Morning sunlight spilled through the carved windows of the inn, washing the room in pale gold.
Outside, Starlight City had already awakened.
Merchants shouted.
Carriages rolled across stone streets.
Spirit birds circled above tower roofs.
Life moved in noisy, endless currents.
But inside the inn chamber—
Lin Shuan sat cross-legged in silent cultivation.
Silver Luo Essence revolved around him in spirals.
His Energy Core turned steadily.
Cold white mist lingered near his skin.
Then—
the dragon pendant at his wrist glimmered.
Tian Wuchen's voice echoed in his mind.
"Your forehead seal."
Lin Shuan opened his eyes.
"What about it, Master?"
The ancient voice turned serious.
"That seal is dangerous."
"Its activity can react to bloodlines… enemies… ancient forces."
"If exposed, it may bring attention before you are ready."
Lin Shuan's expression sharpened.
"So what do I do?"
A pause.
Then—
"Cover it."
"As long as the mark is concealed, its power will remain dormant."
Lin Shuan instinctively touched the strange mark upon his forehead.
That mysterious symbol…
source of too many unknowns.
Tian Wuchen continued,
"In the empire, hidden dangers wear human faces."
"Be cautious."
Lin Shuan nodded slowly.
"…Understood."
Later—
inside the city market—
Lin Shuan stopped before a merchant stall selling masks.
Rows of iron masks.
Beast masks.
Black ceremonial masks.
Silver war masks.
One caught his eye.
A dark frost-colored half-mask edged in silver patterns.
Cold.
Simple.
Elegant.
He picked it up and put it on.
The forehead mark vanished beneath it.
His entire aura changed.
More mysterious.
Sharper.
Almost dangerous.
Behind him—
Zi Xianyi blinked.
Then smiled.
"It suits you."
Lin Shuan raised an eyebrow.
"Is that praise?"
"…Maybe."
Then she looked around nervously.
"Perhaps I should hide my face too…"
She chose a pale moon-shaped mask.
Delicate and graceful.
When she put it on—
Lin Shuan stared a moment.
She caught him.
"…What?"
He coughed.
"Nothing."
"You look…"
Pause.
"…different."
She suspiciously narrowed her eyes.
"Different good or different strange?"
"…Dangerous."
That made her laugh.
Even Longshe peeked from Lin Shuan's sleeve and hissed in what sounded like approval.
By noon—
they departed for Cang Yue City,
capital of Da Cang Empire.
The road was lively—
caravans,
cultivators,
traders,
wandering sect disciples.
But halfway there—
Lin Shuan abruptly stopped.
Ahead stood a grand building.
Seven floors high.
Golden banners fluttering.
Dragon insignia.
Merchant Organization Hall.
Zi Xianyi looked puzzled.
"We're stopping?"
Lin Shuan nodded.
"I need to buy something."
She tilted her head.
"What?"
He gave a mysterious smile.
"You'll see."
Inside—
the hall looked like a palace.
Treasure stalls stretched everywhere.
Rare herbs glowed in crystal boxes.
Weapons shimmered beneath spirit lamps.
Luo Essence stones stacked like jewels.
Ancient relics rested under seals.
Even air smelled expensive.
Zi Xianyi whispered,
"This place…"
"…is."
Lin Shuan only nodded.
His eyes were already scanning.
Then—
he headed toward a weapons stall.
Rows of swords.
Spears.
Sabers.
Ancient blades.
One sword drew his attention.
Simple.
Sharp.
Blue steel.
Balanced.
His fingers touched it.
"…This one."
The shopkeeper smiled.
"Excellent eye."
"Only 800 gold coins."
Lin Shuan nearly choked.
"Eight hundred?"
Inside he thought—
That same sword sold for five hundred in Frostveil City…
Highway robbery.
Then remembered—
this was Starlight City.
Travelers came from everywhere.
Prices soared.
He rubbed his forehead.
Even worse—
this was a sword once forged in the Lin Clan.
And now—
he had to buy his own clan's blade at inflated price.
Ridiculous.
Zi Xianyi covered a smile.
"You look offended."
"I am."
Then—
Lin Shuan reached into his robe.
Pulled out a green jade token.
The token.
Luo Ming's.
Merchant Organization member token.
The instant the shopkeeper saw it—
his face changed.
Blood drained.
Eyes widened.
How does this youth have THAT?!
Inner panic.
A registered member?
And with jade rank privileges?!
He nearly bowed.
"Honored young master—"
His tone changed completely.
"This sword…"
"…45% discount."
"Only 440 gold."
Zi Xianyi nearly choked.
Lin Shuan blinked.
Then narrowed his eyes.
Inside—
a realization hit.
Wait…
Luo Ming said 45% discount was special.
…Was I cheated?
He stared into space.
I should have demanded more.
Tian Wuchen's dry voice echoed:
"Indeed."
"You were robbed."
Lin Shuan nearly sighed aloud.
He paid.
Took the sword.
The shopkeeper now practically worshiped him.
"What else would young master like?"
Lin Shuan waved lazily.
"I'm done."
He turned—
and then froze.
Across the hall—
an Ancient Treasures stall.
On a dusty corner—
a broken-looking stone.
Ugly.
Cracked.
Worthless.
Yet—
THUMP.
His Frost Divine Heart pulsed.
Once.
Hard.
Lin Shuan stopped breathing.
His pupils narrowed.
That stone…
Something was hidden inside.
A secret.
Ancient.
Unknown.
Tian Wuchen's voice sharpened.
"…Interesting."
Lin Shuan walked toward it immediately.
"I'll take—"
A hand shot in.
Snatched the stone first.
Lin Shuan turned.
And his eyes grew cold.
Yin Jing.
Alive.
Smirking.
