Chapter 56: Apprehension

Zhang Shen had aspirations to acquire more True Core-grade spiritual fruits and elixirs. Yet, due to his limited points, he barely managed to obtain his initial selections. With a hint of disappointment, he left the redemption center.

Another item on his agenda was the True Core-grade parent-child communication talisman.

He soon realized that this talisman and the Lin Yuan City token in his possession were both inspired by the Mainframe Tree and Terminal Leaves. The talisman replicated the instantaneous communication capability between the Mainframe Tree and Terminal Leaves. However, its functionality was constrained by various factors, from the quality of crafting materials to the communication range.

Nevertheless, the talismans were highly sought after. Acquiring something as rare as a Mainframe Tree was no mean feat, and adequately guarding it was another challenge. Even the Terminal Leaves came at a hefty price, making the talismans a more economical alternative for smaller families and factions.

Zhang Shen initially considered procuring a Parent-Child Communication Talisman from the redemption center. However, after some evaluation, he deemed it wiser to buy one from a shop in Lin Yuan City.

“Having annexed territories like Jiuchuan City, I’ve amassed a fair amount of resources,” he reflected. “Most of them are standard, everyday items, but collectively, they hold enough value to exchange for a True Core-grade artifact. Yet, Lin Yuan City’s buyback rate is merely 70% of the market rate. Opting to sell my acquisitions to the city would leave me short of acquiring a True Core-grade item.”

While many found Lin Yuan City’s low buyback rate contentious, it garnered limited criticism. The reason? It was a pathway to garner the coveted Lin Yuan City points. The city’s redemption center boasted an array of treasures, from cultivation techniques and martial skills to diverse legacies and scarce resources. 

The only accepted form of payment? 

Lin Yuan City’s points.

In most places, you’d need to expend triple the resources just to obtain enough points to redeem these items. Even then, there was no guarantee, you might still fall short even if you were willing to part with your own flesh and blood.

Indeed, for resources that were unique to Lin Yuan City or particularly scarce elsewhere, it was often wise to trade using Lin Yuan City points. However, for the more universal treasures and resources, navigating this route became redundant.

After stepping out of the redemption center, the list of available treasures disappeared from his token, evidently encrypted to be viewed exclusively within the center.

Zhang Shen swiped on his token, searching for the right shop. His ease contrasted starkly with martial artists encountering such transactions for the first time. After meticulously filtering through the reviews, discerning between genuine and evidently faked feedback, he chose a store named Liuyun Hall.

Everything went smoothly. From Liuyun Hall, he effortlessly secured a True Core-grade parent-child communication talisman. He also bartered the rest of his resources, obtaining books detailing fascinating individuals and their life stories.

These books were essential. Based on recent observations, the realm of elite martial artists starkly diverged from his prior knowledge. There was an entire world out there he needed to grasp.

Having completed his exchanges, Zhang Shen had no intention of dallying in Lin Yuan City. The atmosphere was suffocating, and every corner posed potential threats. Here, a simple misstep could provoke someone dangerous, maybe even leading to grave consequences for an innocent gait. 

Arrival was hasty, and departure was equally so, but Zhang Shen returned enriched with his finds.

Yet, unbeknownst to all, once he was safely away from Lin Yuan City, Zhang Shen, with a grave countenance, retrieved his Lin Yuan City identity token.

“The Mainframe Tree and Terminal Leaf… they eerily mirror the internet servers and smartphones I knew in my previous life,” Zhang Shen reflected.

He wasn’t necessarily preoccupied with the idea that these items might have been introduced to this world by predecessors from another world. What deeply troubled him was something else altogether.

Location tracking.

Such a feature was integral to smartphones. Without a shred of doubt, Zhang Shen believed the Terminal Leaf and the Lin Yuan City token also possessed it.

“In my past life, where society operated under strict legal norms without supernatural abilities, leaking one’s location wasn’t too consequential,” he pondered. “But in this world, where martial artists have the capability to reach into the skies and pluck stars, revealing your whereabouts is akin to courting death.”

He navigated to the personal section of his token.

“It’s tied to real-name system tracking. The mere thought is chilling.”

As he skimmed through the token’s interface, continuous updates streamed at the top. It was evident that someone or something was ceaselessly feeding in new data. This also indicated that the token was in constant communication with the Mainframe Tree.

But even with his heightened spiritual perception and heightened senses at their peak, Zhang Shen couldn’t identify any specific transmission channels on the token.

“If their transmission method eludes even my heightened senses, then if they truly wished to exploit this, I’d be rendered powerless,” he said, a shadow of doubt crossing his gaze.

While Lin Yuan City was a collective of human forces, that didn’t mean it was devoid of malicious elements.

Zhang Shen had always approached situations prepared for the worst intentions.

Harnessing his spiritual energy, he elevated the token. Shadows of gray light spilled from his left hand, surrounding the token.

“Mountain Seal Divine Technique!”

An ethereal, gray, mountain-like mirage encased the token. Nonetheless, the data on the token persisted in its update, albeit with a fractional delay.

“The technique exerts some influence, but it’s too weak,” Zhang Shen discerned, a glint of satisfaction reflecting in his eyes. 

This proved that he was not entirely helpless.

“For the moment, I’ll have to adapt as things unfold,” Zhang Shen said softly, placing the token into his storage pouch. 

It was unthinkable to lose it. How would he justify such negligence to the leaders of Lin Yuan City?

