Samsara Paradise: Dream Weaver of Connections.

The news that Lin Yi was about to travel to Heru City to meet with the representative of the "Holy Flame Pharmacist" stirred up a huge wave among the violators in Aisenra, like a boulder thrown into a stagnant pool.

After returning to their respective bases, the leaders of the group of violators could no longer contain their excitement and, intentionally or unintentionally, spread the information that was enough to change the landscape of Eisenla.

The private channel of the public communication platform, a semi-public network used for exchanging intelligence, was instantly overwhelmed by a massive amount of discussion, verification, and speculation.

Encrypted information streams, like restless electronic ghosts, frantically darted between channels.

"Is the news true? Can that guy really get his hands on something better than the 'Gift of the Ancient Gods'?"

"Absolutely true! My men have personally experienced it; the [Life of the Tree] effect is immediate and has absolutely no side effects!"

"Does Sphinx know? What's his attitude?"

"Hmph, what kind of attitude could he have? Cutting off someone's livelihood is like killing their parents, let alone something that shakes their foundation..."

"Watch your words! Don't forget whose turf this is!"

There was a lot of discussion on the channel, but an unspoken understanding was forming.

Those leaders of the violators who had long harbored resentment towards Sphinx's autocratic rule and monopolistic control of resources not only failed to stop this trend, but also secretly and tacitly fueled it.

They knew all too well that Sphinx's ability to maintain his rule did not rely on pure force or personal charisma, but on his absolute control over the core channel for enhancing his strength: "The Gift of the Ancient Gods."

To control the gift is to control the lifeline of all those who crave power.

Now, an alternative that is not under the control of the Sphinx, and is safer and more "market-driven," has emerged. This is undoubtedly the most powerful lever to shake the foundations of the Sphinx's power.

When a wall falls, everyone pushes it down. As long as Lin Yi can prove its value and the stability and superiority of this new channel, they will not mind becoming part of the push, and they will even mind stepping on Sphinx's corpse to get a share of the profits.

Inside Sphinx's private study at Obsidian Manor.

The air was filled with a somber scent of old books mixed with some kind of spice.

Sphinx sat behind a large mahogany desk, with countless encrypted information streams scrolling and refreshing wildly on the floating screen in front of him, like a swarm of bees out of control.

His face, which always wore a calm and gentle smile, was now so gloomy it looked like it could drip water.

His lips, which usually curved slightly upward, were pressed into a tight line, and deep in his eyes was an undisguised weariness.

He leaned back in the cold, hard chair, his long, but slightly pale fingers tapping the mahogany armrest, producing a dull, rhythmic "tap, tap" sound that was particularly jarring in the quiet room.

Are these wolves under my command finally about to lose their temper? Sphinx sneered inwardly.

He knew better than anyone that these violators gathered in Eisenla were essentially a group of desperate people who would abandon everything for profit.

Their outward respect and obedience at this moment are entirely dependent on an extremely fragile balance—that is, whether Sphinx can continue to provide "ancient divine blessings" and whether anyone can challenge the monopoly of this channel.

If Lin Yi can consistently provide the potion called "Life of the Tree," and its effects and quantity are sufficient to meet the needs of most people, then the value of Hesphinx will plummet.

At that time, what awaits him will not be a dignified negotiation or a peaceful transfer of power, but a pack of hungry wolves driven by greater interests, who will rush up and devour him whole, leaving not a trace.

Sphinx raised his hand and vigorously rubbed his temples, which were twitching slightly from excessive mental tension.

A sense of powerlessness, as if things were completely out of his control, quietly crept into his heart.

He found himself seemingly caught in a carefully crafted paradox: he couldn't forcefully stop Lin Yi.

Doing so would be tantamount to admitting that he is afraid of competition, confirming his crimes of suppressing newcomers and monopolizing channels, which would immediately ignite the long-standing discontent, incite public anger, and could lead to the instant collapse of the alliance.

However, if he lets it go unchecked, or even pretends to be magnanimous and supports it, Lin Yi's influence and prestige will snowball, fueled by all the violators' thirst for power, until a new interest group centered around him is formed, ultimately replacing his position.

Now, almost all the violators' attention is focused on Lin Yi.

His Sphinx's orders, faced with the lure of tangible benefits, have lost their former deterrent power.

People's hearts are broken and it's hard to lead the team.

What troubled him even more was that bad news also came from Heru City.

His secret plans, using the power of the Moen family to blockade and suppress the hunter codenamed White Night, were actually broken through by the other party in the most brutal and direct way.

The guy named Bai Ye didn't bother with any schemes or tricks; he simply announced his arrival with a bloody and ruthless massacre, completely disrupting Sphinx's plans.

Ironically, Su Xiao, who should have been the number one enemy and relentless hunter in the eyes of all rule-breakers, has seen his popularity drop significantly among the rule-breakers because of Lin Yi's sudden emergence.

Apart from Sphinx and his core group who are still keeping a close eye on Su Xiao's every move and regard him as a major threat, most of the violators' forces have turned their attention to Lin Yi.

