The Gate of Truth was said to be the manifestation of the Great Dao of Truth within heaven and earth, representing the universal principles of reality—a living embodiment of infinite knowledge, following the law of equivalent exchange. Whatever one paid, one would receive in equal measure, without the slightest deviation.
Countless alchemists had pursued the supreme truth, yearning for the day they might behold the Gate of Truth, from which they could obtain endless knowledge—even eternal life. The Philosopher's Stone was the peerless treasure capable of directly summoning this Gate.
Once summoned, one could trade for whatever knowledge one needed, even various priceless treasures.
Sometimes, when encountering a cultivation bottleneck, the Gate of Truth could be summoned to obtain the required knowledge, or even to directly glimpse the Dao's patterns and laws. Immersing oneself in the ocean of truth would naturally lead to sudden enlightenment, and a breakthrough in cultivation would come with ease.
Moreover, the Philosopher's Stone itself was a supreme treasure—a one-time medium linking to the Gate of Truth. Its value was beyond measure, and it was highly coveted by all great powers present.
However, the price demanded for it was no less extraordinary. The sage-robed elder had requested ten heavenly treasures—supreme, exceedingly rare materials used to forge altars. Even among the mighty in the hall, few could produce such a quantity. No one ever thought they had too many of such treasures.
So, though many were burning with desire for the Philosopher's Stone, none spoke lightly.
Ten heavenly treasures was a sky-high price, and finding them was incredibly difficult.
"Ten heavenly treasures—it's a deal."
After a brief pause, Yi Tianxing waved his hand and produced ten heavenly treasures, sending them across. The other party nodded, accepting them, and passed the Philosopher's Stone into Yi Tianxing's hand.
"Substitute Death Puppet—once refined, it can merge into the body. When facing a mortal blow, it will instantly activate, allowing even a Dao Proving–realm great power to die in your place."
With another wave of Yi Tianxing's hand, ten puppets appeared before him. These puppets had no faces—only after refinement and infusion with one's blood essence would they take on a likeness.
Facelessness meant they had no owner.
These were not naturally formed treasures.
They were personally refined by Yi Tianxing.
Within his body, he had awakened the Substitute Death Life Aperture.
Over the years, by tempering and nurturing its origin, he had condensed the Law Pillar within it to ninety percent completion—a level comparable to the origin of a Dao Proving–realm life aperture. Achieving this was only possible due to dual cultivation with his consorts, which spurred the growth of his origin, bolstered by the fate of an Emperor, the blessings of a Fate Dynasty's ruler, and further aided by special means such as using bodhi seeds for enlightenment.
It had taken decades of effort to bring the Substitute Death Life Aperture's origin to ninety percent—solely for the upcoming Slaughter Heaven battle.
Against the Nine Heavens Dao Venerates, no amount of preparation was excessive. The Substitute Death Life Aperture was his contingency plan. However, it could only produce one substitute death talisman for himself. To create more, he imprinted the technique into puppets made from special divine woods.
Fortunately, one of the divine-demonic seeds he had nurtured had grown into a Puppet Treasure Tree, whose branches bore puppet dolls of extremely high-grade material, usable as curse dolls, gu poison vessels, or puppet bodies.
With the right puppet and the corresponding grade of substitute death technique infused, a Substitute Death Puppet could be made.
Even so, Yi Tianxing could only produce one puppet of the highest grade per year.
At his current ninety percent completion, that meant one ninth-grade puppet per year—equivalent to the Dao Proving realm—plus others of lower grades for Dao Platform and Divine Sea realms. Altogether, only nine per year from lowest to highest grade.
The ten before him were all ninth-grade Dao Proving–realm Substitute Death Puppets—ten years' worth of work.
Without question, each was priceless.
Especially with the Slaughter Heaven battle looming, their value was immeasurable. Even great powers who already had life-saving cards couldn't help but feel their hearts stir. This was the most direct life-saving treasure there was—nothing was more valuable than one's life.
