CHAPTER 406: CHAPTER 347 WUHE DAOIST, PEDDLING MAGIC SKILLS! [VOTE FOR MONTHLY PASS!]

Panlong Mountain stretches ninety-nine thousand miles.

Its territory is incredibly vast.

Because it lies in a shape resembling a dragon, people have divided Panlong Mountain according to the parts of a dragon’s body, naming its five regions as ’Dragon Horn Domain,’ ’Dragon Head Domain,’ ’Four Claw Domain,’ ’Dragon Tail Domain,’ and ’Dragon Scale Domain.’

Even after such division, the immense Panlong Mountain is still not thoroughly categorized.

Thus, these five major regions are further subdivided in greater detail.

For example, the ’Four Claw Domain’ is based on the distribution of the dragon’s four claws. It’s not one unified region but is instead split into four main parts according to the cardinal directions—east, south, west, and north—and is further subdivided based on the characteristics of the claws.

Similarly, the ’Dragon Scale Domain’ is said to consist of eighty-one scales on the dragon’s back, corresponding to the auspicious number of nine-times-nine. Hence, the ’Dragon Scale Domain’ is divided into eighty-one smaller territories.

Seven Emotions Marsh is one of these smaller territories in the ’Dragon Scale Domain.’

Fire Dragon Cave is another.

Looking across the entirety of Panlong Mountain, sects like the Seven Mysterious Sect are insignificant, unworthy of mention on the grand stage.

Within the great rivers, mountains, and lakes, there are countless Enlightenment True Persons hidden away. As for Qi Refining cultivators, they are as numerous as the stars in the sky, impossible to count.

It is only Divinity Transformation Ancestors that are exceedingly rare.

Within Panlong Mountain, those that are verifiably known number no more than ten, and among them, half are Loose Cultivators or Great Demons.

The other half consists of ancestor-level figures from Panlong Mountain’s most powerful and ancient Immortal Sects.

For example, ’Immortal Lady Cui’ of the Seven Treasures Sect.

Or ’Ancestor Yuann’ of Fantian Mountain.

Or ’Golden Blade Ancestor’ of the Rash Sea.

Or ’Grandmaster Wul’ of the Ten Thousand Sword Sect.

The Four Great Immortal Sects hold immense prestige, and these four ancestors are famously renowned throughout Panlong Mountain—none are unaware of their existence.

The four Divinity Transformation figures lead the Four Great Immortal Sects and are the acknowledged leaders of the Righteous Path within Panlong Mountain’s cultivation world.

Below them.

Countless sects exist in all sizes.

Sects like the Seven Mysterious Sect.

Their total number of True Persons is barely over ten, managing to qualify as a mid-to-small-sized sect.

Even smaller are those that only possess Qi Refining heritages, which are as numerous as the stars.

Looking higher up, there also exist mid-to-large-sized sects with Peak True Persons in residence and numerous True Persons within their ranks.

For instance, the nine sects of the Dragon Scale Domain, each boasting several True Persons and at least one Peak True Person. These sects possess strength and foundation second only to the Four Great Immortal Sects, qualifying them as large sects.

...

On this day.

One of the nine sects.

The Flowing Mist Immortal Sect.

The former Sect Leader from three generations ago, who is currently the real authority figure within the Flowing Mist Immortal Sect and is known as the ’Land Golden Dragon,’ Supreme Elder Zhou Yuncong, was within his secluded cultivation abode.

Suddenly.

Zhou Yuncong felt the atmosphere shift strangely. He opened his eyes, only to see a plain-looking, unassuming middle-aged Daoist standing in front of him, a smile on his face.

"You—"

Zhou Yuncong was startled, nearly causing his Mana to go out of control and fall into deviation.

He hurriedly suppressed it.

After a long while, with a slightly pale face, he looked at the middle-aged Daoist in front of him with vigilance and asked coldly, "Who are you, Daoist? Why have you intruded into my dwelling?"

"I am Wuhe. I have come to conduct a business deal with your sect."

Chen Jichuan, disguised as the middle-aged Daoist now known as ’Wuhe,’ smiled and looked at Zhou Yuncong.

"A business deal?"

Zhou Yuncong grew even more cautious but followed up, asking, "May I inquire what kind of deal the Daoist wishes to make?"

"Rest assured."

"It’s all things your Flowing Mist Sect already possesses. Such as Spirit Stones and various herbs and refining materials."

Seeing Zhou Yuncong’s unease, Chen Jichuan soothed him with calm words.

