Shi Yan knew a little about the past of the Medicine and Artifact Pavilion. Legend held that long ago, someone arrived from the Shadow Ghost Prison void passage in the Maya Star Domain, single-handedly established the Medicine and Artifact Pavilion, set down its various rules, and made it the most powerful merchant guild in the Maya Star Domain.

That person was clearly not from the Maya Star Domain. Many years had passed; that person, the first Pavilion Master of the Medicine and Artifact Pavilion, had long since died.

The Artifact Refining Sacred Tome he left behind was obtained by Shi Yan unintentionally. Seeing the symbol on the corner of Xiang Rong's clothes today, which clearly matched that in the Sacred Tome, coupled with her self-introduction as being from the Medicine and Artifact Alliance, caused a stir in Shi Yan's heart.

Of course, the current situation was perilous, and he had no interest in carefully investigating the connection. He nodded to Xiang Rong and the elders, and with Mei Ji inside the light barrier, he continued moving forward without pause.

“Medicine and Artifact Alliance? Have you heard of this faction?” After passing those people, Shi Yan asked doubtfully.

Mei Ji was the director of the Phantom Race in the Sea of Destruction. The Phantom Race was highly sensitive to all news within the Void Sea.

If the Medicine and Artifact Alliance was famous, there was no reason for Mei Ji not to know. “Naturally, I’ve heard of it.

It’s not a weak faction of the Human Race. The Human Race has the largest population across the Vast Star River, their total numbers nearly several times that of the Seven Races.

Of course, the Human Race’s talent in cultivation is quite ordinary, far inferior to the Seven Races. Consequently, many domains belonging to the Human Race are ruled by the Seven Races.

For instance, several domains under the rule of our Phantom Race are inhabited by humans,” Mei Ji explained. “Not all members of the Human Race are weak; there is a tiny minority who are exceptionally formidable, whom even the Seven Races dare not slight.” “Because the Human Race has the largest population, they naturally have various factions, large and small.

The Medicine and Artifact Alliance is one such notable power. They are composed of Human Race artifact refiners and alchemists, manufacturing pills and secret treasures.

Occasionally, they engage in trade with our race. Overall, they are a moderately strong force, comparable in strength to that Water Race, unable to contend with any single one of the Seven Races.” Shi Yan nodded secretly.

“Have you noticed the peculiar symbol on that woman’s clothes? Is it exclusive to artifact refiners and alchemists?” “That is a symbol unique to Human Race artifact refiners and alchemists; it’s nothing strange.

Refiners and alchemists from every race possess unique symbols, denoting different tiers of artifacts and materials. Why do you pay attention to those symbols?” Mei Ji was surprised.

“I just found it a bit peculiar,” Shi Yan said casually. “There are many forces in this area; we must be even more cautious.

We should try to avoid conversing with people,” Mei Ji advised. “Hmm… Celestial Eye Race?

Martial artists of such a minor race are actually active underwater; they truly court death.” After Shi Yan and Mei Ji departed, the old man sneered mockingly. “As far as I know, the Celestial Eye Race is merely a third-rate minor race from a very remote domain.

That domain is perpetually war-torn, and the natural environment is extremely harsh, making it exceedingly rare for anyone to cultivate to profound realms. Their Immortal Realm attainment is already considered top-tier within the Celestial Eye Race.

To venture here, they might well be killed…” “Everyone has their own way of survival,” Xiang Rong smiled. “Our cultivation level is insufficient to protect ourselves underwater either.

Are we not also driven by greed, hoping to try our luck here?” “That is true,” the old man chuckled. “Crack!” A crisp sound emanated from a strange pendant on Xiang Rong’s chest.

She froze momentarily, then suddenly took out a string of silver necklaces and focused her gaze on the pendant that had shattered into pieces. The pendant cracked open, revealing a piece of strange jade, the size of a fingernail, glittering with a faint, eerie light.

“How could this be?” Xiang Rong asked in astonishment. “What is that?” the old man inquired, puzzled.

“This is a fragment of the Profound Meaning Talisman Tower. Our predecessors in the Medicine and Artifact Alliance somehow acquired it ages ago and kept it in the treasury.

On this trip to the seabed, I had an impulse and took it out, wrapping it in a pendant to wear, hoping that the fragment might react if it approached a complete Profound Meaning Talisman Tower…” Xiang Rong frowned deeply. “This fragment has been in the Medicine and Artifact Alliance treasury for countless years without any reaction, never even glowing.

In fact, carrying it was just an impulse; I never thought it would actually have any effect.” The old man’s expression jolted, and his eyes suddenly burst with sharp light. “Why is it suddenly glowing faintly?

Could it be… the Profound Meaning Talisman Tower is nearby?” “It seems that ever since those two Celestial Eye Race individuals appeared, the jade pendant on my chest began fluctuating. I didn’t pay attention then, but now that I think about it… could it be related to them?” Xiang Rong’s eyes brightened.

“Their appearance and racial identity clearly aren’t who the Five Races are searching for. Could we be mistaken?” a middle-aged man asked.

“External things can be easily altered; those are not the key!” the old man became excited. “We cannot be certain yet.

Let’s move closer and follow them. If the fragment continues to glow brightly, confirming it comes from those two… Heh heh!

We’ll be rich!” “Indeed!” The others nodded in agreement, energized. “Let’s proceed cautiously.

