Chapter 1296: Li Shanzi of Enlightenment God Palace

Wang Chongsong's words stirred a heated discussion among those nearby. The news spread like a storm until even the sixth-transformation immortals at the front had taken notice and started glancing in their way.

Suddenly, the crowd parted. Several sixth-transformation immortals walked over.

Everyone's hearts sank as they quickly stepped aside to make way.

One of the sixth-transformation immortals carefully scrutinized Wang Chongsong for a moment. In a deep voice, he said, "Fellow Daoist, what you just said—was it really true?"

The sixth-transformation immortal did not know about the Immortal Register?

Everyone was dumbfounded and shocked. For a sixth-transformation immortal to be clueless meant that this piece of information was very likely deliberately sealed off.

And for Wang Chongsong to know it, his background in the Upper Three Realms had to have been anything but ordinary.

Wang Chongsong clasped his hands calmly and answered humbly. "It was just a few rumors I heard, nothing more. As for whether it is true, since I am not a seventh-transformation immortal, I don't know."

One of the sixth-transformation immortals murmured, "Right. How would one know of such matters without ascending to the seventh transformation? Unless a senior of that level had revealed it...."

But among all the sixth-transformation immortals in existence, how many could claim to have a seventh-transformation Ancient Immortal as a senior?

Very few could. Those like them—who had clawed their way to this realm through hardship and countless trials—were the true mainstream of the Lower Six Realms.

"Many thanks, fellow Daoist. Your information is of great importance to us."

After thanking him, the sixth-transformation immortals went back to their seats, their faces solemn as they awaited the start of the auction.

Immortal Taixu glanced briefly in their direction but said nothing, his expression unreadable.

Yet every cultivator present could already guess that no matter how calm Immortal Taixu appeared, he had undoubtedly come to the Immortal Exchange specifically for the Golden Ancient Immortal Body!

Immortal Xingyu spoke softly. "Master, many of them already know about the Immortal Register. It might cause complications during the auction."

Immortal Taixu smiled lightly. "Not to worry, the bidder with the highest price wins. If we cannot bring forth the necessary immortal crystals, even if we lose, we cannot fault anyone else."

Immortal Xingyu gave a slight nod, her eyes carrying a trace of expectation, as though she was seeking someone among the crowd.

Time passed by the moment.

All of a sudden, it was as if the crowd heard a bell chime. In the next instant, four figures appeared atop the auction platform.

They were the four hosts of the Immortal Exchange, namely Ji Du Kongyuan, Immortal Feilu, and two others.

Ji Du Kongyuan's eyes flashed as he first bowed respectfully toward the gathered sixth-transformation immortals before speaking slowly. "Today's auction will feature but one treasure—the Golden Ancient Immortal Body of a seventh-transformation senior."

The entire venue fell utterly silent.

Ji Du Kongyuan elaborated, "The Golden Ancient Immortal Body was obtained by the Ten Directions Immortal Sect from a certain primordial forbidden zone. For the sake of fairness, the Ten Directions Immortal Sect has chosen to auction it today. Of course, the highest bidder shall obtain it."

Fairness?

Suddenly, Fang Chen came to a realization. Fairness had nothing to do with it.

If the Golden Ancient Immortal Body was brought by the Ten Directions Immortal Sect, why would they not lay claim to the Immortal Register upon it?

They also had sixth-transformation immortals in their sect. For instance, Immortal Longfu, who was present here today. Judging from his aura, he was in no way any weaker than Immortal Taixu, who was half a step away from being an Ancient Immortal.

They lacked the seventh-transformation immortal herb? No chance.

Even if they did, the Golden Ancient Immortal Body was far more valuable than the immortal herb. If they could get the Golden Ancient Immortal Body now, they could search and scheme for the herb later.

The only reasonable explanation was that the Ten Directions Immortal Sect had been threatened and forced to compromise, auctioning the Golden Ancient Immortal Body

But this was an immortal sect that could control Nanqing Constellation. Even the upper echelons of the Killing Spiritual Division or Spirit God Sect in this realm would be unable to pressure them. After all, Daotai Mountain was a part of Nanqing Constellation.

