Po Xiu, Chi, and Bai exchanged glances.

“What troubles thee?” Luo Feng sensed an unease in his three comrades.

“Brother Luo Feng,” the scarlet-robed youth, Chi, spoke. “Thou hast sold goods estimated at seventy-three thousand myriad billion Primordial Crystals. Yet, thy purchase of treasures amounts to but a trifle. The remaining seventy thousand myriad billion, surely thou intendest to bring it to the Grand Primordial Hall within Primordial City?”

Luo Feng nodded. “Throughout the Dark Sacred Realm, true treasures reside primarily within the Grand Primordial Hall.”

That most ancient of Primordial Halls held marvels beyond reckoning, a store of treasures surpassing the boundless void. Within, one could exchange for cities, for diverse bloodlines, and even for arcane treasures of the caliber of ‘Eye of Life and Death,’ nay, even more precious! Even living Primordial Captives could be acquired!

“These Primordial Crystals of mine,” Luo Feng declared, “are naturally destined for the Primordial Hall.”

“To bear seventy thousand myriad billion Primordial Crystals upon thy person…” Po Xiu gently shook his head. “Dost thou truly believe thou canst arrive at Primordial City alive?”

Luo Feng started. “Thy meaning is…?”

Beside him, White Divine Emperor poured Luo Feng wine, saying, “Brother Luo Feng, this Dark Sacred Realm bears the name ‘Darkness.’ Art thou unaware of the chaos and murkiness here?”

“I have heard tales,” Luo Feng affirmed.

White Divine Emperor continued, “Currently, the two most potent beings within the Dark Sacred Realm are ‘Dragon Nine Dao Lord’ and ‘Ji Ke Divine Emperor.’ In terms of individual strength, they but equal the combined might of the three of us. Thus, within the Dark Sacred Realm, unless one is an Unrivaled Existence, individual power is far from sufficient.”

Luo Feng contemplated deeply.

“Within this Peak-Bearing City, three major powers possessed the means to acquire thy goods. These three powers are also the most influential forces within Peak-Bearing City,” spoke Divine Emperor Po Xiu. “The City Lord, at the forefront of twenty-nine peak-level beings, form a cohesive group. The true leader of this force is none other than Dragon Nine Dao Lord. However, Dragon Nine Dao Lord resides long-term within the ‘Grand Primordial Hall’ in Primordial City, thus this force is overseen by the City Lord.”

“The second force is that led by ‘Secret Ruins Divine Emperor,’ comprising fifteen peak-level beings. Secret Ruins Divine Emperor ranks among the top three in array formations throughout the entire Dark Sacred Realm. Under the mastery of his formations, the combined strength of their fifteen peak-level beings shall be exceedingly terrifying.”

“The third force is the Eight Friends of Heavenly Wolf, a power formed by eight peak-level beings. While they appear weakest, in truth, they were once followers of the Unrivaled Existence, ‘Heavenly Wolf Guest.’ Heavenly Wolf Guest was an Unrivaled Existence in the history of the Dark Sacred Realm, who rose swiftly, becoming an Unrivaled Existence in a short span. We have not seen him, but we have heard tales! It is said that Heavenly Wolf Guest has long since transcended the cage.”

Po Xiu, Chi, and Bai all looked at Luo Feng.

They three also harbored the intention of following Luo Feng! For they believed Luo Feng possessed the potential to become an ‘Unrivaled Existence.’ True unrivaled beings are guided away, and require no followers! Hence, one must discern and dedicate oneself to following beforehand. Such was the case with the Eight Friends of Heavenly Wolf! Having followed Heavenly Wolf Guest in his early days, as Heavenly Wolf Guest became unrivaled and then transcended the cage, a mere bestowal from him granted these eight an unusual standing within the Dark Sacred Realm.

“Indeed, among the cultivators of the Dark Sacred Realm, there are likely several who share ties with those who have transcended the cage,” Luo Feng realized.

For instance, Elder Xing Yi, whom he met in Rain Surge City, was a disciple of an Unrivaled Existence. The Dark Sacred Realm, after all, was the core of the surrounding world clusters! Throughout history, Unrivaled Existences who transcended the cage have naturally left behind many traces, including disciples and friends.

