Ye Liuyun quickly stopped it. He still needed that metal puppet to keep him alive; he couldn’t dismantle it just for the Demon-Slaying Saber.

“Don’t even think about it—I still have a use for it. What’s the rush for materials? Don’t be so shortsighted; we’ll run into even better ones later.”

Only after hearing “better materials” did the Demon-Slaying Saber give up on the metal puppet.

By then both of Ye Liuyun’s clones had slipped into the venue and were wandering around. They cared little for the artifacts themselves; they simply memorized every refiner’s name. Along the way they also left spiritual imprints on a few outer-sect disciples and visiting refiners, just in case.

Clone Two then took the chance to target other martial cultivators. Using the crimson pupils of his soul, he subdued several who looked well-connected, pried open their seas of consciousness, and extracted everything they knew about the Chen family.

In their minds he found references to various Chen family refiners of differing skill, yet none of them knew the clan’s top master.

Ye Liuyun himself focused on examining what Chen Huoyang and Chen Lianyu had forged.

Chen Huoyang had refined a flying boat, miniaturized and displayed under a crystal cover. The craft could launch fire-attribute attacks capable of killing late Unity Ninth-Heaven experts, withstand repeated blows from the same level, and match their speed. It could also tear through the void and cloak itself in invisibility.

Riding in it, one would be nearly invincible within the Unity realm. Ye Liuyun felt it was far more practical than that Void-grade saber.

Chen Lianyu had crafted a pair of gauntlets. True Ninth-grade weapons couldn’t scratch them; they resisted flame, poison, demonic aura, and more, while amplifying the wearer’s striking power tenfold.

“Both are treasures—True Ninth-grade at that!”

The moment he saw them, Ye Liuyun resolved to buy them outright.

Another puppet also caught his eye: a construct forged from voidstone fused with metal, able to wield spatial force in combat. Because its voidstone content left it fragile, it had been rated only True Eighth-grade.

Ye Liuyun studied it with his golden pupils; its design was at least on par with Tong Xin’s work.

The Chen family had graded their own creations without bias, yet Ye Liuyun thought that if the puppet’s spatial power were strong enough, it could layer space upon itself for defense—no one would be able to land a hit. Or, clad in high-grade armor, its durability could be greatly improved.

So that puppet went on his shopping list as well. There was also a True Seventh-grade pill cauldron that could raise success rates by twenty percent—he decided to buy it for Lin Xiyao.

Everything else struck him as mediocre; even some True Ninth-grade pieces lacked real utility.

Once he’d finished studying the exhibits, Ye Liuyun had nothing left to do. Clone Two was already chatting with the cultivators he’d enthralled; on the surface it was idle talk, but in truth he was having them hand over all the resources they carried.

The great powers had brought considerable wealth—some items even more enticing than Soul-Cleansing Water or Fire Spirit Roots. A Crimson Devil Blaze and an Abyssal Earthflame were irresistible to any refiner.

There was also a Blood Spirit Fiend that had taken human shape, though its facial features hadn’t formed yet. It had clearly absorbed vast power of bloodline over countless years; the energy within could push Ye Liuyun and his clones’ bloodlines up another notch.

A five-colored body-refining stone and a hefty chunk of platinum were likewise top-tier resources—proof of these factions’ deep foundations and the Fire Seal Star System’s abundance.

As for various source powers—especially fire-attribute ones—they had brought plenty, along with rarer types reserved for alchemists with special needs.

“Looks like what we prepared isn’t all that impressive.”

The offerings of these major forces made Ye Liuyun feel that only his Life Spring Water and Gilded Armor were worth showing off. Clone Two confirmed that those two items were indeed seldom seen here.

While they marveled at the star system’s riches, an outer-sect steward suddenly shouted into the hall, “Elder Heming of the Void Cauldron Sect has arrived!”

“The Void Cauldron Sect!”

“A major power’s here!”

The crowd buzzed, all turning toward the entrance.

An outer-sect steward hurried forward to escort a white-haired elder and two disciples of the sect inside.

Ye Liuyun swept the trio with his golden pupils. The elder was early Unity Ninth Heaven, his true essence solid, yet his core held no fire attribute. The two disciples behind him, both Unity Seventh Heaven, likewise lacked fire in their cores.

“Probably one of those elders who’s always out networking,” Ye Liuyun mused.

When Elder Heming arrived, he made a beeline for the Void-tier saber, as if nothing else in the hall even registered.

“As expected of a great-sect elder—his standards are sky-high. He won’t even glance at True-tier treasures!” someone whispered, half envious.

“Of course. An elder from the Void Pill Sect has seen every marvel under heaven.”

While everyone was still sighing, the steward outside shouted again, “Madam Yao Feng of the Myriad Transformation Sect has arrived!”

“The Myriad Transformation Sect sent someone too?” 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

“The Chen clan really has pull!”

The gathered martial artists exclaimed anew.

A steward-elder of the Chen clan hurried forward to greet him.

Madam Yao Feng had come alone, dressed rather plainly. He looked about fifty or sixty, yet brimmed with vigor.

Once ushered in by the Chen elder, he greeted Elder Heming, cast a look atveled at the Void-tier saber, and struck up a conversation with Heming.

“Ninth Prince arrives!”

The steward’s voice rang out again. Moments later, a young man in resplendent robes walked in at an unhurried pace, a smile on his face. Eight golden-armored guards followed at his heels.

“Sixth level of Unity for the prince, eighth level for his guards.” Ye Liuyun’s golden pupils swept over them, instantly gauging their strength.

An outer-sect elder of the Chen clan rushed to welcome him.

At the same time, many Chen disciples brought out tables and chairs. The Chen elders invited the Ninth Prince, Elder Heming, and Madam Yao Feng to sit and chat.

No one else objected. These were the true powers; the rest had no right to a seat.

Several chairs remained empty, presumably reserved for the Chen clan’s inner elders and weapon-refining master.