Chapter 15: Seeking Fame at the Treasure-Gathering

"Him?" Shaoyan Xiushui shook his head. "Having cultivated for only a short thirty years, without sufficient accumulation, wanting to make a name for himself at the Immortal Destiny Gathering is nothing but a dream."

His son, standing by, gritted his teeth and said, "Father, this Ji Ning is stepping on our Shaoyan clan to gain fame. For the sake of our clan's face, we should kill him."

"No need for you to worry." Shaoyan Xiushui glanced at his son.

…

While Shaoyan Xiushui, Mu Chuan, the Xiyue Commandery Princess, and Qingliu Immortal were all paying attention to Ji Ning, the guests at the Many Treasures Peak gradually increased. These guests had all come to participate in the upcoming 'Treasure-Gathering'. Among them was a bald old man who walked alone to a cloud and sat down cross-legged.

"Ji Ning?" The bald old man glanced at Ji Ning, who was on a cloud on another distant peak.

"Kill Ji Ning, then reincarnate."

"If I fail to kill Ji Ning, I will be annihilated, body and soul." This bald old man was none other than the 'Fuyun Immortal' who had previously received orders from Xuanji Patriarch. Although he had left the Grand Xia imperial capital over ten thousand years ago and very few in the capital could recognize him, Fuyun Immortal had still changed his appearance and concealed his aura.

Fuyun Immortal sat there, drinking wine casually, but he had chosen his position well—his peripheral vision could fully keep watch on Ji Ning.

"The Tianbao Mountain headquarters is heavily guarded with layers of formations and arrays, and many immortals are stationed here. To kill Ji Ning inside Tianbao Mountain... difficult!" Fuyun Immortal pondered. In truth, he also wanted to simply walk up to Ji Ning, kill him quickly, then self-destruct and reincarnate. But he was also well aware...

Once he made a move, in the blink of an eye, the formations and arrays of Tianbao Mountain headquarters would activate, and he would have almost no chance to kill Ji Ning.

"Wait until he leaves Tianbao Mountain headquarters. As soon as he steps out onto the street outside." Fuyun Immortal thought, "There are no formations or arrays there. I'll strike directly! Although the imperial guards will discover it and rush over quickly, it will still take some time."

"Let you live a little longer." At this moment, Fuyun Immortal's Dao-heart was astonishingly firm.

He had no other distracting thoughts.

Only one thought—kill Ji Ning, then reincarnate!

…

Ji Ning carefully flipped through the intelligence report sent by Yu Qi. The report detailed many of the more famous 'Wanxiang Adepts' in the entire Grand Xia imperial capital. Regarding the upcoming Immortal Destiny Gathering, there were indeed some universally acknowledged most promising candidates. For example, 'Xiamang Zishan' of the Grand Xia royal clan, 'Cangwu Jiu' of the Cangwu clan, 'Xiangtian Xiao' of the Xiangtian clan, 'Shaoyan Xuan' of the Shaoyan clan, Mu Chuan of the Southern Sea, Dan Zhu of the Eastern Sea...

These were the ones who had established great reputations and were recognized as the very top among Wanxiang Adepts.

Although the Black-White College's Slovenly Adept was also recorded in the booklet, he was clearly ranked lower. Slovenly Adept could only be considered the top in Anchan Commandery.

But Mu Chuan, Cangwu Jiu, and others were the very best of an entire major world.

"I'm actually included as well." Ji Ning flipped through and smiled. "My main recorded achievement is killing Shaoyan Nong and a soul-nurturing level Fiendgod." If not for killing Shaoyan Nong and his servant, given Ji Ning's short cultivation time, he would not normally have appeared in this intelligence report.

Suddenly, the maidservant who had been standing behind him stepped forward.

Ji Ning turned to look.

The maidservant smiled and said, "Adept, the Treasure-Gathering is about to begin. May I ask if you wish to participate? If so, you need to pay a deposit of ten thousand catties of liquid elemental essence. If not, you will need to leave."

"A deposit is required to participate in the Treasure-Gathering?" Ji Ning asked in surprise. "And ten thousand catties of liquid elemental essence?"

