A Lucrative Exchange
"I haven't the slightest clue. It was just a shard of metal made of some unrecognizable material. Even the seller who registered it didn't know what it was."
Putting an item up for auction without even knowing what it was, and the auction house actually accepting it. Such a thing would be impossible in his past life, but in this cultivation world, it was a common occurrence. It didn't matter if its purpose and history were unknown. As long as it looked extraordinary at a glance, that was enough. It could then be packaged and sold with plausible rhetoric, like "the destined one shall become its master." The reason this absurd sales method actually worked was because, occasionally, those blessed with "fate" did strike it rich. Stories of someone mastering a divine martial art from a randomly acquired piece of wood, or a stone bought for a few spirit stones turning out to be a treasure map, were among the most common legends in the cultivation world.
"And the seller?"
"He knew absolutely nothing."
"Did you let him live?"
Myeong-ha shook his head. "My anger hadn't cooled down at the time... so my hand slipped a little."
Jekyeong clicked his tongue at those words. It wasn't because of Myeong-ha's recklessness, but rather out of regret for missing a good show. After all, it was incredibly rare to see this insidious fellow lose control of his emotions.
"Was there an inside accomplice?"
"If that intruder was truly after that specific item... then most likely, yes. Otherwise, he wouldn't have broken in at the exact moment the item was brought out."
"Indeed. So... what do you think?"
"I believe they were definitely targeting that item," Myeong-ha said firmly. "First, if their goal was to damage the reputation of Haeyeon Island, there were far better ways to go about it. Second, following from the first point, their method was far too loud. Putting everything else aside, that Shift Talisman they used at the end... it practically serves as our excuse. If the opponent possesses such an item, anyone below the Core Formation stage is bound to lose them."
Everyone present had witnessed the power of the Shift Talisman used by the intruder. The intruder had escaped because his means exceeded all imagination, not because the Haeyeon Island auction house was incompetent. At any rate, according to Jekyeong's two subordinates, Myeong-ha had gone on such a terrifying rampage at the time that even ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators and Great Yao shrunk back in fear. Thus, Haeyeon Island's reputation would not suffer too severe a blow.
"So, is that the end of it?"
"No. Of course not." Myeong-ha smiled faintly, baring his sharp teeth. "We cannot just let this slide. Since they slapped us in the face, we must make them pay the price."
"Fine words... but how? Do you have any clues?"
"I obtained some information from the seller. Specifically, about the place where he found that item. I plan to dig into that lead."
"Do you need my help?"
"Unfortunately, it is right in the middle of Human Territory, so it won't be easy for you to step in, Fellow Daoist."
Jekyeong wasn't disappointed in the slightest. It was merely a polite offer; if Myeong-ha had actually clung to him for help, it would have been quite troublesome.
"Very well. In that case... I wish you success." Jekyeong had no intention of blaming Myeong-ha. While it couldn't be said that Myeong-ha was entirely blameless since he was in charge of Haeyeon Island, what had transpired at the auction house was clearly beyond his capabilities.
Shift Talisman. Just what kind of status did someone need to possess to use such a precious treasure? And what kind of history did that stolen auction item have to warrant the use of such a treasure? He had many questions, but unfortunately, he could only smack his lips in curiosity for now.
"Do you think it was a human?" Before departing, Jekyeong asked one last question, and Myeong-ha nodded.
"In a minor cultivation world like this, it would be difficult for other races to obtain such a rare talisman. Furthermore, since the item was found right in the heart of Human Territory, I'd say there is a ninety percent chance they are human."
As soon as Jekyeong returned to Heukgyodo, he wiped the incident at Haeyeon Island from his mind. How to resolve the remaining issues or how to follow the clues were not his problems to worry about, nor did he care. Frankly speaking, as long as the spirit stones kept rolling in consistently, Jekyeong didn't care what happened on Haeyeon Island.
