An Xi Yue's voice was measured, carrying the weight of buried history. "The true reason for the Blue Moon Sect's downfall… it wasn't at all as the world believes—that their arrogance provoked righteous fury. No. It was because they had acquired a treasure of immense power. Word leaked… and it drew the covetous eyes of powerful forces. They fabricated an excuse, a pretense of justice, to annihilate the sect and seize it..."
She paused, letting the gravity settle, then dropped the revelation like a stone into still water.
"The treasure the Blue Moon Sect obtained… it was an Ancient Immortal Artifact!!"
The final words struck Lin Feng like thunderbolts. He stared, momentarily dumbstruck, before finding his voice, thick with disbelief. "What did you say? An Ancient Immortal Artifact?! What kind of artifact?!"
"The exact nature of the artifact… no one knows," An Xi Yue admitted. "Not even the Sect Master of the Blue Moon Sect managed to unravel its mysteries before the end. If he had… perhaps the sect wouldn't have fallen. But it was an Immortal Artifact. That much is certain. Nothing less could have summoned such a swift and devastating doom upon them."
A spark of realization ignited in Lin Feng's eyes. "Then… that artifact… could it still be…"
"Yes!" An Xi Yue confirmed, her gaze intense. "The forces that destroyed the sect never laid hands on it. The Sect Master took it with him… into the depths where the sect sank… It should still be there, within the ruins! I swear to you this: if we go there, and if we find that artifact… it will be yours!"
"…"
Silence descended again, deeper and heavier this time. Lin Feng stood utterly still, a tempest raging within. He didn't fully trust her words, but belief outweighed doubt. And even if doubt had prevailed, the sheer, staggering magnitude of the bait she'd cast—an Ancient Immortal Artifact—was enough to make any cultivator willingly dance on the edge of oblivion.
An Immortal Artifact… an Immortal Artifact!! What cultivator under heaven could resist such a lure?
An Xi Yue remained silent, offering no push, simply waiting. Internally, her own tension coiled tight. She had just entrusted this man with her family's deepest, deadliest secret. What if her judgment was flawed? What if he wasn't the honorable man she believed him to be? What if he turned on her now, demanding the location, then silencing her and Xiao Lü forever? Everything would be lost…
The quiet stretched, thick and unnerving. Finally, the flickering uncertainty in Lin Feng's eyes stilled, replaced by a calm resolve. He looked up, meeting An Xi Yue's anxious gaze. "Where exactly are the Blue Moon Sect ruins? And when do you plan to search for them, Miss An?"
Relief washed over An Xi Yue, so potent it almost made her knees buckle. He hadn't turned hostile. His questions signaled agreement. Suppressing the surge of hope, she answered, "The sooner, the better. The Qin family may not know the precise location, but they are already scouring the region. We cannot risk them finding it first. As for the location itself…" She hesitated, then shook her head firmly. "Forgive me, I cannot tell you now. It's… difficult to describe. I must lead you there myself." Seeing a flicker in his eyes, she raised her right hand, palm outward, her voice ringing with solemn conviction. "Please trust me. Every word I have spoken is true. I vow upon the Heavenly Dao: the reward I promised you shall be honored! If I break this oath, may I be struck down by divine lightning, my soul and form utterly annihilated!"
Lin Feng's eyebrows lifted slightly. He hadn't expected her to immediately invoke the lightning tribulation oath—a binding vow cultivators dared not break lightly. It chipped away another layer of his suspicion. A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched his lips. "I do trust you, Miss An. However… I have a condition. Leaving immediately… is not possible for me. Could you wait… six months? Half a year from now, I will accompany you to find the Blue Moon Sect ruins, as agreed."
"Six months?" An Xi Yue's delicate brows furrowed. She studied him, confusion warring with calculation. After a moment, she nodded decisively. "Very well! As you say, Young Master Mu. Six months hence, we shall meet at Fanfin Island in the Dragon's Current Sea. Agreed?"
