Chapter 1844: Sinful Cloud and Purifying Pill

Han Li squinted, watching as one rare treasure after another was presented by demon cultivators from both the human and demon races, only to disappear one by one.

Those who successfully exchanged beamed with joy. Those who failed were greatly disappointed, returning from the stage empty-handed.

Overall, most people managed to exchange for what they desired.

It was evident, however, that compared to other auctions or exchange events, the proportion of finished treasures appearing on stage this time was notably higher than that of raw materials.

Clearly, everyone was preparing for the impending demonic tribulation, aiming to exchange any unneeded items for ready-to-use finished treasures as quickly as possible.

After all, no matter how rare the materials, they would be useless during the demonic tribulation if not refined into magical artifacts or treasures.

For the two races present, ordinary magical artifacts no longer held any appeal. The supreme treasures suitable for them were typically forged from dozens, or even hundreds, of rare materials.

Not only was there a possibility of failure during refinement, but merely gathering such a vast number of materials could keep an ordinary person busy for hundreds or even thousands of years, which was quite normal.

Otherwise, why would rare materials have been the most common items at previous auctions?

More than half a day passed, and most people in the hall had brought out their prepared items and completed their exchanges.

Although Han Li coveted many of the valuable treasures, he could only watch wistfully, as most people specified they wanted to exchange for other finished treasures.

However, he did not leave entirely empty-handed.

He not only used another spiritual herb obtained from the Guanghan Realm to exchange for several sets of powerful formation flags, but also traded two bottles of Hongluo Immortal Wine with a demon cultivator who was a heavy drinker, acquiring more than a dozen types of spiritual herb seeds he didn't possess.

When he went on stage earlier, he even presented some ten-thousand-year-old spiritual herbs, specifically requesting to exchange for several types of demonic beast materials he had not yet collected.

As a result, he easily obtained the required materials from several demon cultivators who had concealed their tracks.

This allowed Han Li to breathe a sigh of relief, finally feeling at ease.

With this, as soon as the Myriad Treasures Convention concluded, he could attempt to refine the second Mount of Extremes.

His strength would then significantly increase.

Just as Han Li felt that the subsequent exchanges would no longer involve him, a figure shrouded in swirling black mist flew onto the stage and slowly pulled out a dark, round alms bowl from his sleeve.

"This is a fragment of the Calamity Cloud Sea, refined from ten million beast souls. I can guarantee that all beast souls used in this cloud are from fierce beasts, including one hundred thousand low-grade demonic beast souls. I wish to exchange this Calamity Cloud for an offensive Heaven-Reaching Spirit Treasure listed on the Chaos Myriad Spirits Register." As soon as the person spoke, everyone, including Han Li, changed their expressions dramatically, their astonished gazes falling upon the speaker.

Even the golden-masked figure, who had long since retreated to a corner of the golden formation and was smilingly observing the exchanges, suddenly had a flicker of light in his eyes, staring intently at the figure in black mist, appearing both surprised and uncertain.

Despite the gazes like daggers from the crowd, the mysterious figure in the black mist stood steadily. With one arm, he lifted the alms bowl, while with the other, he removed its lid.

In an instant, a wailing crescendo of ghosts and wolves echoed throughout the void. A pitch-black, inky cloud swirled out from the alms bowl like a hurricane, expanding into a vast, oppressive darkness several acres in size, obscuring a considerable portion of the void beneath it.

Blue light flickered wildly in Han Li's eyes, and in an instant, he clearly saw the true nature of the black cloud.

It was composed of countless black phantoms, not only familiar beast shadows like wolves, tigers, and leopards, but also various bizarre and never-before-seen ancient creatures.

The bodies of all the beast phantoms constantly shifted and gnawed at each other. At one moment, their forms would dissipate, almost disappearing, only to coalesce again with solid-like clarity the next. Regardless of their state, they appeared exceptionally fierce, and even if their bodies were torn into countless fragments, they would reform to their original appearance within moments.

These beast phantoms were precisely the specially refined souls of beasts. A Calamity Cloud formed from merely dozens or even hundreds of these souls was not very valuable. However, once tens of thousands of souls were condensed, its value became dramatically different.

This was because the more souls condensed within such a Calamity Cloud, the greater its effect, and naturally, the more difficult it was to create.

A Calamity Cloud refined from over one hundred thousand souls was enough to excite those who cultivated ghost or demon arts.

As for a million-soul Calamity Cloud, even Integration-stage ghost and demon cultivators would go mad for it, flocking to it like wild horses.

A Calamity Cloud of ten million souls, however, seemed to have appeared only a few times in the history of both races.

Yet for cultivators practicing relevant techniques, its utility, whether for personal cultivation or for directly refining ghost artifacts and treasures, was almost unimaginable.

However, not only were the methods for refining this level of Calamity Cloud already known to few, but merely collecting ten million souls was an almost impossible task.

After all, if one were to slaughter ten million living beings, the backlash from such malevolent energy would be unbearable even for an Integration-stage cultivator acting alone.

