Other items being auctioned off could be overlooked.
But the *Heavenly Demon Stone Inscription* was Kunlun Realm’s legacy, a treasure of an entire world—how could it be allowed to fall into the hands of foreign cultivators?
This was something Zhang Ruochen absolutely couldn’t tolerate!
Jiang Yunchong said, “This *Heavenly Demon Blood Axe Diagram* was entrusted to the Heavenly Absolute Pavilion for auction by a cultivator. He doesn’t want holy stones—he seeks specific items he currently needs.”
“What items?” someone asked.
Jiang Yunchong replied, “A divine-level sword technique manual, a hundred-thousand-year-old ancient holy medicine, a Heaven-Grade Saint Pill, a King-Grade Saint Pill, a divine stone, an ancient divine relic, a supreme saintly weapon, or materials for forging a supreme saintly weapon. Whoever offers something that satisfies him gets the *Heavenly Demon Blood Axe Diagram*.”
The cultivators present wilted like deflated eggplants, shaking their heads and sighing.
The treasures Jiang Yunchong listed were all exceedingly rare—how could they possibly produce them?
From a third-floor private room, a broad-shouldered, red-skinned man emerged, holding a jade box, “I have a Heaven-Grade Saint Pill, the Guihong Pill.”
“Swish.”
As he opened the jade box, a rich medicinal fragrance filled the entire Heavenly Absolute Pavilion.
Inside, the Guihong Pill glowed like a pearl, radiating a warm lustre, with thousands of inscriptions flowing within.
Gasps of awe and exclamations erupted, alongside countless greedy stares.
Jiang Yunchong said, “If you only have one Guihong Pill, it’s not enough to trade for the *Heavenly Demon Blood Axe Diagram*.”
Disappointed, the red-skinned man stowed the pill and retreated to his room.
From a fourth-floor private room, a gaunt, ghostly old man stepped out, presenting a half-yard-high crystal. Sealed inside was a silver exotic flower.
“I have a hundred-thousand-year-old ancient holy medicine. Can it trade for the *Heavenly Demon Blood Axe Diagram*?” the eerie old man asked.
Jiang Yunchong’s gaze shifted to the western fifth-floor private room, as if consulting someone.
After a moment, he shook his head, “One hundred-thousand-year-old ancient holy medicine won’t do. If you had more, it might be considered.”
More hundred-thousand-year-old ancient holy medicines?
They weren’t cabbages.
Yet, following Jiang Yunchong’s glance, the crowd deduced the seller of the *Heavenly Demon Blood Axe Diagram* was likely in the western fifth-floor room.
How could someone of Jiang Yunchong’s peerless cultivation make such a basic mistake?
Next, saint-level cultivators from various rooms emerged, some offering hundred-thousand-year-old ancient holy medicines, others presenting top-tier sword technique manuals, or small pieces of supreme saintly weapon forging materials.
It was like a treasure showdown, each displaying their prowess, dazzling the onlookers.
Naturally, some discreet powerhouses silently noted these cultivators and their treasures, harbouring thoughts of murder and plunder.
The *Heavenly Demon Blood Axe Diagram* had exposed many cultivators’ prized possessions—tonight, the Eastern Domain Holy City would likely see a storm of blood.
Zhang Ruochen’s gaze fixed on the eastern private room, muttering, “It seems Jie Canghai came to the Heavenly Absolute Pavilion for the *Heavenly Demon Blood Axe Diagram*. He should bid soon, right?”
Sure enough, moments later, the eastern room’s door opened, and Jie Canghai’s tall, imposing figure stepped out.
In an instant, the pavilion’s light and heat seemed swallowed by him, all eyes drawn irresistibly to his presence.
“I have three hundred-thousand-year-old ancient holy medicines and a Taiyi Ancestral Stone. Can that trade for the *Heavenly Demon Blood Axe Diagram*?” Jie Canghai declared.
“My heavens! Three hundred-thousand-year-old ancient holy medicines?”
“Who is this guy? Is he bluffing with such a bold claim?”
“Those medicines usually gain sentience and immense power—how could a Saint King possess three?”
Some knowledgeable cultivators in the pavilion revealed Jie Canghai’s identity.
Gasps of shock followed, countless faces showing fear and reverence.
Jiang Yunchong asked, “The seller wants to know how large Mr. Jie’s Taiyi Ancestral Stone is.”
Jie Canghai smirked, sensing a chance, and produced a millstone-sized stone.
It radiated a golden glow, distinct from metallic sheen, its light so piercing that each ray felt like a sword.
The saint-level cultivators present shut their eyes, unable to look directly.
Zhang Ruochen held his breath, “A Taiyi Ancestral Stone this massive could forge the base of a supreme saintly weapon.”
The Taiyi Ancestral Stone was one of the five elemental extremes.
These extremes ranked among the universe’s top ten materials.
Three hundred-thousand-year-old ancient holy medicines plus a Taiyi Ancestral Stone—clearly, the seller was tempted.
