Chapter 17: Water Element Rebound

Treasures were sold one after another, though occasionally one or two found no takers among the cultivators.

In the blink of an eye, three days had passed since the treasure-gathering began, yet all the cultivators in the hall grew even more fervent, for the best treasures were saved for last—the later the stage, the more valuable the items.

“The treasure I present this time is a suit of armor,” said the Silver-Eyed Fairy with a smile, her voice echoing in the ears of tens of thousands of cultivators. “It is the most unique armor in this treasure-gathering.”

“Oh?”

All the cultivators’ eyes lit up, and they listened intently.

Ji Ning also watched closely.

“The most unique armor?” Even the Dao Lords in the topmost floor looked down into the hall.

“Sister Qianying, what unique armor?” Shuifengzi asked curiously.

The white-robed woman, Dao Lord Qianying, smiled. “Big brother, just watch. You know the rules: treasures at the gathering are forbidden from being revealed in advance.”

“Let’s see what treasure it is.” Dao Lord Longshen also smiled.

Dao Lord Damo and his wife watched with curiosity as well.

…

“Such precious armor is rarely seen even in the many treasure-gatherings across numerous territories recently. At least, this is the first time such a treasure has appeared in the gatherings I have presided over.” The Silver-Eyed Woman’s words further piqued the curiosity of all cultivators present. Was this armor truly so rare?

“I suspect you have all heard of it, but few have seen it.”

The Silver-Eyed Woman extended her crystalline right hand, and on her palm appeared a tiny suit of armor. As it flew upward, it quickly grew to normal size. The armor seemed ordinary, with only a thin layer of frost faintly forming on its surface.

“This armor is called the Frosthorn Armor,” the Silver-Eyed Woman said with a smile. “It is suitable for cultivators who have gained insights into the Water Element. It may seem ordinary—merely a top-grade Dao artifact armor.”

“However, it possesses a rebound effect.”

“Whether in close combat or when attacking with artifacts, any strike that lands on this armor will rebound with equal force.”

As her words fell,

the entire hall erupted in exclamations.

“Rebound with equal force?” All the cultivators were shocked. This meant that if someone desperately struck with a sword, the moment the attack landed, the armor would rebound an attack of equal power. In close combat, this would make fighting impossible.

“With this treasure, a World God skilled in close combat could fight an opponent a level higher.”

“This is too heaven-defying.”

World Gods generally had strong divine bodies, and this was a top-grade Dao artifact armor. Even if an opponent was one or two levels stronger, they could not directly destroy the divine body. As long as the first strike did not kill, the same power would rebound. Even if the opponent was stronger, the fight would become troublesome.

Ji Ning’s heart burned with desire. This was definitely armor suited for close combat. With his strong divine body and the power of the blue flower mist, he was even more formidable. Once he became a World God… he would be even stronger in close combat. Such armor would be like a tiger gaining wings.

…

“Water Element rebound?” The Dao Lords in the top floor were puzzled.

“It’s just Water Element rebound,” Dao Lord Longshen frowned. “Although such rebound armor is relatively rare, almost every treasure-gathering has one or two pieces. Dao Lord Qianying, your subordinate was exaggerating earlier. What does she mean by ‘rarely seen in many treasure-gatherings across numerous territories’ and ‘the first time in her gatherings’? Is this her first time presiding?”

“Water Element rebound?”

Tianqingzi, Shuifengzi, Dao Lord Damo and his wife were also puzzled. To World Gods, it was exciting, but to them, Dao Lords, such items were common.

“She has presided over at least a hundred treasure-gatherings.” Dao Lord Qianying cast a cold glance at Dao Lord Longshen. “Just don’t bid later.”

“Don’t bid?” Dao Lord Longshen was startled.

What did that mean?

Would this armor attract his bid? Ridiculous. As a Dao Lord, he used Eternal Divine Artifacts.

…

“The divine rune restrictions within this armor are profound and marvelous,” the Silver-Eyed Woman announced loudly. “It contains seven layers of divine rune restrictions. If a cultivator’s attainment in the Water Element is high enough, reaching the perfection stage, and refines all seven layers… wearing this armor will allow the formation of the ‘Frosthorn Domain’.”

“The Frosthorn Domain can spread over ten thousand miles.”

“Within this domain, all attacks rebound with equal force.”

“The base price for the Frosthorn Armor is five thousand cubic meters of Chaos Nectar,” the Silver-Eyed Woman declared. “Let the bidding begin!”

As her words fell, the hall fell silent.

Five thousand cubic meters?

Are you kidding me?

"How can it be this expensive?" Ji Ning, who had originally had some ideas, was completely dumbfounded. Five thousand cubic meters—how much did he even have in total? And from what he knew, ten thousand cubic meters of Chaos liquid could buy an Eternal weapon. The base price of this treasure was so high, it was clearly at the level of an Eternal weapon.

"How can it be this high?"

"There was also a water-element rebelling armor at the last treasure-gathering, and it wasn't this expensive."

"This is too outrageous."

