272: Chapter 272 Fifty Million and Primordial Essence Fire

Inside the vast Heavenly Frost Pavilion auction hall, one could hear a pin drop. This deathly silence formed a ridiculous contrast with the previous feverish atmosphere where people turned red in the face and shouted to the heavens for an Immortal Artifact.

Everyone's gaze was frozen on the human-shaped indentation in the Mystic Ice wall. The Grand Elder of the Heavenly Fire Sect, an expert of the Taiyi Middle Stage who enjoyed a fearsome reputation throughout the North Cold Immortal Domain, Old Devil Chiyan, was currently slumped in the shattered Mystic Ice like a pile of mud. It was unknown how many bones in his body were broken. Black blood mixed with fragments of internal organs continuously gushed from his seven orifices. Even his signature red fire-attribute protective immortal light had completely extinguished, flickering like a candle in the wind, on the verge of death.

And all of this was caused by nothing more than an extremely casual cold snort from the Heaven-grade Private Room, along with an invisible pressure that didn't even manifest any Divine Ability Dharma Image.

A million Cultivators held their breath, not even daring to breathe loudly. The four Heavenly Frost Pavilion Grand Elders floating in mid-air, who were originally prepared to maintain order, now had their grey robes soaked with cold sweat. All four were at the Taiyi Early Stage and knew Old Devil Chiyan's strength better than anyone. An existence capable of crushing Old Devil Chiyan like this with a single thought had strength that completely exceeded their understanding. Perhaps only the supreme Dao Ancestors of the legendary Daluo Realm could possess such incredible means.

On the auction stage, Fairy Hongxiu's face, which was originally matchlessly beautiful and full of charm, had now turned as pale as paper. She stared blankly at the private room on the eighth floor, her beautiful eyes, which were always shimmering, filled with extreme shock and awe.

It wasn't until that calm, ethereal voice came from the private room again, asking if anyone else would increase the bid, that Fairy Hongxiu trembled violently as if waking from a dream.

Fairy Hongxiu swallowed hard, trying to make her voice sound less dry. She said with a trembling voice, "Fif... fifty million immortal yuan stones. The Senior in the Heaven-grade Private Room has bid fifty million immortal yuan stones. For this Primordial Sun Essence Fire, is there any other Senior willing to offer a higher price?"

Her question echoed in the empty auction hall, but no one dared to respond.

What a joke. Even the Grand Elder of the Heavenly Fire Sect had been swatted into a cripple; who would dare to provoke that unfathomable and mysterious existence at this time? Moreover, the figure of fifty million immortal yuan stones was enough to bankrupt ninety-nine percent of the top Sects present; absolutely no one could produce a higher astronomical price.

After waiting for a full three breaths, the hall remained deathly silent.

Fairy Hongxiu let out a long sigh of relief. She raised the small white jade Gavel used for finalizing bids and, with an extremely stiff and impatient speed, struck the jade table in front of her three times with a crisp sound.

Fairy Hongxiu announced loudly, "Since no one has increased the bid, this wisp of Primordial Sun Essence Fire belongs to the Senior in the Heaven-grade Private Room. This Heavenly Frost Grand Auction has now come to a successful conclusion."

With the fall of the Gavel, the final treasure, sealed within layers of a dark-gold crystal box and emitting terrifyingly high temperatures, finally found its owner.

Inside the Heaven-grade Private Room on the eighth floor.

Zhou Wannian leaned casually on the warm jade couch. He paid no heed to the waves of shock in the hearts of those mortals below, as if the matter of just spending fifty million immortal yuan stones and casually suppressing a Taiyi Middle Stage expert was not worth mentioning at all.

An extremely faint and deliberately slowed footstep sounded from outside the private room.

Immediately after, an extremely deep yet twelve-fold respectful voice sounded outside the door.

"Junior Feng Xueya, Pavilion Master of Heavenly Frost Pavilion, has come specifically to deliver the Primordial Sun Essence Fire to Senior. I wonder if it would be convenient for Senior to spare a moment for a meeting."

Zhou Wannian looked up slightly, his gaze piercing through the wooden door of the private room, seeing through the person outside. It was a refined middle-aged man wearing a snow-white brocade robe. This person's cultivation was extremely deep, having reached the Taiyi Late Stage Peak, only a thin layer of paper away from the ethereal Daluo Realm.