"This is the rule of our Tianbao Mountain headquarters," the maidservant explained. "Ordinary Treasure-Gatherings do not require a deposit, but the monthly Treasure-Gathering at headquarters gathers treasures from all over the Grand Xia dynasty and even other worlds. There are usually some rare and precious items, extremely rare and valuable. To prevent guests from bidding recklessly and then not buying, a deposit of ten thousand catties of liquid elemental essence is required. If anyone bids and then fails to purchase, we will directly confiscate the ten thousand catties as a penalty."

Ji Ning nodded.

"Also, this ten thousand catties of liquid elemental essence is non-refundable," the maidservant said. "During the Treasure-Gathering, you may freely purchase some treasures. When you finally settle the bill, the ten thousand catties will be deducted."

"So every guest participating in the Treasure-Gathering, regardless, first pays ten thousand catties of liquid elemental essence..." Ji Ning swept his gaze around. "There are over a thousand guests nearby. That alone amounts to over ten million catties of liquid elemental essence."

"We have prepared many treasures as well," the maidservant said.

"Mm." Ji Ning nodded and handed over his elemental essence token, the one he had used earlier for trading treasures.

The maidservant took the token and stepped back to stand aside.

On the Many Treasures Peak, maidservants on various clouds were conversing with guests. Some guests left, but many remained. Some guests even arrived at the last moment, clearly coming specifically for this 'Treasure-Gathering'.

"Shaoyan clan." Ji Ning glanced at Shaoyan Xiushui and the others in the distance. "It seems they've noticed me too. Hmph, my purpose in coming to the Grand Xia imperial capital is to let more people know about me. The more who know me, the better."

The reason Ji Ning was making such a big show of it—

Was to become famous!

The Shaoyan clan had been frantically investigating him and had long known his whereabouts. But some tribes hostile to the Shaoyan clan, such as the strongest among them, the 'Zhuanshui clan', probably still didn't know he was in the Grand Xia imperial capital. So what he needed to do was become famous! Let the many guests at the Treasure-Gathering spread the word.

"Then the various powers in the Grand Xia imperial capital will learn of my existence. If any wish to recruit me, they will likely come to do so." Ji Ning understood well that it was still very difficult for him to oppose the Shaoyan clan alone. He needed to borrow some external force!

Thus, he had to become famous!

It would be even better if his name spread throughout the Grand Xia imperial capital!

……

A moment later.

A huge multicolored auspicious cloud rose from below, on which stood a young woman with long black hair. Riding the cloud, she flew directly into the central void among the nine Treasure Peaks.

"Ladies and gentlemen." The black-haired young woman smiled and bowed in all directions. "The monthly Treasure Competition begins again. This competition is hosted by me, Yukong. Our Tianbao Mountain has prepared one thousand three hundred and sixty-six treasures this time, each one extraordinary and unique. Many come from hidden places, and some even from the celestial realm or beyond the Three Realms."

"As per the usual rules, besides the treasures prepared by Tianbao Mountain, any guests present who wish to sell treasures may also join this competition after our inspection. Our competition only charges a mere half-percent fee, capped at ten thousand catties of primal liquid."

"Alright, enough idle talk. Let us begin the first treasure of this competition."

The black-haired young woman waved her hand, and a strange golden drum-shaped magical treasure appeared floating before her, emitting waves of ripples.

"The War Soul Drum, a Heaven-grade magical treasure. It can be used to harm enemies or to unleash extraordinary combat power from thousands of your own soldiers. Starting price: ten thousand catties of primal liquid! Each bid must increase by at least one thousand catties." The black-haired young woman smiled.

"Eleven thousand catties."

"Twelve thousand catties."

……

Powerful figures from various places at the competition bid one after another, buying treasures one by one. Those who could afford a deposit of ten thousand catties of primal liquid were no ordinary cultivators. Even typical Primordial Daoists would be reluctant to use ten thousand catties as a deposit.

Ji Ning sat aside, drinking wine and watching leisurely.

