Family Rise: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 609 A Marvelous Treasure of Heaven and Earth, The Woman in the Ice Coffin, and a Gathering of Heroes
"Elder Shan, Brother Huanyu, look!" Huang Huanhuan held out a jade bottle. The bottle was transparent, and dozens of crystal-clear, slowly wriggling Spirit-Devouring Insects could be clearly seen inside! "I discovered some traces last night and chased after them for a long time before finally catching these treasures in a mountain cave! With them, our Huang family's foundation will be further strengthened!"

Seeing this, Elder Huang Shan's tense expression relaxed. Looking at the Spirit-Devouring Insect in the jade bottle, he nodded slightly: "Yes, it is indeed a Spirit-Devouring Insect, and it's of good quality. Huanhuan, this time... you've done a great service." Although going out without permission was wrong, the result was good after all, so he couldn't be too harsh on her.

However, the doubt in team leader Huang Huanyu's heart had not completely dissipated. He always felt that although Huang Huanhuan's demeanor and behavior were no different from usual, there seemed to be something more in the depths of her eyes than before, a kind of calm that he could not describe...?
Just to be on the safe side, he stepped forward, a gentle smile on his face: "Huanhuan, you've worked hard. It's good that you're back safely. But for everyone's safety, please wait a moment while I do my routine check. After all, things aren't peaceful outside."

Without waiting for "Huang Huanhuan's" response, he took out a bronze mirror with an ancient design and runes engraved on its edges from his storage bag—the [Mirror of Reflection and Exorcism]. Although this mirror was not a high-level magic weapon, it was quite effective in detecting abnormal states such as possession, being possessed, and spirits residing in bodies.

Huang Huanyu infused his magic power, and the mirror immediately shone with a hazy light, which shone on "Huang Huanhuan".

The light swirled and swept carefully over her from head to toe.

Huang Huanhuan appropriately revealed a hint of grievance and displeasure at being questioned, pursed her lips, but cooperated by not moving.

Under the mirror's light, her aura was stable, her spiritual energy flowed in accordance with the Huang family's cultivation method, and her soul fluctuations were no different from previous records, showing no signs of possession or evil spirits.

After the inspection, Huang Huanyu's last trace of doubt dissipated. He put away the magic mirror, his smile becoming more sincere: "Sister, please don't be offended; it was my duty. Everything's fine now, please come in."

He personally cast a spell, opening a gap in the protective light barrier surrounding the stronghold.

Huang Huanhuan then gave a soft hum, with a hint of smugness and "grievance," and stepped into the stronghold.

After she entered, Huang Huanyu's expression turned serious, and he said in a deep voice, "Huanhuan, although you have made a contribution this time, you must never go out without permission again! You must understand that this place is the last refuge for our Huang family, the escape route that the clan leader has painstakingly prepared for us! Once the location is leaked and our enemies find out, the consequences will be unimaginable! At that time, we will all die without a burial place! You must not act recklessly again!"

His words were heavy, carrying a warning and a hint of lingering fear.

Upon hearing this, Huang Huanhuan's smugness vanished, replaced by a belated fear, as if she had been shocked. She lowered her head and whispered, "Brother Huanyu, I know I was wrong... I won't do it again."

Seeing that she seemed to have truly realized the seriousness of the matter, Huang Huanyu and Elder Huang Shan exchanged a glance and nodded slightly.

"Alright, since you've returned safely and brought back resources, let's leave it at that. Huanhuan, go back and get some rest," Elder Huangshan concluded.

"Yes, Elder Shan." Huang Huanhuan responded obediently, holding the bottle of spirit-devouring insects, and walked towards her stone chamber amidst the envious or complicated gazes of the disciples.

...

...

Back in the stone chamber, Huang Huanhuan's innocent and aggrieved expression vanished instantly, replaced by a coldness and composure that seemed completely out of place in her young body.

She did not rest immediately, but sat down cross-legged, seemingly to regulate her breathing. In reality, her divine sense, like the finest net, quietly covered the entire stronghold, especially the seemingly ordinary well located in the corner of the stronghold.

This was the key information she learned from the intelligence provided by Fu Changsheng—a secret was hidden at the bottom of the well.

For two consecutive days, she behaved unusually "well-behaved," rarely leaving the house except for necessary cultivation and meals. She appeared to be frightened and determined to repent, which put Huang Huanyu, who had been secretly watching her, at ease.