“Seventy thousand myriad billion Primordial Crystals,” Po Xiu said softly. “If thou were to carry this out of Peak-Bearing City just as it is, even with the three of us aiding thee, it would be impossible to safeguard.”

“The City Lord and his ilk are somewhat benevolent, their likelihood of striking but fifty percent. However, the other two forces will almost certainly make a move!” the scarlet-robed youth, Chi, declared. “Secret Ruins Divine Emperor and his followers are in desperate need of resources, and are highly likely to strike. The Eight Friends of Heavenly Wolf, while not lacking resources, may have suffered some soul contamination after receiving a boon from ‘Heavenly Wolf Guest.’ Their temperaments shifted greatly, becoming exceedingly greedy and ferocious.”

“Within the Dark Sacred Realm, the greatest danger lies not in the individual, but in the collective. After all, the disparities among peak-level beings are not vast,” Po Xiu looked at Luo Feng. “Any one of these three forces, if they were to combine their strength, would be unstoppable without ‘Unrivaled power.'”

Luo Feng nodded slightly.

“Therefore, I suggest to thee, firstly, acquire all that can be purchased, and have the sellers deliver the treasures directly to the Transmission Sacred Mountain,” Po Xiu advised. “Arrange for thy avatar to receive them at the Transmission Sacred Mountain. Thereafter, return directly to the Origin World.”

“Secondly, the majority of thy Primordial Crystals should be converted into Battle Merits. For within the Grand Primordial Hall in Primordial City, only common treasures can be acquired with Primordial Crystals. All else requires Battle Merits.”

“Convert them into Battle Merits, ensured to be under thy own name! Thus, none can seize them.” Po Xiu laid bare his counsel.

“We peak-level beings, after myriad eons of accumulation, typically possess but a few hundred billion Primordial Crystals, most of which are converted into Battle Merits! Thy wealth is equivalent to the accumulation of ten peak-level beings. Furthermore, it is all in Primordial Crystals, which can be seized directly. Who would not be tempted?” the scarlet-robed youth, Chi, exclaimed.

They three were resolved to follow Luo Feng, wholeheartedly befriending him, to suppress their avarice. But how many resources could seventy thousand myriad billion Primordial Crystals procure?

“I thank the three of you,” Luo Feng expressed his gratitude repeatedly.

Luo Feng pondered for a moment and said, “I have heard that the higher Primordial bloodlines within the ‘Grand Primordial Hall’ can be purchased with Primordial Crystals. I also need to acquire higher Primordial bloodlines primarily related to the ‘Path of Life and Death.'”

“Thou canst request the City Lord’s side to make the purchase on thy behalf,” Po Xiu nodded. “Higher Primordial bloodlines, the price set by Senior Yuan and his colleagues is not exorbitant, generally not exceeding ten billion Primordial Crystals.”

“I once gathered information on all higher Primordial bloodlines available for sale at the Grand Primordial Hall,” White Divine Emperor stated. “There should be seventy-three types focused on life and death. They would require 533 billion Primordial Crystals for exchange.”

“Let it be these then,” Luo Feng said. “Request the City Lord’s side to send all the bloodlines and auxiliary cultivation marvels I purchase to the Transmission Sacred Mountain.”

At this moment, Luo Feng’s avatar far away in the Origin Continent had already split off another avatar, which had begun its journey through the valley lake, transmitting towards the Dark Sacred Realm.

“As for the remaining Primordial Crystals, I beseech the City Lord’s side to assist me in purchasing thirty million Battle Merits,” Luo Feng said.

“Is this a hurried purchase, or no?” Po Xiu inquired.

“What is the difference?” Luo Feng asked.

“If thou art not in haste, the City Lord’s side can slowly gather Battle Merits. Thirty million Battle Merits… it would likely require over a hundred million eons,” Po Xiu explained. “For many cultivators, a hundred million eons is a wait worth enduring! Gathering slowly, each unit of Battle Merit would cost 110,000 Primordial Crystals.”

