Chapter 1439: The Most Precious Treasure

Rain on Bluestone

The middle-aged man walked along, pulling out ice mirrors one after another from his mustard seed pouch, speaking without turning his head. "I am congealing an ice key to sense the sacred object. Evil deeds lead to self-destruction. What if that wretch dies at someone else's hands and the sacred object falls into their possession? If that person doesn't understand the sacred object, they might bring it to the Myriad Devil Grand Assembly, heh heh... then we'll get it without any effort."

The old woman sighed softly. "The Ice Demon's physique isn't so easily destroyed."

However, she did not stop the middle-aged man. After all, they had expended too much energy searching for the sacred object, and all possibilities needed to be considered.

The old woman withdrew her gaze and fell into thought, considering how to flawlessly uncover the traitor and how to guard against the Fiend Elder.

***

Outside Myriad Devil City, nestled within a mountain range shrouded in immortal mist, was a somewhat eerie cave dwelling.

At this moment, the cave dwelling's door was wide open. A black-robed man with slightly high cheekbones and a cold aura stood respectfully before the entrance, observing a figure seated with their back to him.

"Have you found the person who wields that demonic flame?" The seated figure remained motionless, and the Fiend Elder's voice emerged.

As the voice reached his ears, the black-robed man's mind involuntarily tensed. The expression on his face became even more respectful. "Master, we haven't found anyone wielding this kind of demonic flame in the Boundless Sea. Your disciple is preparing to expand the search, venturing into outer regions like Crescent Realm. Also, many fellow cultivators from outer regions are coming for the Myriad Devil Grand Assembly, and your disciple is trying his best to contact them and gather information."

An unsettling silence fell within the cave dwelling.

Just as the black-robed man grew anxious, the Fiend Elder finally spoke, "Has the Valley Master of Hundred Flowers Valley made any unusual moves?"

The black-robed man thought for a moment before replying, "Junior Brother sent people to secretly monitor Hundred Flowers Valley. We found that after the Valley Master returned, the valley was completely sealed off, and no one has entered or left since. However, because Hundred Flowers Valley is located in the Black Swamp, which is rarely visited, it's hard to conceal surveillance. Those younger disciples have low cultivation and dare not get too close to Hundred Flowers Valley. Once the Myriad Devil Grand Assembly concludes, Junior Brother will go there personally."

The Fiend Elder's voice softened a bit. "Forget it, you don't need to waste too much effort on this person. Just leave a few people to monitor Hundred Flowers Valley's movements. When this person competed for the treasure, they went to great lengths, cloaking themselves entirely in that black spiritual flame to block my perception, so it might not be that person... Heh heh, being so secretive, it could very well be someone familiar."

The black-robed man raised an eyebrow and mused, "Feathered Robe Primordial Lord suspects it's General Gui or someone from Bamboo Court."

General Gui is a demonic titan of the Boundless Sea. It is said that he was a general in the mortal world, which is why he took such a peculiar Dharma name. This person specializes in crafting puppets, using the bodies and nascent souls of cultivators as materials. His actions are ruthless, making enemies wish for death but unable to find it; his demonic reputation is second only to the Fiend Elder.

Bamboo Court, on the other hand, is the most renowned sect in the Northern Sea for puppetry, belonging to the righteous path. Most of its disciples travel with puppets while their true selves remain hidden. Their puppets are lifelike enough to be mistaken for real people, making them very mysterious.

The Fiend Elder recalled the puppet that had taken the Seven-Story Pagoda from the Buddhist hall, and hummed in acknowledgment, saying, "Puppets comparable to mid-Nascent Soul stage cultivators are uncommon, so Feathered Robe Primordial Lord's guess is not unreasonable. However, they were merely two magic treasures. Since what he took wasn't a spirit treasure, there's no need to investigate further. You have more important matters to attend to. How could he have imagined that the most precious treasure on the altar was actually the one he abandoned?"

As he spoke, the Fiend Elder caressed the Lingzhi Ruyi in his hand, his tone tinged with sarcasm.

After Qin Sang escaped, the Fiend Elder and Feathered Robe Primordial Lord divided the remaining magic treasures in the Buddhist hall, and the Lingzhi Ruyi undoubtedly fell into the Fiend Elder's hands.

The black-robed man listened intently, curious about what the remaining treasure was and why it was so valuable. But the Fiend Elder showed no intention of explaining, and he dared not press for details.

Upon hearing the Fiend Elder mention more important matters, the black-robed man was initially stunned. Then he suddenly remembered something, and his tone became excited: "Master, are you referring to Huang Longshi's cave dwelling? Have you found it?"

The Fiend Elder's transaction with the Profound Heaven Palace was not hidden from him. He knew very well that the Fiend Elder had obtained an important relic of Huang Longshi from the Profound Heaven Palace, which pointed to Huang Longshi's cave dwelling.

The Fiend Elder scoffed, "Profound Heaven Palace, just like you, believes Huang Longshi's cave dwelling holds immense allure for me. Heh heh..."

After a pause, the Fiend Elder said indifferently, "Little do they know, my true objective is hidden within another inconspicuous condition. Otherwise, why would I have agreed to them so easily, without even asking for a reason? I have largely confirmed a previous suspicion, and there are still some things that need verification. Focus your efforts on secretly monitoring the movements of the Profound Heaven Palace members in Myriad Devil City. I want to see what they intend to do..."

"Your disciple obeys!"

The black-robed man bowed respectfully and exited the cave dwelling. The cave dwelling closed silently, enveloped by darkness.

After a long silence, a nearly imperceptible sigh emerged from the darkness.

"Deification..."

***

Myriad Devil City.

As night fell, the first day of the grand assembly concluded perfectly. Several auctions were spectacular. Immediately after they concluded, the complete list of treasures spread throughout Myriad Devil City.

Lower-level cultivators gazed longingly at the envy-inducing treasures on the list, unable to tear their eyes away. They only regretted not having enough spirit stones, watching helplessly as the treasures fell into others' hands.

A constant stream of people flowed in front of Myriad Devil City's gates. Some left satisfied, while others entered with anticipation.

Tan Hao exited the wooden building. Recalling his recent extravagant spending and the various treasures in his mustard seed pouch, he grew more cautious, subtly observed his surroundings, and then departed.

After confirming he wasn't being followed, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He also knew he was being a bit overly cautious, as the items he had purchased, though precious, were not enough to provoke a Nascent Soul cultivator to take risks. However, that might not be the case in the final days.

The Spirit Ascension Ritual required a vast quantity of spiritual items, all of which were quite valuable. The three most crucial ones, in particular, were all rare treasures of the world. Fortunately, these three were unlikely to appear at the auction.

Upon returning to his rented cave dwelling, Tan Hao rested briefly before resuming his activities. For the next few days, Tan Hao did not have a moment of leisure. He frequently shuttled between trade fairs and auctions; his mustard seed pouch, though depleted of spirit stones, gradually became filled with other valuable items.

The Myriad Devil Grand Assembly continued until noon on the ninth day.

Tan Hao, in a new disguise, appeared before the gates of Myriad Devil City. His luck was good; the previous auction allowed him to gather everything Qin Sang required. He inquired about the afternoon auction but found no treasures matching Qin Sang's needs, so he decided to leave the island immediately.

Carrying so many treasures was truly stressful. Tan Hao sighed inwardly and strode out of Myriad Devil City. Seeing guards flying overhead periodically on the island, he felt somewhat relieved. He then changed directions several times, quietly departing Fiend Demon Island from the south.

After leaving the island, Tan Hao, regardless of whether he was being followed, activated a communication talisman to notify Qin Sang, then soared into the air and departed.