Elian immediately focused on the Creation Cloud Pills. He presented the Vajra Seal and made an offer: "I will trade this treasure and add twenty thousand spirit stones for the two Creation Cloud Pills. What do you think?"
The value of a single Creation Cloud Pill was typically around thirty thousand spirit stones. The Vajra Seal, a lower-grade third-rank defensive treasure, was worth over forty thousand spirit stones. Adding twenty thousand spirit stones made it a fair deal.
Before Yan Mingxu could respond, another voice interrupted.
"I am willing to trade this treasure for your two Creation Cloud Pills."
Elian frowned as Yang Yuanhe stepped forward, offering a mid-grade third-rank treasure, the Violet Calamity Tribulation Thunder Pearl. This treasure was valued at around one hundred thousand spirit stones, over fifty percent more than the two pills.
Sensing Elian's gaze, Yang Yuanhe cupped his hands and said politely yet firmly, "These two Creation Cloud Pills are crucial for me to break through to the mid-stage Purple Mansion. I must insist on this exchange."
Although slightly displeased, Elian had already secured a Crystal of Blazing Flame and knew he could refine Creation Cloud Pills using the Cloud Silk Fruit from Tianxu Mountain. He decided not to compete and let Yang Yuanhe have the pills.
Seeing Elian withdraw his offer, Yan Mingxu smiled and completed the transaction with Yang Yuanhe.
The exchange gathering continued, and it was soon Elian's turn. He stepped forward and displayed three treasures: a mid-grade third-rank Azure Blood Demon Sword, the Vajra Seal, and a piece of third-rank heavenly material, Kunxu Soil.
The first two items needed no introduction, but the Kunxu Soil was a rare material acquired from the Sun Clan of Yu County in exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill.
Thanks to the Chen family's reputation for fairness and its status as a local Purple Mansion clan, cultivators in Yu County often prioritized trading valuable treasures with the Chen family's shops.
Presenting the three items, Elian calmly said, "I am here to purchase Liquid of Blazing Flame and Fire Crystals. If anyone has these items, you will have priority in trading with me."
A Purple Mansion cultivator promptly offered four portions of Liquid of Blazing Flame in exchange for the Vajra Seal.
However, no one present owned any Fire Crystals. The rarity of the item was apparent even among the Purple Mansion cultivators.
As the bidding quieted, a cultivator in green robes spoke up, "Fellow Daoist Chen, since no one has any Fire Crystals, would you be willing to sell the Kunxu Soil?"
"I am willing to exchange it for a Purple Mansion technique," the cultivator offered.
"What kind of technique?" Elian asked, intrigued by the potential to strengthen his family's legacy.
The man handed over the outline of the technique, but Elian quickly shook his head after reviewing it.
The technique, named the Profound Abyss True Water Art, was a water-attribute technique that only reached the first level of the Purple Mansion.
The Chen family already had the Frostlight Frigid Radiance Sutra for water-attribute Foundation Establishment cultivators, making this technique redundant. It would be impractical for a cultivator to discard their practice after advancing past the first level of the Purple Mansion.
"This technique only reaches the first level of the Purple Mansion, making it useless to me. Moreover, Kunxu Soil is essential for refining life-bound treasures, so the value does not match," Elian explained.
The green-robed cultivator, who was only at the second level of the Purple Mansion, hastily added, "While the technique may fall short, it is still a Purple Mansion technique. If you agree to this exchange, I will also provide information about Fire Crystals."
Elian furrowed his brow.
"Is that true?"
"Of course," the cultivator replied, rubbing his hands with a smile.
After completing the transaction, the cultivator discreetly transmitted the information to Elian.
"Seven million miles southeast of the Chu Kingdom, beyond the borders of the six nations of Ji Continent, lies Tianlu Continent. Thirty years ago, I saw two Fire Crystals for sale at the Muyuan Market in Yuan Kingdom. I don't know if they're still available now."
"Thirty years ago?" Elian's expression darkened. He felt deceived—who could guarantee the crystals were still there after so long?
Before he could voice his frustration, the cultivator continued, "To be honest, the Ji Clan's legacy treasure requires a large amount of Fire Crystals for maintenance. Most of the crystals in Ji Continent have likely been acquired by the Ji Clan. If you want to buy Fire Crystals, your chances are much better in Tianlu Continent, where the Nascent Soul sects don't practice pure yang techniques."
Hearing this, Elian recalled some ancient legends.
According to old tales, the Ji and Jiang Clans were among the most prestigious lineages in the world.
It was said that the Ji Clan of Ji Continent once had a Dao Monarch of the Soul Formation stage. However, their decline began after the Dao Monarch's mysterious demise, reducing their status to a Nascent Soul clan.
Despite this, the Ji Clan still possessed supreme treasures of the Soul Formation level. The current clan leader, leveraging their immense power, had even defeated the Nascent Soul Demon Emperor Qing Jiao and forced him to sign an unequal contract.
Since then, the demon race had been restricted to attacking humans only once every hundred years, while humans could strike at Qing Jiao's forces anytime.
The Qing Jiao Demon Emperor was of the Black Dragon lineage, a bloodline nearing true dragonhood. For even such a being to sign such a treaty was a testament to the Ji Clan's formidable strength.
Suppressing his thoughts, Elian decided to visit Tianlu Continent after the impending battle with the Qingyang Sect.
The exchange gathering concluded. Although Elian did not acquire any Fire Crystals, his gains were substantial.
He reviewed his acquisitions: sufficient Liquid of Blazing Flame, a Crystal of Blazing Flame, the Profound Abyss True Water Art, the method for refining the Formless Immortal Sword, and forty thousand spirit stones.
In exchange, he had parted with the Vajra Seal, the Azure Scale Shield, three taels of Enlightenment Tea, a piece of Purple Essence Azure Gold, and the Kunxu Soil.
With the transactions complete, Elian wasted no time departing for Yu County with his spoils.
Meanwhile, in a desolate wilderness, three figures stood together. The leader was Yan Mingxu of the Yan Clan, accompanied by two others whom Elian recognized.
One was the long-time enemy of the Chen family, Demon Hong, who had recently broken through to the Purple Mansion stage after years of absence.
The third figure was a bewitching female demon cultivator at the mid-stage of the Purple Mansion, also affiliated with the Demon Lair.
The three conversed seamlessly, their dynamic unperturbed by the differences between human and demon cultivators. In fact, the two demons treated Yan Mingxu with the utmost respect.
The female demon stood behind Yan Mingxu, smiling coquettishly. "Master, has the bait been set for the fat sheep?"
...
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I need POWAAA! Gimme Power Stones :D