Not only Han Li, but all the other cultivators present were astonished before noticing the changes in their own spiritual power.
For those at the Body Integration stage and above, the increase was negligible, equivalent to only a few months of dedicated cultivation. However, for Void Refinement cultivators, the effect was far more pronounced—a single strike of the gong had granted them the equivalent of over a decade of arduous cultivation.
This realization brought joy to the Void Refinement cultivators, while the Body Integration elders remained wary and uncertain.
Yet, regardless of their cultivation level, every pair of eyes in the hall locked onto the massive black gong with undisguised greed and fervor. The mere sound of this object had granted them a direct increase in cultivation—how terrifyingly powerful must it be?
Even though the backlash seemed severe—evidenced by the toll it took on the striker’s vitality and lifespan—this was undoubtedly a heaven-defying treasure.
Could it be one of the legendary Profound Heavenly Treasures?
Some among the gathered cultivators began murmuring in speculation.
Han Li, too, was deeply shaken as he stared at the black gong, his suspicions growing.
Unfortunately, the Black Realm severely restricted divine sense, preventing him from scanning the distant gong. Otherwise, given his possession of a Profound Heavenly Fruit, he might have been better equipped than others to confirm its true nature.
At that moment, the muscular striker on the platform—now transformed into a white-haired elder—placed the purple hammer reverently on the black stone table before him. A flash of spiritual light later, he vanished.
In his place, another figure appeared beside the gong.
This newcomer wore silver robes and a golden mask shaped like a flood dragon’s head, with unnaturally emerald-green eyes that marked him as no ordinary human.
The moment he appeared, all eyes in the pavilions turned toward him.
The golden-masked figure swept his gaze across the assembly before speaking with a light cough, “Heh, I trust you’ve all experienced the wonders of this ‘Heavenly Resonance Gong.’ That single strike was a small gift from the Black Realm. Moreover, this gong is also one of the treasures we’ve prepared for exchange—the first to be offered in this gathering. Given its value, I doubt it will disappoint.”
“What? This treasure is truly up for trade?” Though many had already suspected as much, hearing it confirmed aloud still drew gasps of excitement.
“As long as someone can offer a treasure that satisfies me, why wouldn’t I trade it?” The golden-masked man chuckled, his tone brimming with confidence.
“This is rather unusual. I’ve attended countless Black Realm gatherings, and while your previous offerings were never ordinary, treasures of this heaven-defying caliber have been exceedingly rare—let alone as the first item presented. Could it be that your domain is also preparing for the impending calamity?” A hoarse, ancient voice echoed through the void, its origin impossible to pinpoint.
Han Li’s heart stirred—he knew this “calamity” referred to the demonic tribulation predicted to erupt within the next millennium.
Evidently, most of the gathered cultivators were also aware of the looming disaster, as none seemed surprised by the question. Instead, they all turned their attention to the golden-masked man, awaiting his response.
“You are correct. The demonic tribulation concerns both humans and demons alike. As part of both races, the Black Realm is not arrogant enough to believe it can remain untouched. It’s only natural to prepare in advance. However, you are mistaken about one thing—this Heavenly Resonance Gong, while extraordinary, is not quite as miraculous as you might think. It has its flaws. In fact, compared to some treasures we’ve offered in the past, it falls slightly short.”
“Flaws? Could you elaborate? Is this not a Profound Heavenly Treasure?” A cold, clear voice rang out from one of the pavilions, tinged with disappointment.
“A Profound Heavenly Treasure?” The golden-masked man chuckled darkly. “Even if our Black Realm possesses some capabilities, how could we possibly hold such an artifact? Not even the Three Emperors, the Seven Kings, or the two Great Ascension beings of our races possess one. If such a treasure truly fell into our hands, it would only invite annihilation. Otherwise, why would the foreign siege on Sky Abyss City have erupted centuries ago?”
His words carried a veiled implication, and though he spoke vaguely, many of the Body Integration elders who understood the deeper context paled slightly.
Pausing briefly, the golden-masked man continued, “However, since we’ve presented the Heavenly Resonance Gong for trade, we will explain its origins. In some ways, this treasure does contain a trace of the laws of heaven and earth, granting it a sliver of the miraculous power unique to Profound Heavenly Treasures. It was discovered in the ruins of an extinct foreign race in the primordial wilds, already damaged and greatly diminished in power. According to inscriptions found at the site, this gong was originally part of a pair—a sacred treasure of that lost race. Alongside it should have been a ‘World Shaking Hammer.’ Only when combined would the set reveal its true might. Unfortunately, despite searching the ruins thoroughly, we never found the hammer. Instead, we commissioned a master artificer to forge a replica using deep-sea purple gold and other rare materials. But this imitation is far from perfect, possessing at most a tenth of the original’s power. As for the gong itself, its materials are so unique that they cannot be found in this realm, leaving it irreparable. Had we possessed both the complete gong and the true hammer, their combined power might have rivaled a Profound Heavenly Treasure. A true pity! Of course, had that been the case, we would never have offered it for trade.”
“I care little whether it’s a Profound Heavenly Treasure. What matters are its exact abilities and flaws,” a calm female voice interjected.
“Naturally. Let me explain. You’ve already witnessed its power to augment cultivation. However, this effect only works on those at the Deity Transformation stage or above. A single strike grants Deity Transformation cultivators thirty years’ worth of cultivation, Void Refinement cultivators ten years, and Body Integration elders only a few months. Moreover, the gong’s effect diminishes with repeated use—beyond three strikes, further strikes yield no benefit. Additionally, if too many people listen to the gong simultaneously, the effect weakens significantly…”
Hearing these limitations, the fervor in many eyes cooled considerably.
“Furthermore, ordinary cultivators cannot strike the gong. Only a body-refining warrior who has mastered a foreign cultivation method—also recovered from the ruins—can wield it. Due to the gong’s damaged state, each strike drains the striker’s vitality and lifespan, eventually killing them. Thus, using this treasure requires training specialized warriors in advance—a cumbersome process. Still, when used wisely, the Heavenly Resonance Gong remains invaluable, particularly for those with many disciples.”
Having finished his explanation, the golden-masked man waited.
Han Li frowned slightly before retaking his seat. Clearly, this gong held little appeal for him, though he was mildly intrigued by the foreign body-refining technique.
Yet, despite the limitations, many in the pavilions remained interested.
After a brief silence, someone asked, “What does your domain seek in exchange? Surely nothing ordinary would suffice.”
“Not necessarily. I’ll list a few items—any one of them will suffice. If none are available, we’ll accept top-grade spirit stones or large quantities of spiritual medicines over a thousand years old. Though the required amount would be staggering.”
“Truly?” The unnamed female cultivator, clearly intrigued, pressed for confirmation.
“Absolutely. The items listed here can also be used to trade for other treasures we’ll present later.” With that, the golden-masked man flipped his palm, summoning a white jade slip. A milky-white beam shot forth, dispersing into the air above the platform to reveal densely packed silver characters—over a hundred different items.
“Three kilograms of Nether Yin Crystal, a ten-foot-long Snow Spirit Tree, a Blood Jade Fruit over a hundred thousand years old…” Han Li silently read the list, his heart shuddering at the sheer rarity of the demanded items.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage