Shen City resonated. The great Holy Lords traversed the void, carrying the soundwave of the Wushi Bell back with them.

Purple Mountain — where the great Emperor Wushi had left behind an enormous bell to stand guard — had in recent times swept up the winds of the age and become the most focal point in the world.

The second assault on Purple Mountain ended in failure. The Holy Lands returned having suffered casualties. Shen City was shaken to its core.

Half an hour later, the news spread: three Holy Lords were gravely injured, and many elder-generation figures had been reduced to dust and ash under the soundwave of the Wushi Bell — body and soul both annihilated.

Sss!

Upon learning of this outcome, a universal indrawn breath. All throughout Shen City were people struck rigid with shock.

This time, several great Holy Lands had reached an agreement with the Thirteen Great Outlaws of the Northern Region, intending to use the Heaven-Devouring Demon Jar to enter Purple Mountain — yet they had failed all the same.

Had it not been for the ancient Heaven-Devouring Jar blocking the Wushi Bell’s soundwave at a critical moment, even the Holy Lords would have been in mortal peril.

The Dragon-Patterned Cauldron, the Solar Divine Furnace, the Void Ancient Mirror — the so-called foundational trump cards were not deployed this time. Half a pinnacle weapon still could not stop the Wushi Bell.

With such a momentous event having occurred, the group naturally had no heart to remain seated. They rose one by one; the banquet dissolved.

Before An Miaoyi departed, she smiled beautifully. “Little Brother Gufeng — if you ever wish to sell the dragon-patterned black gold sword, be sure to consider Miaoyi.”

Merely a few days passed before the news had spread throughout all under heaven.

All the world was astonished. What had the great Emperor Wushi left behind? A single bell, uncontrolled by anyone, still commanded such power — it was genuinely terrifying.

Ye Fan did not return to gambling for source stones. He waited quietly for the Celestial Demon Treasure Pavilion to auction the ancient divine medicine.

During these few days, with Li Heishui as his companion, he finally toured all of Shen City — and could not help but marvel that it truly was a colossal city as though left behind by the gods.

Not every part of Shen City was luxuriously opulent; there were also very old teahouses along the roadside.

“I expect that next time, the Holy Lands will be compelled to deploy their pinnacle weapons. Half an old Heaven-Devouring Jar simply cannot withstand the bell’s soundwave.”

“The great Emperor Wushi’s achievements rival those of the creator. What he left behind — no one doesn’t covet it. The Holy Lands will surely bring out their pinnacle sacred weapons.”

Inside a dilapidated little teahouse, everyone was discussing the events at Purple Mountain.

Though the teahouse was small, no one found it shabby — for legendary great powers sometimes appeared in places just like this.

Ye Fan and Li Heishui sat here as well, waiting for the upcoming auction. When the Celestial Demon Treasure Pavilion’s bell rang out, they would enter.

“The Holy Lands are truly having no luck lately. They lost more people this time than last. Rumor has it some Holy Lords were gravely injured and near death — this is truly a monumental event.”

“Didn’t someone cut out an ancient divine medicine just a few days ago? That young fellow certainly had a stroke of fortune — now he’s putting it up for auction. It’ll surely go for an otherworldly price.”

Ye Fan stroked his chin but said nothing, listening carefully.

Li Heishui grumbled, “This is what they call opportunity favoring the prepared. Even a stroke of fortune doesn’t fall to just anyone.”

“I’ve heard that great forces from beyond the Eastern Wastelands are stirring. Apparently the four great Immortal Dynasties of the Central Continent have all sent powerful experts here.”

At these words, a universal sharp intake of breath.

The Central Continent, since ancient times, had always been the center of the world — perpetually flourishing, teeming with experts, without rival under heaven. Unless it was an age in which a great emperor was born, it had always stood strong above the Eastern Wastelands, Southern Ridge, Northern Plains, and beyond.

The four great Immortal Dynasties reigned supreme. This was not to say there were only four such ancient legacies — rather, these four were the foremost.

The Central Continent, beyond the four wondrous books, also had various ancient scriptures — though not created by great emperors, they were nonetheless profoundly abstruse. A hundred schools of thought contended there.

“If a few sect masters or dynasty lords came over, Purple Mountain would truly be in for a grand spectacle.”

“The Holy Lands are certain to deploy their pinnacle weapons. They cannot afford to lose the initiative. Major moves must be made in the near future.”

…

Everyone sipped their tea and talked, all deeply invested.

