Chapter 106: The Mysterious Treasure

Chapter 106: The Extraordinary Treasure

The surrounding cultivators had begun using various methods to contact their companions across the nine terraces of the Abyss of Gods and Demons. Most were currently scattered outside, some using communication talismans, others signaling with flares, and some heading out personally to search.

The center of the abyss was bustling with activity. Just then, an old man carrying a large pack approached them and said, "I am a traveling merchant based in the center of the Abyss of Gods and Demons. Do you gentlemen require anything?"

Noticing that Chu Jie and his companions were newcomers, he assumed they were likely ill-prepared and hoped to make a sale. "I have all the common medicinal pills, Spirit-Gathering Grass, and even a few low-grade magical artifacts!" The pack on the old man's back was exceptionally conspicuous.

Operating a business here without being robbed suggested that the old man either possessed formidable hidden strength or was backed by a powerful faction. However, he appeared quite ordinary, leading one to suspect he was connected to some major influence. Chu Jie, having killed many cultivators, was not short on standard pills, and low-grade artifacts were of no use to him. He was about to decline when the old man added a remark that piqued his interest.

"I also have information regarding the Abyss of Gods and Demons for sale," the old man whispered.

Chu Jie frowned. He had an intuition that this man was no saint, and he wondered if the "information" was already common knowledge. Merchants were notoriously cunning; if there were truly significant news, would they really let him peddle it around? Still, Chu Jie asked, "What kind of information?"

The old man spoke mysteriously: "Do you know what this place was in ancient times?"

Chu Jie shook his head. He had no idea; before arriving at Blood-Slaughter City, he had never even heard of this place.

"Do you know what has driven all these people to fight over this abyss?"

Chu Jie shook his head again. Duan Kun cast a look at Chu Jie, implying that the man was likely a fraud.

"Do you know the true identities of the two peerless fiends?"

Chu Jie and Duan Kun exchanged a glance. They actually knew the answer to that, but they could not reveal it. Chu Jie continued to shake his head.

"One hundred high-grade profound crystals per question," the old man said, maintaining his mysterious air. "This is the lowest price. This is absolutely authentic, top-secret information!"

Just then, the white-haired cultivator walked over and interjected, "Old man, stop scamming people. Those pieces of information you have are ancient history. Don't bother bringing them out. And one hundred high-grade profound crystals each? Why don't you just go rob someone?"

The white-haired cultivator would not normally help Chu Jie, but he felt guilty that his association with the Luo family prevented him from offering more direct aid to these independent cultivators.

Ignoring the white-haired man, the merchant said, "One hundred is a bit steep. How about this? Out of respect for him, I'll charge you ten high-grade profound crystals per question."

"Fine. If your information is valuable, I will pay you accordingly," Chu Jie said. "Let's start with this: what are the true identities of the two peerless fiends?" He took out the crystals, waiting for the old man to speak.

"Those two peerless fiends are terrifying. Reliable sources say that wherever they go, they bring slaughter. They have blood-bathed every terrace in the abyss, and at least a thousand people have died by their hands—and that is a conservative estimate. During one such massacre, someone recorded their figures, which is how their appearance became known." The old man finished, then produced a crystal.

Chu Jie examined it closely. It didn't look like a standard profound crystal; it resembled a type of magical artifact, yet it felt different.

"This is a 'Projection Stone' capable of recording imagery. It contains the appearance of those two fiends," the old man said, handing it to Chu Jie. "Return it to me after you’ve viewed it."

Chu Jie focused his intent on the stone. Moments later, an illusion appeared before his eyes. It was a place he knew well—where he and Duan Kun had killed several people. It seemed that was where they had been recorded, leading to the subsequent series of hunts against them.

"How about it? Is my information worth it? Only ten crystals," the old man said, eyeing the crystals in Chu Jie's hand.

"Not bad." Chu Jie handed over the Projection Stone and the ten high-grade profound crystals.

The old man carefully tucked the crystals into his pocket. He didn't even have enough to buy a storage bag yet; if he had one, he wouldn't have to lug this heavy pack around.

"Tell me what you know about the Abyss of Gods and Demons," Chu Jie said, producing a hundred high-grade profound crystals. "If I find it satisfactory, these are yours."

The old man’s eyes lit up at the sight of the hundred crystals. He knew that buyers were rare, and most people already knew the basic rumors—he just happened to know the details better. Though Chu Jie had been skeptical, the information about the fiends had made the old man seem somewhat credible.

