The Wandering Sovereign inn

Whispers

The Guest Attraction Talisman worked better than Chen Lin expected. Throughout the day, several small groups of adventurers found their way to the Inn. Most were low-level explorers like the first trio — tired, wary, and grateful for a safe place to rest and eat.

He served them herb-enhanced meals, offered diluted healing water, and listened more than he spoke. Each guest left behind small payments: spirit coins, monster materials, and fragments of rift essence. The Inn absorbed everything greedily.

By evening, the notebook showed clear progress:

The second floor was now fully formed with two modest rooms. The library had gained two more books on basic cultivation techniques. The main hall felt noticeably more spacious and alive.

Chen Lin used his remaining two Golden Tickets before resting.

The gachapon machine spun with a warm, almost melodic tone this time. When it settled, two new items appeared:

A set of comfortable but sturdy furniture blueprints and a small, glowing seed the size of a walnut.

Comfortable Guest Rooms Blueprint – Upgrades existing rooms to provide better rest and minor cultivation bonuses.

World Tree Seed (Dormant) – When planted and nurtured by the Inn, it will grow into a sapling that strengthens dimensional stability and attracts rarer guests over time.

He immediately applied the furniture blueprint. The rooms on both floors gained better beds, simple desks, and warmer lighting. The changes felt satisfying — like watching something truly his own take shape.

As night fell, Chen Lin planted the World Tree Seed in a small patch of enriched soil just outside the door, right beside the growing spirit herb bushes. The moment it touched the ground, it pulsed once and sank slightly deeper, as if accepting the Inn's energy.

He was about to head back inside when the air rippled.

A lone figure approached — not an adventurer this time, but a middle-aged merchant dressed in fine but travel-worn clothes, pulling a small floating cart behind him. His eyes lit up when he saw the glowing signboard.

"By the heavens… a wandering inn in the middle of this chaos?" The merchant laughed heartily as he entered. "Name's Luo Wei. Traveling merchant. I trade information and goods between rifts when I can. This place is a miracle!"

Luo Wei was talkative and friendly. Over a generous meal, he shared valuable news without being asked.

"The Rift Convergence is only three weeks away now. All the major families and emerging guilds are preparing. The Wang Family and the Su Family have allied. They're recruiting strong awakeners aggressively. Word is they're searching for some rare treasure that appeared in the beginner rifts recently…"

Chen Lin's hand paused while pouring tea. Su Family. Of course.

He kept his voice neutral. "What kind of treasure?"

Luo Wei shrugged. "No one knows exactly. But many people died in the early days of the rifts. Some say the treasure chooses its owner. Others say it's a powerful inheritance."

The merchant stayed for several hours, trading some low-grade healing pills and information for a night's stay and meals. His satisfaction was high. When he left the next morning, he promised to spread word about the Inn to other trustworthy travelers.

The Inn rewarded Chen Lin handsomely — another ticket and a noticeable boost in overall essence.

He spun the new ticket immediately.

This time, the machine released something different: a plain-looking black cloak with faint silver threads woven into it.

Host's Shadow Cloak (Growth Type) – Helps conceal the wearer's presence and aura. Grows stronger as the Inn levels up. Perfect for a Sovereign who prefers to remain hidden.

Chen Lin put on the cloak. It felt light and perfectly fitted. When he pulled up the hood, even he had trouble sensing his own reflection clearly in a polished tray—a perfect tool for someone who wanted to observe the outside world without being noticed.

He looked at the growing World Tree sapling outside, the expanded Inn, and the new cloak.

It was time to take a small step outside.

Using the Rift Anchor Stone, he moved the Inn closer to the edge of the beginner rift — near enough to the city outskirts but still hidden. He left the door slightly ajar and stepped out alone for the first time since his awakening, cloak wrapped around him.

The city lights glowed in the distance. Somewhere there, Su Mei and Wang Teng were living their lives.

Chen Lin's eyes hardened with quiet resolve.

He wasn't strong enough to confront them yet.

But he was no longer the helpless delivery rider they had thrown away.

The Wandering Sovereign Inn was growing.

And so was he.