tiān kōng zhàn lán ， máng máng de dà hǎi yī wàng wú biān 。
天空湛蓝，茫茫的大海一望无边。
The sky was a deep blue, and the vast sea stretched endlessly before them.
mǒu huāng dǎo shàng kōng ， yī duì shào nán shào nǚ xuán fú ér lì ， nà nán zi róng mào méi yǒu fēn háo chū qí ， nǚ zǐ zé xiù měi wú pǐ 。
某荒岛上空，一对少男少女悬浮而立，那男子容貌没有分毫出奇，女子则秀美无匹。
Above one desolate island, two young men and women hovered in mid-air. The man's appearance was unremarkable, while the woman was exceptionally beautiful.
liǎng rén jiē shuāng móu jǐn bì ， jiāng shén shí cóng tǐ nèi fàng shè chū qù 。
两人皆双眸紧闭，将神识从体内放射出去。
Both had their eyes closed, projecting their divine consciousness outward from within their bodies.
liáng jiǔ ， nà shào nǚ yōu yōu de tàn le kǒu qì 。
良久，那少女幽幽的叹了口气。
After a long time, the girl sighed softly.
“ shào yé ， wǒ men zài zhè yī dài dōu xún zhǎo sān tiān le ， què méi yǒu fēn háo xiàn suǒ ， nà lǐ zhī lán shì bú shì piàn wǒ men de ？”
“少爷，我们在这一带都寻找三天了，却没有分毫线索，那李芝兰是不是骗我们的？”
"Master, we've been searching this area for three days now, but there are no clues at all. Could Li Zhilan have lied to us?"
“ shǎ yā tou ， mí jué de kě néng me ？“ lín xuān liǎn shàng què méi yǒu jiāo lǜ zhī sè ， sú huà shuō ， xīn jí chī bù liǎo rè dòu fǔ ， qū qū sān tiān ， duì xiū xiān zhě ér yán ， gēn běn jiù shén me yě bù suàn 。
“傻丫头，弥觉得可能么？“林轩脸上却没有焦虑之色，俗话说，心急吃不了热豆腐，区区三天，对修仙者而言，根本就什么也不算。
"Stupid girl," Lin Xuan replied with a calm face. "Do you really think so? For cultivators of the Separation Stage, three days mean nothing. How could a mere Foundation Establishment stage cultivator dare betray her master and ancestors unless she's gone mad."
“ qū qū yī míng zhù jī qī xiǎo xiū xiān zhě ， hé kuàng wǒ yòu dài tā bù báo ， tā rú hé gǎn qī shī miè zǔ ， chú fēi shì huàn shī xīn fēng le 。”
“区区一名筑基期小修仙者，何况我又待她不薄，她如何敢欺师灭祖，除非是患失心疯了。”
"That may be true, but why can't we find anything?" Yue'er supported her chin with her hand, looking slightly puzzled.
“ huà shì méi cuò ， kě wǒ men wèi shén me yì zhí dōu zhǎo bú dào ne ？” yuè ér yǐ shǒu zhī hé ， yǒu diǎn bù jiě de shuō 。
“话是没错，可我们为什么一直都找不到呢？”月儿以手支颌，有点不解的说。
"I don’t know," Lin Xuan said with some hesitation. "A century has passed, so perhaps Li Zhilan made a mistake in her memory or the treasures have already been taken by others."
“ zhè wǒ nǎ ér qīng chǔ ， shì qíng dōu guò qù bǎi nián zhī jiǔ ， yě xǔ lǐ zhī lán jì cuò ， yě xǔ nà xiē bǎo wù yǐ jīng bèi bié rén suǒ de 。” lín xuān tàn le yì kǒu qì de shuō 。
“这我哪儿清楚，事情都过去百年之久，也许李芝兰记错，也许那些宝物已经被别人所得。”林轩叹了一口气的说。
"What should we do then?" Yue'er nodded and spoke with a hint of worry on her face.
“ nà wǒ men gāi zěn me bàn ne ？” yuè ér diǎn diǎn tóu ， liǎn shàng lù chū yī sī chóu róng de kāi kǒu 。
“那我们该怎么办呢？”月儿点点头，脸上露出一丝愁容的开口。
"Let me think about it..."
