Reunion with an Old Acquaintance, Another Toad Lusting After Swan Meat
Reunion with an Old Acquaintance, Another Toad Lusting After Swan Meat
Kunwu City was not far from Kun Mountain. In fact, one only needed to gaze out from the city walls to see the vast mountain range shrouded in boundless Mists of Chaos, towering above the clouds, majestic and imposing.
That place was a hazy expanse where nothing could be seen clearly. It felt more like an ancient land that had existed since the very creation of the world, exuding mystery and vastness.
Even from a great distance, a terrifying pressure that made hearts palpitate and tremble radiated from it, seizing the souls of all who felt it.
Streaks of divine light and divine rainbows streaked across the sky, descending from distant realms and rushing into Kunwu City.
These past few days, far too many great figures had descended upon Kunwu City.
One could toss a stone down and quite possibly hit an Elder of some Cult of Immortality.
Many Cultivators even sensed the fluctuation of some supreme Dao Artifact flash briefly through Kunwu City, leaving their hearts trembling.
Among the forces coming to aid the Ji Family, some had even brought Dao Artifacts, intending to storm Kun Mountain itself.
Such an act was exceedingly rare, shaking all directions. It could be said that in the past several epochs, such a thing had seldom been seen.
Previously, the Beyond had raised armies to attack the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains, but that had been the might of an entire realm. What they faced now was Kun Mountain, a Life Forbidden Area.
As for whether any supreme beings still lived within Kun Mountain, that had always remained a mystery.
Because no Cultivator or creature that had ever entered Kun Mountain had ever come back alive.
If they could successfully rescue the Ji Family’s Founding Ancestor this time, it would be tantamount to breaking that precedent.
At this moment, inside a Stone-Gambling Stall within Kunwu City.
A disguised young man was mingling with a monk, occasionally glancing around at the surroundings, seemingly discussing something.
The young man was rather handsome, tall and straight in stature, exuding a temperament distinctly different from ordinary people.
As for the monk beside him, though he looked kind and benevolent, he gave off the feeling of someone not easy to get along with.
“Benefactor Jiang Chen, as the Successor of a Divine Source Master, you should know what’s hidden inside these Wondrous Stones, right?”
These two were none other than Jiang Chen and Monk Pu Du.
The one speaking was Monk Pu Du, who said with a beaming smile, a sharp gleam flashing through his eyes as they swept over the many Wondrous Stones in the Stone-Gambling Stall.
Jiang Chen’s expression was natural and composed as he nodded. “Naturally, I can.”
The general trends of heaven and earth, the evolution of mountains and rivers—all of these fell within the scope of the Celestial Boat of Creation’s deductions and probing.
Although he could not directly see through what was hidden inside those Wondrous Stones,
he could rely on his senses to perceive how precious the things within them were.
Not to mention that during this period, his coordination with the Celestial Boat of Creation’s Artifact Spirit had grown increasingly seamless. He could even channel a portion of the Celestial Boat of Creation’s power.
A Stone-Gambling Stall like the one before him seemed practically tailor-made for him.
“That’s good then. In a moment, this little monk will pay for the raw stones, and Benefactor Jiang Chen, you’ll do the picking. Whatever we cut out, we’ll split evenly between the two of us.”
“How does that sound?”
Receiving Jiang Chen’s assurance, Monk Pu Du couldn’t help but grin widely, a stark contrast to his kind and benevolent appearance.
Jiang Chen didn’t hesitate for long at all and directly nodded in agreement.
He and Monk Pu Du were old acquaintances, after all, so he naturally wouldn’t doubt Monk Pu Du’s character.
Of course, there was another layer to it—he was indeed strapped for cash at the moment, having spent most of his money on cultivation resources.
And the raw stones here were not cheap. Since they were mined near Kun Mountain, their prices far exceeded those of raw stones in other ancient cities.
Soon after, the two squeezed past the Cultivators before them and headed toward the higher floors of the Stone-Gambling Stall.
Monk Pu Du was clearly a regular customer of the Stone-Gambling Stall. He knew that the raw stones on the lower floors actually all came from the outermost edges of Kun Mountain, and rarely yielded anything precious.
Very quickly, the two arrived at the third floor. Here, colorful mist flowed about, the space was quite spacious—a world of its own—and the raw stones placed all around radiated various hues of glowing light.
Some of the raw stones even emitted strange movements.
The Cultivators here, whether in bearing or cultivation, were far beyond those below. Clearly, they all had extraordinary backgrounds.
Jiang Chen even spotted quite a few disciples of Cults of Immortality, shrouded in treasure light, with remarkable bearing.
“Benefactor Jiang Chen, pick as you please. Whichever one catches your eye, take it.”
