Chapter 965: Yuanhuo Master

Ye Qing received a transmission talisman stating that the owner of an item he was interested in had returned and invited him to discuss it further, so he left.

Chen Mobai then began to browse on his own.

He walked past various stone platforms, admiring the rare and exotic treasures. Occasionally, he would stop to converse, hoping to find a good bargain. The treasures available in the Heavenly River Realm were far more numerous than those in the Immortal Sects. Unfortunately, his pockets were rather shallow, so he could only afford to buy inexpensive items.

Soon, he arrived at the section dedicated to selling cultivation techniques and books. When setting up stone platforms for Nascent Soul cultivators, the Star Heaven Dao Sect would generally inquire about the nature of the items and group similar ones together. Here, he saw ancient yellowed texts and even fragmented jade slips. This area also had the most Nascent Soul cultivators, and Chen Mobai spotted Mo Douguang.

"Brother, have you found anything?"

Seeing Chen Mobai, Mo Douguang took out two sword cultivation techniques and a yellowish jade slip from his storage pouch. Chen Mobai examined them; all were incomplete Nascent Soul cultivation methods. He inquired about their prices, which were more than half cheaper than those offered by the Star Heaven Dao Sect. However, buying and selling these items relied purely on luck. Unlike those sold by the Star Heaven Dao Sect, which came with a guarantee until the next Big Dipper Assembly, natural treasures, thousand-year spiritual plants, and ten-thousand-year medicinal herbs were genuine hard currency and could not be faked. But cultivation techniques and ancient texts were different; their value depended entirely on one's discernment. Cultivation methods acquired at these trade fairs were transacted on the spot, with no returns or exchanges once problems were discovered after leaving.

Chen Mobai briefly looked at the three items Mo Douguang had purchased but said nothing further.

"I'll go browse the outer areas again," Mo Douguang said, "the items there are cheaper, and I might find a real bargain." Mo Douguang remarked that only after coming to the Big Dipper Assembly did he realize how useful spirit stones truly were. When he was in the Eastern Barrens, he considered himself a low-desire cultivator, rarely seeing anything he fancied. Only upon arriving here did he understand that it was because there were no good items in the Eastern Barrens.

"I'll keep browsing here for a bit, then I'll find you outside later."

After Mo Douguang left, Chen Mobai continued browsing the various stone platforms and indeed found many good items. For instance, on the stone platform of the Heavenly Thunder Zen Sect from Western Continent, there was half of a genuine immortal jade slip. It recorded a powerful thunder art, but only the section on controlling and unleashing immortal thunder was present; the crucial initial part concerning the refinement and enhancement of immortal thunder was missing. Despite this, this half-immortal jade slip still attracted the attention of over a dozen Nascent Soul cultivators. Chen Mobai even spotted Venerable Xing Chen from the Star Heaven Dao Sect among them.

"This half-immortal jade slip of our sect was bestowed by the Eastern Earth Imperial Court in the past. Our ancestor, the Great Thunder Immortal, was born with a lightning spirit body. After achieving great cultivation, his primordial spirit could command all thunder, so he had no need for the missing front half," a voice explained. "This time, our sect didn't come to sell this half-immortal jade slip. If any of you can offer thunder arts that our sect doesn't possess, or spiritual materials greatly beneficial for body tempering, you may have one opportunity to study it. If anyone can provide the other half, our sect is willing to acquire it at a high price."

Behind the Heavenly Thunder Zen Sect's stone platform, a Nascent Soul cultivator was personally presiding. Chen Mobai listened for a while and understood their intention. Soon, many Nascent Soul cultivators stepped forward to negotiate, but unfortunately, only two managed to gain the opportunity to study the immortal jade slip. One of them was indeed Xing Chen. The Heavenly Thunder Zen Temple would grant each person one day to study this item.

Chen Mobai saw Venerable Xing Chen reluctantly emerge, so he walked over to greet him and inquire.

"Sect Master Chen..."

Xing Chen was very polite upon seeing Chen Mobai and then spoke of the spiritual material he had paid to study the slip: a complete bone of a peak fourth-rank demonic beast. After boiling, this item was highly beneficial for body tempering. Upon hearing this, Chen Mobai's heart stirred. If he remembered correctly, Qing Nv still possessed the corpse of the Poison Dragon Ancestor, which had been sealed due to containing the highly toxic Colorful Python venom. He wondered if the Heavenly Thunder Zen Sect would accept this.