“ zhè ge ……”
“这个……”
Lin Xuan seemed hesitant as well. He continued to search nearby, but his chances were slim. Although the divine consciousness of a Separation Stage cultivator was formidable, the purple rice grain was too small, and he couldn't be certain if it was there or not. It felt like searching for a needle in a haystack.
lín xuān yě xiǎn de yǒu xiē chóu chú ， jì xù zài fù jìn xún fǎng ， jī huì miǎo máng 。
林轩也显得有些踌躇，继续在附近寻访，机会渺茫。
But leaving without trying would feel unsatisfactory.
suī rán lí hé qī xiū shì de shén shí fēi tóng xiǎo kě ， dàn nà zǐ sè mǐ lì de tǐ jī shí zài tài xiǎo 、 le ， yòu bù gǎn què dìng jiū jìng shì bú shì zài cǐ chù ， jiǎn zhí yǔ dà hǎi lāo zhēn chà bu duō 。
虽然离合期修士的神识非同小可，但那紫色米粒的体积实在太小、了，又不敢确定究竟是不是在此处，简直与大海捞针差不多。
The transformation of the Jade Lotus Bee was extremely difficult, and he had finally found something that could hasten its maturity. How could he let this opportunity slip away?
kě jiù zhè yàng lí qù ba ， yòu zhe shí yǒu xiē bù gān xīn de 。
可就这样离去吧，又着实有些不甘心的。
Lin Xuan released his divine consciousness once more.
yù luó fēng jìn jí tài guò jiān nán ， hǎo bù róng yì yù jiàn néng jiāng qí cuī shú zhī wù ， zěn me néng gòu bái bái fàng guò ？
玉罗蜂晋级太过艰难，好不容易遇见能将其催熟之物，怎么能够白白放过？
This time, he quickly raised his head.
lín xuān zài cì jiāng shén shí fàng chū 。
林轩再次将神识放出。
"What's going on, Master? Have you discovered something?" Yue'er was taken aback, asking in surprise.
zhè yī cì tā hěn kuài jiù tái qǐ le tóu lú 。
这一次他很快就抬起了头颅。
"Yes, about ten thousand miles southeast from here, there is a marketplace. Let’s go check it out," Lin Xuan said.
“ zěn me ， shào yé ， nán dào nǐ fā xiàn le shén me ？” yuè ér yī dāi ， yǒu xiē è rán de xún wèn qǐ lái 。
“怎么，少爷，难道你发现了什么？”月儿一呆，有些愕然的询问起来。
Since advancing to the Separation Stage, Lin Xuan's divine consciousness had greatly improved.
“ ń ， jù cǐ dōng nán yuē wàn lǐ zhī yuǎn ， yǒu yī zuò fāng shì ， wǒ men qù nà lǐ kàn kàn rú hé ？” lín xuān rú cǐ zhè bān de shuō 。
“嗯，距此东南约万里之远，有一座坊市，我们去那里看看如何？”林轩如此这般的说。
However, he could only sense objects within a thousand-mile radius. The marketplace was gone, but as a gathering place for many cultivators, its disappearance wasn't strange at all.
zì cóng jìn jiē lí hé ， lín xuān de shén shí yòu zēng qiáng le xǔ duō 。
自从进阶离合，林轩的神识又增强了许多。
"Go check out the marketplace?"
bù guò mǎn dǎ mǎn suàn ， yě jiù néng gǎn yìng fāng yuán qiān lǐ zhī nèi de jǐng wù ， dàn fāng shì bù zài ， nà yǒu shì dà liàng xiū shì huì jù zhī suǒ ， suǒ yǐ néng gòu gǎn yìng dào yě méi shén me hào qí guài de 。
不过满打满算，也就能感应方圆千里之内的景物，但坊市不再，那有是大量修士汇聚之所，所以能够感应到也没什么好奇怪的。
"Indeed, perhaps we can find some clues there," Lin Xuan said with hope in his eyes.
“ qù fāng shì kàn kàn ？”
“去坊市看看？”
"Master decides, I have no objections."
“ bù cuò ， yě xǔ nà lǐ néng yǒu shén me xiàn suǒ 。” lín xuān liǎn shàng lù chū yī sī xī yì zhī sè 。
“不错，也许那里能有什么线索。”林轩脸上露出一丝希翼之色。
Yue'er finished speaking and transformed into a streak of light that returned to the Heavenly Mechanism Mansion.
