Chapter 210: Chapter 162: Qiantian Secret Realm

"In that case, I won’t keep you from your preparations, Fellow Daoist. We’ll meet in the main hall in three days."

After watching Zhuang Yuechan leave, Song Changsheng didn’t return to his residence. Instead, he headed down the mountain. He needed to make thorough preparations before entering the Qiantian Secret Realm.

Preparing Pills and Talismans was one thing, but more importantly, he needed to buy some Five Elements Essence Qi to restore the Spiritual Attribute the Celestial Measuring Ruler had lost. While he was at it, he could also sell off some of the miscellaneous items he was carrying.

Speaking of which, he had a VIP card from the Luoxia Auction House. The twenty percent discount was quite tempting, making the auction house his first choice.

Though it was called an auction house, it also sold goods directly to the public on a daily basis.

Stepping into the first-floor hall, he looked around and saw Magical Artifacts, Talismans, Pills... every kind of commodity imaginable. They were numerous, of extremely high quality, and surprisingly, cheaper than at the Eight Directions Pavilion.

"No wonder a market as large as Luoxia City doesn’t have an Eight Directions Pavilion. This Luoxia Auction House is no ordinary place," Song Changsheng muttered to himself.

"Sir, how may I help you?" A woman in a long white dress approached and greeted him with a respectful bow.

Song Changsheng glanced at her and was surprised to find she had a Late-stage Qi Refining Cultivation. In the Song Clan, she would have been considered a core member, yet here, she was just an ordinary attendant.

"Do you buy items here?" Song Changsheng asked, intending to first sell off the loot he had acquired.

"Of course, we do. Please follow me upstairs, sir." The woman maintained a constant smile as she led Song Changsheng to the second floor.

It was much quieter up here, occupied entirely by Foundation Establishment Cultivators. The goods for sale were also all at the Tier Two Level.

The woman led Song Changsheng to a counter and said, "Sir, this is Master Zhang. Please take out the treasures you wish to sell, and Master Zhang will appraise them."

’A Treasure Appraiser, eh.’

The moment he saw the man, Song Changsheng was drawn to his bright eyes. He had only ever seen such eyes on one other person: his teacher, Sunx Chuanming.

’I wonder how his skills compare to my teacher’s,’ Song Changsheng thought as he took out all the items he no longer needed.

Most of them were Tier Two Spiritual Artifacts, along with some Spirit Medicines and other similar items.

After Master Zhang appraised each item, he offered a final price of twelve thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones, which was about what Song Changsheng had expected.

"Don’t settle the payment just yet. I also need to purchase some Talismans and Pills. By the way, do you have Five Elements Essence Qi? I need ten thousand wisps."

As soon as he said this, the smile on the woman’s face grew even more enthusiastic. A single wisp of Five Elements Essence Qi cost one Spirit Stone. Add the Talismans and other items, and he would be spending close to twenty thousand Spirit Stones in total—all of which would count toward her sales performance.

"What type of Talismans do you need, sir? Please, come with me."

Song Changsheng ultimately chose three Tier Two High-Grade Red Sword Talismans, one Tier Two High-Grade Golden Light Talisman, one Tier Two High-Grade Gale Talisman, and some Pills for healing and restoring Spiritual Power.

The Secret Realm was teeming with Demon Beasts, including many Tier Two Demon Beasts, so his preparations could not be careless.

"Sir, after deducting the twelve thousand Spirit Stones from your sale, you still need to pay a difference of twenty-three thousand."

The items weren’t numerous, but they were certainly not cheap. Just like that, thirty-five thousand Spirit Stones were gone.

"I have a card," Song Changsheng said, handing over his VIP card.

The attendant’s expression changed instantly. After verifying the card, she respectfully handed it back and said, "Sir, you only need to pay an additional sixteen thousand Spirit Stones."

"Thank you for your trouble."

After he took out the Spirit Stones to pay, the woman escorted him all the way to the entrance and watched respectfully as he left before returning to the auction house.

Looking at the small card in his hand, Song Changsheng felt a great sense of satisfaction. He had saved seven thousand Spirit Stones in an instant. The decision to save Xia Wanyun back then had been absolutely correct.

He first went to a general store to inform his clan that he was entering the Qiantian Secret Realm. Only then did he return to Celestial Sound Mountain to refine the Celestial Measuring Ruler with the Five Elements Essence Qi.

By the end, almost nothing was left of the ten thousand wisps of Five Elements Essence Qi. It was clear that every Spiritual Artifact was a Gold-devouring Beast.

「Three days passed quickly.」

Song Changsheng arrived at the main hall on time to assemble.

