The night passed, and the second morning arrived. Zilong completed his final refinement process. He no longer tried to fight the instability of the cracked furnace, but rather used it as an instrument to separate the Yin and Yang essences.Boom!Zilong opened the furnace lid. Four jade bottles were now full. The quality of the pills exceeded his expectations, most were above 90 percent, and some even touched 95 percent. To him, it was still imperfect because of the "trash" furnace's limitations, but to the people out there, it was a treasure.He stood up, stretching until his bones creaked, then slung his broken sword at his waist. "That should be enough."He opened the room door. Bang.The light of the corridor blinded his eyes, but the scene before him was even more shocking. The corridor was packed. Dozens of pairs of eyes stared at him as if he were a god who had just descended from the sky."He's out!" someone shouted.The crowd exploded. Bids for prices piled up, deafening."Mas

Dawn had just brushed against the eastern horizon, bringing with it a faint tinge of orange, yet the City of Black Clouds had been awake long before. The city’s atmosphere felt as if it had been forced to stir by an unnatural pulse. Rows of horse-drawn carriages packed the main street leading to the city center, creating an endless, noisy symphony.Wooden wheels screeched against the cobblestones, competing with the harsh shouts of coachmen struggling to carve a path through the sea of people. Merchants were busy opening their stalls earlier than usual, while groups of mercenaries, sporting various armor insignias, appeared to fill every street corner with wary gazes.The atmosphere, usually just busy, had now become suffocating.Inns were packed to their front porches. Taverns no longer had a single empty seat. Even the courtyards of residents' homes were being rented out at high prices to newcomers who could not find shelter. Everyone had the same singular purpose: the special aucti

The corridor of the Spirit Pill Pavilion suddenly felt far quieter than the storm of noise raging outside the magnificent five-story building.Dozens of guards, dressed in all black and wearing gold badges, stood stiffly in every corner of the hallway. Long spears were held upright, their tips gleaming with a cold light. Their gazes were sharp, sweeping straight ahead without the slightest hint of distraction or fatigue. The defensive formation, usually reserved only for welcoming high-class guests, was now being applied throughout the entire pavilion.In the middle of this stifling escort, Qin Zilong walked casually, following the pale-faced servant who paced before him.His steps were perfectly measured. Not hurried. Nor too slow.A calm aura radiated from his body, as if the uproar of speculation currently sweeping every corner of the City of Black Clouds were absolutely none of his business, nor a part of his life."Sir," the servant in front spoke up, his throat tight, struggling

DOOOONG!The massive bronze bell tolled, its deep resonance slicing through the silence of the Spirit Pill Pavilion's main hall. The sound traveled along the ebony wood walls, echoing and finally fading into a subtle vibration that pressed against the chests of everyone present. The chaotic hum of conversation that had dominated the auction room moments ago vanished instantly. Hundreds of pairs of eyes from every corner of the hall were now fixed sharply on a single point: the main stage.The crystal lamps hanging majestically from the ceiling began to emit a warm, golden glow, illuminating the circular stage that stood solidly in the center of the room. In the tiered rows of seating, several people seemed to hold their breath; their shoulders tensed, and their hands gripped the armrests tightly. The tension was palpable, feeling like an electric current creeping beneath their skin.Tap... Tap... Tap...The rhythmic, calm sound of footsteps echoed from behind the thick black velvet cu

Click.The sound of the jade box’s locking mechanism shifting was incredibly soft. Yet, amidst the sudden, vacuum-like silence of the hall, that tiny sound rang out clearly in everyone's ears. Hundreds of pairs of eyes were fixed unblinkingly on Mu Yanshan’s fingers.The auctioneer did not immediately open the box fully. The middle-aged man deliberately held back, leaving only a sliver of an opening, no wider than a few fingers.Within a few breaths, a fragrance filled the hall. It was not a sharp, nose-stinging aroma, nor was it the heavy, pungent scent of concentrated spices. Instead, it was a natural fragrance—so pure, carrying the freshness of mountain vegetation—that it seemed to make every breath taken by those in the hall feel lighter and cleaner.Several alchemists sitting huddled in the front row straightened their backs instinctively. Their heads snapped upward as if pulled by invisible strings. Their eyes, which had been filled with scrutiny, now widened in shock."That is.