Furthermore, because the Calamity Cloud required too many souls, it was considered an act that greatly violated natural harmony. Therefore, since ancient times, it had been one of the forbidden items strictly prohibited by both races. The refinement of a Calamity Cloud with over ten thousand souls would trigger celestial phenomena, and one with over a million souls was even harder to conceal, almost a legendary item.

Thus, when this person claimed to possess a Calamity Cloud formed from ten million beast souls, it caused everyone's expressions to change.

If this weren't the Black Domain but the outside world, someone would likely have immediately tried to snatch it by force.

"Ten million beast souls? Daoist friend, are you serious? It doesn't quite look like it." A dry voice, as if someone had swallowed hard, subtly conveyed a hint of doubt.

"I've only released one percent of the beast souls. If I were to release them all, this small hall wouldn't be able to contain them. However, any Daoist friend interested in the exchange is welcome to personally verify if this Nether Soul Bowl truly contains so many beast souls," the figure in black mist said unhurriedly.

"A Heaven-Reaching Spirit Treasure from the Chaos Myriad Spirits Register, and an offensive type at that. Your demand is a bit too high. How about this: I'll offer two, no, three of the highest-grade spirit treasures in exchange for your Calamity Cloud," someone said somewhat eagerly.

"Aside from an offensive Heaven-Reaching Spirit Treasure from the Myriad Spirits Register, I will not agree to exchange for anything else," the figure in black mist calmly refused.

"Daoist friend, you're speaking too quickly. It's not too late to decide after seeing what I have," another elder's voice suddenly rang out.

Following this, a streak of blood-red light shot towards the stage, revealing a tall, thin figure enveloped in a layer of crimson light. With a raised hand, he threw a jade bottle directly over.

The figure in the black mist reluctantly caught the jade bottle, opened its lid, and glanced inside. Immediately, his body trembled as if struck by lightning.

"How about it? You should be well aware of what this pill represents. If this Calamity Cloud weren't of greater value to me, I would never part with this pill for it," the tall, thin figure said with great reluctance, gazing at the bottle in the other's hand.

"No! I still need to exchange for a Heaven-Reaching Spirit Treasure," the figure in black mist hesitated for a long while, then shook his head and threw the bottle back.

"Daoist friend, are you perhaps not discerning of good merchandise? This bottle of mine contains a Pure Brightening Pill, which can increase an Integration-stage cultivator's chance of breaking through bottlenecks!" The tall, thin figure first froze in astonishment, then exclaimed in disbelief.

"A Pure Brightening Pill!"

"Even such a spirit pill has appeared!"

"Daoist friend, are you willing to exchange your Pure Brightening Pill for other treasures? I am willing to trade for it."

Upon hearing the name "Pure Brightening Pill," while others remained relatively calm, the Integration-stage old eccentrics among both the human and demon races immediately erupted in commotion.

Several individuals immediately disregarded everything else and loudly spoke to the tall, thin figure.

This pill was clearly more popular than the Calamity Cloud.

This was understandable. Although the Calamity Cloud, refined from ten million souls, was undoubtedly a legendary marvel, it was only truly useful for demonic and ghost cultivators. The Pure Brightening Pill, a sacred medicine only recorded in ancient texts, was beneficial to all Integration-stage cultivators. How could those old eccentrics, stuck at their bottlenecks for years, remain composed?

"Hmph, if you want my Pure Brightening Pill, that's fine.

First, help me exchange for this Daoist friend's Calamity Cloud, and then I will immediately exchange the spirit pill with you." It seemed the Calamity Cloud was of immense importance to the tall, thin figure, who glared resentfully at the mysterious person in the black mist as he spoke.

Those who heard the tall, thin figure's words immediately fell silent, and the entire hall became quiet.

While the Integration-stage old eccentrics present typically possessed several spirit treasures, the number of Heaven-Reaching Spirit Treasures ranked on the Chaos Myriad Spirits Register, combined from both human and demon races, certainly wouldn't exceed the fingers of two hands. As for offensive Heaven-Reaching Spirit Treasures, there might not even be two or three. And even if there were, their owners might not necessarily attend this Black Domain Convention.

Moreover, the value of a spirit treasure listed on the Chaos Myriad Spirits Register was no less than that of a Pure Brightening Pill. Whether someone would be willing to exchange it for the pill was another matter entirely.

Han Li, watching the medicine bottle in the tall, thin figure's hand, couldn't help but reveal an unreadable expression.

Seeing that no one spoke for such a long time, the figure in the black mist seemed to realize that no one would exchange with him. He immediately shook his head and, with a single-hand incantation, instantly retracted the black cloud from the air, indicating his intention to leave the stone platform.

"Daoist friend, wait!"

The tall, thin figure became anxious. Stamping his foot, he flashed forward and blocked the mysterious entity in the black mist.

"What is the meaning of this, sir? Do you intend to force me into an exchange?" Seeing this, the figure in the black mist flew into a rage, and a strange coldness suddenly radiated from his body.