Lin Feng's figure vanished into the distance. Only then did the figure lurking in the shadows emerge. It was the very same burly male cultivator who had tried to seize Cave Dwelling 168 from Lin Feng moments before. Another man, similar in age and appearance, followed close behind him.
This man was named Chen Hu. The man behind him was called Chen Bao. They were blood brothers.
Chen Bao stared in the direction Lin Feng had departed, frowning. "Brother... so that kid was the one who rented Cave 168? What do we do now?"
Chen Hu's expression was grim. "This isn't Black Dragon City. We shouldn't act rashly within the city limits. Besides, there's something we need to confirm first... I was too hasty earlier and didn't think it through. Now it occurs to me – that cave dwelling was reclaimed by the Zhenhai Alliance. We don't know if they found and took what was inside. We should go ask at the Management Office first. If they stored it away, maybe we can still get it back..."
Chen Bao looked doubtful. "Can we get it back? What if someone from the Zhenhai Alliance pocketed it?"
Chen Hu shook his head. "Unlikely. The Zhenhai Alliance has rules for situations like this, where a cave dwelling is automatically reclaimed after expiry. If they discover any items left behind by the previous tenant, they are supposed to store everything intact, untouched, for one year. During that time, anyone presenting the original access token can claim them. If the Alliance did secure them, that would actually be good news... though I doubt it. If Wen Qi truly hid 'that thing' inside the cave dwelling, he wouldn't have made it easy to find. The Zhenhai Alliance personnel probably just did a routine inspection and tidying up when they reclaimed it. So... it's highly likely the item is still hidden somewhere within that cave..."
Chen Bao's expression flickered between hope and worry. "But now that kid has rented the cave dwelling! What if he stumbles upon it? I think we should act sooner rather than later..."
"Hmm. Regardless, we'll wait for the right moment. For now, let's go to the Management Office and confirm whether they found anything when they reclaimed the cave..."
...
Meanwhile, Lin Feng remained blissfully unaware that his simple act of renting a low-level cave dwelling had already attracted unwanted attention. With a touch of anticipation, he made his way to the Grade One cave dwelling zone, locating his Cave 168 nestled on the northern slope of the mountain.
A barrier protected the cave entrance. Its strength wasn't formidable, but it served as an alarm system. Should anyone attempt to forcibly breach it, the Management Office would be alerted immediately, and cultivators from the Zhenhai Alliance would swiftly arrive to intervene.
Lin Feng used his jade access token to deactivate the barrier normally and stepped inside. Despite being categorized as the lowest grade, the interior surpassed his expectations. The total area was at least five hundred square meters. A main hall, meditation chamber, bedroom, spirit herb garden, spirit beast room, alchemy chamber, forging workshop... every essential space was present.
Lin Feng toured the cave dwelling with keen interest, meticulously inspecting every corner. However, he discovered nothing out of the ordinary. The place had clearly been thoroughly cleaned and tidied. Whatever the previous tenant might have left behind had likely been removed.
This puzzled Lin Feng somewhat. Given the aggressive reaction of the cultivator who had tried to seize this specific dwelling earlier, he had half-expected to find some hidden treasure within.
...
After completing his inspection of his new temporary residence, Lin Feng checked the time. Evening was approaching. Feeling restless and disinclined to stay put, he decided to head back out into the city for further exploration.
Remembering his promise to inform Wang Chen once he'd secured a dwelling, Lin Feng first made his way straight to the Sea Treasure Pavilion. He also hoped to enlist Wang Chen as his 'tour guide' again. To his disappointment, upon arriving and inquiring, he learned that Wang Chen was "away on business." The specifics of that business remained unknown. Lin Feng didn't dwell on it, simply left his new address with the staff, and departed.
Without his guide, Lin Feng was left to navigate the city streets relying solely on his map. His primary objective for venturing out was actually to purchase a specific spirit material: 'Thunder Extreme Crystal'. This Level 6 material was crucial for repairing the ring he had obtained from the cave dwelling of Patriarch Lan Ling. It was exceedingly rare and had no viable substitutes. Throughout his journey to the Starry Sea, Lin Feng had made a point of stopping at every major cultivator city he passed, searching diligently. He had managed to acquire all the other materials needed for the repair... except this elusive Thunder Extreme Crystal.
Following his map, Lin Feng visited two relatively large artifact shops. Yet, he returned empty-handed both times. The world of cultivation teemed with countless rare treasures, but pinpointing one specific, uncommon spirit material truly was like finding a needle in a haystack – exceptionally difficult.