Luo Feng nodded. In the cities of the Nine Rivers Sacred Realm, the typical acquisition price was 100,000 Primordial Crystals per unit of Battle Merit. However, accounting for the toil of the various forces, it was natural for the price to be slightly higher for Luo Feng.

“It would take over a hundred million eons?” Luo Feng questioned. “And if in haste?”

“If in haste, thirty million Battle Merits would still likely require over ten thousand eons. Each unit of Battle Merit would cost 120,000 Primordial Crystals,” Po Xiu said. “This is already a relatively low price after the competition among the various forces in the Dark Sacred Realm.”

“Still too slow,” Luo Feng stated. “Can it be faster?”

“Offer a higher price! Centered around the Dark Sacred Realm, many worlds would prioritize giving thee their Battle Merits,” Po Xiu suggested.

“For each unit of Battle Merit, I shall offer 130,000 Primordial Crystals. How long would it take to gather?” Luo Feng inquired.

“The profit could reach thirty percent! This is already very high, likely achievable within a thousand eons,” Po Xiu said. “After all, the amount of Battle Merits thou seekest is vast. To gather thirty million Battle Merits in a short time would indeed require gathering from multiple worlds.”

Luo Feng nodded. “For every ten million Battle Merits, let there be a delivery.”

With his own strength, within the environment of the Dark Sacred Realm, once he left Peak-Bearing City and was no longer bound by the city’s regulations, Luo Feng was uncertain of surviving an assault by a group of peak-level beings. Indeed, he needed to convert as many Battle Merits as possible under his name.

“I also require some potent arcane treasures,” Luo Feng said. “Powerful arcane treasures of the life and death category can be discussed.”

“Life and death category? Relatively rare. The number of life and death arcane treasures willing to be sold throughout Peak-Bearing City is likely not many,” Po Xiu said.

“I am willing to purchase at a high price,” Luo Feng smiled.

Arcane treasures of the level of Indestructible Heart and Palm World are even possessed by the Ancestors of the Two Kingdoms. Half-Primordial powerhouses generally have a few. Like the avatar of Lord Yu Yang’s Hall in Rain Surge City, he possessed two! Peak-level beings generally possess even more. They might even obtain arcane treasures of the ‘Eye of Life and Death’ level, but such treasures are impossible to sell, and cannot even be brought out of the Origin World.

“Since thou art purchasing at a high price, then it is easily discussed,” Po Xiu chuckled. Such powerful arcane treasures are relatively common in the Dark Sacred Realm; powerhouses of the Origin World generally possess two or three.

Peak-Bearing City, City Lord’s Manor.

City Lord Feng Qiao was tall and robust, like a rock giant, his pair of golden eyes surveying all around. He was a peak-level being! The lord of Peak-Bearing City, one of the Five Cities of the Dark Sacred Realm! And the most trusted junior brother of Dragon Nine Dao Lord! He commanded the other twenty-eight peak-level beings; the might of this force was renowned throughout the Dark Sacred Realm.

“Seventy-three thousand myriad billion Primordial Crystals! This Divine Emperor Luo Feng is ruthless enough.”

“Information indicates his strength is exceedingly high, capable of single-handedly suppressing four Transcendence-level beings. Yet, he failed to defend the city! Allowing four legions of low-grade Primordial lifeforms to breach the city walls, and when these legions reached the core area, he ‘coincidentally’ succeeded in setting up an array formation. Under the array’s shroud, these legions, having penetrated too deeply, were defeated one by one during their escape, eventually suffering ninety percent casualties!”

“In my view, this was all his scheme.”

“Deliberately permitting the city to fall, luring the enemy deep within, and finally harvesting! Slaughtering nearly half of the core lineage of low-grade Primordial lifeforms in the Nine Rivers Sacred Realm resulted in such a massive gain.”

“What cunning calculations!”

“He arrived in Rain Surge City but two thousand eons ago. I suspect the weak strength he displayed earlier was but a disguise. He may have, by chance, discovered the birth of the ‘Transcendence-level Bewitching Heart Worm.’ Thus, he laid an ambush in the weakest Rain Surge City, patiently awaiting the assault of the low-grade Primordial lifeforms.”

