On this day.
Within the Sacred Realm, in the city of Chiyun, cultivators arrived one after another at Dongbo Xueying’s abode.
“Please, this way.”
“Right this way.”
The puppet guards at the entrance guided the visitors, while other puppet attendants directed them along the path. For this treasure auction, Dongbo Xueying had deliberately created over a dozen additional puppets using the power of his Void Universe.
“Brother Feixue, you certainly have quite a few puppets.”
“Bringing a corpse of a Hunyuan lifeform into the Sacred Realm already makes one wealthy enough. Buying a few puppets is nothing.”
Groups of cultivators chatted as they walked. Chiyun City gathered experts from countless worlds, and among them were naturally those skilled in crafting puppets. Creating puppets at the Void God level was something even a third of the city’s experts could easily accomplish—though gathering materials in the Sacred Realm was slightly more troublesome.
“Halt!”
“Halt!”
At the entrance, two puppet guards suddenly barked, glaring at a short, elderly man attempting to enter.
“What? Feixue publicly announced that all experts of Chiyun City could participate in the treasure auction. Why am I barred now?” The elderly man, Xie Fan, sneered coldly.
“The master has ordered that you are forbidden entry!” one of the puppet guards declared icily.
“Xie Fan!”
A frigid voice boomed from within the abode like thunder. “If you dare take even half a step into my residence, I will teleport you out and throw you into the streets!”
Xie Fan’s expression darkened.
In Chiyun City, every cultivator’s abode was a forbidden zone! Without the owner’s permission, trespassing was absolutely prohibited. Being thrown out was the least of the consequences—if one dared resist, they could even be executed on the spot. After all, an abode was a place for secluded cultivation, and the city’s rules ensured that every expert could train in peace, undisturbed by anyone.
“Fine.” Xie Fan’s face twisted with malice as he turned and left.
The other cultivators who had entered the abode exchanged hushed whispers.
“First he tried to coerce him, and now he dares to show up here?”
“That Xie Fan truly has no regard for face.”
“He is Xie Fan, after all. When it comes to shamelessness, he ranks among the top in the entire city.”
…
Dongbo Xueying was in the garden, receiving his many guests.
The garden spanned nearly a hundred miles, with over a thousand low tables and meditation cushions scattered throughout—some by the lakeside, others on the slopes of small hills. The cultivators who had come for the treasure auction casually chose their spots, sitting cross-legged and sipping the fine wine Dongbo Xueying had prepared as they awaited the auction’s commencement. The wine was nothing extraordinary, merely conjured in bulk from his Void Universe—plentiful and free-flowing.
“Brother Feixue, denying Xie Fan like that will surely earn you his enmity,” remarked one of the cultivators conversing with Dongbo Xueying.
“Enmity? He already forced a grudge between us when he tried to strong-arm me into a trade. What do I have to fear from him now?” Dongbo Xueying scoffed, shaking his head. “Honestly, I never expected him to show his face here after our falling out. It’s laughable.”
Truth be told, Dongbo Xueying found this ‘Xie Fan’ character rather bizarre.
Among powerful experts, ruthlessness and cruelty were not uncommon. Even the most vicious overlords, who would stop at nothing to achieve their goals, had their own twisted sense of pride. But Xie Fan? He was duplicitous, his actions utterly disgraceful. Take, for example, the female expert ‘Mo Shu,’ who had also attempted to coerce Dongbo Xueying—after one failed attempt, she couldn’t be bothered to pester him further, let alone attend this auction.
A true expert should have dignity.
But Xie Fan? He had none—just pure, unadulterated wickedness.
The cultivator chuckled. “Well, you’d best be careful. He’s not someone to trifle with.”
“I know. Thanks for the warning, Brother Youya.” Dongbo Xueying smiled.
As time passed, guests continued to arrive. Dongbo Xueying greeted them briefly, exchanging only a few words with some.
Then—
His pupils suddenly contracted as he spotted a figure approaching in the distance.
“Beihe?” Dongbo Xueying was stunned.
“Emperor Feixue.” Beihe Emperor strode forward with a faint smile. “Seeing Xie Fan barred at the gates, I half-expected the same treatment.”
