Lin Xuan sat cross-legged on the edge of his bed, the afternoon sunlight filtering faintly through the paper windows and casting pale golden lines across the wooden floor. His gaze, however, was not on the light nor the shifting shadows—it was fixed inward, focused upon the translucent interface only he could see.
The System Store shimmered before him, countless categories floating in neat rows—Cultivation Techniques, Artifacts, Pills, Bloodlines, Miscellaneous Items.
He selected Miscellaneous.
"I need something stable… long-lasting… not a one-time talisman," he muttered to himself. "Something like a mobile phone… but suitable for this world."
His mind instinctively drifted to his past life. Instant communication across continents. Strategy coordinated in seconds. Businesses run from afar. Intelligence networks woven invisibly across nations.
If he was to build his own underworld in Ironcliff City, mere messengers would not suffice.
His eyes scanned item after item—signal talismans, spirit message slips, echoing jade tokens—but most were limited in range, consumed upon use, or required specific cultivation thresholds.
Then—
His eyes paused.
A faint glimmer appeared in the list.
Abysslink Sovereign Crystal Set
Category: Miscellaneous
His heartbeat quickened.
He selected it.
A detailed description unfolded before him.
Abysslink Sovereign Crystal (Master Core) – A crystalline core capable of establishing stable, long-distance spiritual communication regardless of geographical separation. The Master Core may bind to unlimited partner crystals. Communication is instantaneous and requires minimal spiritual energy. Durable. Self-replenishing.
Cost: 250 System Coins.
Abysslink Resonance Crystal (Partner Unit) – Bound to a Master Core upon activation. Allows two-way communication between itself and the Master Core.
Cost: 150 System Coins each.
Lin Xuan's eyes narrowed.
Unlimited partner crystals.
Instant communication.
No distance restriction.
No consumable limit.
This… this was exactly what he needed.
A slow smile formed on his lips.
"With this," he murmured, "Ironcliff City won't just be an experiment. It'll be a controlled domain."
He leaned back slightly, calculating.
He currently had 306 system coins.
The Master Core cost 250.
Each Partner Crystal cost 150.
At minimum, he needed one Master Core and at least two Partner Crystals—one for Ironcliff City's organization and one for Qing'er.
Eventually, Shen Yao would need one as well.
And perhaps Fang Ruolin.
His gaze sharpened at that thought.
Fang Ruolin.
The so-called partial subordinate.
A merchant by nature. Sharp-eyed. Ambitious. Business-minded.
They had not formally discussed allegiance. But Lin Xuan had noticed the way Fang Ruolin observed him—calculating, respectful, slightly awed. A man like that understood opportunity.
If Lin Xuan offered him long-term cooperation with tangible profit, there was a high probability he would align himself willingly.
Especially if Lin Xuan demonstrated power, resources, and foresight beyond ordinary clan heirs.
"With communication crystals," Lin Xuan muttered, "even if I remain in Yunqing City, I can still direct operations in Ironcliff."
He needed at least 400 coins for the Master Core and one Partner Crystal.
He could already afford the Master Core.
But he wanted more than one partner crystal immediately.
And tonight—
He smirked faintly.
Qing'er would return to his room.
A successful dual cultivation session with her yielded anywhere from 200 to 250 coins. The last session had given him 250.
Even conservatively speaking, he would easily surpass the required amount.
There was no rush.
He closed the store interface for now.
"I'll purchase them after tonight."
His thoughts shifted.
Ironcliff City.
Corrupt official Gao Ren.
HBTA branch operations.
Underworld framework.
His schedule was becoming tighter by the day.
He suddenly exhaled in mild annoyance.
"I should've set a bookmark at the HBTA branch earlier."
His Shadow Step bracelet allowed teleportation to previously marked locations. If he had set a bookmark inside or near the HBTA headquarters, his movements would be far more efficient.
Instead, he had to rely on conventional travel or partial acceleration.
A small mistake—but a reminder nonetheless.
Efficiency was power.
He also understands that his weakness right now isn't strength.
It was finances.
Personal gold reserves were low. Clan resources could not be openly diverted for private operations. If he intended to establish an independent intelligence network, he needed liquid capital.
Which brought him to his immediate solution.
Vitality Pills.
High-grade.
He stood from the bed and moved toward his alchemy setup.
"I'll make ten batches."
Each batch yielded two pills.
Each pill sold for 55 silvers.
Twenty pills.
1,100 silvers total.
That alone would significantly bolster his personal reserves.
He sat down before the cauldron, adjusting his breathing.
The familiar rhythm of alchemy calmed him instantly. Flames ignited beneath the cauldron, controlled and steady. Spiritual energy flowed smoothly from his meridians into the formation beneath it.
One batch.
Two.
Three.
His movements were precise, efficient, almost mechanical—but never careless.
Sweat formed faintly at his temples as the heat rose, yet his expression remained calm.
Time passed swiftly.
Within an hour, ten batches were complete.
Twenty High-Grade Vitality Pills rested inside jade bottles on the table before him, faint medicinal fragrance lingering in the air.
He wiped his hands with a cloth and stood.
"Good."
He stored the pills carefully into his spatial ring.
Now, timing.
If he left immediately, he could reach the HBTA branch before dinner, sell the pills, gather additional information, and set a bookmark at a nearby street for future teleportation convenience.
