Word Count: 2,560 Words
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Xiao Yan knew, of course, that Mao Wu could refine Dou God Bloodlines because he possessed the Tunling King's power from the Tunling Clan. How Mao Wu had acquired that power, however, remained a mystery.
He waved his hand. Mao Wu emerged from the void and opened his mouth, spewing out a massive torrent of black flames. The pitch-black Earth Seed Flame of the Nihility Devouring Flame wrapped around Hun Ya and Hun Li's corpses.
"Aaahhh!!"
"Xiao Yan! If you kill us, the Hun Clan will never let you go!!"
The instant the black flames engulfed them, Hun Ya and Hun Li's soul bodies burst out of their corpses. For the Hun Clan, as long as the soul remained intact, resurrection was not particularly difficult.
Unlike the other Dou God Clans, the Hun Clan housed their Dou God Bloodline within the soul body itself. The soul was their true core.
"Kill you? Aren't you already dead?" Xiao Yan looked at these two jumping clowns with an easy smile.
"What Heavenly Flame is this?! Why can I feel my Dou God Bloodline being devoured?!" Hun Ya tried to activate his bloodline power and break free, only to discover in horror that the Dou God Bloodline within his soul body was rapidly diminishing, as if being forcibly drawn out.
"Mine too!! Is this the Tunling Clan's power?! Just who are you? Why do you possess the Tunling Clan's abilities?!" Hun Li shrieked.
Clearly, with their status, they weren't qualified to know anything about the Nihility Devouring Flame or the Tunling Clan.
Xiao Yan simply smiled and produced his Soul Command Token. "I am the Hall of Souls' Tenth Tianzun."
The moment he revealed the token, Hun Ya and Hun Li froze completely, their soul bodies stunned into absolute silence. They knew exactly who the Hall of Souls' Tenth Tianzun was. They had even met him once at the coming-of-age ceremony!
"You... you're the Tenth Tianzun?!" Hun Ya felt his sanity teetering on the edge. The Little Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan was actually the Hall of Souls' Tenth Tianzun, had participated in the Hun Clan's coming-of-age ceremony, and had even received the Hun Clan's Dou God Bloodline...
Absolutely outrageous!
"You're also from the Hun Clan! Why are you killing us?!" Hun Li screamed, his voice hoarse with panic. The black flames were utterly terrifying; any Spiritual Strength defense was devoured the instant it appeared. They had no way to resist.
Xiao Yan let out a sinister, rasping laugh. "Jie Jie Jie, have you two never killed your own clansmen?"
The color drained from both their faces at his words, and they found themselves unable to offer any rebuttal. Of course they had!
"Besides, I'm not truly Hun Clan at all. Rest easy. Your Dou God Bloodlines won't go to waste."
"No!!" ×2
Xiao Yan's fingers blurred through a hand seal. The three-faced Asura statue of the Asura Soul Reaping Technique materialized behind him. All three faces opened their mouths simultaneously, unleashing a powerful suction. As those maws gaped wide, strands of Dou God Bloodline surged out of the black flames.
Hun Ya and Hun Li's Dou God Bloodlines were completely absorbed by the three-faced Asura statue.
A deep hum reverberated through the chamber. The Hun Clan's Clan Mark on the statue's forehead flared with even greater brilliance. Unlike the Gu Clan's mark, the Hun Clan's Clan Mark only grew stronger the deeper and purer its black became.
'Close to Grade 8... what a pity. If it could reach Grade 9, using the Hun Clan's Clan Mark would give a major boost to my Spiritual Strength.' Xiao Yan shrugged helplessly. The Skyfire Three Mysterious Change worked only on the Xiao Clan's Clan Mark. There was nothing he could do about it.
Different Dou God Bloodlines granted different abilities. The Xiao Clan's Dou God Bloodline possessed only a single effect.
'Looks like I still need to keep improving. Hun Yu and Hun Feng apparently possess Divine Grade Bloodlines. With a Divine Grade bloodline, reaching the Emperor State should be possible, right?' Xiao Yan rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Only by achieving an Emperor State soul could one refine Di Pills. Hun Tiandi would have to give him some help there!
…
Half a month later, with only three days remaining before the spatial trade fair, Cai Lin finally finished refining the Venerate Ascension Spirit Pill.
When Xiao Yan saw her emerge from seclusion, he exchanged a glance with Ya Fei. She immediately produced a crimson spatial shuttle. The so-called spatial trade fair naturally existed within the void, much like the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe's Dragon Island, and was not located on the Dou Qi Continent at all.
Anyone qualified to participate would receive such a red spatial shuttle. Only with it could one enter the spatial trade fair.