“ shào yé jué dìng jiù hǎo le ， xiǎo bì méi yǒu yì jiàn de 。”
“少爷决定就好了，小婢没有意见的。”
With their decision made, Lin Xuan didn't dally. He emitted a blue glow all over his body and flew towards the southeast direction.
yuè ér shuō wán ， shēn xíng yī zhuǎn ， huà wèi yī dào jīng hóng huí dào le tiān jī fǔ lǐ miàn 。
月儿说完，身形一转，化为一道惊虹回到了天机府里面。
To ordinary people, ten thousand miles was unimaginable, but as a Separation Stage cultivator, it took him only an instant.
jì rán jué dìng le ， lín xuān zì rán yě bú huì dān lǘ ， hún shēn qīng máng dà qǐ ， xiàng zhe dōng nán de fāng xiàng fēi qù 。
既然决定了，林轩自然也不会耽榈，浑身青芒大起，向着东南的方向飞去。
Soon, an island came into view.
duì fán rén lái shuō ， wàn lǐ yáo bù kě jí ， bù guò lín xuān shēn wèi lí hé qī xiū xiān zhě ， què bù guò shì shùn xī de gōng fu 。
对凡人来说，万里遥不可及，不过林轩身为离合期修仙者，却不过是瞬息的功夫。
This island wasn’t large; it was roughly oval-shaped with mountains and hills. The central part was relatively flat.
hěn kuài ， yī zuò dǎo yǔ jiù yìng rù le yǎn lián lǐ 。
很快，一座岛屿就映入了眼帘里。
A grand city stood before them.
cǐ dǎo bìng bù tài dà ， chéng tuǒ yuán xíng ， zhěng zuò dǎo yǔ ， shān luán qǐ fú ， zhǐ yǒu zhōng jiān yī kuài ， cái jiào wéi píng tǎn 。
此岛并不太大，呈椭圆形，整座岛屿，山峦起伏，只有中间一块，才较为平坦。
Lin Xuan's gaze swept over the city, and his aura quickly subsided.
yī zuò dà chéng sǒng lì zài miàn qián 。
一座大城耸立在面前。
After all, a Separation Stage cultivator was too shocking for ordinary people to handle, so using a Condensation Core stage identity would be more suitable for gathering information.
lín xuān de mù guāng zài shàng miàn sǎo guò ， hún shēn shàng xià de qì shì xùn sù shōu liǎn qǐ lái le 。
林轩的目光在上面扫过，浑身上下的气势迅速收敛起来了。
The Lifting Qi Technique from the Nine Heavens Scripture was incredibly subtle. Moreover, Lin Xuan's appearance was extremely unremarkable. With his aura concealed, he drew no attention.
bì jìng lí hé qī xiū xiān zhě ， tài guò jīng shì hài sú ， dǎ tīng xiāo xī ， hái shì yòng níng dān qī de shēn fèn gèng jiā shì hé yī xiē 。
毕竟离合期修仙者，太过惊世骇俗，打听消息，还是用凝丹期的身份更加适合一些。
Lin Xuan landed his遁light in the outskirts of the city and walked confidently into it.
jiǔ tiān xuán gōng zhōng de liǎn qì shù xuán miào wú bǐ ， hé kuàng lín xuān de róng mào yě píng fán yǐ jí ， shōu liǎn qì xī zhī hòu ， sī háo de bù yǐn rén zhù yì 。
九天玄功中的敛气术玄妙无比，何况林轩的容貌也平凡以极，收敛气息之后，丝毫的不引人注意。
A marketplace was naturally present where cultivators gathered, but Lin Xuan wasn't particularly interested in the shops there.
lín xuān zài chéng jiāo là xià dùn guāng ， rán hòu dà yáo dà bǎi de zǒu le jìn qù 。
林轩在城郊落下遁光，然后大摇大摆的走了进去。
With his current cultivation level and wealth, few treasures in the entire Twelve Provinces of Tianyun could catch his eye. His purpose for coming here was to gather information.
xiū xiān zhě de jù jí zhī suǒ ， zì rán miǎn bù liǎo huì yǒu fāng shì ， bù guò duì yú nà xiē diàn pù ， lín xuān què méi yǒu shén me xìng qù le 。
修仙者的聚集之所，自然免不了会有坊市，不过对于那些店铺，林轩却没有什么兴趣了。
As he looked around, his gaze suddenly narrowed as he walked towards a narrow alley on the left.
