Chapter 2854: A Quaint Box
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
The Alchemy Conference was jointly hosted by the top factions in the Six Southeastern Regions. It was organized once every thirty years, and the venue would rotate between the Six Southeastern Regions. Each of the Six Southeastern Regions had its own Alchemy City to host the Alchemy Conference. Currently, it was the Barren Land’s turn to host the Alchemy Conference.
Although the marketplace was considered the heart of Alchemy City, this was only due to its location in the center of the city. The true heart of Alchemy City was closed to the public. It was also the venue of the Alchemy Conference. Only when the Alchemy Conference began would the place be open to the public.
“Alchemy Square?” Duan Ling Tian only learned about the name of the venue of the Alchemy Conference from He Shan, the Old Ancestor of the Tai Yi Celestial Sect, before they left for the Alchemy Conference. Alchemy Square was located within the marketplace and was shrouded by a thick fog. Previously, he had seen that place when he was strolling around the marketplace with Huan’er.
At that time, He Shan had only told Duan Ling Tian it was the venue of the Alchemy Conference but did not disclose its name since Duan Ling Tian did not ask. He also told Duan Ling Tian that the venue was shrouded by an illusory Formation that was set up by the Three Major Celestial Sects of the Barren Land.
The Alchemy Square had a wide square stone platform in the center. On the platform, a few seats were arranged facing forward, overlooking the square.
When Duan Ling Tian saw the few sears on the stone platform in the center of Alchemy Square, he curiously asked, “Old Ancestor, how come there are so few seats on the stone platform? I don’t think they’re enough for all the high-ranking officials of the top sects in the Six Southeastern Regions.”
There were only eight seats on the stone platform. Two seats were placed facing each of the four directions of north, south, east, and west. There were 22 top sects in the Six Southeastern Regions. There were clearly insufficient seats even if only one representative from each sect was given a seat.
“Master Duan, those seats are not for us,” He Shan said with a smile, “The seats are reserved for the members of the Alliance of Celestial Masters.”
“The Alliance of Celestial Masters?” Duan Ling Tian suddenly recalled the Alliance of Celestial Masters. It was an alliance for Celestial Alchemists and Celestial Weapons Craftsmen in the Overarching Spirit Heaven. After a Celestial Alchemist or Celestial Weapons Craftsman reached a certain stage, they would be able to obtain a uniform from the alliance that corresponded with their level. The Alliance of Celestial Masters were voluntarily run by Celestial Alchemists and Celestial Weapons Craftsmen without any compensation. Most of the decision-makers of the alliance were sectless cultivators. Even so, not many people dared to offend the members of the Alliance of the Celestial Masters even if they were sectless cultivators since there were many skilled Celestial Alchemists and Celestial Weapons Craftsmen in the alliance. These skilled Celestial Alchemists and Celestial Weapons Craftsmen had a wide connection, therefore, offending a member of the alliance would definitely be detrimental.
“Yes.” He Shan nodded. “Every Alchemy Conference in the Six Southeastern Regions is chaired by members of the Alliance of Celestial Masters… Usually, the representatives from the alliance are supreme Celestial Alchemists and sectless powerhouses.”
“Sectless powerhouses?” Duan Ling Tian was slightly taken aback.
“Most of the supreme Celestial Alchemists from the alliance are sectless cultivators… They, naturally, have many friends who are sectless cultivators as well. When they attend the Alchemy Conference, those sectless cultivators would protect them,” He Shan explained, “The powerhouses that protect the supreme Celestial Alchemist during the Alchemy Conference are quite mysterious. They range from Nine Palaces Celestial Dukes to Ten Directions Celestial Dukes.” His expression was solemn as he spoke.
“Ten Directions Celestial Dukes? Nine Palaces Celestial Dukes?” Duan Ling Tian was shocked that there were such strong powerhouses in the borderland of the Southern Heaven Territory. He had thought only the top forces in the Six Southeastern Regions had Nine Palaces Celestial Dukes and Ten Directions Celestial Dukes. Who knew there were crouching tigers and hidden dragons among the sectless cultivators as well?
Duan Ling Tian was about to ask about the number of supreme Celestial Alchemists who would be attending the Alchemy Conference when a voice dripping with disdain rang in the air.
“You want to exchange a Duke Grade Celestial Method or Duke Grade Divine Ability with this lousy empty box? You must be out of your mind!”
