The day of the trade finally arrived.
Disguised as the cultivator he had imprisoned, Solanky made his way to the city's central district, gathering with the other invited participants outside the residence of the city's guardian and protector.
Every person present was a Mid-Stage Entity-Level cultivator.
Among them, the identity Solanky had assumed held the highest prestige.
The man was a renowned alchemist and master craftsman whose contributions had played a crucial role in constructing the city's defensive weapons.
Not long afterward, a magnificent spaceship descended before them.
Solanky raised an eyebrow.
He found the choice rather unusual.
Entity-Level cultivators could already traverse collapsed space, travel across vast distances, and even cross fragmented timelines with their physical bodies alone.
Why rely on a spaceship?
Standing at the entrance was a Peak Entity-Level cultivator.
He welcomed everyone before speaking calmly.
"The trade is held within a concealed independent space."
"Only authorized carriers such as this vessel are permitted to enter."
"Without them, even if you know the location, you will never reach the trading grounds."
The participants exchanged knowing glances before boarding without another word.
The destination matched the memories Solanky had obtained from the captive cultivator.
Once the ship departed, every trace of the outside world disappeared.
Space, direction, and even one's perception of distance were completely sealed away.
Only cultivators whose spiritual sense and consciousness had reached the level of a Saint or Saint Venerable transcendent entity could accurately perceive the route being taken.
A faint smile appeared beneath Solanky's disguise.
Nothing escaped his senses.
He quietly sat cross-legged inside the cabin with a cauldron before him.
Closing his eyes, he pretended to refine pills, using the act as an excuse to avoid idle conversation with the other passengers.
Several hours later, the ship slowed before coming to a complete stop.
The cabin doors opened.
The Peak Entity-Level cultivator stood outside holding a collection of identity tokens.
Each token represented the participant's assigned residence and seat during the trade.
One after another, everyone disembarked.
As each participant reached the entrance, they received their respective token.
When it was Solanky's turn, the Peak Entity-Level cultivator carefully looked him over.
"Master."
"Be careful during this gathering."
"There are many who secretly covet alchemists."
"You people always possess extraordinary pills and priceless treasures."
Solanky smiled and accepted the reminder.
"Thank you."
As he received the token, he discreetly examined the man's cultivation.
He immediately determined that the guard had only recently stepped into the Peak Entity Level.
Leaving the ship, Solanky looked ahead.
Before him floated an enormous continent suspended within endless space.
Countless colossal whirlpools revolved around its perimeter.
One after another, spaceships emerged from the swirling gateways, each escorted by a Peak Entity-Level cultivator.
Following the flow of participants, Solanky stepped onto the continent.
Around a vast stone platform stood rows of elegant residences prepared for the guests.
The central platform itself stretched for several hundred meters and radiated ancient formations.
Activating the token with a strand of world energy, Solanky disappeared.
The next instant, he appeared inside his private residence.
After taking his seat, he spread his spiritual sense across the entire residential district.
No conversation...
No fluctuation...
No movement escaped his perception.
Closing his eyes once more, he immersed himself in comprehending the crimson engravings within his consciousness while simultaneously creating and refining new techniques.
Suddenly, a powerful voice echoed throughout the entire trade grounds.
"Welcome, everyone, to the Sixty-First Century Trade Gathering."
"Please prepare yourselves."
"The trade shall begin shortly."
The Saint-Level transcendent protector respectfully stepped aside.
An Early Saint Emperor transcendent entity slowly walked onto the platform.
She was today's officiator.
Removing the veil covering her face, she revealed features as flawless as polished jade.
Her skin possessed the delicate luster of fine porcelain.
Yet beneath that beauty rested unquestionable authority.
Her calm voice carried effortlessly across the gathering.
"The Sixty-First Century Trade officially begins."
"If you wish to purchase or exchange any treasure, conduct your transactions through your identity token."
"The trade house will oversee every exchange."
Her gaze swept across every participant.
"And remember..."
"If anyone violates the rules while inside this space..."
"I have no objection to personally erasing them."
Her words immediately extinguished the thoughts of several participants who had secretly planned to ambush others after the trade.
No one dared challenge a Saint Emperor.
The auction officially began.
The first item was a treasured blade forged by a Peak Entity-Level master craftsman.
Solanky paid it little attention.
The only object that truly interested him was the invitation to visit the Desolation God's Sect.
After several rounds of bidding, the blade sold for one hundred Blue Entity Life Crystals.
Entity Life Crystals served as the universal currency throughout this region of the Beyond Realm.
Blue crystals were condensed from the life essence of deceased Early Entity-Level cultivators.
Green crystals originated from Mid-Stage Entity-Level experts.
Red Entity Life Crystals were the rarest among ordinary entities, formed from the essence of Peak Entity-Level cultivators.
