As most merchant groups departed the oasis immediately after the Flaming Fire Auction, the majority headed in the same direction – away from the Starfall Grotto. However, the moment they entered the dense, murky gray fog, these merchant groups vanished without a trace. The world fell into a deathly silence, broken only by the deep, terrifying roars of colossal beasts from the depths of the gray fog and the sound of wagon wheels crushing the rugged earth.
'Silent Night Courtyard' was a major oasis-level faction within the 'Twilight Ruins' Great Domain. They were among the fastest to leave the Flaming Fire Market, and had even set up numerous illusory arrays to disguise multiple real and fake teams transporting treasures. Their extreme caution stemmed from the fact that Silent Night Courtyard had purchased one of the four final auction items: 'Pure Divine Radiance'. They were the only non-super faction to acquire a final auction treasure. The price was twenty Divine Crystals and four Epic-tier Rituals.
Silent Night Courtyard was indeed wealthy, and like the Flaming Fire Merchant Association, they possessed extraordinary 'predecessors.' They inherited from the overlord faction 'Land of Nightfall.' In its prime, the Land of Nightfall boasted multiple mythical-level beings. However, unlike the Flaming Fire Merchant Association, which was guarded by two Great Mythical beings, the Land of Nightfall suffered a cataclysm, with only a handful of survivors managing to escape. These survivors journeyed through the gray fog with great difficulty, fleeing to an unfamiliar Great Domain. By the time they reached the Twilight Ruins Great Domain and found an oasis to settle in, their numbers had been heavily depleted. At that point, they not only lacked mythical-level protection but were left with only two Six-Awareness powerhouses, one of whom was severely wounded and soon perished. The overlord faction, Land of Nightfall, plummeted to its lowest ebb in a short period, its glory long gone, and even its own survival was in question.
After over a hundred years of cultivation, Silent Night Courtyard gradually recovered from the brink of extinction. However, they still faced numerous survival threats and desperately needed a mythical-level being to anchor them and restore their former glory. But achieving mythical status was as difficult as ascending to the heavens. Two exceptionally gifted Six-Awareness elites of Silent Night Courtyard attempted to break through to the mythical realm, but both failed and met their demise. It was at this juncture that the promotional messages from the Flaming Fire Market offered them hope. They had indeed spared no expense to acquire treasures that could aid in mythical awakening.
However...
"Both illusory array teams have sent dire news!"
"Bad news, the enemies... the enemies have caught up!"
"Six-Awareness! Six-Awareness! Six-Awareness! The enemy's offensive is too fierce, brothers have already lost over a dozen men, we are completely outmatched!"
The merchant convoy, approximately thirty meters long with a soft halo emanating from its canopy, was under attack from all sides. The attackers wore gray and black cloaks, their armor appearing somewhat worn, yet their combat power was immense. There were three Six-Awareness Sovereigns among them, and their numbers far exceeded those of the merchant guards. This fierce battle also attracted the covetous gazes of countless wicked beings, yet the raiders paid them no mind, only growing more frenzied. The powerhouses of Silent Night Courtyard were in full retreat.
Princess Yun Ji gritted her teeth, "No matter what, we must get the item back. Captain Luo, I will create an opportunity for you. You must break through with the item!" She was one of only two Six-Awareness individuals in the entire team. However, she had just been ambushed, her lower leg feeling as if it had been gnawed by a fierce beast, a chunk of flesh missing. Under these circumstances, she had no hope of breaking through, and could only place her trust in the other Six-Awareness expert.
"Your Highness!"
"Listen to me! When I count to three... One, two..."
BOOM—!!!
A deafening explosion echoed from afar, the ground shaking violently. Both raiders and Silent Night Courtyard guards staggered, their eardrums ringing. The gray fog that permeated the surroundings, only dispelled by the carriage's crystal and lanterns, was swept away as if by a fierce gale, a large portion of it vanishing. In the distance, withered trees dozens of meters tall, weathered gray ruins, and brilliantly glowing crystals embedded in the rock walls... all such scenery unfolded before Yun Ji's eyes. Further away, exploding green poisonous clouds, furiously burning orange-red seas of fire, and a vast divine might, like a storm, that forced them to bend their waists.
It was a battle of mythical beings!
Yun Ji was shocked, the raiders were shocked, and a few merchant groups faintly visible in the sparse gray fog in the distance were equally astonished. They all turned back to look. The battle of mythical beings, like divine might, seemed to have concluded. A clear and melodious voice pierced through the layers of gray fog, spreading for tens or even hundreds of kilometers around. It announced that a mythical being who had offended the Flaming Fire Merchant Association had been subdued. Shock, horror. The fighting halted for several seconds. Only the wicked beings who had broken free from the influence of the mythical power let out roars once more, baring their fangs.
