“This innate Primordial lifeform’s remains require no further introduction from me. You may all inspect them directly. The bidding shall now commence with a starting price of twelve thousand Meta Crystals, with each increment no less than one Meta Crystal.” The silver-robed Elder Yan, the Divine Emperor, surveyed the surroundings and announced clearly. The combined value of all other treasures in this auction barely matched that of this single corpse, a fact that left many powerful figures in the hall awestruck by the starting bid.
Dongbo Xueying couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
Twelve thousand Meta Crystals?
From what he knew, even mid-level Divine Emperors would struggle to amass such a fortune. Only late-stage Divine Emperors—those typically ranked within the top hundred of the Divine Emperor Ranking—could afford such a price!
“Thirteen thousand Meta Crystals.” A melodious voice rang out, its mere utterance causing the bodies of many present, including Dongbo Xueying, to tremble with an inexplicable weakness. Xueying’s expression darkened slightly. If just speaking could have such an effect, what if this being truly unleashed their power? He doubted he could withstand even a single strike.
“Thirteen thousand five hundred Meta Crystals.” An elderly voice countered.
The bidding for this innate Primordial lifeform’s remains was primarily contested by three factions, each clearly of extraordinary origins.
The final price settled at nineteen thousand eight hundred Meta Crystals, a staggering sum that left many astonished. Yet, given that each innate Primordial lifeform was unique—irreplaceable once lost—such an exorbitant price was not entirely unexpected.
“Still, this particular corpse holds little value for me,” Dongbo Xueying mused. This low-tier Primordial lifeform embodied the forces of water and fire, its body a manifestation of the Primordial laws governing these elements. For someone like him, who cultivated the Path of Void and the Path of Illusory Dreams, it was of minimal use.
—
With the auction concluded, Dongbo Xueying continued his temporary stay at Tianxin Tower.
“Buyan Divine Emperor went into seclusion within Tianxin Tower immediately after the auction,” Xueying noted, seated in a tavern along a bustling street of Jiangyuan City, savoring the establishment’s signature dishes and fine wine. Through his tracking methods, he had confirmed that the one who acquired the ancient texts was none other than Buyan Divine Emperor. “Buyan’s reputation is far from stellar. Public records indicate he has ambushed and slain other Divine Emperors on at least two occasions.”
Buyan was an early-stage Divine Emperor.
His victims, naturally, were also early-stage Divine Emperors. In truth, early-stage Divine Emperors comprised over ninety-nine percent of all Divine Emperors in the Divine Realm. Even the ruler of Junshan City, Yufeng Junshan, was merely an early-stage Divine Emperor. Progress beyond this stage grew exponentially more arduous.
Ambushing others for their treasures? A far quicker path to wealth.
Hunting desolate beasts in the wilderness was tedious. Without the Great Void Transference Art, vast regions often housed only a single peak-level Divine Lord beast. Traveling between such regions took considerable time. Moreover, many peak Divine Lord beasts possessed formidable survival skills, making them challenging prey even for early-stage Divine Emperors. Unlike Xueying’s Illusory Dream Path, which could sweep through them effortlessly, conventional methods were far less efficient.
Killing desolate beasts was laborious and time-consuming.
But ambushing fellow Divine Emperors?
A single successful strike could yield a lifetime’s worth of accumulated treasures!
In the Divine Realm, many powerful figures favored this ruthless approach. The path of cultivation demanded resources, and this was the most perilous—yet most rewarding—method to secure them.
“Tianxin Tower offers protection for ten thousand years—for a price,” Xueying reflected. “Once that period elapses, their sanctuary ends.”
This was only natural.
Tianxin Tower had branches in nearly every city across the Divine Realm, though the strength of any single branch was limited. Their true authority stemmed from their backing by the Tianxin Clan, one of the three Royal Clans. Few dared defy the rules set by these titans. Yet the Tianxin Clan knew better than to overreach. Ten thousand years of protection was a reasonable compromise. Permanent sanctuary would only provoke the most formidable Divine Emperors to rebellion.
If pushed to the brink, even the three Royal Clans—barring the intervention of the Primordial Progenitors—would struggle to contain the wrath of the Divine Realm’s most terrifying existences.
A mere ten thousand years? A courtesy all were willing to extend.
—
Eight millennia passed in the blink of an eye.
Nightfall.
“Whoosh.”
Cloaked in black, Buyan Divine Emperor slipped out of Tianxin Tower like a shadow, flitting unseen through the dimly lit alleyways.
“So, Buyan finally emerges. I half-expected him to cower until the sanctuary expired,” remarked one of two figures materializing in midair near Tianxin Tower. Though they couldn’t perceive Buyan’s concealed form, their senses locked onto him unerringly.
“The soul mark we placed ensures he can never escape us. He murdered our brother—this debt will be repaid, even if we must chase him to the ends of the Divine Realm,” growled a burly, cold-eyed man. Beside him, a sharp-featured youth nodded grimly. “Second Brother’s death will be avenged. Let’s move.”
“After him.”
The two streaked through the night, guided by the soul mark’s pull.
Simultaneously, another figure soared from Tianxin Tower—Dongbo Xueying.
“The ones tailing Buyan must be the Blood Tyrant Brothers,” Xueying deduced. The trio had been inseparable comrades, bound by life-and-death loyalty. After their second brother fell to Buyan’s ambush, the remaining two had pursued the killer relentlessly, harrying him across the realm.
With a faint smile, Xueying followed.
Moments later…
“Hmm? No one else?”
A wisp of wind coalesced into a blurred figure, gazing toward the direction where the Blood Tyrant Brothers and Xueying had vanished. “According to Buyan, the Blood Tyrant Brothers and that Qingyun Divine Lord should have a Divine Emperor backing them. I’ve observed for so long—Qingyun appeared, but where is his patron?”
The figure frowned. It defied belief that a mere Divine Lord would dare stalk a Divine Emperor. Even a peak Divine Lord among Ascendants could only rival an ordinary early-stage Divine Emperor among natives. Posing a threat to the notorious Buyan? Impossible.
Yet the evidence was undeniable.
“Nothing escapes my detection. Qingyun is alone—no Divine Emperor lurks nearby. Unless…” The figure scoffed at the absurdity. “Would a Divine Emperor stoop to hiding within a Divine Lord’s pocket realm?”
Divine Lords to Divine Monarchs—a monumental leap.
Divine Monarchs to Divine Emperors—another chasm.
“Those Blood Tyrant Brothers are persistent. Hurry up!” A transmission jolted the figure from his thoughts. With a derisive snort, he replied via artifact, “Relax, Buyan. I’m on my way.”
Whoosh!
His form dissolved into the wind, vanishing in silent pursuit.
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