The sudden flying sword startled Lin Feng. He truly hadn't anticipated such an abrupt assault. Fortunately, his vigilance was sharp, and the sword's momentum wasn't overwhelmingly fierce. Even before the equally astonished Wang Chen could shout a warning, Lin Feng's toes lightly tapped the ground. His body drifted half a step sideways like a specter, narrowly evading the blade that shot toward his face.
The sword whistled past Lin Feng, then arced back toward the Sea Treasure Pavilion. Lin Feng immediately discerned its true target hadn't been him; it had likely flown out unintentionally.
Extending his spiritual sense along the sword's trajectory, Lin Feng instantly understood. Inside the Sea Treasure Pavilion's first-floor hall, two cultivators stood in a tense standoff. The flying sword belonged to one of them. Presumably, in the heat of their fury, they had exchanged a blow, causing the sword to be flung outward. He'd nearly suffered an unjust calamity purely by bad luck.
People actually brawling openly inside the Sea Treasure Pavilion? A sense of strangeness washed over Lin Feng. He couldn't help but cast a questioning look at Wang Chen beside him.
Wang Chen, too, had been startled. Seeing Lin Feng unharmed, he breathed a sigh of relief, only to then notice the commotion inside the pavilion. His face flushed crimson with rage.
"Those bastards!!" he cursed under his breath, his voice tight with fury. "Causing trouble in my Sea Treasure Pavilion again! Are they tired of living?!"
Throughout his earlier conversation with Lin Feng, Wang Chen had maintained an air of calm composure. Now, however, he radiated a sudden, intimidating fierceness. Before Lin Feng could fully process this shift, Wang Chen was already storming into the pavilion, muttering curses under his breath.
Wang Chen burst into the hall and roared, "EVERYONE, HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!!"
His thunderous shout jolted everyone in the hall. Heads snapped toward him. A Sea Treasure Pavilion attendant, who had been moving to intervene in the dispute, spotted Wang Chen. Relief washed over his face as he hurried forward.
"Senior Brother Wang Chen! You've returned?!"
"Mn." Wang Chen gave the man a slight nod, his expression grim. "Xiao Wu. Report."
The young male cultivator named 'Xiao Wu' explained quickly, "The details are unclear, Senior Brother. These two guests seemed to have a prior grudge. They encountered each other here and just… started fighting."
Wang Chen barely needed the explanation; he'd already guessed as much. Incidents like this were all too common in Zhenhai City, or indeed, throughout the Starry Sea. Normally, he'd dismiss it with little thought, simply ejecting the troublemakers. But today was different. He had just assured Lin Feng this was 'his territory,' only for his guest to be nearly 'attacked' right at the doorstep! This was a direct slap to his face! His gaze, cold as ice, locked onto the two troublemakers – both mid-stage Golden Core cultivators. He snorted derisively.
"Such audacity! Daring to cause chaos in my Sea Treasure Pavilion! Each of you will hand over one hundred mid-grade spirit stones as compensation for your offense! Then get the hell out!!"
"What?!"
The two cultivators paled. The yellow-robed middle-aged man on the left suppressed his anger, voice strained.
"I acted impulsively. I shouldn't have resorted to violence within your esteemed establishment. I shall leave immediately. However, demanding one hundred mid-grade stones as compensation… isn't that somewhat exces—"
"Swish!!"
Before he could finish, Wang Chen's right hand slashed through the air toward him. A streak of inky black light flashed! The yellow-robed man's face contorted. He barely managed to bring his flying sword up horizontally in front of him—
CLANG!
A sharp, metallic clang echoed. The impact sent the man staggering backward three or four steps. The sword in his hand vibrated violently; his tiger's mouth split open, blood welling and dripping down. A glance at the blade itself filled him with horror – a visible chip had been knocked clean out of the edge by that single strike!
The streak of black light circled back into Wang Chen's grasp. Only then could its form be clearly seen: a kitchen cleaver, roughly four inches long and a palm's width broad!
"No!! I'll pay!! I'll pay the stones!!" Seeing Wang Chen poised to strike again, the yellow-robed cultivator panicked utterly, instantly capitulating. His right hand flicked, producing a spirit stone pouch. He swiftly deposited one hundred mid-grade spirit stones into it and hurled it toward Wang Chen.
Wang Chen caught the pouch, gave its contents a cursory glance, then dismissed the man with a cold grunt.
"You may leave."
Burning with humiliation but utterly powerless, the yellow-robed cultivator could only slink away. Wang Chen's sharp gaze then shifted to the other combatant, a burly man. The burly cultivator's jaw muscles twitched visibly, as if wrestling internally. Ultimately, he dared not resist either. Without a word, he too produced one hundred mid-grade spirit stones, threw them toward Wang Chen, turned, and strode out.
With the conflict resolved, the onlookers in the hall drifted back to their seats, resuming their drinks and conversations as if nothing had happened. Within mere seconds, the atmosphere returned to normal.
