Chapter 611: Gathering of Heroes, Contest of Splendors

For the past year, Li Chunyi had not contacted him. It seemed he had deliberately waited until today.

Having received the invitation, Wang Yu did not hesitate. He followed the Nascent Soul attendant and quietly withdrew from the crowd in front of the palace. However, Lan Feng noticed this but chose not to expose it.

"Interesting. It seems the allocation of spots for this time has changed. I wonder which unlucky soul will be pushed back."

In terms of ascension channel rankings, anything beyond the top five completely lost its value and meaning. If one truly waited in line until their lifespan ended, there would be no way to ascend. Logically, the Upper Realm should not arrange things this way.

However, after soul-searching Revered Xia, Wang Yu had gained many secrets, especially regarding the ascension channel.

It turned out, the ascension channel in the Mountain and Sea Realm was initially set up with resources by the Emotionless Dao Lineage. Countless years ago, the Minor Extreme Palace was also one of the Emotionless Dao's inheritances in the Lower Realm. The channel was intended to attract outstanding Soul Transformation cultivators, enabling them to reach the Upper Realm for cultivation as early as possible. The environmental difference was vast, and resource supply was abundant. This allowed them to quickly gain trustworthy core powerhouses to replenish losses on the Human-Demon Battlefield, thus maintaining the vitality and prosperity of the Dao Lineage.

However, there are no impenetrable walls in the world. During that era, the intensity of the Human-Demon Battlefield was extremely high, and other Dao Lineages also had a need for reinforcements. Ascendants, at their base, were Soul Transformation cultivators, possessing rich combat experience and tenacious willpower. In terms of ability, talent, and even character, they were more valuable than those "heavenly dragons" born extraordinary in the Upper Realm. They were like mature fruits, ready for immediate use upon arrival.

This led to a transaction between the Kunlun Dao Lineage and the Emotionless Dao Lineage, granting them ascension quotas, followed by the Fiend Dragon Dao Lineage and the Demonic Star Dao Lineage. With this knowledge, clarity emerged. Gradually, even Soul Transformation Venerables who were not part of a Dao Lineage sought opportunities to cross realms, approaching the Minor Extreme Palace. They would either compel it through combat or offer a high price for a channel quota.

After several twists and turns and countless years of evolution, this led to today's grand occasion. Some might ask, besides the Mountain and Sea Realm, couldn't smaller realms like the Azure Sea, Profound Yellow, or Purple Wood also ascend? In fact, they could. After all, the rules of ascension were a transformation implemented by Immortals across the entire Vast Immortal Domain. Once one's cultivation reached the required level, they would feel a profound, mysterious call.

It's just... it wasn't safe enough! The ascension channel was established by powerful figures, capable of overcoming the dangers that might be encountered during the ascension period and the unknown journey through the Cosmic Sea. Ascending on one's own meant a much lower ability to withstand risks. To cultivate to the point of ascending with a heavenly tribulation was already selecting one in ten million, and to safely cross the Cosmic Sea was one in a hundred, purely relying on luck. For these ascendants, who held power when awake and enjoyed beauty when drunk, the risk was too great, definitely not a reasonable choice.

Therefore, they preferred to first cultivate in the Mountain and Sea Realm, queuing up and waiting until their cultivation could no longer progress before seeking alternative solutions. This resulted in an exceptionally large number of Soul Transformation cultivators in the Mountain and Sea Realm. Smuggling thus became an unwritten rule, almost the only method for Soul Transformation cultivators without Dao Lineage backing. If they truly lacked background and means, they would still choose to gamble when their lifespan was nearing its end.

Along the way, Wang Yu pondered the exploitable aspects. If the Boundary-Splitting Divine Ark could travel safely between the upper and lower realms, he might be able to conduct this business long-term. Being a ferryman of the Cosmic Sea wouldn't be bad either.

