Holding the stone bead in his hand, Shi Hao remained unsettled for a long time. It felt heavy and chilling, sending a wave of icy coldness through him. However, this wasn’t the time for a thorough examination, so he stored it away. The final treasure of the auction shone brilliantly, but his attention was no longer there. He only vaguely noticed that the fox maiden and the veiled woman had competed fiercely for it, though he didn’t even care to see who won.
As soon as the auction ended, he stood up to leave. The gains from this trip were immense, and he needed time to digest them.
“Brother, please wait,” the Nineteenth Prince called out, his tone still polite as he expressed his desire to purchase the black figurine, his eyes gleaming as they fixed on Shi Hao.
“My apologies, but this item is not for sale. I wish to study it myself,” Shi Hao declined with a shake of his head.
Beside them, the veiled woman exuded a faint fragrance, her misty eyes both enchanting and elusive. She parted her cherry lips slightly and said, “No matter. A gentleman does not take what another cherishes.”
She smiled, and though her face was obscured, her radiance seemed to pierce through the veil. Her lively eyes studied Shi Hao as she invited him to a gathering.
Initially, Shi Hao had no intention of accepting. But upon hearing that it was a gathering of elites and geniuses from various clans, his interest was piqued. He wanted to see just who these so-called talents were.
“For years, everyone has been training abroad or secluded in the imperial capital. This is a rare opportunity,” the Nineteenth Prince added.
Clearly, this gathering was extraordinary—attended by the children of nobles, prodigies from all corners, and even terrifying beings from the ancient divine mountains.
“You must attend! I’ll be going too. Shall we travel together?” A fragrant breeze swept by as the fox maiden appeared, her bewitching eyes brimming with allure.
The Nineteenth Prince immediately fell silent, wary of her. He knew all too well how fearsome her organization was—like a raging flood capable of shaking the entire wasteland.
The veiled woman nodded slightly at the fox maiden before preparing to leave.
“Sister, why must you always hide your face? Are we mere mortals unworthy of a glimpse?” the fox maiden teased, her flawless skin like fine jade.
A gust of wind surged toward the veil as she playfully reached out, her fingers tracing a rune in the air.
The veiled woman raised her right hand, radiant runes bursting forth like celestial light, clashing with the fox maiden’s delicate strike. The air shimmered as if shattered crystal scattered around them.
“Sister, so fierce! Must you be so cold? A simple greeting turned into a battle?” the fox maiden giggled.
Her fingers danced, releasing runes that bloomed like divine flowers, dazzling in their brilliance as they clashed repeatedly with the veiled woman’s strikes.
There were no earth-shattering explosions, only a profound resonance spreading like ripples across a divine lake.
Shi Hao was astonished. These two women were unfathomable. Their brief, silent exchange was far more dangerous than it appeared—a single misstep could have been fatal.
“Don’t call me sister. I may not be older than you,” the veiled woman retorted, delivering one last strike before retreating gracefully like a drifting petal.
“Really? I feel like you’re much older. I’m still so young,” the fox maiden replied coyly, withdrawing her hand and stepping back.
Their final clash sent out a powerful ripple, strong enough to crush treasures. The veil finally lifted, revealing half of the veiled woman’s face—her skin like snow, breathtakingly beautiful, leaving nearby young cultivators spellbound.
“Truly an immortal fairy!” someone sighed.
The contrast was striking—one a bewitching fox spirit, the other an ethereal beauty, transcendent and pure.
“How dull, sister. See you at the gathering. I’ll find you a husband then!” The fox maiden laughed as she flitted past Shi Hao. “Little brother, how about this woman as your wife?”
Shi Hao scratched his head, feigning innocence. “Both of you are lovely. Why fight?”
“Naughty boy! I was introducing you a wife, not encouraging you to scheme,” the fox maiden teased before vanishing like a streak of light.
“What did I say? Twisting my words,” Shi Hao muttered, shaking his head as he exited the auction hall.
Soon, the Nineteenth Prince was surrounded. As a contender for the imperial throne, his future was dazzling, and none dared ignore him. Yet he remained composed, swiftly departing to escort the veiled woman onto a golden war chariot.
“That woman may be from beyond our domain. Rumor has it she recently met with the emperor for a long discussion.”
“The fox maiden is no less mysterious. She represents a supreme organization and has also spoken with His Majesty, revealing some celestial secrets.”
Whispers spread among the nobles, their expressions grave. They knew turbulent times lay ahead.
Returning to his lodgings—a prestigious inn with sprawling gardens reserved for distinguished guests—Shi Hao settled into his private courtyard, complete with bridges, flowing water, and artificial hills.
He meditated, attuned to his surroundings, remaining vigilant throughout the night. Though cautious, he wasn’t overly worried. If necessary, he could unleash the small pagoda to suppress any threat. The treasures he’d acquired were far too important to lose.
In truth, his concerns were unfounded. The items he’d won weren’t the auction’s main attractions and held little significance in the imperial capital.
“Good. They don’t know about the Indestructible Golden Body, nor the true value of this stone bead,” Shi Hao murmured in relief.
With the auction house’s guarantee of safety, he felt more at ease and began inspecting his spoils.
The small, fragmented bone piece yielded no clues about the Primordial True Solution, frustrating him. The small pagoda confirmed it was incomplete—only when whole would its secrets emerge.
“Sigh. I’ll keep it for now. The Primordial True Solution must have more than one part,” Shi Hao muttered, storing it away.
Next, he examined the Shrinking Earth Talisman. The ancient artifact was intact, usable at least ten more times.
“Is the Indestructible Golden Body truly as legendary as they say?” He tapped the black figurine, producing a crisp, penetrating sound.
Cracks marred its surface, some parts clearly patched with different materials. Shi Hao meticulously peeled away the outer layers—a painstaking process even with the broken sword’s aid.
Finally, the small pagoda intervened, shaking off the figurine’s outer shell to reveal its true form—darker, more profound, yet still damaged.
As Shi Hao channeled his spiritual energy into it, the figurine glowed, hovering midair before merging with him.
It expanded, fusing with his flesh like black-gold armor, enhancing his aura dramatically.
“Beyond the Transformation Spirit Realm… This is terrifying!” Shi Hao gasped. His combat power had surged, breaking through his previous limits.
The Indestructible Golden Body was indeed heaven-defying—a transformation akin to ascending from mortal to divine!
Following the small pagoda’s warning, he restrained further testing to avoid further damage.
“Only with the right materials can it be fully restored to unleash its true might.”
Clad in the black-gold armor, he gripped the broken sword, exuding a fearsome presence like a demon god.
“This grants me another identity, allowing me to act freely,” Shi Hao mused before retracting the armor back into the figurine.
A formidable trump card indeed.
Lastly, he examined the stone bead, its surface stained with ancient, dried black blood—likely of a deity or demon, according to the small pagoda.
Striking it with the broken sword, sparks flew as fragments chipped away. The blood’s spiritual essence had long vanished, but its hardness was astounding.
As layers peeled off, a decayed bronze arrowhead was revealed, nearly piercing the core. Though corroded, it had once been a divine artifact—destroyed by the very eye it sought to pierce.
“How terrifying!” Shi Hao marveled. A divine weapon, shattered by a pupil?
Yet, what had happened? Why was this eye sealed within stone?
Stripped of its outer layers, the eye—now lifeless and dull—revealed its double pupils, nearly merged into one.
When Shi Hao infused it with runes, it suddenly blazed to life, emitting golden ripples.
“A living ancient pupil?!” Shi Hao gasped, exhilarated. This was the relic of a supreme divine being!
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