As the three drew closer, the hawking voices entered their ears.
"Three Condensing Fire Pills, each from the Ancestor of the Gate of Creation, exceedingly rare!"
"Interesting!"
Shang Shitu gazed at the surrounding stalls, his eyes lighting up. Here, he saw many things he hadn't encountered before. Some precious elixirs were no less potent than those refined in the Pill Hall.
On some stalls, even appeared spheres of Netherfire. Rather than calling them Netherfire, they resembled the mythical Ginseng Fruit of a past life. One, a blood-red orb, stained as if by fresh blood, shaped like a child, but burning with an eerie green flame!
"Is this the unique Netherfire from the Blood Sea Coffin?"
The three scrutinized the Netherfire. Within it pulsed a terrifying spiritual energy, as if condensed by some power, continuously purified until devoid of impurities. Perhaps it was the peculiar nature of the Blood Sea Coffin that dyed the original spiritual energy a blood-red, akin to fresh blood.
"When the time comes, we can collect more. Even if we don't need it, we can provide it to other officials, or even distribute it among the common folk!"
Huang Zhong observed the Netherfire.
After examining the Netherfire for a while, the three continued deeper. Before long, they stopped before an inconspicuous stall.
"Divine Fire realm slaves, powerful as beings of the Divine Fire realm, yet unable to control their own lives. Truly pathetic!"
Hu Yan Zan looked at the vendor renting out Divine Fire realm beings and shook his head slightly. He saw only a few Divine Fire realm slaves, some of them monstrous talents who had opened two Mansions. Despite such strength, they could only wait here to be rented out.
"Heh heh, young sir, not only Divine Fire realm slaves, but even Void God realm slaves. As long as you have enough resources, with just a word from you, this old man can bring them over for you to choose from!"
A merchant, old and reclined against the wall, wore a greyish-white tall hat that obscured his face. His white beard swayed in the wind.
The old merchant's tone was light and casual, as if Void God realm beings were as worthless as weeds in his mouth.
"Hmm?"
"Such a bold claim!"
Hu Yan Zan snorted coldly.
"Heh heh!"
The old man removed his greyish-white tall hat. The Divine Fire Seed on his brow had already condensed, reaching the Void God realm. Had the old man not removed his hat, Huang Zhong, Shang Shitu, and Hu Yan Zan would not have even detected the old man's Void God realm aura.
All three were at the peak of their power, possessing crimson-gold Divine Fire and the terrifying ability to slay True Gods. Yet, looking at the old man before them, their hearts trembled. A being they could not fathom must possess extraordinary power!
Indeed, one cannot underestimate the beings of this world!
Huang Zhong's gaze was solemn. This world was vast, and extraordinary beings with exceptional talent, capable of transcending a major realm, could indeed emerge.
"Old man here observes that you three young lads are all exceptional individuals. Even the Void God beings from the Gate of Creation in this Dao State are but ordinary in your presence!"
"Perhaps it has been a long time since I've roamed the world. I never expected that after a million years, a few worthy individuals would appear!"
"Hmm!"
The three's expressions turned serious simultaneously. They looked at the placid old man, their hearts tightening.
"Hahaha!!"
The old man, however, remained unperturbed. He scanned Huang Zhong and the other two, then placed the greyish-white tall hat back over his face.
"Do you want Void God realm slaves? This Blood Sea Coffin is not as simple as you three imagine!"
"If you do, we'll split the gains fifty-fifty, how about it?"
"Hmph!"
"What use is a Void God realm slave?"
Shang Shitu's face darkened.
"No matter, no matter. For you three, this Blood Sea Coffin is something you can enter and leave freely!"
"However, be careful of the depths of the Blood Sea Coffin. Unless absolutely necessary, do not venture into the boundless abyss. I'm only speaking to you because I find you three pleasing to the eye. For anyone else, I wouldn't bother speaking so much!"
"Go, go, go! If you're not renting, don't block my stall. Really, I was hoping for some amusement in the next million years. Go, go!"
The old man waved his hand casually, his words carrying a sense of ease. However, through the greyish-white tall hat, one could see that the Divine Fire Seed on the old man's brow had vanished, leaving no trace.
"Let's go!"
Huang Zhong glanced at the old man. This old man was unlike ordinary Void God realm beings. Even if a True God were here now, they would not escape the three's discerning eyes. This old man, lying there appearing ordinary, could even merge with the void, achieving a state of unity between heaven and man.
The three glanced at the old man again before walking further in. Not long after they left, the old man removed his greyish-white tall hat, and the Divine Fire in his eyes gradually dissipated.
"Interesting!"
"A peculiar Divine Fire, far exceeding the limits attainable by this realm's Divine Fire stage. Yet, at the Void God realm, possessing terrifying spiritual power enough to slay True Gods..."
If Huang Zhong, Shang Shitu, and Hu Yan Zan were to hear this, its impact would be no less terrifying than the divine thunder from the nine heavens. The three had never condensed crimson-gold Divine Fire. That the old man could see their true foundation at a glance spoke volumes of his true strength...
The old man tilted his head, watching Huang Zhong and the other two gradually recede, and whispered, "This time, the Blood Sea Coffin might not be so boring!"
The old man chuckled, then pulled his greyish-white tall hat back on. "Let's take a look around. There aren't many Divine Fire realm slaves. First come, first served!"
...
"Old General Huang, what do you think of that old man?"
Hu Yan Zan's expression was tense. He had only recently arrived in this realm. His own strength was enough to slay True Gods, yet before the old man, he was completely unable to find any trace.
"Not simple!"
Huang Zhong's brow furrowed. "If that old man hadn't deliberately revealed the Divine Fire Seed on his brow, we would have had no way to detect his aura. He deliberately let us see it, but it might not have been his true realm or strength!"
"Old General Huang speaks wisely!"
Shang Shitu looked back slightly, glancing at the crowded street. The aura of any being on this street could not escape his perception. But now, scanning again, if he didn't deliberately search for the old man's aura, he couldn't detect it at all.
"Let's go. This place is not simple. A street vendor who can so easily scrutinize us, if not an extraordinary being, is likely a powerful entity who has surpassed True Gods and stepped into the realm of Celestial Gods. We are still far from the Blood Sea Coffin. Let's find an inn to rest for now!"
Huang Zhong surveyed the streets on either side, casually picked a direction, and led the two inward.
Not long after, the three casually found a decent inn and booked three upper rooms, awaiting the opening of the Blood Sea Coffin.