"Why wouldn't they accept it?" Xing Chen immediately said. "Highly poisonous demonic beasts are taboo for other cultivators, but for body-tempering cultivators like them, they are immensely beneficial. They precisely need these potent toxins to stimulate their physical bodies to make crucial breakthroughs."

"It's a pity," Chen Mobai mused, "I'm not interested in thunder arts." But Chen Mobai thought for a moment and still shook his head. He was merely somewhat curious about the immortal jade slip.

"Then, how about Sect Master Chen sells your Poison Dragon bones to me?"

At this moment, Venerable Xing Chen proposed an idea. He practiced the Star Thunder Art and was nearing its limits. If he wished to achieve the Spirit Transformation stage, he needed to visit the Star God Temple or study a fifth-rank thunder art. Among these options, even Xing Ji had been rebuffed at the Star God Temple, let alone Venerable Xing Chen. Therefore, his attention was fixed on fifth-rank thunder arts. The Heavenly Thunder Zen Sect's Immortal Thunder Jade Slip was, for him, an immortal text that pointed the way to the Grand Dao. One day of study time was far too short for Xing Chen. Since he had previously studied his own sect's immortal jade slip, which recorded the Three Light Divine Water, he hoped to find more resources to exchange for additional study time.

"This... is not entirely out of the question!"

Chen Mobai considered it and did not refuse. After all, the Star Heaven Dao Sect had collected many good items at this Big Dipper Assembly, and perhaps some of them, like the Nine Yang True Fire Stone, were precisely what he needed. Next, Chen Mobai inquired with Xing Chen about the successful bids this time.

"Basically, all sacred grounds that came received a portion of the Three Light Divine Water, whether from Eastern Continent or other continents..." Xing Chen pondered for a moment, cast a sound-insulating spell, and then revealed this to Chen Mobai. This was pre-arranged. Since Zhang Pankong was leading a delegation for the first time this year, he certainly wanted all clients to leave satisfied. If the Star Heaven Dao Sect didn't even show this much respect, they wouldn't need to consider competing for a spot to obtain the True Spirit Breakthrough Pill.

"What a pity," Chen Mobai sighed, hearing that the news had already been conveyed to each bidding sacred ground last night, "it seems my sect won't be getting any then."

"If Sect Master Chen wants it, I can exchange the Three Light Divine Water for your Poison Dragon bones." Xing Chen had said all that just for this one sentence. The Three Light Divine Water was extremely precious to outsiders, but for the Nascent Soul cultivators of the Star Heaven Dao Sect, they still had some allocated portions.

Exchanging the bones of a peak fourth-rank demonic beast for a portion of Three Light Divine Water felt a bit like a loss! Although Chen Mobai thought this, he also knew that Three Light Divine Water was entirely a seller's market, and in outsiders' eyes, he would likely still be seen as having profited.

"The essence blood of the Poison Dragon demonic beast has already been extracted by me, and precious materials like its scales, dragon sinews, dragon whiskers, and dragon horns have also been used. Now, only the separated bones and frozen, preserved flesh remain..." Chen Mobai explained this beforehand to Xing Chen, who directly nodded, stating that body-tempering cultivators only needed bones for soup and flesh for cooking, as other parts contained less essence.

"The item is with my dao companion. I will send it to you once I return." Chen Mobai considered it and decided to make the exchange.

"Consider this a favor I owe Sect Master Chen." Venerable Xing Chen was very pleased to hear this.

"Brother Dao," Chen Mobai said, "there's one more thing. Your sect still possesses ten thousand mu of Coiling Dragon Spirit Rice fields within my Eastern Barrens territory. I wonder if I might have the opportunity to acquire them by offering some resources?" Upon hearing Xing Chen, Chen Mobai suddenly remembered this matter. Within the Eastern Barrens, this was currently the only spiritual field not controlled by the Five Elements Sect and still belonging to an external major power. Although the Five Elements Sect and the Star Heaven Grand Chamber of Commerce had cooperated quite happily over the years, these ten thousand mu of spiritual fields always felt like a thorn in his side, causing a degree of discomfort. Chen Mobai wondered if he could use this opportunity to resolve this matter.

