Without lingering in the Hall of Spirit Treasures, Ji Changkong and Bai Qingya returned to their rear wing rooms before nightfall. (This novel is reprinted from Shiliu Literature Website)

In preparation for his battle with Jiu Lingxue, Ji Changkong prepared early, cultivating arduously once more that night in the State of Selflessness, striving to restore his vital energy to its peak as quickly as possible.

Late at night, Ji Changkong awoke leisurely.

After the midnight cultivation, not only had his internal vital energy fully recovered, but it had also subtly increased. His pair of eyes shone brightly in the dim room, like the starlight twinkling outside the window.

Pouring a cup of warm water, Ji Changkong avoided Bai Qingya, who was resting in the other corner, and moved to the most secluded corner of the wing room. With his back to Bai Qingya, his eyes gradually turned silver.

His gaze sharpened, and a silver light suddenly shot out. The cup of warm water in his hand instantly turned into ice!

Crack!

Due to the excessive cold, the warm water froze too quickly, causing the porcelain cup to shatter violently. A cup-shaped block of solid ice, emanating thick white frost, fell into his palm.

"Oh!"

Bai Qingya let out a soft cry, suddenly opening her eyes, and whispered, "What's going on? Why has the temperature in the room dropped so sharply? I can even feel a chill..."

Looking at Ji Changkong, who had turned around, with surprise, Bai Qingya spoke softly, "Changkong, why aren't you continuing your cultivation?"

"I've recovered. I wanted to check what time it is now." With that, Ji Changkong pushed open the window, turned his back to Bai Qingya again, and tossed the block of solid ice in his hand outside.

"Sigh, I really don't know what to say to you. Why did you agree to fight that girl?" Bai Qingya's face was full of worry, and she sighed deeply. "Changkong, I know your vital energy is profound, and your control over it is extremely exquisite. Against a Celestial Master of the Three Talents Heaven Realm, even if their cultivation realm is slightly higher than yours, you fear nothing! But that girl is a Four Symbols Celestial Master! That's an entire realm difference; it's not something profound vital energy alone can compensate for!"

"Sister Bai, don't worry. I know what I'm doing." Smiling, Ji Changkong closed the window and returned to the spot where he had been sitting cross-legged, closing his eyes. "It's still early. Sister Bai, let's continue resting. Tomorrow the Hall of Spirit Treasures will display more major treasures; it will surely be even livelier then."

Hearing this, Bai Qingya knew further persuasion was useless. She could only nod with a bitter smile, though she secretly resolved that if the situation turned unfavorable during the battle between Ji Changkong and Jiu Lingxue, she would immediately speak up to stop it—she absolutely could not let him come to harm!

...

The next day, the Spirit Treasure Assembly continued.

Outside the Grand Hall of Spirit Treasures, Celestial Masters from all directions were still selling their spiritual treasures in the spacious area outside. Inside the hall, the spiritual treasures authenticated by the Hall of Spirit Treasures continued to attract the attention of many powerful Celestial Masters. Treasures like Moon Heart Stones, Sun Heart Stones, Soul Devouring Demonic Brain Marrow, and The Carefree Wanderer—which failed to trade for what they needed yesterday—were displayed again today.

Not only that, but other spiritual treasures were added today. After being authenticated by the appraisers, they were placed on the counters, drawing crowds of Celestial Masters.

Clang!

Many powerful Celestial Masters inside the Grand Hall of Spirit Treasures suddenly hurried toward the Hall of Spirit Treasures at the very top of the main hall.

When the bell rang, it signaled that the Hall of Spirit Treasures at the highest level of the Grand Hall was about to display the spiritual treasures collected by the Chen Family. Many of the Celestial Masters who came for this Spirit Treasure Assembly were focused on the treasures the Hall of Spirit Treasures would exhibit. They also knew the routine; apart from a few Celestial Masters still haggling with the sellers inside the hall, most headed directly toward the Hall of Spirit Treasures.

Ji Changkong and Bai Qingya were no exception. They followed the other Celestial Masters, hurrying up the stairs to reach the Hall of Spirit Treasures.

"Everyone, this time the Hall of Spirit Treasures will exhibit three spiritual treasures. Bidding is welcome. Two of these treasures can be purchased with sufficient Origin Stones. Of course, they can also be exchanged for other spiritual treasures. As long as our appraisers at the Hall of Spirit Treasures confirm they are of equivalent grade, you have a chance to acquire our exhibited treasures without spending a single Origin Stone..."

The crowd was dense. Before the two even reached the Hall of Spirit Treasures, they heard a pleasant female voice speaking eloquently.

After finally squeezing through, they looked up and saw a slightly raised display platform in the very center of the Hall of Spirit Treasures. On the platform, a beautiful woman who resembled Chen Yihui, dressed in a long, emerald-green gown, was displaying the three spiritual treasures on the stand to the crowd with impeccable grace.

