On the border of the Yanhuang Country, at the foot of the Yunlu Mountain Range, there was a place that many Martial Artists loved to visit. Not for any particular reason, except that it was lawless.

Backed by the Yunlu Mountain Range and just a stone’s throw from the Nan Feng Kingdom, this place was also a gathering spot for many people wanted by the Yanhuang Royal Family.

"Mysterious City." Gazing at the two large words written on the black city walls, Lin Yun murmured softly. After leaving the small mountain village, Lin Yun had heard many things he had never been exposed to before during his journey, and this Mysterious City was one of them.

There was no presence of the Yanhuang Royal Family’s power in the Mysterious City. It wasn’t that the Royal Family didn’t want to be here, but rather that the place was too chaotic. It was filled with people from every walk of life, making it impossible to govern. The Royal Family had once sent experts from Yanhuang Academy to clean up the Mysterious City, but they ultimately failed.

But one should not underestimate this small Mysterious City; even experts at the Primordial Ocean Realm existed here. It was precisely for this reason that the Royal Family eventually gave up on the Mysterious City, adopting an attitude of letting it fend for itself.

Stepping into the Mysterious City, Lin Yun saw such a scene for the first time. Hawkers’ cries filled the air from all directions, selling all sorts of things: Weapons, Elixirs, Spirit Grass, Demon Beasts, and even women. It seemed that as long as you had Primordial Stones, you could buy anything here.

"Little brother, I’ve got a freshly caught Tier Three Demon Beast here. Want to buy it as a mount? It’ll definitely turn heads."

"Young man, come take a look! I guarantee you’ll like what you see. Beauties from the Nan Feng Kingdom, absolutely untouched. Since you’re so handsome, I’ll give her to you for just ten thousand Gold Coins."

Wherever Lin Yun went, merchants on both sides of the street would approach him with their sales pitches. The things they sold were truly bizarre, especially the ones from the madam selling women.

He casually glanced at the women being sold and noted that they were indeed attractive, but their eyes were lifeless. Lin Yun had no interest in women who looked like the living dead.

He knew they were likely being forced, but he was in no mood to meddle in such affairs. ’I’m already in enough trouble myself.’

Finding a tavern, Lin Yun knew full well that no matter the place, a tavern was always the best and most comprehensive source of information.

He found a seat by the window, ordered two dishes and a pot of wine, and began to eat at a leisurely pace, his ears keenly attuned to the surrounding conversations.

The small tavern was packed to the gills, and surprisingly, everyone inside was a Martial Artist. Opening Realm Martial Artists were a dime a dozen, which just went to show how attractive the Mysterious City was to their kind.

The people around him were eating, drinking, and of course, chatting about recent major events. And from their conversations, Lin Yun heard the news he was looking for.

Yanhuang Academy and the Wind Forest Sect had placed a bounty on his head—one Low Grade Primordial Stone—for his capture. Because of him, Lin Xiaotian was under house arrest in the Capital City, and Lu Xiong was now in charge of Iron Gate Pass.

Of all the news, these were the two items that interested Lin Yun. ’One Low Grade Primordial Stone...’ Lin Yun broke out in a cold sweat. ’If only I could clone myself, I’d be tempted to turn myself in.’

But this also showed just how serious the two major powers were about him, willing to trade a Low Grade Primordial Stone just for information on his whereabouts.

As for Lin Xiaotian, Lin Yun breathed a sigh of relief. ’Just house arrest. It seems the Royal Family still showed my father some respect. At least my parents aren’t suffering.’

Taking a sip of wine, Lin Yun now had a basic grasp of the situation. Although things looked extremely grim, he wasn’t at a dead end yet.

Learning that his parents were safe improved Lin Yun’s mood considerably. For the past half a month, on his journey from the small mountain village to the Mysterious City, his biggest worries had been for Lan Xi and his parents. Now that his parents were out of immediate danger, his spirits naturally lifted.

"Waiter, another pot of wine." Ordering more wine, Lin Yun decided not to leave just yet. It was always good to hear more news.

However, that was all the news about himself. As for the other topics, the more Lin Yun listened, the more ridiculous they seemed.

Something about a new star performer at the Chunfeng Tower, a new shipment of women from the Nan Feng Kingdom, some Tier Three Demon Beast being bought by so-and-so... In short, it was all just a pile of gossip.

Having lost interest, Lin Yun drained his cup in one gulp. He was just about to get up when a piece of news made him sit right back down.

"Did you hear? Someone found three Earth Level Three-Stars Spirit Fruits in the Yunlu Mountain Range."

"Pah, what’s so special about Earth Level Three-Stars Spirit Fruits? As long as you have Spirit Stones, you can buy them at any apothecary in the city."

"Ah, that’s where you’re wrong. These three Spirit Fruits are Essence-Raising Fruits..." 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

At these words, those who didn’t know were instantly shocked, including the eavesdropping Lin Yun, who felt his heart jolt. Although the Essence-Raising Fruit was only at the Earth Level Three-Stars, it was extremely rare. The appearance of even a single one was accompanied by immense fortune.

It could raise an Opening Realm Martial Artist’s Cultivation without any side effects—something desperately needed by countless cultivators in that realm.

As soon as this news spread, the entire tavern erupted with excitement. After all, there were quite a few Opening Realm Martial Artists here, so news of an Essence-Raising Fruit was naturally thrilling.

At everyone’s urging, the man finally told the full story of the Essence-Raising Fruit.

The Essence-Raising Fruits were discovered by an Opening Realm Martial Artist. However, a Tier Three Demon Beast was guarding them, so the man had no choice but to return to the Mysterious City to find help.

But facing the Tier Three Demon Beast, their group of more than a dozen Opening Realm Martial Artists couldn’t gain any ground. In the end, they were beaten back, and three of them were killed.

A Tier Three Demon Beast... Hearing this, the crowd was secretly alarmed. That was an existence equivalent to the Primordial Ocean Realm; an Opening Realm Martial Artist would naturally be no match for it.

"What a shame. With a Tier Three Demon Beast guarding it, this just got a lot harder."

"Yeah, a Tier Three Demon Beast is completely beyond our ability to handle." Hearing this, many people looked regretful. They had news of the Essence-Raising Fruit, but no way to obtain it.

Hearing the crowd’s sighs, the Martial Artist who had shared the news smiled faintly and said slowly, "Everyone, no need to be disappointed. A chance... is not entirely out of the question."

Hearing this, the crowd’s interest was piqued again. ’So, there’s still a shot?’

"You’ve all heard of the Blood Refining Ancestor, right? Upon hearing this news, he has already declared that he will personally act to kill that beast. However, he will be taking two of the three Essence-Raising Fruits. As for the last one... it will go to whoever has the skill to claim it."

The moment he said this, the entire tavern was in an uproar. The Blood Refining Ancestor? He was an infamous fiend. Decades ago, due to the nature of his Cultivation Technique, he had drained the blood of thousands of people in an entire town.

Because of this, the Yanhuang Royal Family dispatched experts to apprehend the Blood Refining Ancestor, but even after several years, he was never caught.

Eventually, the Blood Refining Ancestor came to the Mysterious City. Ten years ago, he broke through to the Primordial Ocean Realm, becoming one of the city’s undisputed tyrants.

Lin Yun, listening from the side, didn’t care in the slightest who the Blood Refining Ancestor was. All he wanted was that last remaining Essence-Raising Fruit.