"Sect Master Chen, I'm afraid this matter cannot be resolved..." Venerable Xing Chen looked troubled upon hearing this. These ten thousand mu of Coiling Dragon Spirit Rice fields were not exceptionally precious to their Nascent Soul cultivators, but the crucial point was that they represented the achievements of the Star Heaven Dao Sect's third patriarch. Although the third patriarch had passed away thousands of years ago, his memorial tablet was still enshrined. None of the eight Nascent Soul cultivators of the Star Heaven Dao Sect, not even Grand Elder Xing Ji, would risk being branded as unfilial for a small profit.

"I understand." After understanding the reason, Chen Mobai nodded gently. As the ancestral legacy, these ten thousand mu of Coiling Dragon Spirit Rice fields would indeed be difficult for later generations to sell without sufficient justification or excuse. It seemed he would have to wait until he achieved the Spirit Transformation stage in the future before "discussing" this with the Star Heaven Dao Sect.

As Chen Mobai thought this, he also mentioned to Xing Chen some items that the Five Elements Sect disciples were interested in, such as Zhuo Ming's Nine-Ren Dharma Body and Mo Douguang's Imperial Sword Dao.

"These are simple," Xing Chen replied. "When the time comes, I'll check the summarized prices. If your bids are similar, I'll arrange for your sect to win. If the prices differ significantly, I'll inform you of the reserve price, and you can have the Five Elements Sect submit a revised bid." With a few words, Venerable Xing Chen had already internally decided that the Five Elements Sect's bids would be successful.

"Thank you, Brother Dao!" Chen Mobai was also very pleased. Indeed, it's always easier to get things done with someone on the inside.

In the evening, Chen Mobai retrieved the Poison Dragon bones that Qing Nv had processed and personally went to visit Xing Chen. Although there was a significant age gap between them, they conversed happily, and in their conversation, they even recounted their first meeting as a pleasant anecdote.

"Sect Master Chen, take care..."

"No need to see me off, fellow Daoist!"

After obtaining a portion of the Three Light Divine Water, Chen Mobai returned to his courtyard, only to find that guests had arrived. Zhou Ye was entertaining them. It was a ruddy-faced Daoist with red eyebrows and hair. Beside him was Hong Xiu, whom Chen Mobai recognized.

"I am Yuan Huo of the Profound Fire Sect, greetings, Sect Master Chen!" The Daoist rose and introduced himself to Chen Mobai.

"Venerable Yuan Huo, you are too kind..." Chen Mobai had already surmised his identity and was not surprised.

"I heard that Sect Master Chen is a master artificer in the Eastern Continent. Coincidentally, I intend to invite several fellow Daoists to forge a fifth-rank magic artifact together. I wonder if you would be free to accompany me to the Southern Continent after the assembly concludes?"

"After I return, I'm afraid I'll need to enter seclusion for a period and won't be able to travel far. I apologize!" Upon hearing this, Chen Mobai refused without hesitation. He didn't even want to go to the Eastern Earth, so why would he go to the even more unfamiliar Southern Continent?

"Sect Master Chen, please don't rush to refuse. The Eastern Continent is about to become a place of turmoil, but our Southern Continent, with its five great sacred grounds, is calm and peaceful. At such a time, Sect Master Chen could bring his dao companion and disciples to our Southern Continent to avoid the storm." Venerable Yuan Huo said something that surprised Chen Mobai. Upon closer thought, he found that there was indeed some truth to it. Among the Five Continents and Four Seas, the Southern Continent's strength was second only to the Central Continent. The Southern Demonic Dao had been dispersed by them long ago, fleeing into the sea and barely surviving by relying on demonic true spirits. If a great calamity were to erupt in the Eastern Continent, sending core disciples to the Southern Continent for refuge would indeed be a good option.

"Thank you for your kind offer, fellow Daoist, but the Eastern Continent is my home after all, and I trust the four great sacred grounds." However, considering the prime spirit stone cost of the super teleportation array and Ye Qing's assistance to him, Chen Mobai still felt it was better to stay in the Eastern Barrens and help guard Dongwu's maritime gateway. Even if he had to flee, it would only be when the tide had completely turned. At that point, it wouldn't be called fleeing, but preserving a useful body!

