Lin Feng's heart jolted. He hadn't expected to be recognized. But realization quickly followed—she had given him the Thousand Faces Illusion Art herself. Though he'd concealed his aura during the rescue, at such close quarters, she must have sensed it. If she remembered his unique energy signature, recognition was inevitable.
Seeing her stunned expression, Lin Feng offered a faint smile. "Miss An, I'm surprised you remember me."
"It really is you? But you were…" An Xi Yue's mind reeled. She could never forget the man who'd saved her life once before. Though he'd demanded a technique as payment—a paltry exchange for her life—she'd followed his subsequent rumors closely. The recent Wusong Island incident, which shook the Starry Sea, had declared him missing and presumed dead. She'd mourned the loss. Yet here he stood, saving her again.
"Mistress, who is this young master?" Xiao Lü had regained her composure, her large eyes wide with gratitude and confusion as she studied Lin Feng. The relief of survival mingled with curiosity.
Before An Xi Yue could respond, Lin Feng spoke first. "I am Mu Feng."
A flicker of surprise crossed An Xi Yue's eyes, swiftly replaced by understanding—he wished to conceal his identity. Though puzzled, she remained silent.
"Mu Feng?" Xiao Lü blinked twice. She couldn't recall her mistress ever mentioning such a friend—likely someone met after the family tragedy. She bowed deeply, her expression solemn. "Young Master Mu, thank you for saving our lives."
Lin Feng waved a dismissive hand. "It was a small effort, no need for formalities. Since you're both safe now, I'll take my leave. Farewell."
He'd stumbled upon An Xi Yue earlier, noticed her tailing Qin Yulong, and followed out of curiosity. Seeing the two women about to fall into the clutches of villains, he couldn't stand idly by. Now they were rescued, their connection remained shallow, and he had his own troubles. Lingering invited unnecessary complications.
His abrupt departure left both women speechless. Xiao Lü, bewildered, looked to her mistress. An Xi Yue watched Lin Feng's retreating back, complex emotions warring on her face. After a brief hesitation, resolve hardened her features.
"Young Master Mu, please wait!" she called out just as he was about to vanish into the shadows.
Lin Feng stopped and turned. "Is there something else, Miss An?"
An Xi Yue pressed her lips together, silent for two heartbeats. "I wish to propose a transaction. Would you hear me out?"
"A transaction?" Lin Feng was taken aback. He'd expected a plea for further help, not a bargain. What could she possibly offer? Last time, she barely had a flying sword to trade… Unless… His thoughts drifted toward an unspoken implication.
An Xi Yue cut through his speculation. "Young Master Mu… are you interested in the ruins of a Level Seven Sect?"
"What?!" Lin Feng stared, momentarily dumbfounded. "Level Seven… Sect ruins?!"
"Mistress!" Xiao Lü gasped, her eyes widening in alarm. She hadn't anticipated this revelation and seemed ready to protest, but a sharp glance from An Xi Yue silenced her.
An Xi Yue met Lin Feng's astonished gaze squarely. "Correct. I know the location of a Level Seven Sect ruin—one that's never been discovered. Does it intrigue you?"
Level Seven Sect ruins. Claiming disinterest would be a lie. But Lin Feng knew nothing came without cost. He quickly regained his composure. "And what, precisely, is the transaction you propose?"
An Xi Yue didn't answer immediately. She scanned their surroundings warily. "This place isn't safe for such talk. We should relocate somewhere secure."
Lin Feng frowned slightly, considering for a moment before nodding. "Then let's leave the city."
Qin Yulong would undoubtedly launch a city-wide search soon. Alone, Lin Feng wouldn't worry, but with An Xi Yue and Xiao Lü, the risk multiplied. Leaving was the safest option. He sighed inwardly. So much for finally getting into the city for some proper rest.
The trio slipped out of Black Loong City unnoticed. Qin Yulong, despite being the City Lord's son, couldn't command every guard. By the time his men reached the gates to watch for them, Lin Feng and the others were long gone.
…
Far from Black Loong City, deep within a secluded forest, they halted beside a gently flowing stream. Lin Feng leaned against a large, moss-covered boulder and looked at An Xi Yue. "Well, Miss An? Can you speak now?"
An Xi Yue cast her spiritual sense out once more, ensuring their privacy, before finally relaxing. She wasted no time. "Tell me, Young Master Mu… have you ever heard of the Blue Moon Sect?"
"Blue Moon Sect?" Lin Feng frowned, searching his memory. After a moment, he shook his head. "No. A sect from the Starry Sea?"
"Yes," An Xi Yue confirmed. "A Level Seven sect within the Starry Sea. Once renowned, but it perished three thousand years ago. The common tale is that the Blue Moon Sect grew arrogant and tyrannical, provoking the wrath of countless independent cultivators who banded together to destroy it."