“I didn’t think you would come, so I didn’t inform the guards,” Dongbo Xueying replied.
“We hail from the same world—that alone is fate. Must we remain locked in a life-and-death struggle?” Beihe Emperor said calmly. “Both of us seek to transcend the cage and attain Hunyuan. And here in the Sacred Realm, within the city walls, combat is forbidden. Can we not set aside our grievances, at least for now?”
Dongbo Xueying studied him.
Clad in a simple green robe, Beihe Emperor’s gaze was earnest.
Yet Dongbo Xueying knew better—this man was a true schemer. Back in the Broken Tooth Mountain Range, he had turned on him without warning.
“And why should I trust you?” Dongbo Xueying sneered. “The last time I did, it nearly cost me my life to your ambush.”
“Do you truly distrust me so much?” Beihe Emperor sighed.
“Prove it, then,” Dongbo Xueying challenged. “Hand over the Thousand-Eyed Water Pearl.”
Beihe Emperor had fled the Broken Tooth Mountain Range under Dongbo Xueying’s pursuit—meaning the power within the pearl couldn’t have been fully exhausted yet.
“Impossible.” Beihe Emperor shook his head. “This is my most precious treasure. Why would I surrender it to you?”
The Thousand-Eyed Water Pearl was a relic left behind by one of the two terrifying Hunyuan lifeforms of the Broken Tooth Mountain Range—the ‘Thousand-Eyed Entity.’ Now that Beihe Emperor’s knowledge had expanded, he understood just how vastly superior such an existence was compared to ordinary Hunyuan lifeforms. Its power approached that of ‘Meta’ himself. The pearl’s value? A single one likely surpassed the worth of a complete corpse of a Divine Emperor-level Hunyuan lifeform by an incalculable margin.
There was no way he would hand it over.
“Regardless, within the Sacred Realm, let us set aside our feud. Time will reveal all truths.” With that, Beihe Emperor strode past him, settling onto a cushion nearby and pouring himself a drink.
Dongbo Xueying watched him but made no move to expel him.
There was no need.
“We’ll see,” he muttered under his breath before turning his attention elsewhere.
…
A short while later.
Dongbo Xueying glanced at the sky, then surveyed the garden where experts from countless worlds lounged casually. Today’s gathering numbered over six hundred—roughly twenty percent of Chiyun City’s total expert population. Though in truth, far fewer had the means to seriously contend for the treasure.
“Esteemed guests.”
His voice resonated clearly throughout the garden. “Without further delay, let the auction begin. The item up for bidding is this—a corpse of a Hunyuan lifeform.”
With a wave of his hand, a towering, two-hundred-meter-tall carcass resembling a flaming mountain materialized beside him. Instantly, the gazes of all six hundred-plus cultivators locked onto it, some burning with fervent desire.
“The starting bid is three distinct corpses of Divine Emperor-level Void Path Hunyuan lifeforms. Each subsequent raise must be no less than ten thousand units of food. You may now place your bids.”
“Three corpses,” a green-robed woman called out, her voice melodious.
“Four corpses!” A red-haired man countered, his aura overwhelming even amidst the gathered experts. Dongbo Xueying recognized him—’Emperor Jietian,’ one of the wealthiest present. His strength was said to rival the three city lords, having sparred with each to a standstill.
In terms of power, he was universally ranked within the top five.
And when it came to the Flame Path, he was Chiyun City’s undisputed master. As a Dao Comprehender, he was undoubtedly determined to secure this rare Hunyuan corpse.
“Five corpses.”
“Five corpses, plus one hundred thousand units of food.”
“Five corpses, plus two hundred thousand units of food.”
Once the bids hit five corpses, the increments slowed significantly.
Dongbo Xueying listened silently.
“Five corpses, plus one million units of food.” The latest bid came from a black-robed man—’Yan Yang,’ ranked within the city’s top several dozen experts.
“Five corpses, plus two million units of food,” Emperor Jietian stated coldly.
“Six corpses,” Yan Yang countered evenly.
Emperor Jietian shot him a glance. “Six corpses, plus one million units of food.”
Yan Yang fell silent.
No further bids emerged.
“Are there any higher offers?” Dongbo Xueying finally spoke, his voice ringing out.
…
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