The Journey to Silver Moon City

The purple-haired boy sat in the small restaurant, sipping his tea. The warm liquid flowed down his throat, refreshing his body after days of travel. The town around him was quiet, lacking the energy of large cities. He tapped his fingers on the table, deep in thought.

The purple-haired boy: This place is too small… there's nothing here for me. I need to find a bigger city where I can grow stronger.

He called over a waiter and asked about the surrounding areas.

The waiter: "If you're looking for a bigger city, Silver Moon City is the best choice. It's far from here, but it's a place where powerful cultivators gather. There's even an auction happening soon."

The purple-haired boy: "An auction?"

The waiter: "Yes, a grand one. It happens once every few years. Many strong cultivators travel there to bid on rare treasures, ancient weapons, and powerful pills. If you want to find something valuable, that's the place to be."

Hearing this, the purple-haired boy made his decision. He finished his tea, paid the bill, and left the restaurant.

Walking Through Small Towns

His journey to Silver Moon City was long, stretching across vast landscapes. He walked through several small towns, each one different yet similar in its quiet nature. Some had bustling marketplaces, while others were simple farming villages. Occasionally, he stopped to buy food or rest at an inn, but he never stayed too long.

One evening, in a slightly larger town, he entered a weapons shop. Various swords, spears, and daggers lined the walls, but none of them caught his interest. As he was about to leave, an old blacksmith called out to him.

Blacksmith: "Young man, you don't seem interested in these weapons. Are you looking for something more… special?"

The purple-haired boy glanced at him.

The purple-haired boy: "I need something powerful, something that can last in real battle."

The blacksmith chuckled.

Blacksmith: "Then you won't find it here. A place like Silver Moon City is where you should be looking. The auction there will have weapons far beyond what I can craft."

Silver Moon City again. It seemed fate was pushing him toward that place.

After a few more days of travel, passing through more villages and small towns, he finally saw the towering walls of Silver Moon City in the distance. The city was massive, with wide streets, grand buildings, and powerful cultivators everywhere. It was nothing like the small towns he had passed through.

Arriving at Silver Moon City

The moment he stepped inside, he could feel the difference. Merchants lined the roads, selling rare materials, high-quality weapons, and pills that radiated powerful auras. The streets were filled with cultivators of all levels, some dressed in extravagant robes, others wearing battle-worn armor.

As he walked, he overheard conversations about the grand auction happening in three days.

Cultivator 1: "I heard a Saint-level treasure will be auctioned this time!"

Cultivator 2: "Not just that! There are rare beast cores, ancient techniques, and even an immortal-grade pill!"

The purple-haired boy's eyes flickered with interest. An immortal-grade pill? This auction was far more important than he had expected.

Realizing he needed a place to stay, he walked into an inn.

Finding a Room

Inside the inn, the air was filled with laughter and conversation. Cultivators sat at tables, drinking and discussing their plans for the auction. He approached the innkeeper.

The purple-haired boy: "I need a room."

The innkeeper shook his head.

Innkeeper: "Apologies, but all our rooms are taken. With the auction coming up, every inn in the city is full."

The same situation repeated at every inn he visited. No rooms were available anywhere. Just as he was considering staying outside the city, the last inn he checked offered an unusual solution.

Innkeeper: "We do have a shared room… a young lady already rented it, but she agreed to let someone else stay since space is limited. If you don't mind sharing, I can arrange it."

The purple-haired boy thought for a moment. He had no other choice.

The purple-haired boy: "Fine. I'll take it."

The innkeeper nodded and led him to the room. It was a simple but clean space with two beds. As he stepped inside, he saw a young woman sitting near the window, reading a book. She had long, silky black hair, bright clear eyes, and an elegant presence. She looked up as he entered.

Bai Xu: "So… you're the one staying here?"

She spoke softly, her voice filled with a hint of hesitation.

The purple-haired boy: "Yes. The innkeeper said there were no other rooms available."

She hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

Bai Xu: "It's fine. Just… don't cause trouble."

The purple-haired boy smirked slightly.

The purple-haired boy: "I keep to myself. You won't even notice I'm here."

She gave a small, relieved nod and went back to her book. The room fell into silence. The purple-haired boy sat on his bed, closed his eyes, and focused. He needed to prepare for the upcoming auction.

Outside, Silver Moon City buzzed with excitement. Powerful cultivators had gathered from all over, and among them was the purple-haired boy—someone who would soon leave his mark on this world.

The purple-haired boy sat cross-legged on his bed, his eyes closed as he regulated his breathing. With a simple movement of his hand, a faint energy shield formed around him, isolating his presence. The chaotic noise of the city outside and even Bai Xu's quiet movements in the room faded into the background.

From his storage ring, he retrieved an ancient scroll, its surface covered in intricate golden patterns. The parchment felt old yet radiated a faint mysterious energy, as if hiding something beyond ordinary comprehension.

Without hesitation, he placed his finger on the scroll, sending a small thread of his energy into it. Instantly, his vision blurred, and in the next moment, he found himself standing above an endless body of water.

The water below him was still, perfectly smooth like a polished mirror, reflecting his own image. The sky above was a deep shade of gold, filled with a strange, calming light. Floating in the air around him were four golden letters, shimmering with an ancient aura. They seemed to contain a boundless power, yet their meaning was completely unfamiliar to him.

The purple-haired boy (thinking): What is this place?

