Afterward, he spoke of God King Taixu, who had revived some time ago. He began with the God King's reputation for having the greatest offensive power in five thousand years, then moved on to the Great Xia Dynasty.
He then solemnly declared that the Taihuang Scripture's offensive Dragon Qi was not the least bit inferior to the Fighting Secret of the Nine Secrets.
The Great Xia imperial uncle nodded repeatedly as he listened and took the initiative to discuss the offensive way of Dragon Qi, as well as the way of imposing might.
The old imperial uncle said that Daoist Cao was well versed in ancient secrets, and that an occasional remark from him could open one's eyes. The two felt they had met far too late in life, and many of their views coincided without prior discussion!
The Great Xia prince Xia Yiming, Ji Haoyue of the Ji Family, who possessed the God King Body, and Ji Ziyue could only follow behind as juniors, watching Su Yu "dance."
A group of Great Powers chatted happily as they arrived at the Yaoguang Stone Workshop.
The Yaoguang Stone Workshop had a long history. The ancient buildings in its garden were grand and towering, and a sacred radiance seemed to flow over them in the sunlight.
The receptionist glanced helplessly at the Yaoguang elder following Su Yu, only to find that the Great Power from his own side paid him no attention at all. The elder was too busy thoroughly enjoying himself as he discussed ancient secrets with Daoist Cao!
The stone gardens of Yaoguang Holy Land were anything but monotonous. Ancient trees grew throughout them, so dense that anyone entering unprepared would have thought they had stepped into a primeval land.
Repeating what he had done at the Dao Yi Stone Workshop, Su Yu began cutting stones in the first garden. He put some ordinary, unusual varieties of Source straight into his storage bag, while occasionally trading the rare treasures he cut out directly to the Great Powers.
Not until he reached the twelfth stone garden did he cut out another three-foot Dragon Eel. Its golden scales gleamed, and it was shaped like a dragon. The instant it emerged, a beam of golden light pierced the mist, drawing cries of surprise from many people. It was a rare beast that could also extend one's life, prompting elders of several great sects to fight fiercely for it.
This time, the Great Powers no longer deferred to the Great Xia elder. They all made bids, and someone from the Desolate Ancient Jiang Family secured the three-foot Dragon Eel.
The crowd grew even more eager, convinced that today would be a grand occasion for stone cutting. Unfortunately, no more life-extending treasures appeared all the way to the Heaven-Class Stone Garden. Several pieces of Divine Source were cut out, however, adding further to Su Yu's wealth.
In the Heaven-Class Stone Garden grew an unusual bamboo called Blood-Tear Jade Bamboo. Its stalks were as white as jade, while its mutton-fat jade leaves bore tiny bloodstains shaped like teardrops.
It was an exceptionally rare spirit bamboo, difficult to keep alive and scarce throughout the world. Yet an entire grove grew here, releasing copious amounts of spiritual Qi. The spirit bamboo spread out in a vast expanse, white as jade, thriving and sparkling. Tiny bloodstains swayed like rolling teardrops. A gentle breeze swept through, lending the place an air of quiet elegance!
Su Yu walked lightly, his bearing upright as a pine. He made a circuit among the stones, carefully activating his Source Heaven Divine Eyes to examine the unusual rocks.
He was in no hurry to make a move; he needed to make a full circuit first.
Soon, his gaze sharpened and settled on a piece of wind-cave stone. He bought it on the spot, then took a jade sword in hand and began cutting.
"Puff..."
Stone chips scattered through the air like a rain of flowers, fluttering down in all directions. The object within the stone broke through its seal, revealing a fist-sized piece of Divine Source. It was dazzling beyond compare, and rays of divine light shot out in an instant, competing with the sun.
Within the fist-sized Divine Source were more than forty tiny insects, each no bigger than a fingernail. All of them gleamed gold and radiated divine light.
"Ancient Insect Divine Source, useful for refining precious life-extending pills!"
