Inside, numerous dark strands swam about. Each was about as long as an arm, but their thickness varied: some were as thin as a finger, others as thick as several fingers, and a few rivaled the size of a fist.
"The thinnest ones cost a million high-grade Spirit Crystal Ore, while the thickest go for ten million. Naturally, the energy they contain is different." The clerk explained to Evan Yang.
Ten million—Evan Yang didn’t have that much, but he did have five or six million. So he chose one strand at one million, one at two million, and another at three million, for a total of three.
The clerk took out a small glass box, about as long and thick as an arm, then produced a black rod. He touched the rod to the strand Evan Yang had picked, and that strand immediately stopped moving, while the others shrank away, cowering in the glass cabinet.
"This is a Fiendbane Rod, forged from powerful Fiend Star Sources mixed with special materials. That’s why they’re so afraid of it—just a touch makes them freeze, as if bowing before a king." The clerk explained to Evan Yang.
"So they're kind of like spirit beasts, with intelligence?" Evan Yang asked curiously.
"You could say that, but there are still differences. The energy inside them is far denser than any Spirit Crystal Ore, and they're especially difficult to form or capture, which makes them very precious." The clerk explained to Evan Yang.
Evan Yang nodded. The clerk had already placed the three Fiend Star Sources into the glass box and said, "This rod is a gift for you. Just pay six million high-grade Spirit Crystal Ore."
"Isn't that rod really valuable?" Evan Yang exclaimed in surprise after hearing its origin.
"You've misunderstood. A single powerful Fiend Star Source can be used to make countless rods by mixing it with other materials, so each rod is only worth a few tens of thousands at most." The clerk laughed after seeing Evan Yang's confusion.
Evan Yang listened, then first frowned and then forced a smile. "Sorry for the trouble." He took out six hundred thousand high-grade Spirit Crystal Ore and handed it to the clerk. After counting, the clerk wrapped the box in a layer of black cloth to protect the Fiend Star Sources from light, then handed it back to Evan Yang.
Holding the glass box, Evan Yang said goodbye to the clerk and walked out of the Hidden Heaven Emporium, thinking to himself, "Now I can finally try these out properly."
Just then, a crowd of powerful cultivators appeared all around, their target obviously Evan Yang.
Evan Yang sensed hundreds of divine senses sweeping over him—some faces were unfamiliar, others he recognized.
He saw Young Master Swain standing next to a big-eared man. Young Master Swain gave Evan Yang a cold smile. "Kid, you’re not getting away this time."
Evan Yang was curious how the Swain Family kept tracking him so accurately. He couldn’t figure it out. "How come you and your bug buddy always know where I’m going?"
"You’re the bug!" Young Master Swain snapped, furious that Evan Yang would say that in front of everyone.
At that moment, the Nether Patriarch raised his hand. "Enough with the nonsense. Everyone, surround him. Watch how I take him down!"
The group obeyed, quickly closing in to cut off any escape routes. Evan Yang also noticed that the Nether Patriarch beside Young Master Swain wasn’t simple at all.
"His aura is intense!" Evan Yang thought to himself.