Chapter 10 – The Night Sky Pavilion

After passing through the gates of the Ling Empire, Shen Yuxian walked along the stone-paved road crowded with residents. This city was vastly different from the places he had passed through before. Grand buildings adorned with carvings of dragons and phoenixes stood tall, symbolizing unmatched power. However, Yuxian was not here to admire the city's beauty. He had a purpose—to seek information about hidden powers, major sects, or battle arenas that could help him strengthen his cultivation foundation.

Yuxian eventually stopped in front of a bustling tavern, the Eastern Wind Tavern. The place appeared simple, yet it was filled with the chatter of travelers, merchants, and a few cultivators. He chose a seat in the corner, his back against the wall, allowing him to observe everything inside.

An elderly waiter approached him. "What can I serve you, sir?"

"Your finest wine… and the latest news about this city." Yuxian's tone was flat but carried a subtle pressure.

The old man stared at him for a moment before returning with a jug of wine. He sat down slowly and lowered his voice. "Sir, if you're looking for hot news, I suggest you stay away from the Blood Battle Arena. That place is not for ordinary people."

"Blood Battle Arena?" Yuxian repeated calmly.

"Yes. The empire holds battles there. Cultivators from all over come, but only a few leave alive. They fight to the death for treasures, rare pills, and invitations from major sects like the Purple Sky Sect."

That name caught Yuxian's attention. The Purple Sky Sect… perhaps they were connected to the Wu Empire.

"Who is the strongest in the arena?"

The waiter swallowed hard. "There's one name that keeps coming up—Han Wujin. He's a cultivator of extraordinary strength. They say he's close to the peak of the Nascent Soul realm."

Yuxian sipped his wine slowly, his mind spinning. He knew his strength was not yet enough to face someone like Han Wujin. His foundation had to be strengthened first.

"Where can I find the arena?"

"The northern district, near Iron Fortress. But… be careful."

Yuxian left a few gold coins on the table and stood up without another word.

After leaving the tavern, Yuxian walked through the city streets, planning his next move. He knew he couldn't directly challenge the cultivators at the Blood Battle Arena. His foundation had to be solid first.

On the outskirts of the city, he found a small inn named "Thousand Shadows Inn." It was secluded—perfect for someone who wanted to avoid attention.

"How long will you be staying?" asked the innkeeper, a middle-aged woman.

"A few days." Yuxian placed a gold coin on the counter.

The woman handed him a key. "Upstairs, at the very end. No one will disturb you."

Yuxian climbed the stairs and entered a simple room with only a bed and a small table. But it was enough. He needed a quiet place to reinforce his cultivation foundation.

Inside the room, Yuxian sat cross-legged. He retrieved a recovery pill from his storage ring and swallowed them one by one. Spiritual energy began to flow through his body, warming his previously damaged meridians. But it was not enough.

He took out an ancient scroll—the one that had helped him obtain his demonic power before. A faint red glow emanated from the symbols on the scroll, as if responding to the dark aura within him.

"I must strengthen my foundation before entering that arena," he muttered with determination.

He began meditating, guiding the demonic Qi within him to fortify his cultivation core. Each breath he took made the Qi within him denser and more controlled. His foundation slowly solidified, erasing the lingering weaknesses from his past battles.

However, the process was not without pain. The wild demonic energy tried to take control, but Yuxian resisted with sheer willpower. He knew that if his foundation was not strong enough, he would be destroyed before he could exact his revenge.

That night, the small room in the Thousand Shadows Inn was filled with a terrifying dark aura. But within that darkness, Yuxian continued to strengthen himself, preparing his body and foundation for the battles ahead.

Days passed unnoticed. Inside the small room at the Thousand Shadows Inn, Shen Yuxian sat cross-legged, fully immersed in meditation. The aura around him had changed drastically from a week ago. If before the spiritual energy in the room was faint, now it had thickened, swirling like an invisible storm, converging onto Yuxian's body.

