Chapter 4506: Beidou Jade Pendant

The Beidou Sea Region, home to the notorious Seven Star Tomb, is located in the southwest of the Barren Immortal Realm. Strictly speaking, the Seven Star Tomb was once the headquarters of the ancient Seven Star Palace sect. When a Grand Luo Golden Immortal-level Chaos Beast led an assault on the Seven Star Palace's headquarters, a massive battle ensued. Fairy Seven Star, the Grand Elder of the Seven Star Palace, activated the sect-protecting formation and employed a secret technique, perishing with the enemy.

The battle was cataclysmic, leaving behind numerous restrictions and treasures. This attracted many immortals to enter the Seven Star Tomb in search of riches, but most perished there.

To the northeast of the Seven Star Tomb, on a barren island with sparse vegetation, lightning flashed and thunder rumbled high in the sky. Thick golden lightning bolts rent the heavens, creating an alarming spectacle. Occasionally, golden lightning struck the barren island, leaving behind a giant crater emitting black smoke.

In the northeastern corner of the barren island was a small valley surrounded by mountains on three sides. Ten thousand feet beneath the surface, in a hidden underground cave, a corpulent old man in a yellow robe sat cross-legged on the ground. The old man in the yellow robe had a pale face and was missing his right leg. A round golden jade pendant rested on his chest. The old man in the yellow robe was Chen Liang!

Knowing the capabilities of the Palace of Yama well, he dared not go to any market. He had visited the Seven Star Tomb years ago, so he simply hid there. The Seven Star Tomb's restrictions were powerful, and he only dared to hide in the outer regions, not venturing deep inside.

After a while, Chen Liang opened his eyes and exhaled a long, turbid breath. "Once I recover," he muttered, "I'll settle this score with you, Palace of Yama."

Just then, he took out a yellow-glowing formation plate, which trembled slightly. His eyes filled with surprise as the formation plate developed numerous cracks and shattered into pieces. Five ferocious ghostly figures emerged from the stone wall, and malevolent energy surged heavenward.

"Taiyi Golden Immortal-level ghosts! Who are you?!" Chen Liang's face changed drastically, filled with disbelief. How did they find him here? He hadn't contacted anyone! He carried a high-grade immortal artifact, the Beidou Jade Pendant, which could block diviners' predictions.

The five ferocious ghostly figures let out ear-piercing wails, which intensified into a chorus of ghostly cries and howls, as innumerable streams of malevolent energy emerged. Chen Liang was greatly alarmed. He activated the Law of Fire, and a red halo swept out, spreading in all directions, as flames shot towards the sky. Innumerable red runes appeared on his body; he seemed to be about to use a secret technique to escape.

The void rippled, and a pitch-black ghostly claw appeared out of nowhere, clawing down directly. As Chen Liang was about to dodge, a sharp, piercing wail rang out. His ears buzzed, and he became dizzy and disoriented. By the time he recovered his senses, the ghostly claw had already pierced his head. As soon as his Nascent Soul left his body, a surge of black demonic energy appeared, and Ye Haitang emerged, grabbing the Nascent Soul and performing a soul-searching secret technique.

"Searching for the Taiyi Golden Immortal apprehended by the Haotian Palace! A Dao artifact?" Ye Haitang frowned. The False Immortal had instigated Chen Liang, hoping to use the power of the Palace of Yama to find the Taiyi Golden Immortal apprehended by the Haotian Palace. They suspected this individual possessed a Dao artifact, and this was an order from the high-ranking Chaos Beasts.

Ye Haitang took out a silver-glowing talisman, placed it on the Nascent Soul, and then put the Nascent Soul into a black jade box. She then placed another silver talisman on the black jade box. She confiscated Chen Liang's belongings, burned the body, put away the five ghosts, and left the area.

***

Myriad Gourd Sea Region, Myriad Gourd Market.

The streets were bustling with people like a tide, and the clamor of wagons and horses filled the air, making it very lively. In a sprawling estate, Jin Sheng sat in a green stone pavilion, listening as a medium-built man in a blue robe reported to him.