Late at night on the third day.

The stronghold was utterly silent; even the footsteps of the patrolling disciples seemed unusually faint. "Huang Huanhuan" quietly opened her eyes, a glint of light flashing within them. She changed into a set of dark clothing for ease of movement and, like a ghost in the night, silently slipped out of the stone chamber.

She avoided all possible sightlines and array nodes, and with a few flashes, she arrived at the well. The wellhead was half-covered by a stone slab, inconspicuous in the night.

She carefully moved the stone slab aside, and a cool, damp scent wafted towards her. Without hesitation, she leaped lightly into the well.

The well walls were slippery and covered with moss.

After falling several hundred feet, the well water was icy cold. Following Fu Changsheng's intelligence, she dived into the water and carefully searched the rock wall near the bottom of the well.

really!

Hidden beneath a thick patch of aquatic plants, she touched a cleverly disguised cave entrance, about half a person's height! A gentle breeze, fresher than well water and carrying a strange, ethereal quality, slowly blew out from inside the cave.

"right here!"

With a firm resolve, she crawled into the hole without hesitation.

The cave entrance was initially extremely narrow, barely allowing one person to pass through. After walking several thousand steps, it suddenly opened up into a bright and spacious area!
A vast underground cavern appeared before her. Countless stalactites, emitting a soft white light, hung from the cavern's ceiling, illuminating the interior as if it were daytime. The ground was rugged with strange rocks, and in the center was a small pool, no more than ten feet in size, with crystal-clear water. In the center of the pool, a strange plant, resembling a lingzhi mushroom but entirely of a warm, milky white color, grew quietly, surrounded by a misty, milky-white aura that emitted a refreshing fragrance that soothed the soul.

It is the earth's core milk, a precious substance that can cure all poisons!

A hint of joy flashed in Huang Huanhuan's eyes. She quickly stepped forward, carefully took out a jade shovel and a jade bottle that she had prepared beforehand, and gently dug out the Earth Core Milk along with a small clump of spiritual soil at its roots. She quickly put it into the jade bottle and sealed it to ensure that its spiritual energy was not lost.

Having done all this, she dared not linger. She immediately returned the way she came, silently went back to the wellhead, restored the stone slab to its original state, erased all traces of herself, and slipped back into the stone chamber as if she had never left.

The whole process was carried out without anyone noticing.

Several months later, she used the excuse that she needed some specific medicinal herbs to aid her cultivation (which the base happened to lack) to apply to Huang Huanyu, who was in charge of supplies, to go out and collect them. Huang Huanyu saw that she had indeed been well-behaved for the past few months, and that she had just made a contribution, so he did not make things too difficult for her, only instructing her to go and return quickly and not to stray too far.

Huang Huanhuan successfully left the stronghold and, following the pre-arranged code with Fu Changsheng, arrived at an extremely secluded grove of dead trees at the edge of the Black Swamp.

Fu Changsheng was already waiting there.

"Young friend Fu, I have not failed you." Huang Huanhuan handed the jade bottle containing the Earth Core Milk to Fu Changsheng in a calm tone.

Fu Changsheng took the jade bottle, opened it a crack, and the pure vitality and detoxifying aura rushed out. After confirming that it was correct, he nodded: "Thank you for your trouble, Senior Liu."

"It's just a matter of each taking what they need," Liu Hanyan (Huang Huanhuan) said calmly. "The latent Water Cloud Body of this body needs to be awakened as soon as possible, otherwise it will hinder my plans."

"Don't worry, senior," Fu Changsheng put away the jade bottle, "I have some clues about the 'Mica Spirit Spring' and 'Water Essence Crystal' needed to awaken the Water Cloud Body. I will start collecting them after this auction. Once I have them, I will contact you, senior."

“That’s good.” Liu Hanyan nodded. “Then I will return to the stronghold and lie low, awaiting good news. If there are any unusual movements from the Huang family, I will find a way to inform you.”

"Senior, take care."

After Huang Huanhuan left.

A familiar mechanical voice echoed in his mind:
"Ding"

"You have acquired 'Earth Core Milk,' which can cure all poisons, for the family. Your family contribution points have been increased to 10,000."

Seeing his contribution points increase again, Fu Changsheng felt more confident. Before heading to the Yunlang Mountains, he needed to go to the Youming Market to find out about the auction.