bì jìng yǐ tā xiàn zài de xiū wèi yǔ shēn jiā ， fàng yǎn tiān yún shí èr zhōu ， néng sà kàn shàng yǎn de bǎo wù yě qū zhǐ kě shǔ ， lín xuān lái dào cǐ chù ， mù dì shì wèi le dǎ tàn xiāo xī lái de 。
毕竟以他现在的修为与身家，放眼天云十二州，能萨看上眼的宝物也屈指可数，林轩来到此处，目的是为了打探消息来的。
A large group of cultivators gathered on an open space.
xīn zhōng rú cǐ xiǎng zhe ， lín xuān yóu mù sì gù ， tū rán tóng kǒng wēi suō ， xiàng zhe zuǒ cè de yī tiáo xiàng zi zǒu guò qù le 。
心中如此想着，林轩游目四顾，突然瞳孔微缩，像着左侧的一条巷子走过去了。
Lin Xuan couldn't help feeling surprised. This wasn’t usual behavior; most cultivators were aloof and rarely gathered to watch others.
yī dà qún xiū shì wéi zài kòng dì 。
一大群修士围在空地。
Lin Xuan moved steadily past them.
lín xuān bù yóu de yǒu xiē chà yì ， zhè shì kě yǒu xiē bù hé cháng lǐ ， xū zhī xiū xiān zhě dà duō lěng mò ， hěn shǎo wéi zài yì qǐ kàn rè nào de 。
林轩不由得有些诧异，这事可有些不合常理，须知修仙者大多冷漠，很少围在一起看热闹的。
"Didn't you hear that the Secret Market Auction is taking place on Yuan Island? I got this news and traveled a great distance here, willing to pay for participation in the transaction with crystal stones. Why can’t I enter?" The speaker was a burly man who appeared to be around thirty years old but had only reached the Condensation Core stage.
lín xuān bù huāng bù máng de zǒu guò qù le 。
林轩不慌不忙的走过去了。
"Indeed, while the Secret Market Auction isn't open to outsiders, it's always been a rule that paying with crystal stones allows entry. Why are you blocking us here?" A clear voice echoed, and the speaker was a woman dressed in a cultivator’s attire: "Do you think we’re beneath Copper Ridge Sect?"
“ zhè lí yuán dǎo bú shì yào jǔ xíng mì shì pāi mài huì me ， mǎ mǒu dé dào xiāo xī ， bù yuǎn wàn lǐ gǎn dào zhè lǐ ， yě yuàn yì zhī fù cān jiā jiāo yì de jīng shí ， nǐ men wèi hé bù ràng wǒ jìn qù ？“ shuō huà de shì yī shēn cái biāo hàn de nán zi ， kàn shàng qù dà yuē sān shí duō suì nián jì ， bù guò xiū wèi què jǐn jǐn shì níng dān qī 。
“这离元岛不是要举行秘市拍卖会么，马某得到消息，不远万里赶到这里，也愿意支付参加交易的晶石，你们为何不让我进去？“说话的是一身材彪悍的男子，看上去大约三十多岁年纪，不过修为却仅仅是凝丹期。
The fat man at the gate bowed politely.
“ shì a ， mì shì jiāo yì suī rán bú duì wài jǔ xíng ， dàn xiàng lái de guī jǔ dōu shì jiǎo nà jīng shí jiù kě yǐ jìn qù ， wèi hé zhè cì què jiāng wǒ men lán zài cǐ dì 。” qīng cuì de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr duǒ ， zhè cì shuō huà de shì yī zuò shào fù dǎ bàn de xiū xiān zhě ：“ mò fēi kàn bù qǐ wǒ men tóng liáng pài me ？”
“是啊，秘市交易虽然不对外举行，但向来的规矩都是缴纳晶石就可以进去，为何这次却将我们拦在此地。”清脆的声音传入耳朵，这次说话的是一做少妇打扮的修仙者：“莫非看不起我们铜梁派么？”
"Master Jin Fu Dong, your words are too harsh. Who doesn’t know that our Copper Ridge Sect is a significant force within a ten-thousand-mile radius? However, this Secret Market Auction has special circumstances; only Senior Immortals of the Core Formation stage can enter," he said.