Duan Ling Tian turned around and saw the source of the voice; it was a st.u.r.dy middle-aged man. The st.u.r.dy middle-aged man was speaking to a short old man who was holding on tightly to a quaint box.
Faced with the st.u.r.dy middle-aged man’s provocative words, the old man calmly replied, “My grandmaster found this box in a Little World left behind by a Celestial Lord. This is no ordinary box.”
The middle-aged man scoffed disdainfully before he said with a sneer, “I extended my Divine Consciousness into your box, and I found nothing in there. Do you think I’m a fool? If I open the box and there’s nothing in there, are you willing to pay me 10,000 primitive Celestial Stones?”
“If you’re able to open this box, I’ll give it to you without asking for anything in return,” the old man continued to speak calmly, “My grandmaster was an Eight Trigrams Celestial Duke before he left the Six Southeastern Regions for the central area of the Southern Heaven Territory… Even he could not open the box.”
“Such a lousy old box, I wouldn’t want it even if you give it to me for nothing. However, since you’ve asked me to open it, I’ll open it for you!” After taking the box from the old man, he attempted to open the old box. However, after struggling for a while, he failed to open the box. The opening did not budge at all.
The middle-aged man’s face flushed red. There was nothing he could do even if he was dissatisfied that he could not open the box. “How’s this possible?!”
Apart from Duan Ling Tian, the middle-aged man and the old man’s conversation had also attracted the attention of the people in the surroundings.
“It’s an empty box…”
“My Divine Consciousness easily penetrated the box. It’s true that there’s nothing in there.”
“Since it’s so easy for our Divine Consciousness to penetrate the box, why is it so hard to open? Based on his Celestial Origin Energy, the middle-aged man is a Celestial Duke, at least!”
“This box is quite strange. Even a Celestial Duke can’t open it.”
Meanwhile, He Shan also extended his Divine Consciousness into the box in the middle-aged man’s hand. He confirmed that it was, indeed, empty. “It’s an empty box, there’s no doubt about it.” He had transmitted these words to Duan Ling Tian after investigating the box out of curiosity.
Upon hearing He Shan’s words, Duan Ling Tian extended his Divine Consciousness into the box as well. He had expected to meet with some resistance, but his Divine Consciousness easily entered the box. Indeed, the quaint box was empty. ‘It’s really empty.’
At this moment, He Shan stepped forward and said to the middle-aged man, “Allow me to give it a try.” He was curious.
Many of the onlookers recognized He Shan immediately. Soon after, the crowd identified Duan Ling Tian as well.
“It’s He Shan, the Old Ancestor of the Tai Yi Celestial Sect!”
“He’s the Old Ancestor of the Tai Yi Celestial Sect?”
“I saw him outside of the Tai Yi Celestial Sect’s shop about twenty days ago. He’s the Old Ancestor of the Tai Yi Celestial Sect!”
“Since the Old Ancestor of the Tai Yi Celestial Sect is here, Master Duan should be here as well, right?”
“He’s over there!”
“That’s the prominent Celestial Alchemist, Master Duan!”
“He’s Master Duan? It’s true he’s not even 100 years old! He’s a monster!”
After a while, everyone’s attention s.h.i.+fted from Duan Ling Tian back to He Shan who had just taken the quaint old box into his hands. To be precise, their attention was riveted on the quaint old box in He Shan’s hand.
“Can I give it a try?” He Shan turned to look at the box’s owner. “You mentioned earlier that even an Eight Trigrams Celestial Duke failed to open it?”
“Yes, Senior He Shan,” the old man replied respectfully when he found out about He Shan’s ident.i.ty, “I know Senior He Shan is an Eight Trigrams Celestial Duke… It’s my honor if you’re willing to try and open the box. You’ll help me verify my words.”
“En.” He Shan did not waste time and began to gather his strength to open the quaint old box after obtaining the old man’s permission.
The crowd was staring intently at the box in He Shan’s hands at this moment. It was no secret that the Old Ancestor of the Tai Yi Celestial Sect was an Eight Trigrams Celestial Duke. They were all curious if He Shan would be able to open the box that the old man claimed was unopenable?
Meanwhile, an ancient voice rang in Duan Ling Tian’s mind at this moment. “There’s something valuable in that box, boy… You must obtain it. I will join forces with the Profound Divine Metal to help you open the box after he wakes up. Only someone who is, at least, a Celestial Lord would be able to open it.”
Duan Ling Tian was shocked when he heard the voice in his mind. ‘It’s the Chaos Divine Flame!’