Suddenly, a flash of spiritual light flickered atop the enormous black vessel, and a beam of white escape light shot downward from it. In the span of just a few flickers, it halted directly above the head of an alien elder with a full head of white hair—revealing itself to be a beautiful young girl who looked no more than fifteen or sixteen years of age.
"Fellow Daoist, is this the Chirong Mountain Range?" The girl, who appeared quite young, swept her gaze lightly around her surroundings before asking the alien elder in a gentle tone.
This alien elder's cultivation was only at the early Foundation Establishment stage, placing him among the highest-ranked cultivators in the area.
"Reporting to Senior—yes, this is indeed the Chirong Mountain Range." The alien elder was utterly unable to sense the girl's true cultivation level. All he could perceive was that her aura was unfathomably deep, and he answered with trembling reverence.
"I've found the right place after all. Since this is the Chirong Mountain Range, do you know where Black Scorched Peak is located?" The girl's face lit up with delight, and she hurriedly pressed further.
"Senior wishes to go to Black Scorched Peak? That area lies in one of the central regions of the Chirong Mountain Range. It is extraordinarily dangerous and has long been designated a restricted zone." The alien elder's expression changed with shock as he replied.
"A restricted zone? Then it's even more certain. You needn't trouble yourself with whether it's dangerous—just tell me how to get there," the girl said with a light laugh.
"Yes, Senior. If you and your companions wish to head to Black Scorched Peak, simply travel due west. When you near the center of the mountain range, you will see three dark mountain peaks arranged in a triangular formation—that is Black Scorched Peak." Startled once more, the elder answered in a stammering voice.
"Very good. Take these spirit stones as your reward." The girl nodded, raised her hand, and tossed several high-grade spirit stones to the elder. Then she transformed into a ball of white light and shot back up into the sky. In a few flickers, she had returned to the enormous black vessel.
Moments later, the massive black ship blazed with radiance and flew toward the depths of the mountain range amid a deep rumble.
Below, the alien elder clutched the high-grade spirit stones in his hands, his face consumed with wild elation. Such stones meant nothing to high-level cultivators, but to a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, they represented an enormous fortune.
However, the moment the elder sensed the envious and jealous stares of those around him, his heart lurched. He hurriedly tucked the spirit stones away and promptly took to the air, fleeing the area.
Shortly after the elder departed, several other alien cultivators of similar cultivation quietly and silently left the area as well.
The lower-tier alien cultivators at the Qi Condensation stage who remained exchanged uneasy looks, but no one said a word. They all lowered their heads, bowed, and continued their search for fire-attribute spirit materials.
……
The enormous black vessel was none other than
At his side,
"That the Helian Merchant Alliance would hold its auction in such a conspicuous location is rather unexpected. The low-level aliens down below seem to know nothing about it at all," Han Li remarked suddenly.
"Senior Han, anyone who knows about this auction is at minimum a Void Refining stage expert or above. The local aliens naturally have no standing to learn of it. However, by my calculations, the auction should take place within the next month or two at most. I expect many powerhouses from various races have already arrived in this area. There may well be unexpected gains for you at the auction, Senior." Xue Po stepped half a pace forward and replied respectfully.
"Unexpected gains—I hope so. But at my level of cultivation, very few things catch my eye anymore. That said, if other Mahayana cultivators are willing to bring out some quality items at this auction, that would be a different matter entirely." Han Li nodded and spoke in a casual tone.
"Rest assured, Senior. Based on my previous experience attending these events, quite a number of Mahayana-level cultivators like yourself will surely be present. Moreover, beyond the auction itself, these seniors will most likely arrange private exchanges among themselves. Even if you find nothing of interest at the Helian Merchant Alliance's auction, I'm certain you'll gain something at such a gathering." Xue Po chuckled softly as she replied.
"Private exchanges… now that is something worth looking forward to." Han Li's expression shifted slightly with interest.
Half a shi-chen later, three peculiar mountain peaks finally came into view ahead, each rising roughly ten thousand zhang into the sky.
The three peaks stood in a triangular formation amid a vast expanse of scattered black and red stones, and a pungent sulfuric stench was carried toward them on waves of hot wind.
The instant the black vessel entered the airspace within a hundred li of these three peaks, it was intercepted by a squad of alien guards mounted on enormous eagles.
The guards wore black armor, carried bows and blades slung over their shoulders, and had their faces entirely concealed behind iron vizors. Each one was towering in stature—nearly two heads taller than an average human.
The great eagles they rode were jet black from head to tail and enormous in size. As they flew, gusts of turbulent wind churned around them, lending them an imposing and spirited air.
"Senior travelers, the area ahead is a restricted zone of our alliance. Without a token of passage, I'm afraid you cannot proceed." The guard captain who had led the interception took position before the vessel, but upon seeing its colossal size—not to mention the densely packed puppet soldiers visible on its deck—he knew the people aboard were no ordinary figures. He bowed respectfully first before speaking in a lowered voice, not daring to show the slightest discourtesy.
"A token? Is this what you mean?" Xue Po murmured something quietly to Han Li, then drifted down from the bow.
With a graceful lift of her fair wrist, a streak of white light shot forth.