Innate Immortal Seed

Chapter 223: Chapter 221: One for Five

A transparent Crystal Stone appeared in Master Ge Cang’s hand, turning gray the next moment.

”Is this the item Master Fang was referring to? I have no use for this Ten Thousand Years Void Stone, so it all depends on what you are willing to trade for it.”

Master Ge Cang unhesitatingly placed the Ten Thousand Years Void Stone on the long table without any protective Forbidden restrictions.

This showed both his confidence in his own strength and his trust in Fang Tiancheng’s character.

”Senior Brother Yangg told me that a debt of two favors was owed to the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect for the Clear Spirit Jade Marrow... Let this opportunity to be the first to purchase the Ten Thousand Years Void Stone serve as repayment for the favor that I personally owe.”

Years ago, Ancestor Yangg had purchased three drops of Clear Spirit Jade Marrow from the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect for three Top-Grade Spirit Stones, incurring a debt of two favors to Master Hei Feng.

One was on behalf of the Qingfeng Sect, and the other was a personal favor for Master Ge Cang.

”Good! Refreshing!”

Fang Tiancheng clapped his hands and said, ”The Shao Yang Dao Lineage always honors its word. I’ve long heard as much... You may pick any five items you desire from this list.”

A Jade Scroll flew out and landed in Ge Cang’s hand. A flash of lightning flickered in his pupils, concealing the surprise in his heart.

Many High-Tier Cultivators had heard that the Qingfeng Sect’s legacy originated from another continent, in a far-flung corner of the Cultivation Realm.

However, very few knew the specifics of the Shao Yang Dao Lineage or the true origin of its heritage.

Only a Nascent Soul Major Sect like the Holy Lotus Sect, with its long history and tens of thousands of years of records, would possess any knowledge about another continent.

The entire Outer Sea lay between the two continents, a distance of untold thousands of miles. Even Nascent Soul True Monarchs were unwilling to spend so long on such a journey.

Furthermore, in the depths of the Outer Sea, Tier Four Shapeshifting Great Demons were numerous. The deeper one ventured, the more likely one was to encounter factions of the Demon Race that were extremely hostile toward human Cultivators.

Communication and travel between the two continents had only been possible tens of thousands of years ago, when the Ancient Transmission Arrays still existed.

When the founding Ancestor of the Qingfeng Sect appeared after crossing the sea, he claimed to have come from the Xuan Continent. No one believed him at first, dismissing it as a baseless rumor.

It wasn’t until the reigning Nascent Soul True Monarch of the Holy Lotus Sect verified his claim that the origin of the Qingfeng Sect’s heritage was accepted by all.

To this day, how the founding Ancestor of the Qingfeng Sect managed to cross the Outer Sea remains an unsolved mystery.

Fang Tiancheng appeared magnanimous, but he knew he absolutely had to obtain this Void Nether Stone.

They had already secured a Tier Four Array Master and a supply of Tier Four Earth through their connections in Zengguang Immortal City. In exchange, the Ten thousand Beasts Sect had signed a contract with the city, stipulating that for the next three hundred years, as long as the Secret Realm remained intact, they would have to provide twenty drops of Clear Spirit Jade Marrow for auction in Zengguang Immortal City every 60-Year Cycle.

Although this would bring in a large sum of Spirit Stones, losing control over the distribution of the Core Formation Spiritual Object was a major departure from the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect’s guiding principles.

The Void Nether Stone in Master Ge Cang’s hand was a top-grade Space Spiritual Object that was already ten thousand years old.

According to True Monarch Jiulian, an ordinary Void Nether Stone could sustain a Secret Realm for three hundred years. A Ten Thousand Years Void Stone, however, could be considered one of the most supreme Tier Four Space Spiritual Objects, capable of sustaining the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect’s Core Formation Spiritual Object Secret Realm for at least nine hundred years.

Even if it only maintained a minimum output of forty drops of Clear Spirit Jade Marrow every 60-Year Cycle, those nine hundred years would be enough for the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect to maintain its current upward trajectory.

With a steady stream of new Core Formation True Men, it was only a matter of time before a Nascent Soul True Monarch emerged from their ranks.

Master Ge Cang accepted the Jade Scroll. Inside, nearly twenty items were listed.

Each one was a precious Treasure that would drive a Core Formation True Man into a frenzy, accumulated by the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect over many years.

Just by looking at the Treasures on the list, he knew that Fang Tiancheng was completely sincere about this trade.

If it were a simple trade for Spirit Stones, Ge Cang would have rejected it without a second thought.

