Lu Qingmo was lost in thought, searching through historical records in her mind. Had there ever been a supreme cultivator who mastered both the Dao of Water Manipulation and Lunar Techniques?

  Meanwhile, Han voiced a more pressing concern.

  "Mo Yi, my cultivation is starting to draw too much attention. Is there a way to conceal it?"

  Every night, the moonlight gathering around him turned his house as bright as day. If this continued, someone was bound to notice.

  That wasn’t exactly in line with Han’s plan of growing strong in secrecy before making a grand entrance.

  Lu Qingmo pondered for a moment before giving Han a rather peculiar look.

  What’s with that expression?

  "You should cultivate your soul here at night," she said. "That should help cover things up."

  Han nodded eagerly. "Alright, I’ll trouble you then, Mo Yi."

  Then, a thought struck him.

  "Mo Yi, since soul cultivation requires absorbing lunar essence, wouldn’t it be best if we just… went directly to the moon? That way, we could bathe in its purest, most concentrated yin energy."

  Lu Qingmo shook her head.

  "The environment on the moon is hostile. Low-level cultivators wouldn’t survive there."

  "Moreover, the yin force there is far too intense. A Night Wanderer Realm soul would be instantly corroded upon contact—it’s more harmful than beneficial."

  The yin energy on Earth was already diluted, yet even that was powerful enough to refine souls. The raw, unfiltered lunar energy? That wasn’t medicine—that was poison.

  Han nodded in understanding, then casually asked,

  "Mo Yi, how do you know so much about the moon?"

  "There are records in the Xuandu Temple."

  "Has anyone ever lived on the moon?"

  "Desolate. No signs of life have ever been found."

  So the Moon God’s existence had remained hidden all this time.

  It made sense—when Han first saw her, she wasn’t even wearing clothes…

  Suddenly, he felt a strange sense of relief.

  Thankfully, he had been the first to reach the Lunar Core.

  If some other scoundrel had seen the Moon God's flawless form before him… just imagining it made his heart ache.

  After a while, Han left the peach grove.

  At this point, his daily lessons with Lu Qingmo had no set schedule—she never forced him to leave anymore.

  But he still had to show up at the martial academy.

  Upon arriving, he immediately noticed Bai Ruoyue’s unusually cheerful expression—she practically radiated happiness.

  "Senior Sister, what’s got you so excited?"

  "I used that Divine Heart Fruit, and my progress has been remarkable!" Bai Ruoyue announced proudly.

  "Soon, our Taibai Martial Academy will have a second Bone Refinement Realm warrior!"

  "Oh?"

  Han was genuinely surprised.

  Could a single Divine Heart Fruit really have that much of an effect?

  "Senior Sister, how many more days until you break through? Three?"

  Bai Ruoyue’s expression stiffened.

  She glared at Han. "I’m not as fast as you, alright?!"

  Han immediately understood.

  By "soon," Bai Ruoyue didn’t mean in a matter of days, like him.

  Ah, so she was still a small fry.

  Afterward, Han went to train with Bai Tian, continuing to study the final technique of the Taibai Sword Art—its complexity was truly profound.

  Once his training was done for the day, Han set off for Yunjiang.

  There were still seven resource points controlled by his shrimp and crab demon contacts that he hadn’t explored yet.

  But as soon as he submerged into Yunjiang’s waters, he unexpectedly ran into those two demons again.

  "Young Master Zhou, at last, you’re here!" The two demons swam toward him eagerly.

  Han raised an eyebrow.

  He wasn’t exactly close to them.

  "And what do you need from me?"

  "We have two matters to discuss," the shrimp demon said.

  "The first—great news! A joyous occasion!"

  "The Dragon King’s Banquet is about to be held! By the Dragon King’s decree, we have come to deliver your invitation."

  "Dragon King’s Banquet?" Han asked, puzzled.

  "It is a grand gathering hosted by the Dragon King, inviting talented individuals from all walks of life—righteous or wicked, human or ghost, demon or spirit. As long as one is invited, they may attend."

  "And everyone who participates receives a gift from the Dragon King."

  "The last Dragon King’s Banquet was held ten years ago."

  Han quickly grasped the significance.

  "A rare event indeed. I’ll definitely attend." He accepted the invitation, then asked,

  "But given Yunjiang’s current unrest, why is the Dragon King suddenly holding a banquet after all these years?"

  There was clear turmoil in Yunjiang.

  Someone was scheming in the shadows, yet instead of dealing with the threat, the Dragon King was hosting a feast.

  It was odd.

  The crab demon snorted. "A bunch of petty schemers—hardly worth mentioning."

  "Precisely because there are troublemakers lurking about, the Dragon King has chosen to reopen the banquet!"

  "Hmph! Not just anyone can challenge the Dragon King’s authority!"

  Han nodded thoughtfully.

  "And the second matter?"

  The shrimp demon's tone became even more eager.

  "Young Master Zhou, we need your help with something."

  Stolen novel; please report.

