The spearhead hovered in place, appearing deceptively simple, yet its tip emitted ripples of distorted space. Layer upon layer of magical formations and restrictions enveloped the fragment, encasing it like nested eggshells—a precaution against any greedy visitors. Though the entire ‘Treasure Pavilion’ was heavily warded and located in the capital of the Southern Cloud Kingdom, where theft would be sheer folly, there were always those who, in a moment of recklessness, believed their escape skills could defy the odds. Thus, the restrictions ensured that no one could even touch such a treasure.
“Let’s check that shop,” Dongbo Xueying said.
His entourage followed him to the entrance of a vast establishment, above which hung an ancient, peculiar character—’Fan.’
“The Fan Clan?” murmured the demon servant Zi Bai, gently waving his folding fan. “The Fan Clan is one of the three most powerful families in the Summerwind Ancient Kingdom, renowned across the entire Heartland Continent.”
Dongbo Xueying nodded in acknowledgment.
The Fan Clan was a household name throughout the Heartland Continent, standing among the three great families of the Summerwind Ancient Kingdom alone. Their ranks boasted dozens of Cosmic Gods. In terms of sheer power, the Fan Clan could suppress even the ‘Mogami Ancient Kingdom,’ one of the Six Great Ancient Kingdoms. Though all six held lofty statuses, disparities in strength existed, with Mogami being the weakest.
“The Fan Clan is truly formidable,” Dongbo Xueying mused inwardly. A single family capable of overpowering an entire ancient kingdom…
“Young master, please come in!” A beautiful attendant promptly greeted them.
Dongbo Xueying strode inside with his followers.
The first floor was expansive, with winding corridors, yet his gaze effortlessly pierced through spatial obstructions to survey the treasures displayed throughout.
“Not a single secret treasure here,” he thought, shaking his head slightly.
“Let’s go to the second floor.”
Ascending, he found a few secret treasures, though by his standards, they were relatively weak—likely intended for Chaos Realm cultivators.
Soon, he proceeded to the third floor.
“Young master, only two attendants are permitted on the third floor,” a steward at the staircase interjected. Clearly, this level was exclusive, and a bustling crowd would be inappropriate.
“Zi Bai, Elder Tian, accompany me,” Dongbo Xueying instructed.
“Yes.”
The demon servant Zi Bai and Tian Yizhi followed him up.
The third floor was comparable in size to the lower levels, yet only twelve secret treasures hovered in the air, each attended by a maid.
“Young master, interested in secret treasures?” A portly elder approached with a jovial smile, his aura unmistakably that of a Chaos Realm expert. “This branch of the Fan Clan in the Southern Cloud capital ranks among the top hundred across the Heartland Continent.”
Zi Bai, still fanning himself, transmitted a message: “Young master, this old fellow is likely a demon servant as well, though I can’t discern his exact lineage.”
Dongbo Xueying gave a slight nod.
Chaos Realm demon servants…
For a supreme clan like the Fan Clan, entrusting business to demon servants was ideal—their loyalty was absolute, and they would never embezzle.
“Young master, behold this treasure—the ‘Cloud Heaven Hammer,'” the elder said, gesturing to an enormous black hammer taller than a man. “This was wielded by the renowned ‘Po Nu Venerable’ of the Mogami Ancient Kingdom during the First Ancient Kingdom War. After crafting a more suitable weapon, he set this aside. Through numerous transactions, it eventually fell into our hands and now serves as the centerpiece of our Southern Cloud branch. It even contains Po Nu Venerable’s signature technique, the ‘Cloud Heaven Hammer Art.'”
Dongbo Xueying observed the hammer, its oppressive aura dwarfing even the Twelve Celestial Rings he once possessed.
“What’s the price?” he asked.
The elder grinned. “Eight billion cosmic crystals.”
Dongbo Xueying’s eyelids twitched.
Eight billion…
Could even the Matriarch of Yingshan afford that? Unlikely.
“This hammer claimed the lives of several Cosmic Gods during the war,” the elder added. “A treasure worthy of a Cosmic God’s entire fortune.”
Dongbo Xueying understood—this was a showpiece, a display of the Fan Clan’s prestige. Such treasures rarely sold easily. Only when a powerful cultivator with a particular fondness appeared would it change hands.
“Impressive,” Dongbo Xueying remarked before moving on.
Soon, he arrived before the spearhead he coveted.
“This spearhead has quite the history,” the elder said with a smile. “Its former owner had ties to our Fan Clan.”
Dongbo Xueying’s interest piqued.
Its owner?
So the Fan Clan knew its origins.
“Long ago, before the First Ancient Kingdom War, the Heartland Continent was far more chaotic than it is now—no order, no Summerwind Kingdom yet,” the elder explained. “Our ‘Slaughter Heaven Venerable’ once befriended a peer named ‘Crimson Cloud Sovereign,’ a figure as terrifying as the Venerable himself. But the Sovereign was too arrogant, too unruly to submit, and it cost him his life. This was all before the war, so details are scarce.”
“But the Slaughter Heaven Venerable confirmed this spearhead belonged to the Crimson Cloud Sovereign’s weapon, the ‘Crimson Cloud Demon Spear.'”
“Alas, only this fragment remains after eons,” the elder sighed.
Dongbo Xueying marveled silently.
A relic from before the First Ancient Kingdom War? Those were murky times, barely recorded, with many ancient kingdoms yet to rise.
The Crimson Cloud Sovereign…
“And the price?” Dongbo Xueying inquired.
“Since it’s just a fragment, it’s quite affordable,” the elder said cheerfully. “Five hundred million cosmic crystals.”
“Five hundred million?!”
Dongbo Xueying was stunned.
Affordable?
After cultivating the Southern Cloud Sacred Body, his entire fortune barely exceeded fifty million—a gift from the Matriarch upon reaching the Unity Realm.
Five hundred million was astronomical, even pricier than the demon servant Zi Bai!
“It’s a bargain. Any capable Chaos Realm cultivator could scrape together the funds,” the elder insisted. “Had it been intact, it’d rival the Cloud Heaven Hammer in value. At five hundred million, it’s practically a steal.”
Utterly unaffordable.
Even if he revealed his true strength as a top-tier Chaos Realm expert, accumulating such wealth would require perilous ventures or battles.
“Five hundred million…” Dongbo Xueying’s heart quivered.
No way.
In a backwater like Firepeak City, the spear shaft had gone unrecognized, its engravings fragmented, allowing him to purchase it cheaply.
But this spearhead was different—its lethal tip warped space with mere presence, its origins verified by the Slaughter Heaven Venerable. Its price was justified.
“Still, it’s just a fragment,” the elder added, sensing the young man’s keen interest. “If you’re serious, we could negotiate slightly.”
Indeed, a discount was possible.
Though it boasted a glorious history, its dilapidated condition meant the Fan Clan’s internal valuation barely scraped three hundred million.
“How much lower? Under a hundred million?” Dongbo Xueying ventured.
The elder shook his head vigorously. “Impossible. Just a modest reduction.”
“I see.”
Dongbo Xueying’s hope dimmed.
No choice—it was beyond his means.
Yet even if he couldn’t buy it, holding the spearhead to study its internal engravings would be invaluable. Though a single viewing would only reveal fragments, combined with the spear shaft’s mysteries, it could accelerate his comprehension threefold.
“May I examine it?” Dongbo Xueying asked, eyeing the heavily warded spearhead. Clearly, such treasures weren’t freely handled.
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