Outside the Star Palace, the Scarlet Fire Spirit Bird was battered and bruised, clearly having taken a beating, but its eyes sparkled with joy as it roared: "Hurry, what's the treasure?"
Dao Ling was also injured. The youth from the Ancient Divine Mountain was far higher in realm, so confronting him head-on would be disastrous. He'd used the impact to fly out, then been grabbed by the Scarlet Fire Spirit Bird and carried away.
The Scarlet Fire Spirit Bird was ecstatic—something coveted by the Ancient Divine Mountain must be invaluable.
Dao Ling's eyes fixed on the silver animal pelt. He channeled power into his fingers and struck the silver glow, quickly tearing open a gap to reveal its contents.
"Stellar Radiance Over Azure Sky," Dao Ling muttered, then gasped. This was a terrifying 异象 (vision), a method to conceive stars within the body!
"What? What did you say?" The Scarlet Fire Spirit Bird staggered, nearly falling from the sky, and roared wildly: "Does this record the technique to condense 'Stellar Radiance Over Azure Sky'?"
Stellar Radiance Over Azure Sky was an ancient vision, allowing one to condense stars within their energy. Though not real stars, mastering this could decimate powerful foes! Once formed, offensive power surged dramatically, making this vision fearsome—yet 极其难以凝聚 (extremely hard to manifest).
For example, fire-attributed constitutions could conceive Dao Fire within, like the Scarlet Fire Spirit Bird, whose attacks burned fiercely. Rarer thunder constitutions could nurture thunderbolts, as devastating as the lightning Wu Hongsheng wielded in the Spiritual Pagoda to strike down enemies. These arose from innate constitutions, but visions like Stellar Radiance Over Azure Sky were another level—accessible to Yunling realm practitioners, yet said to grow more terrifying as one cultivated, with inner stars gaining unimaginable power.
The Scarlet Fire Spirit Bird clutched the silver pelt, growing more excited. Understanding its formation, even a half-completed vision would be formidable.
Dao Ling beamed. This trip had been immensely rewarding—his Pill Flames had strengthened, and he'd gained the Stellar Radiance technique.
Emerging from the Star Ladder as dawn approached, they found onlookers eyeing them hungrily. Only the presence of sect elders held them back.
Dao Ling and the Scarlet Fire Spirit Bird left for the Treasure Pavilion. He planned to sell the top-grade treasure weapon taken from the blond youth—it was useless to him.
"Honored Sir, for this treasure weapon, I suggest an auction," Chen Li smiled, inwardly awed. He'd secretly checked the identity token before and found it belonged to Young Miss Ziyu, a powerhouse in the Treasure Pavilion.
"Auction? When?" Dao Ling's eyes lit up.
"Twenty days from now. With the Star Palace Secret Realm opening, the pavilion will host a grand auction in Qingzhou City. This top-grade treasure is the minimum entry, but it should fetch a high price."
Dao Ling nodded: "How many gold coins could it bring?"
"About three to four million," Chen Li estimated, adding awkwardly, "Actually, as a pavilion honorary member, you can claim 2 million gold coins monthly."
Chen Li envied this benefit. As a low-level honorary member (due to Dao Ling's low cultivation), he could receive source stones once breaking through, the true treasure.
Dao Ling was stunned. Using the coins, he upgraded the herbs for Bronze Body Liquid, confident he could complete the first rotation. After spending 2 million, he took the herbs and returned to his residence. With enhanced Pill Flames, he no longer needed Earth Core Fire for alchemy.
Opening the door, a white blur dashed forward—the Spirit Ferret, eyes like red agates, aura more intense.
"The little one's finally awake." Dao Ling smiled, sensing the ferret's extraordinariness.
The ferret scampered over him, curious about everything, then played alone.
Seated cross-legged, Dao Ling took the purple void pouch from the Golden Bee. Sealed with soul power, he released a mysterious 波动 (wave) to breach it, entering a spatial realm.
"Roar!" The Golden Bee's soul raged, sensing intrusion.
"A wisp of remnant soul dares to 作乱（ Rebel）!" Dao Ling snorted, unleashing his soul power. After a fierce clash, he shattered the bee's soul energy.
The pouch opened. Dao Ling expected wealth from the Ancient Divine Mountain, even for a servant. A torrent of items flew out—rainbow lights and dense life essence filled the room.
There were spiritual herbs: one scarlet as blood, glowing with heat; one sky-blue, rich in water elements; and a jade-green fruit the size of a baby's fist, pulsating with energy.
"Is this a Primordial Spirit Fruit?" Dao Ling gasped. Rarer than Spiritual Awareness Fruits, it was essential for Celestial Passage Pill—the hardest to find alongside Spirit Nourishing Grass. Washing Marrow Flowers, though 逆天 (heaven-defying), were easier to obtain. As for true blood of fire-type divine beasts... Dao Ling 苦笑 (smiled bitterly).
The Golden Bee's hoard was vast: ores and a 10-million gold coin card. The Spirit Ferret held a cicada-wing-thin sword, swinging tiny paws to unleash massive sword lights.
"This is a sword refined from a Golden Bee's wing!" Dao Ling marveled, likely from a clan elder.
"Great gains." Dao Ling's eyes flashed coldly. "In a few days, I'll visit the Lesser Martial Stele."
The Martial Emperor had stolen his origin, merging it with Dao Ling's divine body origin, granting him 逆天潜能 (heaven-defying potential). Backed by the Martial Palace, his resources were unimaginable—rare pills, cultivation insights, great supernatural powers, and earth-born treasures. Dao Ling, however, had earned everything himself—a stark contrast.
...
On an ancient spiritual mountain, a youth stood in a hall, body veiled in divine radiance, exuding a faint yet terrifying aura. The Golden Bee and others trembled—their master was enraged. He'd entered the Star Palace to open its deepest hall, said by clan elders to relate to the "Star Shift" technique. He'd aimed to claim two treasures with Qian Yao but lost one.
"Pu..." The Golden Bee spat blood.
"Give me a reason," the youth's eyes swirled with golden runes, sending shivers through them.
"The youth who stole the silver pelt took my void pouch and erased my soul 印记 (mark)," the bee quivered.
"Useless!" Golden lightning shot from the youth's eyes, blasting the bee to 吐血 (coughing blood), its body cracking.
"Master, spare him! A mere brat isn't worth your anger," two others knelt. "Let us take his head."
"Bring him to me!" The hall's rumble shook ancient trees.