“ jīn fū dōng nín yán zhòng le ， shuí bù zhī dào fāng yuán wàn lǐ ， tóng liáng pài dōu shì bù xiǎo de shì lì ， zhǐ shì zhè cì mì shì jiāo yì qíng kuàng tè shū ， zhǐ yǒu yuán yīng qī qián bèi cái néng jìn rù 。” shǒu mén de shì yī shēn cái pàng pàng de nán zi ， zuò le yí gè yī ， mǎn liǎn hé qì 。
“金夫冬您言重了，谁不知道方圆万里，铜梁派都是不小的势力，只是这次秘市交易情况特殊，只有元婴期前辈才能进入。”守门的是一身材胖胖的男子，作了一个揖，满脸和气。
"Why would there be such a rule for the Secret Market on Yuan Island when it’s always open to us Condensation Core cultivators?" The woman raised her eyebrows and spoke with resentment.
“ wèi shén me ， lí yuán dǎo de mì shì xiàng lái méi zhè ge guī jǔ ， shén me shí hòu bú duì wǒ men níng dān xiū shì kāi fàng le ？” nà fù rén xiù méi yī tiāo ， yǒu xiē hèn hèn de dào 。
“为什么，离元岛的秘市向来没这个规矩，什么时候不对我们凝丹修士开放了？”那妇人秀眉一挑，有些恨恨的道。
"I don’t know, but I heard that Senior True Person Scarlet Sky has given this instruction."
“ zhè ge wǒ yě bù qīng chǔ ， zhǐ shì tīng shàng miàn shuō ， hǎo xiàng shì chì xiāo zhēn rén de yì si 。”
“这个我也不清楚，只是听上面说，好像是赤霄真人的意思。”
"What? Senior True Person Scarlet Sky?"
“ shén me ， chì xiāo zhēn rén ？”
“什么，赤霄真人？”
Before he could finish speaking, the woman gasped in shock. Other cultivators around them also turned pale.
huà yīn wèi luò ， nà shào fù yǐ shī shēng jīng hū ， zhōu wéi de qí tā xiū xiān zhě ， yí gè èr gè ， liǎn sè yě tóng yàng kuáng biàn qǐ lái le 。
话音未落，那少妇已失声惊呼，周围的其他修仙者，一个二个，脸色也同样狂变起来了。
"Did you hear correctly? Could it be one of the Three Immortals from Beyond the Sea—Discarded Sky True Person?" A man dressed as a scholar muttered.
“ wǒ méi yǒu tīng cuò ， nán dào shì wài hǎi sān xiān zhōng de qì xiāo zhēn rén me ？” yī shū shēng dǎ bàn de nán zi nán nán de shuō 。
“我没有听错，难道是外海三仙中的弃霄真人么？”一书生打扮的男子喃喃的说。
"Yes, it's him," the cultivator at the gate nodded.
“ méi cuò ， zhèng shì tā lǎo rén jiā de 。” nà shǒu zài mén kǒu de xiū shì diǎn le diǎn tóu 。
“没错，正是他老人家的。”那守在门口的修士点了点头。
The dissatisfaction on the faces of other cultivators vanished. They were speechless and dared not speak out again.
qí tā xiū shì liǎn shàng de bù mǎn zhī sè yī sǎo ér kōng ， yí gè èr gè zhāng kǒu jié shé ， zài yě méi yǒu rén gǎn hú luàn duō yán le 。
其他修士脸上的不满之色一扫而空，一个二个张口结舌，再也没有人敢胡乱多言了。
Lin Xuan observed silently. Hearing this, he felt his interest piqued.
lín xuān lěng yǎn páng guān ， tīng dào zhè lǐ bù yóu xīn zhōng yī dòng 。
林轩冷眼旁观，听到这里不由心中一动。
He had indeed heard of Scarlet Sky True Person before.
zhè chì xiāo zhēn rén de míng tóu tā hái zhēn tīng shuō guò 。
这赤霄真人的名头他还真听说过。
Compared to the inland regions of Yunzhou, the cultivation level in the outer seas was lower, with only a few powerful forces like the Far Horizon Pavilion.
yǔ yún zhōu nèi lù xiāng bǐ ， zhè wài hǎi xiū xiān jiè de shuǐ zhǔn yào chà yī xiē ， chú le tiān yá hǎi gé ， qiáng dà de shì lì bù duō 。
与云州内陆相比，这外海修仙界的水准要差一些，除了天涯海阁，强大的势力不多。
But there were still many experts hidden within such vast waters. The most famous among them were the Three Immortals Beyond the Sea.
