Pond Peak Town was a quaint, picturesque settlement adorned with pavilions and towers. Here, cultivators and mortals coexisted. With tens of thousands of Palace disciples spanning generations, some inevitably lacked the aptitude for cultivation. Others, disciples venturing out for experience, would encounter mortal women and settle them not far from the sect.

  Over generations, these settlements grew into a sizable town. Traveling cultivators passing near the Palace often chose to rest here. Loose cultivators who had committed crimes elsewhere, stolen treasures, or couldn't sell items through legitimate channels would seek out other sects' territories to dispose of their goods privately. With disciples from several major sects passing through, Pond Peak Town had become far livelier than usual.

  Leo landed his spirit crane in a nearby grove. When he emerged, he was a different man—cloaked in black, a long scar running down his face.

  He wove through the town's streets, navigating several alleys until he found the auction venue—a large courtyard. Two late-stage Qi Refining guards stood at the entrance, accompanied by an accountant.

  "Halt. Outsiders not permitted." A guard blocked his path.

  "I'm here to register for the auction." Leo's voice was raspy.

  "Five spirit stones." The accountant smiled ingratiatingly.

  Leo paid without comment. The accountant handed him a green jade token. "The auction begins in an hour and a half. You must enter before it starts. After that, the token is void."

  "Understood." Leo paid and, with time to spare, wandered the town. The Palace marketplace mainly featured artifacts, pills, and herbs crafted by its disciples. But now, with disciples from various sects gathering, though their ranks weren't high, there were many novel items.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  Leo browsed the stalls but found nothing of interest. He sighed. With his magic artifact and top-grade defensive Ice Silk Armor, few Qi Refining items could catch his eye.

  But just as he was about to give up, he noticed an inconspicuous corner stall. An elderly woman, coughing, late-stage Qi Refining, had laid out a manual—The Primordial Chaos Scripture. Beside it lay three black scales.

  These items mirrored those of the black-robed old man. Leo's heart raced as he drew closer. It was the Foundation Establishment initial stage volume of The Primordial Chaos Scripture.

  "How much for this technique?" Leo approached.

  "Not for sale. Only trade. Pills that enhance late-stage cultivation. Twenty Essence Energy Pills." The old woman shook her head.

  Leo frowned. The Primordial Chaos Scripture was rare—he hadn't found it in the Palace's Scripture Depository Hall. But once he formed his Foundation, the Palace would provide other techniques cheaply. He had the pills, but her demand was odd. Why insist on pills, scaring off potential buyers, when she could sell for spirit stones and buy pills herself?

  But the scripture was vital. Hesitating briefly, Leo produced a bottle of Black Flower Pills. "Eight Black Flower Pills."

  "Black Flower Pills?" Surprise flickered across her face. Most cultivators used common Essence Energy Pills. Those using Black Flower Pills came from influential backgrounds—Foundation Establishment or Golden Core families.

  She accepted the pills. Leo took the scripture and turned to leave.

  "Fellow Daoist, these scales? Just a few Black Flower Pills." She called after him.

  Leo paused. "What do these scales do?"

  "I'm not certain. That's their mystery. They're unusual, said to originate from an ancient cultivator's ruins. They must have unique properties, though ordinary cultivators can't fathom them." She smiled.

  "No need. If even ordinary cultivators can't figure them out, I won't waste time." He already had several scales and couldn't decipher them. Even the Foundation Establishment elder in the Scripture Depository Hall studied similar ones without success. This old woman seemed off. He wanted no trouble. He left.

  "Sister, was he suspicious?" Shortly after Leo departed, three cultivators emerged from the alley. A hawk-nosed elder glared darkly.

  "Extremely cautious. He glanced at the scales several times while buying the scripture. I'm not certain, but anyone paying with Black Flower Pills is wealthy. We must investigate. If we can get more of the scripture from him, we strike gold. Our map fragment covers the secret realm's second layer—meant for Foundation Establishment cultivators, useless to us. But with the Qi Refining stage technique and the map, we might enter and find Foundation Establishment Pills." The old woman snorted. "Better to err on the side of caution. The Primordial Chaos Scripture is too obscure. Why would anyone choose it unless they already cultivate it?"

  "Exactly, Sister. He's alone. Once he leaves town, we'll intercept him." A stocky middle-aged man nodded.

  "Brother, you're skilled in tracking. Follow him, leave markers. Sister, Fourth Brother, and I will follow." The hawk-nosed elder decided. He addressed the silent green-robed man.

  The man nodded and silently trailed Leo. After nearly an hour, he watched Leo present his jade token and enter the auction courtyard. The green-robed man smiled inwardly. "Attending the auction—definitely a fat target."