Su Yu called out loudly, taking the initiative to explain. Seven or eight Great Powers then competed with one another, and in the end everyone was satisfied. Virtually every supreme force obtained a share.
The master of the Yaoguang Stone Workshop wore a bitter expression, feeling that the workshop's results this time would be dismal.
The Immortal Platform elder beside him, however, was delighted. He had obtained seven ancient insects, enough to serve as the main ingredients for an ancient pill.
The other great sects and factions lowered their banners and stilled their drums in this round of bidding, unable to match the financial resources of the supreme forces.
Daoist Cao Yusheng, this Daoist Cao, tailored his treatment to the person before him. He was very perfunctory toward First Heaven of the Immortal Platform cultivators like them, showing little enthusiasm.
The only Great Power among the great sects and factions was Li Chonghua of the Illusion Destruction Palace, and he too obtained five ancient insects. After seeing how things stood, the old antique apologized to Su Yu again and paid a high price for the last of the Ancient Insect Divine Source.
Su Yu picked up an unusual stone, naturally rounded and spherical, with one hand. He took 120,000 jin of Source from his storage bag, paid the Yaoguang Stone Workshop, and began cutting.
The spherical stone was called the Demon Embryo. It felt warm and smooth to the touch and was exceptionally extraordinary.
But none of that was the important part...
Immortal Qilin Medicine...
Su Yu murmured inwardly, a flush appearing deep in his eyes. Yet his movements flowed like clouds and running water. The Purple Light Jade Marrow sword waved gently, flashing with beautiful purple light as chips flew from the Demon Embryo.
Suddenly, a beam of purple divine light shot into the sky, and astonishing spiritual Qi spilled out. Everyone present felt their hearts tighten, knowing that something extraordinary had been cut out.
At that moment, eight Immortal Second Realm Mighty Figures activated divine-eye secret arts at once. Divine light blazed from their eyes as they began examining the divine object within the radiance.
Inside the Demon Embryo was a palm-sized piece of Divine Source. It was golden Heavenly Genesis Divine Source, capable of tempering the flesh, a supreme treasure to body-tempering cultivators.
But that was not the important part. The Heavenly Genesis Divine Source also contained a rare treasure that radiated brilliant purple Divine Radiance and was more translucent than the stars!
Wisps of purple mist rippled from it, and spiritual Qi swirled around it. A sacred presence seemed capable of purifying one's body and mind, washing both soul and flesh clean.
Close to the Qilin Divine Medicine seed, Su Yu was baptized by a sacred power. Even his blue Daoist robe was dyed a magnificent purple. His entire figure looked as though it had been covered in a layer of purple-gold frost, hazy and dreamlike, with a Dao charm that transcended the mundane.
The little qilin within the Heavenly Genesis Divine Source was lifelike, complete in every detail despite its tiny size. Dragon scales covered its body, and it seemed to be gliding over the water.
It had a dragon's head, a deer's antlers, a lion's eyes, a tiger's back, and a bear's waist. Mysterious markings covered its back, resembling divine patterns of the Heavenly Dao, profoundly abstruse.
With the divine object's emergence, all eight directions stirred. At that moment, even the Great Powers' pupils contracted, and their breathing grew rapid.
"Primordial Qilin Medicine!"
Under everyone's utterly astonished gazes, Su Yu softly named its origin. Shimmering purple light reflected in his black eyes.
A celestial treasure like this could not be hidden. Virtually all the great holy lands had records of it, and it could not escape their notice.
The humanoid divine medicine from before had been so badly damaged and incomplete that there was almost no hope of reviving it. Its value had therefore plummeted, and the important figures had not particularly lost their composure.
This Qilin Medicine, however, was a complete Immortal Medicine seed, a supreme treasure capable of driving the entire Eastern Wasteland mad!
Chapter 32: The Scarlet War Spear, Killing Intent Enduring Since Primordial Times
The medicinal fragrance given off by the divine medicine was intense, making the people in the stone garden feel as though they had undergone a baptism and been purified.