The hall was much more bustling than last time. He estimated there were no fewer than a hundred people, all wearing the uniform of the City Lord’s Mansion. Among them were fifteen Foundation Establishment Cultivators; the rest were all Late-stage Qi Refining cultivators.

’If the clan had this kind of strength, what would the Earth Fire Sect even matter?’ Song Changsheng thought, filled with envy. This was only a fraction of the City Lord’s Mansion’s total power, yet it was already enough for the Song Clan to look up to in awe.

"Fellow Daoist Song is here. We’ll set out once Fellow Daoist Xia and the others arrive," Yinn Shang said, walking over with Niu Dazhuang and Zhuang Yuechan.

"We’ll be in your care this time, Fellow Daoist Yinn." Yinn Shang was the leader of this expedition and also the strongest among them, so Song Changsheng was being very polite. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"Hmph. So insincere," Niu Dazhuang grumbled in a low voice, his arms crossed.

Yinn Shang shot him a sideways glance, then said to Song Changsheng with some embarrassment, "My junior brother isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed. Please don’t take it to heart, Fellow Daoist."

"You’re being too serious, Fellow Daoist. Fellow Daoist Niu and I are practically old acquaintances." Song Changsheng knew exactly what kind of person Niu Dazhuang was; the man simply couldn’t stand the sight of him.

The few of them chatted for a bit before Xia Qingxue and Hou Tianming finally arrived, fashionably late.

Seeing that everyone was present, Yinn Shang immediately organized the group and led them to a cave on the mountainside of Celestial Sound Mountain, where the Great City Lord and the Second City Lord were already waiting.

As soon as the group arrived, the two lords immediately joined forces to open the Space Tunnel connecting to the Qiantian Secret Realm. Song Changsheng was not unfamiliar with such a tunnel; he had seen one years ago in the Wutong Secret Realm.

"Fellow disciples, follow me in." As soon as the tunnel opened, Yinn Shang led Niu Dazhuang and the fifteen Foundation Establishment Cultivators in first.

The Secret Realm was teeming with Demon Beasts, so they had to enter in advance to clear a safe landing zone for the others. Otherwise, some of the Qi Cultivators would likely become food for Demon Beasts the moment they arrived.

After about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Zhuang Yuechan finally looked at Song Changsheng and the others. "We can go in now."

Song Changsheng followed Zhuang Yuechan into the Space Tunnel. A familiar sense of weightlessness washed over him, and amidst a dizzying spell, he felt as if he had crossed an immeasurable distance in an instant.

After a few breaths, a light appeared before Song Changsheng’s eyes. His vision suddenly cleared to reveal a boundless jungle stretching out before him.

Yinn Shang and the others who had entered first were using Sword Control to circle the spatial passage. Any Demon Beast that dared to approach was met with a devastating attack. The ground was already covered in corpses.

’An Ancient Descendant?’ Song Changsheng’s gaze sharpened as he looked at a crimson corpse on the ground. It was the remains of a beast with a trace of Divine Beast bloodline, a species that was nearly extinct in the outside world. He never expected to see one here, let alone what appeared to be a great number of them.

At this point, the Qi Cultivators from the rear had also landed safely. They were well-trained, quickly forming numerous small groups and beginning to jointly slaughter the Demon Beasts on the ground, advancing methodically.

"Fellow Daoist Song, Fellow Daoist Xia, Fellow Daoist Hou, for now, join us in slaughtering the Demon Beasts," Yinn Shang’s voice rang out. Song Changsheng didn’t hesitate, immediately joining the fray and seeking out the Tier Two Demon Beasts among the horde.

However, Xia Qingxue and Hou Tianming remained unmoved, watching coldly from the air.

These two were high and mighty figures Yinn Shang couldn’t control. He’d be burning incense in thanks if they just managed not to cause any trouble.

’The Supreme Elder’s calculations were correct after all. The Qiantian Secret Realm really has nurtured a treasure that surpasses Tier Three. It’s incredible that it managed to break through the limits of Law Power.’

Hou Tianming gazed into the depths of the jungle, a flash of greed in his eyes. He turned to the not-so-distant Xia Qingxue and called out, "Fellow Daoist Xia, interested in joining forces with me?"

Xia Qingxue shot him a cold glance. "You’re not worthy."

Having been given the cold shoulder, Hou Tianming’s expression also turned icy. Still, she wasn’t wrong. His master was merely an Elder, while she was the Direct Disciple of a Golden Core Master.

’Hmph. You don’t have your inseparable protector with you now. Let’s see if you can still be so arrogant in a little while!’ Hou Tianming couldn’t help but sneer inwardly as he looked at Xia Qingxue, who was as haughty as a swan.

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