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Half a day later, not a single bone remained of the Blood Sect's hundreds of disciples. Apart from those mutilated into living curiosities, the entire fortress lay abandoned—its grand halls empty, its treasures all but plundered.
"Mid-stage seven-star Dou Zun… the quality of these disciples' Dou Qi couldn't compare to the Gu Clan's Dou Zun at all. And yet, taking them down still pushed me forward."
Qian Renhan rose, dusted off his robes, and unfurled the Blood Sect's map of the Black‐Corner Region. According to their records, the region's auction market centers on two major venues and a series of smaller houses. The first major venue, the Black Seal Auction House, awards items to the highest bidder in gold. The other, the Black Emperor Pavilion, allows barter alongside cash bidding—perfect for trading Gu He's sixth-rank Alchemist's Insights.
Black Emperor City is held by the Black Emperor Clan—one of the region's top powers. At its center stands a colossal circular edifice: the Black Emperor Pavilion.
At the pavilion's gate, dozens of stern black-clad guards, blades at their waists, scanned every entrant with hawk-like vigilance. Qian Renhan's imposing aura parted the crowd before he even needed to show the token he'd taken from the Blood Sect. He strode in unchecked.
As he vanished inside, the onlookers exhaled. One guard slipped away through a side passage and raced to alert his superiors: a strangely youthful, white-haired powerhouse had entered the auction.
Within the pavilion, massive screens displayed hundreds of auction lots in rotation. Qian Renhan's eyes flicked over them—nothing he sought.
His gaze settled on a small door labeled "Treasure Appraisal Room." He hesitated, then entered.
Instantly, a striking attendant in crimson silk sashayed forward, her voice a sultry melody. "Sir, here to appraise or to barter?"
"Barter."
"Wonderful. What treasures do you offer?" She readied her brush and ledger.
"Sixth-rank Alchemist's Insights, plus every Dou Skill and cultivation method of the Blood Sect."
The ink-painter's hand froze; her pen clattered to the floor. "Forgive me, sir—this is above my authority. Please, follow me."
She led him up a winding staircase into an opulent chamber. There, an elder of formidable presence lounged—the pavilion's auction master, his power rivaling even Fan Lao's.
The attendant leaned in to whisper. The elder's lazy smile vanished. He stood, measured Qian Renhan's inscrutable aura, and inclined his head. "You truly wish to auction sixth-rank Insights and Blood Sect techniques?"
Silently, Qian Renhan held out his ring. Its glow spilled forth the stack of grimy Blood Sect manuals alongside Gu He's parchment. He laid them on the table.
The elder's hand trembled as he flipped through the Dou Skills, confirming their origin. Word of the Blood Sect's destruction had circulated swiftly once its slaves and captives escaped, though the Black Emperor Clan had yet to verify. But here were the Evidence—they were truly annihilated.
His gaze shot to the Insights. A sixth-rank alchemist in the Black-Corner Region was unique—apart from the famed Pill Sovereign Han Feng, no one else held such status. These notes could guide any fifth-rank alchemist past countless dead ends to a smooth ascension into sixth-rank.
For this region, that parchment was worth a low-rank Earth-attribute Dou Skill.
"Sir… what do you wish in exchange?" the elder finally asked, voice respectful.
Qian Renhan's eyes were cold. "Swap the sixth-rank Insights for an attribute-neutral Xuan-rank cultivation technique. No deviant methods like the Blood-Devouring Technique. Or, for Darkness-attribute training arts. Alternatively, trade Blood Sect techniques for comprehensive alchemy formulas, raw materials, or a full sword-technique set."
The elder's eyes narrowed. "He… is an alchemist?"
The elder bowed and murmured, then handed Qian Renhan a purple-gold token. "I will notify my superiors at once. In five days, the auction will commence. All items must be consigned here beforehand. Rest assured, Black Emperor Pavilion's reputation is beyond reproach."
He pressed the token into Qian Renhan's hand. "When the auction concludes, present this to claim your acquisitions. It also designates you as a VIP of the highest rank—only five such tokens have been issued. Feel free to enjoy our hospitality while you wait."
Qian Renhan tucked the token away and thought, True reassurance comes from strength—without it, one is just prey in a den of predators.
Leaving Black Emperor City behind, he entered Canaan Academy's territory and descended upon a mountain near Peace Town, his new base.
"I hope in five days I'll secure what I need. It's time to train in the Emperor Seal Art."
For Qian Renhan, choosing between refining his theory of alchemy and mastering the Emperor Seal Art was straightforward—power always came first.
Meanwhile, the entire Black-Corner Region buzzed with the fallout from the appearance of Gu He's sixth-rank Alchemist's Insights and the Blood Sect's annihilation. Countless factions scoured the region for news, eager to uncover Qian Renhan's identity.
Long-stalled alchemists, eyes bloodshot with desperation, began auctioning off their entire estates in hopes of trading for attribute-neutral cultivation techniques—and thereby earning the prized sixth-rank Insights.
At Canaan Academy, a secluded chamber hosted its highest alchemical authorities: the First Grand Elder, the Second Grand Elder, the Alchemy Division Elder, and the Vice Dean of the Outer Court. They convened to discuss the sudden emergence of the sixth-rank Alchemist's Insights.
Elder Hao, overseer of the herb stores, lamented, "We must obtain it at all costs. Our Fire Elder has been stuck at peak fifth-rank for years—no sign of advancement. If he could reach sixth-rank, our precious reserves would no longer be pilfered by pranksters. Every time I see those herbs vanish under that girl's cloak, my heart bleeds!"
(End of chapter)