"That's truly regrettable," Venerable Yuan Huo said with a look of pity, then took out White Glass Sky Crystal and Nine Yang True Fire Stone. "I heard from Hong Xiu that Sect Master Chen needs these?"

As soon as Chen Mobai saw these two fifth-rank spiritual materials, he couldn't help but exclaim that they were indeed from a sacred ground in the Southern Continent. "That's right, I need these two materials to forge a magic artifact. May I ask what your requirements are, fellow Daoist?"

"May I ask what kind of magic artifact Sect Master Chen intends to forge with these, and what its rank will be?" Venerable Yuan Huo's question was somewhat presumptuous in the Heavenly River Realm, especially within the artificer industry.

"To be frank, I intend to use these to forge a Demon Refining Treasure Lamp, to contribute to the upcoming battle between the righteous and demonic factions in the Eastern Continent. I anticipate forging it into a fifth-rank artifact, though I wouldn't dare claim complete certainty." Chen Mobai wasn't afraid of his intentions being known, as the Eight Views Lamp of Tushita was not an item from this realm.

"A fifth-rank! As expected, fellow Daoist is already a fifth-rank artificer!" Venerable Yuan Huo felt even more regret upon hearing this. In the entire Heavenly River Realm, fifth-rank artificers were exceedingly rare. Their Profound Fire Sect's Spirit Transformation ancestor, ranked among the Three Immortals and known as the "Immortal of Flames," was merely a fifth-rank artificer himself. With Chen Mobai's assistance, Venerable Yuan Huo would have a greater chance of successfully forging his magic artifact.

"If fellow Daoist has other fire-attributed fifth-rank spiritual materials, you may exchange them for these two items of mine." Thinking this, Venerable Yuan Huo decided to befriend Chen Mobai. These fifth-rank White Glass Sky Crystal and Nine Yang True Fire Stones were top-tier treasures even within the Profound Fire Sect. He had originally intended them as remuneration for inviting other quasi-fifth-rank artificers in the sect to assist.

"I also have Pure Yang Condensing True Pills here, fellow Daoist, please take a look..." Where would Chen Mobai have fifth-rank fire-attributed spiritual materials on him? The only one he knew of was the Solar Divine Tree in the Golden Crow Immortal City.

"Pinnacle quality, no pill toxins, impressive..." Venerable Yuan Huo possessed fifth-rank Profound Fire and, besides being a quasi-fifth-rank artificer, was also a fourth-rank alchemist. He could personally appraise the Pure Yang Condensing True Pills. Combined with the appraisal results from Qi Jiansu of the Daoist Virtue Sect, he nodded in approval. "However, this bottle only contains five pills. Even if I'm doing you a favor, at most it can only be exchanged for half of the White Glass Sky Crystal and Nine Yang True Fire Stone."

"After I return, I will send sect disciples to collect materials. Once I have refined two more batches, I will come back to exchange for the remaining materials. I only hope fellow Daoist can grant me a few years." At this moment, Chen Mobai felt a pang of regret. Why hadn't he refined more Pure Yang Condensing True Pills before? Even if they no longer had much effect on him, he could have sold them in the Danxia Pavilion.

"To be honest," Venerable Yuan Huo confessed, "I've been at the threshold of becoming a fifth-rank artificer for over a hundred years. This time, forging a fifth-rank magic artifact is a gamble with centuries of my accumulated wealth. After returning to the Profound Fire Sect, these materials will certainly be used to invite fellow Daoists from the Southern Continent to assist..." Venerable Yuan Huo was frank, stating that these two items could not be reserved solely for Chen Mobai.

"In that case, I wonder if this item can be used for the exchange?" Chen Mobai considered that once Venerable Yuan Huo left the Eastern Continent, even if Qing Nv successfully refined the Pure Yang Condensing True Pills, he would still incur the travel cost of two prime spirit stones. He decided it would be better to settle the matter on the spot to avoid complications. He took out the Three Light Divine Water he had just exchanged from Venerable Xing Chen.