Others assumed Yang Kai was simply throwing money around, buying some rare curiosity to take home as a collectible. Only Wu Yi and Yang Yan knew that wasn't the reason, because while they waited for the Treasure Gathering Tower disciple to deliver the stone, Yang Kai's expression was clearly excited—and tinged with a strange, indescribable quality.
A short while later, a palace-robed woman from the Treasure Gathering Tower brought the odd stone to Room C-13. Yang Kai paid the one hundred and fifty thousand Saint Crystals, then spent a moment turning the stone over in his hands with undisguised glee before tucking it into his space ring.
Yang Yan sidled over and asked in a low voice, "You know what this is?"
"No." Yang Kai shook his head.
"You don't know what it is, and yet you bought it?" Yang Yan rolled her eyes, completely at a loss.
"Even though I don't know what it is, I know it's useful to me." Yang Kai's expression was grave. If he hadn't known it would be of use, he never would have bought it. One hundred and fifty thousand high-grade Saint Crystals was no small sum—even with money to spare, he wouldn't normally spend it so carelessly.
"Useful to you?" Yang Yan frowned, then suddenly whispered in surprise. "You have exotic insects and creatures?"
"Exotic insects and creatures?" Yang Kai stared at her blankly, but a thought struck him and he lowered his voice. "You know what this stone does?"
Yang Yan nodded slightly.
Yang Kai was amazed. This strange stone had stumped even the many appraisal masters at the Treasure Gathering Tower, and none of the powerful figures present had been able to make anything of it. Yang Yan was so young—how could she possibly recognize it?
Moreover, she was already a Void-grade Artifact Refiner and a Formation grandmaster. This girl practically oozed mystery.
He had long suspected that Yang Yan was someone with a story, and now it seemed he'd been right.
"What exactly is that stone?" Yang Kai whispered, and Wu Yi leaned in to listen as well.
"Insect Stone!" Yang Yan pronounced the two words. "It's useless to anyone else—it can only be used to nurture certain exotic insects and creatures. It's an extremely rare item, seldom seen in normal circumstances. It contains a very peculiar energy that can't be used for artifact refinement, and warriors can't absorb it either. But once an exotic insect or creature takes up residence on it, it can rapidly grow and evolve. That's why I asked whether you have any exotic insects and creatures."
Understanding dawned on Yang Kai. Now he realized why the Soul-Devouring Insects that had been living on the Six-Colored Treasure Island in his sea of consciousness had suddenly grown agitated and excited the moment this stone appeared.
Those Soul-Devouring Insects were an ancient exotic species, so they naturally counted among exotic insects and creatures. He had originally obtained them on the Tongxuan Continent, and they had been living ever since on the Six-Colored Treasure Island in his sea of consciousness, sustained by the Six-Colored Warm Spirit Lotus.
When he had first acquired them, they hadn't been particularly powerful—merely unbeatable below the Saint Realm. A Transcendent-realm warrior whose sea of consciousness they invaded would die in an instant.
After undergoing a large-scale devouring mutation, and then being nurtured by the Six-Colored Warm Spirit Lotus for so many years, these Soul-Devouring Insects had grown considerably stronger. But they could still only handle warriors at the Saint Realm—Saint King-realm cultivators could wipe them out with ease. As Yang Kai's own strength had increased over time, the Soul-Devouring Insects had become increasingly useless.
Yang Kai hadn't abandoned them, though. He had simply allowed them to breed and develop on their own.
If not for the appearance of this Insect Stone today—which had triggered such an unusual reaction in the Soul-Devouring Insects—Yang Kai might have completely forgotten they even existed.
It was precisely because of the insects' excitement that Yang Kai had so casually bid on and won the Insect Stone.
Now, hearing Yang Yan's explanation, he immediately knew he'd struck gold. The one hundred and fifty thousand Saint Crystals had been money well spent. If the Insect Stone could truly allow the Soul-Devouring Insects to advance and evolve once more—to the point where they could threaten Saint King-realm or even Void Return-realm cultivators—their usefulness would be immense.
"What exotic insects and creatures do you have?" Yang Yan asked with curiosity.
"I'll tell you when we get back." Yang Kai smiled mysteriously.
Yang Yan gave him a strange look but said nothing more.
"Look! That double-forked spike is up for auction!" Wu Yi suddenly cried out in excitement. She at least knew better than to reveal that Yang Yan had forged it, so she didn't dare mention Yang Yan's name.
Yang Kai and Yang Yan both turned to look at the auction stage and indeed saw the double-forked spike being presented with great fanfare. And it wasn't the only Void-grade Artifact on offer.
A row of twelve palace-robed women stood in a line, each holding a jade tray. On every tray sat an artifact—all of them Void-grade, Lower quality. Spiritual light rippled across their surfaces, and the auras they emanated pressed down on everyone present, instantly commanding the attention of the entire room.