Lin Feng gave a firm nod. "Agreed. It's settled."
…
Only when Lin Feng's figure had completely vanished into the distance did Xiao Lü finally voice her fears, her voice small and trembling. "Mistress… why did you tell him such an important secret? Who… who is he? Do you truly believe he can help you find the sect ruins?"
An Xi Yue withdrew her gaze from the horizon, a weary sigh escaping her lips. "Without help, Xiao Lü, with my current strength, I cannot even reach the ocean depths where the ruins lie. Who else can I turn to? My father's former 'friends'?" A bitter smile twisted her lips. "Compared to them… he is far more trustworthy. He didn't turn against us after learning the secret… that alone proves my judgment wasn't wrong. And most importantly…" Her expression hardened with certainty. "...he possesses the strength needed to protect us long enough to find the ruins."
"Really?" Xiao Lü blinked, skepticism clear in her eyes. She couldn't help glancing once more towards where Lin Feng had disappeared. "Mistress… just who is he? Why do you trust him so much?"
"He…" An Xi Yue paused, fragments of Lin Feng's legendary, tumultuous past swirling in her mind—a mix of awe, envy, and profound respect. But respecting his wish for anonymity, she kept it vague. "...is a remarkable person. The most talented cultivator I've ever encountered. Beside him, so-called 'geniuses' like Qin Yulong… are utterly insignificant."
She shook her head, dismissing further discussion. A soft sigh escaped her. "Come. We should leave too. Six months… I can only pray the Qin family doesn't stumble upon the ruins in that time…"
…
Elsewhere, Lin Feng moved alone through the moonlit forest, his steps silent on the undergrowth. As he walked, his mind meticulously charted the course ahead.
The treasures of a Level Seven Sect, the allure of an Ancient Immortal Artifact—they were potent temptations, yes. But rashness was not his way. The six-month delay wasn't reluctance; it was strategy. He intended to use it for secluded cultivation.
Given his current cultivation speed, six months should be sufficient to reach the peak of the Golden Elixir stage—Golden Elixir Perfection. With exceptional fortune, he might even touch the threshold of Nascent Soul formation—though he acknowledged that chance was slim.
If I am fortunate enough to reach Nascent Soul before then, exploring those ruins will be far safer. If not… well, the journey itself can serve as tempering. Perhaps adversity will forge the breakthrough I need.
As for the location of his seclusion, after brief consideration, Lin Feng decided on the Dragon's Current Sea itself. He would find a secluded island near the rendezvous point at Fanfin Island. Convenience for the future meeting outweighed any minor inconvenience now.
Sigh… Barely back on solid land, and already I'm heading out to sea again…
The thought drew a silent lament. Reaching the crest of a hill, he paused, scanning the shadowed landscape. With a flick of his wrist, his flying sword materialized, humming with restrained power. He stepped onto it, and with a sharp whistle of parted air, shot southward into the night sky.
…
Ten days later, deep within the Starry Sea, Dragon's Current Sea region.
Lin Feng located Fanfin Island, just as An Xi Yue had described. North of it, about a hundred li away, he found his destination: a small, desolate island. Barren and uninviting, its spiritual energy was thin, scarce enough that not even Level Three demon beasts troubled its shores. Unlikely to attract treasure-seeking cultivators, it was perfect for temporary seclusion.
On a slope of the island's lone mountain, Lin Feng carved out a cave with precise bursts of energy. Inside, he laid down a Spirit Gathering Formation, drawing the meager ambient energy into a concentrated pool. Outside the entrance, he meticulously deployed layers of Defensive Wards and a Concealment Array, masking his presence and the cave's existence. His simple, functional retreat was ready.
And so, Lin Feng settled into the nameless island's quiet embrace. Within the cool, dim confines of the cave, bathed in the soft glow of the formation's runes, he began his six months of focused, solitary cultivation. The only sounds were the distant crash of waves against the shore and the quiet hum of gathering energy. Time, for now, was his ally.