dàn zhè me dà yī piàn hǎi yù ， yě bú shì shuō zhēn de jiù zài méi yǒu gāo shǒu le 。
但这么大一片海域，也不是说真的就再没有高手了。
These three individuals had no affiliation or sect and were all lone cultivators. Each of their abilities was awe-inspiring, all Core Formation late-stage cultivators.
qí zhōng zuì yǒu míng de fēi hǎi wài sān xiān mò shǔ 。
其中最有名的非海外三仙莫属。
In short, without the Far Horizon Pavilion, the entire outer sea cultivation world revered them as its leaders.
zhè sān gè rén wú mén wú pài ， jiē shì sàn xiū ， rán ér měi yí gè rén de shén tōng jiē dào jīng tiān dòng dì de dì bù ， wú yī lì wài quán shì yuán yīng hòu qī de dà xiū xiān zhě 。
这三个人无门无派，皆是散修，然而每一个人的神通皆到惊天动地的地步，无一例外全是元婴后期的大修仙者。
Their movements were always unpredictable, like a dragon seen only at the head but not the tail. Why had Scarlet Sky True Person suddenly arrived on Yuan Island and given such instructions? What was his intention?
kě yǐ zhè yàng shuō ， rú guǒ méi yǒu tiān yá hǎi gé ， zhěng gè wài hǎi xiū xiān jiè biàn shì yǐ tā men wèi zūn 。
可以这样说，如果没有天涯海阁，整个外海修仙界便是以他们为尊。
Lin Xuan's thoughts raced. He came here to gather information, so he shouldn’t miss this opportunity. Thus, Lin Xuan stepped forward.
sān rén gèng ］ xīn zuì kuài zuì }} kuài bù jǐn xiū wèi gāo shēn ， ér qiě xíng zōng xiàng lái piāo hū bù dìng ， shén lóng jiàn shǒu bù jiàn wěi ， chì xiāo zhēn rén tū rán lái dào lí yuán dǎo ， hái zhè yàng fēn fù ， tā jiū jìng yǒu shén me yì tú ？
三人更］新最快最}}快不仅修为高深，而且行踪向来飘忽不定，神龙见首不见尾，赤霄真人突然来到离元岛，还这样吩咐，他究竟有什么意图？
"Excuse me, Fellow Daoist, only Core Formation stage seniors can enter during the Secret Market transaction," the fat man at the gate was taken aback and stopped Lin Xuan with a hand.
The sky was a deep blue, and the vast sea stretched endlessly before them.
Above one desolate island, two young men and women hovered in mid-air. The man's appearance was unremarkable, while the woman was exceptionally beautiful.
Both had their eyes closed, projecting their divine consciousness outward from within their bodies.
After a long time, the girl sighed softly.
"Master, we've been searching this area for three days now, but there are no clues at all. Could Li Zhilan have lied to us?"
"Stupid girl," Lin Xuan replied with a calm face. "Do you really think so? For cultivators of the Separation Stage, three days mean nothing. How could a mere Foundation Establishment stage cultivator dare betray her master and ancestors unless she's gone mad."
"That may be true, but why can't we find anything?" Yue'er supported her chin with her hand, looking slightly puzzled.
"I don’t know," Lin Xuan said with some hesitation. "A century has passed, so perhaps Li Zhilan made a mistake in her memory or the treasures have already been taken by others."
"What should we do then?" Yue'er nodded and spoke with a hint of worry on her face.
"Let me think about it..."
Lin Xuan seemed hesitant as well. He continued to search nearby, but his chances were slim. Although the divine consciousness of a Separation Stage cultivator was formidable, the purple rice grain was too small, and he couldn't be certain if it was there or not. It felt like searching for a needle in a haystack.
But leaving without trying would feel unsatisfactory.
The transformation of the Jade Lotus Bee was extremely difficult, and he had finally found something that could hasten its maturity. How could he let this opportunity slip away?
Lin Xuan released his divine consciousness once more.
This time, he quickly raised his head.
"What's going on, Master? Have you discovered something?" Yue'er was taken aback, asking in surprise.
"Yes, about ten thousand miles southeast from here, there is a marketplace. Let’s go check it out," Lin Xuan said.
Since advancing to the Separation Stage, Lin Xuan's divine consciousness had greatly improved.
However, he could only sense objects within a thousand-mile radius. The marketplace was gone, but as a gathering place for many cultivators, its disappearance wasn't strange at all.