Yun Ji quickly regained her senses. Her gaze swept over the surrounding raiders and the faintly visible teams in the distance. She unleashed all her strength, carving a path, "Break through! Break through towards the Flaming Fire Market!"
...
...
The battle of mythical beings outside the Flaming Fire Oasis concluded after a fierce struggle that punched a giant hole in the sky-filling gray fog. However, the subsequent battle of mythical beings that erupted within the oasis market ended in less than three seconds. The entire process didn't even shatter a single floor tile.
You call this a battle of mythical beings? These two mythical beings were too fast!
At this moment, the Pavilion Master of Hidden Kill could only maintain a half-kneeling posture, struggling not to collapse. The golden-red blood flowing from him had already formed a small puddle, from which an unfathomable power emanated. It felt like a sharp killing intent, like an invisible pressure. This was genuine mythical blood; merely gazing at it made one's head spin. Two-Awakened individuals cried out and rolled on the ground, clutching their heads, their eyeballs bursting and oozing blood.
The storyteller mythical being of the Flaming Fire Merchant Association was also not faring well. He was panting heavily, blood seeping from the corners of his mouth, and his body was covered in scratches. In several places, glimpses of golden bone could be seen beneath his skin. Victory had not come easily. To the outside world, it was merely an instant, but for Qian Qiu, he had fought the Pavilion Master of Hidden Kill with his life for days and nights, his mind perpetually taut, facing death and resetting countless times. During this process, he relentlessly gathered intelligence on the Pavilion Master of Hidden Kill, familiarizing himself with the opponent's combat style, inch by inch, seeking for flaws.
It wasn't until the 451st death that Qian Qiu, under advantageous home-field conditions, managed to narrowly defeat the Pavilion Master of Hidden Kill for the first time. However, the result was one near death and one about to die. The aftermath was too grim; if this battle were to be 'confirmed' as real, he would likely collapse before the Pavilion Master of Hidden Kill – he still had the consumption of skill manifestation to consider.
Thus, Qian Qiu continued to reset the one-on-one true man PK, gradually progressing from a narrow victory to a grim victory, then to a victory with severe injuries, then a victory with moderate injuries, and finally, a relatively easy victory. He ended his skill usage. In the final battle, he seemed prescient, despite being at a disadvantage in all aspects, he always managed to evade the fatal attacks from the Pavilion Master of Hidden Kill by the narrowest of margins. Like a dancer on the tip of a knife, one step, and the curtain fell.
"Pavilion Master, Pavilion Master, you are truly too powerful."
Pavilion Master of Hidden Kill: "..."
Onlooking passersby: "..."
...
With the two mythical beings, Yuliss and the Pavilion Master of Hidden Kill, subdued, no further mythical beings emerged. Mentor Fang surveyed the oasis with his unique perspective and confirmed that he had detected other mythical beings observing from afar with the power of their gaze. Likely one or two who had visited the oasis before. However, how to deal with these two mythical beings was the current problem. Kill them? It would be too much of a waste. The Pavilion Master of Hidden Kill was Qian Qiu's former employer – even if it was through the enslavement of a brand, and even if the salary was quite low for 007, there was no denying that Qian Qiu had learned a great deal of skill at the assassin training camp.
As he pondered, he sensed the resurgence of mythical energy within the oasis. This was a precursor to divine念 descent, but it was not from the mythical beings who had visited the oasis before; this aura was entirely unfamiliar. Divine念 descent was faster and easier than mythical descent. The high-ranking being who descended seemed to have used no vessel, merely a wisp of golden light born with trans-spatial speed, which then rapidly expanded, outlining a humanoid figure. The newcomer was powerfully built, his white fur coat embedded with numerous ornaments and patterns. His hair was as white as light and meticulously styled and glossy, much like the numerous but neatly arranged ornaments on his person. He was an elder who seemed to possess impeccable taste. He was as conspicuous as light, yet not blindingly so, emitting a gentle radiance like a luminous crystal.
Upon his arrival, the elder strode towards the battlefield of Qian Qiu and the Pavilion Master of Hidden Kill. "Wait a moment, can you give this old man some face and show leniency?" The elder introduced himself as Bai Yao, and his purpose for descending here was to mediate the battle. According to the elder, every mythical being was rare and precious.
"Indeed, it is difficult for us humans to completely avoid conflict, and there are many rival super-oases and countless battles of mythical beings. However, few mythical beings have truly perished at the hands of humans. Typically, the factions to which the captives belong pay ransoms and reparations as the price for the defeated mythical beings' lives. Compared to killing a mythical being, extracting a high ransom from Hidden Kill would be more beneficial to your Flaming Fire Merchant Association, wouldn't it?"
The logic seemed sound. This was also the implicit rule of the 'Human Alliance.' But...
