Not just Han Li — every other cultivator present, after their initial shock, noticed the changes in their Magical Power.
The increase was negligible for those at the Body Integration stage and above, amounting to no more than a few months of bitter cultivation and meditation. But for the Void Refinement cultivators, the boost was far more pronounced. A single gong toll had granted them the equivalent of over ten years of arduous cultivation.
This filled the Void Refinement cultivators with delight.
The Body Integration old monsters, on the other hand, grew wary and uncertain.
Yet regardless of who they were, every pair of eyes locked onto that enormous black gong with a sharp snap, greed, ecstasy, and all manner of fervent desire flashing through their gazes — as though every one of them longed to snatch it up on the spot.
Just listening to the sound this object produced could grant a measurable increase in cultivation — how terrifying a notion was that!
Even though the apparent backlash was no small matter — the one who struck the gong appeared to have lost both vital essence and lifespan simultaneously — it was still unquestionably a heaven-defying treasure.
Could it be a legendary Mysterious Heavenly Treasure?
Some among the two races began to murmur to themselves in hushed speculation.
Han Li stared at the black gong with no less astonishment, a thread of suspicion winding through his thoughts as well.
Unfortunately, his spiritual sense was severely restricted within the Black Domain, and he was unable to scan the distant gong. Otherwise, as someone who already possessed a Mysterious Heavenly Fruit, he would have been far better positioned than anyone else to confirm whether the treasure truly was a Mysterious Heavenly artifact.
At that moment, the powerful servant atop the elevated platform — who had transformed into a white-haired old man — respectfully set the purple copper mallet in his hands down on the black stone table before him. Then spiritual light flickered beneath his feet, and he vanished from the spot in an instant.
But in the very next instant, another figure appeared in his place beside the massive gong.
This figure wore a suit of silver brocade and a golden mask shaped like a flood dragon's head. His eyes were an extraordinarily vivid green, and he did not appear to be an ordinary member of the human race.
The moment this person appeared, the gazes of everyone on the flying pavilions converged upon him.
The Golden-Faced Bladesman swept his green-glowing eyes around the surroundings, then gave a light cough and spoke: "Heh heh. I trust that just now, you fellow Daoists have experienced firsthand the miraculous properties of this 'Heaven-Matching Gong.' That single toll of the gong was a small gift from the Black Domain to all of you. At the same time, this 'Heaven-Matching Gong' is one of the headline treasures we have brought out for exchange, and it is the very first item being offered at this exchange gathering. I trust that given this treasure's value, it will not disappoint any of you fellow Daoists!"
"What? This thing is truly being offered for exchange?" Although most had already half-anticipated this, actually hearing the Golden-Faced Bladesman say so outright drew a cry of surprised delight from more than one person.
"As long as you can produce a treasure that satisfies me, what reason would there be not to trade this Heaven-Matching Gong?" The Golden-Faced Bladesman let out a soft chuckle, his tone carrying an almost absurd level of confidence.
"That is rather peculiar, though." An extraordinarily ancient voice suddenly echoed through the void, its origin impossible to pinpoint among the stone pavilions. "I've attended your Black Domain gatherings more times than I can count. While I wouldn't say that the treasures your domain has offered for trade in the past were ordinary, in all those occasions, treasures of this heaven-defying caliber have appeared only a handful of times at most. And this is the very first item being offered for exchange. Could it be that with the great calamity on the horizon, your domain is also making preparations for what is to come?"
Han Li's heart tensed at these words. He naturally understood that the "great calamity" being referred to must be the demon invasion set to erupt within a thousand years.
But it was clear that the two races' cultivators who had come to the Black Domain exchange were all at least somewhat aware of the demon calamity as well.