Among all cultivation pills, White Sun Pills were the most universally beloved. Martial artists swore by them, and even Divine Ability experts treated them as daily rations. Within every sect, they ranked among the finest of human-grade pills—comparable to the Netherworld Sect's legendary Azurefall Grand Pills. Their effects were similar, and both were exceedingly rare.
Of course, nothing compared to Nascent-Infant Pills. One of those could dramatically increase a cultivator's chances of stepping into the Divine Ability Realm. But they were almost impossibly scarce. In regular trade, a hundred White Sun Pills equaled one Nascent-Infant Pill.
Listening to Greenbrow's explanations, Fang Han finally grasped how the trading systems of the Heavenly Dao Pavilion worked.
For example:
A high-grade magical tool—something like a Wind Talisman, Iron Armor Seal, or Swiftstride Charm—cost tens to hundreds of White Sun Pills.
A spiritual tool, like a flying sword or magical robe, ranged from thousands to tens of thousands.
A treasure-grade artifact? Even a low-grade one easily demanded hundreds of thousands—sometimes millions—of pills.
Before long, Greenbrow led Fang Han to a private room on an upper floor.
Through its wide window, he saw the colossal square below—no less grand than the Feathered Immortal Gate's ceremonial grounds. Thousands were already seated, waiting for treasures to be revealed one by one by the Heavenly Dao Pavilion's attendants.
Because Fang Han was a Heaven-and-Man Realm cultivator, he enjoyed a private VIP chamber.
"The auction won't begin for a little while," Greenbrow said. "This year's selection includes over ten thousand treasures—rare elixirs, powerful artifacts, and many items rich in elemental essence. But they are costly. And since this is your first time in the Grand Profound Empire, you likely don't have White Sun Pills on hand.
"However… someone of your level could casually forge spiritual tools. A single one could bring in hundreds or thousands of pills. Perhaps you'd care to make a little money before bidding on five-element treasures?"
"That won't be necessary. But I do intend to sell a few things. Let's see what price you can offer."
He flicked his wrist, producing a pitch-black robe embroidered with a sinister skull. One of the spoils taken from the seven attendants of Young Lord Ling—a low-grade treasure artifact.
"Ah? A treasure-grade battle robe?" Greenbrow gasped and hurried to examine it. "Woven from a millennium-old Black Jade Silkworm King… reinforced with bone-essence formations… the power stored inside is equivalent to a hundred warhorses.
"Even an ordinary mortal, after a drop-blood bonding ritual, would gain the strength of a First-Layer Divine Ability expert. This robe is worth about three hundred thousand White Sun Pills."
"Three hundred thousand? Not bad." Fang Han's expression remained calm. "But three hundred thousand pills… that's hundreds of large gourds. How am I supposed to carry them?"
"No need to worry," Greenbrow smiled. "The Heavenly Dao Pavilion has branches throughout the empire. We can issue a crystal card. You may withdraw your pills from any branch, just like a bank note in the mortal world."
She drew a purple crystal card from her sleeve. Numbers rippled across its surface—300,000.
"Excellent." Fang Han accepted it. He knew the Heavenly Dao Pavilion's credit was legendary. The Myriad Worlds Compendium even recorded an event from centuries ago: the Barbarian Emperor of the Savage Demon Sect bought a billion White Sun Pills for his army, paying with several peerless treasure artifacts such as the Five Infernal Sovereign Cauldron. The Pavilion delivered all one billion pills within a single day.
The entire cultivation world had been shaken. Even the Supreme One Sect had quietly acknowledged the Pavilion's astonishing influence.
Even the Feathered Immortal Gate's Pill King Elder purchased pills here frequently.
A large sect could devour resources like a starving beast. The Feathered Immortal Gate consumed half a million pills a day. The Supreme One Sect consumed five million.
Fang Han handed over the robe. Then, with another casual wave, he laid out six identical treasure-grade robes in perfect rows on the table.
"I have six more of these. Let's sell them all."
Greenbrow froze. "…Ah?"
She stared at the robes, swallowed, then gathered herself. "This involves over a million pills… I can't authorize it alone. Senior, please wait."
She hurried out.
Fang Han relaxed with a cup of tea. The VIP room was luxurious—jade table, incense burners filled with dragon-musk, and a pot of tea brewed not from leaves, but from dissolved Nascent-Infant Pills of the Supreme One Sect. Even Fang Han was impressed.
Below the window, the crowd stirred restlessly. For the first time, Fang Han genuinely felt the privilege that came with being a Heaven-and-Man Realm cultivator. Had he still been at the Yin-Yang Realm, he would be squeezed down there with the masses.