Peak-level beings sat dispersed. Due to this transaction, they began to investigate Luo Feng’s information. Upon investigation, they were astonished! They had reason to suspect that everything was a deliberate scheme by this Divine Emperor Luo Feng. As for Luo Feng originating from the Origin Continent, they had not yet discovered this in such a short time. Lord Yuan Xiang’s ability to discover this was because Lord Yuan Xiang was the lord of Rain Surge City at that time! He also knew of Luo Feng’s relationship with Di Qing, and Di Qing’s relationship with Ancestor Yan Feng. Only by following these threads did he uncover everything.

“He purchased all low-grade Primordial bloodlines related to life and death, including seventy-three types of higher Primordial bloodlines, and some auxiliary cultivation marvels. Let us count this as 688 billion in total.”

“Prepare everything and deliver it to the Transmission Sacred Mountain, into the hands of his avatar,” City Lord Feng Qiao instructed calmly. A transaction of over six hundred billion Primordial Crystals was insignificant to the force he commanded.

“He also needs to purchase thirty million Battle Merits, willing to pay 130,000 Primordial Crystals per unit,” City Lord Feng Qiao smiled slightly. “Let us mobilize all the low-grade Primordial lifeform bodies we can, and first confirm Battle Merits for this Divine Emperor Luo Feng.”

“Our inventory, and what we can mobilize from other forces in a short time, is about eight hundred thousand units of Battle Merit,” a black-robed elder beside him said.

“Let us earn what we can first,” City Lord Feng Qiao was quite satisfied with this transaction. The massive quantity of low-grade Primordial lifeform bodies, worth seventy-three thousand myriad billion Primordial Crystals, after being dissected, refined, and utilized in various ways, would allow the middle and lower-level members to earn some hard-earned fees, and their high-level members would also profit by one to two hundred billion Primordial Crystals. Crucially, the Battle Merits Luo Feng urgently purchased, although the time was pressing, the transaction scale was enormous, and the profit still exceeded five hundred billion Primordial Crystals. Without killing, without risk, such a vast amount of resources was acquired, and they were naturally content.

“City Lord, are we truly not making a move?” a seductive woman spoke, her scaled tail gently swaying, indicating her excitement.

“If the battle of Rain Surge City was truly his elaborate scheme, such a cultivator would not give you an opportunity,” City Lord Feng Qiao said. “If Rain Surge City was not his scheme, and he truly possesses such terrifying talent, it is even more unsuitable to plunder him.”

City Lord Feng Qiao held a high position and possessed ample resources; what he needed was to maintain his status, not to take risks. Several peak-level beings present felt some unwillingness after hearing this. However, City Lord Feng Qiao’s influence was too great; if he did not agree, it would be difficult to push forward.

Peak-Bearing City, a vast cave abode.

Within the expansive cave abode, darkness prevailed, space distorted, and faintly fifteen figures sat scattered in various places.

“Our offer of seventy-two thousand two hundred billion was unsuccessful. It seems the selling price is even higher,” a sharp voice resounded.

“If there is an opportunity to seize this Divine Emperor Luo Feng, each of us could share several hundred billion Primordial Crystals. This is a grand enterprise!” a black sphere emitted a voice. Operating a force yielded profits too slowly. This wealth was too immense. The fifteen of them were long suppressed by the City Lord’s side! Their acquisition of resources was clearly a significant disadvantage.

“We cannot act within the city,” a gaunt man sat cross-legged there, his figure possessing a hint of the ‘Origin’ essence of the Origin World, sitting there creating his own rules and origins, influencing the operation of the array formations within this vast cave abode. “We must patiently wait, waiting for an opportunity to arise.”

“With such a vast amount of wealth, how much of it can he exchange for Battle Merits? Therefore, he must carry a large quantity of Primordial Crystals! And he will surely go to the Grand Primordial Hall!”

“So many Battle Merits, so much wealth. To convert it into strength! He must go to the Grand Primordial Hall, and that is our opportunity.”

They did not fear danger. Throughout the entire Dark Sacred Realm, when the fifteen of them combined forces, they had never been afraid!