Chapter 2371: True Immortal Descends Robbing the Treasure

“That's just one reason, then. Does your alliance have others?” the Mahayana elder of the Mayfly clan asked slowly.

“No. The other reason is that while this drop of spirit blood appears to be of immense origin, its precise effects remain a complete mystery to our alliance; we haven't found any way to utilize it. After extensive research, we discovered that only water steeped in this spirit blood for a certain period can transform into a spiritual liquid, similar to ten-thousand-year spiritual milk, which restores magical power. However, the terrifying energy contained within the blood itself cannot be extracted, nor can we find any method to refine it,” Hu Yushuang explained solemnly.

“This spirit blood can't be refined?” a Mahayana patriarch exclaimed, surprised.

“Heh heh, since this could be Ancestral Dragon blood, its uses are undoubtedly limitless. If it could be easily refined, why would our alliance be willing to auction it off? However, all you fellow cultivators possess immense power and great opportunities. What our alliance couldn't achieve doesn't mean you can't. If someone genuinely succeeds in refining this spirit blood, it might even be possible to ascend directly to the Immortal Realm. Of course, if you lack confidence, there's no need to participate in the bidding for this item,” Hu Yushuang quickly clarified.

“This spirit blood contains such terrifying energy that even if it isn't Ancestral Dragon blood, it's undoubtedly the essence of an existence beyond our comprehension. This treasure, I claim it!” A calm voice emanated from one of the flying chambers, belonging to a Mahayana Grand Ancestor.

“Haha... Such a treasure! You claim it, but let's see if others agree. Little girl Hu, begin the auction for this item,” another Mahayana patriarch declared with a wild laugh.

Though no sounds emerged from the other flying chambers, the strange auras emanating from them clearly indicated that these Mahayana cultivators were also profoundly stirred by the golden drop of spirit blood.

Meanwhile, the many ordinary realm-beings in the square gaped at the golden blood, their eyes wide as lanterns, not daring to even breathe.

Just witnessing such an extraordinary treasure at this auction made them feel their trip was entirely worthwhile, even if there was no chance of it falling into their possession.

“The starting bid for this spirit blood is one billion spirit stones. Let the bidding commence...”

“Wait, seniors. I seem to have a vague impression of this item, but I'm struggling to recall its specific origin. May I approach to examine it more closely?” A somber male voice resonated from the front row of the plaza, as a plain-faced man in a black robe rose to his feet.

“Fellow cultivator, do you recognize this spirit blood?” Hu Yushuang's expression shifted, and her beautiful eyes immediately fixated on the man.

Everyone else was equally startled, their gazes snapping towards him.

Even the four Commercial Alliance elders, who had previously sat with closed eyes around the stone platform, were visibly stirred and opened theirs.

“Does a five-colored rainbow spurt out from this drop of spirit blood every twelve hours?” the black-robed man mused before asking slowly. “You know of this?” The woman, who had harbored some doubts, was immediately overcome with surprise and delight.

“I need to confirm if I've truly recognized the origin of this spirit blood before I can say for sure,” the black-robed man replied vaguely, without directly answering the question.

“Four elders, what are your thoughts?” Hu Yushuang hesitated, then bowed and addressed the four Commercial Alliance elders.

“Brother Ming, what's your opinion?” The thin elder, however, raised his head and posed the question to the sky.

“Since he didn't speak up earlier, let him come forward and identify it. Heh heh, with us old fellows personally presiding here, are we truly afraid of a mere junior in the Integration stage trying anything?” The booming voice of Venerable Ming resonated from high in the sky.

“If Brother Ming agrees, then let him come up and examine it. However, he is not to physically touch the spirit blood; he may only identify it from a close distance,” the thin elder instructed, clearly exercising extreme caution.

“I understand, senior. Fellow cultivator, you've heard the conditions; you may now proceed with your examination.” Hu Yushuang nodded repeatedly in affirmation.

With this, all eyes, from the various races in the plaza to the Mahayana cultivators in the flying chambers, naturally turned to the black-robed man.

He strode towards the stone platform and, moments later, stood before the beautiful woman, meticulously observing the alms bowl that was now within arm's reach.

“Just as I suspected, it seems to be gone. However, just to be absolutely sure, may I personally extract some of the spiritual liquid inside to make a final judgment?” the man murmured, then suddenly turned to ask the woman beside him.

“You may, but not too much,” Hu Yushuang replied, her brow furrowed, but she nodded her assent.

“Rest assured, fellow cultivator, I will be discreet. Please remove the restrictions first,” the black-robed man said with a smile.

“Naturally,” Hu Yushuang affirmed, making a few hand seals with one hand before tapping the alms bowl.

With a “bang,” the alms bowl's surface shimmered, and an invisible ripple immediately spread outwards, dissipating.

Seeing this, the black-robed man stepped forward, raised his arm, and pointed a finger towards the alms bowl in the air.

The transparent alms bowl trembled slightly, and instantly, the liquid within swirled, sending a thumb-sized droplet flying out.

