Void Evolution System

A month quickly passed by as Damien and Ruyue continued attending the hidden convention of devil worshippers, attempting to glean any information they could.

Meanwhile, in another hidden area connected to the main convention, a meeting of grandiose figures was taking place.

There were many people filling the room, numbering 32, but most of these people were merely standing on the outer edges of the area.

At the main table, there were 8 personages that all others in the room looked at with immense respect. Clearly, their status couldn't match up to these 8 in the slightest.

"Those trashes who betrayed their homeland are getting bolder and bolder recently. If they hadn't even given us any benefit from their activities, I might have gone to eradicate them myself." 

The speaker was a familiar face, yet his tone was vastly different. Xian Lin who seemed friendly and overly open with Damien and Ruyue was now sitting at this table of esteemed persons with a haughty and aloof attitude. 

"That's true. Even if I don't care about this planet, it's still my home for now."

"As if they'd dare do anything so slick right under our noses. Those fools only know how to dance in the palm of their masters."

"Still, their so-called Lords are definitely grandiose and ambitious. Even I'm not stupid enough to claim such wide-scale domination."

"Well, at least they presented an opportunity to leave this dying planet. Those damn righteous sects have always pissed me off."

A variety of complaints and opinions filled the room, mostly spoken by 6 others at the main table. Their every word was wrought with disdain and malice towards those other than themselves.

"Enough."

However, a single word was enough to silence all of them. Although there was no grand standing or ranking between those highest powers in the wicked sects, there was one undisputed fact. That was, the most powerful of them all.

The Eclipsing Shadows Sect. 

It was an existence that could rival even the main Palaces of the Central Continent. A power that even Tian Yang and those on his level had to be wary of. 

Similar to the Twilight Blood Sect, many of their proceedings and even their cultivation techniques were largely kept secret. Even when their disciples went out into the world, they would never leave anyone who learned these secrets alive.

The disciples of this sect had the firmest wills and tightest lips, bearing a kind of loyalty that one would be hard-pressed to find in the wicked sects, where personal gains were prioritized above all else.

And the leader of such a sect had just spoken. Perhaps it was an unspoken law that the Eclipsing Shadow Sect was number one, but that didn't mean anyone had the gall to go against it. 

The man in question sat at the head of this grand table, and a single word from him commanded the attention of all those present.

"There is no need for this pointless drivel. We are here to discuss business, so business is all that shall be discussed. Now tell me, what have you all learned within the last month of this convention?"

The other participants of the meeting looked at each other in hesitation, not knowing for sure who should speak first, when Xian Lin stood up.

"Since everyone is so busy being a wuss, I shall speak first. I took the time to wander the roads of the convention as an average cultivator, and although I still brandished my affiliation, I did not compromise my position. Through this, I have spotted numerous people I suspect to be spies from the righteous powers."

"As we thought, they sent their men here."

"What else should be expected from those low lives?"

"Silence." The Eclipsing Shadow Sect Leader shushed them once again.

"It is only natural that they sent spies, but from your words, it seems like the number is greater this time around. They must be wary of the dogs of those aliens."

Everyone else couldn't help but agree. That was the only difference between this convention and all others that had taken place.

"Still, the illusion formation those dogs have employed is at a level where their spies will not be able to penetrate. We need not worry about such pointless matters. Now, onto the important topic. What news has come about the auction taking place?"

"Ah, that auction. Those dogs actually have good heads on their shoulders when it comes to survival instinct. It seems they know they can't gain a foothold without our powers, so they've already sent us invitations."

"I heard that the items on auction are going to be quite interesting. Many Chaos rank artifacts and rare materials are on the list they handed out. Yet, the most intriguing part is the final item."

"That thing? Has its identity been revealed?"

"No news yet, but it's sure to be something interesting. They say their 'Lords' are the ones who provided it, after all."

"Hmm." The Eclipsing Shadow Sect Leader listened in on these conversations with a pondering look on his face.

The truth was, unlike these people, he had a vague idea of what the final item was set to be. He was someone who kept a firm grasp over his sect, never letting betrayal go unpunished.

And even if they didn't defect to the righteous path, siding with those aliens was still a form of defection. Any time one of those rats managed to sneak in, he would make sure they were thoroughly wrung for all the information they had.

And he had plenty of satisfactory means to do so.

Only recently, he had caught a big fish trying to enter his net. During interrogation, he learned this man was what they considered as an "Inheritor". Through this, he was able to learn the identity of the final item.

'Death Seed'

It was such a simple name, yet he knew its use had to be anything but. There was undoubtedly some sort of scheme behind this auction. It was most likely a way to bring the sect heads over to their side.

Whether it was through civility or force? He wasn't sure yet. That was something he'd find out once he saw the Death Seed in person.

Still, he hadn't brought much wealth with him this time, not bothering to empty the sect's coffers for such an auction. He was well aware that none of these fools would dare compete with him if he truly wanted something.

Concluding his thoughts, the Eclipsing Shadow Sect Leader returned his focus to the ongoing conversation, where the other Sect heads and representatives were still speculating about the auction. 

"Let us end this topic here," he said, "the auction starts in but a day and a half. We shall find out everything we need to know at that time."

***

Meanwhile, back at the hidden convention, Damien and Ruyue exited an inn with refreshed looks on their faces. 

The past month had been generally taxing on them, not physically but mentally. 

They had witnessed a great deal of generally unsavory things, and it wasn't a pleasant experience. 

Well, for Ruyue, that is. Damien's mental stress mainly came from holding her back and making sure she didn't fly into a rage and burn everyone to cinders.

"Sigh, although it was a tough time, at least we managed to get some information." He said wearily. However, it didn't take long for his eyes to brighten once again.

The time for the auction to start had finally arrived.