thinking about it carefully, it wasn't particularly surprising.
These people were merely early-stage Purple Palace cultivators.
Unlike disciples from major sects or members of great clans, they possessed neither stable inheritances nor abundant cultivation resources.
Most of their wealth had probably already been consumed in pursuit of higher cultivation.
Keeping thousands of mid-grade spirit stones on hand was already considered relatively wealthy.
His gaze shifted toward the blackened remains drifting upon the sea.
With another wave of his hand, Gangqi surged outward.
The seawater below immediately formed several whirlpools, swallowing every trace of the battle.
Within moments...
Nothing remained.
No corpses.
No blood.
No evidence.
Only endless seawater stretched toward the horizon.
Satisfied, Lin Sheng withdrew his gaze before transforming into a streak of silver light that flew directly toward Thousand Isle City.
The Jiuding Merchant Alliance.
That was his next destination.
Although he had already obtained enough wealth from the auction, there was still one matter he couldn't let go.
A Rank Four body refinement method.
Since breaking through to Rank Three Physique, Crystal had continuously optimized the body refinement techniques in his possession.
The resulting cultivation method far surpassed the original Hunyuan Body Refinement Art.
However...
It was still fundamentally a Rank Three technique.
No matter how much Crystal optimized it, it couldn't create something entirely beyond the limits of its foundation.
To advance further, a genuine Rank Four inheritance was indispensable.
Fortunately...
The Jiuding Merchant Alliance claimed to trade almost everything beneath the heavens.
If such a technique existed anywhere within Thousand Isle City...
It would most likely be there.
Several hours later.
The bustling silhouette of Thousand Isle City gradually appeared before him.
Unlike the chaos that had erupted during the celestial phenomena, the city had already returned to its usual prosperity.
Countless cultivators moved through the streets.
Merchant caravans continuously entered and departed.
Sea vessels lined the harbor one after another.
It was as though the struggle over countless heavenly opportunities several hours earlier had never happened.
Lin Sheng silently concealed his cultivation aura.
At the same time, the muscles around his face shifted ever so slightly.
His appearance remained ninety percent identical.
Only several subtle features changed.
Combined with the aura suppression technique perfected by Crystal, even acquaintances would struggle to recognize him without careful observation.
This was a habit he had developed long ago.
Never reveal unnecessary traces.
Never allow others to grasp your true identity.
Especially now...
The Heaven Mending Pill had undoubtedly attracted the attention of countless powerful factions.
Remaining cautious was never a mistake.
Without attracting the slightest attention, Lin Sheng blended naturally into the flow of cultivators entering the city before calmly making his way toward the headquarters of the Jiuding Merchant Alliance.
Today...
He intended to see whether the legendary merchant alliance truly deserved its reputation as the greatest commercial power across the Southern Archipelagos.
After leaving the outskirts of Thousand Isle City, Lin Sheng did not immediately return to the spiritless island.
Instead, he silently altered both his appearance and aura once again.
His facial muscles shifted subtly under precise control while his Gang Qi flowed through several acupoints, changing the rhythm of his breathing. Even the fluctuations emitted by his cultivation became completely different.
Only after confirming every trace of his previous identity had disappeared did he walk toward the imposing headquarters of the Jiuding Merchant Alliance.
Unlike the Thousand Isle Auction House, which specialized in large-scale auctions held only periodically, the Jiuding Merchant Alliance operated year-round.
Everything could be found here.
Cultivation resources.
Alchemy ingredients.
Weapon materials.
Formation inheritances.
As long as one possessed sufficient spirit stones, almost anything could be purchased.
At the entrance, countless cultivators continuously entered and exited the enormous pavilion. Foundation Establishment cultivators were common, while Purple Palace experts occasionally appeared before disappearing into the upper floors.
Lin Sheng merely blended into the crowd.
Although his VIP token could greatly reduce transaction fees, using it now would only expose him.
Every identity he had previously used needed to disappear.
Only an unknown cultivator was the safest cultivator.
Passing through the entrance, several attendants immediately approached with respectful smiles.
"Senior, what would you like to purchase today?"
Lin Sheng spoke calmly.
"I'm looking for body refinement resources."
The attendant immediately nodded.
"This way, Senior."
She quickly began introducing various materials while leading him through the first hall.
"Rank Two Scarlet Iron Essence."
"Mountain Ape Bone Marrow."
"Black Flood Python Blood."
"Three-Star Tempering Pills."
"Rank Three Golden Bone Grass."