Lin Feng remained silent, knowing there was more. An Xi Yue paused, then continued, her voice gaining a somber weight. "The war that destroyed the Blue Moon Sect shook the entire Starry Sea cultivation world. Countless cultivators fell, even those at the Soul Transformation and Void Refinement stages. The sect was annihilated… but their island stronghold sank beneath the waves, vanishing without a trace."
"For centuries afterward, cultivators scoured the Starry Sea, finding nothing. Eventually, it faded into legend. As for the sect's disciples… everyone assumed they were all dead." Her voice dropped, thick with ancestral pride and sorrow. "But they were wrong. At least one survived—my An family's founding ancestor!"
"He was a Blue Moon Sect Elder. He lived in hiding for centuries after the fall, eventually dying of grief. His descendants endured untold hardships before finally settling in Black Loong City. There, they slowly grew stronger, becoming the An family… as it once was."
"That ancestor left behind clues… clues to the location of the Blue Moon Sect ruins! When the sect faced destruction, the Sect Master activated a self-destruct formation, taking a host of enemies with him—this much is known. But what outsiders don't know is that another grand formation was activated simultaneously—a transfer formation. The island sank… but it was transported elsewhere! That's why centuries of searching yielded nothing."
"The exact location after the transfer? The ancestor didn't know. But he knew it was somewhere within the Dragon's Current Sea. That's why he came to Black Loong City, why he made his descendants settle here. For three thousand years, the An family's sacred mission has been to find those ruins."
"The Starry Sea is boundless. Even narrowed to the Dragon's Current Sea, finding sunken ruins remained like searching for a needle in an ocean. Generation after generation searched… until my father's time. Our family reached its zenith. My father became the Alliance Leader of the Great Wave Alliance… and Lord of Black Loong City." Her voice trembled slightly with pride and pain. "He explored the Dragon's Current Sea himself, countless times. After over two hundred years… he finally found it!"
"When he located the ruins on the seafloor, he was exhausted. He planned to return, gather more clansmen, and explore it properly." Her expression darkened, etched with bitter hatred. "But somehow… the Qin family learned of it. Qin Huangtian, head of the Qin family and my father's Deputy Alliance Leader, secretly colluded with the Sea Victory Alliance to destroy us. The result… you likely know. Qin Huangtian now leads the Great Wave Alliance and rules Black Loong City. The An family… is gone." Her voice cracked. "I survived only because my father gave me a Teleportation Talisman..."
"Xiao Lü was spared only because she was visiting family then. We managed to contact each other later. I dared not stay near the city… I fled elsewhere." Her tone shifted to one of weary desolation. "But my cultivation is low, my experience lacking… the outside world was brutal. I was robbed, stripped of everything… even my flying sword. I had nothing left." She gestured towards her maid. "Xiao Lü stayed near the city, watching the Qin family for me secretly. We rarely contacted each other… until I returned this time, discovered her capture… and the rest, you witnessed."
An Xi Yue fell silent. Throughout her tale, her voice had maintained a brittle calm, but her eyes betrayed a tumultuous storm—profound pain and hatred when speaking of her family's fall, deep weariness and despair recalling her desperate flight. The vulnerability was palpable.
"Haa…" Lin Feng exhaled slowly after a long pause, his own mind reeling from the sheer weight of her story. He took a moment to settle his thoughts. "So, Miss An… you wish for me to help you find these Blue Moon Sect ruins?"
An Xi Yue met his gaze, fierce determination replacing the sorrow. "Yes. Assist me in locating the Blue Moon Sect ruins and gaining entry. In return… you and I shall split the sect's legacy treasures equally!"
Treasures from a Level Seven Sect. The offer was intoxicating. Yet Lin Feng's mind remained clear. "You make it sound simple, Miss An," he countered, his brow furrowed. "The Dragon's Current Sea is perilous enough. But the Qin family—they know this secret exists. Do you truly believe they'll leave it unguarded?"
An Xi Yue anticipated this. Her reply was immediate, laced with cold certainty. "The Qin family knows only a vague region. The precise location… my father entrusted that knowledge to me alone!"
"…"
Lin Feng fell silent, his mind racing. If her story holds true… The potential rewards were staggering. Resources from a Level Seven Sect—even a tenth of them—could propel him to the Soul Transformation stage. Powerful artifacts could exponentially increase his strength.
But the risks matched the rewards. Even ignoring the Qin threat, the Dragon's Current Sea was notoriously treacherous. Exploring the ocean depths? A Level Four demon beast was manageable. But a Level Five? That was a death sentence.
As Lin Feng wrestled with his decision, An Xi Yue dropped a revelation that shattered his hesitation completely…