But in front of Zhou Wannian, this powerful figure who controlled one of the three major merchant guilds in the North Cold Immortal Domain kept his posture extremely low, even referring to himself as a Junior.

Zhou Wannian said in a flat tone, "Come in."

The wooden door was pushed open very carefully. Feng Xueya walked into the room with steady steps, holding the dark-gold crystal box that emitted scorching heat with both hands. Behind him followed Shopkeeper Bai from the Winter City branch. Shopkeeper Bai didn't even dare to raise his head at this moment, his body hunched, not daring to breathe loudly.

Feng Xueya stopped three steps away from the table. He did not attempt to probe Zhou Wannian's cultivation, for he knew that would be an extremely foolish and offensive act. He simply bowed deeply and placed the crystal box respectfully on the sandalwood table.

Feng Xueya said with an extremely respectful expression, "Senior's Divine Might is peerless. Your presence at our Heavenly Frost Pavilion today is truly an honor that our Pavilion has earned over ten million years. Please examine this wisp of Primordial Sun Essence Fire, Senior."

Zhou Wannian sat up straight, his gaze falling on the crystal box. Through the dark-gold crystal, one could clearly see a thumb-sized, pure gold-colored flame dancing very slowly inside. There were no Impurities in this flame, and the aura of the fire's Origin it emitted was pure to the extreme, as if it could incinerate all illusions in the world.

Zhou Wannian nodded slightly and said, "Not bad, it is exactly what I need."

He did not reach for the box but instead flipped his wrist casually.

*Wong.*

As a brilliant spatial light flashed, a small crystalline mountain emitting extremely dense immortal spiritual energy suddenly appeared on the spacious floor of the private room. It was exactly fifty million high-quality Low Grade immortal yuan stones, piled together, the Spiritual Qi they emitted even condensing into visible white mist inside the room.

The crystal-clear light illuminated the entire room in great detail. Even Feng Xueya, who was accustomed to grand scenes, could not help but have the corners of his eyes twitch violently upon seeing such a shocking amount of cash flow.

Fifty million immortal yuan stones, without any discount or hesitation, were just casually thrown on the ground like trash. This terrifying financial power was enough to prove how shockingly deep the foundation of this green-robed youth was.

Zhou Wannian picked up a cup of immortal wine from the table and took a calm sip.

Zhou Wannian said in a steady voice, "Here are fifty million immortal yuan stones; count them. I don't like owing others."

Feng Xueya quickly withdrew his shocked gaze and waved his hands in panic.

Feng Xueya said sincerely, "Senior, you flatter me. It is our Pavilion's fortune that Senior took a fancy to an item from our Heavenly Frost Pavilion. Naturally, I trust these fifty million immortal yuan stones; there is no need to count them. Furthermore, according to the rules of Heavenly Frost Pavilion, guests holding a Heaven-grade VIP token can have the ten percent handling fee waived for all transactions at the auction. For this essence fire, Senior only needs to pay forty-five million. The remaining five million shall be treated as tea money I offer to Senior."

Zhou Wannian put down his wine cup and looked at Feng Xueya with a very calm gaze. He naturally understood the thoughts of this Heavenly Frost Pavilion Master. Using five million immortal yuan stones to befriend a mysterious powerhouse who could easily crush a Taiyi Middle Stage expert and possessed Heaven-Defying wealth was a deal that was simply guaranteed to be profitable for a businessman.

Zhou Wannian did not refuse this gesture of goodwill. He waved his hand casually, and the small mountain of immortal yuan stones on the ground instantly decreased by a small portion, precisely removing five million.

Zhou Wannian said indifferently, "Since Pavilion Master Feng is so polite, I shall accept. You may take the remaining forty-five million."

Feng Xueya was overjoyed. The other party's willingness to accept his goodwill meant that Heavenly Frost Pavilion had left a good impression in the heart of this mysterious powerhouse. He nimbly took out a high-grade Storage Pouch and collected all the immortal yuan stones on the ground.

After putting away the immortal yuan stones, Feng Xueya did not leave immediately. He hesitated slightly and solemnly took out a simple jade plaque from his sleeve that was entirely deep black and emitted an aura of extreme cold.