The ultimate goal of ascension was cultivation. Without bottlenecks, earning vast resources could help Wang Yu quickly improve his cultivation. It was actually a more suitable choice to go to the Upper Realm only when he could no longer advance and was on the verge of a breakthrough. As the saying goes, it's better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix. In the Upper Realm, Nascent Soul cultivators were common, Soul Transformation cultivators were like dogs, and even Void Refinement cultivators might not make much of a stir. Rushing to ascend offered no real benefit. Strength was the foundation for cultivators of his path.

"If I operate this way, I'll need to find a way to continuously replenish the energy source for the Boundary-Splitting Divine Ark, as the chaotic qi flow stored within it won't last too long."

As he pondered, the guiding Nascent Soul attendant stopped. "Senior Wei, Patriarch Jueqing is waiting for you in this hall. Please enter for a discussion."

"Very well."

As soon as he spoke, Li Chunyi's figure emerged to greet him. This time, he no longer appeared flustered as before, but had reverted to his cool, aloof persona, like an iceberg.

"Brother Wei, please come in. I've missed you greatly over the past year."

"Haha, it's quite something for a fellow Daoist to say such cheesy words."

"Not at all, not at all. Brother Wei possesses true talent and learning, which I admire greatly. Furthermore, you have shown kindness to me, Li, so it is only proper to treat you with courtesy and invite you to the seat of honor."

Seeing that the hall was empty except for the two of them, Wang Yu stopped pretending and directly accepted, eager to see if he could collect the Tears of Emotionlessness this time. The sooner the Emotion-Devouring Beast was refined, the better. Ideally, he wanted to seize the opportunity of the demonic diagram's advancement to refine it into a true intelligent artifact spirit, after which the Six Desires Heavenly Demonic Diagram would break free from some of the constraints of an ordinary artifact and gain the potential for autonomous evolution. This was Wang Yu's plan for the Emotion-Devouring Beast. It truly had great use.

After Wang Yu took his seat, Li Chunyi personally poured him tea, his ingratiating intent undeniable. Clearly, he regarded Wang Yu's Red Dust secret art as his own fortunate encounter. After a few pleasantries, they got straight to the point.

"Brother Wei, a year ago, with your help, I instantly broke through the cognitive delusion. Only then did Chunyi comprehend the true meaning of Emotionlessness. After a year of rebuilding my foundation and supplementing my spiritual essence, I can now undergo the second Red Dust Reincarnation."

Wang Yu calmly sipped his spiritual tea and smiled. "Fellow Daoist Chunyi makes it difficult for me. The Red Dust Boat is not a magic treasure, but an auxiliary item formed from the secret art of mental power. Its Red Dust energy is limited; it's not something you can use whenever you please."

The subtext was clear: he wouldn't let him freeload.

Li Chunyi caught on, but wasn't annoyed. "Forgive my memory. Brother Wei, do you know the arrangements for this Minor Extreme Palace gathering?"

"I'd be glad to hear your explanation."

"This gathering is nominally held to determine the order of ascension channel rankings."

"Oh? Does fellow Daoist mean I can be ranked first?"

Upon hearing this, Li Chunyi quickly waved his hand, smiling wryly. "Brother Wei thinks too highly of me. I can interfere with the queue order, but mostly beyond the fifth spot. The top five rankings are all part of deals with the higher-ups and cannot be changed."

"Then this quota is useless to me."

"I know that. The main purpose of the gathering is the second one—a treasure exchange! Given your previous assistance, I can, in the name of the Minor Extreme Palace, acquire three cherished treasures for Brother Wei without any cost to you. This is my gratitude, how does that sound?"

Wang Yu leisurely sipped his spiritual tea. This reward was valuable. After all, those participating in the treasure exchange were all Soul Transformation Venerables, gathered from surrounding minor realms, and they surely possessed top-tier treasures. And the Red Dust Without Bounds secret art was merely a simple favor. He could also extract Li Chunyi's emotionless artistic conception and find a way to control the mental illusion of the Red Dust Hundred Lives Reincarnation, thereby obtaining the Tears of Emotionlessness. All benefits, no harm. A guaranteed win!