Power is the hardest currency on this cruel land.

Lin Yi, it seems, has gained control of the new printing of money.

In front of the teleportation array leading from Aisenla to Heru City, Lin Yi stood at the center of the array, followed by more than a dozen powerful violators.

These are no small fry; each of them is a pillar of their respective rulebreaker teams, and their strength is comparable to Sara's.

Their purpose for this trip was clear: first, to protect Lin Yi, the "God of Wealth," and to make an appearance before the "Holy Flame" representatives; second, to deter Sphinx from taking any irrational actions out of desperation.

We must not easily give up this hard-won new channel.

Bai Su and Bei Siyi from Sara's team stood on either side of Lin Yi, forming the visible bodyguards.

Lan Niba stayed behind in the stone house, since the house needed someone to look after it.

After the teleportation array lit up and the sensation of spatial distortion subsided, the group found themselves in Heru City.

Stepping out of the teleportation array, one is greeted by dilapidated buildings and local residents hurrying by with wary expressions.

The atmosphere of Heru City is completely different from the primitive wildness of Eisenra, with a more oppressive and mysterious feel.

"Doctor, which way to go next?" asked a burly man with a scar on his face. He was the vice-captain of the "Black Bone" squad, known as "The Butcher."

Lin Yi did not answer immediately. Instead, he calmly took out the public communication platform and operated it a few times in front of everyone, as if he was confirming coordinates or receiving information.

After a moment, he put away the platform and said calmly, "Come with me."

Without any unnecessary words, the group silently followed behind Lin Yi, traversing the intricate streets of Heru City.

Their group attracted many prying eyes, but those eyes quickly withdrew after sensing the powerful aura emanating from them.

Ten minutes later, Lin Yi stopped in front of a magnificent and ancient-style building—the headquarters of the Wizarding Guild.

Lin Yi and his group stood quietly on a relatively empty stone plaza outside the Wizarding Guild's gate, making no further moves. They neither knocked on the door nor gave any signals, but simply waited.

The other violators also tacitly refrained from asking or urging them.

They exchanged glances, then quietly dispersed, forming a loose yet protective perimeter that covered all possible angles of attack.

They all understood that this was very likely the meeting place agreed upon by Lin Yi and the representative of the "Holy Flame Pharmacist".

Before the transaction is completed, any rash actions may cause unnecessary trouble.

Time passed second by second, and the only sounds in the square were the whistling of the wind as it passed through the narrow streets and the faint roars that could be heard in the distance.

The tension in the air built up like a tightly wound spring, causing some impatient violators to unconsciously begin to gently rub their weapons.

Three minutes felt exceptionally long at that moment.

Just as some people's patience was about to run out, a rhythmic sound of leather boots tapping on the ground came from the heavy metal doors of the wizarding society, growing louder as it approached.

"Tap...tap...tap..." The sound wasn't loud, but it seemed to strike directly into everyone's heart.

All the violators tensed instantly, their eyes fixed on the door that was about to open, like sharp arrows.

The next moment, with a creaking sound that made your teeth ache, the door was pushed open from the inside, just enough for a person to pass through.

Su Xiao, dressed in a black leather trench coat, appeared in everyone's sight.

A terrifying killing intent, honed from the mountains of corpses and seas of blood, spread out like an invisible tide, instantly enveloping the entire square.

The surrounding temperature seemed to drop several degrees in an instant, sending chills down one's spine.

Clang! Buzz! Click!

Almost the instant Su Xiao appeared, the dozen or so experienced violators behind Lin Yi reacted in unison, as if the most sophisticated machines had encountered the highest level of threat!

The sounds of swords being drawn, energy weapons activating, and gun safety disengaging echoed throughout the room.

The hunter-like aura emanating from Su Xiao was like a natural enemy to these rule-breakers!
The atmosphere instantly became tense, as if a single spark could ignite a devastating conflict!

All the violators were staring intently at Su Xiao, ready to unleash a barrage of attacks if he made even the slightest hostile move.

At this critical moment!
"Wait a minute."

Lin Yi's cool voice rang out, not loud, but clearly reaching everyone's ears.

He stood between his own team and Su Xiao, a move that completely exposed his back to his "comrades" who had just been at each other's throats, demonstrating great trust... or rather, absolute confidence in controlling the situation.

He calmly surveyed Su Xiao, completely unaware of the almost suffocating, terrifying killing intent emanating from him; his eyes were like a deep, ancient well.

Then, he slowly and deliberately uttered a string of unintelligible syllables: "Cromia...Sultana...Kelbos..."

This appears to be a specific type of ciphertext.

Su Xiao's face showed a perfectly timed "stunned" expression, and a very faint look of surprise flashed in her eyes.

He paused for a moment, then spoke, reciting a string of numbers in response: "7, 42, 189, 3."

Password: Connection successful.

Under the bewildered gazes of the violators around him, the surging killing intent around Su Xiao slowly receded like a tide. Although it remained cold, it no longer possessed that confrontational aggressiveness.