The intelligence report mentioned this.

The first and most important treasure is the opening of the mysterious palace in the Five Elements Space, which can also generate a faint "Creation Qi" that can accelerate the growth of spiritual herbs.

Uncle Fei was seriously injured.

Currently, only the Dragon Blood Tree in the space can heal him. However, it will be decades before the next resin is produced. If he could obtain that innate spiritual object, he could achieve three things at once.

Also.

Another opportunity may lie hidden in the auction.

An ancient treasure ship lies sunk at the bottom of the Jinsha River, containing a large amount of Geng metal essence! If we could find a way to obtain it, that would be wonderful.

...

...

The Netherworld Market is located in a vast valley in the far west that is shrouded in gray mist all year round.

At the entrance to the valley, the two characters "Youming" (冥冥, meaning Netherworld) on a massive stone tablet were written in bold, powerful strokes, radiating a faint aura of power. Cultivators came and went in an endless stream, their streaks of light like shooting stars cutting through the gray mist and landing within the market. The streets were wide, paved with some kind of hard, dark blue-green stone slabs, lined with shops on both sides, their banners fluttering, selling all kinds of cultivation resources, from elixirs and magical artifacts to talismans and materials. The sounds of hawking and discussion filled the air, and the air was thick with spiritual energy—a scene of bustling prosperity.

An inconspicuous gray beam of light landed at the entrance of the market. The light faded, revealing an ordinary-looking middle-aged cultivator. It was none other than Fu Changsheng, who had used the "Thousand Faces Technique" to change his appearance.

He paid the spirit stones required to enter the market and followed the crowd. His gaze seemingly casually swept over his surroundings, but his divine sense, like an invisible spiderweb, quietly spread out, gathering information while vigilantly sensing any lingering aura of the "Poison Scorpion." Based on previous intelligence, that guy had most likely already infiltrated this place.

The market was teeming with cultivators, their auras a jumbled mess, making it impossible to find the target immediately—it was like searching for a needle in a haystack. Fu Changsheng wasn't in a hurry. He first walked around the main street to familiarize himself with the surroundings, and then headed towards the relatively quiet residential area.

After settling in, he summoned the waiter in charge of reception for this area, a clever Qi Refining stage youth.

He casually tossed over a few low-grade spirit stones and asked, feigning nonchalance, "Brother, I'm new here. I've heard there's going to be a grand auction in the market soon. What are the details?"

The waiter took the spirit stones, his smile widening as he eagerly replied, "Senior, you've come to the right person! Our Netherworld Market's once-in-a-century 'Netherworld Auction' is starting in less than three months! This is one of the most prestigious events in the far west!"

He lowered his voice, a hint of boasting in his voice, and said, "I heard that the Netherworld Merchant Guild has gone all out for this auction, gathering countless rare treasures! Not to mention Core Formation spiritual items, there are also main ingredients for Nascent Soul Pills, fragments of ancient cultivation techniques, rare spirit beast eggs... they have everything! The most exciting thing is that it is said that among the final few treasures, there might be a supreme treasure of the Acquired Spiritual Treasure level!"

"A postnatal spiritual treasure?" Fu Changsheng showed a slight surprise. Postnatal spiritual treasures are existences that surpass magic treasures, possessing boundless power, enough to serve as the sect's treasure for Nascent Soul sects. He did not expect the auction to be of such a high standard.

"That's right!" Seeing that he had successfully piqued the customer's interest, the waiter became even more enthusiastic. "As the news spread, almost all the prominent Golden Core elders in the far west have set off for this place! It's even said that those few elusive Nascent Soul True Monarchs might descend and personally participate in the bidding!"

Fu Changsheng understood; such a grand event would indeed attract powerful figures from all sides. This also meant that the competition would be unprecedentedly fierce.

He pondered for a moment and asked, "Such a grand event must be difficult to enter, right?"

"Senior, you are wise!" The waiter slapped his thigh. "The people behind the auction are shrouded in mystery, and the number of seats is limited. The official invitations have long been snapped up by the major sects and renowned rogue cultivators. The tickets circulating on the market now are extremely hard to come by!"

He looked around and lowered his voice even further: "However... there are people secretly selling some extra or dubious tickets on the black market. But the prices... hehe, they're shockingly high."

Fu Changsheng nodded to indicate that he understood, then tipped the waiter a few spirit stones before letting him leave.

