C918

Qi Yunhong stood before three Stoneborn clansmen in the Free Trade Zone, his gaze fixed on the small, colorful stones arrayed on their stall. Each stone was etched with delicate patterns of lightning, not by any artisan's hand, but naturally formed.

"Fulgurite!" he murmured.

As someone who had regressed to the Spirit Walk Realm, Qi Yunhong rubbed his eyes, scarcely able to believe what he saw.

There were two types of Fulgurite. One was created when violent lightning struck a receptive stone, leaving its mark to be naturally refined over centuries. The other kind emerged near undiscovered lightning pools deep within the extraterrestrial Star River.

The first type of Fulgurite, both in efficacy and material, paled in comparison to the second.

Yet even the first was a rarity within the Everlands, eagerly sought after by the Thunder Sect whenever it surfaced.

Fulgurite was the crucial magic item for Thunder Sect cultivators to evolve their Solar Spirit.

The Fulgurite formed later in time was infused with lightning by a peak Spirit Walk Realm expert, who would channel their heaven soul into it. Combined with a dozen other magic items, it could coalesce the nascent form of a Solar Spirit Body.

Qi Yunhong had relied on such Fulgurite for his previous Solar Spirit refinement.

As for the naturally occurring Fulgurite, found only near tempestuous lightning pools, Qi Yunhong had only heard of it, never witnessing it in his lifetime.

The innate lightning patterns within the Fulgurite contained the essence of thunder magic.

Cultivators practicing lightning spells could not only transform into a Solar Spirit with its aid but also gain insights into the true mantras of the Way of Heaven. In doing so, they could refine their spells and skills, significantly boosting their combat prowess.

It was said that those who refined a Solar Spirit with natural Fulgurite imprinted the thunder magic into their souls, aiding their ascension to the Unbound Realm.

At that moment, Qi Yunhong was convinced that the Fulgurite before him was indeed one of the rare, naturally occurring kinds.

For him, for the Thunder Sect, and especially for the Obsidian Thunder Sect, it was an invaluable treasure!

"This, this Fulgurite?"

As he spoke, his voice trembled, revealing his profound excitement.

"A gift from the gods?" One of the Stoneborn, speaking in an awkward human tongue, clarified for Qi Yunhong, "These stones are exceedingly rare even in our Stoneborn Domain. There's a valley shrouded in ceaseless thunder and lightning. Our legends say it's been blessed by the Thunder God himself."

"These stones can only be found there. In the vast expanse of the Star River, only we Stoneborn dare to venture in search of them."

"Yet, even for us, extracting these stones is perilous, and success hinges on fortune."

"…"

The Stoneborn clansman, concerned that Qi Yunhong might not grasp the stone's worth, patiently expounded on the rarity of the Fulgurite.

"The price!" Qi Yunhong demanded.

"In total, there are thirty-five pieces. We're asking for... for..." The Stoneborn extended six fingers, indicating the amount.

Within the Crimson Sun Empire, Qi Yunhong, who had reclaimed the lost items from Qu Jing and seized his remaining treasures, took a quick look and without a word...

Shimmering Soul Crystals and Soul Crystals, along with a selection of Psicrystals, cascaded onto the Stoneborn's stall.

"The total is certainly beyond 600,000 soulstones!"

With a stern tone, Qi Yunhong dropped this statement, swiftly packed the Fulgurite into a bag, scanned the area, and walked away.

"Six, six..."

Another Stoneborn, gazing at the glistening, crystal-clear soulstones, questioned in their native language, "Didn't we ask for sixty thousand? Big brother, by quoting such a high figure, were you trying to inflate the price tenfold?"

"We've struck it rich! We're wealthy now!"

The Stoneborn who had negotiated with Qi Yunhong snapped out of his daze, hurriedly beckoned his two brothers, and swiftly collected the soulstones valued at 600,000. "No need to linger, let's return to the Moonfall Sanctuary!"

"Qi Yunhong! Are you holding natural Fulgurite in your hands?"

On the other side, emerging from a palace constructed by President Lyi amidst the mountains, Xie Bin suddenly sensed an unusual magnetic field emanating from the lightning spell he was mastering. Overwhelmed, he couldn't contain a loud exclamation.

