Chapter 1131: Peak of the Cloud Sea, Perplexity

In the various cities of the suspended market in the eastern part of Penglai Continent, restaurants and lodging were readily available. Although Cultivators could abstain from food and didn't need much rest, proper meals were still consumed, and even for meditation and breathing exercises, a quiet room in an inn was needed.

Therefore, such places were not lacking in the cities.

At this moment, on the third floor of an inn within the market city, all miscellaneous personnel had been asked to leave. The vast third floor only contained two old men, Wang Lin, and Li Qianmei.

One of these two old men was naturally Junior Martial Uncle Yang Yu, while the other had a red face, shining brightly.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, I haven't introduced myself yet. I am Tang Lihai, an Elder of the sixth-rank Demon Thicket Sect," the old man in green robes said with a smile.

"I am Wu Qing of the Demon Thicket Sect," the red-faced old man's voice boomed like a great bell, shaking the third floor of the inn.

Both of these old men had cultivation at the Early Stage shattered nirvana, but it was clear that they did not act superior in front of Wang Lin, instead conversing as peers. Especially Wu Qing, who, after hearing Tang Lihai's sound transmission, understood the events that had transpired earlier, was secretly shocked and dared not underestimate Wang Lin in the slightest.

Li Qianmei sat quietly to the side, playing with the wine cup in her hand, her gaze occasionally sweeping towards an unoccupied table in a nearby corner.

Tang Lihai and Wu Qing naturally knew her identity, but seeing that Li Qianmei's hair had changed color, they naturally showed no intention of revealing it, and thus said nothing more, merely giving a respectful nod.

"What happened today was my rashness, Tang. I hope Fellow Daoist Lu doesn't mind," Tang Lihai said, picking up his wine cup and looking at Wang Lin.

Wang Lin's expression was normal. He picked up his wine cup and gestured slightly, but did not drink, instead placing it down.

"Previously, I, Tang, heard my Disciple Zhao Yu mention that Fellow Daoist Lu's Divine Ability was astonishing. Seeing it today, it is indeed extraordinary. I, Tang, would like to be friends with Brother Lu," Tang Lihai said with a smile.

"No problem. Being on good terms with the Demon Thicket Sect is also my intention," Wang Lin said calmly, waiting for what was to come. He didn't believe that the other party invited him just to make friends; there was likely a deeper meaning.

The two conversed, but Tang Lihai never revealed his true purpose, merely secretly assessing Wang Lin during their talk, while also wary of Wang Lin's relationship with Li Qianmei.

Wu Qing listened for a long time at the side, gradually showing impatience. He picked up his wine cup and placed it on the table with a clatter, looking at Wang Lin and saying, "Fellow Daoist Lu, I, Wu, don't like beating around the bush. I invited you here today just to ask one question: are you willing to join my Demon Thicket Sect and become an external Elder?

If you agree, my Demon Thicket Sect will welcome you with great ceremony! Even if you don't agree, after today, the three of us will at least know each other. When we Cultivators meet and call each other Fellow Daoist, we are friends!"

Hearing Wu Qing's words, Tang Lihai showed a bitter smile and said to Wang Lin, "I, Tang, originally planned to discuss this matter in detail with Fellow Daoist after three cups of wine, but I forgot about Wu Qing's temper. Fellow Daoist Lu, my Demon Thicket Sect is very sincere. If you become an external Elder, all Alchemy Materials and everything you need will be provided by my Demon Thicket Sect. You only need to uphold the dignity of my Demon Thicket Sect when the time comes to act!"

Wang Lin pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "I need to consider this matter. How about this, I will give you an answer before leaving this Penglai Continent."

Tang Lihai laughed heartily and nodded, "It should be so. Fellow Daoist, please consider it carefully. We await your good news."

Having discussed the matter, Wang Lin stood up, cupped his fists in farewell, and left with Li Qianmei.

Only after the two had left did the red-faced old man's expression immediately turn grim, losing all traces of his previous straightforwardness.

"His cultivation is very strange!" he said slowly.

"Indeed, it's very strange. And he is cautious and suspicious, extraordinarily wise, and his actions are even more vicious and ruthless," Tang Lihai said in a deep voice.

At this moment, a figure gradually materialized on the unoccupied table in the corner. It was a middle-aged man wearing a Daoist Robe, with a fair complexion and an air of immortal elegance.

He stood up, walked to the two old men, and slowly sat down.

"I can't tell if he noticed my hidden presence," the middle-aged man said softly, looking out the inn window.

"Even if he did, it should have been Li Qianmei who secretly informed him…" Tang Lihai hesitated for a moment before saying.

The middle-aged man shook his head.

"Is it… that person?" Wu Qing's eyes flashed with a cold light, and he said in a deep voice.

"If he noticed, then yes; if he didn't, then no," the middle-aged man retracted his gaze, but his brows furrowed.

"Regardless, do not touch this person. I always have a very dangerous feeling about him… As for the Pill Formula and Jade Slip, my Demon Thicket Sect will withdraw. We cannot afford to be involved in this matter." The middle-aged man rubbed his brow, a look of weariness on his face.

The markets of Penglai Continent were numerous and spread out across various cities. In the remaining days, Wang Lin bid farewell to Li Qianmei and wandered alone through the markets.

