"A Ninth-Tier Artifact Refiner Grandmaster… Are you absolutely certain?"
Gu Yuan sat at the head of the Ancient Clan's deliberation hall, his expression no longer calm. For the first time in many years, genuine surprise flickered across his face.
Below him, Gu Nanhai stood straight-backed, both hands respectfully presenting the cyan-gold longsword he had brought back from Sacrifice City. Even now, faint sword hums echoed from its body, as if it were quietly breathing.
"Patriarch," Gu Nanhai said solemnly, "this subordinate would not dare exaggerate. I personally witnessed the entire refinement."
He began recounting everything—
the silent golden light curtain that descended from nowhere,
the way space itself seemed to kneel before it,
the nine bolts of artifact lightning that struck without resistance,
and the moment the sword was born with independent consciousness.
Every detail was described meticulously.
The hall fell into profound silence.
Several Ancient Clan elders stared at the sword, their gazes sharp yet conflicted. Awe mixed with disbelief.
"Remote refinement… summoning artifact tribulation… imbuing sentience equivalent to a peak Dou Zun…" Soul Extinction slowly spoke from the side, his tone heavy.
"To reach such a level, the refiner's spirit power must have already stepped into the Emperor Realm Spirit."
Those words landed like a hammer.
"Emperor Realm Spirit…"
Gu Yuan's eyes narrowed.
On the entire Douqi Continent, individuals who had truly reached that realm could be counted on one hand. Even within the Eight Ancient Clans, such existence was equivalent to a strategic deterrent.
"And yet," Gu Yuan said slowly, "another one has appeared—hidden in the Northwest."
He did not hesitate.
"Soul Extinction."
"Yes, Patriarch."
"You will personally make a trip to the Sacrificial Shop. Determine one thing clearly—whether they are capable of refining Ninth-Tier Spirit Tools."
Soul Extinction immediately bowed.
"Understood."
If that answer was yes… then the balance of the continent would quietly tilt.
Within the Soul Realm's core hall, Soul Erosion Heaven sat in silence, the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade resting in his palm.
It was warm. Ancient. Profound.
Yet his expression was darker than ever.
Beside him, an eighth-tier peak spirit tool—the Soul Chain—hovered silently. It radiated terrifying binding power, yet instead of reassurance, it felt like a thorn embedded in his heart.
He hated uncertainty.
And the Sacrificial Shop was an uncertainty beyond calculation.
An Emperor Realm Spirit.
Remote refinement.
A refining method that ignored distance, time, and conventional laws.
This was no longer something the Soul Clan could casually suppress.
"Soul Void," Soul Erosion Heaven said coldly.
A black-robed figure stepped forward.
"You will go to Sacrifice City," he ordered. "Probe their true depth. Focus on the Artifact Refiner behind the shop."
Soul Void lifted his head, eyes burning with battle intent.
"Perfect," he said calmly. "I also wish to see how heavy this so-called 'continent's number one Artifact Refiner' truly is."
For an Alchemist Grandmaster like him, pride alone demanded it.
Sacrifice City gradually returned to order.
But the aftershocks never faded.
Ning Fengzhi and Shikaku seized the rare opportunity, each paying an enormous price to commission eighth-tier spirit tools for Gu Yuena and Kaguya. Though the materials were inferior to Gu Nanhai's, the results were still enough to become absolute strategic foundations for their respective alliances.
Such a chance would not come twice.
Inside Yao Chen's residence, Xiao Yan still looked shaken.
"Teacher," he said slowly, "that eighth-tier spirit tool… it can fight independently, with strength close to a Dou Zun."
His fists tightened unconsciously.
"If I had one protecting me, wouldn't anyone below Dou Zun be unable to threaten me at all?"
Yao Chen smiled faintly.
"In theory, yes," he replied. "Tempted?"
The heavy crystal card in Xiao Yan's storage ring seemed to burn.
1.8 billion sacrificial coins.
He could afford it.
The thought almost escaped his lips—
until memories flooded back.
The effortless power.
The distorted respect.
The creeping corrosion of will he had felt during his inspection tour.
Xiao Yan shuddered and immediately shook his head.
"This disciple is only a Great Dou Master," he said firmly. "Using an eighth-tier spirit tool would rot my foundation."
Yao Chen's gaze softened with approval.
"Good. External power can be used—but never relied upon."
"If you become dependent on tools, your cultivation will collapse the moment they are taken away."
Xiao Yan bowed deeply.
"This disciple understands."
He suppressed all temptation and turned back to alchemy, asking questions with renewed focus.
As Yao Chen guided him, he spoke casually.
"The Sacrificial Shop has begun recruiting special talents. Those recognized by the shop may become special employees."
Xiao Yan's heart skipped.
"The shop spares no effort in cultivating such individuals," Yao Chen continued. "The truly outstanding may even be granted a Heavenly Flame."
Xiao Yan's breathing stalled.
Heavenly Flame.
The core of the Flame Mantra.
From that moment onward, his resolve crystallized.
Far away, at the Chuyun Empire Branch of the Sacrificial Shop, a slender figure stepped through the crowd.
The Little Fairy Doctor.
She had come for poisons—nothing more.
The Erroneous Poison Body was a curse she carried alone. She had long accepted that lingering in one place would only bring disaster.
Yet the moment she stepped into the shop—
Everything changed.
The violent poisons within her body fell silent.
Not suppressed.
Not resisted.
They simply… slept.
The pain vanished.
Her steps faltered.
Heart racing, she stepped back outside.
Pain returned instantly.
Her breath trembled.
She stepped in again.
Silence.
Complete dormancy.
Her vision blurred.
She tested it again. And again.
Each time, the same miracle.
For the first time in her life, the Erroneous Poison Body was not a ticking death sentence.
It was… sealed.
A trembling hope exploded within her chest.
If she could stay here—
If this place truly neutralized her curse—
A shop assistant approached gently.
"Esteemed guest, may I assist you?"
The Little Fairy Doctor looked up, eyes burning with determination and fragile hope intertwined.
"No," she said firmly.
"I want to join the Sacrificial Shop."