The modest inn room was steeped in silence, broken only by Wei Shen's quiet, regular breathing. He sat cross-legged on the wooden floor, silver moonlight filtering through the small window, casting faint lines on his cold, handsome face, now completely clean of any trace of blood or forest dust. Before him, the treasures from his bloody journey were meticulously arranged, a silent testament to the steep price he'd paid and the reward he'd reaped.
Heavy cloth pouches, filled with "Spirit Stones" that emitted a faint white glow, formed a small sea of wealth. Beside them, three polished white ceramic vials, delicately inscribed, held precious "Bone Refining Pills." On the other side lay the curved, sharp "Crimson Magma Fang," which still retained a faint heat, and the remnants of the treasures plundered from the "Falling Leaf Sect."
This was the haul from the "old score" he had settled.
Wei Shen spent the first hour in a state of quiet meditation, not to cultivate Qi, but to calm his body and mind after the exhausting return to "Black Rock City" and the silent confrontation in the "Adventurers' Hall." He had proven his strength, sending a clear message to everyone in the city without uttering a word: a new predator had arrived, one not to be trifled with. But this display of power was only the beginning, merely a means to a greater end.
Now, it was time to plan the next phase of his campaign.
He first reached for the pouches of Spirit Stones. He emptied them, forming a small, shimmering pile before him. Five thousand low-grade Spirit Stones. This was a vast fortune for an outer disciple, or even for most adventurers in that hall. But in his eyes, this was just the beginning.
"Good capital," Wei Shen thought coldly, running his fingers over the cool stones that pulsed with pure energy. "But in an auction involving masters from major families like the 'Wang Family,' this amount might not be nearly enough to secure a win. Every one of these stones must be spent with absolute wisdom and efficiency."
Then he picked up one of the white ceramic vials. "Bone Refining Pills." He carefully opened the cap, and a strong earthy, metallic scent, carrying concentrated spiritual energy, immediately filled his nostrils. He took out a single pill. It was the size of a hazelnut, dark grey in color, and solid to the touch like rock, yet it radiated pure and stable spiritual energy.
He recalled what he had read about them in the manuals he had plundered. Strengthening the skeletal structure, increasing its density, and preparing it to withstand the immense pressure of breaking through to the "Foundation Establishment" realm.
"A very useful tool," he thought as he returned the pill to the vial. "But it cannot be used recklessly. I must first understand its mechanism of action and its potential side effects. Trusting a recipe from a third-rate sect is foolish. I'll keep it until the right time, before the actual breakthrough attempt, perhaps after I gather all the other components the stone requires."
Finally, he looked at the rest of his spoils. The "Green Jade Leaf Sword" of the slain sect leader, and some other weapons from the elders. He examined the sword again, his analytical eyes seeing every flaw in its design, every gap in its balance, every weakness in how Qi was integrated into its metal.
"Poor design, but the spirit metal itself has some value," he concluded. "It can be melted down and used as raw material in the future. As for the rest... it's just scrap."
After a full inventory of his resources, his focus shifted entirely to the next objective, the one he had come to this city for: the "Silver Moon Auction" and the "Azure Flame Scroll."
His plan was now entering a more complex phase than mere hunting and survival. He had entered a different kind of "forest," a forest of humans, where conspiracies, alliances, and wealth were the real fangs and claws, and intelligence was the deadliest weapon.
"First problem: competition," he thought, recalling the mercenaries' conversations in the tavern. "'The Wang Family.' They seem to be the dominant force in forging and weaponry in this city. They will certainly want to acquire an Earth-grade technique like the 'Azure Flame Scroll' to enhance their standing."
"Second problem: wealth. Five thousand Spirit Stones might not be enough to defeat the wealth of a family rooted for generations, accumulating treasures over hundreds of years."
"Therefore, relying solely on financial power at the auction may not be the most efficient option," he concluded coldly. "Knowing your opponent... and their weaknesses... is half the battle. Before the auction, I must know everything about the Wang Family. Who is their current leader? Who is their forging master? Why do they specifically need this scroll? And are there any internal disputes or external enemies that can be exploited?"
But to obtain information of this level of secrecy, noisy mercenary taverns were not enough. He needed a more specialized market, a market that sold secrets for the right price. He needed the city's "Shadow Market."
That night, as darkness, his eternal ally, descended, Wei Shen donned his black cloak, pulled up his hood, and left the inn. He was no longer the enigmatic handsome youth, but now just another shadow moving through the dark, back alleys of "Black Rock City."
It wasn't difficult to find the entrance to the "Shadow Market." In every city, there are always places frequented by those who live on the edge of the law. After paying a few copper coins to an old, one-eyed beggar, he received a password and a location: "The 'Dragon Leaf' tea shop in the back alley. Ask for the 'bitterest tea'."
Wei Shen found the shop. It was a small, dark place, reeking of strong tea and dampness. He entered and went directly to the shop owner, a thin man with a pale face and shrewd eyes.
"I wish to taste your bitterest tea," Wei Shen said in a calm, cold voice.
The man looked at him for a moment, then nodded slowly, and gestured to a back door covered by a beaded curtain. "In the back. But remember, every sip has its price."
Wei Shen went behind the curtain. He found himself in a small room, with only a table and two chairs, and another old man sitting in the shadows, his face a web of wrinkles and scars.
"Sit," the old man said in a hoarse voice. "I heard you're looking for information."
Wei Shen sat. "I want everything about the upcoming 'Silver Moon Auction.' All the important exhibits, and all potential bidders. With a special focus on the 'Azure Flame Scroll,' and the 'Wang Family'."
The old man smiled toothlessly. "Information costs. And the more secret it is, the higher the price."
"I don't haggle over the price of knowledge," Wei Shen said, placing a small, heavy pouch on the table. "Fifty low-grade Spirit Stones. This is just for starters."
The old man's eyes widened slightly. He took the pouch, then began to speak in a low voice like the hiss of snakes.
Wei Shen spent the next hour listening with absolute concentration, his mind recording and analyzing every word.
He left the "Shadow Market" with valuable information. He confirmed that the "Azure Flame Scroll" was indeed the most important item at the auction. And that "Wang Li," the patriarch of the Wang Family himself, intended to attend and bid on it personally. The reason? He wanted to use it to forge a unique spirit weapon for his son and heir, "Wang Chen," who was rumored to be the greatest young prodigy in "Black Rock City."
"So, direct competition with the Wang Family patriarch himself," Wei Shen thought as he walked through the dark streets back to his inn. "And his goal is to enhance his prodigious son's power. This makes things much more difficult... and much more exciting."
He felt no fear or hesitation, but rather a cold sense of challenge. His adversaries were clearly defined.
"Before the auction," he decided, his eyes gleaming with a crimson light in the darkness. "I must know everything there is to know about this 'Patriarch'... and about his 'prodigy' son."
He was no longer just a monster hunter, or a cultivator seeking power. He had returned to being what he had always been: a strategic emperor, gathering information, analyzing his opponents, and devising complex plans for the coming battle. And this time, his battlefield was an entire city, and his opponents were its most powerful family.