Xie Bin, a practitioner of the same lightning spell, had been far more powerful than Qi Yunhong before his decline, having even ventured to battle in extraterrestrial realms. The Fulgurite, unremarkable in the possession of the three Stoneborn clansmen, sparked to life under Qi Yunhong's touch. As he left, idly toying with the stone, the lightning within him met the Fulgurite's charge, unleashing a surge of psionic power that even Xie Bin found startling.

Qi Yunhong, however, ignored the commotion and made a beeline for Fiendpeak.

...

Elsewhere, Shi Yuxuan stood dumbfounded in the potted plant section, surveying the exotic flora and their clearly marked prices.

"Nine Cloud Grass, three thousand soulstones."

"Fire Lingzhi, five thousand soulstones."

"Phoenix Tree leaves, seven thousand soulstones."

"..."

The Sect Master of Sacred Hands murmured to himself, his gaze flitting from plant to plant. Each glance at the soulstone labels beneath the pots sent a shiver through his cheeks.

A gaunt Shadowkin elder with pointed ears, green hair, and eyes watched him with a chilly gaze.

"You've been here quite a while. Have you decided on something?" she asked in accented human speech.

Shi Yuxuan, with a lick of his lips, flashed an idiotic smile. "I'll take them all!"

Before the elder could process his words, Shi Yuxuan conjured a cascade of gleaming soulstones, quickly piling into a small mountain on the ground.

The Shadowkin elder's eyes gleamed with avarice, pondering whether every household's plant, akin to a treasured bonsai, could indeed fetch such a price.

"Elder sister, I am Shi Yuxuan, the Sect Master of Sacred Hands from the Everlands! Our Sacred Hands is adjacent to the Moonfall Sanctuary in the Serpent Spine Mountains!" Shi Yuxuan beamed. "I'm aware that you all arrived through the underground passage from the Moonfall Sanctuary. Next time you visit, bring these items and come directly to the Serpent Spine Mountains to find me!"

"I can assure you that I will purchase every plant and flower you've brought with you!"

Tong Laoqian acquired a massive piece of jade, as large as a millstone, from an enchantress. The jade was so translucent that the essence within was clearly visible. Overjoyed, Tong Laoqian's laughter smoothed away the wrinkles on his face as he tossed the gem into the Jade Tower. The partially restored tower immediately shone with a brilliant light. Streams of jade light burst forth from the gem, swiftly integrating with the Jade Tower. Tong Laoqian roared with laughter, "With this breakthrough in the Solar Spirit Realm, I'm even more confident!"

In a pavilion dedicated to exhibiting the flesh and blood of dire beasts and Otherkin, Yu Yuan followed Zhou You to find the place eerily empty. "Hmm?" Zhou You, plump and puzzled, arrived and said, "That's odd. This level is meant for selling limbs, organs, and blood from dire beasts deep within the Star River, as well as vials of blood from various Otherkin, including some of their rare lifeblood."

Suddenly, he bellowed, "Where is everyone? What's going on here?" A timid Starborn girl emerged, explaining, "Sir, everything displayed here has been sold. Seeing no issues, I went to assist elsewhere."

"Everything's been sold?" Zhou You was taken aback. The girl nodded vigorously, "Some archdemons from the Godsblight Marsh purchased the flesh and organs of dire beasts from the extraterrestrial Star River."

"And the bottled blood?" Zhou You pressed. "A woman from the Colddeath Sect, Ann Ziqing, didn't bargain at all and bought all the blood," the girl confessed, not withholding any information. "She spent a total of seven hundred and ninety thousand soulstones. Sir, here is the inventory list for your review."

Zhou You, with a peculiar look on his face, accepted the list and passed it to Yu Yuan. Yu Yuan skimmed it and noted that Ann Ziqing had acquired thirty-five bottles of Otherkin blood, including nine bottles of refined lifeblood from the hearts of Otherkin.

"Ann Ziqing."

The Thunder Sect, known for their mastery of thunder magic, had long sought the rare magic items that were said to be scattered throughout the Everlands. Qi Yunhong, a cultivator of the Sect, was on a quest to find the Solar Spirit, a heaven soul capable of transforming one's physique into the Solar Spirit Body.