"We've been keeping an eye on all cultivators entering the market," the blue-robed man reported, "but we haven't found any trace of that person. He probably didn't come; otherwise, it would be difficult to escape our notice."

Jin Sheng's face was filled with disappointment. He had hoped to use this opportunity to find that person and retrieve the Heavenly Fate Plate. He deeply regretted lending the Heavenly Fate Plate to Immortal Monarch Lieyang, who couldn't retrieve it and had to compensate the Star Kui Race with a large amount of cultivation resources. Jin Sheng wanted the Heavenly Fate Plate back, but it had regrettably been seized by the other party, leaving him no choice but to find them. The Myriad Gourd Business Alliance was holding a large-scale auction, and Jin Sheng thought this person might attend. He had sent people to watch the participants but found no anomalies.

"The auction begins tomorrow," Jin Sheng instructed. "That person probably didn't come, or perhaps they have a high-grade immortal artifact that alters their appearance and aura. Never mind, pull back the men! I hope to acquire a Qiankun Creation Pill."

The Qiankun Creation Pill is a fourth-tier immortal elixir that can assist Taiyi Golden Immortals in advancing to Grand Luo Golden Immortals. The Myriad Gourd Business Alliance offered the Qiankun Creation Pill, attracting numerous immortals to the auction, and Jin Sheng himself had also come for it.

"Yes, Ancestor," the blue-robed man replied, and withdrew.

***

A day passed quickly, and early the next morning, as dawn broke, a golden-glowing pagoda stood, its shape resembling a gourd—narrower at the top and wider at the bottom. The words "Golden Gourd Pagoda" were inscribed in large golden characters on its body, and immortal light continuously flickered around it.

A long queue stretched from the entrance of the Golden Gourd Pagoda as numerous immortals paid fees and entered the venue. Wang Lin was also there; he had altered his appearance and was unafraid of being recognized. After paying a sum of immortal essence stones, he entered the venue. Guided by an attendant, he proceeded into a private room on the fourth floor.

A golden-glowing mirror was embedded in the stone wall, and in its reflection, a hundreds-of-feet-wide bluestone platform could be seen. Wang Lin waved his hand, dismissed the attendant, and closed the door. He unleashed his divine sense, carefully scanning everything inside the room. Finding no abnormalities, he summoned the Four Seasons Diagram and stepped into it.

Not long after, Wang Changsheng, Wang Ruyan, and Wang Lin emerged from the Four Seasons Diagram. Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan thoroughly examined the private room, and only after confirming there were no issues did they relax. They were somewhat concerned the auction might be a trap aimed at luring and capturing them. Though the probability was low, they had to be cautious.

A short while later, the auction began. A corpulent old man in a green robe walked onto the bluestone platform, clasped his fists, and announced, "Welcome everyone to this auction. I am Li Shan, and I will be presiding over this event."

Li Shan took out five blue porcelain bottles and announced, "Five bottles of Azure Jade Dew Elixir. These elixirs enhance immortal essence, are suitable for Taiyi Golden Immortals, and were refined with the core of a Taiyi Golden Immortal-level seven-colored Chaos Beast. The starting bid is one hundred high-grade immortal essence stones, and each increment must not be less than twenty."

"One hundred!"

"One hundred twenty!"

"One hundred forty!"

The bidding for the five bottles of Azure Jade Dew Elixir was fierce, but Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan did not bid, as Wang Qingbai and Liu Hongxue could both refine similar immortal elixirs. Li Shan then brought out various third-tier immortal elixirs, each with different effects, including enhancing immortal essence, detoxifying, healing, and strengthening the soul. All were sold at high prices.

After the elixirs were sold, Li Shan took out a golden-glowing long saber with flame-like patterns engraved on its blade. He announced, "Next is the high-grade immortal artifact, the Golden Glare Saber. The starting bid is three hundred high-grade immortal essence stones, and each increment must not be less than fifty."

"Three hundred!"

"Three hundred fifty!"

"Four hundred!"