One thousand purple pearls equaled one thousand taels of gold in the Nine Provinces. Teng Qingshan was certainly no Shangguan Quan, a simple fisherman with little worldly knowledge. Teng Qingshan understood perfectly... this unprecedented treasure was easily worth ten thousand gold, if not more. However, even more purple pearls held little significance for him. After a brief stay, Teng Qingshan and Li Jun were set to depart. One thousand purple pearls would be more than enough for them to indulge in their purchases.

"Good, one thousand purple pearls it is!" The old man agreed with a smile, not attempting to haggle at all. He inwardly chuckled: This bearded young man, judging by his attire, is clearly not of high birth or wealth. He probably knows nothing about the market value of these rare treasures. Little did he know... Teng Qingshan’s visit to Moonlit Island was merely to procure some supplies before moving on.

"Here are one thousand purple pearls." The old man presented a large pouch to Teng Qingshan. Teng Qingshan opened it to see the purple pearls, each one exquisitely beautiful. Yet, for them to serve as currency, it was evident... the quantity of these pearls on Moonlit Island must be substantial.

Teng Qingshan weighed the pouch lightly, estimating it to be close to a thousand pearls, then stood up. "Good, we are settled."

"May I ask where you two acquired these green pearls?" the old man inquired further.

Teng Qingshan smiled, then took Li Jun and left directly, only offering a parting remark—"Pure luck."

Shangguan Quan followed Teng Qingshan and Li Jun obediently. In the town, Teng Qingshan bought a sack of grain, various cooking condiments, many fruits, and some non-perishable food items. He also purchased large quantities of clothing and footwear.

"Finally, enough clothes to change into!" Teng Qingshan now looked completely refreshed, dressed in a clean set of cyan tight-fitting clothes, his black hair flowing, stubble covering his jaw. All purchases complete, the sun was already high in the sky. Teng Qingshan and Li Jun decided to have a proper meal in town. How could food eaten adrift at sea compare to what a fine restaurant offered?

"Sir, the Golden Sword Restaurant is the finest establishment in North Yan Town," Shangguan Quan explained, after Teng Qingshan commanded, "Take us to the best restaurant; don't worry about the cost for us." Shangguan Quan led them to the Golden Sword Restaurant.

On the second floor of the Golden Sword Restaurant, it wasn't yet noon, so the crowd was thin.

"Looks like quite a variety," Teng Qingshan remarked as he glanced at the menu before handing it to Li Jun. "Xiao Jun, pick whatever you like."

"You, sit down too," Teng Qingshan said to Shangguan Quan. "Eat with us. After following us all day, we won't treat you poorly."

Shangguan Quan sat down, filled with pleasant surprise. "Thank you, Sir."

"Let's see what this place tastes like," Li Jun laughed. She and Teng Qingshan ordered a total of eighteen dishes. Eating eighteen dishes between three people was certainly extravagant, but Teng Qingshan and Li Jun were focused on sampling the local flavors.

A short while later—

The table was soon laden with plates of delicacies. Teng Qingshan frequently picked up food with his chopsticks: "Hmm, not bad, not bad, the taste is indeed excellent!" Anyone who had drifted at sea for over three months would undoubtedly praise such a rich feast. Li Jun, being a lady, was more reserved, eating slower, unlike Teng Qingshan who devoured his food.

"Clack! Clack! Clack!"

Two young men, clad in white tight-fitting uniforms and carrying long swords in cyan scabbards on their backs, ascended the stairs to the second floor.

"Sir, look!" Shangguan Quan exclaimed excitedly, "Those two coming up are disciples of the Sword Tower!"

Teng Qingshan turned to observe the sword-shaped insignia embroidered on the left chest of the white uniforms worn by the two youths. "Judging by their eyes and their bearing... they look like master swordsmen," Teng Qingshan mused internally. Of course, despite his internal acknowledgment, he didn't give them much thought. The entire Moonlit Island only housed ten million people. By proportion, there might not even be a single Void Realm expert!

According to the Emperor Yu, the nine great sources of the world's spiritual energy were all located on the Nine Provinces landmass, suppressed by the Nine Tripods. The Nine Provinces was the true core of heaven and earth, where the spiritual energy of heaven and earth was most abundant! Compared to the North Sea Continent, or the ordinary islands of the North Sea, the spiritual energy was inferior to that of the Nine Provinces. To birth a Void Realm expert in other regions would likely be far more difficult than in the Nine Provinces!

...

As the two Sword Tower disciples arrived, they immediately drew the attention of many on the second floor. The disciples paid them no mind; they were long accustomed to it.

"Senior Brother, let's sit over there."

The two Sword Tower disciples chose a table near the window, not far from Teng Qingshan's group.

"Hmm? Junior Brother, look over there. That girl in purple seems to be looking our way."

"This girl in purple doesn't look like an ordinary villager; she must be from a prominent family. North Yan Town is small; if such a beautiful girl were from here, we would surely know her."

The two Sword Tower disciples smiled and raised their cups in a gesture of greeting toward Li Jun.

"Miss, there are only two of us at our table. Why not join us? We could drink and converse—what a pleasant affair that would be?" one of the slightly fairer youths said with a gentle smile. Sword Tower disciples were invariably geniuses on Moonlit Island, each possessing a core of arrogance.

At Teng Qingshan's table.

Teng Qingshan and Li Jun exchanged a look and smiled. Teng Qingshan chuckled and spoke, "You two just enjoy your drinks; don't get any ideas about my little sister!"

The faces of the two Sword Tower disciples darkened. On Moonlit Island, few dared to speak to Sword Tower disciples in such a manner.

