"Young friend, White Flame City prohibits fighting. This has been the custom for many years. He made the first move, and by slaying his Spiritual Snake, you’ve already taught him a lesson. How about we let this matter rest here?"

The elder was tall, with eyes seeming to blaze with flames. He exuded an imposing presence even without anger. Though he spoke to Gu Yuan in a gentle tone, there was still an air of authority.

"Since senior has intervened, naturally the matter can be settled."

Gu Yuan clasped his hands in respect and bowed.

When under someone else’s eaves, one had to lower their head.

The elder before him was one of the four late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators serving White Flame City, known as the Witch Daoist. He practiced mysterious and uncanny Abnormal Techniques, having dominated the Ten Thousand Islands Sea for three centuries. His power was formidable, backed by the entire city of White Flame City. Gu Yuan, with his current strength, naturally would not make trouble for himself.

After all, he still needed the resources and platform of White Flame City.

The elder, seeing this, smiled with satisfaction and said:

"Thank you, young friend, for your understanding. However, I must admit that the Golden Bounty Hall bears some responsibility for this incident. I can make the decision that the rewards for this task will be free of any commission by us."

"Thank you, senior!"

Gu Yuan bowed again.

The profits of the Golden Bounty Hall come from taking a commission from both parties involved in a bounty. After all, tasks that end up on the board are not trivial matters, and even a five percent commission adds up over time.

Although it was uncertain how many Spirit Stones the Forbidden Technique Thunder Spirit Evil-Breaking Seal was worth, it would surely cost thousands. The elder’s words effectively saved Gu Yuan several hundred or even a thousand Spirit Stones.

Several hundred Spirit Stones—while not insignificant, they were not crucial to Gu Yuan at the moment. But this gesture was a show of the Golden Bounty Hall’s stance, and Gu Yuan could only accept.

"If that’s the case, then I won’t disturb you all any longer. The one who made the bounty is in Room A. You may speak freely there."

The elder chuckled, then his figure blurred, transforming into a wisp of black smoke that vanished.

Gu Yuan turned toward the great hall and found that, in the darkness, the pair of bright eyes from before had indeed disappeared. Only several Foundation Establishment cultivators remained, looking at him with a hint of fear.

Seeing this, Gu Yuan picked up the Jade Scroll inscribed with his task and strode into the A Room.

...

...

The A Room was not large, made entirely of White Jade Wondrous Stone. Above hung a massive Jade Pearl, emitting bright light that illuminated every detail of the secret chamber.

A stone table stood on either side of the chamber. At the moment, a person in black robes sat behind the stone table on the left.

The loose black robes concealed any curves, but as they moved, a trace of tenderness was still evident. Thinking of the bright eyes from before, it was clear without asking that beneath those robes was a woman.

"Boom!"

As Gu Yuan just stepped into the chamber, a flash of lightning suddenly struck toward him.

"Clang!"

But with just a thought, a streak of sword light rose immediately, not slower than the lightning, and with an indescribable sharpness, it shredded the lightning to pieces.

The thunder roared, as if dark clouds were overhead. In an instant, countless more streaks of lightning spawned, resembling a Thunder Flood Dragon, hurtling toward Gu Yuan.

But the sword light split, slithering like a dragon, darting like lightning itself. No matter how the lightning approached, it was cut down with just one slash.

The Sword Seal crafted from a Middle-grade Spiritual Sword, coupled with eighteen strands of sword light, was already unparalleled at the early stage of Foundation Establishment. Despite the transformations the lightning went through, it was no match for the sword light and was severed inch by inch, dissipating into Spiritual Qi.

"What a skillful display, fellow Daoist. I was presumptuous!"

As the lightning scattered, the black-robed woman did not attack further. Instead, she stood and bowed gracefully to Gu Yuan.

"It’s a heavy task to find your father. Fellow Daoist being cautious is entirely understandable."

Gu Yuan did not get angry, merely retracted his sword light and returned the courtesy.

The woman had made a feint, possibly due to the task’s importance. Even after witnessing Gu Yuan’s skills in the great hall, she wished to test his abilities personally once more in the chamber.

