With Saint Crystals on hand, buying things was the natural next step. Yang Yan produced a lengthy list and ordered a massive quantity of materials from the Shadow Moon Hall.
Qian Tong accepted it, took one look, and his expression changed dramatically.
Every material on the list was extraordinarily precious, and the quantities were staggering. Purchasing all of this would cost at least forty to fifty million Saint Crystals. Qian Tong wasn't worried about the cost—not with Yang Kai having just earned over a hundred million in profit. What puzzled him was why they needed so many raw materials.
Though puzzled, he didn't ask. He simply nodded: "Our Shadow Moon Hall alone can't gather all these materials. But rest assured, nephew—I'll contact forces on good terms with us, and I guarantee we'll have everything collected and delivered to you within half a month."
"Then I'll trouble you, Senior." Yang Kai cupped his fists.
Everything that needed to be said had been said. Qian Tong told Yang Kai to return and await news of the Flowing Flame Sand Land's opening, and Yang Kai took his leave.
Qian Tong personally escorted him out of the Treasure Pavilion, then handed the list to Luo Qing: "Go quickly and gather all the materials we can find. If it's not enough, reach out to the nearby forces—as long as we break even on price, it's fine."
"Understood!" Luo Qing departed at once.
Only then did Wei Guchang and Dong Xuan'er approach. Seeing Qian Tong's excited expression, Dong Xuan'er asked in a sweet voice: "Master, is that person really that remarkable? Why do you think so highly of him?"
"Remarkable!" Qian Tong nodded emphatically. He glanced at his two disciples and sighed: "Don't underestimate him. He's only at the first level of the Saint King Realm, true—but he can kill third-level Saint Kings across an entire tier."
A sharp light flashed in Wei Guchang's eyes, surprise flickering across his face before quickly settling. After all, when he himself had been at the first level of the Saint King Realm, he too could slay ordinary third-level Saint Kings. He didn't see anything particularly impressive about that.
"So it seems he does have some skill." Dong Xuan'er tapped her lips thoughtfully, then smiled: "But even so, is it really worth Master going out of your way to befriend him? Could it be you're thinking of recruiting him into the Shadow Moon Hall?"
"Recruiting him into the Shadow Moon Hall?" Qian Tong laughed, self-deprecating: "I'm afraid he wouldn't even spare us a glance."
"Oh come on! Our Shadow Moon Hall may not compare to the three great powers like the Star Emperor Gate, but we're no weaklings!" Dong Xuan'er protested.
"Do you know who stands behind him? Do you know his background?" Qian Tong shook his head slowly. "If you knew, you'd think differently of him."
"Elder, could you tell us more? I've suddenly become very interested in him." Wei Guchang grinned. Anyone an Elder regarded this highly was surely no ordinary person.
"Let's talk as we walk." Qian Tong beckoned them over. They were still standing at the Treasure Pavilion's entrance, after all—not exactly the place for such matters.
As the three headed toward the largest palace in Tianyun City, Qian Tong spoke: "Can you guess who put up that Dragon-Beating Whip and that Void Condensation Pill for auction today?"
Dong Xuan'er started slightly: "Master, you mean—"
"That's right—it was him." Qian Tong nodded. "The Void Condensation Pill is one thing. Though rare and valuable, there's probably only one in existence. He likely obtained it by chance from somewhere, and no second will ever appear. But that Dragon-Beating Whip was forged by his master."
"What?!" Wei Guchang was stunned as well. "Then that means his master is a Void-grade, middle-quality Artifact Refiner? When has our Dark Star ever produced such an expert?"
"That's the biggest reason I want to build a relationship with him. Our Dark Star truly can't produce such a master artificer—but he came from outside."
"From outside..." Wei Guchang and Dong Xuan'er exchanged a look, their eyes filled with undisguised longing.
"Yes, from outside. Our Dark Star is virtually cut off from the rest of the world. The nearest cultivation stars are impossibly far away. Our Artifact Refining standards here are nowhere near sufficient to craft the grand warships needed to traverse the vast star fields and withstand the countless dangers within. We have no idea how spectacular the outside world truly is. We only know that out there exist Void King Realm experts, Void King Realm Alchemists and Artifact Refiners—domains utterly beyond our reach."
"If we can't go outside, then how did he get here?" Dong Xuan'er asked doubtfully.
"Serendipity, most likely." Qian Tong chuckled. "When I first made contact with him, I didn't dare probe into his background for fear of offending him. But some time ago, I had Luo Qing gather information on him, and it turns out he was brought back from the star fields aboard one of the Haik Family's warships. At the time, only he was brought back. He himself admitted he came from a place called Rainwater Waterfall Star. I've heard of Rainwater Waterfall Star—it does indeed exist."
"But if they only brought back him alone, then why do you say there's a Void-grade middle-quality Artifact Refiner behind him?"
"I don't know what intentions the person behind him has, but someone has definitely been protecting him in the shadows. When the Haik Family's warship was about to return to the Dark Star, it was ambushed by a massive horde of Black Rock Beasts. The ship was on the verge of destruction—they were about to be wiped out entirely. But at the most critical moment, a golden spear suddenly appeared and swept through the entire horde, saving them all. Afterwards, the Haik Family disciples had no idea who had rescued them. The person who intervened never showed their face." Qian Tong spoke at an unhurried pace. "Luo Qing gathered this intelligence, and many Haik Family disciples witnessed it firsthand. So I'm certain—someone was protecting Yang Kai from the shadows, and that person must be his master."
It had to be said, Qian Tong's reasoning was entirely sound. Anyone who received this intelligence and combined it with the high-grade artifacts Yang Kai had put up for sale would reach the same conclusion.
But he had underestimated just how monstrous Yang Kai truly was—and equally, how monstrous Yang Yan was. He had become completely convinced of the existence of a fabricated master who had never existed at all.