He gave Lin Yi a deep look, then took out a silver-gray metal box from his personal space.

The box was exquisitely crafted, with a potion bottle emblem bearing a burning white flame branded on its surface—the very symbol of the "Holy Flame Pharmacist."

The lock on the box was wrapped with intricate alchemical runes, and energy flowed slowly inside, emanating a dangerous aura that warned, "Do not touch it, or it will self-destruct."

This alchemical sealing method was recognized by the knowledgeable violators present, meaning it could only be safely opened through specific methods; forcibly breaking it would only result in the destruction of the contents inside.

Seeing that Su Xiao had taken out the box and that the two sides had completed a seemingly friendly handover, the violators behind Lin Yi exchanged glances and slowly put away their weapons.

Although hunters and violators are inherently opposed, the current situation is special.

This hunter, "White Night," was clearly acting as a trading representative for the "Holy Flame Pharmacist," rather than with the intention of hunting.

These rulebreakers who managed to reach the sixth rank weren't fools. They instantly understood the key point: Bai Ye's main targets were Sphinx and the lost supplies. As long as they didn't provoke him, he might not be willing to be enemies with all the rulebreakers at the same time.

Su Xiao's move cleverly transformed his role in the minds of the violators from a "relentless pursuer" to a "potential sympathizer with shared interests."

This will undoubtedly further accelerate the division within the Sphinx camp.

Su Xiao handed the sealed box to Lin Yi. As Lin Yi took the box, he took out a heavy-looking cloth bag from his pocket and handed it to Su Xiao.

Su Xiao opened the bag and looked inside; there were more than a dozen soul coins shimmering with a pure luster.

Pay in one hand and deliver in one hand.

The transaction process was simple and efficient, which aligns with the principle that both parties are "unfamiliar but based on trust".

After completing the transaction, Su Xiao looked at Lin Yi and said in a calm voice, "If you need anything in the future, you can contact me through the old method."

The words were spoken softly, but everyone present heard them clearly.

After saying that, Su Xiao didn't linger. He turned around and, with Bubuwang in tow, walked back into the Wizarding Guild's gate, leaving a group of rule-breakers with mixed feelings outside.

After Su Xiao disappeared, all eyes instantly focused back on Lin Yi, or rather, on the silver-gray box in his hand.

Curiosity, longing, passion... a mix of emotions mingled in the air.

Lin Yi didn't keep anyone in suspense. In front of everyone, his fingers moved like butterflies flitting among flowers, quickly tapping across the alchemical runes on the box in a specific order.

With his final press, the secret runes shimmered, and with a soft "click," the lid of the box popped open.

Ten vials of potion, their interiors brimming with rich, emerald-green life energy, were neatly secured on the soft padding inside the box—these were the [Life of the Tree]!
The scene fell into an eerie silence.

All the violators remained silent, but the glint in their eyes spoke volumes.

Some people are already eagerly reporting to their leaders through private channels on public communication platforms.

"Confirmed! The product is genuine! The quality looks even better than described!"

"The transaction went smoothly, and both parties had pre-arranged signals. The other party did not intend to take immediate action against us and left directly after the transaction was completed."

"Regarding Sphinx... should we adjust our stance?"

"Immediately notify the boss to change the plan and focus all efforts on winning over the doctor! Abandon Sphinx for now!"

Information that would determine the future power structure of Eisenla spread like wildfire through the private networks of the violators' superiors.

Lin Yi has now proven his value and the authenticity and reliability of the supply chain behind him through his actions.

He was even able to trade with the hunters of the Samsara Paradise, which undoubtedly gave him a mysterious aura, making people even more awe and curious about the "Holy Flame Pharmacist" behind him.

In contrast, the value of the Sphinx is rapidly depreciating.

The "gifts of the ancient gods" he offered were not only fraught with uncertainty, but also required absolute loyalty and obedience as a condition for exchange, at a high cost.

What Lin Yi brings is an instant power boost that is safe and has no side effects – cash on delivery!

This is a pure transaction, without any loyalty clauses, and its allure is deadly to those who seek power and freedom.

There's no need to hang yourself on one tree anymore; it's time to make a wise choice.

Many leaders of the violators who were originally observing or dared not make a clear statement due to Sphinx's long-standing power, have made their final decision after receiving on-site confirmation from their subordinates.

The wind direction in Eisenla began to change silently.

The Sphinx's long-established alliance is showing cracks, starting from its core, and these cracks are spreading at an alarming rate.

Lin Yi slammed the lid shut, blocking the light emanating from the potion.

He looked around at the violators who were now more respectful, even with a hint of obsequiousness and awe, and said in a calm tone, "Go back. Now that the first batch of goods has arrived, it's time to ship them out."

Lin Yi knew that the seeds had been sown and were beginning to take root and sprout wildly in this soil nourished by desire and profit.

Next comes the waiting for the harvest season, and... the inevitable counterattack from Sphinx, fueled by despair and rage. (End of Chapter)