"Thank you for understanding, fellow Daoist. This matter is indeed significant, and precautions are necessary. But with your extraordinary swordsmanship, perhaps we have more confidence in succeeding."

The black-robed woman couldn’t help but sigh, her voice slightly hoarse as if weary.

"I’ve taken the task, with the Golden Bounty Hall guaranteeing it. Could you tell me the reason behind the bounty?"

Gu Yuan placed the Jade Scroll on the stone table and asked the black-robed woman before him.

Naturally, he wished for the Thunder Seal and also sought the opportunities behind this task. But if the risks were too high, he needed to evaluate carefully.

"To be honest, fellow Daoist, I’m not entirely sure of the specific risks involved on this journey either."

The black-robed woman gave a wry smile, then slowly recounted: "Two months ago, my father and a friend went out to find some Spirit Ore for Artifact Refining. Then they suddenly disappeared. At first, I didn’t worry, as my father frequently went on excursions, sometimes for months or even longer. But half a month ago, my father’s Soul Lamp started flickering and grew extremely faint. That’s when I realized something was terribly wrong."

"Using the Soul Lamp as a guide, I eventually found the place where my father disappeared. However, it was a dangerous area, and I lacked the confidence to enter alone. That’s why I put up a bounty, hoping to recruit a cultivator skilled in Magical Combat to assist."

Soul Lamp?

Gu Yuan couldn’t help but be surprised. The creation of a Soul Lamp is no simple task; it requires extremely precious Life Soul Dao Materials. Usually, even the Inner Sect Disciples of major sects couldn’t afford a Soul Lamp. But the person before him actually had one, indicating an unusual background.

The "Forbidden Technique Thunder Spirit Evil-Breaking Seal" wasn’t something just anyone could casually offer either.

The black-robed woman hesitated slightly, eventually offering a vague explanation: "It’s merely an inheritance from the previous generation..."

Inheritance? Could she be the last member or a remnant of a sect wiped out in the Western Sea Realm?

Gu Yuan understood but chose not to dwell too much on this matter, instead asking, "May I know your father’s cultivation? And what about his friend?"

"My father was also at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, just a step away from reaching the mid-stage."

"As for his friend, also at the early stage of Foundation Establishment."

Both at the early stage of Foundation Establishment?

Gu Yuan scrutinized the black-robed woman before him, unable to contain his astonishment.

A father and daughter at the same stage was indeed remarkable.

Yet, upon reflection, it made sense. For a Foundation Establishment cultivator without extraordinary talent, being stuck at a stage for decades wasn’t uncommon.

This amount of time would allow a highly talented individual to catch up in cultivation.

"My father’s cultivation technique was unique, so even though he was only at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, his capabilities were exceptional, unlike ordinary cultivators at that stage. As for me, I was just fortunate to receive a few opportunities, which accelerated my cultivation..."

The black-robed woman added.

"Where is the secret location, may I ask?"

Gu Yuan continued to inquire.

"Fellow Daoist, you must agree to assist me and sign a contract with no possibility of backing out before I can disclose the location."

The black-robed woman decided to remain cautious.

"I need to see the Thunder Seal first."

Gu Yuan pondered slightly before speaking.

The black-robed woman did not refuse and handed Gu Yuan a Jade Scroll.

Scanning it with his Divine Sense, Gu Yuan’s eyes immediately lit up with joy.

"If a Spiritual Treasure is found within the secret location, what should be done?"

Gu Yuan asked again.

"The priority is to find my father, but if a discovery is made, it can belong to you, fellow Daoist."

"In that case, we should be honest with each other. May I have a glimpse of your true appearance?"

Throughout their conversation, Gu Yuan still didn’t know what the woman looked like. The black robe seemed to be a rare treasure, as both Gu Yuan’s Heaven-Revealing Spirit Eye and Divine Sense failed to discern her true appearance and aura.

Exploring a Secret Realm without knowing the appearance of the person beside you was somewhat unsettling. Should they encounter an ambush, there might be significant losses.

The black-robed woman hesitated slightly, seemingly not expecting such a request from Gu Yuan. But after a brief pause, she removed her hood.

Instantly, the entire chamber seemed to bloom with spring, and her beauty was breathtaking.