"Hey old man, is your face worth a lot? You say you're here to mediate the battle, but why didn't you come earlier or later? Why show up precisely when we've won? Speak up, are you in cahoots with them!" Yiluoxi, holding Yuliss encased in an invisible force field, glared at the elder with an unfriendly expression. Xing Jinglei also stepped forward, his body a mess of colors. Although his wounds had already scabbed over and healed, he still looked like a demon crawled from hell. He was particularly terrifying, and it was evident the battle had been brutal.
The elder Bai Yao was choked silent. He had his reasons, but couldn't voice them. Did he choose this timing to descend? As soon as he received the news, he quickly used a descendant as an anchor to focus the gaze of mythical beings here. Afterward, he quickly used this anchor to gather divine particles and descend. He was fast! But the battle ended even faster! Especially the second battlefield, there was no process at all, it just started, ah, and then it ended. What could he do? Elder Bai Yao expressed his helplessness. However, the Pavilion Master of Hidden Kill was the descendant of a deceased old friend of his. He had to help, and as he said, mythical beings were very precious, and their demise was truly regrettable. He gave the Pavilion Master of Hidden Kill a meaningful look.
The Pavilion Master of Hidden Kill coughed up some blood, glanced at Qian Qiu, who was holding a sickle, and then struggled to shift his gaze to Xing Jinglei and Yiluoxi, who was holding a dead dog. He said with a wry smile, "I lost this time, and I have no regrets. I didn't expect you to hide such powerful abilities; you are a monster rarely seen in a thousand or ten thousand years. It's no wonder... the Flaming Fire Merchant Association accepted an outsider like you and bestowed upon you the incredibly precious Pure Divine Radiance."
Upon hearing this, Elder Bai Yao glanced at Qian Qiu again, with surprise and a hint of exploration. Qian Qiu was also hesitating. Would releasing the Pavilion Master of Hidden Kill in exchange for a ransom leave hidden dangers? He looked at Yiluoxi and Xing Jinglei, but neither of them could say for sure. Their gazes met, pushing the difficult decision back to him. This was too difficult! Qian Qiu was merely a newcomer to the organization! When faced with uncertainty, he could only seek help from his mentor.
After a long pause, he coughed and seemed to have finally finished his thoughts. "The attack by the Pavilion Master of Hidden Kill and mythical being Yuliss has brought immense losses to our Flaming Fire Market and greatly impacted the future development of our Flaming Fire Merchant Association. Therefore..." Before he could finish, mythical being Yuliss's eyes widened. Wait, my poisonous fog hasn't even infiltrated the oasis yet! The Pavilion Master of Hidden Kill glanced at the perfectly intact street tiles and was even more speechless. But when Qian Qiu stated the ransom price, he couldn't hold back.
"The entire Hidden Kill Pavilion, including all accumulated treasures? This is absolutely impossible!" Elder Bai Yao also acted as a peacemaker, persuading them to lower the conditions. He added, "I can have Hidden Kill sign a contract, promising never to provoke your Flaming Fire Merchant Association again."
They started with high demands and settled for lower ones. Qian Qiu and the Pavilion Master of Hidden Kill engaged in a fierce negotiation. Yiluoxi occasionally issued threats, while Xing Jinglei took custody of the captive mythical being Yuliss and stared at him menacingly. Mentor Fang was deep in thought. He did not dispute Elder Bai Yao's statement that every mythical being was precious and difficult to come by. However, one thing was true: if he wanted the Hidden Kill Pavilion, he would absolutely need the Pavilion Master's assistance; otherwise, he wouldn't get anything at all. Moreover, if he could acquire it, even with numerous difficulties in taking over, it would be far superior to the Spark of Hope starting from scratch in the Shattered Sea region. Additionally, taking over the Hidden Kill Pavilion would grant him the accumulated personnel, treasures, information, and technology of the organization. Personnel and treasures were relatively secondary. Fang You valued the hidden information accumulated by a super faction over hundreds of years even more, and he could subtly acquire many low to mid-tier Rituals to compensate for the deficiencies in his own faction's foundation. It was truly a win-win situation. If the Pavilion Master of Hidden Kill were killed, not only would he gain nothing, but the descending elder Bai Yao seemed to be no ordinary high-ranking being.
After Qian Qiu and the Pavilion Master of Hidden Kill negotiated, Fang You gradually grasped the Pavilion Master of Hidden Kill's bottom line. The entire Hidden Kill Pavilion was out of the question. Among them, the Pavilion Master most valued the secret art of soul enslavement, his top-tier inventory of treasures, and the gold-medal assassins who served as the face of the assassin organization. However, Fang You was not particularly interested in these.
