192: Golden Palace Jade Book and Longevity Fruit

Tianji Pavilion, Top Floor Auction Hall.

Unlike a noisy open-air plaza, every person seated here was a hegemon of the Five Dragon Sea or even the Great Jin cultivation world. A massive white jade circular platform floated in the center of the hall, surrounded by hundreds of suspended private boxes enveloped in restrictive light screens.

"Heaven Box Number Seven."

Zhou Wannian (Han Li) leaned lazily against a soft couch. Beside him, Liu Shuier peeled a translucent grape and held it to his lips, while Purple Spirit organized the rare Ores they had just won at auction.

"This Tianji Pavilion does have some foundation."

Zhou Wannian glanced at the list in his hand.

He had already made several bids, securing a few stalks of ten-thousand-year Spiritual Plants that were extinct in the outside world to feed the Ti Hun Beast and refine auxiliary Medicinal Pills. However, his true goal was the final grand finale item.

"Everyone!"

On the circular platform, Star Cloud Master, the Vice Pavilion Lord presiding over the auction, looked solemn, even showing a hint of fanaticism.

"Next is the final treasure of this auction."

"This item was brought back by an Elder of our pavilion at the cost of his life from an ancient Immortal's ruins."

"Although we cannot identify its specific use nor damage it in the slightest, the 'Immortal Spirit Aura' it contains—which even surpasses a heaven-reaching spirit treasure—is absolutely genuine!"

As he spoke, Star Cloud Master cautiously opened a golden brocade box.

Buzz—

A brilliant golden light instantly illuminated the entire hall.

Inside the box lay a palm-sized piece of gold foil, thin as a cicada's wing. A faint milky-white halo flowed across its surface, which was densely engraved with silver characters resembling tadpoles.

Those were... Silver Tadpole Script!

The language of Immortal Realm Talismans!

"The golden palace jade book?!"

Zhou Wannian's originally lazy gaze instantly became sharp as a blade, and he abruptly sat upright.

Even though it was only a remnant page and he couldn't understand all the content, the Great Development Technique and Divine Sense within him produced a mysterious resonance the moment they touched that gold foil.

This was the golden palace jade book · Outer Page, which recorded the Immortal Realm's path of Talismans, Formations, or Artifact Refining!

"Starting price: Ten million Spirit Stones!"

Star Cloud Master announced loudly, "Or, an exchange for top-tier Spirit Medicines capable of extending life by over a century!"

The entire venue immediately erupted into a frenzy.

"Fifteen million!" someone immediately bid.

"Twenty million!"

"Thirty million! I am the Sect Leader of the Blue Sea Sect, who dares compete with me?"

The price soared, quickly breaking the fifty million Spirit Stone mark. But at this level, Spirit Stones had lost their meaning.

"This old man offers... a bottle of Nine-Turn Soul-Returning Pills!"

"I offer a piece of Extraterrestrial Star Iron!"

All sorts of strange and rare treasures were called out.

Just as everyone was arguing until they were red in the face...

"Hmph!"

A cold snort like a thunderclap rang out from the highest "Supreme Box Number One."

Immediately after, a vast pressure swept through the hall like a tsunami.

The restrictive light screens in the hall trembled under that pressure. All Cultivators below the Nascent Soul Stage felt a tightness in their chests, nearly falling to their knees.

"Soul Transformation Stage?!"

Everyone was terrified.

The Five Dragon Sea actually hid a Soul Transformation old monster?!

"This old man wants this item."

That aged and domineering voice spoke again, "This old man offers... a favor."

"Whoever obtains this item, as long as they hand it over to me, this old man guarantees they can walk uncontested in the Five Dragon Sea! And I will owe them one Opportunity to take action!"

The entire hall fell dead silent.

A favor from the Soul Transformation Stage? That was indeed priceless. But it also meant... this old monster wanted to get it for nothing!

Star Cloud Master stood on the platform, cold sweat pouring down.

This old monster was the reclusive Golden Flood Dragon King of the Five Dragon Sea (a Level 10 transformed Yao Beast, equivalent to the Early Soul Transformation Stage). Although the Lifespan of Yao Beasts was long, this old dragon had lived for too long; his limit was approaching, and he desperately needed to comprehend an Immortal Realm item to find an Opportunity for a Breakthrough.

"This..." Star Cloud Master didn't dare offend him, but he didn't want to take a loss either.

In that awkward, dead silence...

"Heh."

A light chuckle drifted out from "Heaven Box Number Seven."

The voice wasn't loud, yet it clearly penetrated the Golden Flood Dragon King's pressure, echoing in everyone's ears.

"A favor is the least valuable thing."

"After all, if Senior happens to pass away tomorrow, who would I go to for that favor?"

Boom!

The crowd went wild.

Who was it? Who dared to curse a Soul Transformation old monster to die?!

"You seek death!!!"

The window of Supreme Box Number One exploded, and a golden flood dragon phantom lunged out, staring fixedly at Zhou Wannian's box.

"Junior! Who are you?! How dare you be disrespectful to this King?!"

"Who I am isn't important."

Zhou Wannian slowly walked to the window and pushed it open, revealing a young and calm face.

He ignored the dragon phantom, toying with a fist-sized, blood-red fruit in his hand that radiated a thick Aura of life.

"Star Cloud Master."

Zhou Wannian said flatly.