Behind him—
Zi Xianyi instinctively moved behind Lin Shuan.
Fear flashed in her eyes.
Yin Jing twirled the stone mockingly.
"Well."
"Look who lives."
Lin Shuan remained calm.
Very calm.
Too calm.
He said lightly,
"Friend."
"I already chose that stone."
Yin Jing laughed.
"So?"
"You haven't bought it yet."
He flipped the stone.
"And if it's money—"
"I can pay too."
The treasure seller immediately bent toward Yin Jing.
Clearly afraid of him.
Willing to give it over.
Lin Shuan stared.
Then smiled.
Very slightly.
Dangerously.
"Oh?"
"You can pay too?"
Yin Jing smirked.
"Yes."
Lin Shuan slowly lifted his hand—
and removed his mask.
The hall quieted.
Yin Jing saw his face.
Recognition struck.
Color drained.
"You—"
Lin Shuan smiled.
Yin Jing suddenly forced laughter.
Mad laughter.
"You?"
"A mere One-Star Energy Core?"
"You'll kill me?"
He drew his black spear.
Aura erupted.
"Do you know whose company this is?"
People backed away.
Tension exploded.
But—
Lin Shuan only smiled.
After years fighting life-and-death battles—
this…
felt almost childish.
Yin Jing thrust the spear—
violent.
Fast.
Deadly.
And—
nobody saw what happened.
Not one person.
Only—
a flicker.
Like wind moved.
Like reality blurred.
Then—
Lin Shuan stood beside Yin Jing.
Holding the stone.
He had taken it.
No one saw how.
Not even Yin Jing.
Shock froze the hall.
Eyes wide.
Sweat.
Fear.
Zi Xianyi stared as if struck by lightning.
What… was that speed?
Yin Jing roared.
Attacked again.
This time killing intent real.
But Lin Shuan's hand moved.
Sword unsheathed.
A silver frost line flashed.
Almost beautiful.
Then—
silence.
A head hit the ground.
THUD.
Everyone froze.
Yin Jing's body stood a moment—
then collapsed.
Blood spreading.
No scream.
No struggle.
Just death.
Instant.
Merciless.
Absolute.
The hall turned silent enough to hear breathing.
Someone whispered—
"…Cruel…"
Another—
"Heartless…"
Another trembling—
"Monster…"
Zi Xianyi stood stunned.
This innocent-looking youth—
had killed as casually as cutting grass.
Yet…
inside—
she felt something else.
Relief.
Justice.
Gratitude.
He had avenged her.
Lin Shuan crouched.
As naturally as breathing—
placed hand into corpse.
Extracted the energy crystal.
Dark radiant core.
Stored it away.
Because that was what warriors did.
And without a crystal—
existence itself faded.
Permanent death.
Some in hall nearly recoiled.
One man whispered,
"…He erased him…"
Lin Shuan stood.
Wiped sword.
Sheathed it.
Picked up the ancient stone.
As if nothing unusual happened.
Then turned to Zi Xianyi.
"Let's go."
She stared.
Speechless.
Then followed.
Almost mechanically.
As they walked away—
all eyes followed them.
Fear.
Awe.
Disbelief.
But above—
on upper floor balcony—
someone watched.
A man in dark robes.
Hand gripping teacup.
His eyes burned murder.
When Yin Jing died—
the cup shattered in his hand.
CRACK.
Tea spilled.
His voice came low.
Cold.
"He killed…"
"…my brother."
Murderous aura surged.
He watched Lin Shuan leave.
And smiled.
Cruel.
"This isn't over."
Outside—
city wind brushed through streets.
Lin Shuan walked calmly as if returning from shopping.
Zi Xianyi followed in silence.
Until finally—
she stopped.
He turned.
"What?"
She looked at him strangely.
"…You killed him…"
Lin Shuan blinked.
"Yes."
"So casually."
"He was trying to kill me."
She stared.
Then quietly said—
"You looked…"
"…merciless."
Lin Shuan thought.
Then answered simply:
"In life-and-death battles…"
"Mercy can kill you."
Her chest stirred.
That was not cruelty.
That was survival.
Different.
Still—
she asked softly,
"Who… are you really?"
Lin Shuan smiled under half-mask.
"Shuan Hao."
She narrowed her eyes.
"That is not your true name."
He smirked.
"Probably not."
She almost laughed despite herself.
Then looked at the strange stone.
"What is that?"
Lin Shuan looked at it.
His Frost Divine Heart pulsed again.
"I don't know."
"But…"
"…it called to me."
Inside pendant—
Tian Wuchen murmured:
"Do not open it yet."
"There may be ancient seals."
Lin Shuan answered inwardly—
I know.
They walked farther.
Crowds thinned.
Evening began descending.
Zi Xianyi finally said,
"You avenged me."
Lin Shuan shook his head.
"No."
"He crossed me."
She knew he was lying.
And appreciated it.
Then she smiled softly.
"…Still."
"Thank you."
Lin Shuan said nothing.
But the tips of his ears turned faintly red.
Inside pendant—
Tian Wuchen dryly added,
"Wise creature."
Lin Shuan almost groaned.
Surrounded by sarcasm.
Yet somewhere behind—
shadows moved.
The man above merchant hall had already sent word.
Retribution had begun.
Storms were gathering.
The Empire Warriors Tournament approached.
Enemies were multiplying.
Ancient secrets stirred inside a worthless stone.
And Lin Shuan—
without realizing—
had just stepped into a far deeper game.
But for now—
he walked beside Zi Xianyi through fading sunlight.
Sword at waist.
Ancient stone in sleeve.
Dragon pendant warm at wrist.
Companion hidden nearby.
And blood—
still drying in the merchant hall behind him.
A quiet omen
of the wars to come.