With all his vital energy depleted, Ji Changkong managed only to cough up a mouthful of blood before collapsing weakly onto the ground, his mind full of confusion. (This book is reproduced from Shiliu Literature Network) (Ideal*).

Unfortunately, Bai Qingya could offer no explanation, as Ji Changkong’s physical state clearly surpassed her understanding of a normal Celestial Master's condition, shattering her established knowledge.

The bottleneck of vital energy generation, which had plagued him since entering the Three Talents Heaven Realm, had somehow been overcome through this utterly inconceivable method.

Unlike others, the generation of vital energy from blood seemed beyond his control; it was as if vital energy generation could only be activated once the blood within his body was lost.

Furthermore, it was the blood actively drawing the vital energy from within him, not him marshalling his vital energy to condense blood!

After staring blankly for a moment, Ji Changkong shook his head and said to Bai Qingya, "Sister Bai, I’ve completely exhausted the vital energy in my body. I must cultivate immediately to re-gather it!"

Snapping out of her surprise, Bai Qingya quickly agreed, "That's right. We can investigate the abnormality of your body later. The immediate priority is to restore your vital energy."

Nodding, Ji Changkong said no more and instantly entered the "State of Selflessness."

Before her eyes, Bai Qingya could suddenly no longer sense Ji Changkong’s aura. A living being seemed to have instantly returned to the cosmos.

"Hmph..."

Covering her mouth, Bai Qingya stared at Ji Changkong in alarm, her heart wildly shaken.

The ability to achieve immediate unity between man and heaven simply by forming a single thought at any moment—this was something legendary, said to be achievable only by Celestial Masters in the Eight Trigrams Heaven Realm.

Bai Canghai had told her about this long ago!

Ji Changkong before her was still several tiers away from the Eight Trigrams Heaven Realm, yet he had entered the state of unity in an instant. How could such an anomaly not shock her?

It was from this moment that Bai Qingya truly began to realize Ji Changkong's extraordinary nature!

...

"Changkong! Changkong!"

Hearing Bai Qingya's soft calls in his ears, Ji Changkong emerged from the State of Selflessness, letting out a gentle breath and smiling, "Sister Bai, what is it?"

"It’s daylight. Many Spirit Treasures will be displayed at the Spirit Treasure Hall today; we should go take a look." Bai Qingya's beautiful eyes sparkled intensely as she stared directly at Ji Changkong, suddenly asking, "Changkong, how is your recovery?"

"Only about forty percent recovered," Ji Changkong replied helplessly.

"Forty percent!??"

Bai Qingya exclaimed in shock, then broke into a wry smile, shaking her head and sighing, "You truly are a prodigy. When one's vital energy is completely drained, it normally takes an average person ten days to half a month to recover. In just one night, you’ve already recovered forty percent. I honestly don't know what to say about you."

The Tai Xu Secret Record is truly miraculous!

Muttering a silent praise, Ji Changkong stood up straight and laughed, "Let's go, Sister Bai. The Spirit Treasures displayed in the Spirit Treasure Hall have all been appraised by the Spirit Treasure Pavilion. Many truly powerful Celestial Masters will surely attend today; it’s a perfect chance for us to observe."

Smiling sweetly, Bai Qingya nodded and tidied herself up in the room.

After washing up, Bai Qingya was radiant, her beauty dazzling. Smiling charmingly, she walked out of the room with Ji Changkong, entered the bustling Spirit Treasure Pavilion, merged into the crowd, and followed him into the highest building of the Pavilion—the Grand Spirit Treasure Hall.

Bai Qingya paid two High-Grade Vital Stones and led him into the Grand Hall.

Inside, the hall was filled with powerful Celestial Masters of profound cultivation, dressed in expensive attire. Counters stood everywhere, displaying various kinds of Spirit Treasures on top. In front of every treasure, an appraiser from the Spirit Treasure Pavilion was meticulously explaining its value and marvelous uses, while the treasure's owner behind the counter smiled broadly, detailing the origin and history of the item to prospective buyers.

Without needing to examine them closely, Ji Changkong merely closed his eyes and sensed that every Spirit Treasure on display possessed a significant fluctuation of vital energy. The appraisers of the Spirit Treasure Pavilion were indeed exceptional; every treasure they authenticated was genuinely valuable, far more precious than the vast majority displayed outside the hall.

However, the listed prices for treasures authenticated by the Spirit Treasure Pavilion were often staggering, frequently starting at several hundred High-Grade Vital Stones. Here, it was clearly impossible to purchase a rare Spirit Treasure at a low price.

