Chapter 194

"How much is this item?"

Fang Yu walked up to the stall, his gaze settling on the tablet inscribed with "Dongxuan," and spoke calmly.

The stall owner was a middle-aged man at the 1st Stage of Divine Abilities in the Magical Power Realm, his face sallow and yellow, as if long exposed to harsh sunlight.

Yet he had reached middle age and still remained only at the 1st Stage of Divine Abilities; he would likely never advance beyond the Magical Power Realm in his lifetime.

"This tablet was obtained by me once in the Gui Xu region. Its material is highly unusual—I've tried every method possible but cannot refine it, so I'm selling it. If you have ten spiritual artifacts or a Divine Ability scripture, you may take it. If this is a key to some immortal's hidden treasury, you won't be at a loss."

The middle-aged man looked at Fang Yu and immediately sensed the terrifying aura of magical power emanating from him—any slight movement could crush him—and his face instantly showed surprise.

Yet he wasn't worried Fang Yu would simply seize the tablet by force; after all, this was the Wan Gui Sea Market, territory of the Wan Gui Xiandao, one of the Xiandaoshi Sects—even a high-ranking demon sect cultivator would give Wan Gui Xiandao due respect.

In past years, cultivators of the 7th, 8th, even 10th Stage of Divine Abilities had caused trouble here, but were immediately captured and slain by the elders of Wan Gui Xiandao; since then, no one dared cause trouble in the Wan Gui Sea Market.

Everyone knew a Longevity Secret Realm cultivator guarded the Wan Gui Sea Market, so all adhered to the rules.

"Ten spiritual artifacts? You're being awfully greedy. But I do have a scripture—if you cultivate hard, you might reach the Daoist Gang Qi Realm. Want it?"

Fang Yu listened as the 1st Stage of Divine Abilities cultivator demanded ten spiritual artifacts, and a faint smile appeared on his face. Ten spiritual artifacts for a single tablet was too steep—but the Heavenly Gang Dead-End Hand from the Dead-End Island Master would be a fair exchange for this tablet.

After all, exchanging a scripture for the tablet meant the scripture remained in his possession, while he gained the tablet for free.

For the stall owner, acquiring a scripture capable of guiding one to the Daoist Gang Qi Realm in exchange for a useless tablet was an immense fortune.

Indeed, the middle-aged man's face twisted with urgency. "What? You truly mean to trade a scripture capable of reaching the Daoist Gang Qi Realm for this tablet? Deal! Immediate deal!"

As he spoke, his magical power surged, instantly sending the tablet floating upward, his eyes fixed eagerly on Fang Yu, desperate to complete the transaction.

"This scripture is called the Heavenly Gang Dead-End Hand, originating from the Dead-End Island Master of the Forty Thieves. You've surely heard of him. This trade is confirmed."

Fang Yu instantly seized the tablet, and his spiritual sense flowed, forming a book inscribed with five large characters: "Heavenly Gang Dead-End Hand."

"The Divine Ability of the Forty Thieves' Dead-End Island Master!"

The middle-aged man stared at the book in his hand, his face glowing with immense joy—even his sallow skin lit up with a smile.

"Thank you, Elder! Thank you, Elder!"

The middle-aged man snatched the Heavenly Gang Dead-End Hand and immediately began reading; his expression grew even more ecstatic.

"True Qi Realm, True Qi Realm—so this is how magical power is transformed into true qi! And Daoist Gang Qi Realm! I might actually reach the Daoist Gang Qi Realm in my lifetime!"

The lone cultivator nearly wept with joy.

He knew he had entered the Divine Ability Secret Realm purely through a stroke of luck, yet after decades of toil, he possessed no scripture at all—unable to refine his magical power into true qi.

If things continued like this, he would die of old age in a few decades, forever stuck in the Magical Power Realm.

Now, with the Dead-End Island Master's scripture, he could refine his magical power into true qi—and if lucky, even elevate it to Daoist Gang Qi.

If fortune favored him further, he might awaken the Yin-Yang Realm before death and enter the Heavenly Man Realm, gaining eight hundred more years of life.

Thus, the middle-aged man was overjoyed beyond measure, eager to begin cultivation immediately.

"Dongxuan."

Fang Yu watched the middle-aged man, understanding his emotions.

Lone cultivators always suffered terribly; without a scripture, they could never reach the True Qi Realm—unlike Yuhua Sect, a Xiandaoda Sect, which bestowed cultivation scriptures upon disciples upon entering the Divine Ability Secret Realm, guiding them to refine magical power into true qi.

He felt even the Eight Great Divine Abilities of Yuhua Sect—like the Azure Flame Seven Cultivation Rays—were legendary techniques that lone cultivators would die for.

If word of such a technique spread, the elders of Yuhua Sect would give the cultivator two choices: relinquish the technique voluntarily, or have his body destroyed.

Every sect treasured its secret scriptures beyond imagination.

Hence, Fang Yu traded the Heavenly Gang Dead-End Hand, not the Azure Flame Seven Cultivation Rays.

"Dongxuan… I wonder if it will bring me any benefit."

Fang Yu held the tablet, and threads of azure flame Daoist Gang Qi flowed from his body, forming flames that burned all things—yet beneath the fire, the tablet remained untouched, revealing its extraordinary material.

Indeed, a fine artifact.

But how to use it? That would require careful study.

Fang Yu put away the tablet and continued walking through the Wan Gui Sea Market.

The market offered rare treasures from the ocean, most usable to refine Human Grade Mid-Tier elixirs; some were so precious they could be used for Human Grade Top-Tier elixirs, and Fang Yu exchanged for some.

The sea market always had this advantage: it allowed exchange of goods—otherwise, he could never dive into the ocean himself to gather such materials; the pace would be far too slow.

As Fang Yu wandered through the market, several figures in black robes approached from nearby.

These men wore full black robes, their faces veiled in black cloth; at a glance, they were clearly male, not female.

A group of men, all clad in black, faces covered—clearly they gave off an aura of ill intent.

When Fang Yu's spiritual sense brushed over them, he felt an unsettling sensation.

This unease carried no personal grudge—it was a primal, bodily instinct.

Like a Buddhist encountering a demon, instinctively repulsed—or a demon encountering a Buddhist, equally repulsed.

On these black-robed men, Fang Yu sensed an unsettling aura—as if their very existence was inherently repulsive.

"Could it be… the Outer Realm Divine Clan?"