"Rank Three Earth Vein Crystal."
Each material was valuable enough to make ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators hesitate.
Unfortunately...
None interested Lin Sheng.
After hearing several introductions, he slowly shook his head.
"I need something higher."
The attendant froze slightly before her expression became even more respectful.
"Please wait for a moment, Senior."
She hurried toward the inner section.
Several minutes later...
Steady footsteps echoed from within.
A middle-aged man dressed in luxurious blue robes slowly walked out.
His cultivation had already reached the Foundation Establishment Realm.
However...
The moment Lin Sheng's Mental Perception swept across him, he noticed something unusual.
Although the man's aura was powerful, it fluctuated ever so slightly.
It was obvious that his foundation had once suffered damage.
The man cupped his fists politely.
"I am Leng Zibo, one of the managers of this branch."
"I heard Fellow Daoist wishes to purchase Rank Four body refinement inheritances."
Lin Sheng simply nodded.
Leng Zibo smiled warmly.
"Please follow me."
The two soon entered one of the private reception rooms.
Formation runes quietly lit up around the walls, isolating outside sounds completely.
Only after both sat down did Leng Zibo wave his sleeve.
Five jade slips appeared upon the table.
Each emitted ancient fluctuations.
Leng Zibo gently pushed them forward.
"Rank Four body refinement inheritances have become increasingly rare."
"In ancient times, pure body refinement sects once flourished across the continent."
"They cultivated nothing except the flesh."
"They shattered mountains with their fists."
"They crossed oceans with their bodies."
"They even fought magical treasures barehanded."
A trace of regret appeared on his face.
"But as time passed, immortal cultivation gradually became the orthodox path."
"The resource consumption of body refinement was simply too terrifying."
"The pain was unbearable."
"The difficulty of advancement exceeded ordinary cultivation severalfold."
"Most sects eventually disappeared."
"Only fragments of their inheritances occasionally surface."
Lin Sheng silently listened.
Everything the manager said matched Crystal's database.
Leng Zibo continued.
"Therefore, whenever our Alliance acquires one, we preserve it."
"Of course..."
"The demand is extremely low."
Lin Sheng finally spoke.
"What is the usual price?"
"Two hundred thousand mid-grade spirit stones."
Even Lin Sheng's eyes narrowed slightly.
"So cheap?"
Leng Zibo chuckled.
"It only sounds cheap."
"Few cultivators are willing to buy them."
"Those capable of purchasing such inheritances are usually Purple Palace cultivators preparing for Golden Core."
"Their priority is Core Formation."
"Not spending decades tempering flesh while consuming mountains of resources."
He spread his hands helplessly.
"To most people..."
"Body refinement has become little more than a secondary hobby."
"Even among geniuses, very few possess the perseverance to walk such a path."
Lin Sheng slowly nodded.
The explanation was reasonable.
Leng Zibo then pointed toward the jade slips.
"You may verify them."
"Each jade slip allows a brief scan."
"It will reveal the inheritance's name and confirm its rank."
"However..."
"It will not permit full comprehension."
"Otherwise our Alliance would suffer an enormous loss."
Lin Sheng extended his divine sense.
One after another, information appeared.
Earth Fiend Body Tempering Art
Ancient Dragon Bone Tempering Manual.
Five Elements Body Forging Art.
Great Crimson Blood Furnace Technique.
Spirit Jade Body
Each possessed genuine Rank Four fluctuations.
After several breaths, the restrictions activated and automatically prevented further examination.
Leng Zibo calmly withdrew the jade slips.
"If Fellow Daoist wishes to know more..."
"You'll have to purchase one."
Lin Sheng frowned slightly.
"So I'm expected to spend two hundred thousand spirit stones on a gamble?"
Leng Zibo smiled without embarrassment.
"The cultivation world has always been filled with gambles."
"There is no absolute certainty."
Lin Sheng remained silent.
Crystal rapidly analyzed everything displayed moments ago.
Most techniques emphasized brute force.
Some focused on blood refinement.
Others strengthened bones.
Only one...
Continually occupied Crystal's calculations.
Five Elements Body Forging Art.
His gaze quietly settled upon it.
The Five Elements Astral Qi now residing within his body had already changed the very foundation of his cultivation.
If any inheritance truly possessed the greatest compatibility with him...
It would undoubtedly be this one.
Even if the technique wasn't perfect...
Crystal could continuously optimize it after obtaining sufficient data.
His fingers lightly tapped the table.
Decision made.