“All of this is too far removed from us ordinary folk — not something we can touch. Let’s talk about something else. Is there any special news lately?”

At last, this topic was exhausted. The people began speaking of other things.

“The Enlightenment Tea of the Deathless Mountain — this year forty leaves flew out, more than in previous years.”

“What a pity the divine tree grows within the Deathless Mountain. Otherwise, how many Enlightenment Tea leaves could a tree like that produce each year?”

“Complaining is useless. Such a world-rare treasure can only be occasionally enjoyed by the great figures of the world.”

“Right — lately that ancient holy body has been quite the stir. Running around everywhere raiding and plundering rogue cultivators. All the young generation of the Holy Lands are chasing him, but every time they come up empty.”

Upon hearing this, Ye Fan smiled at once. It had to be Tu Fei orchestrating all of this behind the scenes.

“He carries the Myriad Object Mother Qi on him — the Holy Lands all want him captured. The holy sons and daughters have all set out, hunting him from every direction.”

“You may not know this, but the latest news coming in is truly enough to make your jaw drop.”

“What happened?”

“The ancient holy body’s companion — that dog — has been making quite the scene. Thoroughly smearing the Holy Lands’ reputations.”

At this point Ye Fan glanced at Li Heishui, and the two stared at each other. What on earth had the Black Emperor been doing? They listened carefully.

“That dog is even more vicious than the ancient holy body. Running around everywhere biting Holy Land members — specifically going after the young generation.”

The Holy Lands’ elder-generation figures were assaulting Purple Mountain while the young generation were all searching for the ancient holy body, wanting to seize the Myriad Object Mother Qi.

The great black dog was supremely savage. Up to this point, in less than twenty days, it had bitten sixty-three people — every one of them a disciple of a Holy Land.

“Strangely enough, every time that dog bites someone, it lets out a single howl — ‘one thousand catties of source, boy, you understand’ — no one knows what it means.”

At this, Ye Fan’s forehead immediately darkened with exasperation. This wretched dog was indeed putting in effort — but it was far too greedy. Clearly it was howling at him, demanding a thousand catties of source for each person it bit.

“Of the sixty-three it bit, forty-nine were female disciples. The female disciples of the Holy Lands now go pale with dread at the mere mention of a dog.”

“You lecherous dog!” Ye Fan cursed inwardly.

“The most entertaining part is that it’s been loudly declaring it will take the holy sons and holy daughters of the various Holy Lands as its pet humans.”

Pff!

Upon hearing this, many people in the teahouse spat out their tea.

“That dog is truly one of a kind!”

“What a powerful dog — openly challenging the Holy Lands.”

“The latest news is, that dog actually abducted several Holy Land disciples and made them call it Master. Apparently those individuals completely broke down.”

“Hahaha — is that really true?”

“I’ve heard several holy sons are now doing everything in their power to hunt that dog down.”

Ye Fan was somewhat speechless. The Black Emperor was truly going too far — genuinely making a spectacular scene.

Dang…

A resonant bell toll rang out across Shen City — but it was not the Wushi Bell. It was the great bell of the Celestial Demon Treasure Pavilion, declaring to all of Shen City that a peerless rare treasure was about to be auctioned.

Whenever this bell rang out, Shen City would be stirred into a frenzy. This time was no exception. Many people shot into the sky, flying toward the pavilion overhead.

“Be careful shortly. I suspect figures at the Holy Lord level may be present.” Ye Fan said.

Li Heishui nodded. They soared upward and arrived at the Celestial Demon Treasure Pavilion.

Clouds and mist billowed and churned. Halls and palaces stretched in every direction. There were also spatial barriers here — far more expansive from the inside than it appeared from below.

At the center stood an enormous palace hall — as though built by an ancient giant, extraordinarily tall and majestic, towering like a mountain at its center.

This was the renowned Celestial Demon Treasure Pavilion. Even ten thousand people could fit inside, with seats for all.

It was supremely luxurious — suffused throughout with purple radiance, constructed entirely from precious purple-sun stone, shimmering with dreamlike hues.

When Ye Fan and Li Heishui arrived, they happened to run into Wu Ziming and Li Chongtian. Beside those two stood a young man of exceptional bearing.

When Wu Ziming saw the two of them, his face immediately darkened. Cold laughter came one after another.

“Brother Wu, why are you grinning like that — is there good news, perhaps?” Li Heishui said. The other man’s expression was clearly a cold sneer, cold as ice and laden with killing intent — yet Li Heishui spoke as though he saw something else entirely.

