Sitting calmly, Dongbo Xueying took the Demon Heart Chime and immediately extended his consciousness into it.
“Ding-ding~~~”
A melodious chime suddenly rang in his mind, invigorating his spirit and bringing joy to his soul. Even as a master of the Void Illusion Path who had cultivated to the pinnacle of the Chaos Realm, he couldn’t help but feel a slight relaxation in his heart.
His consciousness then probed deeper into the chime…
Inside the chime lay a vast world, its surface shrouded in countless wisps of white mist. Within the mist, countless scenes continuously emerged and dissipated, tempting one to lose themselves within. Among these fleeting illusions, Dongbo Xueying saw his wife, Yu Jingqiu, his children, and even his deceased master, Gu Qi…
As Dongbo Xueying was drawn into some of the mist, the vast world within the Demon Heart Chime began to transform, manifesting figures like Yu Jingqiu, Dongbo Yu, Dongbo Qingyao, Chi Qiu Bai, his master, the Bloodblade Divine Emperor, and Gu Qi, one after another.
“Impressive,” Dongbo Xueying thought. Though he longed to delve deeper, his cultivation was extraordinary, and since the Demon Heart Chime had no master controlling it, he could easily restrain himself.
“There are two paths here.”
“One is ‘Delusion,’ and the other is ‘World.'”
Dongbo Xueying felt a surge of joy.
The Void Illusion Path had several branches. Among the eight secret treasures he had examined, half contained the ‘World’ path. After all, for an illusion to be truly formidable, it had to construct a world so real that even supreme experts could be ensnared. Without sufficient ‘reality,’ it was impossible to trap such beings.
As for other paths—’Delusion,’ ‘Desire,’ ‘Slaughter,’ ‘Illusion,’ and so on—they represented different directions within the Void Illusion Path.
Only two treasures combined the ‘World’ path with another: the Demon Heart Chime and the Heart of Desire.
“Both the Demon Heart Chime and the Heart of Desire suit me well,” Dongbo Xueying concluded.
Among the eight secret treasures, these two ranked highest in his estimation.
“How was it, Lord Xueying?” the steward asked with a smile as Dongbo Xueying set down the Demon Heart Chime.
“The treasure is impressive, but what of the price?” Dongbo Xueying inquired.
“16 billion cosmos crystals!” the steward replied.
Dongbo Xueying’s mind settled almost instantly—he had already decided. The Demon Heart Chime would be his choice. The Heart of Desire, despite prolonged negotiations, still demanded 15 billion cosmos crystals, an exorbitant sum.
“That’s too steep,” Dongbo Xueying shook his head. “Though it has two paths, how many can truly wield both simultaneously?”
“There are always some,” the steward said with a knowing smile.
“If that’s the price, then let the treasure’s owner wait for another suitable buyer,” Dongbo Xueying said, rising to leave.
Seeing this, the steward quickly added, “No need to rush, Lord Xueying. My base price is 15 billion cosmos crystals. If you wish to negotiate further, it will depend on the treasure’s owner.”
“The price is still too high. I’ll explore the other treasures first—there are eight, after all,” Dongbo Xueying said lightly. “While the treasure is desirable, the price matters just as much.”
“Rest assured, I will do my utmost to secure the lowest price for you, Lord Xueying,” the steward hastily assured.
Selling even one such treasure would be a significant achievement for him.
After all, transactions involving billions of cosmos crystals were rare even in the capital of the Tu Hua Kingdom. Only figures like the Tu Hua Monarch could afford such sums.
Moreover, the steward had no way of knowing just how much Dongbo Xueying coveted this treasure.
—
After examining all eight treasures, Dongbo Xueying continued to wander the Heart Realm Continent, sampling delicacies and fine wines while negotiating with the owners of the treasures through their respective stewards.
“I’ve nearly settled on another treasure. If your price doesn’t drop, I’ll purchase from elsewhere.”
“Three days—I’ll decide within three days which one to buy.”
“It seems fate has other plans. This treasure and I are not meant to be.”
Through the stewards, Dongbo Xueying relayed messages to the treasure owners, steadily applying pressure.
Three months after his initial inspection, he finally made his decision. He even returned to the Southcloud Nation once to exchange another 10,000 merit points for 1 billion cosmos crystals.
—
In the capital of the Tu Hua Kingdom, a white-robed youth strolled leisurely through the streets, his heart light.
“Fate truly ties me to this kingdom. I’ve returned once more. Initially, I planned to examine the Demon Heart Chime third, but after my identity was exposed, I delayed until the very end. And now, it’s the one I’ve chosen,” Dongbo Xueying mused with a smile. His figure blurred and vanished, reappearing inside the Fan Clan’s shop in the capital.
“1.36 billion cosmos crystals—all accounted for,” Dongbo Xueying said, seated before the steward.
“Indeed, indeed,” the steward replied with an enthusiastic smile, handing over the Demon Heart Chime. “This treasure now belongs to you, Lord Xueying.”
“Mm.”
Suppressing his excitement, Dongbo Xueying accepted the Void Illusion treasure.
To gather this 1.36 billion…
He had nearly exhausted his resources.
Ransoming Thunder King Mo Chao and his two treasures from the Heavenly Sword Sect cost 800 million cosmos crystals. He had exchanged 40,000 merit points for 400 million, and Mo Chao’s storage treasures contained materials worth roughly 100 million. The spoils from King Chang Su and the other Chaos Realm experts he had slain in Firestorm City added another 100 million or so.
After pooling everything—even selling his Void Path insect beasts at 85% of their original price—he barely scraped together the sum. Now, he had a meager 30 million cosmos crystals left.
“I’ve nearly emptied my reserves,” Dongbo Xueying sighed inwardly.
Yet he was satisfied.
After all, hoarding treasures and cosmos crystals wouldn’t enhance his strength. This Void Illusion treasure would elevate his power dramatically, allowing him to dominate even tenth-level Chaos Realm experts. Against a Universe God, his tenth-level Void Illusion techniques would severely weaken them, making them vulnerable to his Five-Phase Sealing Art. Combined, these two methods would make him a formidable force.
With the remaining 20,000 merit points, he could refine his other avatar’s Southcloud Sacred Body, bolstering his survivability. In his plans, this avatar’s sole purpose was to enhance his resilience.
The Southcloud Sacred Body reached perfection at the tenth level below the Universe God realm. Beyond that, it had an eleventh and twelfth level—a testament to the Southcloud Sacred Lord’s creation. While it was a top-tier defensive art in second- and third-rate nations, it paled in comparison to the techniques of the Six Ancient Kingdoms.
—
With a light heart, Dongbo Xueying leisurely returned to the Southcloud Nation. But before he could even enter his own Flying Snow City, his master’s voice echoed in his ear.
“Xueying,” the voice whispered urgently. “Remember—if the Fan Clan seeks your aid, do not agree outright.”
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