Zhang Ruochen didn’t wait longer. He pushed open his room’s door, stepped to the railing’s edge, and called out, “This prince also has a treasure. Can it trade for the *Heavenly Demon Blood Axe Diagram*?”
He then tossed down Qisheng’s God-Slaying Cross Shield.
“Boom.”
The heavy shield, like a white stone cross stained with ancient divine blood, landed in the centre of the first-floor hall, towering five stories high, utterly awe-inspiring.
The God-Slaying Cross Shield’s spirit was formidable, beyond Zhang Ruochen’s control and unstable, which was why he’d decided to trade it for the *Heavenly Demon Blood Axe Diagram*.
“This treasure… truly remarkable…”
Jiang Yunchong appeared beneath the shield, his fingers brushing it lightly. Blood-red patterns emerged from within.
“Unactivated by holy energy, yet it radiates divine might—it must be a weapon of great origin.”
“Could it be a supreme saintly weapon?”
…
Jiang Yunchong’s ears twitched slightly, then he clasped his hands, smiling, “Congratulations! The seller finds your weapon highly suitable and has agreed to the trade.”
“They agreed that quickly?” Zhang Ruochen was taken aback.
The God-Slaying Cross Shield was extraordinary—Great Saints might fight over it—so the swift acceptance wasn’t surprising.
Jie Canghai, dead-set on the *Heavenly Demon Blood Axe Diagram*, wouldn’t let it slip away so easily.
Killing intent surged from him, chilling the pavilion’s cultivators to the bone, leaving them trembling.
“Junior, you’ve gone too far today!” Jie Canghai’s tone was icy.
Despite the vast gap in cultivation, Zhang Ruochen showed no fear, meeting his gaze, “We’re all bidding with skill and wealth. How have I overstepped? Jie Canghai, you’re a Domain of the Dao powerhouse—why so petty?”
“Bang.”
Jie Canghai slammed a fist into the railing, instantly activating the pavilion’s defensive array inscriptions.
A powerful wave of saintly energy surged outward in all directions.
Zhang Ruochen was struck by one blast, reeling back two steps as if hit by a divine mountain, his hair crown shattering, locks spilling loose.
He roared, “Old fool, I’m a secret disciple of God Yan. Do you think I fear you?”
“Swish.”
Zhang Ruochen channelled the crimson rule patterns in his left leg to his hands, igniting twin blazing fire clouds in his palms.
Jie Canghai withdrew his saintly might, surprised, “You’re a secret disciple of God Yan?”
Zhang Ruochen snorted, defiant, “Jie Canghai, if you want a fight, I’m not afraid. Let’s settle it with life or death.”
God Yan was a deity of the Merit Temple, a titan of the Paradise Realm.
Jie Canghai’s Black Demon Realm was, at its core, a vassal of the Paradise Realm. Facing peers from the Paradise Realm, he had to bow lower.
A secret disciple of God Yan held lofty status—not someone to cross.
Jie Canghai sent a mental message to Lord Shenya and Grand Dawn King, “Is he really God Yan’s disciple?”
Lord Shenya frowned, “God Yan has many direct and nominal disciples—it’s hard to say.”
Grand Dawn King said, “His aura matches God Yan’s perfectly, infused with divine might. It’s likely God Yan bestowed him with a remarkable treasure.”
“Could he be a direct disciple of God Yan?”
“God Yan has only one direct disciple, Shang Ziyu—how could there be a second?”
After a pause, Jie Canghai quelled his killing intent, forcing a smile, “Since Your Highness is a secret disciple of God Yan, we’re on the same side. Everything’s negotiable.”
Zhang Ruochen smirked inwardly.
Posing as God Yan’s secret disciple was his gambit to break the deadlock.
It was a high-risk move, thrusting him into the spotlight, where a misstep could spell doom.
“Your Highness, could we speak privately?” Jie Canghai extended an invitation.
“I see no need.”
Lord Shenya, Jie Canghai, Jueyan Hu—these old foxes—and Grand Dawn King, a prodigy—were all razor-sharp. Getting too close would expose flaws, and he wouldn’t know how he’d die.
Better to quit while ahead.
Zhang Ruochen looked down at Jiang Yunchong, “Deal done?”
“Deal done,” Jiang Yunchong said with a smile.
But as he spoke, another voice echoed in Zhang Ruochen’s mind, “The *Heavenly Demon Blood Axe Diagram* is bait for Jie Canghai. To break the Eastern Domain Holy City’s crisis, give it to him. An Earth Master’s here—our talk might be overheard. Don’t message me asking why.”
A flicker of shock passed through Zhang Ruochen’s eyes.
His expression stayed steady, but his heart roiled like a storm-tossed sea.
“Could Jiang Yunchong really be…”
He’d had suspicions upon meeting Jiang Yunchong.
Now, he was more certain—Jiang Yunchong was likely a Kunlun Realm cultivator.
What Zhang Ruochen couldn’t pin down was whether he was a reclusive Kunlun powerhouse or a prodigy awakened from a hundred-thousand-year slumber.