Who could possibly threaten them?

Fang Chen's gaze roamed among the crowd.

Suddenly, everyone's eyes, including his, fell upon the same location, where an unusual aura was surging.

There stood a young cultivator who looked to be in his twenties, a pure smile on his face. But the faint ripples of power exuding from him stirred every soul present.

The robe he wore was inscribed with ancient, archaic patterns that ordinary folk could not comprehend. Each time the aura around him surged, it stirred a shock that penetrated to the very depths of the soul.

This sensation was strikingly similar to that of the Void Breaking Boat!

The crowd collectively drew in a sharp breath of cold air.

"That robe... is a spiritual treasure!"

A spiritual-treasure-grade robe was extremely rare. Their value far surpassed that of the Void Breaking Boat.

Defensive spiritual treasures were the hardest to come by, and their value was beyond estimation.

All the sixth-transformation immortals present grew wary. "This young cultivator is also a sixth-transformation immortal."

The young man had been concealing his appearance and aura all along, only revealing himself now.

What did it mean? It meant that the Golden Ancient Immortal Body was of exceptional importance to him!

For the past several months, he had very likely already been secretly observing them with meticulous care!

Another young man stood beside the young cultivator. Although his face appeared youthful, his cultivation had likewise reached sixth-transformation, and his aura was similar to that of Immortal Xingyu. Both were of the Great Luo Immortal Realm.

A cultivator recognized the man's identity and shouted, "It's Ji Gang! Wasn't he cultivating in the Upper Three Realms!? Why has he suddenly appeared here? Also, the one beside him..."

Instinctively, he turned his gaze towards Immortal Taixu. Ji Gang was Immortal Taixu's very first disciple!

Since it was known that Ji Gang had already entered and joined a grand sect in the Upper Three Realms, everyone's imaginations began to stir regarding the identity of the young cultivator with the spiritual treasure robe standing beside him.

The young cultivator greeted everyone with respectful cupped fists. "Fellow Daoists, I am Li Shanzi of Enlightenment God Palace."

The expressions of the sixth-transformation immortals strained smiles as they cupped their hands in return salute. "So it is a fellow Daoist from the Enlightenment God Palace."

If Li Shanzi was indeed from the Enlightenment God Palace, then Ji Gang must have joined the Enlightenment God Palace in the Upper Three Realms back then.

Thinking of Immortal Taixu, the crowd felt a jolt of alarm within their hearts.

Ji Gang and a sixth-transformation immortal of the Enlightenment God Palace had come here together and concealed themselves all this time. It was very likely for the purpose of joining forces with Immortal Taixu to compete for the Golden Ancient Immortal Body and the Decree of Immortal Register on it!

Fang Chen's eyes flickered.

The

Enlightenment God Palace...

Wang Chongsong and Lin Bao had already slipped into the crowd by changing their appearances several times, making them untraceable.

Without surprise, Wang Chongsong had deliberately exposed the secret of the Golden Ancient Immortal Body to sabotage Li Shanzi.

These two must have had a past grudge, and by no means a small one.

This discovery delighted Fang Chen greatly.

Li Shanzi and Ji Gang had already walked to stand beside Immortal Taixu. Both sides exchanged formal greetings, and Immortal Xingyu also shared a few words of reminiscence with Ji Gang.

Immortal Longfu looked calm. Perhaps he had long expected someone from the Enlightenment God Palace to appear here.

However, the remaining sixth-transformation immortals looked dispirited. With such a figure joining the fray, how could they ever hope to win the Golden Ancient Immortal Body?

Suddenly, a voice of delighted surprise rang out. "Fellow Daoist Li, it has been so long since I saw you. You came today! Why did you not appear earlier? We have all been hoping to reminisce with you."

As the voice faded, several powerful auras—each rivaling that of a sixth-transformation immortal—suddenly flared to life throughout the crowd.