Before attending the gathering, Solanky had already learned the local currency system by exchanging several of his refined pills through his identity as a respected alchemist.
Those transactions alone had earned him thousands of Red Entity Life Crystals.
The pills he had casually refined greatly benefited Peak Entity-Level cultivators.
Mid-Stage Entity-Level cultivators desperately sought them to prepare for breakthroughs, while Peak Entity-Level experts viewed them as invaluable treasures for strengthening their foundations.
One treasure after another appeared on the auction platform.
Rare herbs...
Ancient weapons...
Exotic ores...
Powerful inheritances...
Each found eager buyers.
The Saint Emperor officiator gently cleared her throat.
"From this point onward..."
"The items presented will all be treasures suitable for Peak Entity-Level cultivators."
"If your crystals are insufficient, valuable exchanges will also be accepted."
The atmosphere instantly became lively.
Moments later...
A delicate medicinal fragrance spread across the entire venue.
Every cultivator instinctively inhaled.
Immediately, their minds became clearer, and their bodies felt remarkably refreshed.
Expressions of astonishment appeared everywhere.
The Saint Emperor calmly closed the jade box containing the pills.
The fragrance disappeared at once.
She held up the box.
"These pills were personally provided by a mysterious master alchemist."
She paused.
"Even I..."
"...cannot detect a single flaw in them."
A trace of admiration appeared in her eyes.
"Had these pills not been submitted after the official list had already been finalized..."
"They would undoubtedly have ranked among the top three treasures of this century's trade."
"The starting price..."
"Fifty Red Entity Life Crystals per pill."
The crowd erupted.
A Saint Emperor's evaluation carried extraordinary authority.
Everyone understood what her words truly implied.
Had the pills been listed from the beginning, their value would easily have doubled.
Several influential clans immediately began rearranging their financial resources through private communications.
Such opportunities rarely appeared even once in countless years.
Among every treasure displayed today...
Only these pills had received direct praise from a Saint Emperor.
That alone made them priceless.
Meanwhile, the officiator quietly studied the calm old man seated among the participants.
Her thoughts stirred.
"Aside from the Transcendent Grass of Eternity..."
"These pills are the greatest surprise of today's gathering."
She continued observing Solanky.
"Who exactly is this mysterious Mid-Stage Entity-Level cultivator?"
"He hasn't shown the slightest excitement toward any treasure presented so far."
"Could it be..."
"...that his true objective is the invitation to the Desolation God's Sect?"
A faint smile appeared within her heart.
"After the trade ends..."
"I'll follow him personally."
"I want to discover who he truly is."
Because countless participants desperately wanted the pills, the fixed sale immediately transformed into a competitive auction.
After several intense rounds of bidding...
Each pill ultimately sold for two hundred Red Entity Life Crystals.
Even Solanky found himself slightly surprised.
He had refined those pills almost casually.
Yet each one was worth enough wealth for an ordinary Peak Entity-Level cultivator to purchase a spacious Cave World, establish a powerful cultivation ground, or raise rare spiritual beasts and precious heavenly plants.
The Saint Emperor waved her hand once more.
A magnificent sword appeared before everyone.
Its appearance resembled the legendary Excalibur.
Drawing the weapon from its scabbard, she casually slashed upward.
Instantly...
Seven hundred sword energies erupted into existence.
The surrounding space split apart like fragile paper.
After returning the sword to its scabbard, she announced,
"This treasure was forged personally by a Saint Venerable transcendent entity."
"It draws directly upon the surrounding realm's energy to unleash devastating attacks."
"The opening bid..."
"Five hundred Red Entity Life Crystals."
Solanky quietly activated his Eye Observation Technique.
Within moments, he discovered countless flaws hidden throughout the weapon's construction.
Although forged by a Saint Venerable...
Its craftsmanship was imperfect.
At best, it could only unleash attacks comparable to an ordinary Saint-Level transcendent entity.
Losing interest, he simply watched the bidding continue.
The price steadily climbed.
One thousand...
Two thousand...
Three thousand...
Finally...
Three thousand five hundred Red Entity Life Crystals.
The sword was sold.
Solanky sighed inwardly.
"That weapon may become their clan's treasured heirloom..."
"But it may also become the cause of their destruction."
"Greed has ruined countless sects."
The Saint Emperor waited until the excitement subsided before raising another item.
In her hand rested an ancient token engraved with mysterious runes.
A faint ripple spread across the venue.
Everyone immediately recognized it.
The invitation.
The Desolation God's Sect invitation.
Looking across the gathered cultivators, the officiator spoke with a faint smile.
"The next item..."
"...is the invitation token granting entry into the Desolation God's Sect."
"I believe every one of you understands its value."
"The starting bid..."
"Five thousand Red Entity Life Crystals."