Though the Purple Qilin within the Heavenly Genesis Divine Source was small, no larger than a baby's fist, it possessed unparalleled vitality. It breathed in and out the essence of the sun and moon. Boundless spiritual Qi was drawn toward it, and every breath surged like a tide, leaving everyone present feeling baptized and comfortable throughout their bodies.
It was all wondrous beyond compare. Even ordinary cultivators unfamiliar with ancient texts knew that this was a celestial treasure rarely seen in the world, of inestimable value.
"Purple Qilin... a primordial divine medicine! How many years has it been since the Holy City last saw a sight like this? I can hardly believe I'm not dreaming. This is incredible!"
"This is a celestial spirit born of the harmonious union of heaven and earth. Legends of it circulated in primordial times, and there were even records of it in the remote ancient era. Only today has it emerged..."
Everyone present was immensely excited. Sharp glints and greed showed in their eyes as they stared at the astonishing precious crystal.
This was an Immortal Divine Medicine, one of the very finest treasures for extending life. It could also produce holy medicines without end and endure countless ages alongside a holy land. The holy lands of the Eastern Wasteland had passed down their legacies for over a hundred thousand years without perishing, and this divine medicine seed was enough to strengthen any major force!
No one could refuse such a divine object!
Soon, all the juniors present were pushed out as a group of cultivators from the great sects and factions rushed forward.
Ji Ziyue, too, looked at the Qilin Seed with wide eyes and a touch of longing. The little purple sprite was simply too lovable.
Ji Haoyue sighed and could only take his younger sister's hand. This time, they did not even have the right to speak. Most of the people present were of his grandfather's generation...
"Fellow Daoist Cao, my Heavenly Feather Sect is willing to devote the strength of the entire sect to obtaining this divine medicine seed..." said a middle-aged cultivator dressed in black dragon robes, immensely excited. The Heavenly Feather Sect was one of the Central Continent's dynasties, and its strength was considerable.
"Hmph! Since when did Central Province dynasties dare flaunt their wealth in the Eastern Wasteland? Master Cao, my Yaoguang Holy Land is willing to pay a high price to buy the divine medicine!"
"Hahahaha, fellow Daoist, your Source Arts truly outshine the ancients and dazzle the present! How would you like to trade? My Great Xia Dynasty guarantees your satisfaction!" Dragon Qi surged around the Great Xia Dynasty's old imperial uncle as he made the generous promise. He was Xia Ye, uncle to the current ruler of the Great Xia Dynasty, and he held considerable sway within it!
Nearly every divine medicine was unique and could not reproduce. If one was destroyed, that meant it would be struck from heaven and earth forever. Thus, they were called supreme divine treasures.
For that very reason, Su Yu's heart ached over the divine hoard left behind by the Source Heavenly Master. Two Immortal Divine Medicines had been destroyed inside it.
Feeling the boundless vitality of the Qilin Seed in his hand, Su Yu sealed it away.
He swept his gaze over the crowd and noticed that quite a few people had unfocused eyes, communicating about something...
If I don't accept the goodwill of the supreme holy lands, will they make a move in secret...?
Su Yu's gaze passed over the green eyes of the pack of wolves. His expression remained calm as he shook his sleeve and put the Qilin Seed away, refusing the goodwill of the supreme forces.
He already had four million jin of Pure Source in his storage bag, as well as quite a bit of Divine Source. He had become rich overnight.
Because of the Heavenly Origin Grass and other life-extending holy treasures from before, the supreme forces treated him with great courtesy, all except that Jiang Family elder.
The elder, named Jiang Li, continued trying to persuade Su Yu to sell him a divine medicine, his offer having already reached an astronomical price.
"Fellow Daoist, do you understand the cause and effect involved? You have not joined a holy land, yet in this savage place, you have suddenly obtained rare goods and celestial treasures. Who knows how many eyes are fixed on you! Join my Jiang Family, and the position of guest elder awaits you, with a status equal to a Great Power's. Moreover, you are young, fellow Daoist, and the pearls of my Jiang Family are also outstanding. Would it not be wonderful for the two sides to form a bond?"