He will definitely attend the auction.

...

...

The "black market" of the Netherworld Market is not located in some dark underground place, but is cleverly hidden in a seemingly ordinary group of buildings in the northwest corner of the market. It is shrouded in array formations, and the atmosphere is obscure. Most of the people who come and go conceal their appearance, wearing masks or cloaks, and trade goods that are not convenient to circulate in the open.

Fu Changsheng maintained his appearance as an ordinary middle-aged cultivator, concealing his aura. He followed the sparse flow of people into a shop with a sign that read "Bai Xiao Ghost House." The shop was dimly lit, and the shelves were filled with all sorts of strange and unusual antiques, some genuine and some fake. Only a gaunt old man sat behind the counter, slowly wiping a pottery figurine.

This old man was a well-known "know-it-all" in the black market, with extensive information and connections.

Fu Changsheng walked to the counter, and before he could speak, the know-it-all, without even looking up, said in a hoarse voice:
"Sir, you've come for the auction tickets, and you've come at the perfect time, as there's only one left."

at this time.

The curtain of the haunted house was lifted again, and a chilling atmosphere quietly spread.

A figure shrouded in a wide black robe and wearing a ferocious demon king mask walked in silently. This person's aura was profound, making it difficult to discern their exact cultivation level, but the invisible pressure caused the know-it-all behind the counter to pause slightly in his work of wiping the terracotta figurines.

The black-robed, masked man walked directly to the counter, his gaze sweeping over Fu Changsheng without lingering, as if Fu were invisible. A deep, slightly hoarse voice came from beneath the mask, concise and to the point:

"I'll take the admission ticket."

The know-it-all looked slightly embarrassed, glanced at Fu Changsheng, then at the man in black robes, and rubbed his hands together.
"Well... this customer went first, according to the rules..."

Before he could finish speaking, the man in black flicked his finger, and dozens of spirit stones, radiating rich spiritual energy and as clear as ice crystals, landed on the counter. The moment those spirit stones appeared, the temperature in the entire haunted house seemed to drop several degrees; the purity of the spiritual energy they contained far surpassed that of ordinary mid-grade spirit stones!

"A top-grade ice spirit stone?!" Bai Shitong's pupils contracted slightly, and the slight embarrassment on his face vanished instantly, replaced by an almost fawning smile. "Honorable guest, you're so generous! Rules are rigid, but people are flexible!" He deftly took out a jade token bearing the unique mark of the Netherworld Palace and radiating spatial fluctuations from under the counter, and respectfully pushed it in front of the man in black robes.

The man in black robes didn't even glance at Fu Changsheng. He simply rolled up his sleeves, put away the token, and then turned around and disappeared silently outside the curtain, just as he had come. He never looked at Fu Changsheng a second time.

Only after the black-robed man's aura had completely dissipated did the know-it-all seem to breathe a sigh of relief. He looked at Fu Changsheng, sighed, and whispered:
"Fellow Daoist, take my advice: you must not get involved in that man's mess. You can always find another way to get a ticket, but if you lose your life, you lose everything."

He paused, then added meaningfully:
"Some people are not to be trifled with. Since we talked first, let me remind you: don't be curious, don't investigate, it won't do you any good."

...

...

Fu Changsheng snorted inwardly, left the Hundred Knowledges Haunted House, and used his divine sense to lock onto the black-robed, masked figure blending into the crowd ahead. The figure was clearly skilled in concealment, its aura elusive.

However, Fu Changsheng's divine sense was incredibly powerful, further enhanced by his "clear mind and sharp eyes" supernatural ability. Although the black-robed man was mysterious, in his eyes he was like a firefly in the dark night, never truly escaping his perception range.

After passing through several bustling streets and sparsely populated areas, the black-robed figure ahead seemed to sense something. His movements suddenly accelerated, and in a few flashes, he disappeared into a secluded forest called "Longshan Forest" on the edge of the market. This place, with its deep, dark woods and chaotic spiritual energy, was a "good place" within the market to settle personal grudges.

Without hesitation, Fu Changsheng followed closely behind. Deep within the Longshan Forest, there was an open space.

The figure in black robes suddenly stopped, slowly turned around, and beneath the hideous mask of the Ghost King, a pair of cold, emotionless eyes pierced through the trees and landed precisely on Fu Changsheng, who had arrived shortly after.

"court death."