  "Yesterday, while tracking the Blood Fiend Pearl, we located two thieves—but unfortunately, they managed to escape."

  "We were hoping you could help capture them."

  Han frowned slightly.

  "If they escaped from you two, then I might not be their match either."

  "They were only Night Wanderer Realm cultivators," the shrimp demon explained.

  "But they possessed a treasure specifically designed to counter us water demons, which is how they barely managed to flee."

  "As a human, that treasure won’t affect you at all. If you agree to help, regardless of success or failure, we will reward you handsomely!"

  The offer sounded generous, but Han knew the reward would differ greatly depending on whether he succeeded or not.

  "Are you sure they’re only Night Wanderer Realm?"

  The shrimp demon nodded repeatedly—but hesitated before adding,

  "I didn’t see if they had any bodyguards… so I can’t say for certain."

  Han considered for a moment before ultimately agreeing.

  The shrimp and crab demons enthusiastically thanked him before using their water-controlling abilities to depart.

  Han put away the invitation and set off to explore the resource points they had told him about.

  As expected from the lords of Yunjiang, the resources they uncovered were exceptional, filled with precious treasures.

  The guardian beasts at these locations were no match for Han’s current strength—he dispatched them effortlessly.

  At the third resource point, however, Han made an unexpected discovery.

  A human skeleton lay among the riverbed.

  Even more intriguing—beside it rested a long blade and a brocade pouch.

  A spatial pouch.

  Han swiftly gathered the items and surfaced. His Water-Avoidance Pearl’s time was up.

  Since the resource points were spread far apart, he wouldn’t be able to finish searching them all in one day.

  Back on land, Han examined his findings.

  The blade was a martial-grade weapon.

  The pouch contained several spiritual herbs, a few cultivation manuals, and miscellaneous items.

  He didn’t inspect them in detail yet.

  Instead, Han buried the skeleton, ensuring it received proper rest, before hurrying back to Black Cloud Town.

  It wasn’t safe to check valuables out in the open—someone might rob him at any moment.

  Before returning home, Han stopped by the peach grove to discuss the shrimp and crab demons’ request with Lu Qingmo.

  "So the Dragon King’s Banquet is happening again…" Lu Qingmo murmured thoughtfully.

  "It seems that Black Mountain’s Mountain God truly doesn’t have much time left… but the Dragon King appears to be fine."

  "If he’s hosting the banquet now, it’s clearly a public declaration—a warning to remind the world that he remains the ruler of Yunjiang."

  Han nodded.

  After analyzing the situation, he had reached the same conclusion.

  The movements of the Blood Fiend Pearl, along with the shrimp and crab demons’ various errands, were all clear tests—just as some forces had sent agents to Black Cloud Town to gauge the Black Mountain Mountain God's strength.

  If the Mountain God had failed his breakthrough and was on the verge of death, then what about the Dragon King of Yunjiang? Was he still in power?

  The difference, however, was clear—the Mountain God truly was dying, while the Dragon King seemed as formidable as ever.

  "The Dragon King of Yunjiang and the Mountain God of Black Mountain are sworn friends," Lu Qingmo said. "If the Dragon King remains unscathed, that is undoubtedly good news."

  "You should attend the Dragon King’s Banquet."

  "You’re not going, Mo Yi?" Han asked.

  "I attended ten years ago. This time, I’ll pass," Lu Qingmo replied. "The banquet is meant for the younger generation."

  "Ruoyue and the others should be going as well—you can travel together."

  "My senior sister and the others?"

  Seeing Han’s confusion, Lu Qingmo explained,

  "Every time the Dragon King’s Banquet is held, Black Cloud Town’s major forces are each given a set number of invitations. Additionally, independent cultivators from Black Cloud Town who arrive early enough may also be invited on the spot."

  "This is the Dragon King's way of extending favor to Black Cloud Town—because of his friendship with the Mountain God."

  Han sighed. "Their bond must be deep."

  "Of course," Lu Qingmo nodded. "Long ago, neither the Dragon King nor the Mountain God held their current titles—they knew each other long before that. They were brothers in arms, bound by life and death."

  "They've both lived for a long time, haven’t they?"

  "Yes. Gods and dragons are naturally long-lived. Their origins trace back to the previous dynasty."

  "The Black Mountain God, before ascending to godhood, was once a general in the old empire."

  Han's eyes widened.

  He knew that the Great Qi Dynasty had ruled for over four hundred years.

  That meant these two had existed for at least that long.

  But if the Black Mountain God had been a general of the previous dynasty, then to Great Qi, wouldn’t the Yun family be considered remnants of the old empire?

  Lu Qingmo then shifted the conversation.

  "As for the thieves linked to the Blood Fiend Pearl that the shrimp and crab demons mentioned—you’ve already agreed to help, so go ahead and track them down."

  "The Dragon King is one of the strongest figures of this era, with many connections. If he’s still at full strength, forging ties with Yunjiang’s Dragon Palace will benefit you in the future."

  "How does the Dragon King compare to Lord Zixiao or the Master of Xuandu Temple?" Han asked curiously.

