It also took quite a few connections...

Just then, footsteps sounded from behind.

"Of course."

"It's rare to see young friends like you two, roaming the Chaotic Star Sea at the Golden Core cultivation level."

"Running away from the elders at home, are you?"

Su Ji turned around and saw a middle-aged man in a blue robe approaching at a leisurely pace.

The man looked to be in his forties, with a refined face. He held a folding fan in his hand and asked with a smile.

Su Ji said nothing, only nodded.

"This old man's surname is Lin, given name Yuan."

As Lin Yuan spoke, he closed his folding fan and clasped his fists toward Su Ji.

"Seeing you two young friends watching the sea here, I take it you're interested in the Starry Sea Spectacle of this Boundless Sea?"

Su Ji looked at him without answering directly.

This man's timing was too convenient.

"Senior Lin, if you have something to say, please speak plainly."

"Haha, you're indeed straightforward, young friend." Lin Yuan chuckled. "To be honest, this old man came here to do a bit of business with you two."

"What kind of business?"

"Regarding the Starry Sea Spectacle of the Boundless Sea." Lin Yuan lowered his voice. "This old man has in his possession a detailed set of information about the spectacle, including its timing, location, and a few points of caution."

"If you two young friends are interested, this old man would be willing to part with it."

Su Ji raised an eyebrow. "What's the price?"

"Not expensive." Lin Yuan held up one finger. "Fifty thousand high-grade spirit stones."

For an ordinary Golden Core cultivator, that price would take everything they had and then some, and still might not be enough.

But Su Ji didn't reject it outright.

He looked at Lin Yuan and suddenly asked, "How do you know we can afford that price?"

Lin Yuan simply pointed his folding fan at Su Ji's storage ring.

"Young friend spent generously at the night market last night, and this old man happened to see it."

"Moreover..."

Lin Yuan paused, then said meaningfully, "Judging by how you dodged that sea beast attack just now, it's clear that you two are no ordinary folk. I was originally prepared to lend a hand, but it seems I was being presumptuous."

Su Ji was silent for a moment.

"Why should I trust you?"

"Young friend may choose not to." Lin Yuan shrugged. "But this old man can let you see the goods first."

He pulled a jade slip from his robes and handed it to Su Ji.

"Inside this records the patterns of the last three occurrences of the spectacle, along with experience summaries left by predecessors."

"Young friend can take a look first. If you find it useful, then we can talk price."

Su Ji took the jade slip and extended his spiritual sense into it.

A moment later, he looked up, a hint of surprise on his face.

The contents of the jade slip were indeed very detailed.

Not only did it record the timing patterns of the spectacle, but it also marked several relatively safe entry points into the sea, as well as some dangerous areas to watch out for.

Most importantly, it mentioned a type of sea beast called the "Starlight Fish."

This beast usually dwelled in the deep sea, only surfacing when the spectacle appeared.

And the "Star Cores" inside their bodies were among the most precious treasures of the Boundless Sea.

"How is it?" Lin Yuan asked with a smile. "This old man's information should be worth the price, right?"

Su Ji returned the jade slip to him.

"It's indeed good."

"But fifty thousand high-grade spirit stones is too expensive."

Lin Yuan's smile faded somewhat upon hearing this.

"How much do you think it's worth, young friend?"

"Ten thousand." Su Ji held up one finger.

"Ten thousand?"

Lin Yuan's smile vanished.

He unfolded his folding fan again and waved it slowly twice.

"Young friend, that price is a bit excessive."

Su Ji shrugged and turned to leave.

"Wait."

Lin Yuan called out to him, a smile returning to his face, though this time it carried a note of helplessness.

"Young friend, this old man's fifty thousand spirit stones is not an open demand."

He paused, lowering his voice. "To be honest, these fifty thousand spirit stones buy more than just information."

"Oh?"

Su Ji stopped and turned back. "Are you selling my life?"

Lin Yuan looked around to make sure no one else was nearby before continuing, "Young friend jokes. This old man wouldn't resort to bullying others through force."

"What these fifty thousand spirit stones mainly cover is a spot."

"A spot?"

Su Ji raised an eyebrow.

"What kind of spot?"

"A spot to enter the Boundless Sea."

Su Ji's gaze grew more intrigued.

"Isn't this an open opportunity?"

"Why would one need to buy a qualification to enter?"

Lin Yuan said seriously, "Young friend may not know this, but the Starry Sea Spectacle of the Boundless Sea, though it appears to be an open opportunity, in reality..."