There was a good chance he’d be swiftly expelled and even end up on their blacklist.

Until he resolved the location tracking issue, he’d have to temporarily keep his alias, Lin Fanyun, under wraps.

Better to be overly cautious than to risk exposure.

“Being an official member of Lin Yuan City means privileges, but it also entails duties,” he mused. “Assignments could come down at any time. I need to be prepared.”

With that, Zhang Shen took to the skies, heading back to the Ancient Covenant headquarters.

His mountainside dwelling was vacant, yet strikingly devoid of dust.

“Little Zhi must have come by to tidy up,” he remarked with a smile.

The protective array around his dwelling didn’t possess any dust-repellent attributes. Someone had clearly been there.

Sending out two streams of energy intertwined with his consciousness, he summoned Zhang Yu, Li Zhi, and the rest.

He had the thousand-mile parent-child communication talisman which, aside from the primary talisman, had ten subsidiary ones. The Ancient Covenant held one, managed by Zhang Yu, one for Hongyuan City’s three families, one was for his parents and another for his siblings, Li Zhi had a personal one, and another was reserved for Yousha City.

This left Zhang Shen with four subsidiary talismans.

Zhang Shen then distributed the Acquired and Innate precious resources he had obtained. Seventy percent was allocated to the Ancient Covenant to foster its young talent, twenty percent was dedicated to Hongyuan City, and the remaining ten was gifted to his disciple, Li Zhi.

In exchange, Li Zhi’s points, accrued over the years within the Ancient Covenant, were wiped clean. Li Zhi harbored no complaints. Those modest points couldn’t compare to the resources Zhang Shen had given her.

“Reaping such benefits necessitates discretion. Flaunting them might breed resentment,” she silently reflected.

“Focus on your cultivation,” Zhang Shen urged her.

“Yes, Master. I promise not to let you down,” Li Zhi replied, clearly moved by the gesture.

“If you aim not to disappoint me, then you’ll need to double your efforts,” Zhang Shen responded with a hearty laugh.

Li Zhi’s diligence was renowned within the Ancient Covenant. Pushing any harder might require her to risk everything.

As their conversation continued, Zhang Yu introduced a pressing concern.

“A beast tide? Any anomalies?” Zhang Shen asked.

Given the Ancient Covenant’s current prowess, a mere beast tide should be something Zhang Yu could address with ease. Why bring it up unless something unexpected occurred?

“The scale of this beast tide is unprecedented. To ensure no mishaps, I sent two late Innate stage elders from the Wang family to investigate. They sensed the formidable auras of dozens of entities, each on par with their own, at the beast tide’s outskirts. Not daring to delve deeper, they promptly returned to relay their findings,” Zhang Yu elaborated.

“Highly unusual,” said Zhang Shen.

There were many records of beast tides in Hongyuan City. Late Innate stage beasts had collaborated before, but only in groups of three at most. Never had they witnessed such a sizable collaboration.

Innate stage beasts, intelligent yet wild, would typically clash amongst themselves without a dominant leader to keep them in check.

So, who or what could possibly commandeer such a vast contingent of late Innate stage beasts?

This puzzle was precisely why Zhang Yu had briefed Zhang Shen as soon as he returned. 

It was always preferable to be forewarned and forearmed than to be blindsided.

“This beast tide is very likely orchestrated by a spiritual creature at the True Core stage,” Zhang Shen deduced.

In terms of information, Zhang Shen had an edge over both Zhang Yu and Wang Sen. He had access to the Lin Yuan City token. Even though he had reservations about its tracking capabilities, the intelligence it provided was invaluable.

Zhang Shen took out the token and quickly skimmed through its contents. In no time, he pinpointed the intel he sought.

“Six months ago, Bai Gutian of the Bone Demon Clan reached the Law Manifestation stage. Concurrently, around a dozen True Core stage members were ousted from the clan, left to their own devices.”

Though succinct, the information was illuminating. From it, Zhang Shen discerned the unmistakable signs of internal discord.

The Bone Demon Clan, situated on the fringes of the Endless Wastelands, consisted entirely of entities birthed from bones. They scavenged the wastelands for remains, both human and beast, repurposing them to cultivate new Bone Demons.

Owing to their diverse lineage, the Bone Demons were somewhat ostracized among their kind. No one relished the notion of a once-familiar soul reborn as an unrecognizable being after death.

From Zhang Shen’s assessment, the banished True Core stage Bone Demons either ventured far from human and spiritual beasts territories or sought refuge within the vastness of the Endless Wastelands. This sprawling wasteland, a buffer between the realms of humans and spiritual beasts, spanned countless miles.

The probability of these Bone Demons approaching the Ancient Covenant was low.

However, another tidbit intrigued him. Repeated tomb desecrations of various sects located more than ten thousand miles from the Ancient Covenant. The affected sects initially cast suspicion upon human lineages notorious for necromantic practices, as they frequently indulged in such acts.

A fervent debate ensued online between the factions. Zhang Shen relished the spectacle, observing the drama with detached amusement.

Piecing the clues together, the Bone Demons’ involvement became evident.

Should he intervene? The fleeting thought was swiftly dismissed.

The capabilities and numbers of the Bone Demons in the vicinity remained uncertain. Any negligence could prove lethal.

Immediate reporting was imperative. After all, he wasn’t alone, he had powerful allies at his back.