Chapter 62: Transaction Complete

After the trading conference ended, the crowd of Nascent Soul old freaks filed out one after another.

As for the ancient relic, the Hundred-Mile Inch Hairpin, no one had actually traded for it—at least not openly.

At the entrance of the Grand Hall.

"Brother Blood Sea, this old man will be heading to the border defenses in half a year. Let us part ways here. Farewell until fate reunites us."

Jiuyou stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing into the distance. In that direction lay the current human border, where a faint trace of blood-red tinged the sky like a scar stretching across the heavens—a sight both jarring and chilling.

"May the path of immortality be ever-green. This Blood wishes you a safe return, fellow Daoist."

Blood Sea True Person cupped his hands together, a slight smile tugging at his lips.

"Brother Blood Sea, this old man will be heading to the border defense line in half a year. Let us part ways here. Farewell until fate reunites us."

Jiuyou expressed his thanks with a calm expression. Both men knew full well that the so-called sparring was merely polite small talk. At their level of cultivation, no one would lightly engage in battle with a peer.

Blood Sea True Person did not linger long. After exchanging farewells with Jiuyou, he turned and transformed into a massive blood-colored Kun whale, vanishing into the distant horizon in just a few breaths.

Jiuyou watched that blood-red streak fade into the distance, his gaze instantly turning cold.

His divine sense quietly spread outward, and only after confirming that those Nascent Soul cultivators had all left one after another did he flick his sleeve and transform into a pitch-black streak of light, speeding toward Soul Wraith Island.

But barely half a day after he left—

An unremarkable streak of light quietly doubled back, landing soundlessly on the edge of Black Reef Island.

Jiuyou changed his form, concealing both his appearance and aura, now resembling an ordinary Golden Core rogue cultivator as he leisurely made his way into the city. People came and went on the streets, and no one noticed this nondescript old man. No one knew he was Grand Ancestor Jiuyou of Soul Wraith Island.

He found his way to the Grand Hall where the earlier trading conference had been held with practiced ease.

No one had detected his arrival.

Inside the hall, those night pearls had dimmed for some unknown reason, leaving the entire space shrouded in gloom. Only a few faint rays of light filtered through the cracks in the dome, lending the hall an air of solemn gravity.

Jiuyou stepped into the hall, then revealed his true form, releasing a trace of his own aura.

His gaze swept across the hall, and his divine sense instantly unfurled like an invisible spiderweb, covering every inch of space.

"Since Fellow Daoist Mo is here, why skulk in the shadows?"

Jiuyou let out a cold snort, his voice echoing through the empty hall.

"Why not show yourself?"

The words had barely fallen when his gaze suddenly locked onto a secluded seat in the corner of the hall, his divine sense fixated on that tiny spot.

There, a gray light flickered.

Mo Tiancheng's figure materialized on the stone chair. He sat with one leg crossed, propping his chin on one hand as he gazed at Jiuyou from afar. A flicker of surprise crossed his originally composed face, followed by a light, awkward chuckle.

"Fellow Daoist Jiuyou has keen divine sense."

Mo Tiancheng rose to his feet, hands clasped behind his back.

"I had already admired that you could break through your bottleneck near the end of your lifespan. But I never expected your divine sense cultivation to be so exceptional. I underestimated you, Mo."

His gaze suddenly turned cold, and his tone dropped.

"Still, you have quite the nerve. I wonder if that Ten Thousand Year Spirit Milk you mentioned is real or fake. A treasure of that magnitude is rare in this world. If you, fellow Daoist, have deceived me—"

A surge of formidable gray-white magical power erupted from his body, sweeping outward like a violent storm. Countless stone tables and stools were sent flying, slamming into the stone walls and shattering into pieces. A howling gale filled the hall, dense Yin energy spreading everywhere, its might overwhelming.

"Then even if it costs me the face of three great cultivators, I will not let this matter rest easily."

Jiuyou's expression remained unchanged. Without haste, he raised his hand and flicked his sleeve.

A golden beam shot forth from within, and the Golden Sun Heavenly Mountain—now reduced to the size of a palm—hovered before him, then swelled as it caught the wind.

Blazing golden-red flames instantly illuminated the entire hall, and a wave of scorching power spread outward like a tide. The ancient relic grew larger and larger, nearly filling the entire hall, its fiery aura forcibly pressing back the Yin energy released by Mo Tiancheng.

Mo Tiancheng's gray magical power, before the blazing golden-red flames of the Golden Sun Heavenly Mountain, melted away layer by layer like snow meeting fire.

"A fine treasure."

Mo Tiancheng stared at the ancient relic emanating powerful, pure Yang flames, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. He abruptly retracted his aura, the gale ceased, the Yin energy dissipated, and the hall returned to calm.

"Hahaha, I was only teasing you."

Mo Tiancheng waved his hand, his smile returning to his face.

"It seems the rumors weren't false. You truly possess a top-grade ancient relic imbued with pure Yang flames. Tsk tsk, how enviable."

