Translator: CinderTL
"As the host of this Giant Flying Ship, I'll start by throwing out a brick to attract jade," Jin Xun announced. "I have a stalk of Azure Scale Wood here, an excellent material for crafting Wood Attribute Spirit Treasure flying swords. I'm looking to trade it for a millennium-old Earthfrost Vine. If any fellow daoist possesses such a vine, please come discuss a trade with me."
A cultivator wearing loose robes and a wide-brimmed hat, their gender completely obscured, stood up.
"Master Jin, I don't have an Earthfrost Vine. Would you accept spirit stones in exchange?"
"I'm sorry, but I'm not accepting spirit stones for this Azure Scale Wood," Jin Xun replied.
The slightly disappointed cultivator shook their head and sat back down.
Jin Xun hovered in mid-air at the center of the hall for a moment. Seeing no further inquiries, he descended and took an empty seat.
He knew that more than just the first cultivator were interested in the millennium-old Azure Scale Wood. Some might even possess Earthfrost Vines but were unwilling to trade publicly, preferring to contact him privately after the exchange meeting.
Song Wen glanced sideways at Ye Bing.
Earthfrost Vine was one of the ingredients for the Void Union Primordial Breakthrough Pill. Though not a primary component, it was extremely rare, and Ye Bing currently lacked this Spirit Herb.
Soon, another Divine Transformation Stage cultivator stepped forward to the center of the hall and levitated into the air.
This cultivator presented a secret art from the Ghost Dao, seeking to exchange it for a Yin-attribute spirit ore called Purple Yin Stone.
As the exchange meeting progressed, over a dozen cultivators took turns stepping forward, offering their treasured artifacts or cultivation methods in exchange for items they desired.
However, most of these exchanges failed, with only two cultivators successfully obtaining what they sought.
At that moment, a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator floated into the center of the hall.
The man's head was clean-shaven, bearing the marks of monastic vows, and he wore a faded yellow monk's robe.
In his hand, he held an open jade box containing a bloody, fist-sized ball of flesh.
The flesh ball radiated a dense aura of Blood Qi and surging vitality.
"Fellow Daoists and Seniors," the monk announced, "the item I offer is the Heart of Tara, the condensed essence of the subterranean demon beast Tara. This treasure is a potent tonic for spirit beasts and Gu, enhancing their Blood Qi and strengthening their power. Even for us human cultivators, refining this treasure can replenish depleted Blood Qi and prolong life."
The monk's claim of "prolonging life" did not refer to extending one's lifespan, but rather to fortifying the physical body, ensuring one could live healthily until the natural end of their lifespan.
Song Wen's eyes suddenly lit up slightly.
He was intrigued by both the Heart of Tara and the monk himself.
Although the man claimed to be a monk, his cultivation method was neither Buddhist nor heretical Buddhist. He practiced a highly orthodox Daoist technique, yet dressed like a monk, creating a bizarre and incongruous appearance.
As for the Heart of Tara, Song Wen had never seen such a thing before. He had never even heard of the demon beast called "Tara."
His interest in the Heart of Tara stemmed from the Shadow King Gu within him, which had grown restless the moment the Fake Monk revealed it.
Had Song Wen not forcefully suppressed it, the Shadow King Gu might have spontaneously left his body.
The Fake Monk used his Spiritual Power to control the jade box, circling the hall to display the Heart of Tara to the crowd before continuing.
"The Heart of Tara will not be exchanged for any treasures, only spirit stones. Seniors and fellow daoists interested in this item, please make your bids. The highest bidder wins."
"One hundred high-grade spirit stones," someone immediately called out as soon as the Fake Monk finished speaking.
However, a higher bid quickly followed: "One hundred and fifty spirit stones."
Many were interested in the Heart of Tara, and the bidding escalated rapidly, soon reaching five hundred high-grade spirit stones.
It was unclear whether the price of five hundred high-grade spirit stones had exceeded the Heart of Tara's true value, or whether the increasing participation of Divine Transformation Stage cultivators had intimidated the others, fearing they might offend these powerful figures and invite disaster. Some Nascent Soul Stage cultivators who had initially shown interest withdrew from the bidding.
"Five hundred and twenty high-grade spirit stones," Song Wen announced his first bid.
He wasn't sure how effective this item would be for his Shadow King Gu. If it didn't cost too much, he planned to buy it and experiment.
"Five hundred and fifty." "Five hundred and ninety."
Song Wen's bid was quickly outstripped by others.
He immediately countered with a new offer.
"Seven hundred high-grade spirit stones."
At this point, only Song Wen and a Divine Transformation Stage female cultivator remained in the competition.
The woman's face showed signs of aging, making her appear to be in her forties, but she wore heavy makeup, as if trying to conceal the passage of time.
She glanced at Song Wen, her expression slightly displeased.
Song Wen's bid had already exceeded the Heart of Tara's estimated value, but she was determined to acquire it and refused to give up easily.
Gritting her teeth, she declared, "Seven hundred and thirty high-grade spirit stones."
After speaking, she fixed Song Wen with a piercing stare. Seeing him about to raise his bid again, she said coldly, "Fellow Daoist, would you please do me the honor of withdrawing from the bidding?"
Song Wen was taken aback.
For a mere few hundred high-grade spirit stones, a Divine Transformation Stage cultivator was resorting to such blatant intimidation.
Song Wen paid little attention to the woman's threat.
Fighting was forbidden aboard the Giant Flying Ship. Once they disembarked, he would change his appearance, making it impossible for anyone to find him.
Moreover, the woman was only at the early stage of the Divine Transformation realm and haggled over a few hundred high-grade spirit stones, suggesting she was a rogue cultivator with no powerful backing.
Without the strength to intimidate Song Wen or the connections to make him wary, why should he fear her?
"Senior, I didn't mean to compete with you intentionally. I urgently need the Heart of Tara as well. Please forgive me, fellow daoist."
Turning to face the floating monk, Song Wen continued, "Eight hundred high-grade spirit stones."
The middle-aged female cultivator glared at Song Wen with icy eyes, gritting her teeth as she said, "So you're just a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator. Very well, I'll remember you. We'll settle this after we reach Cloudveil City."
A cold glint flashed in Song Wen's eyes. The woman's rudeness and arrogance were truly intolerable.
If he weren't currently aboard the Jin Family's Giant Flying Ship, surrounded by numerous Divine Transformation Stage cultivators, he would have found a way to eliminate her.
"Since no one else is bidding, I presume the Heart of Tara now belongs to me?" Song Wen said calmly.
Ignoring the middle-aged female cultivator, he waved his hand, sending eight hundred high-grade spirit stones floating toward the Fake Monk.
The Fake Monk had been deeply unsettled by the dispute between Song Wen and the female cultivator, his heart pounding with fear.
He had never anticipated that such a mere Heart of Tara would provoke the wrath of a Divine Transformation Stage cultivator.
He hurriedly collected the spirit stones, then approached Song Wen with the jade box.
"Fellow Daoist, please accept this."
Song Wen took the jade box, stored it in his Storage Ring, and waved the Fake Monk away.
A great weight lifted from the Fake Monk's heart.
The Heart of Tara had become a hot potato in his hands. Now that he had gotten rid of it, the trouble was no longer his concern.
(End of the Chapter)
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