The very reason Jekyeong had entrusted Haeyeon Island to Myeong-ha and provided him with protection was to handle such troublesome matters. If he had to step in personally at a time like this, what use was Myeong-ha? Even if the auction item had been found in the middle of Human Territory, Jekyeong could have assisted in various other ways without physically going there. Yet, the fact that Myeong-ha kept his mouth shut was proof that he objectively understood his own position and utility. This was why he liked smart fellows. You didn't need to urge or micromanage them; they simply did their jobs on their own.
"Lord Dragon, how did it go?" Jekyeong related the conversation he had with Myeong-ha to Hyeongu.
"Heavens! To think that scrap of metal was such a treasure," Hyeongu sighed. At the same time, he searched his memory, trying to recall anything about the metal shard—whether there was anything peculiar about it, who had shown interest in it, and so on.
"Come to think of it, it did feel rather strange. It was clearly shabby-looking, yet it strangely drew my gaze." Hyeongu also showed interest in the Shift Talisman. Indeed, having witnessed the power of that mysterious talisman firsthand, it was impossible not to be intrigued.
"The foundation of the Human Race is truly formidable. Just when I think I've grown accustomed to this world, I encounter such astonishing things. It makes me realize how narrow my perspective is."
"Just being able to think that way makes you far better than the others." This was not empty praise. Although Hyeongu's cultivation realm was not high and his combat strength could hardly be considered superior to a Great Yao who had newly entered the Great Yao stage, Jekyeong still held him in high regard. Not only did Hyeongu possess the wisdom to recognize his own shortcomings, but his drive for self-improvement, manifested through practical effort, was something ordinary Great Yao could never display.
"How are your studies in formations progressing?"
"I am still lacking, but I have made some achievements of my own." Hyeongu, who was usually timidly humble, showed a rare spark of confidence. "I can now deploy a basic Spirit Gathering Array without difficulty. I can also set up Qi-Shielding Arrays and Lost Track Arrays, provided I have sufficient true qi."
Hyeongu had every right to be confident. Most of those who called themselves formation masters could only deploy a handful of formations in reality. Even the so-called grandmasters of formations were usually only proficient in their primary specialty, possessing only shallow knowledge in other areas. In contrast, Hyeongu could not only skillfully handle auxiliary cultivation formations like the Spirit Gathering Array, but he had also achieved results with concealment formations like the Qi-Shielding Array and the Lost Track Array. This alone was enough to put him on par with ordinary first-rate formation masters.
"You have talent."
"I believe it is the power of my bloodline. Before I began practicing formations, I had no idea I possessed such a talent." Jekyeong felt the same. He had heard of turtles being skilled in divination, but never in formations. Still, it wasn't particularly strange. Given the long history of the cultivation world, surely there must have been at least one turtle demon who excelled in formations. If that lineage had been passed down to this day and finally shone through Hyeongu, it was surprising, but not incomprehensible.
"Focus more of your efforts on practicing the Spirit Gathering Array."
"Yes, my lord." The Spirit Gathering Array currently active in the Black Cult Palace had also been deployed by Hyeongu. He had failed twice before succeeding on his third attempt, but the investment had been well worth it. The density of spiritual energy was at least half again as high as the previously installed array. As a reward for his contribution back then, Jekyeong had permitted Hyeongu to reside within the Black Cult Palace.
After reaching the Great Yao stage, it became difficult for Hyeongu to raise his cultivation through blood food as he had in the past. For a Great Yao to gain any meaningful benefit from blood food, they had to consume the flesh and blood of another Great Yao. However, Hyeongu, whose combat strength fell short compared to other Great Yao of his level, lacked the ability to hunt them. Thus, aside from relying on the occasional remnants of Great Yao that Jekyeong bestowed upon him, staying in places with dense spiritual energy was the only way he could cultivate. Consequently, when Jekyeong permitted him to reside in the Black Cult Palace, Hyeongu was so deeply moved that tears welled in his eyes. Even Jekyeong, who had secretly expected such a reaction, felt slightly overwhelmed by his intense gratitude.
