Chapter 654: Wan Bone Twin Killers

Gold-devouring ants have a fondness for metals. Wang Changsheng had numerous discarded items from his artifact refining, all of which he fed to these ants. The queen gold-devouring ant consumed the most, yet her cultivation level remained at the upper second rank.

Wang Changsheng fed the queen the remnants of a third-rank puppet and some third-rank materials, after which she immediately fell into a deep slumber. She had consumed an immense amount of discarded refining materials. If she didn't ascend to the third rank soon, Wang Changsheng would be at a loss for words.

Wang Changsheng took out a fist-sized piece of purple-gold ore and tossed it into the air. The queen gold-devouring ant fluttered her wings, snatched the purple ore, and began to gnaw on it. This was Purple Profound Gold, a lower third-rank artifact refining material often used in crafting offensive magical treasures. Before long, the queen gold-devouring ant had completely consumed the purple ore.

The Soul-Devouring Golden Cicada had also finished devouring over a hundred beast souls. However, it remained unsatisfied, hovering restlessly within the room and emitting peculiar chirping sounds, as if demanding more. After a brief hesitation, Wang Changsheng took out a black porcelain bottle, removed the stopper, and a miniature red octopus flew out. The Soul-Devouring Golden Cicada became highly agitated, flapping its wings as it lunged towards the red octopus. The red octopus quickly dodged; being merely a soul, it was no match for the Soul-Devouring Golden Cicada. The Soul-Devouring Golden Cicada seized an opportunity, unleashing a large burst of golden light that precisely enveloped the miniature octopus and drew it into its mouth. After devouring a mid-third-rank beast soul, the Soul-Devouring Golden Cicada appeared sated and became sluggish. No matter how Wang Changsheng tried to communicate with it, it remained unresponsive.

Wang Changsheng recalled the Soul-Devouring Golden Cicada and the queen gold-devouring ant into their respective spirit beast beads. He then retrieved his communication disk and informed Fairy Ziyue and Tian Jiong to meet him at Huixian Tower at You-shi (5-7 PM) that evening for an exchange meeting.

At You-shi, Wang Changsheng, Fairy Ziyue, and Tian Jiong arrived punctually at the entrance of Huixian Tower. The entire Huixian Tower had been reserved, leaving the grand hall completely empty. On the second floor, seven or eight Core Formation cultivators had gathered, men and women alike. Wang Huashan and Huang Fugui had not yet arrived. Wang Changsheng and his two companions found an empty table and took their seats. More Core Formation cultivators arrived, one after another. They spoke no words aloud, gathering in small groups and communicating through sound transmission.

After the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, over thirty Core Formation cultivators had gathered on the second floor, including Huang Fugui and Wang Huashan, who had both arrived.

"Madam Liu, is everyone accounted for? If so, let's begin!" a sharp-featured middle-aged man urged.

The beautiful woman, tall and slender with striking features, possessed an eighth-layer Core Formation cultivation. Her name was Liu Ying, and she was the leader of Huang Fugui's demon-hunting team. Liu Ying smiled faintly and replied gently, "Fellow Daoist Lu, please wait a moment. Two more fellow Daoists have yet to arrive."

"They're being rather pompous, aren't they? Making so many of us wait for them," the middle-aged man grumbled, his face showing displeasure.

"What? Madam Liu has no objections, yet you do?" a slightly hoarse male voice interjected. No sooner had the words faded than a chilly gust of wind swept through, and a man and a woman materialized before the assembled cultivators.

The man, in his thirties, had gaunt cheeks and a medium build. He wore a black Daoist robe and carried a black gourd on his back, adorned with a fierce ghostly pattern. The woman had a captivating figure, dressed in a green palace gown, with a pair of alluring, watery peach blossom eyes. Both wore a white skull emblem on their attire. The man in black robes was at the seventh layer of Core Formation, while the young woman in the green dress was at the sixth layer.