"Alright, but I have one small request."

Li Chunyi immediately rejoiced. The Minor Extreme Palace was one entity, and he was another. Using the palace's resources to benefit himself was highly worthwhile; he saw this very clearly.

"Speak freely. As long as it's within my ability, I will not refuse."

"Good, fellow Daoist Li is straightforward. Then I won't drag this out either. During the treasure exchange, I'd like the right to use a palace hall, to make friends with fellow Daoists from the Mountain and Sea Realm."

"A small matter, leave it to me."

"Hahahaha, fellow Daoist Li is indeed generous."

The harmonious exchange allowed both parties to achieve their goals. Using a Minor Extreme Palace hall would also allow Wang Yu to leverage its prestige, making his words more credible. Even if people believed the story of the Wei Clan Progenitor, there was still a lack of public trust. To convince them that his Boundary-Splitting Divine Ark was reliable, and even to pay for tickets in advance, would rely on the reputation of the Minor Extreme Palace. This would save Wang Yu a lot of trouble, yet for Li Chunyi, it was a minor issue. This demonstrated the synergy achieved through strategic resource utilization.

The matter of casting the Red Dust Without Bounds spell was postponed until after the treasure exchange. Li Chunyi still needed to preside over the exchange event first.

Thus, at noon, a splendid and dazzling treasure feast officially began.

Inside the grand white jade palace, where elites gathered, many Soul Transformation Venerables displayed their distinct demeanors. Some stood with folded arms, their starlit eyes surveying everything before them with an undisguised air of superiority. Others sat cross-legged on lotus platforms, eyes slightly closed, a divine halo floating behind their heads. Even more shockingly, some brought their concubines and engaged in sexual acts openly, as if to prove their absolute virility, perhaps due to being affected by certain rumors. All sorts of behaviors were on display.

Of course, even though treasure exchanges weren't frequent, not all Soul Transformation cultivators were present. There were only about five hundred participants. Those who didn't come either genuinely had other commitments or simply weren't interested in joining the commotion, especially the "wild" Soul Transformation cultivators whose queue positions were very far back. In a sense, Wang Yu also fell into the "wild" category.

Accompanied by a bell chime, Patriarch Jueqing, Li Chunyi, instantly appeared above the palace's high platform and stated concisely: "According to the rules of previous years, the treasure exchange officially begins. Which fellow Daoist would like to go first? Let your fellow cultivators see your treasures."

"Since that's the case, I'll go first," he said. "Please excuse my humble offering."

As his voice faded, a handsome Daoist with a dignified appearance and an ethereal face appeared first on the high platform, his profound yellow robe emanating a faint precious light.

"It's Daoist Son Xuanhuang, Zhao Mo? The one with the Innate Dao Body? I didn't expect him to be at this treasure exchange."

"You must be new from the Purple Wood Realm. There are only three years left until the next ascension channel opens. Zhao Mo is ranked first, so he would definitely attend this temporary meeting to ensure his spot isn't taken by others."

"The ascension order can be re-ranked? Isn't that arranged by the Upper Realm?"

The newcomer was astonished. The inner workings of the Mountain and Sea Realm were deeper than his homeland's. To influence arrangements from the Upper Realm was no ordinary dark secret; it demanded a forceful counterattack! However, he didn't dare to speak his mind. Listening to the discussions of his fellow cultivators, Wang Yu was also quite curious what kind of treasure this Daoist Son Xuanhuang would offer for exchange.

Not long after, Zhao Mo didn't prolong the suspense. He directly took out a spherical, entirely jade-green pearl and introduced it: "This item is called the Wood Spirit Essence Pearl. It was refined by melting countless natural spiritual energies and wood-attribute spiritual medicines, functioning as a type of 'artifact pill' for enhancing magical power."

