Translator: CinderTL
When Song Wen received the message from Yu Wen informing him that Xue Mei had come to Tiancang Mountain and specifically asked to see him, he was quite surprised.
It wasn't difficult for Xue Mei to deduce that 'Yin Shuo' and 'Ji Yin' were the same person.
She knew a great deal about the secrets of the Divine Blood Gate, and Song Wen had once transformed into a three-zhang tall giant corpse using the Undying True Corpse Transformation in front of others.
Based on this alone, she could confirm that 'Yin Shuo' had cultivated the Corpse King Rebirth Arts and was the 'Ji Yin' she had been searching for.
When Song Wen arrived at Tiancang Mountain, Xue Mei was sitting leisurely in the hall, sipping tea.
After dismissing the disciples in the hall and setting up a soundproof barrier, Song Wen smiled and said,
"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Xue Mei, on successfully escaping from the Nine Palaces Sect."
Xue Mei gently brushed the hair in front of her forehead and replied with a hint of charm,
"I didn't expect Fellow Daoist to be so concerned about my safety. It truly makes this humble woman overjoyed."
Hearing this, Song Wen smiled faintly.
He saw through her act clearly—Xue Mei's behavior undoubtedly meant she had a request.
Just as Song Wen had anticipated, before he could speak, Xue Mei continued,
"I've come today to propose a trade with Fellow Daoist."
Her voice was soft and slightly shy, making it sound both alluring and tingling to the ears.
Song Wen's lips curled into a slight smile, but he didn't respond to her proposal directly. Instead, he asked,
"Fellow Daoist, have you obtained the Bronze Key Coffin?"
For Song Wen, only a Xue Mei who possessed the Bronze Key Coffin had value and the qualifications to negotiate with him.
If she hadn't obtained it, their previous agreement to explore the Divine Blood Hall together would naturally become meaningless.
In that case, Song Wen wouldn't hesitate to follow Tai He's example and turn Xue Mei into a cultivation cauldron.
Xue Mei clearly understood Song Wen's thoughts, and she put away her charming demeanor.
"Fellow Daoist truly doesn't know how to cherish beauty," she said.
Before her words faded, a coffin over a zhang in length suddenly appeared in front of her—it was the Bronze Key Coffin.
Seeing the Bronze Key Coffin, Song Wen's demeanor instantly became more enthusiastic.
"Fellow Daoist, feel free to speak plainly about the trade you wish to make."
Xue Mei stored the Bronze Key Coffin away and replied,
"I need a sum of high-grade spirit stones for my Nascent Soul breakthrough."
"How many high-grade spirit stones?" Song Wen asked.
"Five hundred," Xue Mei said.
"Fellow Daoist, I can't produce that many spirit stones," Song Wen replied.
Of course, Song Wen was lying. Although he hadn't taken a single spirit stone from the Asura Sect, he still had over twelve hundred high-grade spirit stones on him.
Xue Mei said, "Fellow Daoist, don't be so quick to refuse. Why not hear my condition first?"
Song Wen replied, "Please speak, Fellow Daoist."
"Once Fellow Daoist reaches the bottleneck of the early Nascent Soul stage, I can engage in dual cultivation with you, allowing you to absorb the yin essence within my body to help you break through to the mid Nascent Soul stage."
After saying this, Xue Mei looked at Song Wen with anticipation.
This condition was extremely attractive to any Nascent Soul cultivator.
She believed Song Wen wouldn't refuse.
However, Song Wen shook his head.
"Fellow Daoist's body is indeed peerlessly beautiful, and it's also of the Profound Yin constitution. Naturally, I would hope to engage in dual cultivation with you. However, as I've said, I don't have that many spirit stones, so I'm afraid I must disappoint you."
At the moment, Song Wen hadn't even resolved the issue of his cultivation method, let alone breaking through to the mid Nascent Soul stage.
Using five hundred high-grade spirit stones to buy a promise—especially one from Xue Mei—was clearly not a wise decision.
"You, the prestigious Asura Sect, can't come up with five hundred High-Grade Spirit Stones?" Xue Mei questioned with a look of doubt.
"Our sect was only recently established, and our foundation is still shallow. We lack large mineral veins and methods to earn Spirit Stones. The sect's income is meager, barely enough to keep things running," Song Wen explained.
Xue Mei pursed her lips, a hint of disdain flashing in her eyes.
She probed, "What about four hundred High-Grade Spirit Stones?"
Song Wen shook his head, "We can't afford that."
"Two hundred?" Xue Mei asked.
Song Wen continued to shake his head.
Xue Mei suddenly stood up from her chair and said, "It seems my offer hasn't piqued your interest. Why not speak plainly about what you desire? As long as I can provide it, I'm willing to trade."
Cornered by Xue Mei, Song Wen no longer beat around the bush and stated directly, "I'm not sure what you have that would interest me."
Xue Mei thought for a moment, then flipped her hand to produce a jade slip. "During my recent exploration of the Nether Soul Hall, I happened to acquire a body-refining technique. I believe it might catch your interest."
With that, she tossed the jade slip towards Song Wen.
Song Wen didn't reach out to catch it. Instead, he used his Spiritual Power to hold the jade slip three zhang away from him.
He extended his Spirit Sense into it.
Immediately, Song Wen's heart stirred.
Inside the jade slip was the cultivation method for the "Ten Thousand Poisons Body," including the subsequent cultivation techniques he had long awaited.
However, the contents of the jade slip were incomplete, with some critical information deliberately hidden by Xue Mei.
In that instant, Song Wen made up his mind to obtain the technique at all costs.
If he could acquire the subsequent methods of the "Ten Thousand Poisons Body," he could enhance his body's resistance to toxins.
Then, the first Blood Demon Pill he refined could be directly consumed without worrying about its deadly poison.
At that point, a single pill could simultaneously boost his cultivation and temper his body, killing two birds with one stone.
He wouldn't need to exhaust himself further in refining the Blood Demon Pill.
Though determined in his heart, Song Wen's expression remained unchanged. "This technique is somewhat intriguing. However, cultivating it requires refining various toxic substances, which would likely incur significant costs."
Xue Mei glared at Song Wen, somewhat displeased. "Since you're interested, why the pretense? Three hundred High-Grade Spirit Stones, and this technique is yours. Additionally, my earlier offer to dual cultivate with you still stands."
Song Wen looked at Xue Mei but didn't respond immediately.
According to Xue Mei's offer, if the deal were finalized, it would undoubtedly be in Song Wen's favor.
After some thought, Song Wen said, "I can give you three hundred High-Grade Spirit Stones. But you must swear a soul oath to dual cultivate with me when I need it. Also, I hope you can provide more detailed information about the Divine Blood Hall, preferably with an internal map."
"I can swear the soul oath, but I can't fulfill your second condition. Although I visited the Divine Blood Hall a few times tens of thousands of years ago, all its restrictions were closed back then, unlike now when they're fully activated. The interior of the Divine Blood Hall is complex. If you wish to obtain the subsequent techniques of the 'Corpse King's Rebirth Art,' exploring the Divine Blood Hall with me would be your best option," Xue Mei said.
Her words were a reminder to Song Wen that she still had significant value, and paying some Spirit Stones would be worth it.
Song Wen said, "Alright, I agree to your conditions."
After the two completed their transaction, Xue Mei bid farewell and left.
(End of the Chapter)
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