Upon arriving here, a smile appeared on Monk Pu Du’s face as well. He clearly placed great trust in Jiang Chen.
Jiang Chen wasted no words. A trace of divine light flickered in his eyes as he conversed with the Celestial Boat of Creation’s Artifact Spirit in his mind while searching through the raw stones here.
“Little Chenzi, pick that one. Yes, the biggest one placed right in the very center...”
The Celestial Boat of Creation’s Artifact Spirit urged.
Jiang Chen nodded, his gaze falling upon the largest raw stone in the center of the third floor. It was large enough to require several people to wrap their arms around it, its surface uneven and covered in small bumps. Compared to the other raw stones radiating brilliant light, its appearance was worse by far more than a notch.
“I want this one.” Jiang Chen spoke indifferently, without the slightest hesitation, pointing at the raw stone.
Hearing his words, many people here turned their attention over, their expressions somewhat strange.
When Jiang Chen and Monk Pu Du had come in earlier, they had glanced over, and seeing they didn’t recognize them, paid them no further mind.
They had assumed the two would browse for a while, yet Jiang Chen had only taken one look before choosing the biggest raw stone.
This left them somewhat stunned, and then they couldn’t help but laugh.
In their eyes, this move was far more than just a little foolish.
It was simply like a complete layman who knew nothing at all.
“Where did this idiot come from? Does he think the biggest one will cut out something good?”
“Even Mo Lao shook his head and said he couldn’t see through that raw stone, yet this guy wants to buy it outright in one breath.”
At once, someone couldn’t help but shake their head, somewhat mocking.
The Mo Lao he spoke of was an extremely renowned Source Master from the nearby Stone-Gambling Stalls, with profound attainments. Even he couldn’t make heads or tails of this raw stone.
And so, this raw stone had gradually become something no one showed interest in, sitting here for several years already.
“Does this gongzi really want to buy this one?”
However, the shopkeeper in charge of this place was somewhat delighted.
Regardless of whether Jiang Chen knew anything or not, in his eyes, Jiang Chen was a fat sheep delivering himself to the door. How could he not fleece him?
This raw stone had sat there for so many years without anyone asking about it, and today a big fool had finally arrived.
“Naturally, it’s real.” Jiang Chen said indifferently, his expression remaining calm and composed throughout, seemingly unsurprised by everyone’s reaction.
“How many Spiritual Stones?” Although Monk Pu Du was also somewhat puzzled, his faith in Jiang Chen was absolute, and he directly took out his Storage Ring.
“Three hundred thousand Spiritual Stones.” The shopkeeper said with a beaming smile.
Seeing the shopkeeper’s expression, a trace of mockery flashed across Jiang Chen’s face as he thought to himself, just wait, you’ll be crying soon enough.
Monk Pu Du was very straightforward, directly producing three hundred thousand Spiritual Stones and buying the raw stone.
“Gongzi, let’s get this clear first. Once bought, no matter what gets cut out, it has nothing to do with our Stone-Gambling Stall. Don’t you go regretting it.”
Worried that Jiang Chen might regret it later, the shopkeeper couldn’t help but “kindly” explain.
“Stop wasting words. Hurry up and cut it.”
Jiang Chen said indifferently, appearing rather impatient.
Seeing this, the other people here immediately crowded over, looking quite intrigued. They hadn’t expected Jiang Chen to actually intend to buy this raw stone.
Not only did this guy look foolish, he was actually that rich too.
Although there were quite a few disciples of great sects here, not many could produce three hundred thousand Spiritual Stones in one go.
“Three hundred thousand Spiritual Stones... tsk tsk tsk...”
“If nothing comes out of it in a moment, he’ll be the one crying.”
Many people watched with great interest, carrying faint mockery.
Soon after, the Cultivator responsible for cutting stones carefully peeled away the layers of rock on the raw stone’s surface, and a mysterious, profound fluctuation suddenly spread through the pavilion.
Everyone’s expressions changed somewhat at this moment, no longer as dismissive and casual as before.
Some of the elders, including the shopkeeper, even looked on with grave expressions.
The next moment, dense crimson light suddenly burst forth from within, accompanied by an aura that made one’s pores dilate.
“That’s... Blood King Ginseng...”
“At least over a million years old...” Someone’s eyes went wide as they couldn’t help but exclaim.
A million-year-old Blood King Ginseng—that was a Heavenly Herb even Perfect Prodigies would covet, something that could be encountered but not sought, worth at least a million Spiritual Stones at minimum.
The shopkeeper’s face also changed slightly at this moment, unable to believe it. Though he wasn’t quite crying, he was feeling thoroughly sick.
