Chapter 143: Demon's Burning Blood Crystal
When he sent Xia Yuanba back to the training room, the other four were all already gone. He didn't know if they had crawled to the Medicine Mansion for treatment. Yun Che then left the outer mansion and headed towards the Black Moon Merchant Guild, his mind heavy with thoughts.
"Thinking about Xia Yuanba's profound vein?" Mo Li's voice rang out in his heart.
Yun Che paused mid-step, then asked seriously, "Yuanba's profound vein—is it really that 'Overlord Emperor Divine Meridian' you mentioned? If so, what kind of profound vein is it exactly?"
Mo Li's reply was brief and harsh: "His profound vein is indeed an extremely rare Overlord Emperor Divine Meridian, without a doubt. On this Tian Xuan Continent, he is the only one I have seen with such a vein. However, the Overlord Emperor Divine Meridian can become a true divine meridian in some people, but in him, it is a complete waste vein."
"Why?"
"The reason it is called the Overlord Emperor Divine Meridian is not because once awakened, it will produce power capable of dominating the world. Rather, to awaken the Overlord Emperor Divine Meridian, one needs the heart of a conqueror and the desire of an emperor. One needs an incredibly intense longing for power—so intense that it surpasses everything else. Once awakened, its owner will surely dominate a region and claim the title of emperor or king. But if it fails to awaken, it is not obvious at the Initial Xuan Realm. However, once one steps into the Xuan Entry Realm and their profound power matures, each subsequent level of advancement will require at least ten times the effort of an ordinary person! Moreover, for their entire life, they can only remain at the Xuan Entry Realm, forever unable to break through to the True Xuan Realm."
"As for this Xia Yuanba, his temperament is not weak, but it is definitely not strong. He lacks the heart of a conqueror and the desire of an emperor. As for profound power, he merely admires it—at most, he is obsessed with it, but far from the point of crazed longing. This Overlord Emperor Divine Meridian in him will never awaken. Therefore, not only can it not give him any assistance, but it will instead become his greatest burden. Even if he exhausts a lifetime of effort, he can never hope to break through the Xuan Entry Realm."
Yun Che was silent for a long time.
He had no doubt about Mo Li's words.
He also understood clearly that the heart of a conqueror and the desire of an emperor were things that could not be cultivated. Even if he told Xia Yuanba that if he just ignited a fierce desire for profound power, he would obtain miraculous strength... such things could not be inspired by words alone.
"If—I mean, if Xia Yuanba's Overlord Emperor Divine Meridian were to awaken, would his profound power skyrocket?" Yun Che probed cautiously.
Mo Li was silent for a moment, then calmly said words that shocked Yun Che's heart...
"His profound power would, in a single night, directly break through to the King Xuan Realm... or even the Overlord Xuan Realm!"
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The Black Moon Merchant Guild in the Cangfeng Imperial City was the headquarters of the Black Moon Merchant Guild in the Cang Feng Empire and also the largest in the entire empire. Its location was not far from the Cangfeng Mystic Palace. When he first entered the imperial city, Lan Xueruo had specially brought him here for a visit, so he quickly found the guild's location.
Compared to the Black Moon Merchant Guild in New Moon City, the imperial city's branch could only be described as magnificent.
This Black Moon Merchant Guild was dozens of zhang high and covered an area of hundreds of zhang square. The entire building exuded an indescribable, transcendent nobility. Above the tall main gate, a pitch-black crescent moon hung in midair, and the four large characters "Black Moon Merchant Guild" embedded across it shimmered brilliantly under the sunlight.
Yun Che arrived before the main gate of the Black Moon Merchant Guild. The door opened automatically, and a tall, attractive welcome attendant greeted him with a dignified smile. "Honored guest, welcome to the Black Moon Merchant Guild. Please, come in."
The Black Moon Merchant Guild in New Moon City was at most a small branch; in terms of service quality, it was incomparable. As Yun Che entered the interior, he marveled at its splendor and grandeur. However, the vast hall, aside from the many beautiful young attendants, had very few guests, making it seem somewhat quiet. But Yun Che was not at all surprised, because the Black Moon Merchant Guild never sold ordinary items—especially at this headquarters in the Cang Feng Empire. Whether buying or consigning, the prices were always measured in Purple Mysterious Coins as the basic unit. It was impossible to buy anything for less than one Purple Mysterious Coin here. So although the guild had few customers, every single transaction brought in a fortune.
"Honored guest, what do you require?" the attendant who had welcomed him asked with a polite smile.
"I need three Azure Mystic Crystals," Yun Che stated directly.
"Items such as precious jades and crystals are on the third floor. Please follow me."
The attendant gave a slight bow, then gracefully walked ahead, leading Yun Che to the third floor.
The third floor was even quieter, with no guests at all. The moment he stepped onto the third floor, Yun Che felt an incredibly rich spiritual energy wash over his face. Looking around, the vast floor was filled with all kinds of exquisite jade boxes and wooden boxes. These boxes were clearly extraordinary items of high value, yet here they were merely used for storage, showing how valuable the contents inside must be.