"Who are you? State your name!" one of the darker, leaner youths frowned and demanded.

"State my name? Little fellow, just drink your wine quietly," Teng Qingshan replied, throwing his head back to drain his cup, then making a sound of satisfaction. "This wine isn't bad."

Whoosh!

The two Sword Tower disciples stood up, their gazes sharp, fixed on Teng Qingshan. The darker, leaner youth said coldly, "Brother, what you just said... should be considered a provocation against us Sword Tower disciples!"

The entire second floor quieted down, all eyes turning toward them.

"Provocation?"

Teng Qingshan turned to look at the pair. "Provocation against you?" He let out a low laugh, then returned to sipping his wine, completely ignoring the two.

"Arrogant!" The darker, leaner youth snorted angrily. "We'll see if you have the means to be so arrogant!" With a sharp clang, he drew the long sword from his back. No word agreed upon, the sword was drawn!

"Take this!" the lean youth shouted fiercely, and a sharp, cold gleam instantly slashed through the air, aimed at Teng Qingshan's throat.

Teng Qingshan, holding his wine cup in his right hand, didn't even look. He simply waved his left hand out!

"Slap!"

Teng Qingshan’s palm clamped directly onto the blade of the sword. The lean youth's face changed drastically. He tried desperately to wrench his sword free, but with Teng Qingshan's hand gripping the blade, no matter how hard he tried, the sword would not budge an inch. "How is this possible? How can a hand grab a blade? Is his hand comparable to a divine weapon?"

"Senior Brother!" The fairer youth cried out in alarm, attempting to draw his own sword.

Teng Qingshan gave a sudden, sharp shake with his left hand.

"Crack!" The lean youth felt his wrist instantly shatter. The hilt slammed into his abdomen, and amidst a wave of intense pain, he was sent flying backward, simultaneously knocking his Junior Brother aside. A crash followed as tables and chairs tumbled over, the two falling in a heap onto the floor.

"What kind of strength is that?"

"I was gripping the handle, and he caught the blade, yet he could shatter my wrist. What kind of internal force technique is that?"

These two favored sons of heaven, sprawled on the floor, were utterly stunned.

Teng Qingshan tossed the sword aside. With a loud clatter, it struck the floor.

"Two little fellows." Teng Qingshan stood up, glanced at the two, and smiled, "Provocation? You claim I provoked you? What qualifications do you have that would warrant my provocation?"

The two Sword Tower disciples exchanged glances. Indeed, before this mysterious master, their actions seemed utterly ridiculous. Provoking him? Did they possess the standing to be provoked by him?

"To be disciples of the Sword Tower means your talents are decent," Teng Qingshan observed them briefly, then said with a light smile, "However, to become true experts, talent and comprehension are secondary; perseverance and mindset are far more important! Stop putting on airs in restaurants all day. Spend your time cultivating diligently in quiet solitude, otherwise, it is like rowing upstream—if you don't advance, you fall back."

Teng Qingshan's words caused the expressions of the two Sword Tower disciples to flicker rapidly. Shame? Unbearable?

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior!" One of them quickly stood up respectfully. The other also rose, offering sincere gratitude.

"Xiao Jun, let's go." Teng Qingshan was also satisfied with his meal.

"Mhm." Li Jun smiled and walked alongside Teng Qingshan. Shangguan Quan immediately followed. Noticing that everyone in the second floor was now looking at Teng Qingshan with the reverence reserved for transcendent masters and supreme experts, Shangguan Quan immediately puffed out his chest and strode after the pair downstairs. At that moment, Shangguan Quan felt immensely honored!

At noon, on the southern beach of Moonlit Island.

A large contingent of soldiers, carrying long swords and wearing simple armor, stood along the shore, surrounding a commanding officer. Currently, amidst the surging waves, a fast boat was being connected to a Tung Wood vessel.

"Sir, the anchor is stuck deep in the reef down there, and it's incredibly difficult to retrieve," a shout carried from a distance. "Brothers, there's no way to pull the anchor up." Teng Qingshan hadn't simply dropped anchor; he had submerged himself and wedged the anchor firmly into the rocks, ensuring that no matter how they tried to haul it up, it would not budge.

"Cut the chain! Cut it off!" the general roared on the sand.

"Yes, Sir!" came the response from afar.

"Damn it all!" the general cursed. "Why did he anchor so far out! We spent so much effort just to get over there, and the anchor is stuck in the reef!" The general was clearly furious. He had been busy since morning and still hadn't finished resolving the issue, nearly two hours gone. It wasn't entirely his fault, however. The Nine-Bend Ghost Domain, though the closest ghost domain to the beach, was still quite troublesome to deal with.

Not long after—

The Tung Wood vessel, freed from its anchor, drifted rapidly towards the beach with the current and soon came to rest on the sand.

"Sir, this is an excellent boat! The bottom has many dents, but it hasn't broken! It must have struck the reefs numerous times, yet remains intact," the soldiers disembarking exclaimed excitedly. "Truly a superior vessel! Our own barracks don't have boats this good."

"Sir, the wood of this ship is unlike any we've seen. It's not native to our island."

"Sir, there are many treasures inside the cabin—gems the size of fists! We've never seen anything like them." The hundreds of soldiers on the entire beach erupted in excitement.

On the deck of the Tung Wood vessel.

"Wow, such huge gems!" The general held up a fruit resembling an Iron Leaf Fruit, nearly the size of a fist. Under the sunlight, it appeared somewhat translucent, dazzling his eyes. He was visibly thrilled. "Hahahaha, brothers, we are rich, truly rich!"

"Yooow~~" A shrill, high-pitched cry suddenly rang out.