Soul count: 18 billion.
That was the number of souls harvested on the battlefield, all obtained from the slain Eternal Night demons. Of course, this figure only represented half of the total—by agreement, half of the souls had to be given to the White Bone Nethercrow Clan. The true number was at least double that.
Eighteen billion souls—an astronomical figure.
Left unused, they would produce nothing of value. Naturally, it was time to convert this immense wealth into real treasures—rare and powerful artifacts that could bring great change to the Da Yi Dynasty. Letting them sit idle would simply be a waste.
Yi Tianxing had long considered making these exchanges, but had been repeatedly delayed by various affairs. Now, with a rare moment of free time, there was no reason to wait. Exchanging treasures didn't take much effort or delay any major decisions.
Moreover, during his time on the Divine-Demon Battlefield, he hadn't had much time to accompany the women in his life. And if there's one thing women enjoy without fail—it's shopping. That was universal. Even the usually cool and aloof Yao Yue and the Serpent Empress were not immune.
So, when they heard they would be visiting the White Bone Crystal Pillar to exchange treasures, they were all eager and enthusiastic, curious to see just what kind of treasures the White Bone Nethercrow Clan could offer. It would certainly be an eye-opening experience.
Naturally, their expectations were tempered by reason.
They had all seen the Divine-Demon Treasury before and witnessed the countless wonders it held. They doubted the Nethercrow Clan could surpass that trove. Still, the Soul Creation Furnace the clan used was capable of refining soul treasures of bizarre and unpredictable nature—no one could guess what might emerge. That unpredictability made it all the more exciting.
Indeed, anything was possible.
The furnace used souls as fuel, refining materials and forming them into unique treasures. These items were often bizarre and extraordinary, with almost no trace of human craftsmanship or later-world contamination. In many ways, they resembled natural wonders born of heaven and earth. Such treasures were especially well-suited to be lifebound artifacts or divine weapons.
These treasures, born from the Soul Creation Furnace, were called Soul Treasures (魂宝).
They naturally resonated with the soul, were easy to refine, and could be seamlessly linked to the wielder's life force. Truly, they were unparalleled. Thanks to this ability, the White Bone Nethercrow Clan held a uniquely exalted status among all the races.
"You must be here to exchange for some Soul Treasures."
The Nethercrow Emperor appeared silently before the White Bone Crystal Pillar. His gaze swept across Yi Tianxing and the women behind him, the flames in his eyes flaring with excitement.
"Indeed. I've long looked forward to seeing what Soul Treasures your city has to offer. I wonder if you're prepared to meet the scale of my exchanges," Yi Tianxing responded calmly.
"Haha, rest assured, Emperor Yi. With the vast number of souls and the many materials gathered from the Eternal Night demons, we've been refining treasures non-stop. We've produced a massive stockpile of Soul Treasures, just waiting for you to arrive. Honestly, if you hadn't come soon, I was about to go looking for you myself. All these delicious souls sitting around—unable to eat them—it's been tormenting!"
The Nethercrow Emperor was practically glowing with anticipation.
The souls were currently stored in the crystal pillar and couldn't be consumed before the exchange. For a race that consumed souls, it was like placing a feast in front of them and forbidding them to eat. Now that Yi Tianxing had come, how could they not be overjoyed?
As for the Soul Treasures, they didn't mind parting with them. So long as there were souls and materials, more could always be created. But souls? Souls were the true delicacy.
"I'll take a Nine Nether Ten-Thousand Crow Jar if you have any."
Yi Tianxing's gaze landed on one of the treasures visible in the crystal pillar. This jar was one of the best Soul Treasures created by the White Bone Nethercrow Clan—an Earth-rank Soul Treasure. In terms of power, it was no less than an innate spiritual treasure.
Once activated, it could unleash thousands of bone crows wreathed in Netherflame, devouring everything in their path. It could form the Myriad Crows Grand Formation, transforming into the Nine Nether Ghost Moon and turning the land into a hellish domain. Even a supreme powerhouse could suffer grievous wounds—or death—within it.
It was an exceptionally rare, top-tier Soul Treasure.
The exchange price: 1 billion souls.
Was that a lot?
Yes—and no.
For most, killing a billion beings wasn't impossible. But such a massacre would create enormous karmic burdens, which would harm future cultivation. So very few dared to do so lightly.
Whether such a treasure was worth the price depended on one's needs. But in terms of quality, this Earth-rank Soul Treasure was on par with innate spiritual treasures. The only difference lay in its potential for growth.
"There's only one of those," the Nethercrow Emperor said, shaking his head. "It was forged in the previous era. Even I couldn't reproduce it now. It required unique materials, vast soul quantities, and a rare alignment of opportunity. It's truly one of a kind."
"Very well. Then I'll take it," Yi Tianxing declared without hesitation.
Light flashed on the crystal pillar, and 1 billion souls vanished. A white, elongated jar flew out and landed in Yi Tianxing's hand. Its surface shimmered with shifting runes, like crows in flight. Holding it, he felt a biting chill spreading rapidly through his palm.
Its terrifying power was palpable. Once unleashed, it could cause unimaginable destruction.
"Who wants this?" Yi Tianxing looked at the women around him. "It's a powerful defensive artifact—perfect for protecting oneself in this battlefield."
"Why not give it to Xiao Qian?" suggested Yao Yue. "She's a ghost cultivator, and her yin-attribute cultivation matches this treasure perfectly. Aside from her lifebound treasure, she doesn't have many defensive tools. This would be ideal for her."
"Yes, give it to Sister Nie," the others agreed.
No one fought over the treasure. While it was powerful, fit was more important than force.
"Very well. Then it's Xiao Qian's."
Yi Tianxing nodded, pleased with their harmony. The last thing he wanted was petty rivalry among them.
"Thank you, Husband. And thank you, dear sisters," Nie Xiaoqian accepted the treasure sincerely.
"Next, give me the Ten-Thousand Crow Black Feather Fan."
With such an enormous soul reserve, Yi Tianxing didn't hesitate.
"One billion souls again," the Nethercrow Emperor said with a grin. "Another Earth-rank Soul Treasure from the previous era. Though it's only just crossed into the spirit treasure level, it still has immense growth potential."
A billion souls disappeared. A pitch-black feather fan appeared, emanating sinister power.
This fan could release the Winds of Calamity, bringing all manner of disasters upon enemies—fire, thunder, poison, curses. It was strange, terrifying, and extremely dangerous.
"I'll give this one to Lianxing," Yi Tianxing said, handing it to her with a smile.
Again, the women had no objections and offered their approval.
"Next: Lunar Coldmoon Bottle, Earth-rank Soul Treasure. one billion souls."
This treasure could trap enemies inside, placing them in a frozen lunar realm that gradually turned them into ice sculptures, even destroying their souls. It also produced Lunar Dew, which could accelerate the growth and potency of spiritual herbs.
"Excellent. I'll take it."
Yi Tianxing acquired it and gifted it to Yao Yue, whose temperament and cultivation matched it well.
After that, he continued browsing and buying:
Crow Feather Arrows – 10,000 souls
Soul Capturing Bell – 300,000 souls
Escape Dagger – 100,000 souls
Blood-Melting Gourd – 1,000,000 souls
…
Countless Soul Treasures emerged from the pillar.
Yi Tianxing didn't bother to hesitate or scrutinize each item.
His approach was simple:
Buy, buy, buy!