"Artifact pill?"

Not everyone present had extraordinary knowledge, and this "artifact pill" was clearly not an ordinary item, suggesting it was quite rare.

"Precisely," Zhao Mo further explained. "An 'artifact pill' is a spiritual pill refined using artifact-forging techniques. Its effect is not as potent as an elixir of the same rank, but it can be used repeatedly. After absorbing its essence, it can be placed in a blessed land rich in wood-attribute spiritual energy to recharge. It's like a high-grade spirit stone, capable of repeated recharges and uses. This item is equivalent to a fifth-grade mid-tier cultivation elixir, suitable for wood-attribute immortal cultivators. Is there anyone present who is interested?"

Wang Yu's eyes lit up. Even with his vast knowledge, he had never heard of such a thing, suggesting it was the latest achievement in artifact crafting developed by the forefront of the immortal palace. The clear intention to imitate alchemy was obvious, but it wasn't suitable for demonic cultivators. Since its quality was already inferior to a comparable elixir, very little would likely remain after conversion by demonic cultivation techniques. Moreover, Zhao Mo was cunning; he didn't mention the recharge time or the usage limit. This item, seemingly valuable, was in fact a white elephant. It was merely meant to deceive those unsophisticated, rural cultivators with limited knowledge. This Zhao Mo truly had a treacherous mind, a demonic seed himself.

Those who knew the truth seemed to have no intention of exposing it. This item was quickly and delightedly acquired by a Soul Transformation cultivator. Judging by his aura, he seemed to practice orthodox immortal wood-attribute cultivation techniques.

After Zhao Mo stepped down, other cultivators ascended the platform, and the atmosphere gradually became heated.

"I have the complete carcass of a low-grade fierce beast with a bloodline purity of over ninety percent. I wish to exchange it for main materials for a spirit treasure. Any excess value can be supplemented with top-grade spirit stones."

A good item. Wang Yu's eyes brightened. He took out a water-attribute treasure gourd. This item was obtained from Tianlao Island. He had no immediate plans for refining treasures, and with many such items stored in Tianlao, he didn't lack this one. The fierce beast carcass was perfect for accelerating his Nine Condensations and Nine Dispersions cultivation. After several rounds of bidding and discussion, Wang Yu successfully acquired it, paying an additional three hundred top-grade spirit stones. The promise from Li Chunyi was not yet needed, unless a more valuable treasure appeared.

As the treasure exchange continued, Wang Yu frequently made bids, exchanging for many useful spiritual items, which also drew the attention of other Soul Transformation cultivators, who noted the immense wealth of this Wei Clan Progenitor!

An hour later, Wang Yu acquired a piece of Blood Yin Jade, which he planned to refine into the Yama Devil Sword, potentially helping it reach the top-grade level. The Minor Extreme Palace would cover the cost for this. He also obtained one Seven-Ring Divine Silkworm. This insect had reached maturity and could spin three thousand feet of divine silkworm silk before it perished. He planned to use it as the main material for refining a new magic robe in the future, with the Minor Extreme Palace paying for it. Additionally, he acquired an Ancient Yin Seal. Rumored to be left by an Yin Dynasty Ghost Emperor who dominated an era in a certain small thousand world, this item was extremely useful to Wang Yu. Besides refining it into the Yama Devil Sword, it could also help him condense an artistic conception weapon for the Evil Ghost Path. This was also paid for by the Minor Extreme Palace.

These three treasures were all top-tier among fifth-grade items. Li Chunyi, who acquired them for him, felt a pang of heartache, even though he had long prepared himself for the idea that "public property is not my property." Still, watching the spiritual items flow out was difficult!

The rest were minor items: several beast carcasses, two spiritual flame seeds barely reaching fifth-grade, and a fingernail-sized piece of dragon-patterned black gold—this last item was also quite valuable. All these were paid for by Wang Yu himself.