The surface of this jade plaque was carved with intricate patterns of evil ghosts, and a faint, ancient Law fluctuation flowed within it.

Feng Xueya held the black jade plaque with both hands and respectfully presented it to Zhou Wannian.

Feng Xueya lowered his voice and said cautiously, "Senior, I saw that Senior purchased the Heavenly One True Water earlier, presumably to Cultivate some profound water-attribute or ice-attribute Cultivation Technique. This jade plaque is called the Nether Cold Secret Key. It is one of the tokens for entering the core area of the soon-to-be-opened Minghan Immortal Mansion."

A rare glimmer of light flashed in Zhou Wannian's eyes. When he had previously asked Bai Yunfei for information, he had developed a slight interest in this Minghan Immortal Mansion. He hadn't expected this Heavenly Frost Pavilion Master to be so perceptive as to deliver the secret key to the core area directly to him.

Seeing that Zhou Wannian did not interrupt, Feng Xueya continued to explain.

Feng Xueya said with a very solemn tone, "The Minghan Immortal Mansion is the Legacy site of a Daluo Realm Peak expert. Although anyone with a cultivation at the True Immortal Realm can enter the outer perimeter, one must hold this Nether Cold Secret Key to enter the core inner mansion where the truly Heaven-Defying opportunities are hidden. In the entire North Cold Immortal Domain, there are only a dozen or so such keys, all of which are tightly controlled by the top Sects and Immortal Palaces. Our Heavenly Frost Pavilion also spent an enormous price to luckily obtain this one. Now, as a sword is gifted to a hero, this secret key can only manifest its greatest value in Senior's hands."

Zhou Wannian extended two long fingers and casually took the Nether Cold Secret Key that emitted a cold aura. It was bone-chilling to the touch, but before that chill could penetrate his skin, it was easily neutralized by the powerful Physical Body of the True Demon Indestructible Body.

Zhou Wannian casually tossed the Nether Cold Secret Key into his Storage Bracelet and looked at Feng Xueya with a flat gaze.

Zhou Wannian said calmly, "Pavilion Master Feng is quite thoughtful. I have noted this favor. In the future, if Heavenly Frost Pavilion encounters any trouble that cannot be solved, as long as it does not violate my principles, I can step in and solve it for you once."

Hearing these words, Feng Xueya trembled violently with excitement. A promise from a suspected Daluo Realm expert was worth far more than the Nether Cold Secret Key itself. This was equivalent to finding an absolutely invincible protective umbrella for Heavenly Frost Pavilion.

Feng Xueya bowed deeply with extreme joy.

Feng Xueya said in an extremely excited voice, "Thank you for your promise, Senior. Junior will keep it in mind. If Senior has any errands in the future, everyone in the Heavenly Frost Pavilion will go through fire and water without hesitation."

Zhou Wannian nodded slightly and said no more. He stood up, casually placed the dark gold crystal box on the table into his sleeve, and then straightened the hem of his green robe.

Zhou Wannian said indifferently, "Let's stop here for today. I still have some things to deal with, so I won't stay any longer."

Feng Xueya tactfully stepped aside, clearing a path.

Feng Xueya said respectfully, "Junior respectfully sees Senior off."

Zhou Wannian took steady steps and walked out of the Heaven-grade Private Room unhurriedly. As he walked down the stairs, the entire eighth floor of the Heavenly Frost Pavilion was silent.

At the other end of the corridor, several Disciples of the Heavenly Fire Sect dressed in red robes were kneeling miserably on the ground. They were laboriously trying to pry Old Devil Chiyan, who was embedded in the Mystic Ice wall, off. When they saw Zhou Wannian's green figure appear, these top Sect Disciples, who were usually overbearing, all collapsed to the ground in fear, not even having the courage to look at Zhou Wannian, but only burying their heads deep in the cold ground in despair, their bodies trembling violently like chaff.

Zhou Wannian didn't even give them a glance from the corner of his eye. He was like a gentle breeze, passing by these people calmly without causing any ripples. For such ants who didn't know whether to live or die, he didn't even have the interest to step on them.

Walking out of the gate of the Heavenly Frost Pavilion, the wind and snow in Winter City were still raging violently.