"The origins of the Abyss of Gods and Demons are unknown, but there are many legends. Some say it was caused by a war between gods and demons, where a single blow shattered the earth, creating these nine terraces and driving the abyss deep into the ground. Not only that, but it pierced the earth's wind-eye, releasing the Nine-Heaven Gale," the old man said slowly.

"Wait," Chu Jie interrupted. "If it was created by a physical blow, why are there magical artifacts embedded in the profound crystals here?"

The old man glanced at him. "I haven't finished. The legend doesn't stop there. It is said that many things flew out from that wind-eye, as if space itself had been torn open. The Abyss of Gods and Demons seems to connect to another world. Countless treasures were spewed out from the wind-eye and scattered across the entire abyss."

The white-haired cultivator frowned. "Anyone who has stayed in Blood-Slaughter City for a while knows that much."

The old man shook his head. "You may have heard the first part, but the latter part—that is something few people know."

"What is it?" Chu Jie asked.

The old man looked up at the sky, assuming a profound expression. "After that, cultivators discovered an object deep within the abyss. It is said that this object could break the heavens! Everything that happened since was a struggle over this item. Because the object was considered too 'contrary to the laws of heaven,' some wanted to use it, while others opposed it. In the end, those who sought to use it failed."

"Break the heavens? Why would they want to do that?" Chu Jie asked.

"We cultivators temper ourselves precisely to break through the limitations of heaven and earth," the old man replied.

Chu Jie stared at him. The old man was only a first-stage Spirit-Gathering Realm cultivator; his talk of "breaking the limitations of heaven and earth" felt absurd.

"Are you saying the extraordinary treasure of the abyss is this object that can break the heavens?"

The old man shook his head. "Perhaps. But historical records suggest the item is ominous. Whoever possesses it meets a tragic end. The original group that sought to use it met no good fate. Perhaps these 'fiends' in the abyss have lost their humanity because of that object."

Chu Jie's breath hitched. Both the peerless fiends and Zhou Jie gave him the feeling that they were no longer quite human. Zhou Jie was one thing—a result of the fiends' handiwork—but the nature of the peerless fiends themselves remained a mystery.

The surrounding crowd had fallen silent, deep in thought. Others might not have paid much mind, but having entered the underground tunnels and encountered the fiends at close range, Chu Jie and his companions were acutely sensitive to these details.

"What exactly is that object?" Chu Jie asked.

The old man shook his head. "I don't know. I spent a great deal of effort investigating this secret, but no record mentions what the object actually is. I am curious myself."

Chu Jie was speechless. Further questioning would likely yield nothing of value, but if the old man was telling the truth, it was at least a starting point. He looked up at the vortex in the sky; it was spinning faster than ever.

"That extraordinary treasure that can break the heavens..." Chu Jie thought to himself, "I must get my hands on it, and then use it to wipe out the Luo family."

The old man remained silent. Chu Jie handed over the hundred high-grade profound crystals; he was no longer short of funds. His Savage Cauldron still contained a vast amount of crystals, both from the original cavern and from the cultivators he had eliminated.

After asking a few more questions about Blood-Slaughter City, Chu Jie ceased his inquiries. He did not fully trust the old man, but he had at least gained some insight into the abyss. Above, the purple lightning grew increasingly frequent, reaching the point where it could strike at any moment.

"Chu Jie, look over there!" Duan Kun pointed into the distance.

Chu Jie followed his gaze. Five or six men, clearly from the Luo family, were standing in the distance, sneering at him. They did not approach immediately, and their intentions were unclear. The surrounding cultivators were gradually dispersing, returning to their respective faction zones. It seemed the Luo family had some reason for restraint in this central area. Perhaps it was due to a pact, or perhaps they were merely plotting something more sinister.

Chu Jie saw a cultivator approach the Luo men and whisper something, causing them to sneer even more broadly. A murderous intent surged within Chu Jie. The Luo family had no idea he had reached the sixth stage of the Spirit-Gathering Realm, a level where he was virtually unrivaled among his peers.

"Let's go," Chu Jie said.

He had no intention of returning to the independent cultivators' area. He would leave the center, perhaps collect some purple fire first, and then wait for an opportunity to seize the extraordinary treasure. Moreover, before collecting the fire, he would thin out the ranks of the Luo family. Since they wouldn't attack here, he would go outside and wait for them.