"If anyone asks, just say our family patriarch was injured by someone from the Human World. They won't press further. If no one asks, just pretend you don't know—easy, right? Besides, a Fiend Star Source is incredibly valuable." Young Master Swain persuaded.
Captain Lee thought Young Master Swain's words made sense.
So he said, "Come with me."
The old man swept the crystals aside, then spoke via sound transmission—a telepathic voice used by cultivators in xianxia stories: "From now on, I'll use sound transmission. It's to protect the pavilion's business."
When they reappeared, they were inside Trial Mountain, facing a giant screen.
"There are this many people from our Fiend Realm?" Young Master Swain exclaimed in shock at the countless dots on the screen.
"These are the numbers accumulated over the years. It's actually not that many, just a few thousand. And there are plenty of our people in the Human World as well," Captain Lee replied.
"Which one is him?" Young Master Swain asked curiously.
"Let me adjust it and we'll know." With that, Captain Lee injected his spiritual power into the screen and input Evan Yang's portrait.
Soon, only one dot remained on the screen—Evan Yang's current location.
"That's him?" Young Master Swain was overjoyed when he saw the dot stop in a city.
"Yes, as long as he hasn't lost his token, that's correct," Captain Lee nodded.
He brought the food upstairs for Derek. Having never eaten anything so delicious, Derek devoured it ravenously. Watching him, Evan Yang was reminded of his own childhood. As for Nina, outwardly tough but inwardly soft-hearted, seeing the orphan made her heart ache—she wished she could wipe out the entire Swain Family.
"Let's wait until he settles down," Captain Lee replied, watching the dot still moving.
So the two waited for Evan Yang to stop.
Evan Yang had no idea that the tokens he and Nina carried actually contained a locator function, used by the Fiend Realm to monitor Human World visitors. Only in major incidents would they use this method to track people from the Human World.
But Evan Yang didn't expect the Swain Family would spend their hard-earned Fiend Star Source just to catch him.
As for Fiend Star Sources, Evan Yang still had no idea what they were. He was determined to find a chance to ask and figure it out before making any further plans.
He flew across many cities, only stopping once he was sure the family wouldn't chase so far, then found an inn.
He then brought Nina, Derek, and the hired thug out of the Tower.
When they came out, all three stared at Evan Yang in shock, hardly able to believe it.
"Kid, where did you get that artifact?" Nina asked curiously.
"I've had it for a long time," Evan Yang replied. Under Derek's worshipful gaze, Evan continued, "Stay here with them for now. I'm going out to check the latest situation and find out what Fiend Star Source actually is."
Nina nodded. Since this was an unfamiliar place, it made sense to get information first. Derek, leaving home for the first time, seemed a little uneasy.
"Derek, stay with Master here. As for your situation, we'll definitely get to the bottom of it. The Swain Family won't get away so easily," Evan Yang said to Derek.
Derek nodded deeply.
Evan Yang went downstairs, found a table, and ordered a few dishes. He didn't touch them, saving them for Derek—since Derek hadn't reached the fasting realm yet.
He then asked the waiter, "Hey, where can I find information about strange things?"
"Strange things?" The waiter looked at Evan Yang suspiciously.
"Things ordinary people don't understand, but some folks do," Evan Yang explained after thinking it over.
The waiter nodded, "Oh, you mean that? Head left about a hundred steps and you'll find the Hundred-Wisdom Pavilion. The old gentlemen there know almost everything. Just ask and pay a fee—they'll tell you, and you can even buy rare treasures there. Lots of people go."
"Hundred-Wisdom Pavilion? Thanks." Evan Yang smiled.
He brought the food upstairs for Derek. Having never eaten anything so delicious, Derek devoured it ravenously. Watching him, Evan Yang was reminded of his own childhood. As for Nina, tough outside but soft inside, seeing the orphan made her heart ache—she wished she could slaughter the entire Swain Family.
If Evan Yang hadn't stopped her and put her in the Tower, she would've fought those people on the spot.
It wasn't that Evan Yang couldn't defeat them, but he didn't want to clash head-on without knowing their power. Especially since Nina's cultivation was suppressed and Derek was just a child, he chose to settle them first before making plans.
Evan Yang walked a hundred steps and arrived at the Hundred-Wisdom Pavilion. It had two floors; the first held ten counters, each with an elderly man and a sign showing the fee per question.
Each counter specialized in something different. If you wanted precious and specific information, you'd have to pay at the priciest one—a flat rate of ten thousand high-grade Spirit Crystal Ore.
For Evan Yang, this was nothing, but for poor cultivators it was a huge sum. So only wealthy cultivators came, and rarely to ask questions; the last counter was usually empty.
Evan Yang approached and saw an old man sitting with eyes closed, rocking in a chair.
