Chapter 14: The Gathering

A blazing star, its surface dotted with lakes of magma.

"Hoo, hoo, hoo~~~" Bubbles rose on the surface of a magma lake. At the edge of the lake, a massive head could faintly be seen emerging.

Suddenly—

The slumbering giant opened its eyes, which still glowed with red light.

"Oh? A treasure-gathering fair?"

Whoosh.

The colossal creature lying deep in the magma lake instantly transformed into a streak of light, which coalesced on the nearby shore into a naked, handsome man. A set of fiery red robes then formed on his body.

"The treasure-gathering fair in the Da Mo territory is starting? It'll be held in ninety-two years?" The handsome man's eyes gleamed with a crimson light. "It's not too far from here. Hmph, over the last ten-plus chaos cycles, I've explored numerous Dao Lord ruins and finally obtained an Eternal Divine Weapon! Adding that to my own Eternal Divine Weapon... perhaps at the fair I can buy that 'Heaven-Stealing Life-and-Death Pill.'"

"The Heaven-Stealing Life-and-Death Pill!"

"At any cost, I must get it!" The handsome man gritted his teeth, then with a whoosh turned into a streak of fire and vanished through the void.

…

"A treasure-gathering fair? At Yi Bo City in the Da Mo Eternal Realm? In eighty-six years?" A woman in a white, elegant robe seated on a majestic throne chuckled softly.

"You were in seclusion, Sect Leader, and I dared not disturb you. If you hadn't emerged by the last year before the fair, I would have had to forcibly interrupt your seclusion... Fortunately, that wasn't necessary." A woman in a purple, elegant robe beside her said with a smile.

"After much effort, we've gathered three thousand square units of chaos liquid. I hope we can buy the treasures we need," the woman in white said softly. "That way, my strength will be enough to rival a peak World God."

…

"A treasure-gathering fair?"

"Let's go, let's take a look and see if there are any treasures we can afford that would be of great use to us."

"Let's go."

Inside a chaos world, three World-level cultivators who had been in seclusion set off together, heading for the Da Mo Eternal Realm.

…

As the Da Mo Lord deliberately spread the news, it first rapidly spread throughout the entire Da Mo territory. Since there were already outposts of various major powers in Yi Bo City, they naturally learned of it at once.

Then the news spread to some surrounding territories.

The reason it was said to be 'held in ninety-nine years' was to allow enough time for the news to spread and for some cultivators from surrounding territories to arrive.

…

The ancient Yi Bo City grew increasingly lively.

One unfamiliar World God and Chaos Immortal after another arrived. Some were from the Da Mo territory itself, but those who were very famous in the Da Mo territory were often World-level cultivators who had lost their ambition and settled down to enjoy life. Those who truly wanted to go further on the path of cultivation were mostly wandering and taking risks, so ordinary Ancestral Gods and Ancestral Immortals did not recognize them.

Of course, cultivators from surrounding territories also came to Yi Bo City.

"Master, when it's completely dark, the treasure-gathering fair will begin." The thin, sinister Wild Dog Ancestral God followed behind Ji Ning.

"So beautiful." Fire Fairy Su Youji exclaimed in admiration.

"Mm."

Ji Ning nodded slightly.

The sky had already darkened. The Eternal Realm was created by an ancient mighty being, so it also had night and day.

"Whoosh~~~" The distant Ten Thousand Treasures Palace was dazzling and radiant, surrounded by ribbons of light. It was the most eye-catching building in all of Yi Bo City. At a glance, World Gods and Chaos Immortals could be seen entering the palace one after another.

"World Gods and Chaos Immortals, rarely seen on ordinary days, are now so numerous," Ji Ning remarked in admiration.

"Of course they are. Probably most of the World-level cultivators in the entire Da Mo territory have come, along with those from other territories..." Su Youji was extremely excited.

"Let's go. We should go in first," Ji Ning said.

With that, he led Su Youji and the Wild Dog Ancestral God toward the Ten Thousand Treasures Palace.

The Ten Thousand Treasures Palace was bustling and lively. At the palace gate, a World God and a Chaos Immortal stood guard.

"Please, fellow Daoist."

"Please enter, fellow Daoist."

Two disciples of the Great Mo Institute spoke with smiles on their faces.

And these World Gods and Chaos Immortals participating in the treasure assembly also returned the greetings politely, after all, this was the territory of the Great Mo Institute, and the prestige of the 'Great Mo Dao Lord' of the Great Mo Institute held strong deterrent power in the surrounding several territories.

Those below the World level, come this way.

A maidservant also guided them.