At the same time, waves of profound force emanations came from all around. Yun Che quickly sensed that the area was covered in invisible formations—both defensive and offensive. Should any incident occur, these formations would activate immediately... of course, that was only if someone was bold enough to cause trouble at the Black Moon Merchant Guild.
"Qiao Lao, this guest needs three Azure Mystic Crystals."
The attendant approached an old man and said respectfully.
The old man glanced indifferently at Yun Che, then expressionlessly stood up. After a moment, he returned with three Azure Mystic Crystals in jade boxes, placed them before Yun Che, and said mechanically, "Three Purple Mysterious Coins each, total of nine Purple Mysterious Coins."
Yun Che placed nine Purple Mysterious Coins on the counter, then put away the three Azure Mystic Crystals, completing the transaction.
"Honored guest, do you have any other needs?" the attendant asked with a smile. At this Black Moon Merchant Guild, every guest had a one-on-one attendant who accompanied them from entry until departure.
Yun Che was about to say no when his nose twitched. His gaze shifted left, locking onto a jade box not far to the old man's right. He then spoke, "What is the price of that Demon's Burning Blood Crystal over there? If it's reasonable, I'll buy it."
The old man, who had maintained a rigid expression, looked at Yun Che with slight surprise and finally spoke, "Young man, the Demon's Burning Blood Crystal forms in places of extreme evil and extreme yang. It is rare in the world, and very few have seen it. How do you know that jade box contains a Demon's Burning Blood Crystal?"
Yun Che smiled lightly and replied, "By coincidence, this junior once came into contact with a Demon's Burning Blood Crystal before. Its aura of extreme evil and extreme yang left a deep impression on me. Although the jade box weakens the aura, this unique aura belongs only to the Demon's Burning Blood Crystal, so your junior recognized it immediately."
"Heh heh, it seems that despite your youth, your knowledge is already broad. May I ask what use you have for this Demon's Burning Blood Crystal? You do not appear to be a fire-type Xuan practitioner," the old man said slowly.
Yun Che maintained his smile and calmly replied, "Does the New Moon Mystic Palace also need to be responsible for how its sold items are used?"
The old man gave a faint smile, didn't press further, and brought the box over, placing it before Yun Che. "Six hundred Purple Mysterious Coins."
Yun Che deftly took out his Xuan Coin Card, deducted six hundred Purple Mysterious Coins, opened the jade box to check, and then put the Demon's Burning Blood Crystal away. Currently, he possessed the Phoenix Flame Force, and this crystal would bring him great benefits. In certain critical situations, forcibly swallowing the Demon's Burning Blood Crystal could temporarily allow him to release flames of greatly increased power.
At the same time, because it was extremely yang and extremely evil, the Demon's Burning Blood Crystal could cure various powerful ice poisons.
Having achieved his goal, Yun Che left under the attendant's guidance. Just as he reached the stairway, he saw an attendant leading a woman in white coming from the opposite direction.
This woman had her face veiled with ice silk gauze. She wore a pure, flawless snow-white garment, and the thin ice gauze obscured her features, revealing only a pair of cold, diamond-like beautiful eyes. The small amount of exposed skin was as fair as mutton-fat jade and as flawless as fresh snow. Under her snow-white dress, her figure was alluring and perfectly proportioned, indescribably elegant. She exuded a transcendent, ethereal grace, like a celestial maiden from the highest heavens—holy and noble, untouched by worldly dust. It almost seemed that even a single extra glance would be an act of desecration.
Yun Che couldn't help but stare. Though he couldn't see her face clearly, he was absolutely certain she was an extremely beautiful woman. Even without revealing her features, her mere bearing and figure were so breathtakingly beautiful that it made one's heart uncontrollably sway... This was the first time since Xia Qingyue that Yun Che had felt such a stunning impression from a woman.
Even if someone told him now that this woman was a fairy descended to earth, he wouldn't doubt it.
In the face of Yun Che's stare, the woman seemed completely oblivious. Her cold, beautiful eyes showed not the slightest ripple. When she passed by Yun Che, she brought a faint, cool, fragrant breeze.
Yun Che's gaze involuntarily followed her, admiring her dreamlike, beautiful back for a long moment before reluctantly turning to follow the attendant down the stairs... Appreciating beautiful things was a great pleasure, and Yun Che never suppressed such desires.
"This small Cangfeng Imperial City truly harbors hidden dragons and crouching tigers," Mo Li's voice suddenly sounded.
Yun Che thought for a moment and said, "Are you talking about that woman in white just now?"
"When you looked at her, your heartbeat clearly quickened, and some kind of desire stirred in your soul. Hmph, this might be the most detestable shortcoming of you men. But you better not try anything with her. At least for you now, the level you and she occupy is worlds apart!" Mo Li said coldly.
"…What do you mean?"
"Heavenly Xuan Realm, tenth-level peak… Half-step King Xuan! Enough to rank among the top ten experts of the Cang Feng Empire!"
Yun Che was so shocked that his legs nearly gave way, and he almost tumbled down the stairs.
After Yun Che went downstairs, the woman in white was led by the attendant to the old man. The attendant said respectfully, "Qiao Lao, this honored guest needs a Demon's Burning Blood Crystal."