Chapter 91: Ill Intentions

Wei Yuning was startled. In that brief moment, the strange greasy scent had suddenly grown stronger, and deep in Nie Ziqing's eyes, he caught a trace of concealed lewdness.

"Less than two hundred li? What kind of place is that?" Wei Yuning asked curiously.

"Red Plum Villa!" Nie Ziqing said.

"Red Plum Villa? Never heard of it. How do you know about it?" Wei Yuning asked, puzzled.

"The Myriad Alliance Commerce has many channels for information. Even the Shadow Pavilion sometimes has to buy information from us!" Nie Ziqing said.

What exactly was the Shadow Pavilion?

Wei Yuning suddenly realized that he knew almost nothing about the world beyond the Cloud Concealment Sect.

"Since Hall Master Nie knows about it, why not go and obtain it yourself?" Wei Yuning asked.

"The reason is simple. The owner is unwilling to sell. However, Red Plum Villa is located within the Cloud Concealment Sect's sphere of influence. If Young Master Yuning were to visit in person, she might do you a favor!" Nie Ziqing said.

Once again, Wei Yuning caught a trace of something unusual deep in Nie Ziqing's eyes.

Using power to pressure others was something Wei Yuning could not bring himself to do. Still, regardless of anything, going to inquire about the price shouldn't be a problem.

As for whatever schemes Nie Ziqing might harbor, he didn't care. A Foundation Establishment fellow couldn't stir up much trouble.

"Alright, tell me the location!" Wei Yuning said.

Afterward, Nie Ziqing not only told Wei Yuning the location of Crimson Plum Villa, but also gave him the divine sense contact information for Xue Duoduo at the Myriad Alliance Trade headquarters.

This was to prevent a situation where the dragon boat jade plaque was lost and he would be unable to contact the commerce.

Aside from broadcasting public merchandise information, the Myriad Alliance Commerce headquarters could also provide alliance members with information on a specified product. However, while enjoying this privilege, if the commerce's superiors made an active inquiry, Wei Yuning would also be obligated to provide information on specific goods within specific markets in his assigned jurisdiction.

Currently, his jurisdiction was within a hundred-li radius of the Cloud Concealment Sect.

After learning that an initial alliance member could apply for two "White Sail Jade Plaques" at the partner merchant tier, he submitted an application as well.

Finally, under Nie Ziqing's guidance, Wei Yuning also submitted his need for Wood Essence to the commerce headquarters.

Soon, the dragon boat jade plaque flickered twice and emitted a passage of speech.

"There is currently no selling information for Wood Essence. There are three demand notices for Wood Essence within the commerce. If you wish to sell Wood Essence, you may contact them through the commerce headquarters! If you still wish to purchase Wood Essence, the commerce can also add your demand for Wood Essence to the list. Reply 'agree' or 'refuse.' If no reply, it defaults to 'refuse.'"

"Beep, beep, beep," the dragon boat jade plaque lit up with a red light.

"Hall Master Nie, what's going on?" Wei Yuning asked curiously.

"The jade plaque has run out of spiritual energy! This place is too far from the Myriad Alliance Commerce headquarters, so it consumes too much spiritual power. The spiritual qi gathered by the Spirit Gathering Array has been used up!" Nie Ziqing said.

"So that can happen too!" Wei Yuning found it both exasperating and amusing.

"Yes, Lord Yuning. However, in an emergency, you can place a mid-grade or higher spirit stone on the jade plaque. Spirit stones of that grade can keep the jade plaque in a communicable state."

"How long can a mid-grade spirit stone last?" Wei Yuning asked with a frown.

"Half the time it takes an incense stick to burn!" Nie Ziqing said.

Wei Yuning showed a pained expression.

Within the sect, menial disciples' monthly wages were only three to five low-grade spirit stones.

