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The medicinal herb repository of Canaan Academy was extraordinarily abundant—so much so that even a seventh-tier alchemist would be utterly tempted by its riches. Within it were many rare medicinal ingredients used to refine sixth- and seventh-tier pills. However, Elder Huo was only a peak fifth-tier alchemist and was completely incapable of refining sixth-tier pills.
Although these ingredients were not currently being used, they were preserved as part of the academy's heritage. But that troublemaking rascal who sneaked in to steal them as snacks not only pilfered the herbs but also wasted them—often leaving them half-eaten. Over time, it was impossible to calculate how many gold coins had been squandered.
Upon hearing this, Grand Elder Su Qian's face showed a mixture of embarrassment and helplessness. With a light cough, he said, "We must secure it—absolutely. When it comes to heritage, who in the Black-Corner Region can rival Canaan Academy? This time, Elder Hu Qian and I will attend the Black Emperor Pavilion's auction together."
Far across the chaotic lands on the other side of the Canaan mountain range, atop a secluded loft nestled in a remote area, a man in a green robe—embroidered with a maple leaf on the back—slightly raised his head. He listened as a subordinate reported news from the Black-Corner Region. A faint, disdainful smile curved on his lips.
The green-robed man had a strikingly handsome appearance. His long black hair flowed over his shoulders, and his body exuded a subtle, unique medicinal fragrance that gave off an inviting aura.
"A sixth-tier alchemist's insights? So what if a true sixth-tier alchemist has emerged?"
He shook his head lightly. A sixth-tier alchemist badge was pinned to his chest. This man was none other than Han Feng, the Medicine Emperor. In his eyes—as a top-tier sixth-tier alchemist—a single scroll of alchemist insights was trivial. If not for the limitations of his cultivation method, Burning Art, which had hindered his advancement to Dou Sect, he would have already reached the seventh tier by now.
Four days later, atop a mountain peak deep within a remote region of the Black-Corner Region, Qian Renhan stood on a massive boulder. His expression was tense as he rapidly formed a peculiar hand seal with his right hand.
"Mountain-Splitting Seal!"
As soon as the words fell, Qian Renhan leapt into the air and struck the mountain below. A massive, somewhat translucent handprint burst forth, sweeping up fierce currents of wind around him.
Boom! A deafening explosion rang out as the mountain rocks collapsed. The entire peak trembled violently, and the mountaintop sank several meters downward.
"The Dao Sect's Xuantian Art really is impressive—it actually opened the three meridians required for cultivating the Emperor's Seal Art. But my Dou Qi level is still too low. It's still not comparable to the Mountain-Splitting Seal used by that Dou Venerable from the Gu Clan."
Qian Renhan had once taken a direct hit from the Mountain-Splitting Seal using his external soul bone—the Fallen Angel Wings—and knew full well the terrifying power behind a Dou Venerable's strike.
"I hope I can acquire a cultivation method I truly desire at this auction. Otherwise, I might have to resort to drastic measures to raise my strength."
Night slipped away silently. As the first light of dawn broke across the horizon, the long-slumbering Black Emperor City suddenly erupted with explosive vitality. The previously empty streets were instantly flooded with people from all directions. Their destination was the same—the massive auction square at the center of the city!
Today marked the most grandiose auction the Black-Corner Region had seen in a century. The number of powerful individuals in attendance far surpassed any previous gathering, and its influence spread to every corner of the region.
Alchemists, those elusive and prideful beings, showed up in droves—eager and impatient—rushing toward the Black Emperor Pavilion's auction house. Sect masters and elders from the major forces of the region also made their way toward the venue, all drawn by one thing: the scroll containing the insights of a sixth-tier alchemist.
In the Black-Corner Region, only Han Feng held the title of sixth-tier Medicine Emperor, and even fifth-tier alchemists were extremely rare. Even Canaan Academy had very few. If a sect could obtain this scroll and cultivate a fifth-tier alchemist, their strength would increase dramatically.
Outside the auction hall's main entrance, the crowd was packed shoulder to shoulder, and each person seemed more frenzied than the last. Fortunately, there was a special entrance for high-ranking guests. Qian Renhan scanned the crowd with his soul force and located the path, proceeding straight toward it.
The path was heavily guarded by the Black Emperor Sect's soldiers, whose cold, gleaming weapons kept the surging crowd firmly at bay. Several elders of the sect stood casually at the entrance, exuding powerful Dou Qi from their bodies, making the atmosphere feel heavy and oppressive.
As Qian Renhan approached, drawing gasps of recognition from the crowd, an elderly man from the Appraisal Pavilion who had previously received him stepped forward. Bowing with a smile, he said, "Fellow Daoist, please follow me. The sect has specially prepared a prime seat for you."
Qian Renhan nodded slightly. Led by a beautiful attendant clad in a sheer garment—so revealing she wore no undergarments beneath—he was taken to the front row of the auction hall. Each seat resembled a miniature private room, intricately designed and lavishly decorated. Seated within, the noise from behind seemed to vanish entirely. From this vantage point, he could see every corner of the auction stage clearly.
Settling into his seat, Qian Renhan took out the second seal of the Emperor's Seal Art—the Sea-Flipping Seal—and began to contemplate it quietly, awaiting the start of the auction.
Behind the scenes of the auction, three figures had their gazes fixed on the VIP seat where Qian Renhan was seated. Among them was an elderly man in a yellow robe, a young man in green robes, and a third— the youngest of the trio—whose features were strikingly handsome, almost feminine in their delicate perfection. Yet, between his brows lingered a faint trace of murderous aura, giving his exquisite appearance a cold and sinister undertone.
The yellow-robed elder and the green-robed youth were none other than Mo Tianxing, the Sect Master of the Black Emperor Sect, and Han Feng. Yet despite their high status in the Black-Corner Region, they clearly deferred to the youngest man among them.
In a respectful tone, Mo Tianxing said, "Young Master Yi, that man is the one who submitted the sixth-tier alchemist's insights. Most likely, he's also the one responsible for the destruction of the Blood Sect."
Even Han Feng dared not show the slightest disrespect toward Young Master Yi. In terms of status, even at the height of his own power—when he had been the disciple of Yao Chen—he could not compare to this man.
"I understand," Young Master Yi replied, calmly uttering just three words. Yet those simple words carried an extraordinary aura. With their utterance came an overwhelming wave of cold, murderous intent that swept forth like a blade, causing both Han Feng and Mo Tianxing to feel a chill run down their spines.
This chilling intent was not mere bravado—it had been forged through mountains of corpses and seas of blood. Though Young Master Yi was still young, the number of people he had killed likely surpassed even the blood-soaked elder Fan Lao of the Blood Sect.
"This guy… is interesting," Young Master Yi remarked, his eyes narrowing with intrigue as he studied Qian Renhan. The latent chill emanating from Qian Renhan gave him a faint sense of kinship—as if he were looking at someone of the same breed.
"Looks like, by the end of this Black-Corner Region trial, I'll have the chance to hunt down one more worthy prey."
At those words, a flicker of disappointment flashed across Han Feng's eyes. With the fall of the Blood Sect, he had hoped to recruit Qian Renhan as part of his plans to strike against Canaan Academy. But before this Young Master Yi, he dared not voice a single objection. The man's name alone—Shura—struck fear not just across the Black-Corner Region, but even within the powerful sect backing Han Feng.
(End of Chapter)