136: Chapter 136 Arriving in Tianya City, the Hunter of the Sea is Tempted

Tianya City was much livelier than Ye Qing had imagined.

This city, nestled between the mountains and the sea, had walls built from massive white reef stones; weathered by the sea breeze year-round, their surfaces were covered in fine pores and the marks of time.

There were no guards at the city gate, nor was anyone inspecting those entering; anyone could come and go freely.

Ye Qing mingled with the sparse flow of people and walked into this coastal city.

The architectural style within the city was completely different from the inland; most buildings were constructed from stones or shells mixed with mud, low and sturdy, with roofs covered in thick seaweed to adapt to the windy seaside climate.

The streets were permeated with a heavy, fishy scent of the sea, mixed with the peculiar odors of dried fish, salt, and some unknown seaweed.

Pedestrians on the street mostly wore short, sturdy outfits; they had tanned skin and fierce expressions, with various Magical Artifacts or weapons hanging from their waists. Their cultivation levels ranged from the Qi Refining Stage to the Golden Core Stage, and occasionally, one could sense one or two obscure yet powerful auras, clearly having reached the Nascent Soul Stage.

"The local customs here are quite fierce. It seems that making a living in the Endless Sea is not an easy task."

Ye Qing thought to himself as he walked slowly along the street, his gaze sweeping across the shops on both sides.

The goods sold in the shops here were also vastly different from those inland.

There were shells of various bright colors and strange shapes; dried medicinal herbs like seahorses and sea dragons; pearls and coral emitting faint Spiritual Qi; and Magical Artifacts and weapons made from the bones or scales of deep-sea Yao Beasts.

Ye Qing stopped in front of a Materials shop that looked quite large in scale.

Hanging on the shop door was a wooden sign, mottled by the erosion of the sea breeze, with the three large characters "Four Seas Pavilion" written on it.

He stepped inside.

The interior space was not small; in several huge aquariums, some colorful and uniquely shaped marine creatures swam about, emitting faint water-attributed Spiritual Qi. The surrounding shelves were filled with various Materials produced from the ocean.

A small old man wearing a blue short jacket, sporting a goat beard, and having shrewd eyes was sitting behind the counter, clicking away on an abacus. Seeing a customer arrive, he hurriedly looked up, his face breaking into a professional smile.

"This Fellow Daoist, you look very unfamiliar? First time in Tianya City, right? What would you like to see? This shop has all kinds of deep-sea spiritual Materials and Yao Beast Materials; we have everything, and the prices are fair!"

"Shopkeeper, I would like to ask about something," Ye Qing said straightforwardly. "In this Endless Sea, where are there more Yao Beasts? I want to find a place to hunt some Yao Beasts, hone my skills, and earn some Spirit Stones along the way."

Upon hearing this, the small old man's eyes flashed with a sharp light. He looked Ye Qing up and down and smiled. "Fellow Daoist, you have asked the right person. When it comes to where there are many Yao Beasts, where it is dangerous, or where there are Opportunities in this Endless Sea, I know it all like the back of my hand!"

He paused, lowered his voice, and continued: "About three thousand li east of the coast, there is a sea region called the 'Storm Sea Region'. It is plagued by constant storms all year round, and the underwater currents are turbulent, but precisely because of this, it has gathered a large number of marine Yao Beasts, including many third-rank and even fourth-rank ones. Many Yao Beast hunting teams in the city like to try their luck in that sea region. However, the risks are also high; every year, many people lose their lives there."

"Storm Sea Region..." Ye Qing silently noted the name.

"Besides the Storm Sea Region, there is another place called the 'Dragon Bone Abyss'. It is said that in the ancient times, it was the place where a True Dragon fell. Deep within the abyss, not only are there powerful Yao Beasts, but there may also be a Treasure Trove or Legacy left behind by the True Dragon. However, that place is too dangerous; it is said that a Cultivator at the Nascent Soul Late Stage once went in to investigate and did not make it out alive. If you intend to go, Fellow Daoist, you must think twice," the small old man added.

"Dragon Bone Abyss... the place where a True Dragon fell?" Ye Qing felt a stir in his heart, but his face remained calm. "Many thanks for the information, Shopkeeper. I have noted these two places."

He then purchased from the small old man a more detailed nautical chart marking the major sea regions, islands, and the distribution of Yao Beasts in the Endless Sea, as well as some Talismans and Medicinal Pills for stealthy movement in the sea, before leaving the Four Seas Pavilion.

Walking out of the Four Seas Pavilion, Ye Qing looked up at the scorching sun in the sky and the vast, boundless blue sea in the distance, a glimmer of anticipation flashing in his eyes.

"Storm Sea Region... Dragon Bone Abyss... This Endless Sea seems to be much more interesting than I imagined."

He found an inn near the pier, requested a room facing the sea, and settled in.

He planned to rest in Tianya City for a few days to familiarize himself with the environment and rules of the sea, and on the other hand, to make necessary preparations for venturing deep into the Endless Sea.