Chapter 836: Breathtaking

In the city of Tianshui.

Dongbo Xueying was truly nervous. This was the most suitable supreme technique he had ever encountered for his Void Path system. It was incredibly powerful—capable of allowing him to clear the sixth level of the Star Tower at the Unity realm, nearly rivaling cosmic-level supreme techniques! Even the inner hall elders of the Voidsky Palace, who possessed cosmic-level techniques, had not managed to clear the sixth level—though that was due to their own comprehension limitations.

Take *Thirteen Swords of Annihilation* for example. In theory, one could comprehend the sixth sword at the Unity realm, and mastering it would guarantee clearing the sixth level of the Star Tower.

Unfortunately, none of the inner hall elders of this era had achieved it yet.

“Can’t go any higher, can’t go any higher,” Dongbo Xueying muttered anxiously. His previous wealth amounted to only 385 Sourceworld Stones, and he had mortgaged 160 more with merit points. Though he had some scattered valuables, he was nearing his limit.

When the purple-robed woman finally announced the result, Dongbo Xueying couldn’t help but smile in relief.

“Congratulations, Elder Dongbo,” Pavilion Master Yuqi said.

“Mm,” Dongbo Xueying nodded. “Though the price was a bit steep.”

“Elder Dongbo, you could always sell the original *Dark World* manual after learning it,” Pavilion Master Yuqi suggested. “You might even inquire with the Voidsky Palace about their offer—though I doubt it would be much higher than the reserve price this time.”

Dongbo Xueying nodded.

Indeed.

The reserve price had been a mere 150 Sourceworld Stones, yet he and that Quan Miao Ancestor had driven it all the way up to 501! If not for raiding that Ancient Sacred Cult outpost, he wouldn’t have had the means to bid so high.

“Elder Dongbo, I have good news,” Pavilion Master Yuqi suddenly brightened. “You thought the purchase was expensive? The Quan Miao Ancestor just contacted you through our Sevenstar Sea Pavilion. He’s willing to pay 150 Sourceworld Stones—just to study it once. The original manual would still belong to you.”

“Quan Miao Ancestor?” Dongbo Xueying had anticipated this. Just as he had considered reaching out earlier, the other party had likely planned the same.

Bidding wars prohibited communication, but now that the auction was over, negotiations could begin.

“Tell him—300 Sourceworld Stones,” Dongbo Xueying stated.

“Three hundred? Just for one study?” Pavilion Master Yuqi was taken aback.

“Just relay the message,” Dongbo Xueying insisted.

“Very well,” Pavilion Master Yuqi nodded.

Dongbo Xueying silently watched as Mingyu Star Master continued auctioning other treasures on the stage. His demand for 300 stones was calculated. Since the Quan Miao Ancestor had been willing to bid up to 500, and likely only sought enlightenment from the technique, a single study would suffice. The original manual itself held limited value—perhaps 200 to 300 stones at most.

Three hundred for one study… that should push the other party to their limit. Maybe slightly high, but haggling was expected. Every Sourceworld Stone was precious to him.

“The Quan Miao Ancestor replied,” Pavilion Master Yuqi informed. “He says it’s too high. His maximum is 220.”

“Tell him I paid even more for the original. My lowest is 280,” Dongbo Xueying countered.

Both sides stubbornly haggled—one a Chaos realm overlord, the other an inner hall elder of the Voidsky Palace—fighting over every stone.

But they both understood.

This was for cultivation. Eventually, they would settle on a mutually acceptable price. For Dongbo Xueying, few were willing to pay a premium for *Dark World*—only he and the Quan Miao Ancestor had competed. And even fewer could afford it. So while it was just a single study, finding someone willing to pay so much was rare.

When such an opportunity arose, the price couldn’t be low.

In the end, they agreed—235 Sourceworld Stones for the Quan Miao Ancestor to study it once.

—

The grand auction lasted most of the day. The final treasure, *Chiton Skirt*, was a peculiar leather garment—seemingly from some unknown creature. The purple-robed woman’s description was vague, but the bidding frenzy drove the final price to a staggering **3,982 Sourceworld Stones**! Even Dongbo Xueying was stunned.

“Looks like the hide of some creature?” he muttered. “To fetch such a price… could it be the skin of a Cosmic God?”

Though astonished, he remained in high spirits as he followed Pavilion Master Yuqi to a hidden underground chamber within the Sevenstar Sea Pavilion’s branch.

At the center of the chamber stood a formation roughly a hundred meters in diameter.

Pavilion Master Yuqi stood beside Dongbo Xueying, gesturing toward it. “This formation marks the precise location. Soon, the *Dark World* original will be transmitted directly from the other side.”

Dongbo Xueying nodded.

Ultra-long-distance teleportation…

Transporting living beings was difficult, but objects were far easier. Back when he and the Demon Ancestor had been teleported from the Eastridge Sacred Realm to the Sevenstar Sea Sacred Realm by Sand Ancestor, the latter had only asked if they carried any subordinates—not items. Because objects were inanimate, teleporting them was trivial.

“Regarding the *Dark World* original, as per your agreement with the Quan Miao Ancestor, he has already studied it and paid 235 Sourceworld Stones. You still owe 266,” Pavilion Master Yuqi reminded.

“Sell these treasures,” Dongbo Xueying said, handing over a storage bracelet.

After inspecting it, Pavilion Master Yuqi nodded. “Very well. You’ll receive 119 Sourceworld Stones shortly.”

**”Hum.”**

A folded, distorted spatial tunnel appeared before them.

A black book flew out from the passage, landing gently on the formation before the tunnel dissipated.

Dongbo Xueying’s eyes gleamed as he stepped forward and picked it up. The dark metallic tome bore three twisted characters on its surface—*Dark World*—exuding a natural illusionary aura. Black mist swirled around it, threatening to ensnare weaker souls.

As he slowly opened the book—

**”Hum!”**

The text transformed into streams of characters, surging into Dongbo Xueying’s mind.

*Dark World.*

This was an incomplete supreme technique. The prodigiously talented Unity realm master, the “Dark World Lord,” had written in its preface that he intended to create **three killing moves**—

The first could clear the fifth level of the Star Tower.

The second could clear the sixth.

And the planned third could even clear the **seventh**!

With his pride, the Dark World Lord sought to reach the historical limit of the Unity realm—clearing the seventh level!

The first two moves were complete. The third remained unwritten, for he had perished before its creation.

**First Move: “Dark Bubble.”**

A constructed world envelops the enemy, rapidly shrinking until it tightly encases them like a bubble. But this bubble contained the force of an entire world—one built solely for destruction. With a single thought, the world **explodes**, annihilating everything within.

**Second Move: “Blade of Divine Retribution.”**

This world serves as the foundation for a single, deadly blade—one that descends from the void without warning. Most enemies fall before even closing the distance. The Dark World Lord could stand still, and blades of divine retribution would rain from nothingness, striking all directions. With this move, he shook the Five Sacred Realms, rivaling **Chaos realm overlords** as a mere Unity cultivator.

Alas, the third move was never realized before his untimely demise.