"..."
Lin Feng remained standing near the entrance, utterly dumbfounded. For a moment, his mind struggled to fully process the whirlwind of events he had just witnessed.
Wang Chen, his demeanor now completely relaxed and amiable again, smiled and beckoned to Lin Feng.
"Brother Lin! Why stand by the door? Come, let me take you to a private room upstairs."
"Ah? Oh." Lin Feng followed Wang Chen toward the staircase leading to the second floor, his expression still tinged with disbelief.
"Brother Wang, what happened just now..."
Wang Chen chuckled easily.
"Merely a minor incident that occurs all too frequently. You'll grow accustomed to such things yourself after spending more time in the Starry Sea. Apologies for the fright earlier. These two hundred mid-grade stones are their compensation for the disturbance. Please accept them, Brother Lin."
"Uh… that really isn't necessary..." Lin Feng began to protest.
"Nonsense! Take them!" Wang Chen insisted firmly, pressing the two pouches into Lin Feng's hands. "If you refuse, you're practically saying you look down on me!"
Holding the pouches Wang Chen had practically forced upon him, Lin Feng felt a sense of helplessness. He decided not to dwell on the matter further. Instead, his curiosity resurfaced.
"Brother Wang, you mentioned such incidents happen often? Is Zhenhai City… always this chaotic?"
"Chaotic?" Wang Chen gave Lin Feng a slightly puzzled look, then shrugged nonchalantly.
"Zhenhai City is actually relatively orderly. Head north to Black Loong City – that place is true chaos. It's a haven for outlaws and scoundrels. Murders in broad daylight are commonplace there. The majority of people in the Starry Sea are rogue cultivators. You'll also find disciples from inland sects who come here seeking experience. But here, they have no backing from their sects. All grudges and disputes are settled personally. Conflict erupts everywhere you look. You'll adapt."
As they conversed, they reached a well-appointed private room. Wang Chen gestured for Lin Feng to sit and rest. True to his earlier jest, he then excused himself to personally prepare a lavish meal of spirit cuisine. This level of hospitality left Lin Feng feeling genuinely touched, and a little embarrassed.
Furthermore, it must be noted that Wang Chen's culinary skills truly lived up to his boast of 'not just blowing smoke'. Since Lin Feng had become 'wealthy', he had consumed plenty of spirit cuisine, always opting for the finest available. Yet, compared to this feast, all previous meals paled. Wang Chen's spread consisted almost entirely of dishes crafted from third-tier spirit ingredients. Several of the main courses even incorporated fourth-tier ingredients. Lin Feng couldn't precisely calculate the cost, but he knew it must be staggeringly high.
Over the meal, Lin Feng took the opportunity to ask Wang Chen numerous questions about the Starry Sea, gleaning much valuable information.
After finishing the sumptuous spirit cuisine banquet, Wang Chen initially planned to accompany Lin Feng to find a cave dwelling for rent. However, a Sea Treasure Pavilion attendant arrived, informing him that his master had summoned him for a discussion. Reluctantly, Wang Chen had to postpone. He earnestly reminded Lin Feng,
"Once you've secured your cave dwelling, you must inform me immediately!"
He added warmly,
"And if you need any help at all, come find me anytime!"
Bidding farewell to Wang Chen and leaving the Sea Treasure Pavilion, Lin Feng began to wander through the streets of Zhenhai City, gradually making his way north towards the district Wang Chen had mentioned, where cave dwellings could be rented.
Meanwhile...
After seeing Lin Feng off, Wang Chen ascended alone to the third floor of the Sea Treasure Pavilion. He entered the innermost room.
Inside, a middle-aged man with streaks of grey in his hair sat casually reclined on a large chair upholstered with tiger skin. He was examining a jade slip intently. Wang Chen approached him, bowed his head respectfully, and greeted him.
"Master."
The middle-aged man lowered the jade slip and looked up at Wang Chen, his expression neutral.
"Xiao Wu mentioned you returned before noon. Why the delay in reporting? And this… 'friend' you brought back with you?"
Wang Chen offered a slightly sheepish grin.
"Heh, nothing escapes your perceptive gaze, Master… Well, Brother Lin… I met him in Siwu City. We hit it off immediately. He's new to the Starry Sea, so I simply offered him the hospitality befitting a host…"
"Hit it off immediately?" The master raised an eyebrow fractionally. "What makes him… notable?"
Wang Chen replied promptly.
"He appears only around twenty years of age, yet his cultivation has already reached the first layer of the Golden Core stage. Moreover, his resources seem substantial… likely not an ordinary rogue cultivator..."
The master's brow furrowed slightly. He cut Wang Chen off, his tone measured but firm.
"Get to the essence."
"..."
Wang Chen fell silent for a brief moment, two seconds ticking by. Then, his voice lowered slightly as he delivered the crucial observation.
"If my eyes did not deceive me… he possesses a spirit-seeking beast."