He exited his room quietly.
The path toward the HBTA branch was familiar now. Yunqing City, capital of the Yunqing Region, bustled as usual—caravans entering and exiting, merchants shouting prices, cultivators passing by in measured steps.
Trade and resources flowed like blood through the city's veins.
By contrast, Ironcliff City—his intended base of underworld expansion—was harsher, more survival-oriented.
But that was precisely why it needed control.
After some time, the imposing structure of the HBTA branch came into view.
Lin Xuan adjusted his sleeves before stepping into the HBTA branch once more. The interior was as refined as ever—polished wooden floors, quiet murmurs of negotiation, and the faint scent of incense drifting through the air.
Unlike his nighttime excursions, he did not conceal himself during the day. Here, he was simply Lin Xuan of the Lin Clan—an alchemist of rising reputation.
His gaze swept the hall calmly.
He quickly spotted Fang Ruolin in one of the side sections, currently attending to a well-dressed merchant. Fang stood with his usual composed posture, voice polite yet measured, explaining the appraisal of several mid-grade beast cores.
As Lin Xuan approached, Fang Ruolin's eyes lifted briefly.
Recognition flickered through them.
Without hesitation, Fang offered a courteous smile to his current client. "Please excuse me for a moment. My colleague will assist you further."
He gestured subtly to another attendant before making his way toward Lin Xuan with steady steps.
This small detail did not go unnoticed.
Lin Xuan acknowledged it inwardly.
He understands priorities.
And more importantly, he understands value.
"Young Master Lin," Fang Ruolin greeted respectfully, inclining his head. There was no servility in his tone—only professional courtesy. "What brings you here today?"
"I have something to sell," Lin Xuan replied calmly.
Fang's eyes sharpened slightly, though his expression remained composed. "Please follow me."
He personally led Lin Xuan toward a private booth at the rear of the branch—the same one used during previous transactions. The door closed softly behind them, sealing the space in quiet confidentiality.
Once seated, Lin Xuan placed several jade bottles onto the table.
"High-grade Vitality Pills."
Fang Ruolin did not show exaggerated surprise this time. Instead, there was a subtle glint of appreciation in his eyes—as if this result aligned perfectly with his expectations.
He opened one bottle carefully, lifting a pill between his fingers.
Smooth surface. Balanced coloration. Dense medicinal aroma.
A small breath escaped him.
"Impeccable quality."
He inspected a few more, confirming uniformity across the batch.
"You've brought twenty?" Fang asked.
"Yes."
Fang closed the bottles and looked up, the respect in his gaze noticeably deeper than before.
"To be honest," he said quietly, "I'm no longer surprised."
A faint pause lingered.
"I've come to expect this level from you, Young Master Lin."
Lin Xuan remained silent, allowing the statement to settle.
Each pill was quickly appraised and recorded.
"Fifty-five silvers per pill," Fang stated. "As before."
Lin Xuan nodded.
The transaction was completed smoothly. A pouch heavy with silver was placed before him.
Fang did not attempt to haggle.
Nor did he question supply.
He understood that overstepping would be foolish.
As Lin Xuan stored the silver away, Fang spoke again—careful, probing, yet respectful.
"If I may ask… will this supply remain consistent?"
Lin Xuan met his gaze evenly. "That depends."
Fang Ruolin smiled faintly.
A business-minded man indeed.
He did not push further.
"Should you require assistance with distribution or expansion in the future," Fang added, "I would be willing to oversee the arrangements personally."
The implication was subtle.
He was positioning himself—not declaring allegiance outright, but making it clear that he wished to be involved in something larger.
Lin Xuan noted it carefully.
Soon.
Not yet.
"Understood," Lin Xuan replied.
The conversation ended without unnecessary pleasantries.
When Lin Xuan rose to leave, Fang Ruolin personally escorted him to the main hall.
"Until next time, Young Master Lin," Fang said.
Lin Xuan inclined his head before stepping back into the bustling interior and then out onto the busy street beyond.
As he walked through Yunqing City's lively avenues, his thoughts turned inward.
Fang Ruolin was exactly as expected.
Ambitious.
Observant.
Forward-thinking.
He had not explicitly spoken of allegiance today. That discussion would come later—after Ironcliff City was stabilized.
After he established a foothold.
After he could offer something concrete.
Fang Ruolin would not follow blindly.
But he would follow strength. Profit. Vision.
And Lin Xuan intended to provide all three.
"For now," he murmured softly, "let him anticipate."
The silver pouch weighed reassuringly at his side.
The sale had gone smoothly.
But before leaving, he stepped outside and walked down a quieter street a short distance away from the HBTA building.
A faint shimmer marked the location.
Bookmark set.
He activated the Shadow Step bracelet. Directly Teleporting to his private Bathing chamber.
Tonight, after Qing'er returned—
Coins.
The Abysslink Sovereign Crystal.
Then Ironcliff City.
Everything was aligning step by step.
And somewhere within all of that—
He would begin laying the first invisible threads of his own domain.
A domain independent of clan politics.
Independent of elders.
Independent of cousins scheming in shadows.
A domain where information flowed directly to him.
Instantly.
Uninterrupted.
And when that time came—
Fang Ruolin would be one of the first to realize exactly who he had chosen to stand beside.