  Lu Qingmo gave him a look.

  "If the Dragon King were ranked on the Mountains and Rivers List, do you think anyone would dare to target his closest friends?"

  Understood.

  "Do you want me to bring Yunduo along?" she asked.

  Han shook his head. "No need. This is my matter—better not trouble her."

  Back at the martial academy, Han shared the day’s events with everyone.

  As expected, the Taibai Martial Academy had also been granted seats at the Dragon King’s Banquet.

  Han then took out the spatial pouch he had found at the bottom of Yunjiang.

  Among the martial manuals inside, Zhang Yuantao recognized the original owner of the pouch.

  It had belonged to a Visceral Refinement Realm warrior who had once been active in Black Cloud Town five years ago—only to mysteriously vanish.

  Now, his remains had been found at the bottom of Yunjiang.

  For most of the Taibai disciples, the items in the pouch were ordinary—except for one object that caught Bai Tian’s eye.

  "A treasure, Master?" Han asked.

  "This is a Blood Pearl," Bai Tian explained.

  "It comes from a species of savage beast known as a Blood Beast. Only Bone Refinement Realm Blood Beasts can produce them. Refining a Blood Pearl enhances one's vital energy, increasing its potency by around ten percent."

  "Only Bone Refinement Realm warriors can refine a Blood Pearl."

  Han was delighted. A treasure was still a treasure.

  For martial artists, vital energy was one of the most fundamental aspects of cultivation—any resource that could enhance it was highly valuable.

  Such an item would be a prized commodity at the Wanxing Trade Fair.

  However, Han also realized—this Blood Pearl was likely the reason that warrior had died in Yunjiang.

  "Master, I’ll leave the Blood Pearl to you," Han said.

  Bai Tian shook his head. "A Blood Pearl from a Bone Refinement Realm beast is useless to me." He handed it back.

  The others couldn’t help but marvel at Han’s luck.

  It was as if their junior brother randomly stumbled upon treasure wherever he went.

  Bai Tian, too, felt more anticipation for his disciple’s future.

  Exceptional talent, unwavering determination, and absurdly good fortune.

  "My disciple, Han—he has the makings of a true powerhouse!"

  Outside Black Cloud Town, Han held a mysterious tentacle in his hand, using it as a tracking guide.

  By his side, Bai Ruoyue scanned their surroundings, her expression bright and eager.

  Their current mission: to track down the two thieves who had released the Blood Fiend Pearl into Yunjiang.

  The tentacle was a tracking tool given to Han by the shrimp and crab demons.

  And as for Bai Ruoyue…

  Well, she couldn’t miss out on an opportunity for heroic adventure!

  "Don't worry, Junior Brother," Bai Ruoyue said confidently, puffing out her chest.

  "With me here, nothing will go wrong!"

  Han's eyelid twitched.

  Senior Sister… please stop doing that. It’s distracting.

  "You’ve gone out with Yunduo twice already," Bai Ruoyue huffed. "This time, I’ll prove that I’m better than her!"

  "I guarantee you’ll be completely satisfied!"

  "Senior Sister, we agreed you’d stay back and hold the line—not fight." Han reminded her.

  "I know, I know."

  Han had brought Bai Ruoyue along as insurance.

  The shrimp and crab demons had said their targets were only Night Wanderer Realm cultivators—but who knew if they had hidden allies?

  What if they had a strong bodyguard?

  If that happened, things could get dangerous.

  But with Bai Ruoyue here, it was different.

  With her strength, she could hold her own even against Bone Refinement warriors and Day Wanderer cultivators.

  And if things went south?

  She could still call for reinforcements.

  Following the tentacle’s guidance, Han and Bai Ruoyue arrived at a dense, secluded forest.

  "They should be in there."

  "Then let’s go," Bai Ruoyue said eagerly.

  The towering trees blocked out the sun, casting the forest into dim shadows—an excellent hiding spot.

  Han extended his spiritual sense, scanning the area.

  Then—

  A subtle disturbance.

  Han smirked. Found them.

  "Who’s lurking in the shadows?!"

  A shout erupted through the forest, startling birds and beasts alike.

  "I am not lurking—I am watching openly!"

  Han charged forward, closing the distance in an instant.

  Before him, three figures came into view.

  One was a Visceral Refinement Realm warrior.

  The other two had souls detached from their bodies, revealing them as Night Wanderer Realm cultivators.

  As expected—they had a bodyguard.

  Good thing I planned ahead.

  Seeing Han and Bai Ruoyue, their expressions shifted.

  One of them spoke.

  "Taibai Han? Bai Tian’s disciple?"

  At this point, Han’s name in Black Cloud Town needed no introduction.

  A town-level celebrity. (Tactical lean-back.)

  "Junior Brother, that Visceral Refinement guy is mine, right?" Bai Ruoyue cracked her knuckles, itching for a fight.

  She really wanted to hit someone.

  "No," Han shook his head. "Senior Sister, just hold the line—don’t let them escape."

  "All three… are mine."