It was a second chance at life.
And the higher one's cultivation, the fewer treasures existed that could truly protect them.
Yi Tianxing had just placed ten such treasures on the table. The way many looked at him shifted completely.
No one doubted the puppets' effectiveness—the aura alone proved they were genuine.
"These ten Substitute Death Puppets can be exchanged for heavenly treasures of equal value, or other immortal treasures," Yi Tianxing said without hesitation.
These great powers were all immensely wealthy, many having survived from the previous era, hoarding vast quantities of heaven and earth treasures when the myriad worlds first merged. Now was the perfect opportunity to harvest some of that wealth—miss it, and who knew when the chance would come again.
"A fine life-saving treasure," Ming He Ancestor said with a nod. Still, he made no move to trade; in matters of survival, none could match him. The saying The Sea of Blood never dries, Ming He never dies was no boast. In the Eternal World, the Sea of Blood was vaster than it had been in the Great Desolation—his foundation had only grown.
As long as even one Blood God Child remained, he would not perish and could instantly be reborn.
It was truly maddening.
"This heavenly treasure—does Saint King Yi find it suitable?"
Lü Dongbin smiled, producing a majestic building, upon which several large characters read: Bank.
This was no ordinary building but a treasure-building Bank. Not only could it store coins, it could also store precious items. One could deposit an item in a bank branch and retrieve it from another branch thousands of miles away, instantly, simply by presenting a token—paying only a storage and retrieval fee, which scaled with distance.
At Yellow grade, the bank could store only currency. At Profound grade, it could store items as well. As for Earth grade—none knew its limits. Most importantly, the bank could replicate itself endlessly.
"Agreed," Yi Tianxing said with a nod.
Integrating the bank into Da Yi would have fundamental significance, greatly aiding the growth of the Eternal Coin system.
"I have here an immortal treasure building called Moon-Watching Platform. It is said to allow one to gaze upon the moon, even channel moonlight, and invite moon goddesses to descend. Whether true or not, I cannot say."
Zeus produced a high platform—also a treasure-building.
It could channel lunar essence, producing Lunar Dew daily, whose quality depended on the platform's grade.
"Done," Yi Tianxing said with another nod.
One could never have too many treasure-buildings—each had its own uses.
"I have here a treasure-building called Sword Pavilion. At Yellow grade, it has three levels, corresponding to the Divine Sea, Life Aperture, and Life Map realms. Within it dwell sword slaves of each level. By defeating them, one may obtain unique sword arts or insights into higher sword intent."
An ancient cultivator presented a pavilion—also a heaven-and-earth treasure. The sword slaves existed only within the pavilion and could not leave. It was clearly a trial and training ground.
Yi Tianxing agreed to the exchange.
"I have here a treasure-building called Myriad Buddha Cave. Within dwell countless Buddhist beings and Buddha soldiers—it too serves as a trial ground, and raising it in grade brings great opportunities," said an ancient cultivator wreathed in demonic aura, producing a mountain riddled with caves from which Buddhist chants and mantras emanated.
"Agreed."
Yi Tianxing did not reject it. Buddhist treasures would serve Da Yi just as well—becoming training grounds or sources of Buddhist techniques. Da Yi did not forbid cultivation of Buddhist arts—so long as one did not worship or believe, only practiced. Those who did would still be Da Yi's citizens and human subjects.
Spreading Buddhist belief, however, was forbidden—there was no room in Da Yi for that.
"This Slaughter Heaven battle… I do not know if I will survive. I am alone, with no sect or descendants. The cultivation method I created is passable—this Immortal Gu Scripture I will trade for one Substitute Death Puppet," said an ancient cultivator shrouded in a black robe, producing a jade tome.
"Alright."
Yi Tianxing nodded, understanding the man's intention—clearly wishing to pass on his life's work before the battle, entrusting it to Da Yi so it might find a worthy successor and not be buried forever.