It was also worth noting that, despite the multitude of artifact shops in Zhenhai City, there was no branch of the Myriad Treasures Tower. This wasn't unique to Zhenhai City; essentially none of the major cultivator cities throughout the Starry Sea region hosted one. This area was one of the few places in the Donglong Continent where the influence of the Wanbao Chamber of Commerce had not extended.
Lin Feng wandered aimlessly, eventually finding himself in the southern outskirts of the city, near the district Wang Chen had mentioned housed the Mission Hall. Similar to the Mission Guild in Qingyun City, this was a place where cultivators could post and accept various tasks. Like the cave dwelling zone in the north, the Mission Hall was naturally controlled by Zhenhai City's governing body, the Zhenhai Alliance.
"They say the Starry Sea is rich in resources. There's no reason Thunder Extreme Crystal can't be found here. The problem likely is that whenever a piece surfaces, it's snapped up immediately, hence its absence in shops. In that case... perhaps posting a commission at the Mission Hall is the way to go. That might yield better results."
Lost in thought, Lin Feng began walking towards the direction of the Mission Hall. However, after passing one street, he paused abruptly. His attention was caught by another street branching off to the side. There, he spotted a bustling free market and decided to explore it first.
The scale of this free market dwarfed those he'd encountered in Qingyun City or Biquan City. Furthermore, the majority of cultivators milling about and trading here were at the Golden Core stage of cultivation; Foundation Establishment cultivators were a relative rarity. Most of the vendors had likely just returned from sea voyages and were hawking various harvested treasures they themselves had no use for.
Lin Feng thoroughly enjoyed the thrill of treasure hunting in such free markets. He meandered among the stalls, pausing frequently, and managed to acquire several pieces of useful forging materials. He even purchased a mid-grade spirit artifact – a short spear – with a damage rating of 55%. While he had no personal need for it, repairing it could net him a tidy profit.
"Hmm?" While browsing, Lin Feng noticed a small crowd gathered around a stall not far ahead. A low murmur of discussion emanated from the group, suggesting something noteworthy was on display.
"...While Thunder Extreme Crystal is indeed precious, expecting to trade it for a flying sword is rather unrealistic. My artifact here is also a lower-grade spirit artifact. Trading it for your piece of Thunder Extreme Crystal wouldn't be a bad deal for you..."
A somewhat elderly voice drifted faintly from the center of the crowd. Lin Feng, who had been idly browsing, felt his eyes instantly widen, brimming with unexpected joy and surprise.
"Thunder Extreme Crystal!!"
Elated, Lin Feng hurried towards the commotion. As he drew closer, he saw the crowd encircling a small, simple stall. Only one item occupied the small table: a piece of purple crystal, slightly thicker than an adult's thumb. Standing before the stall was an old man dressed in white robes. He held a coiled, dark-green whip artifact in his hand – clearly the speaker offering the trade.
Facing the old man was a female cultivator. She wore a light-purple, flowing gown. Her figure was tall and voluptuous, her long hair cascaded over her shoulders. Yet, in stark, jarring contrast to her physique, her face was startlingly ugly – as if her entire face had been struck by a brick. It was rare to encounter a female cultivator so unattractive; the disappointment upon seeing her face after noting her figure was palpable.
Currently, the woman wore an expression of hesitation as she pondered the offer. Finally, she shook her head and responded in a slightly husky voice, "I apologize, Elder. But I... I only want a flying sword."
The old man frowned, a flash of displeasure crossing his eyes. His tone noticeably cooled. "Little girl, don't be stubborn. Such a small piece of Thunder Extreme Crystal simply isn't worth a flying sword. If you took it to a regular shop, the spirit stones you'd get wouldn't even be enough to buy an ordinary lower-grade spirit artifact... You should reconsider my offer."
The female cultivator bit her lower lip lightly, her face reflecting disappointment yet her eyes holding a stubborn glint. She shook her head once more. "Thank you for your consideration, Elder. But... I wish to wait a little longer."
The old man's expression grew colder still. He snorted dismissively. "Why be so ungrateful? I told you, no matter how long you wait, no one will offer a flying sword for—"
"I'll take this Thunder Extreme Crystal!"
The old man's words were abruptly cut short. A clear voice rang out from beside the crowd, causing him, the female cultivator, and all the onlookers to turn in surprise.