"Go check out the marketplace?"
"Indeed, perhaps we can find some clues there," Lin Xuan said with hope in his eyes.
"Master decides, I have no objections."
Yue'er finished speaking and transformed into a streak of light that returned to the Heavenly Mechanism Mansion.
With their decision made, Lin Xuan didn't dally. He emitted a blue glow all over his body and flew towards the southeast direction.
To ordinary people, ten thousand miles was unimaginable, but as a Separation Stage cultivator, it took him only an instant.
Soon, an island came into view.
This island wasn’t large; it was roughly oval-shaped with mountains and hills. The central part was relatively flat.
A grand city stood before them.
Lin Xuan's gaze swept over the city, and his aura quickly subsided.
After all, a Separation Stage cultivator was too shocking for ordinary people to handle, so using a Condensation Core stage identity would be more suitable for gathering information.
The Lifting Qi Technique from the Nine Heavens Scripture was incredibly subtle. Moreover, Lin Xuan's appearance was extremely unremarkable. With his aura concealed, he drew no attention.
Lin Xuan landed his遁light in the outskirts of the city and walked confidently into it.
A marketplace was naturally present where cultivators gathered, but Lin Xuan wasn't particularly interested in the shops there.
With his current cultivation level and wealth, few treasures in the entire Twelve Provinces of Tianyun could catch his eye. His purpose for coming here was to gather information.
As he looked around, his gaze suddenly narrowed as he walked towards a narrow alley on the left.
A large group of cultivators gathered on an open space.
Lin Xuan couldn't help feeling surprised. This wasn’t usual behavior; most cultivators were aloof and rarely gathered to watch others.
Lin Xuan moved steadily past them.
"Didn't you hear that the Secret Market Auction is taking place on Yuan Island? I got this news and traveled a great distance here, willing to pay for participation in the transaction with crystal stones. Why can’t I enter?" The speaker was a burly man who appeared to be around thirty years old but had only reached the Condensation Core stage.
"Indeed, while the Secret Market Auction isn't open to outsiders, it's always been a rule that paying with crystal stones allows entry. Why are you blocking us here?" A clear voice echoed, and the speaker was a woman dressed in a cultivator’s attire: "Do you think we’re beneath Copper Ridge Sect?"
The fat man at the gate bowed politely.
"Master Jin Fu Dong, your words are too harsh. Who doesn’t know that our Copper Ridge Sect is a significant force within a ten-thousand-mile radius? However, this Secret Market Auction has special circumstances; only Senior Immortals of the Core Formation stage can enter," he said.
"Why would there be such a rule for the Secret Market on Yuan Island when it’s always open to us Condensation Core cultivators?" The woman raised her eyebrows and spoke with resentment.
"I don’t know, but I heard that Senior True Person Scarlet Sky has given this instruction."
"What? Senior True Person Scarlet Sky?"
Before he could finish speaking, the woman gasped in shock. Other cultivators around them also turned pale.
"Did you hear correctly? Could it be one of the Three Immortals from Beyond the Sea—Discarded Sky True Person?" A man dressed as a scholar muttered.
"Yes, it's him," the cultivator at the gate nodded.
The dissatisfaction on the faces of other cultivators vanished. They were speechless and dared not speak out again.
Lin Xuan observed silently. Hearing this, he felt his interest piqued.
He had indeed heard of Scarlet Sky True Person before.
Compared to the inland regions of Yunzhou, the cultivation level in the outer seas was lower, with only a few powerful forces like the Far Horizon Pavilion.
But there were still many experts hidden within such vast waters. The most famous among them were the Three Immortals Beyond the Sea.
These three individuals had no affiliation or sect and were all lone cultivators. Each of their abilities was awe-inspiring, all Core Formation late-stage cultivators.
In short, without the Far Horizon Pavilion, the entire outer sea cultivation world revered them as its leaders.
Their movements were always unpredictable, like a dragon seen only at the head but not the tail. Why had Scarlet Sky True Person suddenly arrived on Yuan Island and given such instructions? What was his intention?
Lin Xuan's thoughts raced. He came here to gather information, so he shouldn’t miss this opportunity. Thus, Lin Xuan stepped forward.
"Excuse me, Fellow Daoist, only Core Formation stage seniors can enter during the Secret Market transaction," the fat man at the gate was taken aback and stopped Lin Xuan with a hand.