The curtain parted.
A middle-aged woman walked in with Greenbrow. Her shimmering gown was a high-grade treasure artifact, no weaker than the Blacksteel War Robe. And astonishingly—her cultivation matched Fang Han's.
A Heaven-and-Man Realm expert.
Fang Han blinked. He hadn't expected to encounter someone of this level here—but considering the Pavilion's ability to fulfill the Barbarian Emperor's one-billion-pill order, it made sense. They might even have Golden Core experts.
The woman bowed slightly.
"Greetings, Real Person. May I know your name? I am Thirteenth Mistress, one of the overseers of the Heavenly Dao Pavilion."
"…My surname is Fang. Fang Leng," he replied after a moment. "Can the Pavilion handle these six robes?"
Thirteenth Mistress gave them a brief glance, then chuckled.
"Handle them? Real Person Fang, even if they were six supreme treasure artifacts, the Pavilion would manage. These robes—one thousand-year Black Jade Silkworm Silk—are the hallmark of the Blood-Shadow Demon Sect. You must have slain their disciples to obtain them."
Fang Han's eyes narrowed.
"No need to worry," she said quickly. "We do not care about origins. Even if the Blood-Shadow Emperor knew, he wouldn't dare cause trouble in the Grand Profound Empire. The Supreme One Sect stands guard, after all.
"One robe—300,000 White Sun Pills. For six robes, 1.8 million. Here is your crystal card."
She handed it over. Fang Han accepted it, and she collected the robes.
A clean trade. Both sides satisfied.
In total, Fang Han now possessed 2.1 million White Sun Pills. The sum astonished him; he had never held so many in his life. His previous record was the two hundred thousand Azurefall Grand Pills from refining twenty thousand Heavenly Demons.
Now he had earned ten times that in one afternoon.
The Heavenly Dao Pavilion truly lives up to its name.
"Do you have anything else to sell?" Thirteenth Mistress asked. "The auction begins shortly. Many treasure artifacts will appear—and even earth-grade pills that extend life. The richer you are, the more you can seize."
"I have a few more items."
He brought out the remaining flying swords and robes he'd looted from the Dead Island Lord and others—common spiritual tools but in large quantity.
Thirteenth Mistress waved a hand.
"Mundane items, but clearly trivial to you. I'll take them for 200,000 pills."
"It seems I'm the one gaining the advantage," Fang Han said, accepting the card without haggling.
After this sale, he had nearly emptied his inventory. Besides his two Dao Artifacts—Yellow Springs Diagram and Blood Sky—he had only three Hundred-Treasure Pouches left, the ones taken from the Supreme One Sect's three true disciples. Each was worth tens of thousands of pills, but he dared not sell them; they might expose his identity.
Aside from that, all he had was a mysterious egg and a little over ten thousand Nascent-Infant Pills. The egg—found beneath the Seven-Leaf Demon Lord's throne—radiated immense vitality. He had no idea what creature it belonged to, so he would keep it until it hatched.
A quick inventory made one thing clear: despite appearances, Fang Han wasn't truly wealthy.
Seeing he had no more items to sell, Thirteenth Mistress nodded to Greenbrow.
"Stay with the Real Person and assist him during the auction. I must go oversee the proceedings."
"Yes."
Once she left, Greenbrow turned to Fang Han. "The auction is about to begin, Senior. Please look ahead!"
Fang Han peered toward the central plaza.
On the massive sacrificial platform, dozens of guards in yellow vests carried in a jade chest. They opened it to reveal an eight-foot-long bar of radiant divine metal. A dazzling, razor-sharp metallic qi pulsed from its surface.
"This," Greenbrow said softly, "is Western Taiyi True Gold—rich in the essence of the Metal Element. It is perfect for your golden-element divine arts. It's also a premier forging material for treasure-grade flying swords. The starting bid is 500,000 White Sun Pills, with increments of 10,000."
"A fine item," Yan murmured in Fang Han's mind. "Not as rare as Stellar White Gold, but with this, your White Emperor Golden-Sovereign Slash will gain significant power. The only problem… it's expensive! Five hundred thousand? The Pavilion bleeds people dry!"
Thirteenth Mistress stepped onto the altar. Her mere presence silenced the crowd.
Half a million pills scared off ninety-nine percent of bidders instantly.
"I'll take it," Fang Han said without hesitation, raising his hand.
Greenbrow echoed his bid.
Countless heads turned toward his VIP chamber.
Then—
"Six hundred thousand!"
A voice rang out from another VIP room.