Spirit Stones.

Spiritual Medicines.

Refining materials.

These are the most common commodities in the cultivation world.

Spirit Stones serve both as resources for cultivation and as currency. Every sect and cultivator has some stock.

Spiritual Medicines are used to refine Spirit Pills, which serve countless beneficial purposes.

Refining materials are necessary for crafting Magical Treasures, comprising metals, minerals, and various other strange substances.

Chen Jichuan required these materials to further his cultivation, initiate a Dao Fruit World, and condense Affiliated Dao Fruits—all of which demanded a significant number of Spirit Stones.

And a large amount, at that.

As for Spiritual Medicines.

This time, he primarily sought materials for crafting Spirit Pills that nourish the Divine Soul, materials crucial for supporting his practice of the ’Divine Splitting and Thought Transformation’ technique.

Refining materials were for Magical Treasure crafting.

As a Third-order Refiner, Chen Jichuan had created numerous Third-order Magical Treasures within the Dao Fruit World. However, in reality, constrained by time and materials, most of his tools were still Second-order Magical Treasures.

With his cultivation steadily advancing, these were increasingly insufficient.

Possessing the ’Daluo Heavenly Sleeve,’ he would not lack Magical Treasures in the future, but those he crafted himself would always feel more suitable to his needs.

Whether Spirit Stones, Spiritual Medicines, or refining materials, Chen Jichuan could obtain them through alchemy or artifact refining.

But—

"Rather than painstakingly refining pills and tools to earn Spirit Stones."

"It’s far more efficient to directly trade with a major sect like the Flowing Mist Immortal Sect."

Chen Jichuan looked at Zhou Yuncong.

Sects like the Flowing Mist Immortal Sect, with thousands of years of heritage, had accumulated untold amounts of wealth. Conducting a single transaction with them could surpass decades of earnings from alchemy or artifact refining.

Perhaps much more.

The prerequisite, of course, was that he needed goods valuable and enticing enough to make the Flowing Mist Immortal Sect unable to refuse the deal.

"Take a look at this."

Without allowing Zhou Yuncong much time to think, Chen Jichuan casually tossed him a Jade Scroll.

Recorded within the Jade Scroll was a high-level technique.

The Flowing Mist Immortal Sect, known for its prowess in sword techniques, was offered a high-level sword technique called the ’Green Python Sword Technique,’ notable for its formidable power.

In the real world, even in the Ten Thousand Sword Sect.

Or within the Dao Fruit World, like on Wuhe Star.

Even with Divinity Transformation figures overseeing them, a sect might only possess a few relatively advanced high-level techniques.

In Chen Jichuan’s possession, and across the entire Starry Sky World, high-level techniques were not considered particularly rare. But for the Flowing Mist Immortal Sect, which was led by someone at the Second-order Peak, the value of a high-level technique was substantial.

"Green Python Sword Technique!"

As expected.

When Zhou Yuncong grasped the Jade Scroll and skimmed through the sword technique, he gulped audibly, his eyes lighting up immediately.

He set aside his suspicions regarding the identity and origin of the middle-aged Daoist and suppressed the excitement in his heart. Steadying himself, he asked, "May I ask what price the Daoist sets for this technique?"

"Two hundred and fifty thousand Spirit Crystals."

Chen Jichuan did not demand an extravagant price and instead gave a fair value.

Two hundred and fifty thousand Spirit Crystals.

Equivalent to fifty million Spirit Stones.

At first glance, this seemed like a hefty sum.

But in fact, even someone like a standard Second-order Alchemist from the Divine Banner Sect’s Mo Longyuan could earn over ten thousand Spirit Crystals annually. Two hundred and fifty thousand Spirit Crystals was merely twenty-five years’ worth of income.

For a large sect like the Flowing Mist Immortal Sect, with over a hundred True Persons, it was nothing more than a drizzle.

"Two hundred and fifty thousand."

Zhou Yuncong also recognized that the price was fair.

Spirit Crystals are easier to earn.

Secret techniques are harder to come by.

Exchanging Spirit Stones and Spirit Crystals for a high-level technique that could be passed down through generations for thousands, even tens of thousands of years, and provide teachings for countless disciples—there was no transaction more worthwhile than this.

Zhou Yuncong could easily calculate these benefits.

He looked at Chen Jichuan and said, "Daoist, please wait for a moment. I will immediately have the Spirit Crystals prepared."