The hoarse voice carried a hint of offended anger. Without uttering a word, the black-robed man flicked his sleeve, and a cold, eerie blue light, like a venomous snake emerging from its hole, shot straight at Fu Changsheng's brow with a chilling aura that could freeze the very soul! The speed and the angle were so precise that it was clearly a full-force attack from a peak Golden Core cultivator, intended to kill the enemy instantly!

Fu Changsheng's eyes narrowed; the other party was indeed ruthless!

His mind raced, and his ordinary middle-aged cultivator's appearance rippled across his face like water, instantly covered by a ghastly black mask that revealed only his eyes and no expression. At the same time, his aura suddenly shifted, rising from the late Golden Core stage to the peak Golden Core stage, and a sharp, murderous aura emanated from his body!

Facing the approaching eerie blue light, he neither dodged nor avoided it. He pointed his fingers like a sword, and purple-gold lightning leaped from his fingertips, condensing into a thin arc of lightning that precisely struck the tip of the cold light!

"laugh--!"

The lightning arc collided with the cold light, producing a soft popping sound. The seemingly sharp, dark blue light instantly dissipated as if it had encountered its nemesis, turning into specks of ice that vanished into the air. Fu Changsheng's figure remained completely still.

"A member of the Shadow Gate?" The man in black robes let out a soft exclamation, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes beneath the mask, but his killing intent remained undiminished. "No matter who you are, following me is a path to death!"

She formed hand seals, and a chilling aura emanated from her body. Instantly, a thick layer of frost formed on the ground. Several ice crystal chains, condensed from extreme cold spiritual energy, emerged from the ground as if they were alive, wrapping around Fu Changsheng from all directions. Even before the chains arrived, the terrifying coldness was enough to freeze a person's blood.

Fu Changsheng snorted coldly.

His figure moved like a ghost, leaving afterimages in his wake, but his true form had already broken free from the encirclement of the ice chains. He did not use any overly conspicuous supernatural powers, but simply enveloped his palms with pure and powerful chaotic spiritual energy, striking or tapping, each blow precisely hitting the power nodes of the ice chains and shattering them.

The entire process was handled with ease and grace. The strength she displayed far surpassed that of ordinary late-stage Golden Core cultivators, and even posed greater pressure to her than many pseudo-Nascent Soul cultivators!
The mysterious female cultivator grew increasingly alarmed as the fight progressed. Her opponent was clearly not using their full strength, yet had easily neutralized her seemingly fierce attacks. Despite her own peak Golden Core cultivation, she couldn't gain the slightest advantage against this opponent!
She realized she had probably kicked a hornet's nest! The guy in front of her wearing the Shadow Gate mask was definitely a tough nut to crack, and his strength was unfathomable!
"Hand over your admission ticket, and we'll part ways here." Fu Changsheng spoke again, his voice coming through the mask with a cold, metallic quality, leaving no room for argument. He still didn't use his signature Heavenly Punishment Thunder Spear or other signature techniques, lest he reveal his true identity.

The mysterious female cultivator's offensive slowed, her expression shifting uncertainly beneath her mask. It seemed she couldn't win; she might even lose. Her opponent was clearly after the entrance ticket, not necessarily a fight to the death.

Weighing the pros and cons takes only a moment.

"Hmph! I admit defeat today!" She snorted coldly, and with a flick of her wrist, she threw out the jade token that she had just obtained as an admission ticket to the Netherworld Palace, which turned into a streak of light and shot towards Fu Changsheng.

She dared not linger any longer, her figure transforming into a streak of light as she swiftly departed from Longshan Forest.

...

...

Longshan Forest has returned to silence.

With a thought, Fu Changsheng summoned the Evil-Repelling Mirror into his hand.

He infused a wisp of magic into the warding mirror, and its surface immediately shimmered with a soft, hazy light. He then pointed the mirror's light at the jade admission ticket in his hand and slowly shone it upon it.

Initially, the jade plaque showed no change under the mirror light.

But when he focused the mirror light and carefully scanned the internal structure of the jade tablet, in an extremely hidden corner near the core array, the mirror light rippled slightly, reflecting a tiny, bluish light spot that was almost completely integrated with the spiritual energy of the jade tablet itself!
The light was extremely faint. If it weren't for the fact that the Evil-Repelling Mirror specifically countered such methods, and that Fu Changsheng's divine sense was strong and his investigation was thorough enough, it would have been impossible to detect it!
“Tracking mark…” Fu Changsheng’s eyes turned cold, and a mocking smile appeared on his lips.