The Holy Lotus Sect’s Lotus Secret Realm had been stable for ten thousand years, but he was certain True Monarch Jiulian would also make a generous offer for a Space Spiritual Object like the Ten Thousand Years Void Stone.

A Top-Grade Magical Treasure, a Realm-Breaking Spiritual Pill used by Nascent Soul Cultivators, the Nine Spirits Turtle Egg Pill that could extend one’s life by a century...

Each item was more precious than the last, and at the very end of the list, there was even a Wood Element Top-Grade Spirit Stone and a Tier Four God Summoning Talisman.

”The Tier Four Low-Grade Ding Mao Ren Gao Divine General Talisman, the Wood Element Top-Grade Spirit Stone, the Nine Spirits Turtle Egg Pill, and that piece of Tier Four Low-Grade Thunderstruck Wood Heart...”

Master Ge Cang pondered for a moment, then listed four items in one breath.

When Fang Tiancheng saw him choose several of the most valuable items on the list, he wasn’t alarmed but pleased.

Once he started choosing, the deal was more than halfway done. At most, there would just be some haggling over the final item.

Under normal circumstances, a Ten Thousand Years Void Stone couldn’t be exchanged for so many Treasures.

The value of the Wood Element Top-Grade Spirit Stone and the Tier Four Low-Grade Summoning God Talisman alone was already close to the value of the Ten Thousand Years Void Stone.

But since the Space Spiritual Object was an indispensable item that the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect absolutely had to acquire, the other items were just the premium they had to pay.

Though they were called extras, each treasure on the list was worth no less than two to three hundred thousand Spirit Stones.

”For the final item, I won’t choose a Treasure from the list. I only ask for a promise from Master Fang...”

Ge Cang sent the Jade Scroll back, apparently having no intention of picking a final item from it.

”What promise? Master Ge, you aren’t choosing the Tribulation Crossing Pill? That’s the best Spirit Pill for breaking through to the Late-Stage Core Formation. With your aptitude, breaking through to the Late-Stage Core Formation with the help of the Tribulation Crossing Pill would be a simple matter.”

Fang Tiancheng frowned. Promises were the most troublesome things; he would have preferred to simply pay a higher price and conclude the deal.

”The Tribulation Crossing Pill can help one break through to the Late-Stage Core Formation. For others, it is indeed a Supreme Spiritual Pill, but for me, it would only advance my breakthrough by a decade or so... Now, if it were a Cave Truth Pill, which helps one break through to Core Formation Perfection, then I would certainly be tempted.”

His words brimming with confidence, Master Ge Cang stated his final request.

”I hope Master Fang can promise to sell three drops of Clear Spirit Jade Marrow to the Qingfeng Sect every sixty years, with no other conditions attached... This promise must last for three hundred years.”

Given the current number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the Qingfeng Sect, having three of them reach Foundation Establishment Perfection and attempt to break through to the Core Formation Realm every 60-Year Cycle was already a considerable number.

Master Ge Cang was willing to give up the Tribulation Crossing Pill to ensure that Qingfeng Sect Cultivators would not lack Core Formation Spiritual Objects for the next three hundred years.

”To this, I agree.”

Fang Tiancheng had originally wanted to refuse, or at least reduce the number.

But when he considered Ge Cang’s age, he had a change of heart and agreed outright.

”Go ahead.”

Master Ge Cang gestured with an open palm, indicating that the Ten Thousand Years Void Stone on the table could now be taken.

”You certainly have courage, Master Ge. Aren’t you afraid I’ll take the Void Nether Stone and simply leave, reneging on my end of the bargain?”

Fang Tiancheng reached for the Ten Thousand Years Void Stone, but paused halfway to ask.

”If I can’t even protect a single Spiritual Object within my own Sect Grand Array... then I’d only have myself to blame if someone took it.”

Looking at the immensely confident Master Ge Cang, Fang Tiancheng took a deep breath, suppressing the impulse to test his strength against him.

”The Summoning God Talisman, the Top-Grade Spirit Stone, the Life-Extending Spirit Pill, the Wood Heart... they’re all here. I must return to stand guard against Demon Cultivators, so I won’t stay for idle chat with Master Ge. If you have the time, feel free to visit Longevity Mountain.”

Fang Tiancheng collected the Ten Thousand Years Void Stone and mounted the Gold-Devouring Earth Dragon Beast.

The colossal beast let out a draconic roar, its four hooves treading on the air as it took flight.

