Chapter 509: Ash Tower

Black Dragon City spans a vast area. Apart from the trading grounds, most of its territory consists of various cave dwellings.

Venerable-level cave dwellings only cover a little over one li, which is quite small for cultivators. Cultivators must exercise restraint when practicing inside. However, their main advantage is "absolute safety," a guarantee from Patriarch Black Dragon himself.

"Refining the cave dwelling's command token makes you the owner of this residence," the accompanying female attendant said with a smile. "It's absolutely safe, and its formations are stable; attacks from anyone below the Tribulation Realm will not cause the slightest damage."

Meng Chuan held the token, looking at the cave dwelling before him.

Having refined the token, he naturally gained easy control over the residence.

"You may withdraw," Meng Chuan instructed with a nod.

"Yes," the female attendant bowed, then exited the cave dwelling and carefully closed its door.

"Besides its stability, there's nothing else special about it. No internal spatial expansion," Meng Chuan mused inwardly. "The owner of Black Dragon Star is truly economical."

A little over one li in scope?

Even practicing techniques would require careful attention not to cross the boundaries.

"This is my first time staying in a cave dwelling on Black Dragon Star," Venerable Qinggu remarked, looking at the residence with some excitement.

"Choose any of the rooms in the front courtyard," Meng Chuan instructed, then prepared to walk towards the inner courtyard.

Suddenly—

Knock, knock, knock.

A knocking sound came from the main door of the cave dwelling.

"Hmm?" Meng Chuan was surprised.

"We just moved in. Who could be visiting us?" Venerable Qinggu wondered.

"Qinggu, open the door," Meng Chuan ordered.

"Yes," Venerable Qinggu immediately stepped forward and opened the door. Outside the cave dwelling stood a handsome young man. Meng Chuan recognized at a glance that he was merely a puppet attendant, but the clothes he wore bore the Black Dragon Palace emblem, indicating he was from the Black Dragon Palace.

Venerable Qinggu spoke casually to the puppet attendant: "We just came from Black Dragon Palace. Why have you followed us?"

"Reporting to both Venerables," the man replied with a respectful smile. "The Black Dragon Palace also has various branches. I am from the Black Dragon Palace's 'Treasure Competition' division. According to Black Dragon Palace rules, at the beginning of each year, we present the 'Record of Treasures' for the year's 'Treasure Competition' to the owners of cave dwellings within Black Dragon City. Since it's already mid-year and we learned that the Venerables have just taken up residence, I immediately brought this year's 'Record of Treasures.' The Treasure Competition will be held at the end of this year, and all items listed in the Record of Treasures will be publicly contested then. That is also the busiest time of the year on our Black Dragon Star, with many cultivators arriving from all directions."

Venerable Qinggu reached out and took the Record of Treasures.

"I shall take my leave," the man said with a smile, then departed.

"Brother Dongning, only owners of cave dwellings residing in Black Dragon City are proactively given the 'Record of Treasures' by the Black Dragon Palace," Venerable Qinggu explained, handing it to Meng Chuan. "Ordinary cultivators like me… would have to spend Outer Realm Origin Stones just to see it."

Meng Chuan reached out and took it.

Those capable of renting cave dwellings were not ordinary cultivators. Even cultivators of the Heaven and Earth Realm would have to grit their teeth to afford a ten-year rental, and certainly wouldn't dare rent long-term.

Being a cave dwelling owner, to some extent, represented wealth.

"Record of Treasures."

Meng Chuan began flipping through it, simultaneously turning to walk towards the inner courtyard.

The inner courtyard had a back garden, which was quite elegant.

Meng Chuan sat on a stone stool by the pond, looking through the Record of Treasures.

"In the Sky Peak Galaxy, only the Black Dragon Palace is authorized to hold the 'Treasure Competition'," Meng Chuan understood. "Other powers are forbidden from holding it; even the Eternal Tower steps aside. After all, Patriarch Black Dragon is the strongest in the Sky Peak Galaxy, and Black Dragon Star is his territory, making him the local power. The Eternal Tower naturally has to show him respect."

"Each annual Treasure Competition features over a hundred treasures."

"All are good treasures, with quite high starting bids."

Meng Chuan observed.

Anything listed in the Record of Treasures was extraordinary, both expensive and rare. Even something like a 'substitute death talisman' wouldn't qualify for the Treasure Competition.

"Thirty-eight Tribulation Realm secret treasures, nineteen single-use talismans, twenty-two precious materials, nine types of rare flowers and exotic fruits, and twenty-three unique artifacts," Meng Chuan read. The lowest 'starting bid' for any item was 'ten Outer Realm Origin Crystals.' This was the normal price for a typical Four-Tribulation Realm weapon secret treasure, and this was just the starting bid.