As expected!
"Having witnessed my strength, she still dares to leave such a mark... Is she planning to gather manpower afterward, or ask her powerful backer to get revenge?" Fu Changsheng's mind raced. "It seems that the power behind this woman is probably extraordinary. At least there is a Nascent Soul True Monarch in charge. Otherwise, how could she have such confidence?"

He gathered a wisp of pure chaotic spiritual energy at his fingertips. This energy contained the essence of the beginning of heaven and earth and the return of all things to their origin, and it had a miraculous effect on clearing away all kinds of alien energy. He carefully probed this wisp of spiritual energy into the jade tablet, like the most skillful scalpel, precisely wrapping it around the point of dark blue mark.

"laugh……"

With a barely audible sound, the faint blue mark vanished instantly, like a snowflake thrown into a raging fire, leaving no trace.

Fu Changsheng carefully examined the jade pendant again with the warding-off-evil mirror to confirm that there were no tamperings inside or outside the pendant before putting it away.

"Trying to track me? Not so easy." He muttered to himself, and with a flicker of his figure, he left Longshan Forest, disappearing into the bustling crowds of Youming Market like a drop of water merging into the ocean.

...

...

Hundreds of miles away from the Netherworld Market, there is a hidden cave deep underground, surrounded by dozens of layers of concealment and protection formations.

The cave was chillingly cold, its walls frozen solid with unyielding black ice. In the center lay an ice coffin, carved entirely from millennia-old black ice. Its walls were crystal clear, and within it lay a graceful figure. The figure was shrouded in a hazy icy mist, obscuring its features, yet even its silhouette exuded a breathtaking, inviolable, and unparalleled beauty.

The mysterious female cultivator who had previously fought Fu Changsheng and wore the Ghost King mask had now removed her mask and black robe, revealing a beautiful yet somewhat sinister face. She knelt respectfully before the ice coffin, her forehead touching the ground, her voice filled with fear and resentment:
“Master, I failed in my mission… When I was fighting for the last ticket in the black market, a mysterious person intercepted it, and I failed. Please punish me, Master!”

Her words echoed in the cold cave, trembling almost imperceptibly. Clearly, the person in the coffin held supreme authority in her heart.

Just then, the array at the entrance of the cave flickered slightly, and another figure walked in. Also a female cultivator, she wore a light blue dress, her face charming, and her eyes held an undisguised smugness. She glanced at her kneeling companion, a mocking smile curving her lips.

She walked to the ice coffin, bowed gracefully, and said in a clear voice, "Reporting to Master, I have not failed in my mission. I have successfully purchased an admission ticket to the Netherworld Auction through another channel." As she spoke, she presented a jade token that was identical to the one in Fu Changsheng's hand.

The female cultivator kneeling on the ground stiffened slightly, and lowered her head even further.

There was no sound coming from inside the ice coffin, but the pervasive cold seemed to fluctuate slightly.

The momentary silence felt like an invisible pressure, causing both female cultivators to hold their breath.

After a long while, a clear, ethereal, and seemingly divine wave of thought, emanating from the ancient ice, directly entered the consciousness of the two female cultivators, carrying an undeniable will:
"One admission ticket is enough."

The divine sense paused slightly, but the information that followed shook the two female cultivators to their core:

"The first and final item of the auction is of vital importance to my revival."

"Using any means necessary, regardless of the cost."

"We must...take it down."

As the divine sense dissipated, the cave returned to deathly silence, with only the biting cold growing ever stronger.

The smug look on the blue-skirted nun's face vanished, replaced by solemnity and determination. She kowtowed deeply, saying, "This servant understands! I will certainly not fail my master's trust!"

The female cultivator kneeling on the ground quickly added, "Although I don't have an admission ticket, I will provide support from the outside and do my best to assist you, sister, to ensure everything goes smoothly!"

The ice coffin remained silent.

...

...

Fu Changsheng had originally planned to go to the Yunlang Mountains first, but now that the Huanxi Sect had lost control of the Yunlang Mountains, many cultivators were entering them to hunt demonic beasts. To prevent further trouble, he decided to stay in his rented cave.

March passed in the blink of an eye.