Once we confirm it’s them, we must immediately retreat. We must avoid conflict at all costs,” Xiang Rong frowned.

“If it is truly those two, Mei Ji of the Phantom Race alone, at the peak of the Immortal Realm, is enough to kill all of us. We must keep hidden until they notice nothing!” “Xiang Rong is correct!” the old man approved.

Immediately, this group of six began following in the direction of Shi Yan and Mei Ji. Since Shi Yan and Mei Ji were posing as the Celestial Eye Race members Mahisha and Adam, their movement speed naturally slowed, allowing the pursuers to gradually close the distance.

“They are following us,” Shi Yan frowned. Mei Ji was startled.

“Those people from the Medicine and Artifact Alliance couldn’t possibly have discerned our identities. Their cultivation realms are insufficient, and their mastered profound meanings are too common.

They must have another reason for following us.” Shi Yan thought the same. “Let’s see what trick they are trying to pull.” He temporarily stopped, and within the light barrier, he and Mei Ji turned to look back.

After about fifteen minutes, the figures of Xiang Rong and the elders gradually came into view. Xiang Rong clutched the Profound Meaning Talisman Tower fragment, her heart racing; the closer she got to Shi Yan by a meter, the stronger the sensation became!

It’s them! She exclaimed internally.

Through the subtle connection of the Profound Meaning Talisman Tower fragment, she was one hundred percent certain that the man and woman posing as Celestial Eye Race members ahead were the targets the Five Races were desperately hunting! She forcibly suppressed the excitement churning inside her, maintaining a calm and indifferent expression.

Suddenly stopping, she kept a distance from Shi Yan and Mei Ji and smiled, “We possess several secret treasures refined by the Medicine and Artifact Alliance that might assist your profound meanings. Are you interested?” Shi Yan frowned impatiently.

“Not interested.” “Oh, then never mind; we won’t bother you.” Xiang Rong was secretly relieved by Shi Yan’s refusal. As soon as he declined, she stopped lingering, signaled to the old man and the others, and the group of six turned back the way they came, fleeing even faster than when they arrived.

Once they gained some distance from Shi Yan and the others, the old man and the rest asked in unison, “Was it them?” “It was them!” Xiang Rong cried out in a low voice, her face entirely flushed with ecstatic joy. “The fragment’s reaction was incredibly intense, almost flying out of my hand, as if it wanted to merge into that Celestial Eye Race man’s body!” “Wonderful!” The old man stroked his beard.

“We’ve truly struck gold; once this news is confirmed, the rewards from the Five Races will be ours… Wait!” Shi Yan’s eyelids twitched, and the Profound Meaning Talisman Tower suddenly manifested, resting in his palm. “Whoosh!” A strange light shot out from behind them, suddenly merging into the Profound Meaning Talisman Tower.

It was a tiny fragment. After entering the tower, it disintegrated into fine powder, transforming into a peculiar, pure energy.

Shi Yan and Mei Ji glanced over, both their expressions changing drastically. Putting away the Profound Meaning Talisman Tower, Shi Yan snorted coldly and, with Mei Ji, turned back toward the rear.

Behind them, Xiang Rong’s hand clutching the fragment was covered in blood. She watched in horror as the fragment detached, realizing immediately that something was wrong, and shrieked, “They noticed!” Upon hearing her words, the old man and the other four were struck with terror and hurriedly yelled, “Go!

Leave immediately!” “Boom!” An icy mountain range suddenly materialized before them, releasing an intensely cold aura that made the few of them tremble uncontrollably. Shi Yan’s figure flashed out like a vengeful spirit and he commanded, “Don’t use grand divine abilities to annihilate them; it will attract attention from those nearby.

Once more people gather, it will be difficult for us to escape.” As he spoke, he threw out a Phantom Realm Stone he had obtained from Ya Yun. After injecting spatial power into it, the stone instantly transformed into a world, and amidst the utter horror of Xiang Rong and her companions, that world abruptly contracted, engulfing them all.

Xiang Rong’s six people vanished instantly. “There was movement over there; people are already coming.

We must leave now,” Shi Yan said, pinching his hand, and the space evolved from the Phantom Realm Stone was directly collected into his sleeve. He and Mei Ji dared not linger and quickly departed, soon disappearing.

Not long after they left, several small squads rushed over, cautiously surveying their surroundings, their expressions confused. They had all received intelligence that Shi Yan and Mei Ji were likely operating nearby, so they had all been secretly vigilant, rushing over immediately to investigate upon detecting any anomaly.

These people wandered around the area for a while, until one of them declared with certainty, “Someone who practices Ice Profound Meaning acted here, but there are no signs of a truly fierce battle…” “Strange, perhaps their Ice Profound Meaning cultivation went awry, causing a sudden leakage?” “Where is that person?” “Who knows.” The newcomers muttered to themselves, unable to ascertain the true situation, and began searching aimlessly, using this spot as their center. … “That was close!” Mei Ji was still shaken.

“I truly didn't expect so many people to be active nearby. Alas, if we had news of the Jade Lotus, we wouldn’t be so passive.” Upon reaching a relatively safe zone, Mei Ji finally relaxed, then asked, “How should we deal with them?” “Once we confirm the vicinity is clear, we eliminate them,” Shi Yan said coldly… (Apologies, I am currently unwell; only one chapter today, I will try to make up tomorrow~~~) (To be continued) RQ