Even within the Central Plains, the term 'spatial trade fair' remained relatively obscure. Across the entire continent, only the most elite factions and experts possessed any real knowledge about it.
Had the Yan Alliance not grown so explosively, and had Ya Fei not demonstrated such extraordinary business acumen in expanding the Miteer Auction House throughout the Central Plains, they likely would never have qualified for an invitation.
At the beginning, this spatial trade fair had no fixed organizers. But every endeavor needed rules and balance, and as the fair expanded, organizers eventually emerged. The hosts were not a single powerful expert or sect, but three relatively obscure factions that had joined forces to maintain order.
These three factions were the Earth Walking Sect, the Void Mystery Gate, and Treasure Appraisal Mountain.
"Earth Walking Sect, Void Mystery Gate, and Treasure Appraisal Mountain? Are these three factions strong?" Xiao Yan asked curiously.
Even Cai Lin seemed puzzled. Despite roaming the land and fighting battle after battle, she had never heard these names.
Ya Fei nodded gravely. "In terms of reputation, these three factions are far inferior to the so-called Four Pavilions. But in actual strength, even the Profound Sky Sect wouldn't dare confront them head-on."
"The Central Plains has its share of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. The so-called One Hall, One Tower, Two Sects, Three Valleys, and Four Pavilions are not necessarily the strongest forces. Some seemingly unremarkable, low-key sects possess extremely deep foundations. Their strength is in no way inferior."
"Long ago, I heard that a Half-Saint once made a move at the spatial trade fair, trying to rob someone. Three Half-Saints joined forces and killed him on the spot."
A faint note of worry entered Ya Fei's voice as she glanced meaningfully at Xiao Yan, the reminder clear.
Xiao Yan could only smile bitterly and shake his head. So much for robbing the hosts. That idea would have to be scrapped. He would have to rely on wealth honestly this time.
Ya Fei continued, "The spatial trade fair can be called the Central Plains' grand event once every decade. Its liveliness rivals the Pill Gathering. Because of that, even Tian Class Dou Techniques and Qi Methods are not rare here. One can obtain them if one has the means."
"Even Tian Class Qi Methods?!" Even the usually composed Little Fairy Doctor could not hide her surprise.
Qi Methods and Dou Techniques were not the same. Tian Class Qi Methods were far more precious. A 5-star Dou Venerate might stumble across a Tian Class Dou Technique in some ancient ruin, but even a peak 9-star Dou Venerate would find it difficult to obtain a Tian Class Qi Method.
The difficulty of creating a Tian Class Qi Method was simply too great!
…
"We've arrived."
Two days later, a black hole entrance appeared before them. Xiao Yan's group was not alone; here and there, figures tore through the void and slipped into the black hole. Without exception, every one of them was a Dou Venerate.
Dou Venerates, so rarely seen in everyday life, were here nothing more than ordinary guests!
"This really is an exaggeration…" Xiao Yan shook his head helplessly. When he had first arrived in the Central Plains, he had believed Dou Venerates represented the pinnacle. Back then, the Wind Lightning Pavilion had possessed only one.
Looking at things now, quite a few rogue cultivators kept such low profiles that a random peddler at the roadside might very well be a Dou Venerate.
They stepped into the black hole. Darkness swallowed their vision for a brief instant, then light and a wave of bustling noise burst forth. Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes. The world before them had transformed into a small town.
The town was not particularly large. When they looked up, the sky above was a uniform gray, and faint, violent spatial ripples seeped from within it.
"So this is the spatial trade fair…" Little Fairy Doctor's beautiful eyes swept their surroundings. The place looked almost like the marketplace back in Qingshan Town!
Qing Lin blinked, reminiscing. It reminded her of those days with the mercenary company, when they had time off for shopping.
But once they glimpsed the merchandise for sale, the distinction became crystal clear. This was indeed the spatial trade fair.
"High Di Class Dou Technique, Triple Lightning Whip!"
"High Di Class Qi Method, Dou Qi Dragon Transformation Technique!"
"High-tier tier 7 pills… tier 8 medicinal ingredients…"
At the nearest stall, Xiao Yan casually picked up a Dou Technique. It was, without exception, a High Di Class Dou Technique. Here, High Di Class Dou Techniques and Qi Methods lay scattered like comic books and magazines at a street stall, displayed with casual indifference.
And stalls like this lined the entire street!
"Good heavens…" Xiao Yan couldn't help letting the exclamation slip.
He himself no longer needed these things, but he knew very well how precious they were. The Ice River Valley's so-called secret troves had contained little more than a handful of High Di Class Qi Methods and Dou Techniques.
Even Little Fairy Doctor and Cai Lin, both usually calm by nature, had a strange light flickering in their eyes again and again. They might not need Qi Methods or Dou Techniques, but some of the items with special functions were genuinely enticing.