Chen Jichuan’s mysterious origin, coupled with his ability to sneak past the many protective formations of the Flowing Mist Immortal Sect and enter Zhou Yuncong’s secluded cultivation chamber unnoticed, was enough to instill fear.

Zhou Yuncong had initially braced himself for the worst.

Now seeing that Chen Jichuan merely wanted to conduct business openly, he felt slightly relieved and decided to complete the trade as quickly as possible.

First, to ensure the high-level technique was secured.

Second, to send off this mysterious and uninvited guest promptly with minimal incident.

"No rush!"

Seeing Zhou Yuncong turning to leave, Chen Jichuan called him back. Watching his figure stiffen, Chen Jichuan smirked slightly and produced two more Jade Scrolls, handing them to Zhou Yuncong. "These two secret techniques are called ’Flowing Cloud Shield’ and ’Gale Step.’ The former is for defense, while the latter aids in escape. Both are of remarkable quality. Together, I value them at six hundred thousand Spirit Crystals."

The single ’Green Python Sword Technique,’ priced at two hundred and fifty thousand Spirit Crystals, clearly fell short of Chen Jichuan’s expectations.

He had thought through the Flowing Mist Immortal Sect’s needs in advance.

For this transaction, he had prepared three high-level techniques: one for offense, one for defense, and one for escape. They were extremely comprehensive offerings.

Combined, the three techniques amounted to a total price of eight hundred and fifty thousand Spirit Crystals.

For now, this was more than sufficient for Chen Jichuan’s needs.

"Flowing Cloud Shield."

"Gale Step."

Zhou Yuncong accepted the Jade Scrolls, examined the techniques, and found them equal in quality to the earlier ’Green Python Sword Technique.’ His astonishment partially gave way to delight as he addressed Chen Jichuan, "Eight hundred and fifty thousand Spirit Crystals is a substantial amount. The sect will need some time to prepare. Would the Daoist—"

For a sect of the Flowing Mist Sect’s scale, producing eight hundred and fifty thousand Spirit Crystals in one go was certainly feasible.

But Zhou Yuncong harbored his own reservations.

With the initial smaller sum, he had wanted to expedite the trade and quickly send Chen Jichuan away.

However, with the price now increased severalfold, he worried that Chen Jichuan might be probing the sect’s financial strength. He feared that agreeing too readily might provoke greed and misjudgment.

Having refined his cultivation to the Second-order Peak and holding substantial power within a large sect, Zhou Yuncong was unmistakably a shrewd individual.

"Just prepare one hundred thousand Spirit Crystals."

"For the remaining seven hundred and fifty thousand, convert three hundred thousand into standard Spirit Stones, and the remaining four hundred and fifty thousand into materials according to this list."

Chen Jichuan saw through Zhou Yuncong’s concerns.

However, he had little use for so many Spirit Crystals. Keeping one hundred thousand on hand for emergencies would suffice.

The rest could all be exchanged for standard Spirit Stones and materials.

Three hundred thousand Spirit Crystals could be converted into sixty million Spirit Stones—equivalent to six billion Source Power.

That would be more than enough to initiate the next Dao Fruit World and condense thirty-two Affiliated Dao Fruits, with some remaining to support his ongoing cultivation.

"Spirit Crystals and Spirit Stones are easy to gather, but these materials will still require time. Daoist, might I request some leniency on the timing?"

Zhou Yuncong carefully reviewed the list and addressed Chen Jichuan.

Asserting that eight hundred and fifty thousand Spirit Crystals were difficult to gather had been an excuse to protect against Chen Jichuan.

But the materials worth four hundred and fifty thousand Spirit Crystals—which Chen Jichuan requested—were genuinely not in sufficient stock even within the Flowing Mist Immortal Sect. These would indeed require time to assemble.

"I don’t mind."

"The impoverished Daoist shall return in ten days."

Chen Jichuan responded amiably. He smiled at Zhou Yuncong and added, "If, by then, your sect has any additional needs, feel free to ask. This indigent Daoist has a wide variety of techniques and skills in hand, complete and abundant, and will not disappoint your esteemed sect and fellow Daoists."

With that said, Chen Jichuan didn’t wait for Zhou Yuncong to reply. Taking a leisurely step forward, he vanished from the dwelling in an instant.

This time.

Zhou Yuncong watched as Chen Jichuan disappeared before his eyes without leaving the faintest trace of worldly aura. While he was deeply shaken, many thoughts that had been brewing in his mind also subsided.

...