"And take this." Jekyeong handed Hyeongu the heart of the demonized cultivator he had acquired this time, commonly referred to as a Demon Heart. "Dispose of it as you did before."
"Understood." After Haeyeon Island gained renown, secret exchanges between the Beast Race and the Human Race gradually increased. While most of these interactions took place on Haeyeon Island, once a certain level of trust was established, they would occasionally conduct separate transactions outside the island. Under Jekyeong's orders, Hyeongu had begun interacting with humans early on, and by now, he was recognized by several humans as a 'reasonable turtle.'
"However, Lord Dragon, regarding that fellow from the Yeom clan I mentioned last time... I believe we must cut ties with him soon. He seemed rather unstable when we last met. It appears he will be completely consumed by his demonic nature before long."
Trading with demonized cultivators carried a high risk. Unlike bandit cultivators who, despite their rough edges, made clear calculations of profit and loss, demonized cultivators were like ticking time bombs that could detonate at any moment. Every contact with them required risking one's life. Consequently, it was naturally difficult to find anyone willing to trade with them, forcing them to become big spenders almost by default. Yet, even if they spent spirit stones generously, the reality was that they struggled to find suitable trading partners. This was why Hyeongu had been able to smoothly establish trade relations with them. Hyeongu neither rejected nor guarded against demonized cultivators; instead, he welcomed them with open arms. To him, the threat of a demonized cultivator was nothing more than a trivial joke. Unless it was a demonized cultivator at the Core Formation stage, Hyeongu feared none of them. The demonized cultivators knew this as well, for Hyeongu had never once hidden who his master was. Conducting at least three or four transactions a year, Hyeongu had made a name for himself among the demonized cultivators of this region as the 'generous turtle.'
"I understand." Having received Jekyeong's confirmation, Hyeongu left the Black Cult Palace with a light heart. Hyeongu, the greatest broker of the cultivation world, looked up at the countless celestial bodies adorning the dark sky before casting his gaze downward. An island shrouded in darkness and a small boat anchored beside it caught his eye.
No matter how many times I tell them, it's completely useless. Would it kill them to meet when it's a bit brighter? What a gloomy bunch. Are they acting like rats because of their gloomy personalities, or did they become gloomy from acting like rats? These demonized cultivators are truly timid to the extreme. Have they been living as fugitives for so long that they've forgotten how to stand beneath the sunlight?
"You've arrived." As Hyeongu reached the island, the two humans who had been waiting beforehand rose to their feet. A man and a woman—a rare husband-and-wife pair of demonized cultivators. They were the trading partners Hyeongu had chosen this time.
"You're late."
"Don't you think you simply arrived too early?"
"This is a rare opportunity, so of course we had to hurry."
"Indeed. It is very rare. So don't be stingy and let this opportunity slip away."
"When have we ever been stingy?"
"Not yet. That is why I contacted you first."
As their conversation dragged on, the female demonized cultivator cut in irritably. "Enough small talk. Where is the item?"
"Right here." Hyeongu pulled a wooden box from the storage bag wrapped around his neck like a scarf. The male demonized cultivator's eyes gleamed as he reached out, but Hyeongu merely curled the corners of his mouth slightly and did not hand it over.
"I know you're in a hurry, but we must follow the proper order."
"...Fine. We should follow the rules." At the male demonized cultivator's nod, the female threw a storage ring. Hyeongu sent a thread of his divine sense into the slowly flying ring, and the smile vanished from his face.
"It's not enough."
"Not enough? That is a highly generous offer."
"No, it isn't. This is the Demon Heart of a Foundation Establishment stage demonized cultivator."
"Hmph! It's only a half-shattered one anyway, isn't it?" The female demonized cultivator snapped fiercely, causing Hyeongu's eyes to widen.
"So what if it's only half? The important thing is that such items are incredibly difficult to obtain. Especially in times like these. Furthermore, as you can see, almost none of the demon qi has leaked out. Even if it is only half, this can be considered top-tier quality."