“Master, so many World-level powerhouses.” A True Immortal followed a Patriarch Spirit in fear, this Patriarch Spirit was quite famous in his own homeland, but now he was cautious, afraid of offending anyone.

“Just watch.” That Patriarch Spirit was also keeping a low profile at the moment, obediently going to the side door.

“This treasure assembly is extraordinary, all the treasures are exceptional, so cultivators below the World level who wish to enter must possess more than ten cubic chaos liquid to be allowed in. Please understand, fellow Daoist.” At the side door, two maidservants stood, one of them said politely.

“Of course, of course.”

“Alright, fellow Daoist, please enter.”

Order reigned before the Ten Thousand Treasures Palace.

World-level cultivators could enter directly, but Patriarch Spirits and Patriarch Immortals needed to see if they had the qualifications; otherwise, a large number of Patriarch Spirits and Patriarch Immortals would come to join the fun, and the Ten Thousand Treasures Palace couldn't accommodate so many people.

……

Ji Ning, dressed in white, along with the fiery and alluring Su Youji and the gloomy Wild Dog Patriarch Spirit, also headed toward the Ten Thousand Treasures Palace.

“Those below the World level, come this way.” A maidservant came to guide them.

In the distance, at the palace gate, two disciples of the Great Mo Institute, including that Chaos Immortal, noticed this and quickly walked over, scolding, “Step back.”

The maidservant was startled.

These maidservants were merely hired and were not true disciples of the Great Mo Institute.

“Brother Beiming, why didn’t you come with the other fellow disciples?” The Seven Colors Immortal smiled, this was the Seven Colors Immortal, who was quite close to Ji Ning within the Great Mo Institute.

“I came out first to look around and see the sights. There really are a lot of World-level cultivators today.” Ji Ning smiled.

“Indeed, many. Normally, when would you have the chance to see so many World-level cultivators? Only the treasure assembly attracts World-level cultivators from all directions and many territories. Besides World-level cultivators, there are even Dao Lords coming.” The Seven Colors Immortal lowered his voice mysteriously.

“Oh?” Ji Ning was surprised.

A Dao Lord?

“Beiming, go directly to the third floor. That’s where our Great Mo Institute people are. No need to stay in the hall downstairs.” The Seven Colors Immortal quickly said.

“Alright.” Ji Ning nodded. “Go attend to your duties. I know you have a lot to do today.”

“Haha.” The Seven Colors Immortal smiled and returned to the palace gate. Ji Ning, with Su Youji and the Wild Dog Patriarch Spirit, entered directly through the main gate of the Ten Thousand Treasures Palace, which made some of the other Chaos Immortals and World Gods entering glance at them with slight confusion.

“Beiming.”

“Brother Beiming, over here.”

Some Great Mo Institute disciples managing order in the hall saw Ji Ning and immediately guided him.

“Brother Beiming, go straight to the third floor.” Ji Ning was led to the third floor, where there were many quiet rooms, all places where Great Mo Institute disciples stayed. Ji Ning was also assigned one.

……

Ji Ning, Su Youji, and the Wild Dog Patriarch Spirit were in the room, looking down through the large window at the huge hall below.

In the hall, there were many seats. Many World Gods and Chaos Immortals sat down, while Patriarch Spirits and Patriarch Immortals sat below. Of course, on the second floor of the hall, there were also many rooms, which required spending 'ten cubic chaos liquid' to occupy one. Ten cubic chaos liquid was enough to buy a Dao artifact weapon—too expensive, so even among World Gods and Chaos Immortals, over ninety-nine percent stayed in the main hall.

A very few who didn't want to reveal their identities went to the second floor.

The top floor of the hall was the most spacious. At that moment, a woman in white was sitting cross-legged, with a stick of incense burning beside her. The fragrance curled upward, and there was unprecedented silence.

“Qianying.”

Two people walked in from outside: the Great Mo Dao Lord in a green robe and a beautiful woman.

“Great Mo, Sister Yanyan.” The woman in white nodded lightly.

“The Dragon Lord has also come.” The Great Mo Dao Lord said.

“Dragon Lord?” The woman in white, sitting cross-legged, frowned upon hearing this, with a hint of disgust.

At that moment, a man walked in from outside, wearing a golden Dao robe, quite dignified and noble in bearing, with some scales on his forehead. It was the Dragon Lord Dao Lord. The Dragon Lord Dao Lord looked at the woman in white and said with a smile, “Immortal Qianying, I didn’t expect that the one escorting the treasures this time would be Immortal Qianying. If I had known, I would have taken the trouble to do it myself. Why put the immortal through such hardship?”

“I dare not trouble you.” The woman in white said indifferently.

The Dragon Lord Dao Lord smiled at this, but his smile was somewhat cold.