"The base price for treasures at the Lesser Thousand Ancestor God Formation's treasure-gathering is usually only around a hundred and fifty cubic meters."

The tens of thousands of cultivators in the hall first fell silent, then began whispering among themselves. After all, even a top-grade Dao weapon was only a few dozen cubic meters! The warblade Ji Ning had sold for the first time was at that price. For a set of treasures like the 'Everfrost Banner,' which contained nine fiendish demons and were all top-grade Dao weapons, the low end was a hundred or two hundred cubic meters, and the high end was a few hundred at most.

Five thousand cubic meters?

That was a price that more than ninety-nine percent of World-level cultivators could only stare at in shock.

"Ten thousand cubic meters!"

"Twelve thousand cubic meters!"

"Dragon God Daolord, weren't you looking down on it earlier? Fifteen thousand cubic meters."

Suddenly, voices came from the highest pavilion at the side of the hall, putting pressure on all the cultivators, including Ji Ning. Among the World Gods present, there were indeed some terrifying experts. After all, this place gathered World-level powers from several nearby territories, and some were even stronger than Northrest World God.

There were those who could pull out tens of thousands of cubic meters. But was it worth it for just a top-grade Dao armor?

...

The pavilion.

"Thousand Shadows Daolord, your insights into the water element aren't as high as mine. I think you'd better stop competing," Dragon God Daolord said with a smile, then called out again, "Eighteen thousand cubic meters."

"Dragon God, lad." As soon as Water Wind spoke, Dragon God Daolord's face darkened, but Water Wind's strength far surpassed his. "Don't compete with my sister Thousand Shadows. This top-grade Dao armor, though it has seven layers of divine rune restrictions, didn't you hear? As long as one reaches the World-level perfection in the water element, they can refine the seventh layer. My sister Thousand Shadows can certainly do that."

"If it weren't for the rules, I would have taken this treasure long ago and wouldn't have let it appear at the treasure-gathering," Thousand Shadows Daolord said, glancing at Dragon God Daolord. Although she was responsible for escorting it, she dared not violate the rules. All treasures must have their information kept secret before the treasure-gathering, and they must be competed for at the event.

This was a rule that had been passed down for who knows how many chaos cycles.

"Twenty thousand cubic meters," Thousand Shadows Daolord called out again.

"Twenty-one thousand cubic meters," Dragon God Daolord continued.

"Yan'er, there's no way," Grandmist Daolord said to his wife beside him.

"Forget it. I don't go out to fight much anyway," the beautiful woman said with a smile.

"Frosthorn Domain... I wonder who refined it," Grandmist Daolord mused. "As long as one is within the domain, they suffer water-element rebounding. So if an enemy attacks, as long as they don't stop, they'll face wave after wave of rebounding, unceasing until they stop! Even if this armor doesn't suppress Daolords as much, and the opponent is strong, by the time they cross the entire domain, their power will likely be weakened by more than half."

Once the Frosthorn Domain appeared, each wave of rebounding could continuously weaken an enemy's attack for a Daolord.

Even just this water-element weakening domain alone was highly valuable.

"Thirty-eight thousand cubic meters."

"Forty thousand cubic meters."

Dragon God Daolord and Thousand Shadows Daolord were in full competition. Among Life Daolords, they were neither the strongest nor the weakest. In fact, it was those at their level who needed such treasures the most. For Daolords like Grandmist, Tianqing, and Water Wind, the opponents they faced were so terrifying that this Frosthorn Domain couldn't threaten them.

"Fifty thousand cubic meters," Thousand Shadows Daolord called out again.

"Damn it." Dragon God Daolord's face turned ashen. He had only come to browse and pick up bargains, not prepared with much Chaos liquid. Thousand Shadows Daolord, who was responsible for escorting the treasures, had known about this armor long ago, even though she couldn't leak the information, and had surely prepared Chaos liquid well in advance.

At this price, Thousand Shadows Daolord wasn't exactly getting a bargain; it was generally around this price. But as the silver-eyed woman hosting the treasure-gathering had said, such armor was very rare! Too rare! For Daolords, it was both cheap and practical, most suitable for those of average strength.

...

The Frosthorn Armor eventually ended the bidding at fifty thousand cubic meters of Chaos liquid, shocking countless cultivators, especially Ancestor Gods and Ancestor Immortals.

Three hours after the Frosthorn Armor bidding ended.

"This treasure is also an armor, called the 'Water Element Armor,' and it's also a water-element rebounding treasure," the silver-eyed woman said. "However, this armor only has three layers of divine rune restrictions, so the enemy's attack must land on the armor for the water-element rebounding to occur. It doesn't have a Frosthorn Domain like the previous one."

As she spoke, she extended her right hand, and an armor flew up from her palm. This armor was silver-white and looked prettier than the Frosthorn Armor.

The armor flew up and hovered above.

This scene immediately drew the burning gazes of many cultivators, including Ji Ning.

"Water Element Armor, base price two hundred cubic meters of Chaos liquid. Begin bidding," the silver-eyed woman said.

Ji Ning breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

Now this was a normal price.