"Her name is Chen Yirong, the Second Manager of the Hall of Spirit Treasures," Bai Qingya whispered in introduction.

Nodding, Ji Changkong said little, focusing intently on the three spiritual treasures placed on the stand.

A three-foot-long, sharp blade, without a sheath. Its style was ancient. Even without anyone controlling it, a sharp, sky-piercing sword qi emanated from it. The qi gathered at the tip, unscattered, drifting about like mist.

A bow, crimson in color. Its bowstring was as thick as a thumb, made of dragon tendon. Three small arrows, with diamond-shaped arrowheads, were separately engraved with the patterns of the Sun, Moon, and Star. An ancient aura of primordial desolation radiated from the curved bow.

A fist-sized pearl. Within the pearl, a vast starry sky seemed to be hidden, with specks of starlight slowly flowing. The pearl emitted dazzling light, and wisps of Heaven and Earth Vital Qi, invisible to the naked eye, slowly merged into the pearl, making the starlight within even more brilliant.

"The Heaven-Splitting Sword: the natal divine weapon of the Eight Trigrams Celestial Master, Lie Yun, from five hundred years ago! The sword qi of the Heaven-Splitting Sword is too fierce. Lie Yun roamed the world with it back then, nearly invincible! Unfortunately, Lie Yun suffered a backlash during his breakthrough to the Nine Palaces Heaven Realm, his spirit annihilated. However, the Sword Spirit of the Heaven-Splitting Sword remains. Anyone who can subdue the Sword Spirit and merge their spirit with it can immediately wield the Heaven-Splitting Sword, increasing their strength tenfold with ease!"

"The Sun-Blaze Bow: Refined by the Holy Lord of the Southern Barbarians, 'Guang,' who collected numerous spiritual treasures of the Southern Barbarians, slew two flood dragons, and combined the strength of many Southern Barbarian Celestial Masters! The three small arrows—Sun, Moon, and Star—contain the power of the celestial bodies. Those who have unleashed them with the Sun-Blaze Bow know just how immense their power is!"

"The Heaven Origin Pearl: Capable of gathering the Vital Energy of Heaven and Earth. Any Celestial Master possessing it can gather this vital energy much faster, increasing the speed of both cultivation and vital energy recovery severalfold! Our in-house appraisers believe the Heaven Origin Pearl has other wondrous uses, but unfortunately, our Chen Family has yet to discover its greater potential! The Heaven Origin Pearl originated from an extraterrestrial meteorite. Twenty years ago, a meteor fell upon the Central Lands, shattering upon impact, revealing this single Heaven Origin Pearl within the core!"

Chen Yirong spoke loudly. Amidst the discussions rising from the crowd below, she spoke again: "The Heaven-Splitting Sword and the Sun-Blaze Bow have a starting bid of one thousand top-grade Origin Stones each; the highest bidder wins! Of course, if you have an equivalent spiritual treasure for exchange, we will consider it after our appraisal confirms it is a commensurate artifact!"

"However, the Heaven Origin Pearl will not be exchanged for Origin Stones. We will only consider trading it for world-renowned spiritual treasures!"

At these words, the debate below intensified. Celestial Masters from all sides incessantly argued over the three spiritual treasures displayed by the Hall of Spirit Treasures, seemingly never tiring of the topic.

"The Heaven-Splitting Sword, the Sun-Blaze Bow, the Heaven Origin Pearl. The Chen Family is truly wealthy beyond measure to put forth such valuable spiritual treasures for display and sale! No wonder the Spirit Treasure Assembly attracts Celestial Masters from all directions to travel long distances every session," Bai Qingya murmured in astonishment.

"Adding the treasures exhibited by those downstairs in the Hall of Spirit Treasures, the collection assembled for this Spirit Treasure Assembly probably exceeds what even a major clan possesses! The Chen Family is daring; with so many treasures, aren't they afraid of being robbed?" Ji Changkong also clicked his tongue inwardly, looking utterly surprised.

"Many Celestial Masters gather here, and the Chen Family holds significant power in the Water Cloud Nation, backed by the Royal Family of the Water Cloud Nation. Though the world is vast, few dare to openly rob others at the Spirit Treasure Assembly. Those who dare are usually high-ranking, famous figures in the world, and they likely would not stoop to such actions. So, you can rest assured," Bai Qingya chuckled softly, feeling Ji Changkong was worrying needlessly.

Hee-hee! Hee-hee! Hahahahaha!

Just then, a chorus of demonic, wailing laughter suddenly echoed above the Grand Hall of Spirit Treasures. Five dark figures, shrouded in shadow despite the daylight, hovered menacingly in the void above the hall.

The five laughed maniacally, their cackles extremely grating. Then, they struck out simultaneously. A terrifying fluctuation of vital energy, like a mountain collapsing, erupted from the central area between the five, charging down toward the Grand Hall below like a vicious dragon burrowing into the earth!