“Dark boy, don’t get smug — you’re both in for it!” Li Chongtian said coldly.

“Are you planning to rob and murder someone?” Li Heishui was unconcerned.

Wu Ziming said coldly, “Don’t think that knowing a bit of source arts means you can run wild in Shen City. There are powerful people who will crush you underfoot!”

“Who wants to crush us underfoot?” Ye Fan asked with studied nonchalance.

“There are those who will stamp you out with their source arts!” Li Chongtian sneered repeatedly.

“What you’ve learned is nothing but rural backwater techniques. Before a true source arts lineage, it amounts to nothing!” Wu Ziming sneered.

“We may not have learned much, but someone practically delivered tens of thousands of catties of source to us all the same.” Li Heishui laughed loudly.

“Is that the pair who cut open the nine-aperture stone figure?” Nearby, a man in splendid embroidered robes — his garments richly ornate — bore a subtle air of arrogance and self-assurance.

“Correct. Those are the two.” Li Chongtian replied.

“Noted. I will go to the stone square and gamble them until their faces go green — until they never dare set foot in this profession again for the rest of their lives.” The man in embroidered robes gave Ye Fan and Li Heishui a light, sweeping glance — and then did not look their way again.

Wu Ziming sneered coldly. “Just wait — a great gamble is about to begin. The moment you show your faces at a stone square, we’ll make your faces go green!”

“Against them, you’d call it a great gamble?” The man in embroidered robes shook his head, a faint cold smile touching the corner of his mouth. “Only if the Source Heavenly Master were reborn.” He did not spare Ye Fan or Li Heishui so much as another glance, walking forward on his own.

Wu Ziming and Li Chongtian were excessively deferential toward the man in embroidered robes, flanking him closely as they hurried after him.

“He’s got his head in the clouds. Who is this person?” Li Heishui squinted and watched the three figures walk away.

“He should be from one of the source arts lineages — most likely a remarkable genius at that.” Ye Fan watched the man’s retreating figure and said.

“How can you be so sure?” Li Heishui asked.

“This person’s right index finger faintly displays a light golden luster — the manifestation of the ‘Touch of Gold’ technique reaching the realm of consummate mastery.” Ye Fan said.

“That formidable — can he be dealt with?” Li Heishui asked.

“We’ll know after testing him.” Ye Fan smiled calmly.

“Judging by your expression, you’ll probably swindle him too?” Li Heishui grinned slyly.

“Hard to say. This person is very capable.” Ye Fan smiled.

Upon arriving before the Celestial Demon Treasure Pavilion, Yao Yue Kong had been waiting there for some time and led the two of them to a VIP private box on the upper level, from which every detail of the auction hall below could be clearly observed.

At this moment, the crowd was enormous. It was impossible to estimate how many cultivators had come — the place was almost completely packed.

“The Old Daoist of the Red Dragon is here too!” Li Heishui pointed downward.

In an inconspicuous seat below, the Old Daoist of the Red Dragon sat calmly. He blended in with those around him, and the people nearby clearly had no idea they were sitting beside a terrifying figure.

“Good show ahead. The divine medicine’s price certainly won’t be low. Look — members of all the great Holy Lands are here.” Li Heishui chuckled.

This auction would feature many precious items, with the ancient divine medicine destined to be the climactic finale.

Suddenly, Li Heishui cut off his laughter. “I see my grandfather. May the old man please not act as a sucker — especially not go after that gnawed fruit.”

Members of the Thirteen Great Outlaws had come as well — testament enough to how enticing the ancient divine medicine was.

Suddenly, Ye Fan spotted several individuals wearing dragon crowns, and his heart leaped in surprise. “Could those be great figures from the Immortal Dynasties of the Central Continent?”

Li Heishui had noticed them too, and nodded. “They must have come for the great Emperor Wushi’s legacy at Purple Mountain — and stopped by Shen City along the way.”

The several figures wearing dragon crowns were clearly extraordinary in bearing — they were not from Great Xia. They entered a VIP private box.

“And there are bald men — look over there, a few old bald heads.” Li Heishui’s eyes went slightly wide. “Those old bald fellows — it looks like there’s a halo of light behind their heads.”

Ye Fan was astonished. “Buddhist monks from the Western Desert — halos grown behind the head. This is truly terrifying!”

At the same time, he could not help but marvel: the great Emperor Wushi’s name had shaken the ages, past and present. The moment his legacy appeared, it had stirred the winds of the world. These people had surely all come for Purple Mountain.