Li Qianmei smiled lightly and nodded, and the two parted ways.

Without Li Qianmei by his side, Wang Lin had no more reservations. He traveled through various markets, looking for those selling star charts. That day in the inn, Wang Lin had vaguely noticed a Cultivator invisibly sitting at the unoccupied table in the corner.

But he remained calm, not revealing the slightest hint.

"It seems the clue to the Barren Continent has been noticed by others…" Wang Lin sighed inwardly, becoming even more urgent in buying star charts. However, the price of star charts was often extremely high, and their authenticity was hard to discern. After three days of browsing these markets, although Wang Lin bought some, he felt uncertain.

As dusk fell on the third day, Wang Lin returned to his inn, sat cross-legged on the bed, and pondered while looking at the six star chart Jade Slips in his hand.

Not long after, his expression shifted slightly, and he looked up at the door.

A moment later, a knock sounded at the door.

"Finally here…" A smile appeared on Wang Lin's face. He waved his right hand forward, and the door creaked open. Outside stood a middle-aged man, broad-shouldered and strong, with a resolute face.

He did not enter the room, but cupped his fists respectfully and said, "Senior, my teacher, Ouyang Long, invites you."

Wang Lin rose and walked towards the door. The middle-aged man respectfully made way, leading the path. After leaving the inn, the two transformed into a long rainbow and directly departed from the city. It was already night, but the market of Penglai Continent was even more bustling, with waves of boisterous human voices continuously entering their ears.

A moment later, the two arrived at the very center of the numerous conical stone blocks of the Penglai market, upon the colossal boulder. Here stood a majestic city, dozens of times the size of the outer cities. In the darkness, this city resembled a giant Vicious Beast, exuding an immense pressure.

Under the guidance of the middle-aged man, the two headed straight for the East Gate. There were many Cultivators guarding the East Gate, and to enter, one had to present a Jade Slip.

Wang Lin noticed that after the middle-aged man produced his Jade Slip, the Cultivators immediately showed respectful expressions, clearing the way, and didn't even check Wang Lin, allowing the two to enter.

Upon entering the city, they soon arrived at its central location. The middle-aged man stopped outside an exquisite pavilion and respectfully said to Wang Lin, "Senior, please enter. With my status as a Junior, I cannot go inside."

Wang Lin nodded, swept his Divine Sense forward, and stepped into the pavilion. As soon as he entered, he heard a hearty laugh. It was Ouyang Long descending from upstairs, cupping his fists to Wang Lin from a distance.

"Sorry to have kept Fellow Daoist waiting. It's just that you requested so much, requiring thorough preparation," Ouyang Long's attitude was extremely warm, completely different from three days prior.

Wang Lin cupped his fists and smiled, "No worries." He naturally understood that Ouyang Long's behavior was due to his actions in the market that day, which not only intimidated the Demon Thicket Sect but also the power behind Ouyang Long.

"Come, come, come, Fellow Daoist, I will take you to a place. Today's transaction will be held there, and there will also be entertainment. Fellow Daoist might as well place some bets, perhaps you can win big," Ouyang Long said with a smile, but inwardly, he dared not underestimate the white-robed young man before him. The fact that this person could find him three days ago and place such a large transaction order clearly indicated that he had seen through his identity. This alone was enough to show that this person was not simple, not to mention everything that happened in the market afterward, which greatly astonished him.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Ouyang," Wang Lin said politely, following Ouyang Long into the bottom of the pavilion. His Divine Sense naturally spread out with caution, and what he saw made Wang Lin pause, but his expression revealed nothing.

The entire basement of this pavilion was hollow, actually leading to a huge platform nearly ten thousand zhang in circumference. The outer perimeter of the platform was filled with stone steps, where many Cultivators were seated, their clamor deafening, interspersed with roars and howls of Spirit Beasts.

It turned out that two hundred zhang-sized Spirit Beasts were fighting each other on the platform, roaring continuously.

Above the platform, there were also arm-like passages suspended in the air. The front ends of these passages were circular, with rows of windows around them.

The place where Wang Lin and Ouyang Long were located was inside one of these passages.

"This is the beast-gambling arena of Penglai Continent. If Fellow Daoist sees a Spirit Beast you like, you might as well bet on it," Ouyang Long said with a smile as he led Wang Lin.

Wang Lin nodded and said nothing more.

The two walked quickly, following the passage, and soon reached the front. From a distance, two Cultivators were sitting cross-legged in meditation, possessing impressive cultivation. Between them was a closed stone door.

"Today's transaction will be presided over by my Junior Martial Uncle, and some Fellow Daoists have also been invited to participate. It's a small private auction. If Fellow Daoist is interested in anything, you might as well make a bid. Our transaction will commence with my Junior Martial Uncle after the auction ends." Ouyang Long paused, looked at Wang Lin, pondered for a moment, and then added:

"Fellow Daoist, there is one thing I have always been puzzled about, and I hope Fellow Daoist can enlighten me."

"Fellow Daoist Ouyang, please speak," Wang Lin nodded.

"How did Fellow Daoist know my identity?" Ouyang Long stared at Wang Lin. If someone had introduced them, it would be understandable, but this person, without any introduction, came to his private stall and not only asserted that he had more Origin Crystals, but also subtly hinted at his identity through Divine Thought.

Wang Lin smiled slightly.