The Netherworld Market was becoming increasingly bustling, with cultivators from the far west and surrounding regions almost filling the place. On the day the auction began, Fu Changsheng, holding the jade token with the mark removed, followed the directions and arrived at an inconspicuous black stone hall in the core area of ​​the market.

The entrance to the stone hall was devoid of ornate decorations, guarded only by two black-clad cultivators whose faces were obscured and whose auras were deep. After checking the admission ticket, one of them silently gestured "please," leading Fu Changsheng through a deep, downward-facing corridor.

At the end of the corridor was an extremely spacious secret room. The room was softly lit, and more than a hundred cultivators were already waiting there. Most of these cultivators possessed powerful auras, clearly at the Golden Core stage! Some sat alone in meditation, while others chatted in small groups.

Fu Changsheng's gaze swept across the area, his pupils contracting almost imperceptibly. He saw many familiar figures in sect attire—the Joyful Sect, the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain, and the Profound Nether Sect! Although they weren't the sect leaders or grand elders, they were all elders in the mid-to-late stages of the Golden Core realm. At this moment, they were all expressionless, resting with their eyes closed, clearly indicating that their sects had become much more discreet after suffering heavy losses.

Many other cultivators, like him, wore masks or cloaks to conceal their true appearance and aura, making them appear mysterious and unpredictable.

At the very center of the secret chamber, three figures stood out conspicuously. They were not standing or sitting cross-legged as usual, but rather sitting cross-legged in mid-air, three feet off the ground, their bodies shrouded in spiritual light, subtly merging with the surrounding spiritual energy. All three were at the Nascent Soul stage, and appeared extremely young, with an innate air of nobility and arrogance between their brows.

"Hey, fellow Daoist, over here!" A slightly noisy voice transmission rang in Fu Changsheng's ear. He turned his head and saw a thin cultivator wearing a monkey-face mask winking at him. This person's aura was at the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm, and the number on his admission ticket was right next to Fu Changsheng's.

"Fellow Daoist, you look unfamiliar. Is this your first time attending the Netherworld Auction?" the monkey-faced cultivator transmitted his voice familiarly. "I am Hou San, and my information network is the best. See those three in the middle? They are extraordinary figures!"

Without waiting for Fu Changsheng's response, he began to introduce the man on the left: "The one on the left, wearing a white robe with cloud patterns and waving a folding fan, is Yun Feiyang, the only son of the leader of our far western 'Immortal Alliance'! It is said that he formed his core at the age of one hundred, possesses exceptional talent, is deeply favored by the leader, and has countless resources."

"The one in the middle, the black-robed youth with a murderous aura and arms crossed, is Li Wuhen, the current Holy Son of the Extreme Fiend Sect! The Extreme Fiend Sect is recognized as one of the three major sects in our far west, and there are more than one Nascent Soul True Monarch in the sect! This Li Wuhen is decisive in killing and rarely has an opponent among his peers."

"The one on the right, veiled and with a pure and aloof air, is the Holy Maiden Xue Qingyi from 'Jade Pool of Heavenly Mountain'. Jade Pool is incredibly mysterious, with very few disciples, but each one is extremely powerful, and it is said to have connections with certain ancient sects in the Central Region."

Hou San's tone was full of envy and awe: "These three are all future overlords of the far west! We probably can't even get a taste of what they want."

Fu Changsheng listened silently, memorizing the information about the three. The Immortal Alliance, the Extreme Fiend Sect, and the Heavenly Mountain Jade Pool were all top-tier forces in the far west, far superior to the likes of the Joyful Sect. This auction was indeed a mixed bag.

Just then, the light screen at the entrance to the secret room fluctuated again, and a figure walked in.

This person also wore a mask and an elegant long dress, which concealed her face, but her figure was slender and her gait exuded an indescribable charm. As soon as she entered, Fu Changsheng felt a very faint, almost imperceptible familiar aura, but upon closer inspection, he could not pinpoint its source, as if it were just an illusion.

"Fellow Daoist Hou, do you know this person's background?" Fu Changsheng asked Hou San beside him telepathically.

Hou San sized up the female cultivator a few times, then shook his head: "She looks completely unfamiliar, and her aura is perfectly concealed. I can't tell where she comes from. What, do you know her, fellow Daoist?"

"She just seems vaguely familiar," Fu Changsheng said casually, but a sense of unease quietly rose within him. At his level, his spiritual senses were incredibly sharp, and the possibility of a misperception was extremely low. This woman was probably no ordinary person.