He reached out, attempting to touch one of the golden letters, but as his hand moved closer, a powerful force repelled him. He tried again, but the result was the same—the letters rejected any attempt to interact with them.

Frowning, he focused on the scroll itself. There had to be something hidden within, a secret waiting to be uncovered. His mind raced as he examined every detail, every flicker of energy, trying to decipher its mystery.

An hour passed.

No matter how much he tried, he couldn't understand the golden letters. It was as if they existed in a completely different realm of knowledge, beyond his current level of comprehension.

The purple-haired boy (thinking): This scroll… it's not normal.

Even though he couldn't unlock its secrets now, he could tell that it was extremely valuable. With a sigh, he withdrew his energy and returned to the real world. The golden water and mysterious letters faded away, and he found himself back in the small inn room, sitting on his bed with the scroll still in his hands.

He glanced at it once more before carefully putting it away in his storage ring. He would need more knowledge, more strength, and perhaps someone with greater wisdom to decipher its true meaning.

As he closed his eyes, he couldn't help but wonder—just what kind of power did this scroll hold?

The purple-haired boy sat on his bed for a while, his thoughts lingering on the mysterious scroll. No matter how much he tried to decipher it, he couldn't understand those golden letters. Perhaps, in the future, he would find someone who could help him. For now, he decided to set it aside.

Stretching his arms slightly, he glanced outside the window. The city was lively, filled with activity. It wouldn't be a bad idea to explore for a bit. He had been in his room for too long.

The purple-haired boy (thinking): I should take a walk. Knowing more about this city might be useful later.

With that thought, he stood up and left the hotel, stepping into the bustling streets.

The city was far bigger than he had initially expected. As he walked, he saw various shops and street stalls, selling everything from rare herbs and weapons to exquisite fabrics and jewelry. Merchants called out to passing customers, trying to sell their goods, while groups of cultivators moved in and out of buildings, discussing techniques, pills, and treasures.

He passed by a weapon shop, glancing at the swords and spears displayed at the front. While some looked decent, none of them were good enough for him. His standards were much higher than what an ordinary city could offer.

After walking for a while, he turned onto a narrow street, where the crowd was thinner. Laughter and mocking voices suddenly caught his attention.

Ahead, three young men stood in a semi-circle, blocking the path of a small girl. She looked seventeen years old, her eyes filled with fear as she clutched a small bag to her chest. Her power level was at the Spirit Illumination stage—far too weak to resist the boys in front of her.

The surrounding people avoided looking at the scene. No one dared to interfere.

First Boy (sneering): "Come on, little girl. What's in the bag? Let us have a look."

Second Boy (grinning): "You don't need all those spirit stones, do you? Why don't you share with us?"

The third boy, who was clearly the leader, smirked as he took a step forward. He had a final-stage Spirit Core cultivation, while the other two were at the initial stage of Spirit Core. They weren't weak, but they were nothing compared to the purple-haired boy.

The girl took a step back, trembling.

Girl (scared): "P-please… this is all I have… I need it to buy medicine for my little brother…"

The leader of the group laughed.

Third Boy: "Oh? Medicine, huh? Then how about this—we take the money, and you find another way to pay for it?"

The other two laughed, stepping closer.

The purple-haired boy had seen enough.

His expression remained calm, but his eyes turned sharp. He had been concealing his true power this entire time, but now, he adjusted his aura, revealing only the final stage of Spirit Illumination.

Without hesitation, he stepped forward.

The purple-haired boy (coldly): "That's enough."

The three boys turned around, their expressions darkening.

Third Boy (mocking): "Oh? And who are you supposed to be?"

Second Boy: "Another nobody trying to act like a hero?"

The purple-haired boy ignored their words and glanced at the girl.

The purple-haired boy: "Go."

The girl hesitated, but when she saw his calm yet powerful presence, she quickly nodded and ran away.

Seeing their fun ruined, the leader of the group gritted his teeth.

Third Boy (angry): "You bastard… do you know who I am? My family—"

The purple-haired boy moved.

Before the boy could finish his sentence, a palm strike landed on his chest with a force that sent him flying several meters back. He crashed into a stall, breaking it completely. The vendor screamed and ran away.

The other two boys were stunned.

Second Boy (shocked): "W-what—?"

The purple-haired boy stepped forward. His aura surged, pressing down on them like a mountain.

The purple-haired boy: "Since you like to bully the weak, let me show you how it feels to be powerless."

The first boy panicked and tried to attack. He pulled out a short dagger and slashed at him.

First Boy: "DIE!"

The purple-haired boy didn't move.

The moment the dagger got close, he simply raised a finger, coating it with energy, and tapped the dagger's blade.

CRACK!

The dagger shattered instantly.

Before the first boy could react, a kick struck his stomach, sending him crashing onto the ground, groaning in pain.

The second boy turned to run, but the purple-haired boy vanished from his spot and reappeared in front of him.

The purple-haired boy: "Running?"

He grabbed the boy's shoulder, lifted him, and threw him onto the third boy, who was still struggling to stand up.

The two of them collapsed together, groaning in pain.

The fight was over in less than ten seconds.

The surrounding crowd, who had been watching silently, were now whispering among themselves. Some looked impressed, while others were terrified.

A few people recognized the three boys and knew their families were powerful, but no one dared to step in.

The purple-haired boy didn't even glance at them again. He turned around and started walking away as if nothing had happened.

Behind him, the three beaten boys lay on the ground, groaning in humiliation.