He shook his head.

"Not just anyone can enter."

Lin Yuan let out a light chuckle.

He closed his folding fan and tapped it against his palm.

"In this world, there has never been such a thing as fairness."

"Young friend may be the young master of some great family, raised in comfort at home, unaware of the rules outside."

"But this old man can tell you clearly..."

Lin Yuan's tone turned earnest.

"The Chaotic Star Sea, on the surface, looks like a lawless no-man's land, but in truth, behind it all..."

"I'll stop here. I can't say too much. Those who understand will understand, and if you still don't get it, then there's no helping it..."

"So the Starry Sea Spectacle of the Boundless Sea is practically a money tree."

Su Ji said nothing, simply listening quietly.

"Every time the spectacle appears, countless cultivators flock here, hoping to try their luck."

Lin Yuan continued. "But those who actually manage to enter are no more than one or two out of ten."

Su Ji grew interested. "Why?"

"Because those major powers set up restrictions around the outer perimeter of the sea. Only cultivators holding the 'Pass Tokens' they distribute can enter smoothly."

As he spoke, Lin Yuan pulled a palm-sized jade token from his robes.

The token was carved with intricate patterns and emitted a faint spiritual light.

"This is the Pass Token."

Lin Yuan waved the token in front of Su Ji.

"Without this, no matter how high your cultivation is, you can only stare helplessly from the outside."

"All sorts of 'accidents' will stop you before you even get close..."

Su Ji looked at the token, narrowing his eyes.

"Those cultivators without Pass Tokens just accept that?"

"Accept?"

Lin Yuan laughed.

"Of course not."

"Every time the spectacle appears, quite a few cultivators try to force their way in."

"And then?"

"And then?"

Lin Yuan's smile turned somewhat sardonic.

"And then there is no 'then.'"

"Of those who try to force their way in, if one in ten survives, they can count themselves incredibly lucky."

"Those major powers are not to be trifled with."

"Besides, the cultivators who die trying—aren't they just another form of gray income?"

Su Ji was silent for a moment.

"So, your fifty thousand spirit stones are buying an identity?"

"Exactly."

Lin Yuan nodded.

"The sect behind this old man holds some influence in the Chaotic Star Sea."

"We may not be among the top powers, but securing a few spots is no problem."

"As long as young friend is willing to pay fifty thousand high-grade spirit stones, you can be registered as an idle guest elder in our sect. That way, you can enter the Boundless Sea openly and legitimately."

He paused, then added, "Moreover, with that identity, moving around the Chaotic Star Sea will be much more convenient."

"A strong dragon cannot overpower a local snake. Young friend, you may have a powerful background, but since you're a stranger in these parts, it's always good to have someone backing you up."

Su Ji listened but did not respond right away. He turned around and gazed at the shimmering, wave-glinting surface of the sea.

"And what if I insist on forcing my way through?"

Lin Yuan was taken aback for a moment, then shook his head with a wry smile.

"Young friend, this old man advises you not to take that risk."

"Those major powers all have Void Refinement stage experts guarding them."

"Besides..."

"This time, the strange spectacle is different from the ones before."

Lin Yuan's expression turned grave.

"This old man heard through certain channels that this time, the Star Sea Spectacle may bring forth an extraordinary treasure."

"What treasure?"

"I don't know."

Lin Yuan shook his head. "But it's definitely not an ordinary item."

Su Ji nodded thoughtfully.

"So those major powers intend to claim this treasure for themselves?"

"Exactly."

Lin Yuan let out a sigh. "That's why the passage tokens are being distributed with such strictness this time."

"For someone like this old man, it took a lot of connections just to secure one spot."

"But I'm old now, and I don't have that much ambition left."

"An alleged opportunity is far less valuable than fifty thousand top-grade spirit stones."

He looked at Su Ji seriously and said:

"Young friend, this old man's fifty thousand spirit stones is truly not expensive."

"If you were to look elsewhere, you might not even get it at this price."

Su Ji was silent for a moment.

"Let me think it over."

"Very well."

Lin Yuan did not press him. He simply tucked the jade token away.

"If you make up your mind, you can come find this old man at Roaring Sea Sect within three days."

"Of course, if I've already sold it to someone else by then, I'm afraid that's just bad luck."

With that, he cupped his hands toward Su Ji, then turned and left.

Su Ji watched his figure disappear into the crowd before finally looking away.