Whipping up a furious gale, it soon shrank to a black dot on the horizon and disappeared.

’Looks like Elder Fang brought all the Treasures from the list with him. He’s certainly confident...’

With a wave of his long sleeve, Master Ge Cang made the four items on the table float into mid-air.

He reached out and placed his hand on the most inconspicuous piece of charred wood. As his True Essence flowed into it, faint arcs of lightning began to dance across its surface.

Though faint, they contained a terrifying aura capable of total annihilation.

’It’s a shame the quality of this Thunderstruck Wood as a Spirit Wood is only average. Otherwise, having absorbed the power of a Celestial Tribulation, it would have been perfectly suitable as my future Lifebound Magical Treasure...’

Master Ge Cang had lofty ambitions. He didn’t possess many Magical Treasures, and his current Lifebound Magical Treasure was only a Mid-Grade Magical Treasure he had refined not long after achieving Core Formation.

He hadn’t invested much time into it, primarily relying on the effects of the Daoist Classic Cantongqi to drastically shorten the time required for the Refinement of a Lifebound Magical Treasure.

If he were to replace his Lifebound Magical Treasure, he would certainly aim for something with the potential to become a Spiritual Treasure.

After all, the Daoist Classic Cantongqi itself had the ability to awaken the Spiritual nature of a Magical Treasure, giving him a great advantage in this respect.

This piece of Tier Four Low-Grade Thunderstruck Wood had originally been a Tier Three Top-Grade Spirit Plant. If refined into a Lifebound Magical Treasure, it would have no problem dominating the Core Formation Stage.

But at the level of a Nascent Soul True Monarch, it would be somewhat lacking.

He would easily be at a disadvantage in a future clash of Spiritual Treasures, risking damage to his own body.

’I’ll hold onto it for now. It’s rare to find Spiritual Materials with such compatible attributes... Perhaps if I find better Wood and Thunder Mutual Spirit Materials in the future, this piece of Thunderstruck Wood can still be used as a supplementary ingredient.’

Master Ge Cang carefully put away the charred Thunderstruck Wood Heart.

To other Core Formation True Men, this was just an extremely ordinary piece of Tier Four Spiritual Materials, perhaps not even as valuable as many Tier Three Top-Grade Spiritual Objects.

But for him, it was perfect.

It was clear that Fang Tiancheng and the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect had gone to great lengths for this trade.

The Nine Spirits Turtle Egg Pill was a Spirit Pill the color of black ink and shaped like a turtle. As it simply floated there, Spiritual Qi gathered around it, forming the image of a Dragon Turtle.

A Spirit Pill that could extend one’s lifespan by a century was considered top-tier among all Life-Extending Elixirs.

The main ingredient in most Life-Extending Elixirs, Longevity Grass, was merely a Tier Three Top-Grade Spirit Plant. Thus, to create an elixir with a greater life-extending effect that surpassed the ingredient’s natural limitations placed extremely high demands on an Alchemist’s skills and techniques.

Aside from its extraordinary Spiritual Materials, the most crucial aspect of this Nine Spirits Turtle Egg Pill was that only a Tier Four Low-Grade Alchemist would even dare attempt to refine it.

To guarantee a successful outcome, one would need nothing less than a Tier Four Top-Grade Alchemist.

Master Ge Cang was in the prime of his life and naturally had no need for a Life-Extending Elixir yet.

But with life-extending Elixirs becoming increasingly precious and sought-after, and their prices constantly rising, choosing the Nine Spirits Turtle Egg Pill was undoubtedly the right move.

As for the Wood Element Top-Grade Spirit Stone, its value went without saying.

Even for Nascent Soul True Monarchs, the supply of Top-Grade Spirit Stones could never meet the demand; there were never enough.

Moreover, it was a Wood Element Top-Grade Spirit Stone, which Master Ge Cang had many uses for.

”Master, what’s the story behind this Talisman?”

Qi Yue, who had been waiting at the side for a long time, asked curiously as he saw an earth-colored, finger-wide Talisman still floating in the air.

He had known beforehand that his master had made great gains in the Lotus Secret Realm and was going to trade with the Supreme Elder of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect, so he was naturally curious about the outcome.

”The Ding Mao Ren Gao Divine General Talisman, a Tier Four Low-Grade Summoning God Talisman... I have no idea where Elder Fang found it. It’s long been rumored that the art of creating this type of Talisman has been lost, and that no Talisman Master can reproduce it.”

Master Ge Cang held the earth-colored Talisman between two fingers, an inquisitive look on his face as well.