A faint humming sound filled the room, coming from the vortex of Qi that grew denser. The wooden walls trembled slightly, as if struggling to contain the concentrated energy. The air felt heavy, as if an unseen force pressed against every corner of the space. Outside the room, a few inn guests started feeling uneasy, shivering without knowing why.

Inside, Yuxian remained calm. His body was enveloped in a dark red mist—the distinct aura of his cultivation. The meridians in his body pulsed, channeling energy at an accelerating rate. His heart pounded in sync with the increasingly wild Qi flow.

Suddenly, a faint cracking sound echoed from within his body. It was not a physical sound, but the sound of his cultivation foundation's "barrier" beginning to break. Yuxian took a deep breath, enduring the burning pain spreading through his body. The demonic Qi inside him was trying to break through those barriers.

"Just a little more…" Yuxian whispered to himself, holding back the pain that nearly drove him unconscious.

Then, like a massive wave finally breaking through a dam, the energy within him exploded, shattering the limits that had been restraining his growth. A black-red aura burst from his body, causing fine cracks on the wooden floor beneath him. A low rumbling sound filled the room—a sign that he had successfully broken through to a higher level.

But Yuxian knew that breaking through was not the end. An unstable foundation could cause his newfound strength to collapse at any moment. With his eyes closed, he began guiding the new Qi surging within him, directing it through his meridians and cultivation core.

The once-wild demonic energy now started to submit, flowing according to his control. Each cycle of Qi circulation strengthened his cultivation foundation, reinforcing the core energy within his dantian. Ancient inscriptions faintly reappeared on his arm, pulsing in rhythm with the energy flow.

Time passed, and as the sun set, the energy in the room finally stabilized. Yuxian slowly opened his eyes. His gaze emitted a dark red glow—filled with power and an eerie calmness. He clenched his fists, feeling the newfound strength coursing through his body.

"The gap between me and Nascent Soul is still too vast…" he murmured in a low voice.

After confirming that his foundation was truly stable, Yuxian donned his black robe and left his rented room. The night air in the Ling Empire was cold, but to Yuxian, the chill was nothing compared to the demonic aura constantly flowing within him.

He walked through the city streets, now illuminated by red lanterns. Their glow reflected on the stone roads, casting long shadows that moved with his steps. Yuxian did not rush. He walked leisurely, carefully observing his surroundings. Street vendors, shopkeepers, and cultivators passing through the main road—all became part of the mental map he was forming.

As he passed a narrow alley, his sharp ears caught faint whispers from two men in gray robes standing nearby.

"Hey, did you hear? The Night Sky Pavilion is holding its biggest auction tonight," one of them whispered.

"Yeah, I heard too. They say they're auctioning an Ancient Spirit Stone and Rare Qi Pills. Some even claim there's an ancient sword."

Yuxian stopped in his tracks, narrowing his eyes. The Night Sky Pavilion was the most renowned auction house in the Ling Empire. Rare treasures, usually found only in the hands of nobles or major sects, would now be available to anyone strong or wealthy enough to bid.

"This is an opportunity…" Yuxian thought. If those rare items truly existed, they could accelerate his cultivation. Or perhaps, there was information about the sects or individuals involved in the massacre of the Shen clan.

The other man added, "But be careful. I heard some major families and sects will be attending. Even the Great Family from the Wu Empire might send their representatives."

Hearing that name, a cold smile appeared on Yuxian's face. Fate seemed to be accelerating his journey.

He turned and walked toward the city center, where the grand Night Sky Pavilion stood. The towering building, adorned with curved rooftops and golden lanterns, stood out among the rest. A soft glow emanated from within, but a mysterious aura surrounded the place.

As Yuxian approached, he could feel the pressure from the powerful cultivators gathering around the pavilion. But he was not intimidated. With his newly reinforced foundation and burning determination, he was ready for whatever awaited him that night.