Meng Chuan continued flipping through, astonished by what he saw.

"Immortality Talisman: Upon use, grants an immortal body until the talisman's power is depleted (lasts approximately one hour). Can be broken by a Seven-Tribulation Realm grand being. Cannot be used to overcome the tribulations of the soul or body. Starting bid: ten Outer Realm Origin Crystals."

"Useless," Meng Chuan commented, shaking his head slightly after reading. "An hour of immortality, but an enemy could simply trap the user. Once the talisman's power runs out, the enemy could then kill them. It's far less useful than a 'void displacement talisman.' However, it could be used for exploring dangerous areas or for some specific purposes."

The Immortality Talisman was an evolved version of the 'substitute death talisman.'

For approximately one hour, regardless of enemy attacks, even if instantly annihilated, the user would instantly recover perfectly and remain in peak condition.

This was a high-level application of the 'time lineage.'

Though seemingly limited, it could have miraculous effects when used in the right circumstances.

"Five-Colored Thunder Flower: For those of the Thunder lineage who have reached the Heaven and Earth Realm, consuming it allows them to absorb its power, completely transforming their life into a thunder beast named 'Xiao.' At the Heaven and Earth Realm, this thunder beast can grow into an 'adult form,' eventually attaining the strength of a 'peak Emperor.' Starting bid: three hundred Outer Realm Origin Crystals."

This price was significantly higher.

Especially for those with high cultivation but whose primordial spirit remained at the Sixth Heaven, preventing them from becoming an Emperor. After consumption... although they would become a thunder beast, they would be a special lifeform capable of reaching Emperor-level, greatly increasing their lifespan and strength. However, it required three hundred Outer Realm Origin Crystals.

This price was enough to make many Emperors hesitate and feel reluctant to part with their wealth. Some Emperors couldn't even afford it.

If Meng Chuan hadn't acquired Senior Pang Ming's legacy treasure, he wouldn't have been able to afford it either.

Meng Chuan looked at the various treasures, some of which made him envious.

As he turned to another page,

Meng Chuan's pupils contracted.

"Ashen Palace: A cultivation cave dwelling capable of time acceleration. For ordinary Venerable-level cultivators, the Ashen Palace can consistently maintain a 'thirtyfold time flow rate.' For ordinary Emperor-level cultivators, it can maintain a 'tenfold time acceleration.' If a Tribulation Realm grand being cultivates within, the higher their Tribulation Realm level, the lower the time flow rate the Ashen Palace can affect. For a Four-Tribulation Realm grand being, it can normally maintain a twofold time flow rate. Ineffective for Five-Tribulation Realm grand beings."

"If there are too many cultivators or powerful special lifeforms within the Ashen Palace, the time acceleration effect will diminish."

"Cannot be used within a life world, as it will be affected by the rules of heaven and earth."

"Six-Tribulation Realm secret treasure. Starting bid: three hundred Outer Realm Origin Crystals."

Meng Chuan stared at it intently.

Life worlds, with their suppression by the rules of heaven and earth, are gentler and more suitable for weaker beings to survive.

Many rare and exotic treasures cannot grow in life worlds. Some treasures cannot be utilized in life worlds. Tribulation Realm grand beings must cultivate and breakthrough in the Outer Realm (within low-level worlds, one can cultivate at most to the Venerable level; within medium-level worlds, at most to the Emperor level); this is the suppression of the world itself.

Only in the Outer Realm void...

...with no suppression, can one truly advance further and encounter all sorts of marvels.

"Ashen Palace." Meng Chuan's eyes burned with eagerness.

Meng Chuan knew that top grand beings were extremely skilled at manipulating time; both the 'substitute death talisman' and 'immortality talisman' were high-level manipulations of the time lineage.

For some top Tribulation Realm grand beings, refining a cave dwelling to maintain long-term time acceleration was not difficult.

"For me, time is crucial, especially at the Venerable level. I need to grow as quickly as possible," Meng Chuan said, looking at the secret treasure. "I must try my best to acquire this Ashen Palace."

On Black Dragon Star, transactions involving Six-Tribulation Realm secret treasures were feasible in reputable places like the Eternal Tower and the Black Dragon Palace's Treasure Competition. After all, exchanges of Six-Tribulation Realm secret treasures were common in these two venues.

However, Seven-Tribulation Realm secret treasures...

The entire Treasure Competition didn't feature a single Seven-Tribulation Realm treasure!

With Meng Chuan's current strength, he dared not engage in such transactions on Black Dragon Star.

"The Ashen Palace is too expensive," Meng Chuan mused. "Perhaps I can look for a slightly cheaper time-accelerating cave dwelling. The Treasure Competition is at the end of the year, which is still five months away. There's plenty of time."