There weren't many people coming and going in the city, but those who did were clearly well-dressed or carried themselves with a refined temperament—both men and women.
At the entrance of the Xuan Dan Pavilion stood two late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, constantly watching those who entered. Anyone who lacked proper attire was promptly denied entry.
Lin Che walked in slowly. Although his clothes weren't luxurious, his aura alone was far more imposing than theirs.
The two cultivators at the door didn't dare to stop him. No one could say for sure who might walk through these doors—offending the wrong person could bring far more trouble than it was worth.
The moment Lin Che stepped inside the Xuan Dan Pavilion, he was hit with a rich medicinal aroma.
The floor was entirely paved with exquisite white jade, smooth as a mirror, clearly reflecting the people walking by.
Pearls that shone in the dark were embedded in the walls, emitting a soft glow and lighting up the pavilion as if it were daylight.
At the center stood a massive sculpture of a cauldron—so lifelike, it seemed ready to begin pill refining at any moment. Surrounding it were well-organized counters, each displaying beautiful jade boxes containing rare and precious pills.
Behind the counters, shop attendants in simple robes were busy explaining the effects of the pills to customers.
The pavilion had two floors. A spiral staircase led to the upper level, where private rooms were available for more distinguished guests to discuss business or make selections in peace.
Besides the dense medicinal aroma, there was also a faint herbal fragrance in the air—refreshing and calming.
Li Muwan walked up to a counter and asked, "Do you have thousand-year-old Blood Ginseng and Bone Spirit Grass here?"
The attendant glanced at her, and upon seeing her stunning beauty, was momentarily dazed. He hadn't expected such a beauty to appear in Teng Jia City.
However, his gaze quickly shifted to Lin Che behind her. The instant he saw him, the attendant felt a chill down his spine and immediately looked away. He quickly responded, "We only have Bone Spirit Grass in stock. The thousand-year-old Blood Ginseng has already been taken."
Li Muwan looked disappointed. She had planned to refine pills to suppress the murderous aura within Senior Brother Lin Che, but didn't expect the Blood Ginseng to be so hard to acquire.
After a hundred years of killing, Lin Che's aura was thick with evil and resentment. Just standing near him felt like being plunged into an icy abyss.
That's why Li Muwan sought to refine pills—to suppress that aura and prevent it from backfiring in the future, which could cause a sharp decline his cultivation.
Lin Che tossed a bag of spirit stones onto the counter and said, "The Blood Ginseng is worth one thousand low-grade spirit stones. Here are three thousand. I'm buying it."
The attendant scratched his nose awkwardly and said, "I'm sorry, Fellow Daoist. It's not that I don't want to sell it to you. It's just that... the person who ordered this herb isn't someone you can afford to offend. Please don't risk your life over a single herb."
"Can't afford to offend?"
Lin Che sneered. In the entire third-level cultivation country—no, even in a fourth-level cultivation country—there is no one who can threaten his life.
He was about to reach out and take the Blood Ginseng when a mocking laugh sounded behind him.
"If you touch that Blood Ginseng, I guarantee you won't leave Teng Jia City alive."
A young man walked in from the entrance. He was around twenty, with sharp eyes and sword-like brows. He wore a robe as white as snow, with a black vine embroidered on the cuff.
Lin Che glanced at him. Judging by his appearance, this must be Teng Li—young master of Teng Jia City and grandson of Teng Huayuan.
Teng Li held his head high, swept his gaze over Lin Che, and said, "You must be new to Teng Jia City. Let me make something clear—when I want something, I get it. Even if it costs lives."
Then his gaze shifted to Li Muwan behind Lin Che, and he grinned. "Didn't expect to find such a beauty here. Perfect. I happen to need a maid. From now on, you'll serve me."
Li Muwan's face turned red with anger. "How shameless! Is this what Teng Huayuan taught you?"
"My grandfather won't blame me," Teng Li said smugly. "He told me I'm the young master of the Teng Clan and the Teng Jia City is ours. So, everything in the world belongs to me."
He glanced at Lin Che and sneered. "Teng Jia! Teng Yi! Cripple this man's cultivation and throw him out of the city. As for the woman, bring her to my mansion. She'll warm my bed."
As his words fell, two shadows appeared out of nowhere beside him. They quickly solidified into two wrinkled old men.
One of them frowned and hesitated. "Young Master, wouldn't this be a violation of the city's no-fighting rules? If the ancestor hears of this—"
Teng Li snorted. "I'll take full responsibility. Now move!"
With no choice, the two early-stage Core Formation cultivators launched toward Lin Che.
Lin Che stood calmly, one hand behind his back. He spoke just one word: "Die."
The word turned into a surging wave, shaking the air violently. The impact echoed again and again in the ears of the two cultivators.
In an instant, both men exploded into mist. Not even their Golden Cores remained—everything had been reduced to ashes.
Teng Li's eyes widened in disbelief, staring at Lin Che. Two Core Formation masters... gone, just like that.
"You... if you kill me, my grandfather will never let you go! This is Teng Jia City—you won't escape!"
His voice trembled as he staggered backward. For the first time, someone dared to kill right in front of him—and now, he might be next.
Lin Che raised a finger.
Teng Li immediately crushed the longevity lock in his hand. A golden light flashed—and Teng Huayuan, ancestor of Teng Jia City, appeared.
But the moment he saw Lin Che, his legs went weak. He fell to his knees and cried out in fear, "I didn't know Senior Lin Che had arrived! Forgive me for not welcoming you!"
Cold sweat streamed down Teng Huayuan's back. Even a fool could guess who caused all this—his own grandson, Teng Li.
He had originally planned to send Teng Li to the Heng Yue Sect as Lin Che's disciple. Teng Li's talent was high—he had reached the mid-Foundation Establishment realm at just twenty. Breaking through to Nascent Soul realm would've been no problem in the future.