"Young Master, there are so many medicinal materials here." Qing Lin tugged at Xiao Yan's sleeve and pointed toward a nearby stall.
Following her gesture, Xiao Yan saw a stall covered in jade boxes, each containing a different tier 8 medicinal ingredient.
"Earth Core Spirit Serum?!" His gaze landed on a jade bottle to the side, surprise flashing through his eyes.
"Hehe, this young master has a good eye. Adding some Earth Core Spirit Serum during alchemy not only improves the pill's quality, it can even attract an extra color of Pill Lightning," the stall owner explained with an ingratiating smile.
Earth Core Spirit Serum could be used for any tier of alchemy as an auxiliary ingredient, enhancing medicinal effects in a way similar to Heavenly Flames. But using it on anything lower than a tier 8 pill was a waste. Only with tier 8 and above would it truly be worth the cost.
"How much?" Xiao Yan asked.
"One tier 8 pill that has attracted a two-colored Pill Lightning, or an item of equivalent value," the stall owner replied with a smile.
Xiao Yan flicked his sleeve. A brocade box flew over, containing a tier 8 pill that had indeed drawn a two-colored Pill Lightning. He then collected the Earth Core Spirit Serum. He had no need for it when refining tier 8 pills, but for Tier 9 Treasure Pills, this bottle could increase his success rate by roughly ten percent.
He glanced at Little Fairy Doctor and the others and couldn't help grinning inwardly. As expected, when women went shopping, they became entirely different people. Even Cai Lin's eyes lingered on some items with clear reluctance to look away.
"Ladies, buy whatever you like. Today's expenses are all on Young Master Yan!" He swept his wide sleeve and clasped his hands behind his back, looking every bit the rich and willful young master.
Spending money on his own women did not distress him in the slightest!
His voice carried, and quite a few people turned to look. Xiao Yan's name was famous, but his face was another matter entirely. Few had actually seen him, so almost no one here recognized him.
On the other hand, the several beauties by his side, each with her own unique charm, drew burning jealousy from quite a number of male onlookers.
Someone like that ought to go choke on their own wealth!
The things sold here were indeed expensive, but Xiao Yan had spent half a year preparing. With his alchemy skills, Heavenly Flames, and Spiritual Strength at the Heavenly State, as long as he had enough ingredients, he could practically buy out the entire trade fair!
Little Fairy Doctor couldn't help a soft laugh. A faint blush dusted her cheeks, but she didn't refute him. Instead, she began browsing in earnest. Since someone else was footing the bill, there was no need to be polite.
"Sister Ya Fei, you and Qing Lin should look for any Tian Class Dou Techniques, Qi Methods, and tier 9 pill recipes," Xiao Yan said.
Ya Fei nodded. Her innate talent was limited; most of the things here weren't suited for her anyway.
The vast majority of goods were High Di Class or tier 8, already too low-grade for Xiao Yan's current level. Even Low Tian Class Dou Techniques felt lacking. Still, if he spotted something suitable, he wouldn't mind buying it.
As he walked, Cai Lin suddenly caught hold of his finger and tugged him to a stop. She had fixed her gaze on an item at a nearby stall.
He followed her line of sight. On the stall lay a seven-colored stone roughly half the size of a fist. Its surface bore seven distinct lines, and a faint, unique energy pulsed from within.
"A Seven-Colored Origin Stone?"
Xiao Yan's brows rose. He recognized it at a glance. This so-called Seven-Colored Origin Stone was a mutated spirit stone closely connected to the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python. According to legend, such stones only formed where a Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python had fallen. After absorbing that python's blood, the stone developed a unique energy. It was an ultimate tonic for the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python.
No wonder Cai Lin had stopped. It was essentially a treasure condensed from the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python's essence blood.
Xiao Yan turned his hand to clasp Cai Lin's delicate fingers and smiled. "Buy it. The Yan Alliance's hard-won gains are just as much yours as mine."
A gentle light flickered through Cai Lin's beautiful eyes. She nodded lightly and asked in her usual cool tone, "Old sir, what is your price for the Seven-Colored Origin Stone?"
Only then did the stall owner slowly open his eyes. The moment he did, Xiao Yan's heart gave a jolt. This old man was actually a peak 9-star Dou Venerate!
"Two tier 8 pills that have attracted a three-colored Pill Lightning." The old man's gaze swept over Xiao Yan with undisguised disdain. Handsome, rich, surrounded by beauties; he clearly found the sight offensive. He snorted coldly. "No bargaining."
Two soft whooshes sounded as a pair of brocade boxes flew out. Xiao Yan caught up the Seven-Colored Origin Stone and said calmly, "Quite cheap."