After entering the secret chamber, the female cultivator found a corner and stood quietly without communicating with anyone.

After waiting for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the number of cultivators in the secret chamber finally reached 360, and no new people entered.

Suddenly, the bare stone wall on one side of the secret chamber rippled like water, and two figures stepped out silently.

These two were also dressed in black, their faces blurred, but the spiritual pressure emanating from them made all the Golden Core cultivators present shudder—they were at the Nascent Soul stage! Moreover, they were no ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators; their aura was condensed and profound, giving people a sense of unfathomable depth.

One of them stepped forward, his gaze sweeping across the room, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable authority: "Everyone has arrived. The two of us will activate the teleportation to send you all to the auction house."

Another person chimed in, "The auction house has its own rules. First, no violence is permitted during the auction; violators will be punished by the Netherworld Palace. Second, all items are awarded to the highest bidder; malicious bidding and threats against others are prohibited. Third, and most importantly—"

He paused, then emphasized, "The auction will not end until the final item is sold. After that, everyone will be teleported back to this secret room by an array. Until then, entry to the auction is permitted, but exit is not. If any fellow Daoist wishes to withdraw now, they may leave, and their entry fee will be fully refunded."

After the words were spoken, the secret room fell silent. Those who had come here were all confident in their own abilities and had something to gain from the auction, so naturally no one would back out at the last minute.

"Since no one has left, the teleportation will begin immediately."

The two black-clad dummy infants said nothing more, simultaneously forming hand seals. Streams of spiritual light shot from their hands, entering the floor and surrounding walls of the secret chamber. Instantly, countless complex runes lit up the entire floor of the chamber, forming a massive teleportation array.

Intense spatial fluctuations spread out, and with a flash of white light, the 360 ​​Golden Core cultivators in the secret chamber, along with the two hosts, vanished instantly.

……

Fu Changsheng was already used to the slight dizziness caused by teleportation, but this teleportation lasted significantly longer than usual long-distance teleportation. The spatial channel was shimmering with light and exceptionally stable, clearly indicating that the cultivator who constructed this teleportation array possessed profound expertise in spatial manipulation.

“No wonder the admission tickets are so expensive and limited to Golden Core cultivators…” Fu Changsheng understood. The long teleportation distance and the stable passage itself filtered out low-level cultivators who lacked strength and financial resources, and also ensured the absolute secrecy of the auction location.

The white light faded, and a feeling of solid ground beneath my feet returned.

Even with his vast experience, Fu Changsheng couldn't help but feel a hint of surprise when he saw the scene before him.

They found themselves not in the magnificent palaces they had imagined, but in an endless expanse of ancient ruins. Broken walls and crumbling ruins were everywhere, massive stone pillars lay fallen, covered in unknown, dark moss, and the air was thick with the scent of desolation and the weight of time. Some fragments of broken structures even floated in mid-air, defying logic, as if the very laws of space had been shattered.

In the center of this vast ruin stands a palace that seems out of place with its surroundings. Constructed entirely of some unknown white jade, it radiates a soft and magnificent glow. With its flying eaves, brackets, carved beams, and painted rafters, it is exquisitely beautiful to the extreme, seemingly untouched by time, standing alone outside this ruin, mysterious and solemn.

At the entrance to the palace, there were two rows of eight guards standing.

They were dressed in uniform black armor, their faces covered by helmets, making it impossible to see their expressions. However, the spiritual pressure emanating from their bodies was like an invisible mountain, causing many Golden Core cultivators who had just finished teleporting and were still adapting to the environment to feel a momentary suffocation.

Fake baby!

All eight guards were at the Nascent Soul stage without exception!
Moreover, their auras were connected, forming a seamless whole, clearly indicating their mastery of combined attack techniques, far surpassing that of ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators. Using eight Nascent Soul cultivators as gatekeepers—such a move was truly astonishing.

"Hey, fellow Daoist, are you dumbfounded?" Hou San, wearing a monkey-face mask, seemed to have recovered from the discomfort of teleportation and reverted to his talkative nature, his voice transmission tinged with a hint of boasting, "This is the scale of the Netherworld Auction! The location is different every time, sometimes in a secret realm, sometimes in an ancient battlefield, and this time it's actually an ancient ruin! Tsk tsk, this scale, this foundation..."

(End of this chapter)