"You recognize this, right?"

Star Cloud Master focused his gaze, and his pupils instantly shrank to the size of pinpricks.

"That is..."

"The Ten-Thousand-Year Longevity Fruit?!"

"And it's... a Void Spirit mutant variety?!"

"Consuming it can extend one's life by... three hundred years!!!"

Three hundred years!

For a Mortal, that was several lifetimes; for a Soul Transformation Stage Cultivator, it was the hope of once again challenging a Bottleneck!

"What?!"

The Golden Flood Dragon King's roar instantly changed its tone, filled with greed and madness.

"Longevity Fruit?! Give it to me!!!"

Boom!

The Golden Flood Dragon King no longer cared for any rules. A dragon claw covered in golden scales tore through space, grabbing toward the fruit in Zhou Wannian's hand.

"Kid! Give it to me! This golden palace jade book is yours! I won't fight for it!"

He said that, but the killing intent on his claw clearly intended to take both the person and the fruit.

"Trying to rob me?"

A cold light flashed in Zhou Wannian's eyes.

"I hate it most when people reach out their hands."

"Tie Zhu!"

"Receive the guest!"

"As you command, Master."

Buzz—!!!

A pitch-black beam of light shot out from behind Zhou Wannian without any warning.

That was no ordinary beam.

It was a combination of Yuan Ci Divine Light and the energy-absorbing field of black void meteoric iron.

"Boom!"

The beam struck the dragon claw with precision.

There was no earth-shattering explosion.

The aggressive Soul Transformation dragon claw, upon contact with the beam, seemed to sink into a quagmire, its demonic power frantically devoured and decomposed.

"Aow—!!!"

The Golden Flood Dragon King cried out in pain, and the dragon claw instantly retracted.

"What kind of Puppet is this?! It can actually harm my physical form?!"

The dust cleared.

Standing before Zhou Wannian was a three-zhang-tall, pitch-black mecha warrior radiating a heart-palpitating Aura—Tie Zhu 5.0 · Yuan Ci Form.

Meanwhile, Zhou Wannian continued to toy with the fruit, not a single hair out of place.

He looked up, his gaze piercing through the void to meet the old demon's eyes from afar.

"Old loach."

"I'm using this fruit to buy the book."

"If you want it, you can bring something to trade."

"But if you want to rob me..."

Zhou Wannian pointed to Tie Zhu behind him, then to his own eyes, which had already turned gray—the Yuan Ci Eyes.

"I have a heavy hand."

"If I accidentally dismantle your old bones to make soup..."

"That would be too much of a waste."

The entire hall... fell silent once again.

Everyone looked at Zhou Wannian as if he were a madman.

Threatening a Soul Transformation expert?!

Did this person think his life was too long?!

However, only Star Cloud Master and the Golden Flood Dragon King could sense it.

Within this seemingly calm young man's body was hidden a terrifying power capable of changing the color of the heavens and earth.

That was... the Supreme Aura of the peak Late Nascent Soul Stage and a Physical Body that had achieved sanctity!

"Good... good boy!"

The Golden Flood Dragon King took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his anger. He couldn't see through Zhou Wannian's depth and was even more wary of that bizarre Puppet.

"Since it's an auction, the highest bidder wins!"

"Star Cloud Master! This golden palace jade book belongs to him!"

"But..."

The Golden Flood Dragon King said sinisterly:

"Kid, once you step out of the gates of Tianji Pavilion."

"I hope your bones can remain this hard."

"Deal."

Zhou Wannian casually tossed the Longevity Fruit to Star Cloud Master, and with a wave of his other hand, the page of the golden palace jade book flew into his grasp.

"Item obtained."

"Let's go."

Zhou Wannian didn't linger for a moment. Leading Purple Spirit and Liu Shuier, he strode out of the auction house under countless gazes of awe, greed, and pity.

He knew.

The true battle.

Had only just begun... Three thousand li out at sea from Tianji Island.

"Husband, that old demon is following us," Purple Spirit sent a sound transmission, her voice slightly nervous.

"It's not just him."

Zhou Wannian stopped in mid-air, the waves churning beneath his feet.

"There are also the secret guards of Tianji Pavilion, and... a few other blind Late Nascent Soul Stage experts of the Five Dragon Sea."

"Five people in total."

Zhou Wannian turned around, looking at the empty void behind him.

"Come out, all of you."

"Aren't you tired after following me all this way?"

"Jie jie jie..."

The void distorted.

The aged figure of the Golden Flood Dragon King emerged, followed by four Late Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators with powerful Auras.

"Kid, hand over the golden palace jade book and all the secrets on your person."

"This old man can leave you an intact corpse."

"An intact corpse?"

Zhou Wannian laughed.

He slowly extended both hands.

In his left hand, a miniature black mountain (the yuan ci divine peak) slowly emerged.

In his right hand, a small azure cauldron (the void heaven cauldron) spun rapidly.

"Just as well."

"I've just had a Breakthrough and haven't found anyone to test my moves on yet."

"Since you're all so enthusiastic..."

"Then I shall use your blood..."

"To sacrifice and refine my... heaven-reaching spirit treasures!"

"Great Geng Sword Formation! Rise!"

"Yuan Ci Domain! Open!"

Boom!!!

Above the Five Dragon Sea, a "Soul Transformation level" battle destined to be recorded in history books instantly erupted.