"Master, aren't you going to bid?" Xiaoqing, however, was stirred to excitement by the competition, thrilled beyond measure.

"No rush." Ji Ning said. "The Shaoyin clan hasn't made a move yet, so why should I be anxious? Besides, no treasure has appeared that I desperately desire."

The treasures Ji Ning had sold earlier were almost all obtained from the Wujiang Immortal Estate and the Shaoyin clan. As for the true gems left by Immortal Juhua, Ji Ning still kept them and hadn't sold them in a hurry. After being baptized by the treasures of the Shaoyin clan, Immortal Wujiang, Immortal Juhua, and the Water Mansion, Ji Ning's standards had become much higher.

"The next treasure is a formation diagram! This diagram is a playful work by the two celestial immortals, the 'Turtle Crab Immortals.' As you all know, the Turtle Crab Immortals received the inheritance of a great power of the Three Realms and are extremely skilled in the art of formations. Although this is just a playful work by the two celestial immortals, it is still quite extraordinary, containing many secrets of formations. The Turtle Crab Immortals once said that fully comprehending this diagram would make one a formation grandmaster." The black-haired young woman smiled. "This formation diagram has a starting price of fifty thousand catties of primal liquid. Ladies and gentlemen, please bid."

"The Turtle Crab Immortals?" Murmurs arose from all sides.

Ji Ning and the Whitewater Marsh both brightened.

The Whitewater Marsh specialized in the path of formations, and Ji Ning also had some understanding of formations. Naturally, they knew of the 'Turtle Crab Immortals.' These two were legendary figures, both celestial immortals of the demon race, and were said to have achieved the highest accomplishments in formations within the major world of the Grand Xia Dynasty. It was also rumored that both had become disciples of a great power of the Three Realms.

"Just a playful work—if it were the two celestial immortals' insights, the price would definitely be far more than fifty thousand catties." Ji Ning glanced at Uncle Bai, who was clearly excited and expectant.

Those on the path of formations naturally yearned for the 'formation diagram' of the Turtle Crab Immortals.

"Fifty-one thousand catties."

"Sixty thousand catties."

The price of the formation diagram rose rapidly. Although the path of formations was difficult and few true geniuses dabbled in it, many who knew they could hardly become celestial immortals threw themselves into studying formations. Some formation grandmasters were even terrifyingly powerful, and a few had even become celestial immortals through formations.

But the path of formations was too abstruse, and since this was only a diagram, the price was destined not to be too high.

"Eighty thousand catties of primal liquid." Shaoyin Xiushui finally spoke. This price was already very high, and the bidders at the competition were rational, not reckless.

"Any higher?" The black-haired young woman scanned the surroundings.

Suddenly—

Ji Ning, who had been silent all along, spoke: "Eighty-five thousand catties of primal liquid!" He raised the price by five thousand catties in one go, a significant increase at this stage.

The black-haired young woman looked over and smiled: "Eighty-five thousand catties, any higher?"

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Guests from various peaks and surrounding clouds naturally looked over to see who had made the bid.

"Eh? A youth in animal skins? A Whitewater Marsh? A Greenwood Snake?" To make a name for himself, Ji Ning had let Xiaoqing revert to her Greenwood Snake form.

"That youth in animal skins... could he be the legendary Ji Ning who killed Shaoyin Nong?"

"Who is Ji Ning?"

"You don't know? The next Feather God Duke of the Shaoyin clan in the Grand Xia capital, Shaoyin Nong, was killed in Anchan Commandery. The killer was Ji Ning! The one who just bid! Look at the two spirit beasts beside him and his attire—yes, it's him."

"Killed Shaoyin Nong?"

"Ji Ning?"

"The one who just bid was Shaoyin Xiushui of the Shaoyin clan. This Ji Ning is competing with Shaoyin Xiushui!"

Once the many guests at the Treasure Peaks noticed Ji Ning, a buzz of discussion arose.

Shaoyin Xiushui's face immediately darkened, while Shaoyin Jun beside her turned red-faced, gnashing his teeth, his eyes blazing with fury as he shouted: "Ninety thousand catties of primal liquid!"