Ultimately, the ransom was determined to be: sixty percent of Hidden Kill Pavilion's strongholds, all of its data, assassins below the Six-Awareness level, and an oasis that Hidden Kill Pavilion had operated for a considerable time. There was also a legendary-tier詭器 in the form of a white robe worn by the Pavilion Master of Hidden Kill. The Pavilion Master of Hidden Kill possessed two legendary诡器, one offensive and one defensive. To be precise, the Pavilion Master had bought back the offensive诡器 at a price. The remaining defensive詭器 was naturally the spoils of the Flaming Fire Merchant Association. These were the prices the Pavilion Master of Hidden Kill had to pay.
"But how do I guarantee that the Pavilion Master can truly pay these costs and not just a blank check?"
A good question, Qian Qiu! Mentor Fang also wanted to know. Elder Bai Yao looked at him with a hint of confusion. "Naturally, it will be through a ritual. I will set up a ritual and summon a slumbering secret existence, and use its power to notarize the contract. Such a contract has strong binding power, and the cost of setting it up is not cheap. Of course, I can cover this cost on behalf of Hidden Kill." He added, "Similar contractual methods are often used between super factions. You probably ascended to the mythical realm too recently; you'll gradually encounter these secrets in the future."
Soon, the elder brought a pile of mysterious materials. These materials were found in the Pavilion Master of Hidden Kill's storage诡器 and purchased from the Flaming Fire Merchant Association. Within about half an hour, all were gathered. There were quite a few, including several Epic-tier materials. Once the materials were assembled, the elder quickly began to carve the ritual. He drew arcane runes with practiced movements. Soon, the ritual circuit formed, and an indescribable power was born. This power was like a painting, a piece of paper, on which the elder wrote the contract. Qian Qiu and the Pavilion Master of Hidden Kill then infused their life energy and signed the contract.
"If the contract is violated, there will be a backlash from some rule, from the secret existence acting as notary?"
"But what is this secret existence?" Fang You fell into thought.
After signing the contract, the Pavilion Master of Hidden Kill visibly relaxed. At this moment, the other mythical captive shouted, "Wait, there's me, this king! I am willing to pay all my wealth for my freedom."
"Oh? Where is your wealth? Let me see it quickly. You are my captive, after all!" Yiluoxi's eyes shone. Yuliss dared not delay and quickly stated his ransom. He was even more straightforward than the Pavilion Master of Hidden Kill, willing to offer his entire faction. However...
"This is it?" Yiluoxi questioned. "No legendary诡器, no a few treasures or materials. Your entire faction is not even as good as a large oasis. Is this your ransom?" She looked at the white-haired elder. "Old sir, it's not that we don't give you face, but this guy is too stingy. You can see for yourself."
Elder Bai Yao pondered for a long time. "In that case, Yuliss will be handled by your Flaming Fire Merchant Association yourselves. I will no longer interfere."
Yuliss: "..." Wait, old sir! That's not what you said at first! Didn't you say every mythical being is rare and precious!
Yiluoxi left, dragging her captive. The descending white-haired elder also departed soon after. In a short while, the entire Flaming Fire Market fell silent again, only the many powerhouses who had witnessed this battle remained in a daze for a long time. Kailios of the Seven Star Alliance watched the dissipating figure of the white-haired elder and murmured, "This old sir seems to be... one of the ten great sages of our Human Race... Sage Bai Yao?!"
...
It would take some time to receive the ransom from the Pavilion Master of Hidden Kill. How to deal with mythical being Yuliss was still under discussion. Fang You then turned his attention to the spoils of the auction, which included a massive amount of诡晶, thirty-seven Divine Crystals, and most importantly, six high-level Rituals – one legendary tier and five epic tier.
The legendary-tier Life Nurturing Ritual had a strong assistive effect on plant growth and cultivation, and its effects could be stacked with those of the Life Tree and soil enhancements. This was why Fang You had agreed to the deal. The second Ritual, an epic-tier Popularity Collection Ritual, its purpose was self-evident; once researched, it could be set up in the Blue Star Base City to gather immense popularity. The remaining four Rituals came from a mysterious faction whose identity was not revealed.
'Black Feather Concealment Ritual (Epic)'
'Description: Set up a hidden environment to isolate from prying eyes.'
...
'Nature's Notary Ritual (Epic)'
'Description: Notarize contracts under the gaze of the secret existence 'Mother Nature.' Violators will be punished by natural authority.'
...
'Myriad Wood Sprouts Defense Ritual (Epic)'
'Description: Utilize the power of plant roots to form a self-sustaining defensive formation to resist enemy attacks.'
...
'Bloodline Infusion Ritual (Epic)'
'Description: In the form of a ritual, collect the blood of wicked beings and infuse it into the awakener's body, greatly enhancing the awakener's power, but accompanied by side effects such as erosion, shortened lifespan, and loss of power.'