Sleeping Dragon City, Martial World.

Two figures silently materialized inside the designated private room in the Pavilion of Drifting Clouds. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Once again, Lin Mo experienced a mild disorientation upon materializing. Then, to ensure that he wouldn’t leak his spiritual energy, he suppressed it within his body.

If he got into a fight and depleted his energy reserves, he’d be like a sitting duck. Although martial qi could be absorbed, it would be like a drop in an ocean due to how scarce it was.

Consuming an [Energy Replenishing Candy] was also an alternative but since this was another world, he didn’t want to become too conspicuous by letting his spiritual energy flow freely.

Beside him, Jiang Jianxin materialized with the flawless grace of a drawn blade. Her calm and serene eyes immediately narrowed as her senses expanded to assess the new environment. Moments later, she retracted her aura as well.

Lin Mo already briefed her on the state of the Martial World, one of the Fractured Planes ravaged by an ancient war.

"The lack of spiritual energy is indeed suffocating." Jiang Jianxin muttered.

"Mhm. This is only my fourth time on this plane. Twice, I went as a Spirit-Body. The last time I was here, I ended up fighting what they considered a top expert. A 7th gate master who’s as strong as a Core Formation Stage cultivator. Theoretically."

"What does that mean?"

"It means... in terms of physical strength, that’s how strong they are. However, compared to a true Core Formation Stage cultivator like you, they’ll be far inferior because of the quality of their techniques as well as the lack of energy to harness. That’s why I won against one despite my humble cultivation." Lin Mo explained, making sure he wouldn’t sound like he was bragging.

Jiang Jianxin nodded slowly, her hand resting naturally on the hilt of her sword.

She didn’t require further elaboration. As a sword cultivator who had touched the absolute pinnacle of her realm to forge a Golden Core, she understood the profound difference between an unrefined physical force and the concentrated application of true intent.

A boulder might weigh a ton, but a needle applied to the correct nerve could paralyze a giant.

"I see. I shall restrict my techniques to internal reinforcement and physical strikes," She stated, her tone shifting seamlessly into an operational mindset. "To project sword qi in this environment would be akin to bleeding out in a desert to water a dead flower. It’ll be bullying."

Lin Mo smiled approvingly. It was precisely this pragmatic adaptability that made the Sword Fairy such a valuable asset.

Of course, there’s also another reason why she requested to accompany him.

After Liu Xiaoyu, Sword Fairy was the second cultivator to conquer the Jade Hollow Conduit Tower.

Back then, she acquired the high spirit-grade Ethereal Cloud Edge just from completing Floor 3.

Now, after completing Floor 10, the swords she’s using for her Sword Formation had already been replaced by other swords she acquired from it.

Furthermore, apart from the treasures and Dimension Essences she received for clearing Floor 10, she received a sword manual rated as immortal-grade that was extremely suitable for her. It’s just that... she’s having a hard time comprehending it.

Although Lin Mo had yet to announce his intention to recruit patrons in exploring the Martial World, he ended up blurting about it to Jiang Jianxin when she messaged him after she exited the tower.

Right. He learned about it before someone posted a thread about it on the Bulletin Board.

Anyhow, she wanted to see if she could use the environment of the Martial World to comprehend her sword manual. Having comprehended Sword Intent to a small achievement, she believed that it’s about time for her to start walking her own sword path. While she could still cultivate the Cerulean Cloud Sword Sect’s techniques, those weren’t her own. That’s why, using the sword manual she acquired from the Tower to draw inspiration from, she wanted to comprehend her own techniques and create her unique sword style. If she succeeds, her identity as a peerless sword cultivator will be solidified.

And as if it were some kind of absurd coincidence, the manual she had gotten had a name similar to the legacy of Ling Qiumei’s sect, the [Sky-Rending Sword Manual]. The sword manual that the Sword Fairy received was called the [Heaven-Rending Sword Scripture].

The similarity in naming sense was not lost on Lin Mo.

