AN: Xu Junyao is changed to Xun Junyao to differentiate her last name from Xu Shi.

—--

The chaos erupted. Lights, weapons, and transformations flashed everywhere in the auction. However, it was evident that the army had the advantage as they captured most of the participants instead of killing them. Meanwhile, Wang Wei was the only one calm and still sitting down.

Someone busted into his room and looked around, including past him, but saw nothing. Then, the person left in confusion. As soon as the trouble started, he used his Time Dao to enter, or maybe create, a parallel space-time similar to the mirror dimension so he could see and interact with everyone else, but they couldn't do the same to him.

'Well, I might as well get something out of this,' he thought. Wang Wei did not leave but went directly to the auction's treasury. These people were confident in themselves, probably thinking that no one would be brave enough to steal from them, so their protective measures were mediocre, to say the least.

Wang Wei stole everything, including a small amount of Re-Life Iron, probably enough to make one or two talismans. The problem now is where to find someone to make it for him. He doubted the Flame Blacksmith could refine talisman since his expertise lay in weapons.

As Wang Wei was about to leave this facade, he sensed a powerful person in one of the rooms, which he learned was where the auction's manager lived. So, he decided to take a look. He passed through the door and saw two people staring at each other.

To be precise, a beautiful woman with a phoenix headdress and red hanfu glared at a man looking at the floor while trying to make himself as small as possible. The mighty person he sensed was the phoenix woman, as her cultivation was the peak of the Empyrean Realm, and she was close to opening the Gate of Power.

"Well?

" she asked.

"I really didn't know it was a fake.

"

"You keep saying that, but do you think this is good enough?

"

"Lady White Phoenix, even you were almost fooled by this fake. What can someone as lowly as me do in such a situation?

"

White Phoenix looked at this fake third-tier Re-life Iron on her left hand. It was indeed an excellent fake, and if not for her unique ocular prowess, the Heavenly Phoenix Eye, she would have missed it.

"Your excuse is good, but it's not enough,

" White Phoenix declared.

"This operation was supposed to lure these ridiculous rebels and maybe even some excellent fishes, but you ruin it.

" According to the plan, they wanted to use the excuse that the price the iron sold was not to their liking, so they would delay this auction by another month — all in the hope of the news traveling far and luring some important individual. Sadly, this plan failed once they realized someone had stolen the real thing, leaving a fake.

"You should have listened to my advice, postponed the operation, and bought a new iron,

" the manager complained. He suddenly felt a surge of strength and looked her in the eyes.

"Do you think it was easy to put this operation together?

" Lady White Phoenix snapped. She knew how much effort she put into convincing these people to lend her this iron without someone labeling her a traitor. Forget about continuing the operation, and she will be in major trouble after returning home; she might even be executed.

The manager's body trembled, and he quickly lowered his head. White Phoenix looked at him fiercely, contemplating whether to kill this imbecile directly.

'No, the action and this imbecile works for Sister Red Phoenix, so I can also put some of the blame on her and reduce my fault in all of this.' White Phoenix's mood suddenly improved, but she showed no emotions. Meanwhile, Wang Wei was surprised by this news.

'Who could be responsible for this theft? The resistance? No, my guard should have sent notes of such vital information,' Wang Wei thought. 'Is there an excellent thief in this area? Another event related to thievery.'

He shook his head before focusing on this woman. 'White Phoenix, one of the primary subordinates under the Five Feather Phoenix. What should I do with her? Kill her now? Or turn her into a pawn to use later?' He considered briefly before deciding to make better use of her. So, he blew an invisible gray mist into her body.

White Phoenix suddenly reacted and turned to look in his direction. She frowned as she saw nothing, so her eyes turned into phoenixes before she looked at every corner of the room.

'Am I too sensitive?' she pondered. She checked a second time with the same result. 'It seems I am.' She turned around and started using her divine sense to check the situation.

'Another talent wasted,' Wang Wei thought as he looked at her with pity. The fact that White Phoenix detected his actions proved she was talented, especially in the detection category. Sadly, she can never fulfill her potential because of who she serves. There is also the fact he might have to kill such a talent.

Wang Wei left the room, but he did not leave the auction. Of course, he had his reason. He feared breaking through their formation might warn White Phoenix of someone capable of breaking their array. And if someone can do that, that person can also spy on her. Wang Wei did not want to alert her in any way possible, so he waited until the operation ended and the auction lifted their formation before he left.

He returned to the Dao Burial Ground and immediately started researching any connection between Empyrean Jimin and the Crazy Thief Gang Lord. He also asked Red Mask Fate to send the next batch of trained guards to the Red Plateau Land, even tasking her to look for a talented individual with the Dao of Theft.

…

Heavenly Beauty Palace:

Xun Junyao, with a veil covering most of her face, sat on a cushion with a large scroll in her hand. The scroll's content kept changing as she read, and she mulled over every word. Once in a while, after reading the content, Xun Junyao would wave in the air to send information talismans to different places throughout the palace.

She had one of the best intelligence agencies in the world, and she built it simply because of her beauty. Many men and women in the world are willing to tell her any secrets just for the chance to get close to her. And this closeness doesn't have to be something excessive. Most of them are happy as long as she writes a letter to them, or some tell her their deepest secrets as long as she acknowledges their presence.

'Everything is prepared perfectly,' Xun Junyao pondered, and with a thought, the scroll disappeared. At the same time, a spatial wave spread into the room, and Xiao Tiandi appeared in the room.

"You're back,

" Xun Junyao said.

"How did it go?

"

"It was fine.

"

"So, who was this friend you went to see?

"

"It was the asshole from the lower dimension I talked about.

"

"Oh? What did you talk about?

"

"He wanted an invitation to your celebration?

"

"So, your friend is also intrigued by my beauty?

" Xun Junyao asked with a playful voice.

"Something like that.

"

"Is something wrong?

" Xun Junyao asked.

"Master, is there a way for me to become an Empyrean in like a few Yuan Epochs?

"

'What's gotten into him?' Xun Junyao thought.

"How few are we talking about?

"

"Let's say, less than 1000 — no — less than 500 Yuan Epochs.

"

"Are you crazy?

"

"I'm serious!

" Xiao Tiandi has been thinking about this on his way here, and he could not think of a solution other than gathering merit. He could try to awaken his physique a third time, which would boost his cultivation speed, but the chances of succeeding were astronomical low. From the records, only one person in the Eternal Ascension World achieved a third physique awakening while an Emperor, but the records stated clearly this person was extremely lucky to have survived.

Xun Junyao looked at him intently:

"What did your friend say to make you act like this?

"

"That's not important right now,' Xiao Tiandi replied.

"So, do you know of a way?

"

"Hmm, I can only think of the Mortalhood Trial, but that might as well be a myth,

" Xun Junyao replied.

"What is it?

"

"It's a trial for immortals in which they sacrifice their eternal life for an exponential boost in cultivation speed. The participant will have a limited lifespan based on their cultivation realm, and if they cannot get through to the next stage before time runs out, they die permanently.'Just like True Power Realm body refiners,' Xiao Tiandi thought.

"And it's true death?

"

"That's correct,

" Xun Junyao said. Being an Eternal or other cannot save someone who enters that trial.

"How do I get into that trial?

"

"As I said, it might as well be a myth,

" Xun Junyao replied.

"The trial is not something that originated from our world, but from Primordial Chaos. No one knows, or, I should say, I don't know the criteria for it to appear in any world. The last time it appeared in our world was before the Golden Era.

"