Dashing Student Chapter 1339: Taiyin Essence

Chen Nan was taken aback when Xin Zi proactively presented the Spirit Stones, though after a moment's reflection, it seemed entirely reasonable given how he had rescued Ten Thousand Treasures Island.

Furthermore, every single one of those stones turned out to be top-grade Spirit Stones, a clear sign of Xin Zi's heartfelt sincerity.

As a result, Chen Nan accepted the storage bag without hesitation: "Thank you, Island Master."

It was like receiving a timely gift just as drowsiness struck—Xin Zi arrived with the Spirit Stones right when Chen Nan pondered ways to gather more, filling him with immense gratification.

Xin Zi's delight grew even stronger upon seeing Chen Nan take them: "Sir, I have a small request to make."

"Oh? Speak it," Chen Nan replied, fully aware that such gifts came with strings attached.

Xin Zi fidgeted with his hands in anxiety: "It's nothing major; I simply hope to invite Sir to serve as a patron for our island. In return, we'll provide Sir with an annual supply of Spirit Stones."

"Naturally, we won't place any burdens on Sir—only that if our island encounters difficulties, you might offer some assistance."

Chen Nan arched his eyebrows faintly; this offer essentially showered him with free Spirit Stones, particularly since Ten Thousand Treasures Island fell under the Righteous Alliance's territory and enjoyed their usual safeguards.

This recent incident had been nothing but luck.

"With the Island Master's such warm invitation, I will consent," Chen Nan agreed with a nod.

"Wonderful!" Xin Zi's excitement was unmistakable: "In truth, our island possesses a treasure vault stocked with prizes from the Righteous Alliance."

"If Sir doesn't mind the selection, maybe you could take a glance around it."

Even if it felt a tad forward to receive without reciprocating, Chen Nan couldn't ignore such a straightforward chance, so he inclined his head: "Very well, I'll have a look then."

"Please do, please do." Xin Zi beamed with joy, secretly hoping that witnessing Ten Thousand Treasures Island's splendor might convince Chen Nan to remain.

Shortly after, they reached the treasure vault inside the Island Master Mansion, shielded by a protective array; stepping inside revealed an assortment of goods as promised.

Spiritual Artifacts and talismans dominated the collection, with Elixir Pills coming in second; not a single Spirit Stone was in sight.

Chen Nan examined each piece carefully, noting they were all Seventh or Eighth Grade, none of which piqued his curiosity, leaving him rather let down.

From the corner of his vision, a haphazard stack of items caught his attention, igniting a spark of interest, so he gestured toward it: "What's that over there?"

"Ah, those are the spoils we captured during the fight for this island, mostly pulled from the storage bags of fallen Demon Cultivators."

"Any valuables were removed ages ago."

The more casually Xin Zi dismissed them, the more Chen Nan's intrigue deepened, prompting him to approach and sift through the pile—only to face swift disillusionment.

True enough, only worthless scraps lingered.

As he prepared to depart, something at the pile's base drew his eye: a sleek, ivory bone resembling polished jade.

This bone measured about a foot in length, its source mysterious, feeling chill against the skin and notably weighty.

"What might this be?"

Xin Zi shook his head: "That white bone originated from a Demon Sect Nascent Soul Elder's storage bag, yet beyond its remarkable durability, it holds no unique qualities."

"If it were truly ordinary, why would a esteemed Nascent Soul Realm cultivator bother storing a simple bone?"

Chen Nan narrowed his eyes, a sudden idea flashing through his thoughts; without delay, he drew the Sword Chenyuan and slashed forcefully at the bone.

The immense power combined with the Sword Chenyuan's heft split the bone apart, exposing a rolled-up beast skin concealed within.

"This..." Xin Zi stood stunned, never imagining a secret hid inside the bone!

He looked from Chen Nan to the beast skin on the floor, lost in contemplation.

Little wonder Chen Nan wielded such formidable strength—with his daring yet meticulous approach, he dismissed others' judgments outright; even if they deemed it futile, he tested it anyway, and luck rewarded him handsomely.

Chen Nan himself hadn't foreseen this fortunate twist; he snatched up the beast skin and spread it open, unveiling a map.

The map showed three towering peaks, like jagged blades piercing the ocean, with the central one highlighted.

Moreover, a strange object adorned the peak's depiction, shaped like a warped crescent.

"Where could this place be? And what's with this curved moon?"

Xin Zi appeared just as baffled: "Sir, in my younger days, I roamed the vast Endless Sea and visited numerous spots, but I've never come across tales of such triple peaks."

"With their striking appearance, if they were real, word would have reached me; maybe... they're located beyond the East Sea."

Chen Nan lifted an eyebrow in curiosity: "East Sea? Does the Endless Sea split into different areas?"

Xin Zi let out a light laugh: "Absolutely, the Endless Sea stretches endlessly, its limits unknown and uncharted by any; our knowledge covers only a fraction."

"To make navigation easier, we take the Nine Provinces Continent as the hub and classify the surrounding waters into four parts: the East, South, West, and North Seas."

"Our current position is within the East Sea."

Chen Nan nodded thoughtfully; though he'd spent considerable time in the Endless Sea, this detail was new to him, which clarified why Gongshu Wu boasted only as the top Artifact Refiner in the East Sea.

Likely, in the Endless Sea's broader context, this was everyday lore, so no one had bothered explaining it to Chen Nan.

"If it's situated in another sea, that complicates matters... but what's the deal with this moon?"

Xin Zi furrowed his brow, mulling it over at length before slapping his thigh in realization: "I got it—if I'm right, that must be the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Object known as 'Taiyin Essence'."

"Heaven and Earth Spiritual Object?" Given Chen Nan's ongoing pursuit to bolster his Myriad Phenomena Golden Core, where such rare treasures served as prime cultivation aids, he perked up immediately.

"Yes, Taiyin Essence is rumored to be solidified moonlight, amassed across eons. Should a cultivator succeed in refining it, their practice under moonlight would surge forward," Xin Zi elaborated.

"I understand." Chen Nan brimmed with elation; while his Myriad Phenomena Golden Core boasted great might, it consumed tens or even hundreds of times the resources of typical cultivators and craved accelerated progress.

Chen Nan's quick strides owed much to the Demon Clan's 'Taotie Technique,' which siphoned cultivation from the fallen.

Without such methods, sticking to standard practices would have slowed him considerably.

Thus, Taiyin Essence proved an ideal Heaven and Earth Spiritual Object, not only infusing his Myriad Phenomena Golden Core with lunar essence but also boosting his cultivation pace.

"Island Master, I leave it to you to probe the whereabouts of these three peaks. I require their exact position."

Xin Zi nodded eagerly: "Sir, rest easy—I will dig deep into this. Any updates, and you'll hear from me right away."

A faint grin crossed Chen Nan's face.

"The Taiyin Essence shall be mine!"