Ling Qiumei’s struggling sect, the Silent Rain Sect, had possessed a fragmented, degraded version known as the Sky-Rending Sword Manual and made it their legacy technique.

What Jiang Jianxin had pulled from the absolute pinnacle of the Conduit Tower was likely the original manual that was comparable to an immortal-grade technique that had been splintered eons ago after the Age of Cataclysm tore this plane apart.

For a sword cultivator seeking to forge her own path, immersing herself in the very environment where the original, undiluted intent of that scripture and drawing inspiration from other manuals similar or related to it, she might be able to comprehend it.

Besides, even if she failed to forge her own path, learning the techniques in the manual will still be beneficial to her. Like she said, the tower reward was extremely suitable to her, just like how all of her new swords became integral to her sword control technique and sword formations.

"Alright. Let’s wait here for a moment. Looks like this room has also been renovated. It’s larger than I remembered." Lin Mo said as she gestured for Jiang Jianxin to sit down first.

He turned his attention away from his companion and moved toward the carved wooden window of the private room.

As he peeked outside, the view that greeted him brought a genuine sense of satisfaction, a feeling akin to a project manager witnessing the flawless execution of a quarterly restructuring plan.

Sleeping Dragon City had transformed once again.

When he had first arrived, the city had reeked of desperation and suppressed violence. He was even blocked by the unscrupulous Iron Crane Dojo disciples at the gates. He had to sweep them away just to reach the meeting place he had designated.

Furthermore, the citizens were trapped between the rivalry of three factions, making them bleed for meager resources.

Now, looking down at the sprawling streets, the chaos had been meticulously organized.

The Iron Crane Dojo had fully transformed into the City Guards by now. Although they were pitiful during the siege of the Seven Valleys Alliance, they had learned their lesson well.

They moved with discipline befitting of a righteous martial artist, their slate-gray uniforms neat and unbloodied. They carry out their patrols in pairs that will leave no dark alley unmonitored.

Gone are the days of asking the citizens for protection fees or asking those entering the city to pay the toll. Now, they maintain order in the city and are directing traffic around the loading docks of the now rebranded Luo Merchant House, the ’Divine Convenience House’.

Further down the main thoroughfare, heavy wooden carts, reinforced with steel bands and pulled by massive, armored draft beasts, rolled toward the central warehouses. These carts were overflowing with raw, dark chunks of Star-Forged Iron. Guiding these caravans were the men of the Crimson Tiger Sect. The former bandits had traded their bloodthirsty swagger for the focused demeanor of heavy laborers who were finally getting paid a living wage.

As Harvesters, the sheer volume of ore they were moving indicated that Warlord Hei Feilong’s former territories had been thoroughly and aggressively strip-mined under Lei Hu’s new management.

And overseeing it all, omnipresent yet unobtrusive, were the banners of the Divine Convenience House, managed directly by Luo Lanyi and the members of her Luo Merchant House.

In just a few days, she had already convinced her family to transform their ordinary merchant house into Lin Mo’s Distribution Hub.

"A monopoly established through infrastructure and localized security," Lin Mo noted silently as a deep sense of satisfaction washed over him.

Naturally, he wasn’t going to relax yet. It has only been one week. Even ’fractured’, the Martial World was a vast place. If a Seven Valleys Master Hei Feilong immediately sniffed his ’product of convenience’, it wouldn’t be long before they encountered another opportunistic warlord to come knocking at their doors.

As Lin Mo returned to Jiang Jianxin and sat next to her, the door to the private room clicked open.

The local management team had arrived. Even without announcing their arrival, they naturally sensed their presence.

Luo Lanyi entered first, holding a thick ledger carved from bamboo slips. Behind her, the four heavily armored figures of Lin Mo’s designated enforcers filed into the room: Tie Zha, Ling Qiumei, Hu Gan, and Ying Sha.

However, they were surprised when they noticed a new figure sitting next to the Shopkeeper.

"Shopkeeper, welcome back." Luo Lanyi greeted with a bow while furtively glancing at his companion, wondering what her relationship was with the Senior Ghost.