"Which fellow Daoist was it who claimed we were putting on too much airs?" the man in black robes asked, his icy gaze sweeping over the cultivators present. Upon seeing the white skull emblem on their clothing and the black gourd on the black-robed man's back, some Core Formation cultivators' expressions shifted as recognition dawned on them.

The white skull was the symbol of the Ten Thousand Bones Sect, a prominent demonic sect. Its founder, Venerable Ten Thousand Bones, was infamous for having slain multiple Nascent Soul cultivators. While the sect was not as mighty as it once was, its lingering power meant that no one wished to provoke it. The man in black robes and the young woman in green were known to outsiders as the "Ten Thousand Bones Duo of Evil," though they preferred to call themselves the "Ten Thousand Bones Dual Immortals." They had a notorious reputation for having previously slain numerous Core Formation stage half-demons.

Upon seeing the black gourd on the black-robed man, a flicker of surprise crossed Wang Changsheng's eyes. As they operated within the Ten Thousand Demon Sea, it was only natural for them to thoroughly investigate its conditions, especially the immortal cultivation factions and any cultivators possessing powerful abilities. The Ten Thousand Bones Duo were notorious Core Formation cultivators who abhorred evil and delighted in tormenting their enemies. No one wished to provoke them without good reason. Hearing this, the middle-aged man quickly averted his gaze, remaining silent, as a fine layer of sweat beaded on his forehead.

"Fellow Daoist Xu, Madam Xu, you've finally arrived. I am deeply grateful to all of you for attending," Liu Ying began. "I must state upfront that this exchange meeting is for trading items, not for causing trouble. Once you leave Huixian Tower, what you do is none of my concern, but while we are inside, it is best for everyone to coexist peacefully."

"This time, I'll grant Madam Liu this courtesy. Should there be a next time, I will not be so polite," the man in black robes stated coldly before he and the young woman in green found an empty table and sat down.

"As the organizer, I shall go first!" Liu Ying declared. She walked to an empty table in the center and, with a flick of her sleeve, a large assortment of items materialized: two blue wooden boxes, a blue beast hide five or six *zhang* long, a spirit bone as white as jade, and dozens of white, sharp teeth several *chi* long. "I offer two mid-third-rank water-attribute demon cores, one sea-jellyfish beast hide, one spirit bone, and teeth from a mid-third-rank giant toothed shark. I am seeking fire-attribute materials for artifact refining or alchemy, or items of equivalent value."

Wang Changsheng wasn't interested in these items; he required thunder-attribute third-rank demon cores, at least of mid-rank. Third-rank pills, particularly those that replenish qi and blood, were highly sought after and typically only appeared at major auctions. Otherwise, Wang Changsheng wouldn't have needed to seek Lin Ruoyi's assistance.

All items presented by Liu Ying were successfully exchanged, getting the meeting off to a promising start. Pleased with the successful exchanges, Liu Ying returned to her seat, and Huang Fugui stepped forward, revealing several materials. He presented two green beast hides, several *zhang* long, more than a dozen palm-sized blue scales, and two blue crystals the size of watermelons.

"I offer two hides from a mid-third-rank Green Carp Beast, scales from an upper third-rank Blue-scaled Shrimp, and two Seaflow Stones. I'm seeking earth-attribute artifact refining materials."

All items Huang Fugui offered were also successfully exchanged, boosting the confidence of other cultivators, who then came forward to make their own trades. However, after Huang Fugui, only a few individuals managed to complete successful exchanges.

After another cup of tea's time, Wang Changsheng stepped forward and produced several materials. He presented two red beast hides several *zhang* in size, dozens of silver fangs, a pair of black feathered wings two *zhang* wide, and three wooden boxes containing mid-third-rank demon cores.

"I offer two hides from a mid-third-rank Fire Cloud Beast, teeth from a mid-third-rank Thunder Shark, and a pair of black feathered wings from an upper third-rank demonic bird. The wooden boxes contain fire-attribute mid-third-rank demon cores. I am seeking thunder-attribute third-rank demon cores, of at least mid-rank."