Zhou Wannian faced the flying snowflakes and walked slowly towards the inn in the east of the city.

Returning to the familiar quiet room on the top floor of the inn, Zhou Wannian skillfully set up layers of isolation Formations again. He walked to the prayer mat in the center of the quiet room and sat down cross-legged calmly.

With a slight flick of his sleeve, the dark gold crystal box floated steadily in the mid-air in front of him.

Zhou Wannian looked deeply at the jumping pure golden flame inside the box.

The fire Origin of the Great Five Elements Illusory World Art had always been a relatively weak link in the Five Elements cycle in his body. Although he had absorbed some fire-attribute spiritual materials before, the quality of those things was like the difference between a firefly and the bright moon compared to this Primordial Sun Essence Fire.

He slowly stretched out his right hand, and his slender fingers tapped the top of the crystal box a few times at random.

A crisp cracking sound rang out. The crystal box, which had dozens of high-level Seals placed on it by the Heavenly Frost Pavilion, broke into pieces as easily as a fragile eggshell under Zhou Wannian's fingertips.

The moment it lost the restraint of the Seal.

Boom.

A terrifying, extreme high temperature that seemed capable of burning the eight desolations erupted from the broken box like a freed Ancient Flame Dragon.

The solid Void Realm in the quiet room actually showed signs of violent distortion and melting the moment it came into contact with this high temperature. The welcoming pine in the corner didn't even have a burning process before it completely turned into a wisp of imperceptible green smoke in a brief half-breath.

The thumb-sized pure golden flame swelled against the wind, instantly transforming into a phantom of an Ancient Three-legged Golden Crow with a wingspan of more than a zhang, its body burning with dazzling golden light. The Golden Crow phantom let out a high-pitched and rebellious cry, carrying a violent Law sufficient to incinerate everything, and fiercely pounced towards Zhou Wannian, who was close at hand.

This Primordial Sun Essence Fire is an overbearing Origin object in heaven and earth. It possesses a faint trace of ancient spirituality and is naturally unwilling to be easily swallowed and refined by a human Cultivator.

Facing this terrifying backlash.

Zhou Wannian didn't even make a move to dodge. He still sat steadily on the prayer mat, the expression on his face as calm as if there were no ripples.

He just slowly raised his right hand, palm up, and casually made a light grip toward the fiercely pouncing phantom of the Three-legged Golden Crow.

"A mere wisp of ownerless fire dares to be arrogant in front of me. Suppress."

Zhou Wannian spoke a few words in a very flat tone.

As his words fell, a vast and terrifying power that seemed to override all the Daos in the heavens erupted from his palm. This was not only the extreme Physical Body power of the Taiyi Stage Middle Stage Peak True Demon Indestructible Body, but also mixed with the double crushing of the Great Perfection Space Law and Time Law.

The arrogant Ancient Three-legged Golden Crow phantom was firmly squeezed by an invisible giant hand of the Universe just an inch away from Zhou Wannian's palm.

It struggled violently in horror, bursting out with dazzling golden firelight, trying to burn through the invisible power that imprisoned it. However, in the face of Zhou Wannian's abyss-like unfathomable and terrifying strength, all its resistance was futile.

Zhou Wannian's fingers closed slowly.

With his movement, the huge Golden Crow phantom was forcibly compressed and re-compressed by an overbearing force. Accompanied by a desperate wail, the Golden Crow phantom collapsed and turned back into that thumb-sized but very docile pure golden Primordial Sun Essence Fire.

Zhou Wannian opened his mouth casually and took a sudden breath, like a whale sucking in water.

The pure golden flame emitting extreme high temperature turned into a dazzling golden stream of light, and entered his body through his mouth and nose without any hindrance.

Rumble.

The moment the Primordial Sun Essence Fire entered his body, the extraordinary Meridians in Zhou Wannian's body seemed to be filled with scalding lava. That overbearing fire Origin power was like a runaway horse, raging wildly in his body, trying to destroy this human shell.

However, the supreme majesty of the Great Five Elements Illusory World Art as the highest Cultivation Technique in the Immortal Realm was fully demonstrated at this moment.