“Trading three hundred thousand Spiritual Stones for a Blood King Ginseng over a million years old—not a bad deal at all.”
Jiang Chen said with a calm expression, shaking his head lightly.
Seeing this, the people in the Stone-Gambling Stall no longer dared to underestimate Jiang Chen.
Still, some refused to accept it, feeling that Jiang Chen had simply gotten lucky.
“Eh, that’s Blood King Ginseng. Did someone cut out Blood King Ginseng here?”
Just then, several young men and women walked up from below the pavilion. They looked transcendent in bearing, exuding a Daoist charm, shrouded in treasure light, with the emblem of the Skyward Schloss embroidered on their clothes.
The one who spoke was a young woman. She was extremely beautiful, with hair like clouds, delicate fair skin, legs longer than those of ordinary women, dressed in a white dress, cold and otherworldly, like a fairy untouched by mortal dust.
Hearing this familiar voice, Jiang Chen’s body stiffened slightly, and the calm expression on his face vanished.
He turned his head back somewhat incredulously, his gaze falling upon the young woman walking up from below the pavilion.
Ruoyin?
Why would she come here?
Jiang Chen’s heart was somewhat agitated, trembling slightly. He had never imagined that after so many days, he would encounter Xiao Ruoyin here today.
However, he had now changed his appearance, so Xiao Ruoyin probably wouldn’t recognize him.
This left Jiang Chen somewhat disappointed, but he still calmed down, understanding that now was not the time to reunite with Xiao Ruoyin.
“Do we know each other?”
Xiao Ruoyin felt that the young man staring fixedly at her seemed somewhat familiar, but she couldn’t say where that familiarity came from.
“No, this is this one’s first time meeting the fairy.” Jiang Chen shook his head and smiled.
Xiao Ruoyin paid it no mind. Her gaze fell upon the Blood King Ginseng in Jiang Chen’s hand, and she asked, “Did you cut out this Blood King Ginseng?”
She remembered that her shifu, Yan Ji, was precisely at the Sacred King Realm cultivation, so she could probably make use of the Blood King Ginseng.
“Yes, this one and the fairy felt like old friends at first sight. If the fairy wants it, what’s the harm in this one simply gifting it to you?”
Jiang Chen smiled faintly, as if the Blood King Ginseng in his hand were some common cabbage found everywhere.
He could tell that Xiao Ruoyin seemed to really want this Blood King Ginseng.
At this juncture, without obtaining Monk Pu Du’s consent, he intended to privately gift the Blood King Ginseng to Xiao Ruoyin before him.
In his view, Monk Pu Du probably wouldn’t mind such things.
Hearing these words, the expressions of quite a few people on the third floor changed slightly. After all, this was a Blood King Ginseng worth over a million Spiritual Stones.
Jiang Chen actually intended to give it to a woman he had only just met?
Although this woman was indeed beautiful beyond reason, simply not like a woman of the mortal world.
Monk Pu Du’s brow also furrowed slightly, but at this moment he didn’t say much.
He felt as though he had seen Xiao Ruoyin before.
Back at the Taixu Divine Tomb, Jiang Chen had seemed to keep paying attention to this woman.
It seemed the two were old acquaintances, only now Jiang Chen had changed his appearance, and Xiao Ruoyin couldn’t recognize him.
“...”
Xiao Ruoyin also hadn’t expected this somewhat familiar man before her to directly intend to gift her this Blood King Ginseng.
This intention was simply far too obvious.
This made her willow brows furrow slightly. With her current status in the Skyward Schloss, she naturally could afford the Spiritual Stones to purchase a Blood King Ginseng.
“I appreciate this gongzi’s kind intentions, but I can still afford the Spiritual Stones to purchase a Blood King Ginseng.”
“Just name your price.” Xiao Ruoyin shook her head in refusal, her voice cold.
Only now did Jiang Chen realize that his behavior just now had been somewhat rash and abrupt, and he rubbed his nose a bit sheepishly.
“Tsk tsk tsk, another toad lusting after swan meat. I advise you to piss on the ground and take a look at yourself, and save yourself the thought.”
“Ruoyin shimei is Young Master Changge’s woman.”
Seeing this scene, the several young men and women behind Xiao Ruoyin couldn’t help but laugh, their words carrying mockery. Clearly, this was not the first time they had witnessed such a scene.
“You mustn’t talk nonsense. If Gu gongzi hears those words, he might laugh at me for having wild delusions.”
Hearing these words, a faint blush appeared on Xiao Ruoyin’s jade-like face, and she couldn’t help but roll her eyes at the several fellow disciples behind her.
Seeing this, Jiang Chen’s expression froze, even turning slightly pale, and the hand holding the Blood King Ginseng tightened.