When Hu Yushuang clearly saw the size of the spirit liquid, she couldn't help but feel a slight sense of relief.

Such a small amount of spirit liquid was naturally inconsequential.

Just as the woman was thinking this, the black-robed man casually lunged forward, seemingly intending to seize the flying spirit liquid.

Seeing this, a faint spiritual light flickered between Hu Yushuang's fingers, as she prepared to re-apply the restrictions to the alms bowl.

But at that very moment, the thin elder's face suddenly contorted, and he let out an angry roar:

“Stop, junior! What are you doing?!”

No sooner had he spoken than the Mahayana cultivator from the Commercial Alliance shook his sleeve, and a seemingly ordinary hand shot out, instantly transforming into a colossal blue hand that seemed to blot out the sky, lunging at the black-robed man with lightning speed.

Witnessing this, Hu Yushuang's face instantly drained of color; spiritual light erupted from her fingertips as she pointed at the alms bowl with lightning speed.

But it was already too late!

The black-robed man had already let out a grotesque cackle. Ignoring the colossal palm above him, his body erupted in a silvery light, which instantly swept forward.

A bizarre scene unfolded.

After the silver light flashed, the alms bowl and its contents blurred, then vanished into thin air from their original position.

However, at this very moment, the colossal blue hand pressed down with overwhelming force, unleashing immense power that enveloped the area. It would be incredibly difficult for the man to evade it.

With a “thud.”

Above the black-robed man's head, a strange fluctuation emerged, and a gray shadow flashed into existence. Without hesitation, it raised a hand, and a colossal crimson palm materialized, striking upwards into the air.

A thunderous roar, as if the earth itself trembled!

The two colossal palms collided instantly, and a powerful shockwave immediately rippled outwards, forcibly sweeping the three palace-dressed women and Hu Yushuang off the stone platform and sending them flying.

Someone had actually dared to act at the auction, forcibly collaborating with the black-robed man to steal the spirit blood.

Han Li, observing from a flying chamber, was also somewhat taken aback.

The thin elder's face was etched with shock and fury. With a single hand seal, a green crystal orb and a small silver hammer flew out from his person.

The green crystal orb merely circled once high above, and instantly, a layer of hazy green light descended, completely enveloping the entire stone platform.

After a tremor, the small silver hammer was snatched by its owner. With a shake into the wind, it instantly expanded to a colossal size, several meters long, rumbling loudly as silver electrical arcs coiled around its surface.

“Who exactly are you two, to dare to act so brazenly?” the thin elder finally asked coldly. Although the spirit blood had been stolen, he showed no signs of panic.

Both the black-robed man and the gray shadow had already displayed astonishing cultivation levels, clearly beyond the Mahayana stage, thus they were certainly not unknown figures.

The other three Commercial Alliance elders, positioned at the remaining corners of the stone platform, also rose expressionlessly. Spiritual light pulsed around their bodies as they unleashed their protective artifacts, completely encircling both the black-robed man and the gray shadow hovering above him.

The celestial music in the sky abruptly ceased. The five-colored clouds parted, and squads of armored warriors, exuding fierce aura, burst forth, swarming the plaza until it was completely packed.

Concurrently, layers of both tangible and intangible formations densely emerged around the plaza, transforming the entire vicinity into a forbidden zone.

At this point, the gray shadow's light receded, finally revealing its true form: a short, grey-robed elder with a long beard.

“Did you actually get it? Don't tell me they tricked you with a fake,” the long-bearded elder asked the black-robed man nonchalantly.

“Heh heh, with me making the move, are you still not at ease? It is indeed the Ancestral Dragon blood, no doubt, or I wouldn't have acted so readily,” the black-robed man chuckled softly.

“That's good. Our journey from the clan and all this effort haven't been in vain,” the long-bearded elder said, a hint of satisfaction on his face.

These two completely ignored the four Commercial Alliance elders, continuing their own conversation as if no one else was present.

Witnessing this, the thin elder was naturally incandescent with rage, yet his expression remained largely unchanged as he coldly stated:

“Fellow cultivators, you cannot escape now, even with wings. If you are willing to surrender the spirit blood immediately, our alliance can treat this leniently, considering your actions as a momentary impulse. But if you truly intend to steal the treasure and flee, then do not blame our alliance for overwhelming you with numbers and showing no mercy.”

“Haha, surrender it? Do you think we went to all this trouble to appear here for nothing? Don't even dream of it,” the black-robed man burst into wild laughter, a hint of mockery faintly visible on his face.

“Stop wasting words with them. Let's go,” the long-bearded elder said impatiently.

“Don't worry. If the two of us decide to leave, how could they possibly stop us?” The black-robed man appeared nonchalant, but with a flip of his hand, a dark green formation plate suddenly materialized and was tossed forward.

An unbelievable sight unfolded.

A spiritual light flashed within the formation plate, and a green sapling emerged from thin air. In the span of a single breath, it transformed into a colossal, dark green tree that towered towards the sky.

As Han Li clearly saw the appearance of this colossal tree, his pupils couldn't help but contract slightly.