Jiang Li urged him earnestly, offering terms that an ordinary wandering cultivator would find hard to refuse. He was indeed considering Su Yu's interests.
Even the man who had stolen another's name was tempted. As if compelled by ghosts and gods, he replied by voice transmission, "I have heard that Caixuan of the Jiang Family has an aptitude like ice and snow and is exceptionally extraordinary..."
"Oh my, Daoist, you know Caixuan? That child is indeed outstanding!"
Jiang Li was overjoyed, and his words came a little faster as he took the initiative to introduce the young lady of his clan. "She is my Jiang Family's Qilin Maiden. At her birth, five-colored radiance shone and an otherworldly phenomenon appeared. She only recently came of age and made her debut. She is a princess of my Jiang Family's direct line and is highly valued by the clan head..."
The corner of Su Yu's mouth twitched. He felt that this rotten old man lied without even drafting his words.
Early on, Jiang Yifei and Jiang Caixuan were not particularly exalted. Their status was much the same as Jiang Yichen's. At most, they had a Great Power for a grandfather; their background did not even reach the Immortal Platform Second Heaven.
The true transformation of their branch came when Jiang Yifei's Emperor Blood revived and he defeated the Jiang Family's divine physique, leaping to become a leading figure of the Jiang Family's second generation.
That was all in the future.
At present, Jiang Caixuan's status could hardly be considered high. At most, she was a Jia Yingchun or Jia Tanchun from Dream of the Red Chamber... Far removed from the direct daughters of supreme masters, such as Ji Ziyue and Xia Yilin.
After speaking with Jiang Li for a while, Su Yu left his position ambiguous and walked on...
He moved lightly, graceful as an exiled immortal, and acquired a "Blood Sacrifice Altar."
The stone contained a primordial Ancestor King of the Divine Silkworm Clan.
The Divine Silkworm Princess, a Heavenly King-class powerhouse nailed to death in primordial times. The strongest among Saint Kings were titled Heavenly Kings.
This ancestral Saint was important to Su Yu's plan, his first choice for recovering the Devouring Heaven Demon Jar.
As a member of the Jiang Family, God King Taixu was currently unsuited to make a move, both in terms of his strength and his position. Too much was at stake, and it could develop into a supreme battle between Saints.
The Divine Silkworm Princess was different.
At the Ninth Heaven of the Saint King Realm, with an Ancient Emperor Bloodline, her strength was absolutely above that of the Northern Region's foremost great bandit...
If he could not quickly revive the Divine Silkworm Princess, Su Yu would not worry about so much and would go ask the God King for help. Originally, he had wanted to wait until Ye Fan entered the Bronze Immortal Palace, then have him use Ji Ziyue's ring to offer a blood sacrifice to the demon lid and see whether it could summon the jar's body.
But time waited for no one. He could no longer wait until then...
"Hum!"
One stroke of the sword fell, and frenzied killing intent surged from the Blood Sacrifice Altar like a tsunami, making heaven and earth tremble!
Divine light, crimson as blood, burst forth, and killing aura poured down like a waterfall. It all came from a bloodstained primordial divine halberd!
It was an unparalleled murderous weapon. The instant it emerged, a crushing pressure descended over the stone garden. Many people trembled, retreating in extreme tension. Some cultivators who had not reached the Four Extremes could not even withstand its cold, merciless intent and nearly fell to their knees...
The spearhead in the Source Stone was crimson as blood and covered in rust, nearly decayed. Yet it was chilling beyond compare, filled with heaven-shaking killing intent!
That trembling presence and the source of their fear all came from it. The bloodstained spearhead represented destruction and death! It was not sharp and had no luster; the years had nearly worn it away, but its killing intent had not diminished.
Its form was on the verge of decay, yet its chilling killing intent did not recede. It held a presence that made heaven and earth tremble.