Zhou Wannian calmly closed his eyes and slowly formed an ancient hand Seal in front of his chest.

The Void Realm behind him rippled slightly, and the true word treasure wheel, which emitted an aura of endless years, slowly emerged. The golden Dao Patterns on the treasure wheel shone brightly, and a mysterious sound of Great Dao resonance echoed in his body.

"Water produces wood, wood produces fire. Five Elements circulate, and all Laws return to one."

Zhou Wannian muttered calmly in his heart.

He exquisitely mobilized the wood Origin that had already reached Perfection in his body. That green vitality as vast as an ancient forest gently wrapped around the violent Solar Essence Fire. Under the perfect coordination of the wood vitality, the extreme fire power that originally tried to destroy the Meridians instantly became as soft as silk.

Fire borrows the momentum of wood, and wood helps the power of fire.

Under the nourishment of the wood Origin, the Primordial Sun Essence Fire began to decompose rapidly and merge into those fire-attribute Immortal Apertures in Zhou Wannian's body.

One after another, the originally dim fire-attribute Immortal Apertures, under the washing of this pure Ancient Origin, were like ignited stars, bursting out with dazzling red-gold light one after another.

In the Five Elements cycle, the originally weak fire link was becoming solid and thick at an incredible speed, finally reaching a perfect state of balance with the other four attributes.

In this mysterious process of Law Fusion.

The Nascent Soul figure deep in Zhou Wannian's Sea of Consciousness also underwent an amazing transformation. A layer of complex five-colored divine patterns appeared on the surface of the Nascent Soul figure, and the whole person emitted a holy aura that seemed to transcend the constraints of the Five Elements of heaven and earth.

And on the true word treasure wheel behind him.

In addition to the original 108 clusters of golden time Dao Patterns, a brand new mysterious Dao pattern emitting a five-colored halo was slowly condensed.

The Great Five Elements Illusory World Art's fire Origin was completely completed.

Time passed quietly in the extremely focused Cultivate.

After an unknown amount of time, the raging winter wind and snow outside had stopped several times and started again.

When Zhou Wannian slowly opened his eyes, deep in his eyes, there seemed to be a complete and endless Five Elements Universe.

He calmly exhaled a mouthful of turbid Qi with faint red-gold sparks. This turbid Qi fell on the hard bluestone floor and actually melted a bottomless small hole in it without any sound.

Zhou Wannian stood up and stretched his muscles and bones, making a crisp sound of bone popping like a Dragon's roar.

He felt the terrifying Five Elements Law power in his body that was several times larger than before, as if he could destroy heaven and earth with every move, and a curve of satisfaction hooked at the corner of his mouth.

At this moment, his strength had once again ushered in a terrifying qualitative change. Relying on the perfect operation of the Great Five Elements Illusory World Art and the Taiyi Stage Middle Stage Peak True Demon Indestructible Body, even when facing the legendary Daluo Realm Early Stage powerhouses, he had absolute confidence to confront them head-on.

At his sleeve, Golden Boy crawled out laboriously holding a piece of ice soul profound crystal that had been gnawed unevenly.

Golden Boy let out a loud burp, his two antennae shook contentedly, and he said through transmission, "Boss, you've been in seclusion for a long time this time. I'm almost getting sick of gnawing on this broken ice stone. When are we leaving this broken place?"

Zhou Wannian casually pushed Golden Boy back into his sleeve, walked to the window, and pushed open the heavy wooden window.

A biting cold wind mixed with snowflakes blew on his face, bringing a clear chill.

Zhou Wannian looked deeply at the distant northern sky, where the Nether Cold Continent in the depths of the North Cold Immortal Domain was located.

Counting the time, the opening day of the Minghan Immortal Mansion mentioned by Feng Xueya was very close.

Zhou Wannian whispered to himself indifferently, and his voice easily dissipated in the wind and snow.

Zhou Wannian said calmly, "Quietness leads to thoughts of movement. I'm tired of the wind and snow in this Winter City. The Legacy place left by the Daluo Realm Peak powerhouse is worth a trip for me personally."

He didn't have the slightest attachment. His figure turned into an ethereal green afterimage, quietly merging into the pervasive North Cold wind and snow, and set off on a new journey towards the direction of the Minghan Immortal Mansion.