Everyone knew that every item showcased in the Spirit Treasure Pavilion had undergone repeated authentication by the Pavilion. The appraisers possessed sharp eyes, and any treasure they certified could never be a fake; consequently, the price would never be low.

"These are indeed extraordinary Spirit Treasures, but alas, I can't afford a single one."

After walking around, Ji Changkong resigned himself to this reality. He had taken a liking to a fiery bracelet, forged from Blazing Sun Jade and various extremely rare, heat-intensive materials. If Ji Wanyun possessed this bracelet, it could increase the Vermilion Bird Vitality she needed to communicate with the Four Symbols Heaven Master by a full thirty percent!

Yet, that bracelet was priced at one thousand High-Grade Vital Stones, a sum the impoverished Ji Changkong absolutely could not bear.

After touring the hall, Bai Qingya also secretly gasped, astonished by the exorbitant prices of the Spirit Treasures.

Hearing Ji Changkong’s comment, she hesitated for a moment but then declared resolutely, "If there's a Spirit Treasure priced no higher than five hundred High-Grade Vital Stones that you like, I’ll buy it for you!"

Seeing Ji Changkong look at her in surprise, Bai Qingya’s pretty face flushed red, and she said somewhat shyly, "I only have five hundred High-Grade Vital Stones. My father gave them to me on the way here to choose a Spirit Treasure I liked at the Pavilion... If it exceeds this price, I won't be able to help."

Feeling a touch of emotion, Ji Changkong smiled and said, "Sister Bai, I appreciate your kind offer, but the prices here are truly too high. Let's just look around casually."

Wandering again, more and more people were arriving in the hall, including Celestial Masters whose internal vital energy fluctuations hinted at terrifying power.

As these figures appeared, some less powerful Celestial Masters would voluntarily keep their distance, making these newcomers stand out conspicuously.

"That middle-aged scholar with the long beard is Li Daoxuan, one of the Three Great Elders of the Upper Purity Sect—a Seven Star Heaven Realm expert! The Upper Purity Sect is one of the Six Great Sects. Li Daoxuan was formerly a famous scholar in the Great Chu Kingdom, with a wide network of followers, before turning to the path of the Celestial Master. In fifty years, he reached the Seven Star Heaven Realm, making him a household name in the Great Chu."

"The arrogant young man in fine brocade is Du Shaofeng, the biological grandson of the Old Madam of the Du Family. He is only twenty-three years old and a Five Elements Celestial Master! The Du Family is immensely wealthy, and the Old Madam dotes on this grandson, shielding him in everything. Moreover, he has indeed proven himself, achieving the Five Elements Heaven Realm at such a young age, meaning even his uncles in the Du Family must defer to him!"

"That noblewoman dressed in red is the wife of Ye Hongru, named Zhou Miaoshan. Ye Hongru is the second son of the Ye Family Patriarch. Ye Hongru holds a high position in the Heavenly Martial Nation, and his wife, Zhou Miaoshan, who is in the Nine Heavens Realm, is not only powerful but also manages their household skillfully. Ye Hongru owes much of his current status to this woman."

"..."

Bai Qingya leaned close to Ji Changkong, pointing out the clearly distinguished and influential figures in the hall, whispering the details to him.

"Huh!"

Ji Changkong let out a soft sound, pointing at Zhou Miaoshan, the wife of Ye Hongru, and saying quietly, "That scar on Zhou Miaoshan's neck is quite obvious!"

"Years ago, Ye Hongru was being hunted down, and Zhou Miaoshan risked her life to save him, taking a sword slash across her neck that nearly killed her. The reason Ye Hongru has been so compliant with Zhou Miaoshan all these years is because of that desperate rescue. That sword nearly pierced Zhou Miaoshan’s throat. Although the Ye Family members arrived and saved her afterward, the scar remained forever."

"For years, Zhou Miaoshan has tried every means to remove the ugly scar on her neck, but she has never succeeded."

"Sister Bai, help me register. I also want to sell something in the Spirit Treasure Hall. Once I sell my item, I will return the Vital Stones to you." Ji Changkong said, his face lighting up with excitement.

Ji Wanyun hadn't used all the saliva from the Thousand-Year Purple Gold Toad; half a bottle remained in his Mustard Seed Pouch, perfect for use today.

"Alright, let's go register. Follow me, and we'll have your treasure appraised." Bai Qingya readily agreed.

...