Jiuyou flipped his palm, and the Golden Sun Heavenly Mountain slowly shrank, flying back into his sleeve. The blazing heat in the hall dissipated as well, reverting to its earlier chill.

"You flatter me, Fellow Daoist Mo. It's merely a tool for self-defense, hardly worth mentioning."

His expression remained calm, his tone casual, as if the confrontation of auras had never happened.

The two men exchanged a glance, then each took a seat.

Now only two figures remained in the grand hall, separated by over ten zhang, facing each other from a distance.

"Enough idle talk."

Jiuyou spoke first, taking a jade bottle from his storage pouch and placing it gently on the stone table beside him.

"This old man does indeed possess Ten Thousand Year Spirit Milk. It has the miraculous effect of rapidly restoring magical power for Late Nascent Soul Grand Cultivators. Its preciousness needs no elaboration from me."

Mo Tiancheng's gaze fell on the jade bottle, a glint of sharpness flashing in his eyes, but he didn't speak right away.

"Ten Thousand Year Spirit Milk is indeed precious, but this alone may not be enough."

He extended a finger and tapped leisurely on the armrest of his chair.

"If Fellow Daoist Jiuyou truly wants this Hundred-Mile Inch Hairpin, you'll need to add a bit more to the pot."

Jiuyou sneered inwardly, but kept his face impassive.

He had long anticipated that the other party wouldn't let go so easily. Naturally, he had also come prepared.

"What does Fellow Daoist Mo want?"

"A treasure to aid in breaking through a bottleneck."

Mo Tiancheng looked straight at Jiuyou, his tone flat but leaving no room for negotiation.

"I made it clear at the trading conference earlier. Ten Thousand Year Spirit Milk is good, and it might have special effects when taken while compressing breakthrough magical power, but ultimately, it's not a treasure specifically meant for breaking through bottlenecks. If that's all you have, fellow Daoist, this deal won't go through."

Jiuyou was silent for a moment, as if weighing something.

After a short pause, he took a jade box from his storage pouch and gently opened it a crack.

A clear, medicinal fragrance wafted out, spreading through the hall. Mo Tiancheng's gaze was instantly drawn to it. His divine sense probed inside, and his brows lifted slightly.

"Four-thousand-year Tranquility Herb."

Jiuyou closed the jade box, his tone flat.

"This item calms the mind and steadies the spirit. It is of great benefit for focusing and settling the heart when breaking through a bottleneck. Used together with the Ten Thousand Year Spirit Milk, it ensures that when you, fellow Daoist, charge your bottleneck, your magical power will always be full and your state of mind stable."

Mo Tiancheng stared at the jade box, his gaze flickering.

He had to admit, the terms Jiuyou had offered were indeed tempting.

Ten Thousand Year Spirit Milk to keep magical power from exhausting, Tranquility Herb to guard the mind from turmoil—these two items combined would be like adding wings to a tiger when it came to him breaking through to Late Nascent Soul.

"Deal."

Mo Tiancheng did not hesitate any longer. With a flick of his hand, the Hundred-Mile Inch Hairpin flew out from his sleeve, hovering between them.

Azure light swirled, its spiritual pressure contained.

Jiuyou, in turn, floated the Ten Thousand Year Spirit Milk and Tranquility Herb toward the other party with his magical power.

Each of them took the treasures, carefully inspecting them with their divine sense. After confirming everything was correct, they each put their acquisitions into their storage pouches.

Jiuyou held the Hundred-Mile Inch Hairpin in his hand, feeling the cool aura emanating from it, the corner of his mouth curling slightly.

"Fellow Daoist Mo, a pleasure doing business."

"A pleasure doing business."

Mo Tiancheng also showed a hint of a smile as he stowed the Ten Thousand Year Spirit Milk and Tranquility Herb into his own pouch.

The two men exchanged a knowing glance.

Each got what they needed. Everyone was satisfied.

Jiuyou rose to his feet, not planning to linger any longer. He cupped his hands together.

"Fellow Daoist, this old man still needs to return and prepare for the border matters. We part here."

"Go slowly, Fellow Daoist Jiuyou. Mo won't see you out."

Jiuyou said no more. With a flick of his sleeve, he transformed into a pitch-black streak of light and vanished from the hall.

The streak of light tore through the sky, and Jiuyou stood with his hands behind his back, his face calm. But hidden in his eyes was a trace of satisfaction.

The Hundred-Mile Inch Hairpin was in his hands. He now had one more layer of protection for his life.

Though he had used up one bottle of Ten Thousand Year Spirit Milk, he still had six left—more than enough.

The Tranquility Herb was precious, but with the Little Green Bottle in his possession, he could ripen as many as he wanted. It was utterly insignificant.

As for Mo Tiancheng, now that he had these two items, he was likely already scheming on how to charge into Late Nascent Soul. Whether he could succeed or not would depend on his own fortune...

Jiuyou let out a cold laugh and increased his speed.

Behind him, Black Reef Island gradually disappeared into the twilight.

Ahead, over the sea, the blood-red line of the horizon grew closer and closer.

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