Although mortal technology in this world was backward, the magical artifacts of the cultivation world were remarkably advanced. There was actually a quasi-instant communication device similar to a mobile phone—it was just that the usage cost was far too expensive. Even the sect's elders could not afford it. Perhaps only a large commercial outfit like the Myriad Alliance Commerce dared to use one.

Presumably, this was also why cultivators all preferred to send messages via talisman paper birds, even though the efficiency was a bit slower.

The birds were made of talisman paper, one of the most basic consumables in the cultivation world. As long as there was sufficient initial spiritual power, one could form the Flying Bird Hand Seal, and in an instant, a sheet of talisman paper would transform into a message-carrying bird. Depending on the quality of the talisman paper and the materials used, both speed and distance were controllable.

The legendary immortal talisman message birds could even transmit information across realm boundaries.

The two chatted a while longer about idle matters, and then Nie Ziqing took his leave and departed.

"Senior Brother, does this person have some kind of agenda? I keep feeling that he harbors ill intentions!" Hai Yan said to Wei Yuning, watching Nie Ziqing's retreating back.

"I... think he seems alright. He's shrewd and capable. The boss should feel quite at ease working with him," Xue Ying said, glancing at Hai Yan and speaking hesitantly.

Wei Yuning chuckled and said, "This person... is indeed a bit dangerous. It's fine—I'll leave the task of contacting him to Qing Chou. Qing Chou isn't afraid of him!"

The two female cultivators looked at each other in bewilderment, not understanding why Qing Chou wouldn't be afraid of this person.

At this moment, Wei Yuning had gained a deeper understanding of Hai Yan and Xue Ying.

Although Hai Yan seemed muddled in how she went about things, her innate spiritual intuition appeared stronger than Xue Ying's, whereas Xue Ying was shrewd in her work but paid a bit too much attention to surface appearances.

Aside from cultivators who had established their foundation through body cultivation possibly producing fools, there were no idiots among cultivators who had established their foundation through divine sense.

With the Thorn Demon present, Wei Yuning naturally couldn't personally visit Red Plum Villa. However, he wasn't lacking in friends now—there were plenty of people to go in his stead.

While Wei Yuning was deep in thought, a handsome bald monk came walking over with his head held high.

He wore an exceptionally clean moon-white long robe. As he walked, he occasionally revealed woven vine-grass "fashionable short boots," carrying an air reminiscent of a runway model's strut.

The reason Wei Yuning identified the newcomer as a monk was entirely because of his knowledge of the "Buddha Contemplation Method." With just one glance, he sensed a strange resonance from the man.

The spirit beast world had always had a lineage of Buddhist cultivators. Compared to regular cultivators, their numbers were extremely small, and their methods of cultivation were vastly different. Wandering the world was their most common form of cultivation, somewhat akin to ascetic monks on Earth.

The Buddha Contemplation Method was extraordinary, which resulted in the temperament of the monks who practiced it being vastly different as well.

Ever since entering that fused state that time, Wei Yuning's spiritual intuition had become extremely acute. Within a range of several meters, he could sense the slightest abnormality.

It wasn't until the monk drew near that Wei Yuning realized the monk wasn't walking with his head held high—he was looking at the signboards above each shop.

"Benefactors, may I ask—do you sell 'Crimson Dream' here?" the monk asked with a kindly expression.

"We do, we do! Master, please come in!" Hai Yan was the first to call out in greeting.

Crimson Dream was the poisonous fruit from the roots of the Poison Empress. It was a byproduct of Wei Yuning's daily capture of Moon Centipede Insects, and the shop had always carried it for sale, though in small quantities. It wasn't the shop's signature product, so not many people knew about it.

At the same time, because the price was on the expensive side and its effects were peculiar, there weren't many buyers unless someone specifically needed it.

After the handsome monk carefully sniffed the poisonous fruit Hai Yan handed over, he nodded in satisfaction and said, "Female Benefactor, how much is it worth?"

"Mm... eighty low-grade spirit stones!" Hai Yan said, glancing at the worn vine sandals on the monk's feet.