"Sir," Evan Yang said, sitting in the chair across from him.
The old man steadied his chair, opened his eyes, and saw an unfamiliar face. "Young man, what do you want to ask?"
"Fiend Star Source." Evan Yang calmly said the three words, drawing the attention of everyone nearby.
The old man frowned, then relaxed. "Ten thousand high-grade Spirit Crystal Ore, and I'll tell you."
The old man smiled and spoke via sound transmission: "Yes, throughout history, a few such people have appeared. They're remarkable, since attracting Fiend Star Sources means their cultivation path differs from others—they often have multiple intertwined paths and can reach realms others can't."
The old man swept the crystals aside, then spoke via sound transmission: "From now on, I'll use sound transmission. It's to protect the pavilion's business."
"No problem," Evan Yang smiled.
"Fiend Star Source is similar to Spirit Crystal Ore, but its energy is even stronger than top-grade crystals. It only appears in certain mineral veins, and some even develop consciousness, able to move around freely. They're very hard to catch unless you use special methods or tools," the old man explained.
(Irrelevant webnovel navigation prompt, skip translation.)
"Is that so?" Evan Yang exclaimed in surprise.
"Young man, this doesn't exist in your Human World," the old man said, smiling as if he could see right through Evan Yang.
"How did you know!" Evan Yang exclaimed in shock.
"That doesn't fall under the scope of Fiend Star Source, so I won't answer," the old man laughed.
"Fine, ten thousand high-grade Spirit Crystal Ore. Speak," Evan Yang said, seeing the old man raise the price, and handed over another bundle.
Looking at the crystals, the old man smiled, "You're quick. I'll tell you: People from the Human World and this realm are different, especially in aura. Natives here are born with fiendish nature, while your aura is calm, more like someone from the Human World. I just guessed, and it turns out I was right." He took the crystals and smiled at Evan Yang.
Evan Yang was annoyed the old man had guessed, but since he answered, he didn't mind paying. So he asked, "Have you ever seen someone who can attract Fiend Star Sources?"
The old man looked suspicious. "Why? Have you seen one?"
Seeing the old man's reaction, Evan Yang knew he must know something, so he smiled, "No, just heard rumors and wanted to ask."
Seeing it was only rumors, the old man returned to his sly demeanor. "Ten thousand."
"Again?" Evan Yang glared.
"That goes beyond your first question, so it's extra," the old man laughed.
"You..." Evan Yang hadn't expected the questions to be charged this way—every new question cost another fee, endlessly.
"If you don't want to, you can leave now," the old man said with a wide smile.
"Here," Evan Yang handed over another ten thousand high-grade Spirit Crystal Ore, helplessly.
The old man smiled and spoke via sound transmission—a telepathic voice used by cultivators: "Yes, throughout history, a few such people have appeared. They're remarkable, since attracting Fiend Star Sources means their cultivation path differs from others—they often have multiple intertwined paths and can reach realms others can't."
"Really?" Evan Yang was shocked.
"Yes, so before they grow up, they're hidden away by great clans or Fiend Palace until they're strong enough," the old man explained.
"Is it possible to inherit?" Evan Yang thought of Derek's situation—this could affect his whole life, so he asked curiously.
The old man laughed, "Ten thousand."
"You!" Evan Yang was getting impatient—another ten thousand. But since it wasn't a hundred thousand, he endured and handed it over.
The old man took four bundles of ten thousand in a row without a care. Seeing Evan Yang wasn't poor, charging him was easier than anything.
The old man smiled, "I've heard about inheritance, but the odds are very low. It's already a miracle for one person to have this physique—if it gets inherited, that family is incredibly lucky."
"That's all?" Evan Yang asked, suspicious after hearing the explanation.
"Yes, that's all. If you have more questions, feel free to ask," the old man said with a smile.
"Is it possible for that kind of physique to show no signs at first, but react later?" Evan Yang glanced at the old man and handed over another ten thousand—the fifth time.
Seeing Evan Yang so practiced, the old man smiled, "Yes, people with that physique often go unnoticed early on. Once they start attracting Fiend Star Sources, that's when they're officially recognized as having it."
"Your answers are expensive," Evan Yang grumbled after the old man finished.
"Not expensive, not expensive. Only fifty thousand total. But to reward your cooperation, I'll give you a free tip," the old man smiled.
"What is it?" Evan Yang asked suspiciously.
"Your friend, who came from the Human World with you, is currently surrounded. If you're late, your friend and those she's protecting could be in danger," the old man said with a smile.
Evan Yang was shocked. He quickly released his divine sense and found that the inn a hundred steps away was surrounded—the leader was Young Master Xue.
"Damn it!" Evan Yang roared, then vanished from the old man's sight in a flash.
"Interesting!" The old man smiled as he watched Evan Yang's departing figure.