The auction hall erupted into absolute chaos as the bid for the Star-Core Fruit smashed through the thirty million astral stone threshold. Yet, inside the VIP booth, the air was ice-cold. Li Xian’s gaze remained locked on the shadowed figure in the highest tier, whose dark cloak seemed to swallow the light around it.
— Little Ling, keep your eye on the central core of the island through our soul bond, — Li Xian instructed in a quiet, steady tone. — Make sure no spatial ripples enter the perimeter while we're inside the Hub.
— Understood, Master! — Little Ling nodded sharply, her tiny hands forming a subtle protective seal. — The Ley Lines are on high alert.
Up on the central stage, Manager Chen slammed his wooden gavel down with an echoing BANG!
— Sold! To Young Master Bai of the Ancient Phoenix Clan for thirty-five million high-grade astral stones and a low-rank divine vein! — Chen proclaimed, his face flushed red with triumph. This chapter is updated first at g.com.
As the crowd roared in astonishment, the cloaked figure in the top tier stood up slowly. Without making a single sound, the shadow dissolved into a wispy black mist, vanishing completely from the auction hall as if it had never existed in the first place.
Li Xian didn't rush to chase after the mysterious messenger. Instead, he waited patiently until Manager Chen made his way up to the VIP suite, accompanied by two heavy-armored guards carrying a spatial storage ring filled with astronomical wealth.
— Esteemed Realm Master Li! — Manager Chen bowed so low his forehead nearly touched the floor. — A legendary success! Here is your share of the auction proceeds, along with the rare items you requested!
Manager Chen presented a gilded tray holding three distinct items: a massive pouch of high-grade astral stones, a collection of glowing dormant seeds from extinct star systems, and an ancient, cracked jade scroll.
Li Xian picked up the cracked jade scroll first. As his divine sense swept through its ancient runes, a complex, three-dimensional star chart illuminated his mind. It detailed the uncharted regions beyond the Central Hub, marking a forbidden realm known as the Void Abyss.
— Where did you acquire this star chart? — Li Xian asked, narrowing his eyes as he recognized the ancient Void Realm symbols matching those used by the cloaked figure. Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
— Ah, that scroll was recovered from an ancient ruin near the edge of the Desolate Astral Expanse, — Manager Chen explained nervously. — Legends say it marks the location of the Primal Seed Vault—a legendary sanctuary built by the ancient gods before the Void Realm fell into darkness.
Li Xian smiled faintly, sliding the jade scroll into his robes alongside the newly acquired star seeds.
— It seems my next destination has already been decided, — Li Xian said calmly, turning his back to look out the window at the Heavenly Horizon Farm hovering outside the Hub. — Let the ancient gods come. They will find that my garden does not yield to shadow.